Here are some pictures to look at...so let's pretend I haven't been gone so long!

So uh...hi there! I've been busy. And sort of ignoring my blog. I've actually opened it several times, created a few posts and then decided I didn't like them, so I never hit publish. Life has been rolling right along. Trips to family in Ohio, twice actually. Fourth of July and visiting with out of town family. Trip to Pennsylvania. Vacations. Work. We've been on the move. Please accept my apologies in not writing. Or don't. I suppose I can't really make you.

I'm sorry I actually don't have a topic to cover today as I need to leave in 10 minutes (life, it just won't slow down) but I wanted to say doooonnn't leeeeeave meeeeeee! And! Here are some pictures to keep you around for a little while longer. Until I update again. Soon (date to be determined).

Cat naps on a Saturday

Downtown Pittsburgh

Lovebirds nesting while visiting Saugatuck

Pure Michigan

I'll be back soon with lots of fun updates and news and hopefully a much longer post! Stay tuned!

My first Birchbox is here!

As an anniversary gift, my husband bought me a 3 month subscription for Birchbox. Which, if you've never heard of it, is a cute little box of goodies and products based off a little survey of what you like and dislike that is sent to your house every month. You can then review them for points which can earn you free things. For my hubby's birthday earlier this year, I had bought him a men's 3 month subscription. It was filled with colognes, shaving products, lotions, etc. One month he even got a little speaker for his phone made out of olive tree wood.

We returned from our mini-vacay in Saugatuck yesterday (entry coming later) to find it waiting for me. I couldn't wait to open it! While on the weekends I'm not a huge makeup girl, I do love me some pampering and sample products. Plus, pretty things!

So this is what I got this month:

1. Ruby Wing Color Changing Nail Polish by Peony. I absolutely love this color! My photo doesn't do it justice. It's a bright neon type orange that changes to a pink-ish coral neon in the sun. 

2. Simple Sensitive Skin Experts Revitalizing Eye Roll-On. A full size roll-on of cucumber extract and some other vitamins to reduce that puffiness you get under your eyes. Plus, it feels really nice going on as the roller ball is metal, so it's pretty cold going on your skin. (This one was the extra not on the card).

3. Skin & Co Roma Sicilian Body Gel. I haven't used it yet but it smells great!

4. Shu Uemura Essence Absolue Nourishing Protective Leave-In Oil. Again, as I just got the box yesterday, I haven't used this yet but I'm excited to try it. My hair could use a little TLC.

5. Juicy Couture La La perfume. I'm not a huge fan of perfume samples, which I let them know, but as this is my welcome box I'm betting it was sent before I had the time to fill out the survey to make them aware.

And there you have it! I think it's a great little gift to give or receive. Now I'm off to finish the last layer on my nails.

Edit: Adding my referral link if you are interested! Please let me know if you have any questions. http://birch.ly/12jbiTa 

Summer Plans

Well you guys, summer is upon us. Or, will be soon. June seems like it should be summer to me. I feel like it should be at least 70 degrees in Michigan right now. I'm not even that far north. But alas, it's a whole whopping 65 out right now. I actually do prefer cooler weather, and my favorite season is fall, but I want at least a mini summer experience before fall is here again. 72-75 degrees would be nice. Warm enough so that I can shut off my desk heater at work at least. Tank tops and shorts and flip flop weather, ya know?

Speaking of summer, the hubby and I have some plans for the upcoming months and I thought I'd share our first planned trip with you all.

For our 7th anniversary, we are headed to Saugatuck Michigan to enjoy a long weekend at a nice little B&B. Neither of us have been there before, or Holland for that matter, but we both enjoy the little downtown areas of Michigan, Lake Michigan and that general hippie/artsy/sailor-ish vibe that those types of locations ooze.

Pure Michigan: Saugatuck - check it out!

