Category Archives: Fun

It’s Getting Hot In Here: Daydreaming Of Summer

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Who else is tired of the colder weather and the dark days? The January blues can hit us hard, so there is no surprise that some people will be counting down the days until the Summer officially arrives. The warmth that tingles your skin, the feeling of a frozen treat being enjoyed while lounging in a hammock and watching the world go by. Sounds like heaven doesn’t it? But we can often forget the downside of the heat, and it can be just as difficult to endure as the coldest days of the year. So while we are daydreaming, perhaps we can work out some of the ways that we can prepare ourselves in advance for the summer months ahead. After all, it’s far better to enjoy the sun than to be wishing for those winter days to return.

Stock Up On The Summer Essentials: Summer is a wonderful time to enjoy, so it’s worth making those investments now to ensure that you are comfortable and can have as much fun as possible. With plenty of discounts available across all kinds of stores, January would be the ideal time to get those big summer purchases sorted. Perhaps consider an outdoor grill so that you can have garden parties and cook up a storm. Maybe invest in some cotton bed sheets to ensure you get a comfortable night’s sleep during the hottest days of the year. Why not even treat yourself to an inflatable swimming pool for your outside space? And if you are planning a dream beach trip, rather than buying, you might instead set your sights on planning what hilton head beach rentals you might choose to hire for when you finally hit the sand.

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Pixabay Image

Get Your Home Prepared: As much as we want to be outside constantly, we often will still need to be in our homes for a good chunk of our time. You may work from home or even just retire here at the hottest points of the day. This is why now might be the time to consider adding a ducted air conditioning system to your house or property. They can actually be quite cost efficient when you get the right system installed.

Try Out New Recipes For Frozen Treats: Summer wouldn’t be complete without those frozen treats stocked up in the freezer. So why not kick those January blues and start planning and trying out new recipes? Maybe you want to consider a new flavor combination or check out websites like eBay for ice molds you can use. They can be a refreshing treat but also very healthy if you consider the type of ingredients you are using.

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I NEED ONE!

Plan Ahead: Finally, daydreaming is the perfect opportunity to plan ahead for those summer months. Do you want to go on vacation? Do you plan to spend more time at home or with loved ones? Perhaps there is an activity that you want to do more of? Or, maybe you’re looking into hilton head beach rentals for that perfect summer getaway? Now is the time to start thinking ahead and booking up your diary. After all, sometimes the only way to get through a tough month is to have plenty of things to look forward to!

Easy Peasy Parties: Don’t Miss The Fun With These Time Saving Tips

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Easy Peasy Parties: Don’t Miss The Fun With These Time Saving Tips

If there’s one thing that I love, it’s parties! They’re a great excuse to dress up, gather your friends together, and have a great time. But they’re also hard work. If you’re not careful, you could spend the whole evening in the kitchen preparing food and ensuring everyone’s needs are met. Follow our simple tips to enjoy your parties and still be the hostess with the mostess.

The Right Tools For The Job: Having the right tools for the job will make the process simpler and more efficient. So it follows that having the right kitchen appliances and accessories will make your preparations much smoother. Start with the basics like a good set of kitchen knives. Most food prep requires chopping of some description and the right knife will make your job much easier.

If you enjoy baking, possessing a professional food mixer will save on combining, rubbing in, whisking, etc. You’ll be whipping up Baking Show quality cakes in no time at all. An ice machine is also a godsend when it comes to parties and cocktail hour. Check out reviews such as the Manitowoc Ice Machine Review to find the best machine for your needs.

And finally, a dishwasher is indispensable and will pay for itself time and again in terms of the time you save. At the end of the party, you can stack the dishes, close the door, and switch it on. No more standing at the sink for hours clearing up.

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^ My kind of party!

Food: The food will depend on the type of party that you’re throwing. If it’s a casual affair, maybe chips, dips, and beers will be sufficient. If you’re throwing a dinner party, then that’s a whole different ball game. For anything in between, there are several nifty time-saving methods that you can employ.

