Life Update

I can't believe it's been almost 10 months since I've shared anything on here, but just like that, there the time went... so, hello again!

Well, I have a lot of updates to share with you since last time – the obvious update being that I go married (!!!) in August. I had initially wanted to share more about the wedding planning process and the inspiration behind all the decor and things, but between dress fittings, rearranging seating charts, and creating the finishing touches for the big day, it just felt too much. I might share my thoughts about the wedding planning process later on now that I have a little more clarity and the chaos has subsided, but I'm glad I was able to take a step back and focus on not just the wedding itself, but our marriage these past several (almost a year, actually!) months.

Although I don't think anything can top getting married, 2016 was such a memorable year for me. Here's a quick snapshot of what I got up to.

A lot of changes and new things, all in all, I really can't complain. 2016 was one for the books. But I'm really excited for what this year has to bring and I'm hoping to keep you updated along the way (in a more timely manner). :)

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Mrs. Lee to Be (Our Engagement Shoot)

Photo by Rachel Cook

Oh, hello there! So much has happened since you last saw me around here, but it feels really good to be back.

Clearly blogging has taken a back seat for the past few months because...

1) The obvious one – I GOT ENGAGED!!!
2) And I went on a European adventure!

Since then, the will to keep blogging just sort of stopped. I had so many aspirations to start blogging about wedding planning and my trip to Europe (which is still in the works!), but nothing came into fruition. I just felt lazy and uninspired. But honestly, stepping away from this a little bit was needed and it allowed me to just embrace the moment and soak up all of the goodness without dissecting it piece by piece through a social media lens. It was great to just take it all in and celebrate that momentous occasion together as a couple, with our family and friends. But now I'm ready to share all the exciting things that have been happening with you!

J and I are so incredibly happy with the way our engagement shoot turned out and we cannot give enough thanks to our amazing photographer, Rachel Cook. Plus, we share the same name, so extra points there. :) If anyone is looking for a wedding photographer in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, I could not recommend her enough. She's basically a wizard with a camera, because she makes you look ah-maz-ing. A million thanks, Rachel!!! You're the best!

...now onto the photos!

An Exciting Announcement

Hi guys! Sorry for the radio silence for the past couple weeks. I was just sort of drained at that point and I just needed to take a "creative retreat" if you will and step back from blogging for a bit to recharge.

But as you can guess from the title, this weekend has been such a whirlwind because...

I'M ENGAGED, I'M ENGAGED, I'M ENGAGED!

I was completely floored and 100% surprised when J proposed to me last night. I totally didn't see it coming (which was the only thing I kept telling him the entire time was that I just wanted to be surprised!) and it was such a precious memory that I will never forget.

Right now, I'm just trying to wrap my head around the fact that we're engaged and I'm going to be a wife! Whaaaat?! But I'm definitely excited to start digging into wedding planning and sharing details here with you!

Any advice is welcome, I'd love to hear from you!

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7 Ways To Relax After A Long Day Without Netflix

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You know the drill. You come home from work, whip up something quick for dinner, and kick your feet up on the couch watching Netflix until you crash for the night. And as much as I love my Netflix binges, (um, can we talk about Making a Murderer?) I also know it's important to take a step back from the TV screen every once and a while.

Related: 5 Things I Want to Make More Time For 

Here are a few things that I'm subbing in instead of the usual Netflix lineup.

How You Can Stay In The Know Without Watching The News

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I don't know why, but do you ever feel like you just don't have time to watch the news? I don't know why, but I just can't find the time to prioritize that. But being up to date on current events is important, so I've found other ways of being plugged in without having to turn on the TV at 6pm every night. And I've honestly found that I'm more engaged and can understand things happening more easily (like political talk, am I right?) than tuning into the nightly news.

Staying In On New Year's Eve (Without FOMO)

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Ah, New Year's Eve. For some, it's a night to get dressed up and go out on the town. If that's you, I'm kind of jealous you have a reason to wear sequins. But for others (including myself), there's nothing really glamorous about it. Frankly, I'd opt for a casual night in over freezing my buns off in stilettos any day. Between you and me, I've just spent NYE in my PJs watching HGTV marathons of House Hunters the past couple years. A clear sign I need to get out more.

The point is, I feel like there's sometimes a lot of pressure and hype around what your plans are for NYE when there really shouldn't be. I'd much rather prefer a low-key night (with maybe a few more decorations and sparkle than any other night, just because!) spent with close friends and family, reminiscing about this past year and looking forward to ringing in the new one ahead.

So, if you're still on the fence, here's a few last minute ideas you can do while staying in this NYE that'll make everyone else rethink their plans for next year.

'Tis The Reason (And an Advent Playlist, Have a Listen!)

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Happy Friday, friends! I hope you’ve enjoyed my gift guide series these past couple weeks and I hope it’s sparked some ideas on what to get a few people in your life.

