The Night We Stayed At Aqua

I spoke last week about a hotel that we had to book the day of, because our hotel that we booked in Miami was the absolute worst!

Slight mistake turned into a big plus for us. 

We decided to drive into Fort Lauderdale to stay the night.  It sure didn't hurt that we had had our fill of Miami, and didn't really want to spend another night there, just to eat overpriced food.  We had this sweet little boutique hotel that we found just one block from the beach, and a mile and half from some restaurants.  And to say we were starving when we got there was an understatement.  I finally got my gigantic greasy delicious cheeseburger.

Anyway, back to the hotel.  Cutest little hotel ever.  Customer service was absolutely fantastic.  She even offered me a shot of whiskey!  No lie.  It had two pools, and the back pool was as quiet as could be.  We grabbed our books and sat poolside with some vodka.

 

 

 

If I had a studio apartment, this is pretty much exactly what it would like.  Hints of turquoise/aqua everywhere, the great sink in the bathroom, the super comfy bed ( I promise that it was!), and the surfer/beach motif throughout. 

I would recommend staying here to anyone; and if we ever go back to Fort Lauderdale, we're definitely booking our nights with them.

(oops, another travel post!)

Happy Things

So in light of me being a grumpy Gus lately, I've decided to post a few things that have been making me super happy/excited lately...

So I got this from Design Dazzle, and thought this was the most fabulous thing ever and of course to celebrate Deathly Hallows Part 2 being available....voila!!

Source: designdazzle.blogspot.com via Laura on Pinterest

Magically Easy Butterbeer Recipe:

Butterbeer:

2 liter cream soda

2 tablespoons Butter extract

2 teaspoons rum extract

*drop the extracts into the 2 liter bottle, put on cap and slowly rotate until combined.

Cream topping:

1 7oz container of marshmallow creme

1 cup whipping cream

1 teaspoon rum extract

*add all items together in an electric mixer and combine until smooth.

I also want this super pretty dress. In my closet. Now please.

Source: modcloth.com via Laura on Pinterest

This is all I want for Christmas. Please, Santa?!

Source: quickpwn.com via Deneena on Pinterest

Maybe these for Christmas too?

Source: google.com via Keri on Pinterest

Okay, yes I wouldn't mind having Aaron Rodgers delivered to my doorstep, but I'll take tickets to the Superbowl in Indy.


*p.s. they play tonight. wish them luck! go pack go!*

Kisses

I know this may seem like the weirdest topic for a blog post, but kisses really are the greatest thing known to man.

Source: Uploaded by user via Laura on Pinterest

They can mean so many things: I love you. I want you. I am so happy to see you. I'm going to miss you. Please don't go. I'm so glad you're home! I absolutely love coming home and getting kisses from my Stella. I love puppy kisses!

Source: google.com via Laura on Pinterest

And just kissing isn't enough. They have to be good kisses. Everyone knows that the second kiss is better than the first. I think there's a song that talks about the first long kiss on a second date. I think it's Tim McGraw, but I can't be too sure. I can tell you right now that I would much rather sit on the couch all day and kiss than do *ahem*....other stuff.

I'm going to try to string along more blog posts this week. I've been sort of upset lately, and the blog has been the one thing that I could give up that would give me some more time in the day.

Friday: Outdoors!!

So guess what I did this week? I played on pinterest!! And it was fun. So for a rousing rendition of What I'm Loving Friday, here are some amazingly beautiful outdoor spaces that I would give my right arm for.

Source: glo.msn.com via Laura on Pinterest

Source: glo.msn.com via Laura on Pinterest

Source: glo.msn.com via Laura on Pinterest

Source: glo.msn.com via Laura on Pinterest

Source: glo.msn.com via Laura on Pinterest

I love a great outdoor space. I guess it may be because I don't have one. My one requirement for moving into a new house was to have an amazing front porch. Well, I'm sorry, but I don't have a front porch. I barely have a back one. There is no deck. Our chairs are on a slab of concrete. Granted, the hubs did make it bigger, but in all honesty, it is still concrete. I want an amazing 2-story deck with speakers built in, and a place to hang Italian wedding lights. It will happen, damn it. It needs to happen.

