You.And.Me.Are.We: blogging

Showing posts with label blogging. Show all posts

Rainstorms and Love Notes

I'm over the moon excited to introduce you to Ashley from Rainstorms and Love Notes!

Ask Ashley about her blog and she'll tell you Rainstorms and Love Notes is a lifestyle blog where she shares new recipes, writes about life and love, and talks about her obsession with binge-watching TV shows and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

She had me at recipes and binge-watching TV shows. Seriously.

Ashley's married to a pretty cool guy named TJ. If you wanna know how cool he is, just take a look at her blog design because he's the muscle behind it.

And then while you're hanging out over on her blog checkin' out her sweet set up, you'll want to check out some of her recipes because she's a total wiz in the kitchen. She's got everything from banana oatmeal chocolate chip muffins, to a refreshing homemade chicken noodle soup, to shrimp & spinach fettuccine.

She's also full of insight... for instance, she'll tell you why that cute maxi dress in your closet may not be as innocent as it looks.

If you've got pets - or kids! - you know they come with a t-o-n of toys that can be hard to keep under control. As I write this, I have a green squeaky penguin to my left and a colorful braided rope to my right. Don't get me wrong - I love having a dog, and I can't imagine life without Maggie, but there are definitely times I've wondered aloud, "where'd all of this stuff come from?!" Ashley has an easy DIY tutorial that helps organize the mess into something that's a lot prettier to look at. Can I get an 'amen'?!

Basically, Ashley's pretty awesome. She regularly posts pictures of food and her cats on Instagram. Plus, she hangs out on Twitter and Pinterest. Mark my word for it, you'll want to follow Rainstorms and Love Notes on Bloglovin', so get on that!!

Moving

I know it's been a week since my last update and I'm sorry for that. First I had three days of nursing school orientation that left me feeling incredibly exhausted and overwhelmed. Add to that two 12-hour days of work training for a new charting system that's going live soon, plus one very persistent sore throat/head cold... and that brings us to Wednesday. Since then, our house deal has been teetering on the brink of not-going-to-happen due to having hired apparently the slowest appraisers EVER.

As of last night, we're moving into our first home on Sunday. We'll be renting from the seller for a few days until the paperwork moves through the system and we can close later in the week. But basically that means I've been on the phone all morning (literally - the phone woke me up and I've already had to recharge it this morning!) arranging utility transfers, internet set up, and UHaul truck rentals.

Oh, and don't forget that nursing school officially starts on Monday and I have what seems like six trillion pages to read before then. When I say the program is accelerated, I mean that for every one DAY of class for us, it's equal to one WEEK of class in a traditional program. Our first quiz and exam are both on Thursday... after we read 500 pages and complete a project.

I've been going back and forth about what to do with You and Me are We while I'm in school. I have added pressure to write on a frequent basis because some very kind souls decided they wanted to sponsor YAMAW. After much thought, I've decided to continue my blogging adventure but slow things down quite a bit. If I have a busy week with school, you may not see much of me but if I can find time, I'll be on Twitter and Instagram daily!

I'm not setting a posting goal for myself but please know that I'll be posting as much as I can! I have a few house update and house DIY posts that I'm itching to get going on.

I want this blog to be a reflection of my life - my real life. And for the next 12 months, my real life is going to be focused on becoming a nurse with some fun weekend house projects thrown in there. I've always promised that I would keep it real here and I don't sugar coat things, so there you have it.

Please, please, please follow along with me on Instagram (@YouAndMeAreWe) and Twitter (@YouAndMeAreWe) because chances are, I'll be hangin' around there before I pop onto Blogger to bust out a post or two!

Catch ya on the flip side (or, at least before Christmas break!)

My Loss Is Your Gain: Part 3

Check out yesterday's post for details on why I've decided to offer this opportunity to my readers.

To recap: We're moving. I don't want to take clothes with us if they don't fit or I don't love them. I've picked the best of the best to offer to my readers. See something you like? Grab it while you can!

