Celebrating Memorial Day

THANK YOU to all of those who have sacrificed their lives for our country, and to those who fought and are still fighting for us. Words cannot express how thankful and blessed we are to have each and every one of our service men and women. I'm wearing my red, white and blue today to honor them. And of course, to my father as well who served in the Army! I appreciate all of you!

Happy Memorial Day!

Outfit:

top//Old Navy

skirt//F21

shoes//thrift store find

clutch//boutique

bracelet//F21

Lips//NYX via ulta-Amsterdam 

Life Lately

A few weekends ago I went back to my hometown and celebrated this wonderful lady for Mother's Day. I can only hope I am half the mother she is. Love my mama to pieces! 

 Also, while I was home I took part in Peoria's Race For The Cure in honor of my best friend's mother, Sonja. It was absolutely amazing to see thousands of people come together to spread awareness and raise money for breast cancer. It is near and dear to me and I couldn't have been happier to participate this year.

Baking has become one of my hobbies lately, and this happens to be one of my favorite concoctions I've created to date. I was actually very surprised how gorgeous it turned out. And, the husband said it was as good as it looked. Homemade peach cake with made from scratch peach icing.

We have planted flowers all around our house and our yard is finally coming together. I will admit, this was done by Jared :) 

This past weekend we road tripped 4 hours back to Jared's hometown. It's a long ride, but I truly love the sprawling landscape the state of Iowa has to offer. It makes me truly appreciate the beauty of Iowa.

 Spring has finally arrived! Gorgeous blooms!

Journey Out West

If there is one thing that is near and dear to Jared and I, it would be traveling. Traveling is not only a time for him and I to get away and explore the world, but a time for us to truly bond over one of our greatest passions in life. When we are away on a trip there really is no other feeling than the one we have in that moment. We are both in a state of calm, relaxation, and ready to dive deep into everything our place of travel has to offer.

Now, don't get me wrong, I haven't always been a worldly traveler nor am I in to being a dare devil. Actually, the first time I ever flew was when I was 23 years old. Yes, you heard correctly, 23 years old! So, I must say I've gotten better at the whole traveling thing thanks to my husband. Jared, on the other hand, will go anywhere and try anything at least once. He has been traveling his whole life and has seen places I only fathom seeing. Since we have been together he has certainly given me so many opportunities to catch up. And friends, let me tell you, I have LOVED every single minute of each trip we have gone on. Whether it be a short road trip or a journey across the country, we make the very best of each place we go.

Our trip to Colorado was no different. Jared's brother moved to Aspen this past Winter to work at Snowmass Mountain, and we saw this as the perfect opportunity to take a trip to visit him. Flying out there is  kind of a pain, so we decided to do things the old fashion way and roadtrip out there! I must say, I'm always down for a good ole roadtrip. On we went.

We stopped the first night in the middle-of-nowhere Nebraska and continued on the next to day to Aspen. It took us about 16 hours, but once we hit the mountains, it was well worth the long drive! I had never been to Colorado, so when I began to see the different ski parks and mountains I was simply blown away! What a gorgeous sight that was right before my eyes. Oh, and did I mention how extremely jealous I was of the people who get to wake up every day to this beautiful sight! We were a long way from Iowa, but I couldn't help but admire the beauty that our country holds. We stayed at a super cute lodge/hostile-type hotel, and it could not have been a better decision. It was walking distance from downtown Aspen and offered all of the amenities we needed to make our stay comfortable. Just to highlight some of the fun we had while there, we skied at Snowmass Mountain, ate at the most phenomenal steakhouse I have ever been to, shopped downtown, and explored the quaintness Aspen has to offer. After 2 days in Aspen, we decided to drive to Denver for 2 days to visit friends who live there. Denver is a totally different atmosphere than Aspen. Aspen is more swanky, small-town-vibe, expensive and exclusive, and Denver is very much metropolitan, big-city lifestyle with an urban feel. It was the perfect way of exploring two different areas of Colorado, and neither disappointed. After catching up with friends, enjoying a delicious brunch and experiencing a downtown Denver brewery tour, our time in Colorado had come to an end. Minus the major snow storms we hit while driving back to Iowa, Colorado was another trip to add to our history book.  It was a very short trip, 4 days to be exact, but we made the very best of our time out there.

Here a few pictures to show our fun...

Starting off with pictures from my Instagram account of course :)

My love for Kate Spade is exponential and this pictures shows exactly why :)

Couldn't get enough of these views.

My $18.00 lunch (just for me) in Aspen. 