Like now.

Hope everyone has a good weekend!!

Anniversary + Red Mango

My new job is located in the absolute middle of nowhere. There are no fun places to eat, but thank goodness for the development of the Leeds/Moody area, there are some pretty great outlets.

I spent way too much money here last week, but Gap and Banana Republic at 50% off? I am so in.

And then I discovered another sweet little gem hidden right next to the Ghiradelli store. Hello Red Mango! They have fro-yo; they have smoothies, and are a much better alternative to the food court with contains a Sbarro (worst fast food ever...calorie wise...seriously, look it up), a BK, some fried chicken place and a Chinese place. I walked in and got a strawberry/banana energy smoothie, and it was amazing. I am a fan for life.

(photo via)

And since of course since today is our 2 year anniversary, I'm reliving our wedding by posting some of my favorites from that very hot June day!

I love you boo! I'm glad that you are able to put up with me, but I guess it does make it easier that you travel so much! Kidding. I love you crazy face; let's make it 50!!

Things I Love: Blue Door Boutique

Usually I'm pretty thrifty when it comes to clothes shopping. Hey, I'm 27, and I don't have too much to my name, plus a mortgage and a dog, and my other obsessions. But when I saw this little boutique, I fell in love. And then when I found out they had an online store, I fell even harder. Why you may ask?

They are in Columbus, GA.

I am in Birmingham, AL.

See my dilemma?

But they have the most adorable pieces, and I treat myself every 3-4 months or so with something fantastic from their place. Here are a few things that I am currently drooling over:

Zip Top Coral Tank. I want. I want this more than french fries. Plus I want to look like this girl. All the "models" are actually people who work there. Cool, huh?

No Brainer Maxi. Yeah, no brainer. No brainer that I want this!

Fringe-tastic Tunic. A.dorable. Seriously. I'm like torturing myself here.

Feel like going shopping: go here.

I wish I could have gotten all of this to take on my Vegas trip, but alas, I am settling with the clothes I already have. I'll be back on Wednesday with more pictures and restaurant (who are we kidding....buffets) reviews than you'll be able to handle!!

Have a good weekend!

Things I Love: Jillian Michaels

Unlike most people, my love affair with Jillian didn't start with The Biggest Loser. I was actually looking for a nice way to get toned before my wedding. I didn't want my arms to jiggle during the champagne toast. So, like any bride does, I was perusing through some message boards, and came across some "How to Get Toned for Your BIG day!" articles and how someone mentioned how the 30 Day Shred was incredible for someone who wasn't looking to lose a ton of weight. So boom. That same day I order it from Amazon. I do the work-out and couldn't walk the next day.

I became addicted to her kick ass workouts and no nonsense attitude. I finished the 30 days, and then kept going! I would pick a workout that I wanted to do for that day, and it was always as hard as it was the day before! My arms had never been that toned as they were at the wedding. I had guns!!

I was hooked. I was in love. With Jillian Michaels.

When her book, Making the Cut, came out, I immediately ran to get it. I was so excited that I could have a bod like Jillian, but I read it, and didn't exactly have all the gym equipment necessary or share her affinity for fish. I like seafood, people, but I don't like it every day.

So then, Ripped in 30 came out. Another 30 day program! Hooray!! And this is one is Rough. (yeah, with a capital R....on purpose!). I had to take a brief hiatus this week, because working out when you're sick is not a good idea. But week 2? And crow push-ups? OUCH!!

Yes, Jillian. I want to look like you. Her book Unlimited was released last Tuesday. I ordered it today on Amazon. I CANNOT wait to read it. She really is a role model, and she is so motivating. I absolutely love it when she is in my face (or TV) telling me to Dig, Dig, Dig! Seriously. I am not joking. I looooooove her.

