Five Question Friday {Linky Party}

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Hi Friends! Today I'm joining {Five Crooked Halos} linky party Five Question Friday!

Five Question Friday

1. Will you run to the store looking like a mess? Absolutely! Unless I'm going somewhere after work when I'm already "ready", I could care less if I look like a mess running to Target or the grocery store. Literally, no makeup, hair not brushed, and some thrown on comfy clothes. Yup, no shame.

2. Do you finish a book if it's boring or you don't like it? Generally no. I have before though. You know when you start reading a book that you hoped would be amazing and you keep reading and reading...thinking it'll get better...but it doesn't. When I don't finish a book that is boring or that I don't like, it's because I feel that I could be doing some much more enjoyable than reading a book I don't fully enjoy.

3. Beach or mountain vacations? Can I say both? If I had to choose one it would be beach for sure. But over the past few years {especially since my best friend moved to Colorado} I've been really enjoying hiking up the mountains and taking in the incredible views. Maybe I could go on a vacation where they have beaches and mountains?? Why not.

4. What thing/event says, "Winter will end and spring is right around the corner" to you? All of a sudden there's people...and a lot of them. Just the other day when Andrew and I went for a run we were commenting on where they all come from?? {it's Minneapolis...so yes...obviously there's a lot of people living in the city} It's crazy because during the winter, everyone is such a homebody. It's so refreshing to see people out walking their dogs, laying in the grass, enjoy a nice cold beer on a patio bar...I could go on and on. Ahhhh spring is in the air! 

5. Would you prefer couples or family vacation? Since Andrew and I have only taken family vacations over the past six years, we've been talking lately about how nice it would be to take just a couples vacation...just him and me. That would be quite splendid :).

Well, that's all folks! :)

{Spring} Forward

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I am loving anything maxi for spring! Here is a recent outfit I put together for this amazing weather we've been having lately. :)

{Forever 21 Maxi Dress, Gap Blazer, Heartbreakers necklace, Francesca Collection's watch}

My Fifty List {Week Six}

Pin It I'm not going to lie...it's starting to get a little harder to think of things I love doing. I still have just a little under halfway to go though. I suppose I need to keep my brainstorming going! :) 

What would be on YOUR fifty list? :)

10 Day You Challenge {Day Four: Four Books}

Pin It Today is day four of the 10 Day You Challenge: Four Books. I've always enjoyed reading a good book, but I hadn't truly started appreciating them until about three years ago. When I fall in love with a book, I become completely engrossed in it and can't put it down until I finish. Here are four {of many} books I've loved reading thus far.

1. Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer. Yes, I'm your classic case of being a Twi-hard. I read the series much later than most, but once I started, I read all of them within a couple of weeks. My favorite book of the series was Breaking Dawn though. It gave me literally everything I was hoping it would give me. I was completely captivated by it. Mmmmm makes me want to read it again.

2. The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein. If you're a dog lover, you'll love this book. But be prepared...it's a tear jerker. It's about Enzo, a dog, who believes he will be reincarnated as a man once he dies. He goes through all of life's struggles with his "family", giving hope and courage throughout difficult times. It's a very well written story {but again, be prepared to cry.}

3. The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins. Definitely a captivating trilogy. I read the first book within three days. The first book was definitely my favorite. In my opinion, the last two were a bit repetitive. But I still read them, so that has to mean something, right?

4. The Pact by Jodi Picoult. A tragic love story at its finest. This book is about two teenagers who knew each other since they were little kids...and then grew into something more. Emily {the main female character} experiences life's pressures and develops suicidal thoughts. This heart-rendering story goes through the ups and down of two young souls that will be sure to move you {again be prepared to cry.} This is one of my favorite books I've ever read.

Well there you have it friends! Please let me know if you have anymore questions about the books that I've shared. And if you have any books YOU recommend, I'd love to hear! :)

The Type of Mother {I think} I'll Be

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No, I'm not engaged or married yet {though it'll happen soon :)} but the topic of "mommy hood" has come up a lot in my posts. Why? Because being a mother is truly the ultimate goal I have for my life. I've always known even since I was a little girl that I wanted to be a care giver. It's instinctual. Lately, I've been thinking a lot about what will happen once a little one comes. What type of mother will I really be? 

Here are a few things I do know. I'll give my entire self to my children {almost to a fault}. Nothing will be more important than for me to protect, care, and love these little beings that are made from me. I will sacrifice whatever I can do make sure that my children have everything they ever dreamed of...selflessly giving my entire being to them. My sister-in-law {who I hope to be a lot like as a mother} quoted what type of mother she is...and believe I will be as well...

