10 Guilty Pleasures

So sorry that I have been MIA this week.  It's been a crazy and hectic one this week and by the time I get home, my laptop is something I want NOTHING to do with after working all day long.  I am also going to post about the new design, but haven't had a chance to finish it up with the final touches.  I can't figure out if I like this one the best or this one.  Do you like one over the other?  If you like the designs, please see Jessica Sims design blog for the free templates that she offers on her blog.  She is so nice and is quick to answer any questions that you may have. 

I've had this waiting up for several weeks now to post in case I didn't have time to post anything and thought I might as well post this now.  :) 



Several weeks ago I saw a post by a fellow blogger Shelby over at Stay Crafty My Friends and I thought what a great idea to post about!  

So here are my:

10 Guilty Pleasures

{ONE}

My iPhone 5!  I LOVE this phone and everything it does for me.  When I went to an android phone I thought it was going to be amazing, but I quickly learned how much I missed the iPhone.  I hate how fast technology moves and the phones get upgraded so fast, but so far (a year and 2 months into using my iPhone 5) I am still happy (except for the wifi issues, but I can live without that since I am using 3G or LTE most of the time anyways).  

{TWO}

Social Media, specifically Instagram and Facebook.  Hands down are my absolute favorite apps on the phone!  I may spend too much time on these everyday, but that's OK.  Whatever makes me happy!  :)  I really need to get going on a Facebook page for my blog, but that will come sooner rather than later.  

{THREE}

Watching "Private Practice".  I am HOOKED right now (towards the end of the 6th and final season) and can't stop watching.  Poor Andy has been sent to the other TV this and last week while I watch several episodes at night....  I know that this show isn't current anymore, but I started it over the summer when nothing was on and am just getting towards the end.  

{FOUR}

Diet Dr Pepper with Cherry in a foam cup with crushed ice (could I be anymore specific!?!)  I don't drink much soda, but when I do I make sure it's something that I really like.  :) 

{FIVE}

Lion's Choice.  It is my go-to lunch place every Friday (no joke).  Everyone at work laughs now because they know that every Friday, I am going to Lion's Choice for lunch, no questions asked.  :)  

{SIX}

Target!  Seriously, you can get everything from there now (love that groceries are in the stores now!)  I am addicted to their clearance aisles and have picked up many good deals (especially on clothes).  My obsession starts back when I was a in middle school and my friend Ali and I would walk to Target and shop (no joke).  We would walk back with white cherry slushies in our hands.  :)  Memories!!

{SEVEN}

Shoes.....just ask my husband and he will agree!  I have so many pairs of shoes but I just cant stop.  It's a girl thing and I cant explain it.  It's easier for guy because they can wear the same pair of black dress shoes to work everyday.  Us girls, we need to be cute and look nice and match those shoes to our clothes.  I will admit, I am good when it comes to shoes because I am always going for neutral shoes (black, brown, etc), but I still have too many.  Sorry Andy!

{EIGHT}

Ice Cream!  I LOVE ice cream, even in the winter.  This time of the year I usual love peppermint ice cream.  It makes me feel festive for Christmas time.  I love custard, ice cream, frozen yogurt, you name it and I love it!

{NINE}

Chap Stick (EOS Lip Balm is my absolute favorite right now) I am addicted to this stuff.  Every night before I go to bed, I apply some chap stick.  If I don't, I wake up with chapped lips (hence, the chap stick...)  I also have to use lotion over the winter on my hands.  With the cold weather, comes chapped hands and in order for them to not crack and bleed, I must use lotion.  

{TEN}

Photography of the people/pets whom I love!  I am constantly taking photos of my fur-babies and am posting them to instagram and this blog.  Sorry Not Sorry for this either since I have no real children (yet) of my own.  I am biased, but I really think I won the lottery in fur-babies!

Since I haven't posted a photo of those cute fur-babies in a while, here you go:

"I will only play with the tree when my people are home.  It drives them crazy!"

Cue squirt bottle once he begins to "play" with the tree.  It's a game to him.