  1. Suggest Everyone Brings A Dish: This will take a little organization. Otherwise, you’ll have thirty plates of cupcakes and no savory snacks. Get your friends together and decide who will bring which dish. Ensure that you have a good selection. This will free you up to spend time on your dress preparations, so you can emerge looking effortlessly stylish.
  1. Do A Buffet: Buffets are a great option when it comes to parties. The food is provided on a large table and everyone helps themselves. You can cater for lots of different tastes; just ensure that everything is correctly labeled. You don’t have to worry about trips in and out of the kitchen and ensuring everything is timed to perfection. You won’t even have to serve. Everyone can serve themselves while you get on with having fun. This is how my graduation party was set up and it worked perfectly! Just make sure that you provide for people with dietary restrictions and preferences like allergies or veganism!

For extra time-saving points, provide guests with paper plates and paper napkins. At the end of the night, go around with a plastic bag and toss the plates in the garbage. No washing up. Bonus! (In my opinion, this is a must!)

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  1. Provide a Drinks Table: Providing a drinks table where everyone can help themselves will ease the burden of constantly having to check that everyone’s glass is filled. Pop and water are a necessity but you could also provide the fixings for hot chocolate or a specialty cocktail for some mixing fun!

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Cheers!

Parties are fun and a great way to catch up with all of your friends. Don’t miss out on yours by spending it in the kitchen. Employ a few smart time-saving strategies and the party will run itself.

Featured Image By: Pixabay

The Perfect Festive Night In

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The Perfect Festive Night In

The countdown to Christmas is on, by the end of this week we’ll be tucking into a big dinner and ripping open the presents under the tree! But in the meantime, why not enjoy the run-up to Christmas? It’s that perfect time of year when everyone is truly in the festive spirit; chances are you’ve already broken up from work and have free time to relax and enjoy yourself. Here’s everything you need for a perfect, festive night in.

Make Your Surroundings Cozy: Whether it’s your comfy sofa with plenty of throws and pillows, or your bed with gorgeous, clean sheets make sure that you have everything situated for cold winter cuddles. If you want to really treat yourself you could buy a brand new set to use; Christmas bedding is a popular choice, or you could go with something luxurious like hotel bedding from Richard Haworth. Light some candles, turn on the heating, draw the curtains and create the perfect cozy environment to enjoy your evening.

Use Some Pampering Products: A pampering bath is the perfect way to begin your cozy night in. A soak in a hot bath with a luxurious bath oil, bath bomb, or bubbles will warm you up and have you feeling perfectly relaxed. You could use a face mask to treat your skin, and a hair mask to nourish your locks. You could paint your nails in a festive shade and use your most indulgent skin care to leave your skin feeling extra smooth and soft. We all have those products which we save for a special occasion, so why not make that now!

Change into Comfy Pajamas: Once you’re out of the bath, comfy pajamas are a must. You can buy pajama sets, dressing gowns, fluffy socks, and slippers all for relatively cheap, and they’re great for this time of year. You want pieces that are ultra soft and comfortable so you can properly lounge. I recommend TJMaxx for all of your pajama needs – that’s where I stocked up!

Prepare Some Festive Food and Drink: Enjoy some of the delicious festive snacks that you probably wouldn’t have during the rest of the year. Hot chocolate with all the trimmings, or a glass of mulled wine. Lots of chocolate and indulgences- Christmas isn’t a time to be counting calories! Allow yourself whatever you want, guilt free. The inevitable New Year’s detox is right around the corner so may as well enjoy it while you can!

Decide On a Few Things To Do: Do you have a box set that you’ve been dying to start, or a program you want to catch up on? Now is the time to put it on. You could scour Netflix for some Christmas films or download lots of books to your Kindle. You could listen to music, Skype a friend or family member, or even put on a meditation app and just relax. This is a great time to catch up on all of the fun things that you want to do on a regular day, but just don’t have the time for. Having time to sit around and do whatever you want gives your mind a much-needed break from work. When you eventually do go back in in January, you’ll be well rested and ready to go.