We plan to get there bright and early to take a roasting class at Uncommon Grounds. They offer several different types of classes, all 2 hours and 20 bucks per person. As my other half is a bit of a coffee snob and I enjoy the beautiful brown liquid (with much creamer) myself, it sounded like a fun thing to do to start our first morning off there. I like to support little coffee shops like that vs. big brand name places and I think it's great that they try to visit and get to know their farmers as well.

Not Uncommon Grounds, but delicious coffee
goodness none the less. Also, foodie Instagram photos!

We also plan to visit several restaurants in the area. This is a common thread on all our vacations. I'd say we probably spend more money of food vs. entertainment and souvenirs whenever we travel. Yes, I am that hipster foodie picture taker person. I will inflict you with multiple Instagram photos of our meals. I'm sorry...maybe. A couple of locations on our list to dine at are Salt of the Earth and Everyday People Cafe. These were suggested to us by the B&B owner so I will trust their judgement.

I will be doing a fair bit of reading during our visit too. (Any suggestions I can add to my list?) Had I planned better, I would have rented a small B&B cabin (which seems to be pretty popular in the area) and read on a cute little porch all day. However, as those were all sold out and/or I'm not willing to throw down a thousand dollars for a few days, I will either be reading in a cute little (and I do mean little) B&B bedroom or perhaps will stake out a location that I can call my own for a few hours downtown. Either way, I will enjoy it.

The count down is on! What are you doing this summer?

Thinking about making a change

Children are a blessing. So I've heard. However, they were not in the picture of my immediate future for a long time. My husband and I married young, on purpose. We were in love and contrary to what some might have believed, did not have a bun in the oven. This June we will be celebrating our seventh anniversary. It hardly seems possible. I've been with him for over a decade. Sometimes if feels to me as if it were just a few years ago we started dating. He's for sure, my best friend and wins the best hubby award too. I am still constantly bragging about him to everyone I know and I think the world of him. I am still so in love with him and excited to see him at the end of the day. I'm really proud of that too. Of our relationship and the things we've conquered together. We've really learned about communication and how each other works but still find out, even after seven years, there is always something new you can learn about a person. I attribute most of the good things I've done or had or been given in my life to him. It all has been perfect, in an imperfect world. I wouldn't take back a second of it.

So...children. Babies. When is the right time? This is a question we've struggled with for a while now. Why mix it up? Why change something that is just so perfect right now for the both of us? For at least five years, I don't think it was even in the picture for me. As in, I didn't allow myself to think about it because, COLLEGE and then WORK and then FUN (and I can finally afford it). It was just some off in the future thought like retirement. I would maybe say random comments about these far off future events such as, "When we have kids" and "I hope my kid does/says/is...". You get the idea. That's about as far as I really got in the whole process. I have some friends who have had children for almost as long as my marriage. I have some who have no children and don't plan to for a while. I know what both sides of the whole thing looks like. I've in theory known I wanted kids but not really, in actual real life.

Then, about six months ago, I started to feel like my days were on repeat. Not that I've seen the movie, but I was experiencing Groundhog's Day. Wake up, get ready for work, work, come home and take care of things and then go to bed. Rinse and repeat. I still love my life, don't get me wrong, but it almost felt pointless. Like, it's moving by faster each day and I need to slow down and be mindful of every moment. I need to do something bigger than me. I don't want to say it feels like something is missing, because I'm very happy with how things are now, but I wouldn't mind something new coming around either. For months now, I've been staring at pregnant women who walk by me and reading All. The. Things...articles and opinion pieces about pregnancy and children. I have stacks of books on various topics and I sometimes feel like I can't read enough. Like if I keep reading, I'll figure out some unknown secret to myself. Am I ready? Do I feel ready? What is ready, exactly? Is one ever really ready? Should I want this more? Should I plan even more? Do I really want to change such a good thing we've got going? How risky is it to wait a few more years? Etc. etc. etc.

