2 days in a row! || i deserve a pat on the back! ||

hey there friendies!

just wanted to give you a little fun update & say hello

(WOAH - two days in a row? craziness, i know! but, TRUE!)

the husbers went on a skiing trip with work today & was not very excited about it,

since he'd never been skiing, and hated snowboarding when he tried it before...

i was a little nervous since we were joking about him not running into trees or dying

last night before bed... i also begged him not to try anything risky 

(he is known to do that.)

& he told me he was going to do the long jump. uhm. no. 

(that seriously is a dream of his!... maybe someday?) 

anyways... i got a great one line text from him around 2pm "i love skiing!".

YAY! he was alive, and he had a good time. i was so pumped for him! & that he was alive baha.

but okay, the point of that was to say i actually had the car for the whole day & LOVED it!

i had a fun day meeting up with a dear friend for coffee at starbucks this morning

& then going to target for a good four hours! just window shopping,

& dreaming of the decorations i want to someday make a reality in our little apartment!

got home about an hour ago, cleaned up a bit, then planned dinner

(steak with bacon cream sauce, sweet potatoes & asparagus! yup. YUM.)

& now i'm sitting here looking at my beautiful ranunculus from trader joes,

the blue sky & sunshine outside that i definitely took advantage of today,

( windows down, music up! though it was major bipolar weather! one minute sunshine and blue skies, the next, the sky opened up with a snow/sleet mix)

and eating some delicious leftovers from dinner last night - a skinny chicken divan

recipe from casey weigands recipe contributor! husband told me that it was in his

top 3 of meals that i make! i think he says that for 70% of what i cook...

but i love when he really approves of what i cook! smiles all around!

waiting for the husb to get home so we can have dinner & watch ang make the top 3 again!

i mean... watch american idol... but seriously. angie will be in the top 3. who even doubts that!

i'm also listening to the civil wars & johnny cash if anyone was wondering.

you were, weren't you? 

oh! & another fun thing!!

i was contacted a couple months ago from shabby apple to become an affiliate for their store...

 they are a high quality, fun, classy, vintage-inspired online boutique that i actually shop from! 

i had skipped over the e-mail accidentally & recently came back across it and definitely jumped

at the chance! i really love their clothes! (& shoes! & handbags! okay... safe to say i love it all!)

i hope you'll head over to check them out & maybe stock up some new spring wardrobe staples!

(they also have to die for bathing suits, if you're into vintage style!)

if you're interested in checking out their stuff, click on the banner right up there!

i know you won't be disappointed!

after this post, i will also have a button on the sidebar that you can get to the store from,

and of course, i get a super small percentage of whatever you purchase if you click it. (perks, people!)

don't worry, you will not be charged any more for clicking through my affiliate link!

happy shopping, people! 

& happy spring (again!)

hope you had a fabulous thursday!

be blessed,

xo, b

spring bucket list || a link up

well hello there, friendies! i'm just chillin over here in the pacific northwest! happy to announce it's the first day of spring! (are you glad i announced it? you probably wouldn't have known it otherwise... especially if you're "back east", as they call it around here, in new england where the snow is piling up) the sun came out over here in WA for about ten seconds today! woohoo! good job sun! :) last night it was thundering out somethin fierce... it was shaking our building so bad, i thought someone was trying to jump into our balcony every 5 seconds! no lightning... but i was watching pretty little liars, all the blinds were closed, and the husb had gone to bed about 30 minutes prior to it getting real bad... i was all kinds of jumpy. but enough about my scaredy-cat-isms.

the husband & i have been enjoying some nice walks in the fresh air & eating frozen yogurt every chance we can get... i mean it. we're going to get seriously fat. really looking forward to next week being back home in new england for two whole weeks! people are already reserving chunks of time with us... get it while you can people, we're in high demand! so pumped for vacation & seeing family & friends we haven't seen in a year! (well... for me it's only been since November, but Henry hasn't been home in a year! so that will be extra wonderful for him) 

i really wanted to link up with this "spring bucket list" going on! because it's cute and fun, but mostly for the purposes of writing out things that i want to do and being accountable for it because it's on the interweb and people will ask me if i've done it yet. working on self-discipline, but for now, you guys should pressure me to get things done! ;) bahah. 

