Cake pops!

Last weekend my husband and I got brave and attempted to make cake pops for dessert. For the first time making them, we were proud of ourselves for how great they turned out! They are pretty time consuming but if you have a free afternoon, these are the perfect little treat to take to a birthday party, dinner party, or even as a surprise for your co-workers. They present so cute and are convenient because you don't need plates or utensils. The verdict: we will definitely be making them again!

What you need:

-Box cake mix (we did one batch of strawberry cake and one batch of vanilla cake)

-3 eggs (for the cake)

-Vegetable oil (for the cake)

-Vanilla icing

-White chocolate bark for melting

-Parchment paper
-Sprinkles

-Sucker sticks (these were hard to find; we eventually found them at Michael's craft store)

Directions:

-Cook the cake according to directions on the box
-Let cool

-Break up the cake and mix in a bowl with about 3/4 the jar of icing; can use a mixer or just a heavy spoon

-Spoon out the mixture onto parchment paper into whatever size you prefer. The mixture will fall apart a little bit, don't be alarmed!

-Put in the freezer for 30 minutes; this will help them hold their shape

-Pack them into tight balls

-Melt the chocolate bark; we did it in the microwave and it worked perfectly. Hint: don't use chocolate chips. They are SUCH a pain to melt!
-Dip the end of a sucker stick into the chocolate then push into cake ball. This will help the stick stay "secure"

-Dip into the white chocolate and decorate
-Put in the fridge for about 10 minutes, just long enough to let the chocolate harden
-Enjoy!

Linking up with Jenn and Jessi

Weekending: Valentines!

First off, I just want to say thank you guys so much for your support about my post on Friday. I was so terrified to make such a personal issue public but I just prayed I would reach at least one person with my story. I was so taken aback when so many women messaged me saying they were struggling through the same thing. People that I knew well and had no idea they were hurting. That's the thing I've realized through all of this… for the most part, we all portray picture perfect lives on social media but everyone is fighting some kind of battle, and this is mine.

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Friday I drove home from work in the snow! It was SO pretty and I was really hoping it would stick around for the weekend. Unfortunately that didn't happen but it was pretty while it lasted! I met hubs at the gym then we went out for pizza and beer. That's totally the point of working out right? So you can eat what you want right after. We ended our night in bed with Dateline… our wild Friday night tradition.

Saturday morning I convinced hubs to take a spin class with me. I swear, I get the absolute best workout in those classes! The music makes the time pass by quickly and I'm forced to stay for the entire hour. After working out I met some girlfriends for brunch where, once again, I consumed all the calories I had just worked off. Hubs and I spent the afternoon running errands, getting a new Keurig (!!!), and grocery shopping. Saturday night we met some friends at the bowling alley. It was so much fun to have drinks, catch up, and get a little competitive.

I was so surprised to get a special delivery of the most beautiful flowers Saturday afternoon! My husband sure knows the way to my heart! My very favorite thing <3

Sunday morning we promised my niece heart-shaped pancakes for breakfast, and she wanted sprinkles on top, so of course we said yes. After pancakes we headed to church, the gym, and spent the rest of the day cooking. We had our parents over for dinner last night for Valentine's Day and cooked beef tenderloin, mashed potatoes, and brussel sprouts and it was amazing! We even made cake pops for dessert… recipe coming later this week!

How was your Valentine's weekend?! Happy Monday friends!

Addicted to Hope

It has taken me so long to hit "publish" on this post. It is terrifying to make this personal issue so public but if my story provides hope to one person, it will be worth it.

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Hope (n): a desire of some good, accompanied with an expectation of obtaining it or belief that it is obtainable

Today I'm getting personal and discussing a common yet rarely talked about horror: infertility. For the past 4+ years we have literally been addicted to hope. Hopeful that one day our house will be filled with babies and toys and bottles and diapers. Hope is what has kept us going. It all started when we were dating and we were told that we would have trouble getting pregnant. Being that we picked our future children's names the first year we were dating, this news was a huge punch in the gut. 

Fast forward four years to 2015 when we decided it was time for babies. What an exciting time! Once we made this decision, it was all-encompassing. It's all we thought about. Knowing that we would most likely not get pregnant easily, this became a time filled with anxiety for me. I am a Type-A control freak  by nature and this is literally the first thing in my life that I have had absolutely zero control over. After telling God my "ideal timeline" and hearing Him laugh at me, I decided it was time to fully release this situation into His hands. This is what I should have done a long time ago. Lesson learned, God.

After lots of doctor's appointments and disappointment and second opinions we were referred to one of the best fertility clinics in the state to begin the process of IVF. If you have been following along this blog for any time at all, you know that I am super passionate about women's health and infertility issues. Well surprise! That's because I knew we would most likely be in this position one day.

Bless my amazing husband for keeping me sane through this overwhelming time. I am naturally an anxious person and frequently let negative thoughts flood my mind. Just a few of my daily thoughts include: "What if IVF doesn't work?", "How the heck will we pay for this?", "How am I going to make it to all of these doctor's appointments 2 hours away after just beginning a new job?", "Am I really going to be able to give myself shots daily for weeks?", "What if this is God's way of telling us that He doesn't want us to have children?". My husband is quick to re-direct my focus and provide encouragement. We make such a great team and the thought of seeing him as a dad is what keeps me going.

One thing I have learned throughout this process is that infertility does not discriminate. It doesn't care about age, race, socioeconomic status, health, etc. Did I ever imagine that I'd be going through IVF in my 20's with no health problems? Absolutely not. However, do I believe that God has a reason for taking us down this path? Absolutely. I do not think infertility is from the Lord, for He says, "I will bless you richly. I will multiply your descendants…" in Genesis 22:17. However, I do believe that He uses trials such as infertility to teach us to trust in Him and His timing.

