Top 2 Tuesday: Fall

I haven't participated in Taylor's Top 2 Tuesday in awhile...but I am going to do it this week since I LOVE fall and I am so excited for it to be here!!

Top 2 favorite things about fall

1. The color's changing.

In Michigan we have the best of all worlds when it comes to seasons, but fall has to be the best!! The colors are great. I have seen a few trees that are already starting to change, but the majority should be starting in the next few weeks here! I can't wait.

I love the crisp air in the morning and the cool breeze! It is so nice to turn the A/C off and open the windows at night.
2. Halloween!
I love everything about Halloween. Halloween was always a big deal in our house growing up. My dad, sister, and I would trick-or-treat like it was our job! Now I get excited about dressing Blake up, even though he doesn't quite get it yet....next year for sure!!

This is my cute little pumpkin from last year!!
I also like to decorate for fall. I have been itching to break out the decorations, and now that Labor Day is here and gone I think that I just might!!

Top 2 Tuesday: Favorite Things About Summer

It's time for Taylor's Top 2 Tuesday...

Top 2 Favorite Things About Summer

1. 4th of July: The 4th of July is one of my fav holidays. I love everything about it. A long weekend off of work, being outside, food, fireworks.....

2. Being at the lake: My parents live on a lake, so we spend LOTS of time there over the summer...and I love it. Last year Blake was pretty young to really enjoy it...but this summer he will love playing on the beach, swimming, boating, etc. Blake just chillin on the boat last summer...he looks SO different now!

Check out more here!

Top 2 Tuesday...Fav items under $15

It's time again for Taylor's Top 2 Tuesday!

Top 2 items under $15

This is a fun topic for me...b/c I LOVE to get a good deal! My picks today are summer items...because I am SO ready for summer!!

1. Sunglasses from Forever 21. They are $5.80 per pair!! Amazing. They have LOTS of styles to pick from...and at a mere $5.80 each you can pick a few! This is good for me, b/c I love big shades, but I have a tendency to loose them...so pricey shades just do not work for me!!

2. Layering tanks from Old Navy for $5.99 each!! I wear these a LOT in the summer months. Usually 2 at a time...over my bathing suit and on the way to the lake. They are nice and long and super comfortable!!

OK....check out more steals here!!

Top 2 Tuesdays: things you cant live without

Tuesday again, so Taylor is hosting:

Top 2 things you cant live without

(ok....these are not my TOP2, I am not thinking along the lines of Ryan, Blake, family, faith, food, water, roof overe our head, etc.)
1. Lipstick/Lip gloss

I seriously HAVE to wear lipstick all of the time. My lips feel naked without something on them. I am not one for just clear chap stick either...I like color and shine! Lipstick makes such a difference in my appearance. I have pretty small lips, so they need a pop of color!! I typically where both stick and gloss at the same time...a bottom layer of lipstick and a top coat of shiny gloss!! I reapply frequently throughout the day!!

2. Caffeine!

I wake up and have coffee.....I drink coffee until lunch time, and then I switch to diet coke. Pretty much have caffeine ALL DAY LONG. I don't function well without it! I had a hard time when I was preggers for Blake...I had to switch to tea and caffeine free diet coke...just not the same!! I KNOW that I should be drinking water....but I just love my coffee and dc!!

Hop over here for more!!

Top 2 Tuesday...Names

It is time again for Top 2 Tuesday. This week the theme is Names...particularly baby names. We aren't in NEED to a baby name right now, but it is always fun to think about! We didn't pick Blake William's name until he was about 1 day old. We went in to labor with a few names in mind...but Blake wasn't really even one of them! We were thinking either Benjamin (Ben) or William (Will)....but we love Blake and think that it fits our peanut perfectly!

Top 2 Favorite Names

Here is what I think at the moment...and it changes very frequently! AND, Ryan and I have not really talked about these...so this is just me!!

1.) For a girl I like Chloe. I just think that it is such a cute name....

2.) For a boy I like Max. I have liked this name for a long time...but Ryan's fam had a dog named Max...so can I really name a child the same name as a dog (who is not deceased, by the way)?!

I think that boys names are harder. I love LOTS of girls names and a girl can fit into a "cutesy" name for her entire life. A boy has to have a cute name that grows into a manly name...you know?!?

Now, head on over to Taylor's blog and check out more!

Top 2 Tuesday - Stores

It is time for Taylor's Top2Tuesday's again. The theme this week is:

Top 2 Favorite Stores

1. Forever 21

Probably should outgrow this one any day now seeing that I am WAY over 21..but you just can't beat those deals! Cute tops for 10-12 bucks...jewelry for less than 5 buck. I mean, if you wear them only ONE TIME you get your $$'s worth!

2. Target

I have to stop myself from going to Target unless I am on a mission. I can waste some serious cash in Target. From clothes, to shoes, to baby stuff, to home decor, and makeup...they have it all; and it is ALL cute!

Top2Tuesday...TV Shows

Tuesday again...so it's time for Taylor's Top2Tuesday!

Top 2 Tuesdays
Top 2 Favorite TV Shows

This one is hard for me...because I have a LOT of fav tv shows!! But I narrowed it down to the top 2 at the moment :)

1.) The Bachelor....