Featured Image By: Pexels

Turning Your Back Garden Into A Perfect Paradise In Five Easy Steps

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This time of the year, it’s hard to think about going outside too much. Your back garden starts to turn into a barren wasteland, with patchy, brown grass and a load of bushes and trees that are more stick than leaf as the winter gets into full swing. Looking out of your back window has never been more dismal! Luckily, there are some things that you can do to make it a little better during the first sightings of spring. Read on to find out more…

Add Evergreen Plants: If you’re going to add more plants to your back garden, it’s best to make them evergreen ones, so that you can appreciate them all year round. You could add daphne plants, which are known for the small, fragrant flowers that grow during the winter and spring. Or, you could try aucuba, a tough green shrub that will make it through the harshest winters. You could also add a lavender plant – not only is it attractive and fragrant, but it’ll also attract bumblebees throughout the summer.

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Pretty!

Grow A Vegetable Patch: If you start to grow your own vegetables and become more self sufficient, then no question about it, you will feel incredibly proud of yourself. Make sure that you do your research first so you can find out what fruits and vegetables grow at what time of year. If you’re really determined to produce your own food, then you could get a greenhouse to get yourself organized and grow a bountiful harvest for you and your family to enjoy.

Install A Deck: If you want to turn your back garden into a place where you can relax, then it’s important to install a deck. Invest in some treated timber from a reputable merchant like George Hill Builders Yard, and work with a garden designer to find the shape of the deck that’s right for you and your family’s needs. A deck will enable you to sit outside and eat together when the warmer weather comes around. Although it isn’t very environmentally friendly, a patio heater can always keep you warm out there in the winter while sipping hot chocolate with friends.

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Install A Water Feature: There’s very little that’s more peaceful than the gentle trickling of water. If you have the space in your back garden, why not add a small fountain or pond? Not only will it provide an area of peace and reflection, but it will also encourage a wider variety of creatures to take up residence in your back garden. Bear in mind that it doesn’t have to be a huge feature that takes over the space. A small fountain or even a bird bath will be just as effective!

Add A Bird Feeder: One of the small joys in life is looking out of your kitchen window at the birds in your back garden (I do this frequently!) – so you should install a bird feeder full of seed where you can see it. Buy a bird book so that you can identify different breeds of birds and figure out which ones will come to visit the feeder the most depending on where you live.

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So cute! πŸ™‚

Everything You Need For The Ultimate Cozy Corner

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Everything You Need For The Ultimate Cozy Corner

The winter season is definitely here now. While the cold weather feels awesome and exciting leading up to Christmas, as soon as the holiday season finishes things can be a little depressing. I think we all need a cozy little corner to hibernate in through the grim months of January and February – and I think I have found the right ingredients for the perfect set up. Read on to find out everything you need for the perfect cozy corner – and snuggle up until the spring!

The Right Location: Technically, you can have a cozy den in any corner of your home or room – but not everywhere is 100% suitable. If you are lucky, the bedroom is the perfect spot. It’s private, quiet, and away from the ruckus and noise of the main living spaces. However, maybe there is a quiet room you could use instead? Or somewhere with a beautiful wood burner or open fire to give you the perfect atmosphere? A cracking fire can give you amazing light, a relaxing, chilled environment and they smell – and sound – great.

A Giant Bean Bag: There are some awesome giant bean bags out there right now – see this from Comfy Sacks for the perfect example. These comfy cool chairs are so fun and are literally high school me’s dream come true. They are the ultimate in Sunday lounging and perfect for settling in with a good book, movie, or to curl up and listen to music.

Lots and Lots of Blankets: It’s impossible to be cozy without blankets, right? So grab as many as you can and top it all off with a soft cotton or wool throw. It will keep the chills out, the heat in, and make you feel like you never want to get up again. If it’s extra cold, throw in a heating pad for good measure!

