Five on Friday: random things!

[O N E]

Sneak peak of how my outfit turned out for family pictures last night. I loved it and can't wait to wear that dress all summer!

[T W O]

[here]

I went to Target yesterday and left with new socks [which I totally didn't go there for… of course]. This was literally the highlight of my week! It's pretty embarrassing how grungy my socks can get. I have the worst habit of running outside to the get mail, going to my sister's house, etc. in my socks. Which results in holes, nastiness, and not pretty socks. Confession: I've worn my husband's black socks to work more than once this week because the few pair I have were dirty. Whoops. Thanks to Target's $3 socks, that problem is solved! I am used to paying $8+ for cute socks at J Crew and such, but these Target ones are just as cute and comfy. Happy girl right here!

[T H R E E]

My nephew is THREE weeks old already! How is that possible? Time please slow down. He has completely stolen my heart. And I have officially seen him all 21 days of his life [auntie brag]. I love him so. Side note: baby fever is a real thing…

[F O U R]

I am dyyyying for new stationary. Nothing makes my heart happier than snail mail, so I absolutely love having nice stationary to send to friends or as thank you notes. After looking for cheaper options at Target and other local places without success, I decided to browse Minted's options and have fallen in love with a handful of them. Though these are more expensive, I am positive they will be super awesome quality and worth the extra money. Now I just have to decide which one I like best. Which is your favorite?!

[F I V E]

This was my 3rd week at my geriatrics rotation. This has been my least favorite rotation thus far. Don't get me wrong, I love old people. However, seeing the condition most of these patients are in just really breaks my heart. I am too emotional for this! Also, the average elderly person is on at least 10-15 medications, which is a total nightmare having to monitor and adjust. Bless the hearts of the people that love working in geriatrics. We need those people badly! I am just not one of them. I will be spending all weekend studying all about old people in preparation for the end-of-rotation exam next week [joy!].

Linking up with April and Christina!

Family pictures

Later today we are taking family pictures. My granddad is getting older so my dad really wanted to get professional pictures done so that we could have lifelong, tangible memories with him. This is what I will be wearing:

I really don't have good luck with online shopping. However, we just booked the photographer 2 weeks ago and I was in a bind and needed a dress ASAP! So I took my chances and ordered from my favorite store: Anthropologie. I was prayyyying the dress would look even half-way decent because I really didn't have time to go hunting all around town for something else to wear. When I tried it on I was THRILLED with how it fit! Praise! I was scared it would be too clingy or short [I am super weird about needing my maxi dresses covering my entire feet] but it was perfectly comfortable and the exact length I was hoping for.

When trying to decide what to accessorize with, I knew it would be flats. I never wear heels with maxis. That's just a no-no in my opinion. I also knew I wanted gold accessories to compliment the navy and cream dress. A necklace doesn't always go with an off-the-shoulder dress, so I decided on a chunky bangle and simple earrings. 

Check back for pictures from our session with the amazing Jaclyn Morgan!

Happy place

This is my happy place

The place where everything else fades into the background

and I can simply enjoy God's creation

For some reason I am instantly relaxed when I arrive at the beach

You would think that I would be used to it by now since we come almost every weekend in the summer

but thankfully I am not used to it

I still get that giddy feeling when I cross the bridge, signaling the arrival to my oasis

I cannot wait to bring my future kids here and watch them make memories
because the memories I made here growing up are the best of my life

goodness I love this place

where is your happy place?

Can't live without it: jewelry holder

Can't Live Without It: my jewelry holder on my night stand

So many years ago I fell in love with this small, dainty dish that my grandmother had given to my mom before she passed away. I loved the gold accents, but I loved that it was my grandma's even more. I begged my mom for it, and she finally gave in ;)

When we got married and moved into our new house I wanted to make sure my wedding rings never got lost. Solution: put them in the exact same place every time you take them off. I finally had the perfect use for my precious dish! Not only does it keep me from losing my rings and small necklaces, but it looks beautiful on my bedside table.

