Five on Friday!

Hi, my name is Sarah and I suck at blogging. This week at least. Nothing too eventful happened this week so I decided I'm going to do Five on Friday favorite show edition. :)

1) My roommate and I got sucked into ABC family's Pretty Little Liars when it first premiered in 2010. Yes, I'm full engrossed and invested in a teenage show. But I'm determined to figure out who A is. It's all about these four girls and how one summer their friend went missing. Fast forward a year later and once their friend's body is discover they hold a funeral and then start getting texts, emails, nots from this mysterious A. This A character basically makes their lives a living he-double hockey sticks. I'm way too invested but so are my former roommates and my two BFF's.  PS my husband has got totally invested too, but don't tell him I told you. ;) All previous seasons are on Netflix and it airs Tuesday nights at 8 on ABC family. 

2) Scandal. I blame our dear sweet friends Misha and Annie for this one. Seriously. The hubs and I sat down one Friday night at 6 and watched the ENTIRE first season on Netflix I think we moved to open the door for the pizza guy and that was it. I think pretty much everyone is addicted to this show. I wouldn't mind being Olivia Pope with her huge glass of wine and AMAZING wardrobe every now and then. Kerry Washington kills it each week! It's in hiatus currently and I can't wait until it comes back on!

3) Nashville. Another addiction. Wednesday night at 10 a little red light comes on our cable box because lets face it this girl can't hang past 10. Nashville is a bout two country singers and the struggles each of them face. I love country music and since day one I've been hooked. It has ups and downs great music and fun clothes. Give me a show with great fashion and I'm hooked instantly most of the time. I guess that's the girl in me, right?

4) Oh Revenge. I fell in love with this show last Christmas break thanks to our friend Mr. Netflix. Again, love hate relationship with that bright red screen. I also managed to get my sister hooked on this show. So we talk about it often! The show is a little darker than I normal like but I think that  is what keeps me hooked. It's another one of those that get DVRed because of its late airing and the fact that this season ran into Sunday night football and that one wins. Every. Single. Time.









5) Another bandwagon I jumped on last Christmas break thanks to that bright red screen. When Netflix still carried it. Now the first seasons can only be found on Amazon prime or bought on iTunes. I'm such a history nerd it's unreal. So my mother's daughter. I'm all about period shows and I love this one. It all starts with the major event of the sinking of the Titanic and the season that is airing currently takes place in the 1920's. I really can't say enough great things about this show. It's totally worth getting sucked into.


Hope everyone has a great weekend! My birthday is on Sunday, Super Bowl Sunday stole my thunder. Rude. But we are throwing a Super Bowl party/my 25th birthday party and we are most certainly looking forward to that! :)

xo,
Sarah

Five on Friday!

Good morning everyone! It is a chilly one around these parts. I'm looking at my weather app now and it says it's 10 degrees but feels like -2. Y'all I know this is NOTHING compared to up north, but this southern belle and this cold of weather do not agree. It's been a weird week and I am OH so happy to see Friday and the weekend in the near distance.


1) We ordered our new bed on Monday! Finally, it's supposed to come in tomorrow and I can't wait. I've been eyeing this white upholstered sleigh bed for a while and its finally ours! Now to pick out a dresser...any suggestions on colors? I don't want to do too much white since our carpet is a light color. It may be over kill. We don't want black or a real dark color. I've been all over Pinterest the last few weeks and just can't decide. Help!!!!

Here's a picture I found online of our new bed..any suggestions on coordinating furniture are totally welcome! :)

2) Our first snow in our new home occurred Tuesday night! It certainly wasn't much but it was still exciting. I swear I turn into a 5 year old when it snows, I can't help it. School was cancelled which meant I stayed in leggings and a sweatshirt all day. I also knocked out two case studies. Sarah for the win!

Ok so the picture isn't that great, I was freezing but wanted to snap a quick pic on the way in from grabbing the paper. I knew it would all be gone by lunch time and I was right. 