Met up with Kara! Just love seeing good friends and learning about where they live now :)

Love her! 

Pictures with my Canon

 America the Beautiful! 

 Jared and his brother Alex.

Everything was so cute and adorable in Aspen.

Our lodging while in Aspen.

Happy May!

Coffee Chat

Today, my Coffee Chat post is about RELAXATION.

And it goes something like this.....

Relaxation: whether it be just me, or taking a stroll on my bike, or even confiding in a friend or family member, this "hobby" of mine is very important to me. For me, it doesn't always mean lying down or sitting on a couch for long periods of time. I mean, don't get me wrong, I LOVE doing both of those, but it simply means just finding time for ME. Life gets so hectic at times and I constantly find myself writing too many list of things I want to accomplish throughout the day, month and year. I truly love the feeling of crossing off items on these list, but I also love indulging in something new, something fresh, and taking a step back to enjoy the little things in life. Maybe that means going to a spa to get a manicure or going on a walking and picking wildflowers before I reach home. In the midst of chaos I love taking a step back and reflecting on life. Finding out what is truly important and focusing on important goals that I set for myself. Or even sometimes it's simply reminding a love one how much they mean to me. These are the things that keep me grounded and striving to be a better person. I would rather have a million smiles then a million bucks, because to me that happiness is what makes the world go around.

Find your true happiness and go for it. Give yourself credit and always take time for yourself. It's okay to be selfish, because ultimately you come first in your own life. You owe it to yourself to take time and relax and smell the fresh air. With May right around the corner take a second to step outside, run your bare feet through fresh cut grass, hug someone special in your life, or even dive head first into something you have dreamed of for so long. Whatever way you choose to have your "relaxation" time I promise will make you feel so much better. Just remember, everything starts with you!

Annnd... everyday is an Oh Gorgeous Day! :)

Happy Monday everyone! 

My Best Friend's Wedding

When your friends start getting married your whole world fills with so much joy and happiness for them. But nothing exemplifies that feeling more than when a best friend gets married. Those very emotions ran deep within me on April 6th.

Set in Peoria, IL along the Illinois River, Kaley and Josh tied the knot in one of the sweetest and dear-to-my heart weddings I've been to.  The feelings that resonated with their wedding were nothing more than TRUE. True love, true friendships, true beauty, and true to who Kaley and Josh are. With the bridesmaids dressed in the most perfect shade of lavender and the men wearing sophisticated charcoal suites, it was clear Kaley has impeccable taste for style.  The colors together were the perfect match for a beautiful Spring day. Let's not forget about the bride and groom. Kaley wore a gorgeous ivory dress that I still believe was made for her! The sheer elegance that flowed throughout the dress suited her perfectly. It was simple but still had a touch of glam with a beautifully detailed band that accentuated her perfect shape. I certainly can't leave out the veil. This cathedral-style veil added a dramatic touch to the look and flowed flawlessly with the shape of the dress swaying behind her when she walked. It was enough to make anyone swoon. I may add,  it was her something borrowed from yours truly :) To top off Kaley's bridal look was the most GORGEOUS bouquet ever! When I saw the flowers arrive my heart about melted. It was that moment that I knew just how much I truly LOVE weddings and everything they encompass. You can see pictures of exactly what I'm talking about when I say breath-taker bouquet!  And then there was her groom looking handsome as ever in a light gray suite. I thought this was such a special touch to put the groom in a different colored suite than what his groomsmen were wearing. It was subtle but strong. Paired together, they looked absolutely stunning!!

I had the very pleasure of not only having the honor of standing next to Kaley as one of her Matrons of Honor, but Kaley also gave me the opportunity of doing some partial planning and styling for her big day. Don't get me wrong, this girl put a lot of hard work, planning and choosing of her beautiful details; I was just there to simply help a sista out :) We continued with the hues of purple and gray theme throughout the reception decor. Kaley wanted it simple but elegant. This venue completely showcased that. The church had so much beautiful detail and gorgeous architecture that it sent chills throughout me when I first walked in. The reception venue didn't sell itself short either. With beautiful views of the river and contemporary elegance, it was sure to provide a perfect gathering place for everyone to enjoy Kaley and Josh's special day. To see more details check out the pictures below courtesy of Deidre Lynn Photography.

Kaley and Josh are high school sweethearts, survivors of dental school relationships, dog lovers, the perfect example of true love, and the best friends anyone could have! Their day could not have been more perfect for them and I could not be happier for the two of them.