I have watched the Bachelor all along since the beginning. Some seasons are better than others...but I ALWAYS watch. This season is one of those that isn't so great...mainly b/c I think that Jake is a giant dork...but EVERY Monday I am glued to the tv :)

2.) Real Housewives of OC/NY/NY..etc. I watch them ALL...but the OC is my favorite. Although, the cast sure does change a lot fro season to season! haha....

(all images from google)

I have other favorites...and I must watch the following:

Big Brother...can't wait until it is back on!

Survivor

Teen mom/16 and Pregnant

Amazing Race

American Idol

Top Chef

Project Runway

(you get the idea...pretty much all reality tv)!!

Check out more here :)

Dream Vacay....

It is time again for Taylor's Top2 Tuesday! The theme this week is Vacation...and I am SO ready for one!

Top Two
Dream Vacations

1. Bora Bora:

The most beautiful island in the world...yes please! Dont these pictures look GREAT!? I would love to go and just relax...ahhh!! I am totally one of those people that can lay in the sun all day and read. Some people have to go-go-go...but not me!

2. Hawaii!

I have never been...but would love to go. It is hard for us here in MI, beacue the flight is SO long. We went to Jamiaca last year and were there in less than 3 hours. For Hawaii we would have to add on 2 whole days for travel...but someday we will!


If I am going on a vacation I want to to be hot and tropical!

I am SO ready for some HOTT waether....we are getting MORE snow today...so I will just have to sit here and dream :)

Top 2 Tuesday...Jobs

It's Tuesday again...so time for Taylor's Top2!

My Top 2 Dream Jobs are...

OK, honestly I do have a pretty kick-a job, and I have no room to complain. I graduated from college with a degree in Commercial Recreation and Marketing. I went on to finish my Masters in General Admin. Right after graduation I worked for Special Olympics Michigan for 2 years. I LOVED that job and felt SO good about what I was doing. However, there were some major burnout issues. I felt as if I could work forever, and there was still work to be done. AND, lets be realistic, the money in non-profits is not very good. If money wasn't an issue, I may have stayed there longer.

NOW I work in Alumni Relations as my alma mater as an event planner. This is a GREAT job. I LOVE planning events...and I have a very flexible schedule.

SO..I will say that it is a Dream Job, however I would make a few changes.

1.) EVENT PLANNER (with a few changes from my current position)...I would not have to deal with budget, I would have an unlimited amount of money to spend, I would have an assistant, I wouldn't have to fret about guest lists and making sure that I had enough people at my events!

and...

2.) STAY AT HOME MOM...I do get very envious of all mama's that get to stay home with their pumpkins and play all day. BUT, I don't really know if I could do it. And...I guess it wouldn't be playing all day. OK, if I was a SAHM in a perfect world, I would also have a housekeeper, chef, shopper, etc.

Top 2 Tuesday: Movies

Today I am taking party in Taylor's Top 2 Tuesday's. Today the theme is Movies!

Honestly...I don't want that many movies anymore. I have no time..and a short attention span :)...BUT, here are 2 that rank right up there for me.

Top Two Favorite
Movies are.....

My 1st love is Dirty Dancing. This was the first rated pg-13 movie that I ever saw. I don't think that I really "got it" all back then. BUT, every time that it is on TV now I find myself watching it (and we know that it is on TV like EVERY weekend)...'Nobody puts baby in the corner'....sigh. This movie just makes me wanna dance! And wear white high waisted jeans and keds (ok, maybe not...lol)

Another of my favs is The Sweetest Thing. This movie makes me giggle...for some reason it just strikes my funny bone. Cameron Diaz and Christina Applegate are so goofy in this movie...makes me wanna be their friend :)

OK...now head over to Jimmy Choo's and Baby Too! and join in on the Tuesday fun!

Top 2 Tuesdays! Recipes

Taylor at Jimmy Choos and Baby too is trying something new this week! She has asked that we link up and share 2 of our favorite recipes. I am always looking at new recipes…so I thought that I would link up and share some of mine!

I have been trying to plan my week’s dinners in advance to save some hassle mid-week when I am not in the mood to think after work. Here are two that our family likes:

Spaghetti Bake….
Who doesn’t like spaghetti?!!? WELL...this spaghetti recipe is better that just plain old noodles and sauce….and you always have the ingredients at home. I sometimes substitute ground beef or turkey for the sausage…and it is just as good!! Find recipe here.

And

Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff
OK….if you would have told me a year ago that I would have eaten (and liked) this I would have told you NO WAY (beacuse of the name alone). BUT, I am trying to cook “outside of the box” for my hubs, since I didn’t use much meat (esp. red) before he was in the picture. AND I have been trying to use my crock pot…because that just makes things SO much easier. Ryan goes in to work at 6 a.m. and gets home at 4:45 p.m. I get home at 5, and needless to say, he is hungry like NOW…so the less work I have to do after 5 and before I get dinner on the table the better!

This recipe is super good and super easy b/c you use one of those slow cooker season packets…boil some egg noodles....and ta-da…dinner on the table! Find info on this recipe here.