February Favorites

While February might have been a short month, it was jam-packed with great books, recipes, and Netflix shows to get us through the last of these cold, rainy days. Here is my list of Feb Favs that I want to share with you :)

Recently, I have been on a cooking show kick on Netflix and let me just tell you these shows are on point. They make you hungry but the music and imagery is breathtaking and I am convinced that I want to go to culinary school at some point now (terrifying, I know).

I've also been slowly making my way through a stack of wonderful books I got as birthday presents! Cookbooks, home decor books, and self improvement books are a huge guilty pleasure of mine. You know, the kind of books that most people just set out on the coffee table...I am a huge nerd and actually read them, over and over and over again.

 

 

Since the majority of the days in February down here are cold and rainy, we have been eating a lot of warm dishes for dinner. Classics like tomato soup and grilled cheese, chicken and wild rice stew, homemade buttermilk biscuits, and yo-yo ramen noodles (which basically means we make ramen and add a bunch of random yummy things to it).

The Buttermilk Biscuit recipe in the Fosters Market Favorites cookbook (above) in RIDICULOUSLY YUMMY. And easy to tweak and make your own. 

Also, cheese and wine. We go through a weird amount of bread, cheese, and wine in our house. Especially since I realized how easy it is to bake Irish Soda bread from scratch. Slap some local jam on it and it is a perfect snack during the day. 

 

There is nothing cozier than coming home from a long day of showing houses, putting some oils on the diffuser, getting some biscuits baking in the oven and settling down on the couch with a good book and some hot tea. 

I recommend all of the books above and would love to hear which recipes are your personal favorites!

xoxo Em

Tornadoes Tabatas & Thieves

As the end of February draws closer and closer I am struck with the urge to clean and declutter our home. Spring fever is going strong over here, even though a slew of tornadoes and rain brought another cold snap through last night. Of course, that would happen right after we get our new garden started, but with the exception of a couple of basil sprigs we weathered the storm quite well. Much better than many in our area unfortunately :( Thankfully, the storms weren't as bad as they could have been but the tornado did take out several homes and businesses. However, if one thing can be said of this community it is that they take care of their own. As early as this morning posts were going up all over the spouse pages about relief efforts and donation sites!

http://pulsegulfcoast.com/2016/02/photos-see-aftermath-of-pensacola-tornado-from-the-air

But back to the subject of spring cleaning...

When I say spring cleaning, I am also referring to cleaning up ones eating habits and shedding the layer of blubber that appeared out of nowhere over the winter months. We have been back in the gym attempting to get back on our clean eating and fitness regimen. It's a process. Down here in Florida bikini season starts at the end of march and that time, my friends, is fast approaching. 

Some of the easy ways I'm getting back in shape for the summer are:

~Trying to run at least 2 miles every day

~No fast food or junk food

~Upping my cardio game at the gym to 45 mins

~Portion control and smaller meals throughout the day

~Drink. More. Water.

~Tabatas that focus on the booty, core, and arms

When it comes to our home, some of the simple ways we spring clean include; opening the windows whenever it is nice out to get fresh air inside, diffusing essential oils like thieves/peppermint/tangerine to combat allergies, getting all of the pillows and linens washed and dried out, and filling the house with as many live plants as possible (which can be a pain in the ass since we have to get pet safe plants). 

New years resolutions are for people who don't want to deal with goals throughout the year! Theres no bad time to set a goal and make a plan to accomplish it :) I find it much easier to set seasonal goals anyways since I find myself having different focuses during different times of the year. Like eating all the carbs in the winter, and then having to spend half my life in the gym during the spring. 

For more ideas on fitness, clean eating, and oils check out my Pinterest boards ;)

Here:

What are some of your spring goals for your house? Body? Mind?

Ode to Summer: Part One

Ooooooh February, when are you going to be over? I know it sounds absurd but it has been super cold in Florida recently (aka below 65) and my body just can't handle it. I was not made for cold weather! Unless of course it is snowy and I am bundled up and there is a fire and I'm drinking wine. Lots of wine. 

Honestly though, the weather has been clear and beautiful but just chilly enough to where you would potentially freeze to death in a bathing suit.  And that just won't do. That being said, summer does come on very suddenly down here and once it does...were talking 80 degrees by 9:00am. But I LOVE it. The beaches down here are beautiful! White sand, clear aquamarine water, and little stands on the beach that sell mixed drinks. 

Since today is 67 degrees, with blue skies, and helicopters buzzing overhead like big, old birds (oooh base living) I have decided to put together a montage of summer things to get us through the next month before beach weather is officially upon us! 

Favorite Summer Things...Part One

1. Watermelon. Now, you may be saying to yourself...'what a weird summer thing to start with...' BUT watermelon is amazing. You can eat it for every meal. It is delicious, hydrating, and only tastes good in the summer. 

2. Beach Couture. Otherwise known as adorable bikinis, cute jewelry, gladiator sandals, and awesome beach gear. The more sparkles the better. Tie dye? Bring it on. Headscarves? Why not. Kimono wraps? Yes, please. 

3. Crazy sunnies. Personally, I love huge sunglasses that cover your face and border on ginormous insect eyes. But in the summer I feel like one can go a little further and rock some truly spectacular eye wear...