The rules: I'm posting a price along with each item. Shipping is included with the price, up to $4. If you want super quick shipping, I just ask that you pay the difference. Do you want more than one item? Great! I will gladly take $5 off of the total just for being so fantastic! If you decide you want an item, comment on the post telling me which item you'd like along with your PayPal email. I will send out an invoice ASAP and it will be marked as "SOLD" on the original post once I receive your payment. Everything will be shipped by Thursday at the very latest.

Check out yesterday's clothes to see if there are any available that you may want to snatch up!

Black Ann Taylor wrap dress. Worn once.

Size large petite.

$25

Gently worn Merona t-shirt. Size medium.

While it's a soft cotton material, I wore it while teaching as part of a business casual outfit. Definitely more dressy than a plain t-shirt!

Black and white shift dress. New with tags.

Size 10.

Paid $48, asking $20.

Comment below and my loss will become your gain!

My Loss Is Your Gain: Part 2

Black and white polka dot dress with tie backs. Junior size XL.

Worn once.

$15

Purple crossback Mossimo summer dress. Size medium.

Worn once.

$10

Kelsi Dagger Danelle black suede wedges. Brand new in box, never worn.

Size 8, though they fit more like size 9.

Retail for $120, asking $45.

Tomorrow is the last day of this bunch of items. Check back for more closet-raiding goodness!

Comment below and my loss will become your gain!

Looking for a New Home:

By now, you're probably more than ready to start seeing pictures of our new house, hear stories of how wonderful it is to finally own our own home, and read endless lists of the updates we're planning to do.

You're going to have to wait a couple more weeks. Why? Oh, just because nothing about this home buying process has gone smoothly and our closing date was pushed back three weeks. We're now closing on September 30.

Yes, the same day that we need to turn in our keys for our current rental.
And the same day that nursing school officially begins the 'accel' portion.

So basically, I have less than two weeks to completely pack our house - while doing school stuff and working still! - and to clean our current duplex so we can rid ourselves for once and for all this crazy rental.

Why should you care? Well, because I'm cleaning our closets out like mad. And it just so happens that I'm in the mindset that less is more so I'm getting rid of anything that I don't love or that doesn't fit perfectly. I've lost almost 30 pounds in the past few years and I haven't gone through everything - until now. Basically, half of my wardrobe needs to find a new home.

There are a few things that still have tags on them or that have been worn once or twice and I figured I'd offer them up to my lovely readers before taking them to a consignment shop.

So here's how it's going to work:
I'm posting a few items each today, tomorrow, and Wednesday. I'm posting a price along with each item. Shipping is included with the price, up to $4. If you want super quick shipping, I just ask that you pay the difference.

Do you want more than one item? Great! I will gladly take $5 off of the total just for being so fantastic!

If you decide you want an item, comment on the post telling me which item you'd like along with your PayPal email. I will send out an invoice ASAP and it will be marked as "SOLD" on the original post once I receive your payment.

Everything will be shipped by Thursday at the very latest.

Click here for today's post.

Happy shopping!

Cardstore

I was contacted by Cardstore to create and receive a greeting card at no cost to me in return for an honest post reviewing my experience. I happily agreed and set off to find the perfect card.

I am definitely one of those people who spends far too much time in the greeting card area of Target. I buy cards for no reason, I save the cards I am given, and I am always on the hunt for the next best card to give. The reaction of the card recipient while reading it is the best part, and I'm always looking to top it. Basically, I'm a card snob. Yeah, I said it.

On Cardstore, I chose a blank, customizable card to give to Trevor. I wanted to give him a card to celebrate our first home together {no, our ugly duplex doesn't count} and came across one that I could completely customize what I was envisioning.

With a little personalization of a photo of our new home and some lovingly crafted words - the card was on it's way to me. Seriously, it was so easy. Even better? You can upload photos right from Facebook and Instagram. And because I use IG like my own personal photo album, I can see myself making personalized cards for every occasion!

