Wanna See Me Without Makeup?

I know I've been super MIA lately. I hate it. Between working 12-13 hour days and traveling every week/almost every weekend, I have about zero time for myself.

But I did have a little bit of time to try some awesome Mary Kay products!


So go to my Reviews and Giveways blog to:

1. See a picture of me without makeup. (Yikes!)
2. Win $100 of Mary Kay products. (Yay!)

Went to the Chapel in Oxford, Ohio

A couple of weekends ago The Mr. and I ventured to Oxford, Ohio to see one of my oldest friends get married!

She got married at the Sesquicentennial Chapel at Miami University in Oxford on a ridiculously hot day mid-west summer day.

It was such a beautiful wedding chapel!


The inside was gorgeous as well. It made me wish I'd had a chapel wedding.


The bride's parents are my parent's best friends. It was so wonderful to see them walk their daughter down the aisle.


The groom and she looked SO happy.


No, we were NOT bridesmaids. My friend and I just happened to dress very similarly! Too funny!


After the wedding we headed to the reception at the Shriver Center.

The bride had SO many great DIY details!


It was proof you don't have to spend a ton of money to have a beautiful wedding. Her wedding favors were homemade cookies. So cute and yummy!

The bride and groom have known each other since they were kids but didn't start dating until recently. They put together and adorable display case of their childhood letters, pictures, and emails from when they started dating. So stinkin' cute!


We danced the night away! But near the end of the night I finally snagged a picture with the bride. Love her!


Overall we had an amazing time in Oxford. Such a cute college town! And SUCH a fun time with friends and family!

Have you been going to a ton of weddings this summer too?

Nine Fine Book Reviews

In the last four months I've read 9 books! That's gotta be some kind of record for me!

I've deviated a little from my reading plan, but that's OK. Here's what I've read lately and what I thought of them...

Mennonite in a Little Black Dress: A Memoir of Going Home by Rhonda Janzen

My rating: 3 out of 5 stars

I read this for my book club. I felt the book had it's funny moments, but it felt kind of disjointed and I felt like it just kind of ended abruptly.


Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

This was a fun, quick read. A perfect girly, summer, beach read.


Something Blue by Emily Giffin

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

After reading Something Borrowed I had to read this. I really enjoyed hearing the continuation of the story from another point of view. A very fun read.


Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese

My rating: 5 out of 5 stars

I also read this for my book club. Amazing book! Interesting plot and amazing character development. I seriously couldn't put it down for the last 300 pages.


Last Night at Chateau Marmont by Lauren Weisberger

My rating: 2 out of 5 stars

This book was an easy read, but the main character bugged me. She was so whiny, annoying, and not believable.


Sacred Marriage by Gary L. Thomas

My rating: 2 out of 5 stars

I just could not get into this book. I liked the concept overall, but I felt like this book was written for men, not women. And I couldn't really find much practical application in it.


The Secret Gift by Tedd Gup

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

This is heartwarming book about a secret benefactor during the Great Depression featuring the real letters people wrote to him. Such an interesting and sweet book.


The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

My rating: 3 out of 5 stars

All the dog lovers and lovers of this book are gonna hate me, but this book was just OK for me. I couldn't get over the talking philosopher dog. And Eve's family made me so mad that it made the book painful to read.


The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands by Laura Schlessinger

My rating: 3 out of 5 stars

My MIL gave me this as a gift. It had some really points and some good practical application of the concepts. But it bugged me how much Dr. Laura bagged on working women when SHE is working woman.


Did you read any of these books? What did you think of them?

Trip Updates - Vegas Bachelorette and Laguna Beach Anniversary

I'm now two-thirds of the way through my travel-gauntlet summer. I'm having fun, but I'm exhausted!

I have tons of travel tales and pictures but I thought I'd share two recent trips...
Las Vegas for my Sorority Sister's Bachelorette Party and Laguna Beach for our 3rd Anniversary.

First, Las Vegas!


8 of us spent 2 fun-filled days in Vegas. We stayed at the Venetian (love that hotel). We went out to The Bank at the Bellagio one night and Marquee at the Cosmopolitan the other night. I really liked The Bank, but did not like Marquee (it was way way too crowded and the multi-level stairwells were a pain). I also had a lot of fun at pool party at the Venetian during the day.

Here's the Gamma Phis that were in attendance.

(Clearly I didn't the memo about which way to turn)

Second, our 3rd Wedding Anniversary in Laguna Beach.

Before we left we exchanged gifts (as usual)


The 3rd anniversary is the "leather anniversary" (that makes me laugh for some reason).

So the Mr. got me a leather travel jewelery case.


And I got him a leather grilling mit.


Then we drove down to Orange County and checked into the Ayres Hotel, had champagne and strawberries, and then got ready for dinner.


We had dinner at Studio at The Montage in Laguna Beach.


Amazing gourmet food! Seriously to die for. And the view was one of the best in the world.


Then the next morning we had a couples massage at The Ayres Hotel (we stayed there because a sweet friend gave us a Groupon for a free night and a couples massage). I really enjoyed the massage but I don't really understand the point of a couples massage. It's not like you talk or hang out during it, ya know?

Overall, we had a very wonderful Anniversary! Thanks for all of the well wishes for us on the blog and twitter.

I have more pictures and travel tales to come soon, so stay tuned!