Can we say, "Spoiled!!"

But seriously, this melts my heart!

Every morning (around 30 minutes before my alarm goes off),this is what Mokies does.He curls up next to me and cuddles away with his mama!

Taking the Keeley girl on a walk last week when it was warm.

This morning's high: 10 degrees.  UGH!

Missing headphones

Oh what a day yesterday was.  I wouldn't say it was a bad day, but it was a frustrating one to say the least.  It was a payroll day at work, which means more thinking on my part than any other normal days (I know, that doesn't make too much sense) but when you are not good at math (scary thought for someone who does payroll) and has to stare at numbers all day long, it calls for a long day.  

I am "officially" on a mission to get my body back into shape.  Last week I went to the gym on Thursday and Saturday (I can hear the gasps now about the Saturday).  I told myself not to wimp out and just go to the gym last night (Monday) and get it over with.  Do you see the pattern?  Workout every other day.  :)  I get to the gym, change and start to look for my headphones and iPhone workout case.  I find the case, no problem and the headphones, well I still cannot find them as of Tuesday morning.  I am annoyed at this point and think maybe they are in the car.  But who really wants to go back out to their car when its 26 degrees out to find stupid headphones.  So after digging through my purse at least 4 times with no luck I give up.  I put my stuff (a gym bag, my purse and parka) into a locker and try to put my lock on it.  It doesn't work (the locker lock part wont come down all the way so I can put my lock in and be done).  I try another locker, same thing.  I am seriously contemplating just walking out of the gym at this moment.  But no, I don't.  I go to the other side of the locker room to the other lockers and try out another one.  It finally works, about dang time!!!

I spend a good 20 minutes on a stationary bike and get in a good amount of miles on the bike and decide that my butt is numb and its time for the stair master.  In all I spent 30 minutes at the gym.  Proud of myself for going, yes! Proud of myself for not walking out, yes!  Mad at myself that I cannot find my headphones, YES!!!  I have until tomorrow afternoon until the next workout and working out WITHOUT headphones is not an option for Wednesday.  So until then, wish me luck that these pesky headphones show up soon.  :) 

First Snow of the Year!

High Five for Friday - First Snow of Winter 2013 Edition!

1.  I did it!  I went to the gym yesterday after work and I am so proud of myself!!  :)  I plan on going back there tomorrow (hopefully) to get in another good sweat.  I was on the treadmill for 25 minutes (strange amount of time, I know) and used the rowing machine for five minutes (1 minute rowing, 1 minute rest, do this 5 times).  

2.  Our first "snow" of Winter 2013!  They were originally calling for 2-4" inches at our house.  We got 1/4 of an inch.  :)  I'm OK with that too.  I got into work safe and sound this morning with no issues.

3. How cute is this photo of Smokey and I.  This is how he lies with me at night in bed, but the past couple of nights he wants to lie on the couch with me like this too.  Seriously, melts my heart to see how much he loves me.

4.  Smokies new "toy" the 31 medium tote bag.  I took this with me to both sides of the families houses to transfer food and haven't brought the bag upstairs yet to put away.  Reason being, this fur-ball.  I originally had it on the counter but noticed him lying in it more and more.  So I moved it to the floor and he's been loving it ever since.

5.  I took Keeley out for a walk Tuesday afternoon.  The weather was gorgeous, 70 degrees!  She was sooooo happy too.

6.  Andy on the phone.  This is what a typical night looks for us too.  We are both on our phones constantly.

7.  Keeley was all over me last night when I got home.  She loves to curl up behind my legs and have her head rest on my knees so she can keep watch of the cat.

8.  Watching the Sound of Music last night.  I was actually testing Andy to see how long I could watch it before he said anything, 25 minutes.  That's pretty good and my friend Ali gave him 10 husband points for his patience!  :) Haha

9.  My beautiful sister had her braces taken off Wednesday. She was sooooooooooo happy!  This is a selfie she took and posted on instagram and since I love her so, I decided to post a photo of her up.  :)  What a nice big sister I am.