The cards at Cardstore are incredibly priced compared to the greeting cards you find at Hallmark, Target, or Walmart. Plus, they run specials on cards for upcoming holidays. When I made my card, their Grandparent's Day cards were $1.99 and now, they have a 30% off sale going on with CCL3030! So, you save money on the cards, you save time by not having to go to the store, and you can make your card much, much more personal than the ones you find in stores. Sounds like a win, win, win to me!

If you decide you want to make your own greeting cards and try out Cardstore for yourself, you can click through this affiliate link for a bonus 80 points. Their reward program is free to sign up and you accumulate points for every card you order - even the discounted ones! You can redeem your points for free cards, simple as that.

Here are some of my favorite love cards, just because!

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5

And even a few that are only meant for your significant other's eyes - hello, honeymoon cards!

1 // 2 // 3

Have you tried Cardstore? Check it out and let me know your favorite card design!

check this out!

Share Your Fall Favorites Here {link up}

Today we're celebrating Fall - the return to boots, chilly nights, and things pumpkin. The transition from summer to fall is one of my favorite times of the year. So, I thought, why not invite everyone to celebrate with me!?

As promised, I'm hosting a link up for anyone and everyone to share their Fall posts. Share one or share fifty - it's up to you!

So, what are you waiting for? Join in! There's a button down below for you to add to the posts you're linking up. I do ask that you add the button to the posts you're linking up. It's also recommended, though not required, that you follow your host {me} in some fashion. And if you really want to be fantastic, spread the word about today's link party and you'll have even more links to surf through!

<div align="center">
<a href="http://youandmearewe.blogspot.com/2013/09/share-your-fall-favorites-here-link-up.html" title="Fall Favorites Link Up"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_P5C-zGjEQY/Uh1rEqgIlxI/AAAAAAAACQw/3oO6Ul7Aqnk/s400/fallfavoriteslinkup.jpg" alt="Fall Favorites Link Up" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

check this out!

Fall Recipe Roundup {link up!}

It's getting a little cooler in these parts lately. In true Wisconsin style, it'll warm up again before the snow falls, but in the meantime I've been busy thinking of all my favorite fall recipes.

This buffalo chicken is perfect for tailgating or an easy weeknight meal. Of course you could also try a skinny baked potato soup, too!

It's apple season! Toss some of these yummy apple pie egg rolls together for a simple dessert:

These easy pumpkin spice muffins are perfect to enjoy with a cup of chai or alone:

Try this healthy chocolate zucchini bread to use up the excess crops from your garden:

I've rounded them all up in one post so they're easy to find and I'm inviting you to link up your favorite fall recipes, too. Feel free to click around and tempt your taste buds!

And, if that's not enough, I'm also hosting a fall favorites link up next Tuesday. You'll be able to link up as many posts as your Autumn-loving heart desires. Join me and link up your favorite fall crafts, outfits, activities, recipes, bucket lists, or anything else that has to do with the season. Get those posts together and grab this button to spread the word!

<div align="center">
<a href="http://youandmearewe.blogspot.com/2013/09/share-your-fall-favorites-here-link-up.html" title="Fall Favorites Link Up"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_P5C-zGjEQY/Uh1rEqgIlxI/AAAAAAAACQw/3oO6Ul7Aqnk/s400/fallfavoriteslinkup.jpg" alt="Fall Favorites Link Up" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Can't wait to see you back here again next Tuesday. Let's get ready to share our love of crisp leaves, all things pumpkin spice, harvest decor, and more!

check this out!

things are looking up

Good morning, lovelies!

Notice things are a little less cluttered around here? How about that new blog design?!? We're still polishing everything {like trying to find the perfect font that's easier to read than this skinny mini} but it should be good to go within the next day.

I'm inviting you to take a look around and give me some feedback. If something is hard to navigate, I want to know. If links aren't working, I want to know!.If you can't find something, I want to know. I want to know {all of} your thoughts!

I wanted to tell you all about my trip to Chicago with Whit last weekend but I think I'll save that for next week. If you want a little sneak peek, head over to Black Little Button and get ready for picture overload!

So, the real reason I'm here today?!

The house is ours.

The seller agreed to the amendment we proposed and our lender is working her butt off trying to get everything set for closing in just TWO. WEEKS.