3) I planned a menu for the week and stuck to it every night. Again win for this wifey, I always have the best intentions on Monday but sometimes the best laid plans don't work out.  The crockpot assisted me in this recipe for Chicken Taco Soup. Y'all. It was amazing. The hubs and I both downed two bowls and it made enough for leftover lunch. I also made this easy meal on Monday night. I didn't use nearly as much butter as it called for. It was green beans, red potatoes, and chicken sprinkle Italian seasoning bake for an hour and TADA you've got a scrumptious dinner. I really need to get better about food pictures. 

4) My good friend/hair miracle worker introduced me to Kendi Oil Dry Oil Mist. Oh my heavens it has helped immensely with the static situation the becomes my hair during the winter. Seriously, my hair fight gravity and sticks straight up every single day. Between dryer sheets and this mist I'm finally gaining some control in this battle. 

5) Um maybe I've been hiding under a rock but I've discovered Walden Farms No calories, fats, sugars, carbs, and NO GLUTEN! My father in law has celiacs disease and therefore gluten intolerance. We've kind of become accustomed to a gluten free diet and have been trying our hardest to eat gluten free. We both feel SO much better and it's not as hard as I thought. I've ordered the ranch dressing, italian sun dried tomato, and the chocolate syrup. Can't wait to try them all and report back. Seriously, have I been living under a rock?

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

xo, 

Sarah 

Weekend Get-Awayyyyy

The hubs planned a weekend get away for us this weekend and it couldn't have come at a more perfect time! We loaded the car Friday and headed down south to Surfside Beach, SC just south of Myrtle. I don't care what time of the year it is the sand and the salt water are just plain good for the soul. We did some shopping at both Tanger outlets--the hubs is a trooper, ate yummy Hamburger Joe's, took walks on the beach, and enjoyed wings and beer on Saturday night. Not in any realm of our gluten free diet but we treated ourselves just because we could. I'm lame but I seem to almost always shed a tear when leaving the beach.  It was truly one of the most incredible weekends and we enjoyed us time. The trip may have been short but it was just what we needed!

You can't have a bad day when you wake up to this view. 

For lunch on Saturday we ate at my cousin's burger joint, Hamburger Joe's. Seriously best place to eat in North Myrtle Beach, I don't think I've ever been in there when it is not packed. It was Saturday despite it being the off season. I can't get enough Hamburger Joe's while we're down there. It was also dollar drafts so the hubs was very happy. If you ever find yourself in North Myrtle definitely try Hamburger Joe's you won't regret it. :)

Since the hubs has continuing ed classes this week we had to return from our weekend get away on Sunday even though yesterday was a holiday. I didn't mind though, it gave me a chance to do laundry, grocery shop, and finish up classwork. 

Five on Friday!

Hey y'all it has been a crazy week around these parts since classes started again on Monday. Trying to get adjusted in my new classes and setting up my system to stay on track has taken over blog time this week. The only bad thing is about online classes is you have to force yourself to stay on track and really use time management self discipline and not get stuck watching Netflix procrastinating.Guilty. Anyways lets get down to 5 on Friday...my winter edition! Since my week mainly consisted of school work I decided to do something fun for the link up this week.

1) My staple jeans. Loft modern skinnies. I swear best money spent, I have four or five pairs and wear them religiously, I occasionally mix it in with my modern flares. I love Loft they make amazing jeans. Hence why half of my closet is from Loft. 

2) Stripes. Stripes. Stripes. Every time I shop I remind myself to stay away from stripes because I have tons of striped shirts, sweaters, etc. Yikes. I love stripes. I can dress them up with a blazer and necklace or just wear them casually. 

3) The Old Navy tami. Again, something I have in every basic color white, navy, black, and beige. They are long or can be tucked in easily if need be. 

4) Open front cardigans. Another staple for North Carolina winters! They are long enough to cover the booty to be paired with leggings. Dressy enough to wear with dress pants for church. Again, I have one in all the basic colors. Tan, black, navy, white, and gray. 

5) Shoes and accessories. I love my booties, my riding boots, and infinity scarves. Winter clothes aren't always as fun and bright as summer clothes but they can be cute! These are just my staples, what are y'alls? 

xo, 

Sarah 

Five on Friday!