Linking up with Lauren for High Five for Friday!

AND

Linking up with April at A Liz Adventures Darci at The Good Life, Christina at Carolina Charm, and Natasha at Hello! Happiness

Holiday Traditions!

I really do LOVE me some Christmas!!  Today Amy over at A Smith Story and Holly over at Where We Can Live Like Jack and Sally are hosting a new link up called:

{ONE}

As a kid, the Christmas tradition was on Christmas morning us kids were not to go downstairs until my parents said so (they had to light a fire in the fireplace, turn on all the Christmas lights inside and outside, get the cameras ready, etc).  Once we were ready to come down, we were able to walk down as a family into the family room and see all of the presents under the tree!  We then passed out presents and started to open.  Usually it was one present at a time, but with younger siblings, it was more helping them open the presents then open your's sometimes in the middle of them oooohing and ahhhhhing their gifts.  :)  We were never neglected and LOVED seeing everyone's face of excitement and joy in opening presents, even if they weren't for us.  

{TWO}

The first Christmas together of Andy and I living together, we opened presents on Christmas morning.  This was the Christmas that he proposed by having me go on a scavenger hunt for my present.  In the end, my ring was hanging on the tree and he proposed.  I gave him that year a nifty remote control for Christmas (I think I raked it in that year!)

{THREE} 

The past two Christmas' Andy and I celebrated by ourselves on Christmas Eve.  Andy always complains that I never want to go to IHop with him, so I promise him that every Christmas Eve that we will go to IHop for brinner and then open presents at home.  I like how we celebrate on Christmas Eve because it's a nice time spent together. 

{FOUR}  

If you couldn't tell, I LOVE putting my Christmas decorations up early.  I'm talking before Thanksgiving early too.  Andy isn't a fan of it, but how could he squash my excitement for Christmas!  This year was no exception and I really needed those decorations to go up and cheer me up a bit from the crummy year that we've had.  

{FIVE}

Our {my entire family} stockings are handmade from my mom.  She sewed each and everyone of our stockings and I absolutely LOVE them!  Even Andy has his own hand sewen stocking hanging from our mantel.  

{SIX}

Our family also has a favorite cookie that is made most years.  It was made more when we were little and are called Christmas wreaths.  Really easy to make (corn flakes, marshmallows, green food dye, red hots).  They are just like rice krispie treats but with corn flakes.  You're suppose to shape them like wreaths but seriously, who has time for that!  Throw them in a pan and eat away!!

{SEVEN}

This year I am taking Christmas Eve off (this is the first time I will have had Christmas Eve off in I don't even know how long!)  Andy and I plan on spending the whole day together.  I think a movie (Anchorman 2) is in the plans, along with brinner at IHop and exchanging presents.  :)  

Want to linkup with me? {MidWeek Randoms}

I've really been contemplating wanting to do a linkup on Wednesday's called "MidWeek Randoms".  I find that at times I have a hard time coming up with things to write all week long and LOVE the idea of a link up of MidWeek Randoms.  I have participated in other blogs before who have done these, but it has died off and stopped happening.  If anyone is interested in also hosting this with me or is just interested in linking up with me, please email me at:
bettertogetherandforever{at}gmail{dot}com!  :) 

But until I hear anything, I will do my own list of MidWeek Randoms for this week since I do not have any recipes to share today on the blog and haven't been taking photos of my food lately.  