"I'm an attachment parenting/bed sharing/breastfeeding/make-your-own baby food/cloth diapering type of parent, and I absolutely love it!"

I also know I will be protective {don't mess with momma and her cub}. I already know by how protective I am of my dogs, that I'll have to work on easing up a bit {normally every year we go to Cabo over Christmas and my parents always watch them. Well this year my family planned to go to KS to visit my brother and his family. My mom had "asked" if she could leave the girls with the dog-sitter they were using and have used before. I panicked and got all nervous thinking they'd be left alone with a {gasp} stranger...and ultimately I think I made my mom feel bad (bad bad me) so she ended up taking them along on their road trip to KS} And these are DOGS we are ultimately talking about. Hence why I know I'll be crazily protective of my children.

I also know that I want {no need} to be a stay at home mom...well at least until they go to school. I don't judge in any way women who work and also have children, but it's just not for me. I remember when I started working full time after college, and how bad I felt about leaving my dogs {again why I know it'll get even worse when it's my children}. I was fortunate {and unfortunate...due to health issues} to have both my parents around all the time while growing up. I couldn't imagine leaving my children to go to work...I could miss out on so much!! I know how quickly children grow {from witnessing my nieces and nephew and my dear friend Amanda's daughter} and I can't imagine not being around for everything.

What I don't know {and tend to go back and forth on} is what type of mom I'll be when it comes to discipline. Will I be the stern mom that wants to instill lessons learned and in a sense be the "bad guy" sometimes. Or will I be the mom that can't say no to my children...and have to let daddy deal with it. I want to believe I'll be a little of both {hopefully}, because I already know I don't want to just be my children's best friends, but I also want them to know they can come to me for anything. I think it'll be a fine line between the two. 

Ultimately I'll have no way of knowing exactly what type of mommy I'll be until it happens. But I do know I'll be the absolutely best mother I can possibly be. I can't wait to meet my future children.

 {I hope you know I dream about you every day....}

10 Day You Challenge {Day Three: Three Films}

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Today is day three of the Ten Day You Challenge: Three Films. I love LOVE movies. There's just something so magical about getting lost in a movie and forgetting about the reality of life for a couple of hours. So here are three {of many} movies I love.

1. Liar Liar. Classic movie! I grew up watching this movie over and over and over again! Still to this day, I can recite almost the entire movie. Hands down the BEST Jim Carrey movie {Ace Ventura comes in close second!}

 

2. Independence Day. Again, another classic movie I grew up with. I don't know what it is with me and sci-fi movies...but I love them! I HATE scary movies though. So it's strange...I know. I can't even count how many times I've watched this movie.

3. Under the Tuscan Sun. I'm a girl, so yes, I love sappy love stories. But this movie is definitely one of my favorites. It's portrayed in such a real and raw way that makes you feel that you are going through what Diane Lane's character {love her!} is going through. Every time I watch this movie, I want to just pack everything up and move to Tuscany and buy a villa. No, but really.

What are some of YOUR favorite films? :)

Wisdom Wednesday

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Today I'm going to share with you for Wisdom Wednesday, quotes that my mom has sent me over the past few weeks. My mom's always sending me inspirational messages she finds. :)

"Every person goes through struggles in life. Some are great and some do not seem so important. But they are the lessons we have to learn. We do that through choice. In order to have a good life, and thus a good death. I tell people to make their choice with the goal of unconditional love..." ~ Elizabeth Kubler Ross

 "Timing can be frustrating. We can wait for something to happen and it seems to be forever until it comes to pass. Or, suddenly, an event or circumstance is thrust upon us, catching us by surprise. Believing that things happen too slowly or too quickly is an illusion. Timing is perfect." ~ Debbie Glessing

 "Nothing lasts. There is noway of getting all you want. You can't have anything unless you let go of it. You only get to keep what you give away. There is no particular reason why you lost out on some things. The world is not necessarily just. Being good doesn't always pass off. You have a responsibility to do your best anyway. There are no great women/men. If you have a hero - look again: you have diminished yourself in some way. Everyone lies, cheats, and pretends sometimes. In everything exists both positive and negative. All of you is worth something. Progress is an illusion. Each of us is ultimately alone. Love is not enough, but it sure helps. We have only ourselves and one another. We must live with the ambiguity of partial freedom, partial power and partial knowledge. All important decisions must be made on the basis of insufficient data. We are responsible for everything we choose. We must learn to live with our helplessness. We are free to do whatever we like - we must only face the consequences. Learn to forgive yourself again and again and again." ~ Debbie Glessing

 Well that's all folks! Happy Wednesday! :)