Trevor and I are going to be homeowners in 14 days. Oh my goodness!

Project: Do You #17

Today's Project: Do You post is going to be the last one. I don't know if I should be sad it's over or if I should be excited that everything's checked off!

Let's do a quick run down on how things went:

#1 - Read one book per month. Pretty darn self explanatory, right?

#2 - Work out on a regular basis. I was doing much better at this before my wisdom teeth surgery at the end of June, but since then I've stayed active at home rather than going to the YMCA 3-4 days a week.

#3 - Run a 5K. I ran/walked The Color Run on Sunday with 5 other teammates. We did incredibly well - seriously, I'm so impressed! - and I'm ready to sign up for another one already! It was so.much.fun!!

#4 - Add another 2K to the vacation fund. This one went out the window when a house came into the picture. It would be silly to put money in a fund that we won't use until late 2014 at the earliest, especially because more money that we can put towards a house, the less money we'll be in debt to our mortgage lender!

#5 - Plan a date night ahead of time for each month. This doesn't take a lot of explanation.

#6 - Enjoy a weekend away with Trevor. And it was a relaxing one at that!

#7 - Shape eyebrows. I finally was happy with the shape a few months back... and I've been pretty happy since then, too!

#8 - Finish our wedding scrapbook. I know it didn't say this on the list, but this was a summer goal. Now that summer's over for me, this is done and over with as well. It's not close to being done, but there's just simply much bigger and better fish to fry. I still have everything I need and I may have a scrapbooking weekend with my mom sometime in the future, but it's just not high priority right now.

#9 - Travel more. I had checked this off a while ago and I've since planned another trip to Chicago with Whitney in a couple weeks. I'm excited!

#10 - Learn to say no more often. I put this on the list because I felt that I was kind of getting walked all over at work. I'm still sticking to my guns and saying no when I don't want to pick up extra shifts at the drop of a hat.

#11 - Make more time for crafting. I finished a table, a bookcase, and a dresser within the past week and they look fantastic. I'm also in the middle of finding stuff for a gallery wall {leave links to your favorite free printables in the comments below!!} Crafting is a nice relaxer for me and I'm loving it in my life right now!

#12 - Get out of my comfort zone more often. Rule number one: Nothing about starting an accelerated nursing program with 29 strangers or buying a house is within your comfort zone.

#13 - Share our wedding on the blog. So glad I did this!!

#14 - Attend a concert. Checkity, check. And, Trevor and I are thinking about going to Chicago for another concert the first weekend of October!

#15 - See a Broadway show. BOM was amazing!

#16 - Get hearing tested again/look into surgery. It's good to know where my hearing stands and what my surgical options are. I'm not planning on going under the knife quite yet, but I'm glad I had the appointment.

#17 - Bake someone a birthday cake. I totally didn't skimp on this one! The chocolate cake I baked for Trevor was pretty yummy!

#18 - Go to the beach. What's summer without a little time with your toes in the sand?!

#19 - Forgive. I honestly feel like I've become a better person and that this comes a lot more naturally to me now.

So that's that! The list is done! Are you sad to see it go?

How are your goals coming along?

You can recap my journey by reading all of my Project: Do You posts here.

check this out!

Hey there, stranger!

It has been far too long since I've sat down and blogged, much less typed up something worthy of hitting 'post' for you all to see. My mind has been elsewhere lately. I've hardly slept and my thoughts keep returning to the same things.

What on Earth could possibly be occupying my mind so frequently? Creeping in between every other thought that passes between my ears.

And it's time to come clean with you!

Trevor and I have been working on buying a house: applying for loans, crunching numbers, looking at listings, going to open houses, crunching numbers, meeting with our Realtor, spending countless hours looking at house after house, and crunching numbers. Oh, wait, did I mention we've been busy crunching numbers?!

We came thisclose to putting an offer on a ~~perfect~~ two story colonial home this past week. Everything was going along swimmingly until we invited our parents to see it and they noticed evidence of a wet basement. And some structural "enhancements" - if you could even call them that. Bottom line: we're still trying to get to the bottom of what's happening in that basement, but odds are that we're letting that house go. It's just not worth spending $20k to redo an entire basement!