P.S. Jillian - Thank you for my amazing wedding arms. You rock.

things I love: Citizen Cope

What is a Citizen Cope you may be asking? Well, let me tell you. He is a musician!! And a marvelous one at that.

And there is a little sentimental value to this love. This is the first concert that Bennett and I went to together. Wait, scratch that. This was our first date ever (cue the awwwwws...). He sort of introduced me to him, and we were going to have his song Holdin On as our first dance song, but well, it's six minutes long, so no.

The concert was at Workplay Theater in Birmingham. It's a fantastic place to watch concerts. There's two stages; the Soundstage and the Auditorium. The Soundstage is bigger, but you are standing the whole night. The Auditorium has a top floor with seats all around it, and the bottom floor has the same. Either way, both of them are great. It's one of the best places in Birmingham to watch a show!!

The chandelier in the stage area. With the banners. Oh, how I want that chandelier. I suggested it for our dining room, but Bennett said he would prefer to see the people he's eating with. Oh well.

Self-photos! The one accessory you can't see? The oh so awesome Hello Kitty band-aid that's attached to my back. Well it was either that or my gigantic cancer hole. You decide.

There he is!

It was such a good show. I recommend looking him up on iTunes or whatever file sharing thing you use. He's got a blue-sy sort of feel to him. And he sang this entire show acoustic, which made it even more special when he sang our song!!

Things I Love: MoonPies!!

Okay, okay, I'm a fat kid at heart. All of my favorite things somehow involve some kind of food. But the hubs bought a couple last night, and OMG, delicious. Apparently I'm a five year old at heart too. But you smack these babies into a microwave with a glass of milk, and I am the happiest girl in the whole world.

The moonpie was founded in Chattanooga by a bakery salesman who wanted to make a satisfying snack for the miners. When he asked them how big they wanted the snack to be, a miner held up his hands to frame the moon, and said "about this big." A lot of people associate MoonPies with Mardi Gras in Mobile. They throw these during parades, and they even have a MoonPie drop during New Year's! Can you say crazy!! I'm gonna leave y'all with a sweet recipe from their website, which you can access by using that sweet little button up at the time (I just learned how to do this....and boy am I excited!).

Southern Living MoonPie Banana Pudding Trifle

Ingredients: 2 cups whole milk 1 3.4-oz package of vanilla instant pudding 1/2 cup sour cream 1 9.6 oz carton Peanut Butter MoonPie Crunch

Instructions: Combine 2 cups milk and 1 (3.4-oz.) package vanilla instant pudding mix in a large bowl. Beat with an electric mixer at medium speed 2 minutes; let stand 5 minutes. Whisk in 1/2 cup sour cream. Cover and chill 30 minutes. Layer pudding mixture; 2 medium bananas, sliced; and 1 (9.6-oz.) carton MoonPie Crunch Peanut Butter (8 chocolate cookie sandwiches), quartered, in 4 (8-oz.) glasses. Dollop with whipped cream. Makes 4 Servings

**as from the moonpie website...my mouth is watering. Plus you can't go wrong with anything from Southern Living**

Thing I Love: Zara Clothing

The hubs introduced me to something amazing the other day: Zara Clothing** Can you say amazing? That and the fact that my husband, the boy who hates clothes shopping, and hates that my clothes runneth over in our shared closet, was in fact, letting me in on a secret world that I had no idea about.

I'll take one of you....

and you.....

and you....

and you.....

and you are quite possibly worth the Atlanta trip all your own....

The thing about this drool-worthy shop...they do not ship to the United States. That is their whole platform...you must go into a shop to purchase all the delightful goodies if you live within the middle child boundaries of North America. The closest ones to Birmingham? Lenox Square and Perimeter Mall in Atlanta. I will just keep telling myself it's only 2.5 hours away from awesomeness.


**I could quite possibly be the only person on the planet who didn't know about this place. Sorry if you are already in the cool club.