Happy Friday babes! The first full week of work since December 21st is coming to a close. It's been a pretty great week, hanging out with a sweet sweet girl is not terrible work. It's been a pretty quiet week around these parts nothing too exciting minus FRIGID temperatures. This girl is such a pansy when it comes to cold weather, I would never make it up north and this polar vortex confirmed it. Let's get right down to 5 favorite things this week! :)

1) The return of my shows! I know, I really shouldn't be invested in shows as much as I am. I blame Netflix and having two weeks off of work and the hubs having to work during those weeks. The pup and I are great at camping out on the couch and watching Netflix. Last year I got sucked into Downton Abbey and in turn sucked my sister, mother, and aunts into it. So we've actually formed a bond, I guess that justifies our addiction. The first episode of the season was kind of slow, hoping it picks up though!

The hubs was watching the ugly defeat of our blessed Tar Heels. So the pup joined me for Downton Abbey and hot chocolate with lots of mallows!

2) As apart of my closet organization (I totally stole this idea from April at A. Liz Adventures!) I purchased a cute tray from TJ Maxx for all of my lotion, sprays, jewelry, sunglasses, etc. Stuff I use on a daily basis that is now off the dresser and the bathroom counter. The less clutter the better!

3) Ok, so I have a confession. I'm not a huge veggies fan. Like unless it's some form of potato, carrot, or corn. You don't find me eating it. I think I was force fed veggies as a child and it stems from that. However, that is changing slowly but surely. I'm proud to say I've had something green every single day this week! Green beans, green peas, creamed spinach, salads, broccoli, etc. I consumed them all. While it hasn't been my favorite I'm thinking started to tolerate them. I'm trying to train my body to crave them instead of cake. <Insert the iPhone emjoi of monkey covering eyes here> Working on a lifestyle change one day at a time. We're also going gluten free to see if it helps the hubs stomach and I'm proud to say that we've maintained that goal this week as well. Baby steps y'all. Baby steps. 

4) In keeping with eating healthy, why in the world had I never thought to eat frozen grapes until now? SERIOUSLY, they are have to be just like crack. I can't get enough, I've taken a baggie with me everyday this week to work and eat them periodically throughout the day. Frozen blueberries too. I have no problem eating fruit...just veggies. 

5) I've found my new most favorite eyeliner this week! I've grown up wearing Merle Norman make up and love all of their products. However, once mommy stopped buying I had to cut down to just their foundations and Clear Complexion kit! Until I received their new soft touch eye pencil in my free gift over Christmas. I used it for the first time this week and I'm in love. It's definitely being worked into the budget, I've deemed it a necessity. :)

Hope everyone has a great Friday! I've decided to delete my Facebook app this weekend, my sister is coming to town and I really want to unplug and enjoy my time with her! Have a great weekend y'all! 

xo, 

Sarah 

So apparently my life is now over?

All because I got engaged and married at ages 22 and 24? Not sure if y'all saw the article going around Facebook the past couple of weeks, if not you can find it here. While this girl is just as entitled to her opinion as I am she's got me on the borderline of annoyed/ticked off. Which is probably what she wanted. To get people's attention both in a positive and negative light.

I'm not going to go through her entire list but will touch on a few. Let's start with number 1 shall we? Get a passport. Got one. Added a stamp since marriage and will be adding a few more this summer. Next. Find your thing--ok while I'm all about everyone finding their own "thing" but to what is the author referring? The thing that makes you tick, the thing that you're incessantly passionate about, the thing that drives you to be a better person, the thing that you can ALWAYS count on, the thing that has your back through thick and thin, that thing? Not only did I find my thing but I married that thing that happens to have an identity attached to it better known as Derik. I gained so much when I found my "thing". And in no way shape or form am I saying you should allow your happiness be dependent on another person. I was completely happy pre-meeting the hubs. After freeing myself from a terrible relationship.  I was completely self-sufficient and independent at 21---GASP---. Yes author, I was all of those things before the age of 23. The hubs just added to that happiness.