This struggle is going to make me so much more thankful for my future pregnancies and babies. I am going to embrace morning sickness, stretch marks, middle of the night feedings, and dirty diapers. Am I scared? Shitless. But am I hopeful? Immensely. All of our doctors and nurses are amazing and I truly believe we are in great hands.

So, why am I sharing our story? For 3 reasons:

1) If I can provide hope to just one person, it is worth it. I have read countless blogs over the past few years that have given me so much encouragement when trudging through these lonely waters known as infertility. So many strong, positive women telling their stories have helped me when I feel like no one else understands. I want to end the stigma behind infertility. Why are we ashamed to tell our stories?! We should be encouraging one another and lifting each other up in prayer. This is part of my story and I believe God wants me to use it spread His word. [Jenica] [Amanda] [Ashley] [Natalie] [Rebekah] [Lauren] [Eleni]

2) I want people to understand that just because a couple is young and healthy does not mean that they will get pregnant the second they decide they are ready. How many times have I been asked in the last year when we are going to have kids? I honestly cannot even count. Please, stop asking couples when they are going to have a baby. There is a good chance they are trying, and if they aren't, well it's none of your business anyway! In no way am I pointing fingers because I used to ask the same question until I realized firsthand that this seemingly innocent question can cause serious heartache. If someone feels like sharing this information with you, they will. But until then, don't ask.

3) To ask for prayers. I fully believe in the power of prayer. Though I feel somewhat selfish and silly asking for prayers when we are healthy and there are other people suffering from chronic illnesses and losing family members, I also believe that no prayer is too small for our God.

"You don't understand now what I am doing, but someday you will." -John 13:7

"He has made everything beautiful in His time." -Ecclesiastes 3:11

Valentines day treats

Dear handsome husband,

I know we don't usually do gifts for Valentine's Day but I wouldn't be mad if you got me any of the things below. After all, you would love to save money on manicures right? New nail polish and a cuticle cutter would do the trick! And a Clarisonic… let's be honest, I've wanted one for forrrrever. Also, the Swell bottle you got me for Christmas is so amazing that I need another one. Because I'm too lazy to wash it every night. And candles and socks… you can never have too many.

Heart mug
amara.com

Capri Blue candles candleholder
$50 - very.co.uk

Happy Socks black socks
$12 - selfridges.com

Kendra Scott bracelet
nordstrom.com

Clarisonic face cleanser
macys.com

Bobbi Brown Cosmetics face moisturizer
sephora.com

Deborah Lippmann manicure tool
$65 - net-a-porter.com

Essie nail polish
beauty.com

S'well The Textile Bottle - Santorini Sunset - 0.5L
amara.com

Valentine's Day outfit ideas

How is it already almost Valentine's Day?! Time is blowing my mind! Husband and I usually just go on a date to celebrate Valentines rather than buying each other a bunch of stuff we don't need. We would both rather the quality time anyway. Whether you are going to a fancy restaurant or having a day date, it's always fun to add in some pink or hearts for this holiday!

The first outfit is what I'd wear if we were heading to a nice restaurant for drinks and dinner, to a play, a show, etc. I'm not big on sequins but when they are done tastefully, they can add the perfect amount of sparkle.

The second outfit is what I'd wear if we were going bowling, on a lunch date, to the movies, etc. I am obsessed with that graphic tee and ripped jeans are a staple in my closet these days!

Blukey short sleeve blouse

J.Crew elastic waist pants

Christian Louboutin black suede pumps

Tory Burch black handbag

Kendra Scott 14k jewelry

Kendra Scott earrings

SLC SLC silver tee

Paige Denim skinny leg jeans

Steve Madden brown fringe boots

Gray Willow thick knit scarve

Weekending: Super Bowl edition

Friday, after finishing my first week of work (!!!) we headed to my in-laws for my father-in-law's birthday. My FIL is a farmer so they live on a huge farm with acres and acres of land so it's always great to spend a weekend in the country. Everything seems to slow down at the farm and it is so easy to disconnect and relax. I failed to take a single picture but we did lots of 4-wheeler riding, dog walking, eating, and napping.

Sunday aka GAME DAY we woke up bright and early to nasty ice/sleet coming down so decided to skip church and head home. We hit the gym then spent the afternoon cooking Super Bowl food for the party. My dad has a big in-home theatre so he had about 50 people over to cheer on our Panthers. He hired someone to cook chicken then all the guests brought a dish or dessert. It worked out perfectly and there was SO much delicious food! Isn't that one of the best parts about Super Bowl Sunday?!

The whole state of NC has been electric since the Panthers made it to the Super Bowl. The last time they made it to the big game was 2004 so this year was super special for our entire state. Though the game didn't end like we wanted, I am SO proud to be a Panthers fan! I am already so excited for next season.

Linking up with Biana and Meghan

Weekending: Chapel Hill reunion

This weekend we headed back to our old stomping grounds: Chapel Hill, NC. Being that hubs and I met while in undergrad at UNC, I get all the feels every time we go back. Every year the baseball program has a "First Pitch Banquet" before the season starts and all the old players come back for it. There were almost 50 former players this year! It was SO much fun to see everyone and all the wives. Our UNC baseball friends have become more like family… I just wish we saw each other more often!

Before the banquet we went to the Dean Dome for the UNC vs. Boston College basketball game. My dad was in town too for some continuing education classes so he met us at the game. It was such a fun time! Being in the Dean Dome gives me goosebumps every time, and coming away with a W doesn't hurt either ;)

After the banquet we had a bar rented out so that we could have drinks and catch up with everyone. We stayed out way too late and I don't regret a single minute of it! As always, it was a great weekend in Chapel Hill, baby blue Heaven.

Linking up with Meghan and Biana