Quick Takes Friday

 

Phew it took me awhile to get this spot on the page! Blogger seems so user-unfriendly most of the time! Grr!

1. Last night, I was closing the skylight blinds to our room, and I noticed the moon. I suddenly got this longing feeling. I haven't seen the moon in a very long time. It doesn't show itself in our living room, and the lights usually reflect off of our windows upstairs when I close the blinds. It was an amazing sight. I missed the moon. Sure, that may sound a little crazy to you! I've just always had this connection to it! You think I'm bonkers, don't you. Well, it's the truth! 

2. My blog has been SUCH a hit, thanks to Lenae !! She suggested I open a Twitter account for my cooking and baking blog, so I did! I opened it on the 4th and almost have 40 followers! I also have twice the amount of views I had before the 4th! How crazy is that?! I'm so excited about my blog.

3. And if you notice when you click on the link to my blog, it's simply kissedbysweets.com!! Not kissedbysweets.blogspot.com! I purchased my own domain name, and it is such an amazing feeling. It's only $10 a YEAR here on Blogger! And totally worth it!! I have such big visions for my blog! I hope you will see as they unfold...

4. Steven has started electric guitar lessons! How exciting! He's so happy he's doing this. He practices almost every night and is so serious about it! His teacher even told him he's good at doing the chords! Go him!! I'm so proud. When Steve takes on a hobby, he puts his entire heart (and money) into it! ;) 

5. I think my Momma is coming out here in the Fall to help me try on Wedding Dresses! I really want her to be there for that since she can't be here for most of the planning. It would be really nice to have her stay with me here!! Especially since she hasn't met Steve!

6. My favorite band is coming to town next week! I am SO excited! They are also becoming one of Steve's favorite bands! I've seen them twice in concert, so I cannot wait to see them a 3rd time! I'm also hitting up Chipotle while I'm there!! I still can't believe there's a Chipotle in London!

7. Why is it I always feel I have nothing to say for the 7th one? Well, it's time for bed! Sweet dreams, everyone!

Quick Takes Friday!

Oh Quick Takes Friday, how I've forgotten about you! I remember once in a blue moon, and tonight's the night! So here goes...

1. I am currently enjoying the sweet sound of an electric guitar that my fiance is now playing. I've had my Angus Young Gibson SG electric guitar for about 5 years but haven't actually played around with it much. I prefer acoustic. Steve has wanted to play the electric since he was a kid, so now he has the chance! He had his first lesson today and it went great!! Now he's getting used to his new amp and the neighbors are most likely cursing us...

2. My cooking and baking blog has been going alright! I am currently googling tips to make it better and to have more people follow it. So far, I've read that I need to have really good pictures and I need to post more often. So I am cooking and baking more, taking lots of pictures, and I'm going to start posting about twice a week, if I can afford to! My pictures have improved, thanks to Picasa! And, if you notice, I am putting less pictures on my blog. I'm thinking that they tend to crowd the blog too much. What do you think? 

3. My first year of University is now finished!! I'm so happy. It went by unbelievably fast, and I know I need to work harder and become more serious for this next year. I am really looking forward to it because it won't just be the basics anymore! 

4. Now that school is over, I need to start looking for a job. I attempted yesterday, but God ended up giving me about 3 signs that I shouldn't go looking that day. Haha!! So I will attempt next week! 

5. My favorite band, Incubus, is coming to London very randomly on Tuesday! They decided to have a concert there because they have 2 concerts in Germany and have a break in between, so why not perform is awesome London?! I can't wait! Steve is meeting me down there! And...I'm totally having Chipotle while I'm there! Yes, there is a Chipotle in London!

6. I believe I am really improving in my Manual/Stick Shift driving lessons! Today I successfully reversed into a bay parking spot twice! Woo!! Next week...roundabouts. I'm not so scared of them, but driving in a stick shift, I kind of am. Especially cause I stall sometimes. Oops! 

7. Finally, it is nice to see Steve's smiling face because he's so happy about his new hobby. It reminds me of how I was when I first started learning guitar in Monterey, and poor Lenae had to endure my never-ending attempts at songs. Thanks, Lenae!! ;)

I hope everyone is having a lovely week and soon to be weekend for some of you!! xoxo

Long Break!

I have seriously been neglecting this blog for a long time. I am so sorry! I've been caught up in so many things, so here is a list of what I've been up to!!

1. I have been baking and decorating some awesome stuff, like cake pops and cupcakes, so I created a new baking/cooking blog that I love love love! Check it out! http://kissedbysweets.blogspot.com/

2. I am nearly finished with school! I have 5 exams and then I'm done until the fall!! I cannot believe how fast time has gone!

3. I'm learning how to drive a manual car, and lemme tell you...it is not easy!! Why can't Europe become modern and just drive automatic?! 

4. Finally, I am working on wedding stuff! We've booked the cake and the photographer recently! Now the big things that are left are the dress and finding a band! How exciting!

Tina's Celebration Cakes-We'll have the same ones but with a pink ribbon at the bottom!

