check in.

today is the sixth official day of my healthy lifestyle change.  and all six days have been pretty awesome!  i've been eating at work a lot and cindy (or lynn ;)) always prepares me a seriously delightful salad for lunch and sometimes some soup.  i do like soup!  right now, learning and practicing portion control is my number one priority.  friday the mister and i ate at a local Mexican restaurant and i had vegetarian fajitas, something i would've passed over before.  the veggies were delicious (mr. ate the tortillas for me).  i ate about a third (not the whole thing!!!) and i was good to go :).  it was an awesome feeling.

source.

keep your head up monday morning.

xo,

aubrey

mr. & mrs.

hi everyone!  i've got some wedding inspiration coming at you today because, in case you didn't know, the mister and i are tying the knot on may 19, 2012.  that is approximately 4 months or 127 days away and i haven't done an OUNCE of planning.  we have the venue, i have my dress, and we know who are awesome photographers are going to be.  that's it!  today i went to the printers and gave them my idea for our save the dates, so in one to three weeks, that should be rolling.  hopefully.  please, God.

in the meantime, here are some wedding-related things i've been drooling over...

.

(dress, bouquet, cake)

first day.

yesterday was the first day of the new semester.  i am in Block One, when we really dive into elementary education stuff.  lots of lesson plans and projects and what have you.  but all i came away with yesterday (besides a freakish overwhelmed feeling) was that i want these sweaters.

 like, a lot.  please and thank you.

(both from old navy!)

the start of the rest of my life.

hi guys.  i'm making tomorrow into kind of a big deal, even though it's just another day in january.  tomorrow is the day i rethink completely change my lifestyle with both healthy eating and exercise.  i want to make this change seem momentous so that i don't abandon this plan by wednesday when eating chocolate bar after chocolate bar will sound so good.  i want this change to feel exciting and important and long-term, because it is.  and i must remember that.

this is my new motto and i will repeat it to myself everyday, for as long as it takes.
for forever.

source.

i know that this journey won't be easy and i know that it won't be fun.  but the end result (a healthy me) will be worth it.  worth every antic, fistful of tears, and bouts of self-doubt.  i'll be using this space to track my process, to hold me accountable, and to help me see the results.  i'll post more specifics later, but for the time being, please keep me in your prayers.  this won't be easy, but God'll help me, this i know :).  

some of my before pictures...

<3 a.e.

  

tomorrow is going to be a good day.  i know this because i get to spend time with both of my besties and do a bit of thrifting.  i feel like i haven't been in so long and i've got the itch.  the itch to thrift.  here are some things i wouldn't mind stumbling upon and claiming as my own tomorrow (or ever)...

adorable cardigans!

///

\\\

cute and warm boots for the snow that is finally upon us...

///

\\\

this exactly sheet for a project i have in mind (aka curtains!):

///

adorable things for my kitsch-en!

\\\

///

\\\

///

let's see what tomorrow brings!

xo, 

a.e.

so this is the new year...

and i have curly hair.  

just a little reminder.

xoxo, 

aubrey

///

new year, new opportunities.  i’m going to embrace 2012 with every thing i’ve got, especially if this is going to be the last year we’re given.  gotta make it good, right?  this year, i’m getting married to my best friend, going on a honey moon we haven’t planned, and completing my fourth and almost last year of college.  i feel so good about all of those things.  

my goals for this new year are as follows: health, happiness, and the pursuit of the blog.

this year everyone gets to watch me get my health and weight under control (it WILL happen).  i am making myself blog about the process to help keep me accountable and also help me realize the results and the payoffs.  you all are along for the ride, no matter how hard and ugly it might be (which it will be both, i am sure).  

this year i am also going to truly make time for the things i love.  2011 proved that it is an absolute must for me to improve on my time management skills and utilize my time wisely (and welcome organization!).  i need find a balance between work, school, and everything else.

2012 is the year of the blog.  i have a tendency to be lax about this thing and push it to the back burner, which i hate.  i want to find my voice, my passions, and my talents and share it with all of you.  be prepared, this year will be big.  it will be awesome.  i am excited.  

so happy new year, every one.  i don’t feel any different yet, but i am sure i will in 365 days.  

xoxo,

aubrey

the last day

on friday lee and i left merrillville and went up to lake michigan, in the new buffalo area.  we checked out the lake, which was crazy from the wind, ate some good food from a little diner, and went wine tasting.  'twas a good day, i say.  see it...

the avett brothers

this was the third (and best!) time i've seen the avett brothers.  they put on an amazing show, no matter where you are in the crowd.  in this case, it was a small theater and we were in the fifth row but i easily walked to the front to get some great pictures.  if you haven't listened to this band, get on it.  you won't regret it.  lee refused to listen to them for the longest time but the minute he did, they've been on repeat ever since (and i do mean repeat.  and i do mean ever since).  ENJOY! (ps. way more on flickr ;)!)

getaway recap!

goodness gracious!  where have i been?  my life has been kind of hectic and my lack of time management is killing me.  let's hope i can turn this around.  here's to blogging!  *cheers*

almost a month ago the mr. and i went to Merrillville, Indiana, for a quick late week getaway and an avett brothers concert.  it was his first, my third.  we started out on thursday hitting up a unique thrift, which was fairly disappointing, and going to cabella's (as per the mr.'s request).  after a half an hour we were ready to leave and headed to Munster, Indiana, to the three floyd's brewpub.  we love beer (and food) and this was a good place to be!  here's the first half of the day in pictures...

this beer (zombie dust) was FLYING off the shelves, being carried out two boxes at a time. it was SO good and i wish i could get it around here!

our loot from the candy store :).

we had a blast; it's hard to believe it happened a month ago.  check back later this week for pictures from the concert and of our travels around Lake Michigan. 

keep it real, xoxo.