And now I find myself dreaming of that home - the main floor and the upstairs moved somewhere else on a solid foundation, of course - and thinking of how I would paint, decorate, and arrange things. I am constantly dreaming of us owning our own home, making minor improvements, making the space our own. My heart is heavy.

Clearly, we are sick of renting. We hate that we are spending thousands of dollars on rent every year - and our landlord only comes around once a year if he's in the neighborhood. He doesn't care to take care of our needs but he makes sure to raise heck if he's looking for money, that's for sure! For the amount of money we are spending, we could be paying a mortgage and stashing away some pennies for home improvements. We're ready to move on to bigger and better things, that's for sure.

So where does this leave us? Still looking for a home to call our own, spending Sunday afternoons looking at open houses, and dreaming of the future. And still in our rental. Ugh.

I apologize for the lack of posts and for today's somber attitude. Honestly, there hasn't been much going on in our lives except spending the day working and the evenings looking at homes and gathering paperwork for our mortgage lender... and nobody wants to hear about that.

Don't worry - I won't leave you high and dry! Here's what's coming down the pipeline: a DIY furniture tutorial coming soon, the perfect summer scrub "recipe" to keep you legs silky smooth, a new blog design (!), and plenty of life updates. In the next month, I'll be running The Color Run, preparing for nursing school, and heading to Chicago with Whit.

Stay tuned!

check this out!

Friday Letters

Dear Trevor, this week has been pretty great - we're being super stealthy and not sharing too many details, but I really hope this all pans out like we're hoping! Dear work, thanks for the extra hours and the extra money. And an even bigger thanks for having a fantastic air conditioning system during this past week of 100+ degree days. Dear Bonnie, your Twitter seminar last night was fabulous - thank you! Dear readers, if you want to learn how to conquer Twitter, you've gotta watch the webinar! Dear John Green, thanks for writing The Fault in Our Stars. Not only is it a great love story, it's the perfect length for a quick summer read!

Dear nursing school, things are starting to get real. I'm wrapping things up at work (my last day is two months from today!), I've been working on the two classes that need to be done before orientation, I've been slowing trudging through the emails and long to-do lists, and I've started getting things settled for a new study area in our house. Dear readers {again}, be on the lookout for a home tour post of said new study area. An entire room for $130?! I know you want to see it! And on the same note, thanks for your feedback about what color scheme I should use for the new design. Get pumped to see which one wins in the coming days! Dear Summer, you're going by way too quickly! Slow down a little, please! Dear weekend, please be kind to me. I'll be at the hospital for at least 12.5 hours both Saturday and Sunday... can you please make it bearable?

What are you doing this weekend? Heading on vacation? Sticking close to home? Do you have any fun projects planned?

check this out!

Blues and Greens

It's been a long time coming, but a new design is soon coming to YAMAW!

And that's where you come in! I've made a few (...ok, six...) color combination boards that I'm considering and I hope you'll vote for which one is your favorite! Leave a comment below letting me know which one you like the best and {fingers crossed} you'll get to see it live, in action, here on the blog.

Option 1:

Option 2:

Option 3:

Option 4:

Option 5:

Option 6:

And while we're discussing redesigning and colors and all that jazz, you need to check out the inspiration board Veronica created for my kitchen! I asked for an airy room - something that would complement my all-white dinnerware - and she definitely delivered!

I mean, really, check out those accent colors! And the placemats?! I need them.

What do you think of the kitchen Veronica designed? And what about the next color scheme here at YAMAW?
What's it going to be? 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6?

check this out!

Catching Up and a Group Giveaway on Bailey Dailies

Hey there! How was your Fourth of July?

Trevor and I spent the day with family, enjoying the sun and each other's company. I do have to admit, though, that a summer holiday just isn't the same when you have to chew everything with your front teeth. Darn you, wisdom teeth surgery! I am a lover of grilled corn on the cob, brats, and summer salads and I wasn't able to partake like usual. As soon as my mouth heals, I'm going to go grill crazy!