I think the point of the author's post was to tell everyone single women specifically, that once you get in the "cop out" known as a marital union your life is over, your marriage isn't going to last anyways, and hanging out in front of a window naked is much more productive than getting married. Sorry gal pal but my adventure has just begun and I can walk around our entire house nakey anytime I want to and not simply limit myself to a window! :) I also have a permanent make out partner and don't have to worry about catching some gross disease because I know where my husband has been. Also the suggestion to disappoint your parents? Really? Could that be a more selfish idea? Maybe her parents didn't support her in every way possible like mine did. I couldn't dream of actually trying to disappoint my parents. Get a haircut? Got one Friday, don't have to be married or single to do that.

Is marriage easy? He double hockey sticks no. It's not a land full of rainbows and butterflies 24/7. It's hard work, it's a job every. single. day. I think people don't realize that, that you're always having to work on your marriage. You have to make it priority over everything else or it's not going to work. Their should never come a time when a person should stop discovering who they are, stop challenging themselves, or stop their self-growing process in my opinion.

I guess what I'm trying to get at is married or not we shouldn't let other people's opinions or ideas give us thoughts or predispositions of how our lives are supposed to turn out. Last time I checked we don't have a looming timeline that has each milestone marked out just ticking away and punishing us for not meeting the "standards" of said timeline. The point is that God gave us this life to live it. We shouldn't waste our days trying to live up to standards that society has created. We should live it in our own way at our own pace. We should lead a life that will glorify our Lord and Savior and make him known to the world.

Ok end rant .

xo,
Sarah

High Five for Friday! :)

Linking up with some lovely ladies again this Fridayyyy! Hasn't every day for the past two weeks been a Saturday or Sunday? I love having time off of work with the hubs but this girl loves her routines. I've seriously have had to look at my phone too many times this week to remind me what day it was exactly. Whoops. I have a calendar in the office but lets be serious, I haven't crossed off any days on that thing since December 22nd to be exact. So it's January 3rd which that means HAPPY BIRTHDAY HUBBY! Our birthdays are about exactly one month apart my birthday being February 2nd. So let's get down to 5 favorite things this week.

1) Happy birthday Hubs! His birthday is obviously my most very favorite thing this week. We aren't doing birthday presents this year but instead giving ourselves a weekend get away over MLK weekend.   His best friend's mother has a condo in North Myrtle that she is graciously letting us use for a long weekend away.  We are saving for our big vacation during the summer. I don't care what time of the year it is the beach is just good for the soul. However, he still was spoiled by bacon and eggs this morning along with a few surprises as well. We're also celebrating with friends tomorrow night.  Happy 25th my love! Thank you for being an amazing husband and leader of our family!

2) As much as I pouted, protested, and whined our Christmas decorations came down Wednesday. However, I'm in the process of giving our house a good deep cleaning. I'm talking baseboards and dusting blinds kind of cleaning. My grandmother would be proud! I refuse to iron the sheets and my husbands boxers though. Yes she ironed her sheets and my grandfather's boxers, sorry Maw-Maw not happening.

Bye-Bye Christmas 2013. 

2) Obviously this week included New Years Eve and Day! Our New Years Eve was extremely low key, I'm talking hoodies low key. But it was perfect. We spent ringing in the New Year with some our nearest and dearest with a bonfire and somehow these were the only two pictures taken. Note to self take more pictures with that nice camera you got for Christmas last year, Sarah. 

New Years Day meal! Pork chops, black eyed peas, and green beans. They were out of collared greens? Not pictured cornbread. Yes, we're southern. 

4) After months and I mean months of searching we finally found the perfect ottoman. Square with storage, while I had to compromise on the material and it not being tufted it was under $200 and I immediately said SOLD. Also scored the tray that was originally $75 for $14. Win win. Yes that would be whiskey my husband is drinking at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, hey it's his birthday he makes the rules today. ;)

5) Do you see that mason jar in the picture above? I saw this idea on Pinterest to write a memory each day! I've decided that the tray would be a perfect place to house our mason jar of memories because that way we see it every single day we are home. :) So next New Year's Eve or Day we'll go through and read each memory! Can't wait to see it all full of our memories!

Happy weekend lovies! 

xo, 

Sarah 

Happy Happy New Year!

