positivity project

Amanda started this Positivity Project back in November...
...and although it's taken me a little while, I wanted to join in because it is such a great idea 

Here are Amanda's questions and number 5 was added by Biana of B Loved Boston!

1. Tell me something that you love about yourself

The color of my hair. I've always loved having red hair and have never wanted to change it.
I feel like it's one of the things that makes me unique.

2.  Tell me what you want to work on

Letting go. I'm a typical Type A / first born child and I always want to control and have things planned and scheduled.  I know that there are times when I can get bossy, which I don't like about myself. I would like to get better at going with the flow.

3.  Give someone a compliment and mean it

There are too many ladies I want to mention!! Well, I want to thank a few of my amazing blogging friends for being such a source of positivity and inspiration in my life everyday...

Too name a few...

Julie / Shelby / Kristen / Biana / Laura / Christa / Brandi / Jaclyn

Be sure to stop by these ladies blogs - they are a great group of strong, creative, and inspirational women!! 

4.  Tell me something that you are proud of, succeeded in or are just generally pumped about.

I am proud of myself for going through grad school while working full time. It has been the most challenging year of my life, but I know that if I just keep pushing through, it will be all worth it in the end...and will allow Aaron and I to have a better life.

5.  When you were a child, what was your dream? 

To become and artist and a mom. I think I accomplished the first part in my own way - through dance and choreography. I am so excited to be a mother someday, but I've got to finish school first - it would be too hard to do both at the same time! 

Now it's your turn, what do you love about yourself? 
Please copy the questions and share!!

friday - life lately

Hiya Strangers! Once again, life (aka school) has gotten the best of me and I slipped away from blogland for awhile. I have to accept that this is just going to be the case until I finish up my degree -- only a year and a half more to go!

one // pups

I know a lot of you are dog owners, who value your fur babies as family members like Aaron and I do...and you are probably a lot like me, where like 90% of the pictures you have to share that are on your camera roll are of the pups! ;) so...let the over sharing begin...

 

  two // 

Two of my best friends { Alissa and Andrea } came down to visit the other weekend. I didn't get to spend as much time with them as I would've liked (had to study for f***ing midterms) but still got to have a quick ladies night. I can't wait until they come back in a couple months for a girls weekend!

 

three // instagram

Both Dex and I got some Instagram love recently! My phone blew up one day, and I had no idea why...and was so excited to find out that one of my pictures had been re-posted by Lauren Conrad's clothing collection's IG account!

Then, a couple days later, Dex was re-posted on a popular doberman lovers IG account and got his 15 mins of fame ;) 

{ Find me @emiliestorey }

 

four // diy

 I don't know about the rest of you, but my man and I do NOT work well on house projects together. We are both type A, want to be in charge... and it always turns into a heated battle and someone ends up getting yelled at haha! I think it's hilarious when I watch HGTV or DIY network and couples are getting along so nicely working on gutting a kitchen together or something. Ever seen Renovation Realities? That's more our jam.

However, we did a little DIY this past weekend together and it actually went {shocker} really well! Aaron had bought this funky vintage Lawrence Peabody fabric off eBay and wanted to turn it into a canvas for one of our spare rooms upstairs. So, we got some wood for the frame, a staple gun, and a fabric stretcher - and crafted away! It took about an hour and turned out pretty great! Fits perfectly with our other mid century modern stuff.

five // funnies

Amen.

My group of ladies to a T...maybe even worse than normal since we are all dancers lol!

I'm sure a lot of you ladies and your best friends are the same! ;)

  a. I love Melissa McCarthy

b. I wish I could've pulled this when coming into work today

Head over and join in the Friday Link-Ups at the blog listed below!

friday finds

T-minus 9 hours until the weekend ladies! It can't get here soon enough ;)
I'm linking up with the regular lovely group of bloggers for Friday's post!

one //

I found a fabulous new blog over the weekend - T.O. & Fro by Mar

She has some amazing looking home made recipes for beauty products like lotion bars and body scrub that I am dying to try out!

two //

Thanks to $25 in rewards bucks and a $25 Visa gift card from Xmas, I picked up these little Skechers Go Walk sneaks for only $7!! They are SO comfortable and will be perfect for going on walks and hikes with the dogs once the snow melts!