As promised, here's the second giveaway that I'm part of this week.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Here's to hoping you win. Good luck!

Happy Friday, friend!

check this out!

July Fourth

I know my readers don't all hail from the US, but to those who do:

I'm taking the day off blogging and spending it with my loved ones. I'll be back tomorrow with a giveaway so come on back then!

check this out!

Group Giveaway on Hey, Hollywood

It's your lucky week! Two of the ladies I sponsored in June have put together giveaways and I figured I'd share them both here so you'd have a chance to win some goodies.

Holly from Hey, Hollywood's giveaway goes through the end of this week so get your entries in while you can!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck - and be on the lookout for another giveaway later this week!

Have You Met Stephanie?

Have you met Stephanie?

She blogs over at Bourbon & Glitter and hosts a party link up every week. If that doesn't ring a bell, you're sure to have seen a photo or two ~~or nineteen~~ of her trusty sidekick, Hawkeye.

Hawkeye and Steph live in Chicago and were kind enough to send email after email recommending places to eat and shop when I was in their city last week. And you know what? I didn't even get recommendations from my own real-life friends like that! Steph rocks, hands down, and that's all there is to it.

If her suggestions weren't enough, she posted this pin-worthy post full of summer cocktails, each one looks better than the last.

Peach sangria? Check.

Peach martini? Check.

Sorbet mimosa? Check.

And, I'll take one of each please and thank you.

Here's what she wants you to know about her -
I'm Steph and I blog over at Bourbon and Glitter! I wish I could give you a quick description to sum up everything you'd find on my blog, but I just can't. It's everything from making goals to making cocktail cupcakes recipes each month to making 1000 jello shots. In my blog, as in my life, I never take anything too seriously. I like to think that sometimes you'll learn things, find some recipes you like, get some ideas for bar crawls and costumes (two of my very favorite things) but mostly you'll just see a lot of photos of my fur baby, Hawkeye, and posts making fun of myself. Sure there's an occasional serious post and I can be overly theatrical, but I want you visiting my blog for the same reason I like to write it - pure fluffy entertainment with a hint of humor and sarcasm just to make you smile!

She's also a die hard Iowa fan {did you catch that when you learned her dog's name?!} and will defend her Alma Mater 'till the end. I like passionate people and Steph certainly is passionate, if nothing else. If I had to describe Steph in two words they would be fun & real. I mean, really, anyone who posts about cocktail cupcakes (by the way, you need this recipe for your Fourth of July celebrations next month, I promise!) and shares honestly about why sometimes she can be a mean girl {hello, loyalty!} is cool in my book. The blogging world has it's share of fake women who edit their lives for their readers but you won't find that with Steph. Heck, she shared one hell of a breakup with us earlier this year! When you visit Bourbon & Glitter, you get what you see and Steph never feels the need to apologize for it - and she shouldn't!

If you didn't know why she's awesome, you sure as heck do now! All that's left to do is to follow her on Bloglovin and Twitter so what are you waiting for?!

Another reason she's awesome? She's giving away an Amazon gift card to one of you lucky ducks!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Friday Letters

Dear Friday, thanks for finally showing up. What took you so long? Dear holiday weekend, please feel free to take your time once you get here - you could stand to take a note from Friday, please. Dear Trevor, I'm so happy you're loving your new job and we'll both be even happier when you get your first paycheck next Friday! Dear blogging, you've been pretty darn enjoyable this week so thanks for reminding me why I started this chapter of my life. Plus, the friends I've made along the way aren't half bad either. Dear work, that 8 day stretch of being off was amazing. Now, let's see if we can make that happen again a few more times this summer - but this time with less funeral leave, please. Dear Mom, I hope you're ready to take Chicago by storm. Ready or not, here we come! And also, on a more serious note, I'm so glad we're able to take these mother-daughter trips. I always come away from them with a deeper love and greater appreciation for you.

Happy Memorial Day weekend! What are you doing to celebrate?

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