I really cannot believe that New Year's Day is already coming to a close. 2013 was one AMAZING year. We were showered by family and friends, welcomed sweet baby Sam into the world, had more showers, SAID I DO, honeymooned in the Dominican, welcomed our first niece, Kinley, celebrated and stood by our nearest and dearest as they said their I DO'S, cheered on the Pirates and the Tar Heels, held onto each other during the bad times, and laughed along with the good. Did our year have hiccups along the way? Of course, but I'm the good outweighed the bad BY FAR and the bad is just a distant memory. On the Today Show this morning they challenged everyone to choose a word for 2014. Well, I'm not one to choose just one word. So here are the words I chose.

Release-allow or enable to escape from confinement; set free. No more hanging onto things that bring me down. Ain't nobody got time for that.

Care-taking care of myself, my husband, my family, our sweet pup, our home. Take care in everything I do. 

Challenge- I'm going to step out of my comfort zone and do things that challenge me. No one likes failure but without failure you'll never learn how to truly succeed. Here's to doing more things that are challenging for me. Challenging myself to be a better wife, make new friends, take on a new hobby, be a better blogger, take more pictures. Challenge myself to deepen my relationship with Christ, with my husband, my parents, my sister, my family, my friends. Challenge myself to keep my closet clean and organized, since I spent the last 4 hours cleaning it out and organizing it. Challenging myself to do things that make me uncomfortable.

Instead of resolutions I've pinned these words to my vision board for 2014. I challenge you to do the same! I cannot wait to see what the Lord has in store for our family in 2014. I'm so glad our future is in His hands and we don't have to worry about it!

Happy New Years Y'all! 

xo, 

Sarah 

Christmas Recap!

Hi friends! I hope each of you had a wonderful Christmas. Us Walters certainly did! We just returned last night from our Christmas adventures. I'm still in denial that my most very favorite time of the year has zipped right by us. However, like my mother-in-law says, "just because Christmas is over doesn't mean the Christmas spirit goes away." Unfortunately, that doesn't mean keeping the Christmas decorations up and listening to Christmas music year round. It does mean keeping the kindness alive and well which is exactly what I plan on doing! Our Christmas included a lot of family time, worshipping our Lord and Savior, fellowship with friends, yummy food, and gift giving and receiving. Giving gifts this year was especially fun! We pulled off some big surprises! My mother in law shed tears, my mom too, my dad was shocked, and the hubs even pulled a big surprise on me. Which never happens, always one step ahead friends!

Christmas began by attending a ballet very near and dear to my heart! Unto Us A Son. I grew up performing in this Christmas ballet. I performed many different roles from a manger animal, to heavenly hosts, and a dancer for King Herod. It's the story of the birth of Christ and I get tears every time I watch it. It's definitely one of my most favorite Christmas traditions. 

We also did milk and cookies with Santa (and some pretty adorable nephews) while riding on a train! Each weekend in December the North Carolina Transportation museum puts this even on! It was so much fun watching Jack's face light up when Santa came on the train! 

Christmas Eve Eve (Monday) was filled with manicures, movies, and shopping with my sister. Can't every Monday be that way. We saw Saving Mr. Banks and it was wonderful, not what I thought but we then immediately went home and watched Mary Poppins. 

 Christmas Eve was filled with cooking, cleaning, driving our mother nuts, home videos, and snuggles on the couch before my mom's side of the family came over for our annual Christmas Eve dinner.

 Christmas Eve with the sissy! In our Christmas jammies! If you haven't seen the video do yourself a favor and check it out here. A news anchor from Raleigh, NC made this video and it spread like wildfire. 

Christmas morning with the hubs. Sporting the new monogrammed half zip he got me. He also washed it before hand because he knew once I opened it, it would be worn. Hubby for the win.

We then zipped down to Charlotte after Christmas breakfast to spend the rest of Christmas day with the in-laws. 

Post present opening. 

I swear I could eat them. 

Christmas gift to my mother in law a canvas and book from the photo session we had done with the kiddos. Please ignore the incorrect way to spell love. They love driving this grammar nazi crazy with spelling it like that! ;) It about killed me taking those to get monogrammed. 

Christmas week was the usual whirlwind but we enjoyed every single minute of it! We are so blessed to be able to spend the holidays with both of our families! We hope y'all had a wonderful Christmas!

xo,

Sarah