SPRING FEVER = SHOPPING

Right now Hubby and I are stationed in a small town located in mid-eastern Illinois for work. Let me state two very important facts right up front: 1) I'm a little stir-crazy because I'm in a hotel room for most of the day. 2) It's cold here. Like REALLY cold. I'm getting that spring fever kick. I know, it's January, but I'm ready for warmth. Anyways, since it's a small town there's not lots to do. When I have a chance to drive the car (a.k.a. when Hubby is home in the evenings) I try and get out so I don't have to check myself into an asslyum. The two major stores in town are Walmart and Kohl's. There's only so many times you can go to Walmart so recently I've been browsing at Kohl's. Hubby is a big believer in Kohl's. He loves Kohl's because he gets great deals. I've sorta had a love hate relationship with Kohl's. Sometime their clothes are great and sometimes not. Sometimes I can find the right size and sometimes I can't. But today I found some cuties that I actually LIKE! Maybe it's because there aren't any stores around or maybe it's because I've just hit the jackpot with Kohl's. Who knows (insert shrug)?! Here are some of my favorite finds I'm hoping to add to my wardrobe:

A comfy hoodie, I'm always game for nautical inspired prints:

SO Striped Henley Hoodie $19.99

Pretty peach sundress: 

City Triangles Floral Eyelet Dress $53.99

Bunny tee. A note about me, I've always loved bunnies. They're just plain adorable:

Princess Vera Wang Bunny Tee $13.60

 This navy lace dress with the bow belt is darling:

City Triangles Lace Dress $46.99

I love colors. I love birds. I prefer gold over silver = perfect necklace:

Princess Vera Wang Gold Tone Bird Link Long Necklace $18.20

Yellow is my favorite crush color and these little anchors are so springy (is that a word?):

LC Lauren Conrad Anchor Drop Earrings $9

Thanks for shopping with me! Are you ready for spring? What kinds of things are you loving right now?

Love,
Bethany V.

Colorado Christmas!

Going back home for Christmas was wonderful, warm and fuzzy, and a tad crazy! It was our first time back to Colorado after four months of being married and there were lots of peeps to see and things to do. We managed to fit it all in though! I'm thankful Bret and I decided to do "our" Christmas before we left. It really made our first Christmas special and established our traditions as a couple, I think. Our favorite part of being back home was watching all the nieces and nephews open their gifts. The excitement is contagious and their raptures (or disinterest) over gifts is wildly entertaining. Who needs TV?! Both of our parents had lots of food and more Christmas gifts for us to open (we had already had a couple "early" Christmases, lol). They really do spoil us completely!

     

         
 Fun times with my mom, brother Nathan, and sisters Joelle and Meagan......

 The dog, Misty and my big brother Andy

The guys doing some clean up after the Christmas dinner

 

baby Eric and my little main squeeze Maddie Cakes

 Ben and Eric, the nephews, are such a hoot together......

Sophie fell in love with Uncle Bret

and Will takes after daddy with his funny bone!

 Our parents....sorry Bob I didn't snap one of you!

Cold, happy and in love! It was a great time and we loved every minute of being back in our home town. Can't believe Christmas 2013 is JUST twelve months away, ha. Hope you and your families had a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year as well!

*dear family, I tried to get a picture in of everyone. Please don't take offense if you don't see more than one photo of you (or in Bob's case, none) we love you ALL dearly!! Okay, that's my disclaimer. xoxo

Love,
Bethany V.

25...last day

Today is my last day to be twenty-five and to a certain extent I am sad. Sad because I liked being twenty-five and well, it just had a nice ring to it. Plus, some of the best things in my lift happened in my twenty-fifth year (getting married for one!). So, instead of shedding a tear on waving goodbye to twenty-five I have decided to write up twenty five things I'm thankful for (please note they aren't written in order of importance.....well number 1 is:

1. My Hubby - he leaves little sticky notes for me to find when he's gone. He loves me when I've broken the budget and I'm grumpy. He makes me laugh! He's killer in a pair of jeans and cowboy boots and well, he's my Man! I adore him and I'm so thankful God brought us together.
2. My Family - they are the best. They're funny, smart, talented, and oh so wonderful. I wouldn't be who I am without them.
3. Our Little House - I've loved nesting. Today I realized how blessed I am to have a little place to call home. It's a wonderful feeling.
4. My slippers - my Hubby bought me a pair for Christmas and my feet have never been happier.
5. A Washer and Dryer - as much as I love "Little House on the Prairie", I like using a washer and dryer.
6. My Kitchen-Aid - it's wonderfully easy to whip up cookies!
7. The Lord - without Him I couldn't' have made it through this year or any of them. He is my strength and song.
8. Phones - I can't imagine not being able to talk to family or only hearing from them every six month because the mail was so slow. I love that I get to keep in touch with friends and family even though I'm miles away.
9. A bed - a warm bed with sheets and pillows. A real luxury.
10. Nutella - not much else needs be said :)
11. My camera - documenting life as it goes by.
12. Flowers - they have to be in here! I love how beautiful and colorful they are. I'm always in raptures over them!
13. Macaroni and Cheese - what can I say, I'm a kid at heart!
14. Freedom - something I take for granted.
15. New Traditions - I'm having fun creating new traditions with my Hubby.
16. Instagram - I love the instant connection with my sisters and friends! Love you guys!
17. My little Nieces and Nephews - they brighten my life with their personalities! I adore being an auntie.
18. Hobby Lobby - a place to let creativity run wild - yay!!
19. Classic, Old Movies - thank you Hubby for introducing me to these. They're wonderful and wholesomely good (I don't think wholesomely is a word, but oh well.)
20. A Hair Dryer - okay don't laugh. I'm pretty happy how quickly this speeds up my life.
21. Candles - they're calming, romantic, aromatic.....wonderful.
22. Happy Childhood - I'm blessed to have lovely memories with my siblings. My parents did a great job raising us. Home was happy, fun and I got to have an imagination as kid, something I hope to pass onto my kids someday.
23. Music - it fills the empty place in the heart with a song.
24. Birds - they're beautiful free creatures.
25. My Twenty-Fifth Year - filled with so many firsts for me! My first love, my first Valentines, my first (and last time :) planning a wedding, my first four-wheeling adventure, my first kiss, my first time being a wifey, and my first time to Hawaii. Yes, it's been a good year!!! I welcome my twenty-sxith year with open arms!

If you made it to the end, I congratulate you. :)

Love,
Bethany V.