But real talk for a minute. I’ve got to admit – my head was so buried in preparing this series, that I quickly lost sight of what the Christmas season really means to me. But by God's grace, I was humbly reminded by family, friends, and many others what this season is truly about. (PTL for community!)

It’s more than the excitement of the first snow, twinkly lights, perfectly wrapped presents under the tree, and the return of holiday drinks (in plain red cups). Don't get me wrong, I love seeing all the lights, Christmas shopping in my PJs (Ebates, anyone?) with a gingerbread latte in hand. But most days, my joy has become dictated by Pinterest-perfect decorations and Instagram-able moments instead of capturing the beauty of what this season really represents.

Friday Finds: No. 8

This week has kind of kept me busy (in a good way), which is probably why I can't believe it's already Friday today! But those are the best kinds of weeks, am I right?

Friday Finds: No. 7

I thought about what I wanted to share with you in this week's installment of Friday Finds and decided that I wanted to start taking a slightly different approach.

I don't know if it's because Thanksgiving is approaching, but I want to spend less time complaining and more time being grateful (even about the little things). Which is why I want to shift gears a bit and use Friday Finds to share a few glimpses into my week – anything that sparked a bit of happiness, no matter how small they are.

But of course, if I see something worth mentioning or that'll give you a good laugh, I'll definitely share (like this). :)

5 Things I Want To Make More Time For

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These days, it's crazy to think about how much time we pour into social media, how many hours we spend staring at multiple screens, and how little face time we actually get with the people in our lives. (Or at least this is true for myself.)

And then I saw this video that Estée posted, where she documented a 48 hour digital detox. 

48 HOURS. Sadly, I don't even know if I could successfully go 24 hours without looking at my phone, watching TV, or going online. But then, she posted this other video about 5 things she wanted to make more time for and it got me thinking about all the things I keep saying I want to do, but "don't have time for" too.

Friday Finds: No. 6

Oh, hey there. And happy Friday! Can you believe it's already the end of October? Seriously, shut the front door. I can't believe how quickly time is flying by. I feel like I'm constantly saying that nowadays, but it's true. It even snowed here on Wednesday! Not cool, Minne. Not. Cool. 

Well, because it's getting colder out, apparently all I can think about it comfort food and warm drinks. Hence the food edition of my (somewhat) weekly Friday Finds post. So let's dive in.

Friday Finds: No. 5

It's that time again! Dishing up my favorite finds as of late. And oh, happy Friday!

New Discoveries

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Hi friends, sorry for being MIA! Last weekend I was in Chicago for my friends' wedding, which was so beautiful and amazing. It was also my first time being a wedding coordinator! It was actually not as stressful as I thought it would be and I hope everyone else thought it went smoothly. Cheers to the happy couple!

But the biggest thing is that I'm moving in a little over a week! I can't believe it's almost here and I'm so excited to have a clean slate to redecorate my space. So please bear with me as I'm getting ready to move and get everything in order before regularly scheduled posts are happening again. (Thanks to the handful of you who have been asking about upcoming blog posts! You're so kind.)

But I couldn't just leave you with nothing, so here are a few things I've discovered lately that I've really been enjoying:

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

Photo Credit (Clockwise): 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5

What To Do This Labor Day

First of all, I cannot believe that Labor Day weekend is already here! Where is the time going and how can we slow it down? Since it basically snuck up on me, I literally have no plans whatsoever. If you're in the same boat as I am, try one of these ideas this weekend! There's a good mix of things to do if you need a little "me" time or if you wanna hang with your friends and family.

Image via Death to the Stock Photo

I've been reading this book for my book club and am totally hooked, so I plan on finishing that his weekend. And also maybe watching a few more episodes of this new TV show. Who else is watching this right now? So good! I definitely want to try and visit the farmer's market to pick up the last of the summer fruits and veggies. And there are a ton of parks in Minneapolis that host movie nights, which sounds like a fun way to unwind and relax.

Whatever you end up doing, I hope you have a fun and relaxing weekend. Happy Friday!


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3 Easy Ways to Clean Your Makeup Brushes

Cleaning my makeup brushes is not the most exciting chore, but it's an important one. When left too long, they're filled with loads of bacteria that are obviously not good for your skin. Who wants to buff in foundation with a side of germs? No, thank you.

So today, I want to share with you a few simple ways to clean your brushes and keep them in good condition.

5 Products That Completely Changed My Skin

Friday Finds: No. 4

Hey there, long time no see! I've been traveling a lot the past few weeks and have just been a little out of sync with my day-to-day schedule. So I apologize for the radio silence, but I'll hopefully be back into the swing of things around here next week!

6 Nail Polish Shades Perfect For Summer

If you know me even a little bit, you know that I love me some nail polish. So today, I'm giving a shout out to some of my favorite nail polishes that I've been sporting on my nails on a pretty regular basis so far this summer.

Friday Finds: No. 3