so, without further ado, this spring i want to ||

plant veggies || tomatoes are darn expensive, and i really would love to just have them growing on my balcony... 

plant flowers || because they're beautiful and i want to have an excuse to be outside in the fresh air!

spend time on our balcony || something like two-three breakfasts a week out there would be nice! (of course, that would require seating and a table out there... maybe this one won't happen til' the summer when i have a steady income with a little extra cash)

do my college soccer workout on schedule || i e-mailed my soccer coach from college a couple weeks ago asking him for our old summer workout or whatever he is using now for the team - he e-mailed back soon after with it! pumped to start it! & get back into shape!

NO WASTING SATURDAYS || while a cozy & lazy saturday is sometimes needed and appreciated, these spring saturdays i want to go out and enjoy the PNW and all it's beautiful scenery! the husband will have to be on board with this, and he works so hard and wakes up early/goes to bed late during the week that he loves a lazy saturday morning... but hopefully we can get some good fresh air and vitamin D in the coming months! 

finish decorating the apartment || this will have to be done little by little (inch by inch -- anyone else singing this old sunday school song now? ;) hope it doesn't get stuck in your head!), as i budget a small portion to it into the month! 

plan & execute blogging schedule || this goes along with getting the dot-com. i promise it will happen someday... obviously later rather than the sooner i had hoped for! 

okay people. the sun is out again and the SKY IS BLUE. as in... only two clouds... which means i should probably take advantage of this fleeting beauty!

what is your spring bucket list? link-up with me over at Alison's blog!

be blessed, 

xo, bon

all's well on the home front...

figured it was about time to say another quick hello!

some updates, if you're interested...

apartment ||
still furniture-less... wait. that's not entirely true... we have a bed, praise God for that! and we also have a coffee table in our living room... and a really nice TV that has no stand to put it on. we have furniture that we have ordered, and the bulk of it came a few weeks ago, but it ALL CAME BROKEN. legit... the front of the night stand was CRACKED IN HALF. the dining room table was unable to be put together because where you screw in the legs was all sliced and cracked, there were gouges out of the sides of the table... needless to say, we were not happy. and so, we wait. wait for the chinese new year celebrations to be over so we can get our table delivered from apparently vietnam (?), and wait for our couch to get here finally... my butt is constantly numb from sitting on the floor. bahah. BUT, we have a bed. so that is good. and our couch SHOULD be here before we go on leave! YAY! other than that, the apartment is wonderful and we are loving it! my kitchen is getting lots of use, & i am loving that! i can't wait to get on some DIY projects once all the furniture is in place and i can truly envision the decor! pictures when everything is finally here :)

car ||
WE HAVE ONE! we were so blessed by a friend here in the Pacific Northwest to use his VW Tiguan until we were able to purchase a car, and a couple weeks ago WE DID! such a blessing. so happy to have our own vehicle! it is a like-new hyundai sonata... i believe 2011, but of course my husband would know all of the specs, so he will correct me if i'm wrong ;)
i'm not really a car person, more of a cross-over kinda girl, so when we have the blessing and abundance to get a second car for me, it will be more like a Ford Escape, or have looks like the amazing VW Tiguan that we were driving... except NOT a VW or anything that needs that expensive gas. holy there-must-be-gold-flecks-in-that-gas moly! i'll stick with american made and regular gas that is already too expensive, thank you very much!

