Life Is More Interesting When You're Happy

Some people just enjoy being grumpy and can find the negative in anything. Well there is just not enough time on this earth to spend one second with an attitude like that! Life can be beautiful and quirky and fun and one big adventure if you let it!! 

Even on bad days, choosing to be positive and embrace each day that your given is such a freeing feeling. :) So in the spirit of good vibes, here are ten lovely things that have been bringing me joy over the past month or two.

1. My babiest of brothers. I haven't seen him as much as I probably should, but when I do this little ginger always puts a smile on my face. 

River loves him almost as much as I do. :)

2. New Art and anything gilded.

3. Time spent with my adorable goddaughter. 

P.S. HAPPY BIRTHDAY BELLA!

4. Epcot's Food and Wine Festival with the hubs, my beautiful sister in law and Tampa friends. 

SO MUCH WONDERFUL FOOD!!

And with all the countries it was like a delicious reminder of our trip! France was 

hands down my favorite with these heaven sent items on their menu:

-Tartelette aux escargots (Escargot tart w/ garlci, spinach, bacon and parmesan) 

-Gratin de crozet de savoie (Wheat pasta gratin w/ mushrooms and Gruyere cheese) 

-Boeuf Bourguignon (braised short ribs in cabernet w/ mashed potatoes)

-Creme Brulee caramel fleur de sel (Sea Salt caramel creme brulee topped w/ caramelized sugar)

I may have gone through the line twice...

5. Healthy and clean eating. Also really loving the local markets and health food 

stores we have in the area to shop for REAL food!

Shout out to my food shopping PIC, Nikki. Love you boo! Thanks for making a tedious chore fun!! <3

6. Seeing one of my all time favorite country artists, Carrie Underwood, live! I've been to 

a concert of hers once before but she always puts on such a good show and has an 

amazing voice!! Plus, one of my work bff's and I were able to get the tickets super cheap 

from the USO! Thank heavens for military discounts!

Tab and I drug our men along but they weren't as excited as we were. They hate country... but they are both GREAT hubs and at least had her pretty face to look at! :)

Also, there MAY have been a soccer game promised that we were too late to see more than 5 minutes of.. sorry boys! xoxo

 7. Window Shopping at West Elm.

This place makes my heart skip a beat. If only they didn't want my left leg for a coffee table. *Sigh* At least its a super inspiring place to visit. I always leave with a long list of things I love and think I can DIY.

8. My new lab-german shepherd nephew, Banner. He the cutest, clumsiest all boy puppy!

9. FRIENDS!!! They truly do make the world go round.

10. Last but not least, this sexy man. He is my ultimate best friend and always puts a smile on my face.

I wouldn't want to live this life with anyone else. <3

 

So what things bring you good vibes and remind you how grand life is?? 

An Ode to October

October is probably my favorite month of the entire year. 

It has a way of making me feel refreshed and renewed and just puts the biggest smile on my face! Yes, yes my birthday IS this month.. a birthday month I share with my two very best friends.. maybe thats why October usually makes me feel nostalgic and happy and loved.

October feels to me, like a big start button to the entire year! I usually start thinking of all the fantastic life experiences and all the struggles I experienced over the past year and how all those things can help me create what ever kind of better and older wiser person I want myself to be in this new year of my life.

Other than just birthdays, there are so many other things about this PERFECT month that I know you all just cannot get enough of too. :) So in honor of this obviously awesome month.... I give you my not so poetically correct ode to all the things that make October so loveable.

1. The start of my FAVORITE time of the year: Fall!!

2. That chilly fall crisp air that convinces us Floridians that its time to break out the scarves and boots! To all my non southern friends... contain your laugh if you please.

3. Pumpkin Spice everything.. yes, I'm one of those girls.. NO SHAME.

4. The leaves starting to change colors.

5. Homey, warm and inviting candle scents. (I am a candle fanatic.)

6. Morning snuggling on the couch with a warm cup of coffee or tea to warm your soul.

7. Bonfires and oyster roasts!

8. Football season is in full swing!! I don't follow football as much as I should but I love watching the games and supporting my boys! (GO GATORS!!)

9. That brings me to the highlight of football season for me... the UF vs. UGA game! Even if you don't like football you can still appreciate the Florida Georgia game in this city.

* I have to elaborate a little on this one... In this part of the state we are so close to Georgia that it when it comes to college football your more than likely either a FSU, UF or UGA fan. Smack talk is required. This game can make or break friendships, ya'll. It happens every year on my birthday weekend and there are always concerts and events the 3 days prior.

Me and one of my besties have our own tradition close to 10 years running of breakfast that morning at Waffle House where we dress up in our Orange and Blue and go watch people eat breakfast and yell at each other across the diner about how much the others team sucks. It's awesome and I love every minute of it. I've even got my husband to start tagging along and he hates football AND waffle house. I know I know... how is that even possible right?? Who hates Waffle House!?!

10. Although it's not my favorite holiday because it interferes with my birthday... I have learned to start loving Halloween for the sheer fact that every year the hubs and I make our own costumes from scratch or from thrift store finds. It's so fun to use the cheapest of things to make some pretty believable costumes. Jon oozes creativity and seeing him come up with such unique ideas really just reminds me how incredibly awesome this man is that I call my husband. I'm a lucky lady.

11. Warm chili season!!!

12. The return of The Walking Dead. Reason enough to love October.

13. The beginning of all the holidays that just make your heart happy. Its like the season premiere that gets you all excited for whats to come! Thanksgiving, CHRISTMAS!!! Ahh I'm getting all giddy just thinking about it!!

Ok so I know that there are hundreds more reasons that October is awesome, so tell me.. What is it that you love about October?? I know I'm not alone!

I hope your month is full of all of the things that bring you joy and that bring the fall season to life!!!

Sweet Little Somethings

It's the little things that make life so sweet. Hopefully sharing what those things are for me will help you guys think about your sweet little somethings. Here are five things that are putting a smile on my face today:

1. This little cutie.

2. Cotton candy pink nail polish.

3. Fresh paint for the kitchen.

4. This song.

5. Five dollar flowers. 

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