The hubby and I came up with a date six months ago. We decided, this magical, golden date was when we would start trying. Both of us with a little hesitation, for probably different reasons. Since then, I've allowed myself to open up to this idea and feel like I've been completely obsessed with it ever since. I am pretty positive I've waaaay over-thought the whole thing and then worried about that a little more. I've talked it to death with a few friends and please nobody look up my Google history. I am trying to take all the perfect, planned out steps. I realize not everyone functions this way, but it works for me. I'm comforted by it because it's the only part of this whole thing that I have control over. I've been taking prenatals for a while, because that's what you are supposed to do. I recently had my preconception visit with my OBGYN, because that's what you are supposed to do. And the next step...the "trying" phase. A phase of life that on some days, I am so sure I want it I can see the chubby cute baby that I will tickle and kiss and admire its fat rolls. While still yet on other days, I hope I'm not cutting a really great phase of my life short. Of our life. I'm still excited though. We both are. The anticipation of the unknown. What a mix of emotions, already. I know the future will only bring more.

I'd be interested to hear where were you in life on this jumping off point, assuming you were planning it? What did ready feel like for you? Is anyone else really excited and terrified all at once? Was there a moment when you realized it was right? Just me? Tell me about it.

Randomness with a cherry on top

I have a feeling this is going to be a really random post. I just know it before I even start. I'm writing without a purpose but yet have a bunch of things I want to share. So I'm saying sorry right off. But really, I'm not sorry. So, sorry about that.

***

First off, looking at my audience on this blog is fun:

Apparently Canada and Russia dig me?

Not that I'm aiming for anyone in particular, but I suppose I thought the United States might at least show up on the map? Eh? Eh? Vodka anyone?

***

In other news, I've been hit with this strong desire to scan in my old photos and share them with others. They've been in a box, tucked away in my closet for years and now I neeeeed to have other people see them. Look at how cute we were! O.M.G., look at my tiny, non-existent tummy. And I thought I was chubby, good Lord. Can you BELIEVE our hair? Why would my mother do that to me? 

Bangs and a perm? Seriously mom, whyyyyyyy?

***

Today I have the plan to go look at some chairs for my living room with a friend. Chairs I've needed for about...four years now? Don't judge. I'm just a slow interior designer. I want it to look perfect. And I'm lazy. In June it will have been four years since we've moved into our house and while we have a couch we bought to fit the living room right away, we never got around to a couple of chairs to finish it off. I mean, I like the open look but it's a bit awkward when we have people over and they have to sit on the floor. It drives me batty and makes it feel all dorm room around here and I desperately want an adult living room. So I'm at least taking the first step in looking. Go me.

***

I've recently been trying to go gluten and dairy free. Not that I'm a celiac or lactose intolerant, but my body doesn't seem to like them. So of course, I love them. We are like two third grader best friends. I hate you, but hey, want to have as slumber party? Breadsticks and cheesy sauce? OKAY. I could survive on bread and cheese and oh, how I love my coffee creamer. We have a RELATIONSHIP. So it has been difficult. All, four days of it. I'm not planning a huge life change or anything. I'm not going all Gwyneth. I just want to see if it helps. I kind of hope it doesn't, but at the same time I hope it does. If I can stick to it. Jury is still out and don't get your hopes up is what I'm saying.

***

So the hubby and I went to Philly and NYC over the weekend. My first time to both places. I loved both, for different reasons. I really enjoy older architecture and the history of a city. Which is probably why I like Europe so much and you could feel that in bits and pieces of Philly. And New York, oh how I enjoy a big city. Choices, which I don't really have where I live, really attract me. Choices of places to eat and shop. Choices of entertainment and events going on every week. Diversity. Options. People watching. Places still open after 9 p.m.

Hotel room view

Sometimes I feel like we were meant to live in a big city, but picking up and leaving what you've known for most your life is hard. It's comfortable here. Safe. I know what to expect. But oh, the longing for what I don't have. Grass is always greener, I suppose.  