life in general ||
is pretty sweet :) it is so wonderful to wake up and fall asleep next to my husband each night. finally. reintegration is still a transition, but we are so thankful for grace and grace abundantly, even though sometimes we forget to give it to eachother ;)... ya live and ya learn people, right? :)
we found a church that we are SO psyched about! and i am already linked into the volunteer schedule! hospitality is where it's at, people! i LOVE serving the Lord's church, making coffee and setting out pastries and smiling and laughing and meeting new people! we have only been going for three weeks, but i already feel like it's a home away from home! praise God :)

job ||
nothing nailed down yet. sad face.
i have put out resumes and called and stopped by and talked with managers and there is nothing. i interviewed with a home care agency to be their receptionist, they were awesome and the interview went so well and they said they would call either way by february first... it is now march 6th and guess what... have not heard a peep. it's safe to say i didn't get that job... i do have occasional babysitting jobs for a sweet little 3 month old girl, and it looks like that might turn into a regular position coming in May, but details have not been set in stone, so prayers that it would be solidified and nailed down would be so appreciated! i have LOVED every second of caring for her and it would be the perfect job for me! so i'm excited at the prospect and the offer! God's timing is perfect - and His ways are better than mine, so i keep my eyes on Him and my hope in His guidance and provision!

if there's anything updatey that i have missed... i will probably come back and have another chat with ya'll :) i wish you could come over and partake in some delicious home brewed iced coffee and home made cinnamon-chocolate chocolate chip scones with me and that we could chat face to face! (i knew what the foundation of scone making was, and i added a few things and spruced it up a bit to put a little b-type spin on it... they came out stinkin' delicious and my house smelt like a fairytale heaven all night last night.

oooo oh!!! oh! OH!!! i knew there was something else!
are you watching american idol? because my friend, Ang, remember all my posts with her youtube videos? well... SHE IS ON IT. so you stinking better be watching! and you better vote! it is MORE THAN EASY to do it! there are so many different ways! anywho - she was MADE for the stage! i am literally in tears everytime she is on... husb makes fun of me for crying, but i am just so happy for her and proud of her diligence and her talent and amazed by her humility and love for the Lord all the way through. so seriously, guys, support her :) she deserves it!

all those links in the Ang paragraph are her social media things - the one thing missing was her twitter and instagram - and if you want to follow her on those she is -- @AngieAI12  ... follow her journey :) support her, love her, encourage her, pray for her! she is going to do amazing things for the kingdom of God!! :)

i guess i'll head out for now... gunna sit on my patio and enjoy the.... urrrrr... cloudy day? haha... i just need fresh air people! :) & it is very nice to have a patio! can't wait to have flowers out there! <3 nbsp="" p="">
xo, b

oh by the way, still waiting on the dot-com, probably will not happen until i have a steady income so i can afford to invest in it! but it is still in the works in this little head of mine and the wheels are turning with lots of ideas and themes and i hope you won't be disappointed when i make the switch!!

be blessed, sweethearts!!!

four quick things...

1. henry is home! safe and sound. things have been wonderful, though it's a transition for sure, it's a welcome one, and we are so happy to be together, and smitten with eachother all over again.
2. i'm currently sitting here watching dawson's creek season 2 after eating a fabulous breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon, and honeydew melon, with coffee, and cranberry juice. and finally knitting myself a scarf!
3. please pray for my health... i have a horrible cold and sinus congestion, with nausea interspersed... hoping it doesn't turn into the flu. thankfully the husb made me go get my flu shot last night in an effort to nip it in the bud. he held my hand the whole time... and i basically broke it. (i hate needles... remember this post... well, not only do i not like blood, but i also don't like thinking about foreign things from vaccinations floating through my blood stream... yes, i have watched too many House and CSI episodes...) feeling on the up and up today, though! :) praise God!
4. excuse my silence recently and going forth... i'm working on getting a "dot-com" for the bloggy blog. anyone have suggestions for where to purchase one? and why you suggest them? hopefully in the next month i will have it up and running. i may also be taking a slight curve in content and mission in my writing... but hope you'll all follow me over to my "dot-com" when it happens! :) 

be blessed, beauties! 

miss you all!