• I decided to finally bite the bullet and purchase a month of PicMonkey (the upgrade version) for $4.99 and I have to admit, I REALLY love it!  I think I am going to have to just upgrade for an entire year which is only $33.00 ($2.75 a month) since I've used it so much the last couple of weeks.  I would really love to just sit down and do an entire blog re-design but that's on my back burner at the moment.  Everytime I try to do something new for the blog, I spend too much time on it and then save it, transfer it to the blog and it doesn't come out....its getting really frustrating to say the least.  I also blog on a MacBook Pro laptop at home.  While it's not an ancient thing to use, it is frustrating to do some blog designs on it.  The plus of having a laptop, I can blog on the couch.  So you know, it has its plus' and minuses.
• Today's high: 69 degrees.  Tomorrow's high: 35 degrees with snow and potential ice.....As of right now, we are expecting around 6 inches total of snow.
• Also speaking of the nice weather, we decided to grill burgers last night.  Yep, it was December 3rd and we were grilling.  Welcome to the unusual weather of Missouri.  Don't worry, it will be bitter cold and snowing in several days!  :) 
• I have officially moved upstairs to my new office.  I have a before and after photo to share with you all and plan on posting it to Instagram for you all to see.  
• Also, speaking of Instagram, did you know I have an instagram?  You can follow me here.
• My favorite photo editor and background creator for my instagram photos: PhotoGrid!  Love this app and it was FREE!!  It has some awesome background choices, photo boarder choices AND I love the fonts you can use for text.
• My friend, Ali decided to let all of Facebook know that 3 weeks from today is Christmas....did that scare you too??
• I've been contemplating about setting monthly goals for myself instead of just a yearly "New Years Goals", which by the way, is it just me or do you not remember what those goals were? Yeah, I can't remember mine either.....I need to get to reading this and see what I have and haven't accomplished.
• Have you all seen the new "shared" thing going around on social media accounts, "Weekly Savings".  I am going to talk to Andy about it and see if he is on board for this also.  It's where you save a certain dollar amount every week.  So week one you save $1, week 2 $2, week 20 $20; and so on until you get to week 52 and you will have saved in total (if you save the right amount every week) $1378.00.  I would love to save this money and put it towards hard wood floors for the main floor or maybe a vacation!
• I've been in a not so good mood the past couple of days.  I am just down with things not going the way that I thought they would.  I need to snap out of my funk, but sometimes it's easier said than done.
• Back to the gym I go today.  I've been promising myself that I am going to go and then come up with excuse to get out of it.  Today stops the excuses and starts the fat burn!  I can't keep sitting around, eating like crap and expect to feel amazing.  It just doesn't work that way.  I'm sure my mood will change for the better too with going to gym.  Why wait for the new year to work out when I can start today!

Again, if anyone is interested in doing this link up with me, please let me know!

bettertogetherandforever{at}gmail{dot}com

These are a few of my Favorite Things! {Over $100}

Today is the third, and final installment of These are a few of my Favorite Things!!  Today I am linking up with Elise over at Cheers Y'all and Jen over at Down with the Dearmore's!  Both are such sweet girls and I highly suggest you click over at their pages and see what they are all about AND to see what is on everyone's list of gifts over $100!!  

{ONE}  Cuisinart GR-150 Griddler
{TWO} Brother PE770 Embrodiery Machine
{THREE} Panasonic Micro Four Thirds Lens
{FOUR} Apple iMac Desktop
{FIVE} A Disney Cruise (photo source)

This year was probably one of the hardest years I have ever had to come up with things for a Christmas list to give to people.  The practical side of me says, yes we need a new griddler and this is a nice one that would work great in my kitchen!  The Embrodiery machine is a nice gift but for over $500 and no kids, it's kind of pointless.  Would really LOVE one if I had a girl.  The camera lens would be nice, but not necessary. Ultimately, I would LOVE a NIKON or CANON DSLR camera but I don't have many subjects to photograph at this time. The iMac desktop would be awesome, but then again, my MacBook Pro works just fine.  A Disney Cruise would be AMAZING but then again, if we want to have a baby, then the dreams of a vacation would need to be put on hold.  

Thanksgiving in Photo Form

Hello Monday Morning!

I'm not going to lie, I was ready to get back to work {insert shocked face here}.  Being off 4 days was nice to catch up on sleep and eat a ton, but going back to work puts me back on a schedule of eating less and shopping less {spent too much time shopping over the weekend}.... I did manage to get several good deals, but also spent time Christmas shopping for my loved ones.  My poor credit card.

You can NEVER go wrong with playing the Super Nintendo!