My favorite places in the US

Looking for a vacation spot right here in the US? Here are just a few of my favorite places in our country:

Charleston, SC

Charleston is the definition of southern charm. And the food… to die for. If you are looking for a beautiful city with shopping, amazing southern food, beach, and fun bars, look no further. We have been 3 times in the past 3ish years and don't plan on stopping!

Nashville, TN

A couple years ago one of my husband's college teammates got married in Nashville and we were soo excited to finally visit this city. It did not disappoint! I wouldn't say that it would be a great spot for a romantic getaway but definitely the perfect spot for some fun or to travel to with a group of friends. There is live country music in EVERY bar!

With our friend Matt Harvey who plays for the NY Mets… he bought us a bottle of Dom Perignon that night because we had just recently gotten engaged!

Vail, CO

If you like snow skiing/snowboarding, this is your place. We used to go every year growing up but stopped when my parents got divorced. Last year my dad took us back and it was even better than I remembered. The mountains are breathtaking. Vail is a tiny little community with the cutest restaurants and shops.

Cape Cod/Nantucket, MA

My husband played in a summer baseball league in Cape Cod when we were dating and I went to visit him for a week. Cape Cod is the cutest town with the nicest people! We took a ferry to Nantucket for a day and rented mopeds to explore the island. It was SO much fun! That day in Nantucket is my very favorite day with him [besides our wedding day]. There are so many cute shops and the clam chowder… todiefor.

Visiting any of these places? Shoot me a message for hotel/restaurant recommendations!

I love Minted!

My first time purchasing anything from Minted was this past Christmas. I designed our Christmas cards on Minted and was SO pleased with the experience. I am a sucker for a company with good customer service. So when it was time to order invitations for the upcoming Sip & See we are having for my sister, there was no question about where I would be purchasing them from. My favorite things about ordering from Minted:

1) They have SO many options to choose from!

2) After personalizing your product, they send you a proof so that you know exactly how it will look. And if you aren't happy with it, you can continue to make changes until you are.

3) After I was happy with the proof, I received the invitations just 2 days later. Their turnaround time is amazing!

4) The quality of the invitations is amazing. They are on thick, nice cardstock. I will be honest, when I receive an invitation in the mail, I can immediately tell the quality of the invitation just by holding it in my hand. It makes a huge difference when you receive a thick, durable invitation versus a thin, flimsy one.

5) They offer free recipient addressing. You get to pick the font you like then enter the addresses and ta-da! Saves you SO much time and looks so much better than addressing them by hand.

Can't wait for the Sip & See! I will be sure to take lots of pictures!

Weekending: summer time

Happy Monday! I was realllllly dreading this Monday. Not really into my geriatrics rotation… at all. To be honest, it's just a really sad rotation. Bless the hearts of the people that can work in nursing homes, but it is not for me. Trying to remain positive and be a light to these elderly people as best I can!

Friday I sped home after an incredibly long and draining day at work to steal baby snuggles. My mood was instantly lifted! How could it not be?! After I got my share of baby loving in, husband and I grilled out. It was so nice to relax and have a glass of wine with a good summer meal.

Saturday morning we took my niece to the pool to give my sister and her husband time alone with my nephew. It was so fun spending time with her alone. She loves to swim!

Saturday night we had some of our couple friends over for a cookout. We had sprinklers and baby pools for the kids and corn hole and drinks for the adults. We cooked hotdogs and hamburgers and everyone brought a side which made it so easy!

Sunday we went to church then to the pool. I soaked up the baby snuggles while everyone else swam. And I was totally ok with it. Then I indulged in a nap, grocery shopped, cooked dinner, and prepped for the week ahead. It was a weekend full of family and friends. My idea of the perfect weekend!

Hope you have a happy Monday! Check back tomorrow for a review of my latest Minted purchase!

Linking up with Meghan and Biana