three //

I've also been on the lookout for a new casual everyday winter coat (since I'm still rocking the one I used in high school! Um, embarrassing.) I found this Jessica Simpson belted puffer jacket a Macy's, but they didn't have my size...so I did a little recon online once I got home and found it for $37 on 6pm.com! Queen of the deals this weekend ;)

four //

It's Old Navy Super Cash time! I earned $20 over the holidays and have been waiting for Jan 29th patiently to spend it! Going to get myself some new pjs this weekend ;) If you have it, be sure to use it by February 4th!

five //

And just a few funnies to kick off the weekend...

Bikini season is only like 4 months away!! 

I'm definitely guilty of this one...

Head over and join in the Friday Link-Ups at the blog listed below!

friday finds

Hiya ladies! This Friday's post is going to be more of five recaps from my past week, rather than my typical "favorites / finds". 

one //

After spying the LC Lauren Conrad collection (for Kohl's) on Biana's fabulous blog and falling in love with it, I finally got my hands on two items - the marled grey leggings and pointelle back knit sweater.

Leggings / Sweater / Slippers (BBW old, similar)

 two //

I'm loving Old Navy for cute kids clothes right now. Aubrey and I picked out this new outfit the other day and everything was on clearance! Sweater, tank, leggings, and boots all from ON! She's super excited because the boots have the tiniest wedge heel :)

three //

This little guy fits in Deedee's old pajamas! So he has been spending his days snuggled up in hand-me-down jammies...sometime chewing on them as you can see near the back leg ;)

 

four //

More products of my recent cooking kick...

Oriental Cole Slaw Salad and Classic Shepherd's Pie - I'll be sharing the recipes soon!

Both super easy to prepare and very tasty!

five // 

Aaron and I went out on Sunday night to celebrate my birthday. We go to the same restaurant every year, Cantina Laredo...it's one of my favorites, but pretty pricey, so that is why it's saved for my bday.

Ensalada De Camaron con Miel - so delicious!!

Grilled shrimp, jicama, mangos, roasted walnuts, and goat cheese crumbles with a tropical honey vinegarette dressing.

  And the main reason we love this place (besides the margaritas ;)...the dessert.

Well, one in particular. It is hands-down THE BEST dessert I have ever had.

Mexican Apple Pie

Sizzled in brandy butter and topped with cinnamon ice cream.

Aaron and I always share one, because hello! It's so rich and probably 1,000 calories if you ate it by yourself lol! I think we polished it off in less than 5 minutes ;)

And I know that is five, but I have one extra thing to share ;)

If you missed my recipe post on Wednesday, check it out here!

Home Made Version of Olive Garden's Zuppa Toscana Soup

Have a great weekend and be sure to join in the Friday Link-Ups with some of the best bloggers around!

olive garden's zuppa toscana soup

I've been on a cooking-kick lately... trying a bunch of new recipes on the weekends...and a couple have been really tasty, so I thought I would share them!

I love Olive Garden's Zuppa Toscana soup, so I went searching for a copy cat recipe and the one I found tastes EXACTLY like the restaurant's version - I was really happy with the way it turned out!

Ingredients:

• 1 lb Italian sausage - I used mild
• 2 large russet baking potatoes, sliced in half, and then in 1/4 inch slices
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1/4 cup bacon bits 
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 cups kale, chopped - I will add more next time I make this
• 2 (8 ounce) cans chicken broth
• 1 quart water
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream - I'm going to try using a healthier option next time (maybe half and half) 

Directions:

1. Chop or slice uncooked sausage into small pieces. - next time I am going to try and make them smaller, or maybe do ground sausage

2.  Brown the sausage and dump (grease and all) into your soup pot.

3. Add chicken broth and water to pot and stir.

4. Place onions, potatoes, and garlic in the pot.

5. Cook on medium heat until the potatoes are done.

6. Add bacon bits.

7. Salt (and pepper) to taste.

8. Simmer for another 10 minutes.

9. Turn to low heat.

10. Add kale and cream.

11. Heat through and serve!