Toasty Toes: You can have all of the blankets in the world but somehow your feet still manage to be cold! Plush throw rugs and fuzzy socks are an absolute must so you can be warm all over – no frigid feet required. However, if you want to go for an option to keep warm and boost your property value, you can’t go wrong with underfloor heating. It will be your new best friend on those chilly mornings and winter days. If this is an upgrade you’re interested in, simply enter a search for “underfloor heating ireland” (or your local area) to find a well reviewed specialist for installation. Warning: When they’re done you might not want to leave your cozy corner!

Books and Magazines: When you are hunkering down for a cozy session, you will need plenty of material to keep you going. Grab a pile of books – when the weather is harsh and cold, there is nothing better than getting lost in a different (maybe even sunny) world. Magazines are great, too – you can browse through them at your leisure, and if you are feeling sleepy, you can doze off whenever you like.

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DOG!!!!

A Tablet: While we’re on the subject of entertainment, we can discuss the tablet – which feels like it was totally invented for the cozy corner. You can snuggle in, throw on a pair of headphones, and be transported to any era, any place, and with any of your favorite actors whenever you like. I love to go for something a little spooky, thanks to the Kindle that my boyfriend got me for our anniversary!

Candles: Candles are essential for all things cozy, so don’t miss out on grabbing a bunch of your favorites. For extra comfort, find some scented candles and let the aroma take you away to somewhere from tropical to a cute little coffee shop depending on the scent!

Snacks and Drinks: OBVIOUSLY!! Once you are in the zone, you won’t want to leave. However, let’s be realistic – you don’t want to be hungry, either. So, before you start your cozy corner session, stock up on a few snacks – healthy or otherwise – and plenty of drinks to keep thirst at bay.

What are your cozy corner must haves? What is your favorite drink to sip on when the weather is cold? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Featured Image By: Pexels

Three Fun Ways To Get Your Partner To Propose

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Three Fun Ways To Get Your Partner To Propose

Getting engaged and planning a wedding is a pretty big deal. Having an ultimatum like that can be a little scary. Things don’t always go according to plan, either. It is easy to see why both people in the relationship might be having hesitations to get engaged. It might be the scenario that your other half is really dragging their heels, though. So here are a few fun little ideas, to drop some hints to your darling. They’re never going to propose if they think you aren’t interested in it! It can feel like a conversation that you aren’t ready to just say so sometimes signals can work the best. But, as always, honest and open communication is always good in any relationship.

Give a Signal: You’d be surprised at just how many people aren’t proposing because they think they will get rejected. Really! It can be a big thing to make changes in a relationship. Especially if things are going well as they are so dropping them a few hints might be needed. Try bringing in conversations about weddings more and more. It could be a friend is recently engaged or a new movie that features a wedding, for example. Just drop hints about your take on marriage. If you’re feeling brave enough, then you could ask them their views on it, too. Another bold choice could be showing your partner some budget wedding dresses. They won’t be able to help picturing you in them! Chatting about it more and more will help eliminate the excuse of not knowing if you were interested or not.

Hint at the Ring You’d Like: The chances of you going out shopping together are quite high. So how about wandering past an engagement ring shop? Or you could even check out some custom engagement rings online together. If that is going to be way too obvious for your liking, then try a conversation, instead. This low key approach is especially effective if you already wear a lot of jewelry. You could talk about the things you do or don’t like such as your thoughts on platinum vs white gold or whether you prefer a ring that is unique or classic.

Do you like a ring to have one single stone or several smaller ones? Subtly bring up the topic. Looking online is a simpler way, as you are more likely to stumble across a friend’s ring on Instagram, for instance. Then the next thing you know you’ll be looking online at wedding rings. Somewhere like Tacori wedding rings might be a good place to start. Have a browse if you aren’t sure of what style you like. Just be subtle about it!

Don’t Set Timelines: In your head, you might want to be engaged by a certain age, married by a certain age, or having children by a certain age. Don’t set timelines on yourself, though. It can knock your confidence when things don’t happen as you’d like to. You could have those things as goals but avoid putting a time limit on it. It also works in terms of your wedding, too. If you’ve always wanted a summer wedding, you might be thinking of when you need to be engaged to make it happen. But this can also be detrimental! If your other half knows it, it adds extra pressure. So chill out with the timeline. If all else fails, though, you can always propose to them!