 I hope everyone has been doing well!! I'll try to update more often :) xoxo

Life

Sometimes I take a step back and just look at what my life has become and what I've been through, and I honestly cannot believe how much has changed, especially within the last 8 years or so, from when I joined the military. I mean, I went from this immature 18 year old who had no idea what was in store for her, who had no confidence in anything at all, to this 25 year old who is where she wants to be. I thought I would move to San Diego after leaving the military one day, go to university there, and become a true California girl.

But then I got my orders to England in 2007 and my whole life changed within those 2 years. I fell in love with this country, and I found the man of my dreams who I will marry. I gained confidence in myself, which helped me to leave the military and do exactly what I want, which is go to school for Psychology.

Never have I been happier...

18 years old in Monterey, CA

 25 years old in Northampton, England

Long Overdue...

Hello everyone! I apologize for not writing in almost a month. A lot has happened and I haven't really had the heart to write lately. My cousin, Frankie, who I wrote about here , passed away on February 17th after battling and overcoming cancer, but not overcoming the additional treatments he had to get. It is truly a tragedy. He meant so much to me, and I miss him terribly. I hate thinking about it, I avoid it at all costs, but when I do, I can't stop crying. What helps is knowing he's no longer suffering, like he was everyday. He once told me he just wants to "party" haha!!! Aw. Please, I don't want to think about it.

Other than that, Steve and I have booked our wedding-both the venue and the date. Woo! It's exciting! I'm thinking of making it a romantic AND vintage wedding, so lots of roses, rose petals, pearls, and diamantes everywhere. I am going for a more minimalistic approach, so not too much decoration everywhere, but just enough to make the tables look pretty. Does anyone have any ideas for the vintage wedding? I'm thinking that the centerpieces will be clear glass vases that I will cover with lace and possibly a brooch, then filled with silk roses with pearls in the middle of the roses. Then maybe some tealights and rose petals will go all over the table.

I don't have much else to say, really! Steve and I are going to make some Spinach Artichoke dip tomorrow for Fancy Schmancy Saturday! Yay!

Have a good weekend everyone :)

This Perfect Day

Ahh love is in the air! Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! My absolute favorite day! It's filled with love, hearts, candy, chocolate, reds, pinks, whites, I Love You's, flowers, and everything! I love it so much. I know, I'm sappy!



Lucky for me, I have a handsome prince who whisked me off to Paris for the weekend! Our rendezvous was so amazing!!! We arrived Friday night, walked over to the Eiffel Tower while passing by the beautiful buildings, and hung out there for hours! Here's a taste of one of the balconies I love! They are everywhere there!

The next day, we walked all around Paris! And took the metro too! We saw Place de la Concorde, which has an obelisk that is from Egypt, Arc de Triomphe, Champs Elysees, Notre Dame, The Louvre and finally The Eiffel Tower, in which we went all the way to the top (eek!)! On Sunday, we went to the Sacre Coeur, which was beautiful! And appropriate since it was on a Sunday!  

We ate many crepes filled with nutella and banana for me, lemon and sugar for steve, throughout the days! I forgot how much I missed traveling to a new country with Steve! It's so much fun. And you know what the best part is? Hearing him speak French! I was so full of pride when I heard him speaking fluently to the baker!

It was truly a magical time. I loved every minute of it. Well, not *every* minute of it. We had to endure seeing a lady squat down and urinate in the metro station! Fun times. Haha! I was fortunate enough to find a painting I loved! I can't wait to frame it and hang it up to remind me of the wonderful memories Steve and I created in Paris!

I hope your day was filled with love and happiness! Valentine's Day isn't just about love for your significant other, it's about love for yourself, your family, friends, pets, anyone you love!! Embrace it and buy yourself a little pink cupcake to celebrate! :)

Valentine's Day!

It's coming up....my faaaavorite holiday ever!! I love it more than Christmas and Thanksgiving! Okay I'm going to tell you of some early memories I have of Valentine's Day! The first one is when the love of my life, Brendan, gave me a little snack size bag of M&M's for V-day! I ate them, then I saved the wrapper and taped it into my diary! I must have been like 8 years old!

Another memory is that we had Secret Valentine's, like Secret Santa. This boy, Joe, gave me red heart shaped earrings!!! I don't have them anymore, unfortunately, but it was so cute! I think I was 9!

I love this day because it's all about love. And, well, I'm all about love! It's a day of reds, pinks, whites, all beautiful, happy colors! I may not have had a Valentine for many years, but it hasn't ruined my day at all.

What's even more special is that Steve and I went to Rome for our 1st Valentine's Day together. That trip was when I became really close to him and realized that I really truly love him.

And guess what?! We're going to PARIS for this Valentine's Day!!! YAY!! I am SO excited! We'll be celebrating love in the city of love!!

I hope all of you have the most wonderful Valentine's Day ever!! Even if you don't have a Valentine, it isn't all about that. It's about having a loving nature. :)

Bonne nuit!