xo

b

- something -

hey guys!! things are pretty great around here... have left south carolina (sad to be away from the nieces and my sister :() BUT, i'm in WA just playing the waiting game for the end of the deployment and the beginning of real married life! it's been a blessing to be here so far! :)
Christmas was fabulous... my younger sister surprised us by traveling to south carolina to spend the holiday with us! thanks to our AWESOME dad who bought her plane ticket down there! :) we wish he could have been there too... he's the best!

i wanted to check in over here, since it's been almost a month since my last post! hope you're all doing well! here's a fun little "something" post to catch you up on what's crackin'!

enjoy!
xo, b


something i am happy about - the wreath i just made for h + my door to our new apartment!
new friends here in WA!

something i am looking forward to - my honey being home, finally! & our first apartment.

something fun - dance parties with my nieces. hour long skype sessions with my husband that are full of pure laughter. drinking coffee (yup. that's fun!) crafting & knitting.

something cute -  kitty's with yarn. 
all the puppies i've been oogling over for the past couple weeks in search of our first pet :)
and, of course, henry! ;)

something positive - my heart is almost home. 
i get to spend time with new friends, 
and am blessed to stay with one of them for the duration of the time our husbands are deployed. 
all the support from family & friends. 
so much positivity :)

something to do - knit myself a nice cozy scarf, since all mine are chillin' in my dads house not being worn or even looked at! so sad! 
sorry scarves! and sorry dad! lol

something i am listening to -  Angie K. Miller's YouTube channel! on repeat! all the time!

something worth sharing -  this quote from "A Beautiful Offering" by Angela Thomas that i read today..

"God loves you so much.

He made a way through Jesus to save you for eternity. 

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gives us living instructions. 

God promises to bless that life. He calls it the kingdom life. 

The only way to live the kingdom life is through obedience to the instructions. 

Obedience is the narrow road. 

The road leads to God and becoming more like God. 

Obedience means that you keep walking toward God. No matter what. 

All you have to do is keep looking at God. 

In your weakness, look for God. 

In your failure, find His gaze.

In your imperfection, keep turning in His direction. 

You will stay on the narrow path when you have set your eyes on God."

something i am reading - the book of Ephesians
A Beautiful Offering - Angela Thomas
Jesus Calling (a devotional)  - Sarah Young

something i am watching - at the moment nothing... but have been watching Parenthood on Netflix! finished season 3 this weekend and have started season 4... hopefully finishing what's already aired of that soon so I can catch on with the episodes on TV! :)



be blessed, sisters! 

while shepherds watched their flocks

tomorrow is the day!!!
we'll be heading to charlotte tomorrow afternoon for the concert and i am just DYING of excitement!!

have you guys enjoyed hearing these songs and getting to know a new artist?
i hope so!!

i'm off to bed -

blessings, friends!

xo, b

A Labor of Love

this particular song has a really special message...

one that i will not soon forget, and one that a mother would probably understand more than i.

it was not a silent night,

there was blood on the ground.

you could hear a woman crying in the alleyway that night on the streets of david's town.

and the stable was not clean,

and the cobblestones were cold,

little mary full of grace, with the tears upon her face had no mother's hand to hold.

it was a labor of pain, there was a cold sky above,

for the girl on the ground in the dark,

every beat of her beautiful heart was a labor of love.

noble joseph by her side,

calloused hands and weary eyes,

there were no midwives to be found on the streets of david's town in the middle of the night,

so he held her and he prayed,

shafts of moonlight on his face,

but the baby in her womb, he was the maker of the moon,

he was the author of the faith that could make the mountains move.

it was a labor of pain, there was a cold sky above,

but for the girl on the ground in the dark, every beat of her beautiful heart was a labor of love.

little mary full of grace, with the tears upon her face, was a labor of love.

it was not a silent night on the streets of david's town.

doesn't that just say it all?

i love that picture painted of a rugged, weary joseph by mary's side in fervent prayer for his wife 

and the baby inside her!