While you might have a dream wedding planned in your head, you never know how your timeline will change once you are engaged. The mood might strike you to just go to the courthouse or even elope! Companies like Italy Elope offer elopement packages to navigate the ceremony, photography, and travel for your big day. No matter where you might want to elope to, there are sure to be similar companies or wedding planners to help every step of the way.

How did you or your partner pop the question? What is your dream proposal like? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Totes Adorbs Featured Image By: Pixabay

Haunted House Help!

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Haunted House Help!

Hi everyone and happy Thursday! So a little known fact to my readers because I don’t think that I ever shared this on my blog before is that my very first job was as an actor at a haunted house. I worked at the Carnival of Horrors at Blossom Music Center in Ohio for two years in a row and I have to say…it was an experience! I did all of my own makeup, drank an abundance of coffee, and stayed up past one o’clock in the morning Friday through Sunday scaring the general public. At the time, my fifteen and sixteen year old self thought that this was the coolest thing ever and I still feel that way now.

I love all things horror – the films, the serial killer documentaries, the literature, I just can’t get enough. My favorite thing is when my boyfriend and I have our movie Mondays where we just watch scary movies and eat Taco Bell the entire day. I have seen more horror films than I can count but my all time favorite will always be the Texas Chainsaw Massacre. One of the other movies in my top five is the wonderful French horror film, Ils, which the American “The Strangers” is based off of. I am an amateur French speaker so their horror films are some of my favorites to watch because compared to comedies and dramas, the dialogue in horror movies is much easier for me to understand.

But I digress. The real reason behind this post besides for giving you guys a little insight into my love for the macabre is that I NEED TO GO TO A HAUNTED HOUSE!! I have not been to one in a couple of years and with Halloween just around the corner there is no better time than the present. I have three in mind that I scouted out and because I can’t make decisions to save my life and my sister is no better than me, I am passing the burden on to all of you. πŸ™‚

The Choices:

I am definitely leaning more towards the Factory Of Terror or 7 Floors of Hell but Hauntville was thrown in as the wild card!

I am in desperate need of some Haunted House Help and I would love to know which one looks the best in your opinion. What is the best haunted house in your area? What is your favorite Halloween time scary movie? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

PAJAMA PARTY!

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PAJAMA PARTY!

Hi everyone and happy weekend! Last night I had a little Pajama Party with me, myself, and I…and also Harry Potter. I have been OBSESSED with the new jammies that I got from Target and have taken every opportunity I’ve had for the past two weeks since buying them to get comfy, cozy, and cuddle up. I have been in need of new pajamas for years now but have just never really bothered. I just continued to make do with the body butter and lotion saturated sweats that I purchased from Aerie like three years ago.

However, this past month I have been OBSESSED with finding the perfect pair of PJs. I had tried Kohl’s, TJs, and Target a few times but nothing really spoke to me. I was looking for something that was the perfect combination of cute and cozy so not just any pair would do. After shopping trips to the three stores resulted in failure every time, I had damn near given up. But one final trip to Target changed the PJ game.

I had tried Tarjay before and was in love with their Disney line PJs but they were absurdly expensive for a nightgown or top and bottom set. So, despite the cuteness, I had to pass. My mom had pointed out the pair seen in the picture below and initially I turned them away. But after further examination, I decided that the red, flannel, lumberjack chic jammies were perfect. They were warm, cozy, and absolutely adorable. I could definitely picture myself counting a few sheep in them! Take a look:

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It’s admittedly not the best picture but you get the point. I love snuggling up in my new pajamas every night and now I just need a pair in every color! You can shop Target in stores or online to join in on the Lil Red Pajama Party happening nightly! Where is the best place to get pajamas from? What does your perfect pair of PJs look like? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Crocker Park Haul