***

I need to go take a shower. I want to grab another cup of coffee (with my coconut milk french vanilla creamer). Furniture shopping is impending. Must Pinterest to get ideas. Wish me luck.

The Hair Cliffhanger Is Over

So uh...hi there? How's things been? Good for you? Good here too...so good I just haven't been bothered to post about it. You thought I was quitting, didn't you? Well, ha-ha! Not just yet. However, I regret to say I don't have a fabulous long update since I've been gone, but I've got something at least.

So lets see, the big hair decision, I believe that was the big (so not big) cliffhanger I left off on. Did I do it? Why, yes I did. In the end I figured I've thought about it enough, I might as well do it. (Or, told enough people that I'd feel stupid if I didn't go through with it). If I really hated it...well, then I would just remember this little life lesson I've learned. Happy to say, however, that I do quite like it. My hair stylist dyed my hair closer to its natural color and with those two changes, I feel like I could almost pass for a different person.

No?

Here...let's try another...

Maybe?

Well hey, I at least think I look different. And I like it. So there. I'm learning what to do with it now in the mornings. It takes approximately a bajillion less minutes to do, which I so love and I'm working on several different ways I can style it. I am officially part of the pixie club now. Does that come with a special ID card? Does anybody know?

In other breaking news, the hubby and I spent almost a week in Napa and it was fabulous! Much dining and wandering and buying of material things commenced. That'll have to be a post for another day though. Many pictures to come. I promise...if I get around it it.

And with that, I leave you hanging again. There is one last piece of my mom's apple pie left on the counter from Sunday and it's not just going to eat itself. 

Gossip

I grew up learning that gossip was a bad thing. It is not something to be proud of. I heard a lot about it in Sunday school and how it shouldn't be done. It is a sin. Yet, I grew up hearing all those same people and other "adults" in my life do it every day. I've heard various comments, "Oh, it's not gossip if you care about the person", or, "I'm not gossiping...but...". Everyone does it. Some, more than others. But what divides us up into the nosy neighbor category vs. just the average person? What amount of gossip is acceptable? Is it when a person starts judging actions and isn't just sharing a story? Is it only gossip after it repeats itself multiple times from the same person? What defines telling a story about someone vs. gossiping about them? Are we not to talk about other people, like, ever? Wouldn't that just make us self-centered and narcissistic? Isn't that bad too?

This is just my brain over-analyzing the topic. I bring this all up because I recently watched a fascinating TED talk about the sociology of gossip. (A little background here - I've been interested in sociology since I was FORCED to take a mandatory soc class in high school. I find other people really interesting. People watching is fun, seriously! (No, I'm not a creeper). Why people do what they do in a group or how people are affected by other people sucks me in. So, sociology of gossip? Heck yeah I'm going to watch it!

I really liked how the speaker pulled together the two topics. Now to be clear, she's talking celebrity gossip. Which I may or may not find myself reading every day...and I may or may not have several links saved as my favorites...and for some reason always feel a little bit guilty about reading...

Here, go watch for yourself! (It's a wee bit long, about 20 minutes, so I'll go grab a coffee and wait for you).

What did you think? I'm curious to know. The folks I'm around every day (the husband) mostly find celebrity gossip pointless. They'll say it's mush or all fake. (However, even if it IS all fake, if I'm entertained, what's the difference from reading a fictional novel?) Buttt, here's the thing, I'm pretty sure it's not all fake. Pictures of people in certain places are points in their life that are actually happening. Princess Kate and Jessica Simpson are both having babies. Really! That's not fake. And I'm reading and looking at everything I can get my hands on about it. This video just hits home for me though. WHY am I interested in celebrity babies? What is so fascinating about females and their actions in society? Why am I drawn to reality tv, even when I know it's not real reality? This is totally a bigger thing that I hadn't realized I was doing...and this video made that connection.

Next time I pick up an Us Weekly or check out EOnline, I don't think I'll feel such mixed emotions about it now.