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Crocker Park Haul

Hello everyone and happy Thursday! Last week my mom, sister, and I went to my favorite place in the whole wide world…Crocker Park! For those of you who aren’t familiar with this amazing, luxurious, Ohio outdoor mall – just know that it is truly the happiest place on earth. It is a little heaven manifested in Westlake where blocks upon blocks of clothing, makeup, and home goods stores reside. Stores like Urban Outfitters, H&M, Francesca’s, American Eagle, Bath & Body Works, Anthropology, Express, MAC, and Sephora…just to name a few! I made two purchases during our shopping outing and I’m seriously obsessed so take a look and let’s discuss:

The Haul:

  • Urban Outfitters Ecote brand dress
  • Francesca’s Miami brand flannel

Urban Outfitters: If I’m lucky, I make it out to Crocker Park about two times a year. Whenever I’m there, there are two stores that I always try to at least purchase something at and those are Urban Outfitters and H&M. Crocker Park is the only location with both of those stores and since it is about an hour drive away, I obviously don’t get to shop there frequently. Unfortunately, H&M had nothing that caught my eye during this shopping trip but I was so happy to find this gorgeous print dress on sale at Urban Outfitters!

Before our outing, my mom and I were chatting about what color clothing that we like to wear the best while we were walking our dogs. During which, I told her that I would love to find something gold or mustard yellow when we go to Crocker Park because I don’t mean to brag but those colors look dashing on me. πŸ˜‰ I had my eyes peeled in every store we went into for something that fitted the color palette I was looking for. I struck out in almost all of them until my sister found my pretty little new number in the sale section of Urban. I had saw the dress but I skipped past it because the fit of it usually isn’t the most flattering on me. However, Kristen urged me to try it on so I did.

As soon as the dress was on, I knew that it was perfect. The colors were phenomenal and the fit was just right. It was flowy and fun as opposed to baggy and lifeless. When I walked out of the fitting room, my mom said that it was exactly what she was hoping I would find after our dog walking chat and my heart just melted. I love my new dress so much and I’m actually wearing it right now as I type this! ❀

Francesca’s: Of all of the seasons that Ohio experiences, fall is my all time favorite. About seventy-five percent of my wardrobe consists of fall clothing because I live for fall fashion. Therefore, when I saw my new black and white flannel from Francesca’s, I knew that I had to have it. I’m a big fan of flannels but the trick is that they have to be really unique because I feel like most flannels look exactly the same. When I saw that my new flannel had embroidered patterns in the design as well as zippers going up both of the sides, I fell in love because I knew that it would stick out.

What made the flannel even more “must have” worthy was that it looked really good with the outfit that I was already wearing – a black crop top, black shorts, and forest green wedges. That made it even harder to say no to the top which completed my outfit so nicely. I liked that it was more form fitting, too. It wasn’t tight my any means but compared to all of my baggy Gypsy Warrior flannels at home, it definitely was more fitted which was a nice change. I am looking forward to wearing this flannel around campus this fall for a laid back, college cool look.

The Crocker Park outing that I had with my mom and sister was a total success but I would have been happy even if I ended up with nothing. Us girls had so much fun wandering around the outdoor mall, looking in different stores, and chattering away that it would have been worth it to go home empty handed. BUT – I’m so glad that I didn’t! πŸ˜‰

So there you have it, my Crocker Park Haul! Does anyone have an outdoor mall similar to Crocker Park in their neck of the woods? How about a favorite store to shop at that you live far away from? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

One Year Anniversary

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One Year Anniversary

Hey everyone and happy Thursday! So Monday was a lot of fun because my boyfriend, Kyle, and I celebrated our one year anniversary. Technically, it falls on the twentieth but there’s no harm in breaking out the party pants a few days early! We had a fantastic day of fine dining at Taco Bell, getting drinks, and going to see Suicide Squad in the evening. AND exchanging presents is always a plus! Our big day together was just the best and I wanted to give an extra special I love you shout out to my Kyle! You are amazing and thank you for a fantastic year together! Hurray! ❀

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^^^ #AWE πŸ˜‰