4. Outdoor activities! There are so many awesome things to do in the summer! Kayaking, tubing, hiking, surfing, sunbathing, water skiing, paddle board yoga...the list is infinite :) And it makes me super happy because I have a really hard time sitting still, so if I can be doing something fun WHILE getting tan and being near water. I'm in. 

5. Girly bevs. In my old age (cough cough 27 cough) I have severely cut back on my intake of hard liquor. Mainly because Ive found that I don't really have a taste for it anymore. I'm more of a red wine or coffee porter gal. But in the summer, something weird shifts in my brain and all I want are pina coladas, rum, and coronas...drinks which, when consumed on a beach in a bikini on a hot summer day, become "dranks". 

The list goes on, quite literally, forever. But for now I will leave you with these five awesome summer things to help stave off the cabin fever. It's almost time to plan those beach trips so hang in there! And don't forget to protect your skin with some yummy smelling, glittery sun screen so you don't grow up and look like a leather bag ;)

Peace, Love & Sunshineeeee

E

Weekend Update

A big cup of reheated (multiple times) coffee in my Durham mug, Harry Potter playing on the TV, and snoring pups at our feet. Not bad for a 3 day weekend in Milton. The weather down here in Florida is incredibly volatile in the winter, so yesterday it was seventy degrees and sunny but today it is in the 50's and super chilly outside! We had plans to maybe take a trip somewhere for the weekend but there is something so easy and comfortable about a good old fashioned stay-cation :) Especially since as a realtor there isn't really such a thing as a three day weekend. 

I plan on spending this weekend catching up on some reading, trying out a couple of new recipes, and showing houses to some wonderful new clients. Not too shabby!

In honor of Valentines day we are going to make...drumroll please...DONUTS!! I have no idea why but I really associate valentines day with eating donuts, and according to Pinterest I'm not the only one who feels that way. 

We are going to try several different recipes and combinations so hopefully they taste awesome and we don't burn down the house! As an amateur in the kitchen that's really all one can hope for...

Keep an eye out for our V-Day donut adventure tomorrow... ;)

Sunday Morning in Milton

It's a brisk Sunday morning here in Milton and the house is relatively quiet compared to how it's been the past couple of weeks. We were lucky to be able to spend the beginning of 2016 with dear friends and family who have since moved on to their next adventures. And although, it was wonderful having a house full of the people we love, it has been really nice with just the two of us the last couple of days. Right now the only sounds I can hear are the dryer humming, the Panthers game playing in the living room, and the clicking of my keys as I type. Utter peace. 

We woke up and made a huge Sunday morning feast of pancakes, coffee, and hash browns, and ate them while watching a couple of episodes of the X-files (#itsthelittlethings)!! So nerdy, but so wonderful haha :) Today will definitely be a day of relaxation, sports watching, and tidying up the house after the non-stop action of the last few weeks. 

There's always something exciting but a little bit sad about the new year. A whole year has come and gone. All of your accomplishments, regrets, memories, and changes from the previous year seem weirdly far away on this side of January first. It can be a little bit daunting looking a whole new year right in the face! You just never know whats going to happen! I'm getting quickly used to the fact that marrying a Marine means I will never have much control over our life, but that doesn't mean that the choices we make each day don't impact our lives greatly. We have been so fortunate to be surrounded by such an amazing and empowering support group. Through flight school, my real estate business, and our new neighborhood, we have met incredibly lovely people down here and I feel so blessed that, despite what can be a very isolating situation, we find ourselves flooded with love and encouragement. 

It's going to be an exciting year. The real estate market is in full swing, our wedding planning is full steam ahead, and flight school seems to be flying by with alarming speed (no pun intended). Living in the moment, appreciating each day for what is it, and always looking for the good in every situation will be my mantra this year! I know it will go by in the blink of an eye, just like last year, but I want to live each moment fully and bask in the excitement of this time in our lives!! 

With that being said, let's all travel, learn, love, eat, fly, laugh, read, dance, & live our way through 2016 with open hearts and minds, and hopefully through our actions, thoughts, and words, create a happier and more peaceful world for all of us to live in.

<3 Em

Recently In Photos

Happy 2016!
This year has been amazing so far. We already have so much to celebrate and be excited for! Kevan, my soon to be brother in law, got his wings of gold as a Coast Guard aviator which was so fun to be a part of. We are very proud of him and Rebekkah, and so excited for their next adventure in Washington state even though we are going to miss them a lot :) Our awesome friends (and roommates) Indy & Dustin are also about to embark on their next adventure in Jacksonville since Dustin has also recently winged! It will be a very bitter sweet couple of weeks as a lot of our friends will be PCS'ing to their next duty station, but one of the unique parts of the military life is having friends all over the world. And even though it is hard to watch the people you love move away, it's amazing to me how those friendships are able to span the miles and years. 

Another wonderful thing we have been celebrating non-stop since Christmas is our engagement. I still can't believe how lucky I am to have found James and I can't wait to marry him!! However, I am SHOCKED at how many details go in to planning a wedding...
For someone who is super OCD and annoyingly organized, I am struggling big time with planning this thing haha Thank god for my mother who is basically planning the entire thing. I think what I am the most excited about, other than marrying James of course, is having all of our family and friends in one place celebrating with us! It honestly warms my entire heart and I can't stop smiling when I think about all of the wonderful people we are blessed to have in our life. 

So, with all of that being said, here is our new year in photos :)

Post Christmas Update

I'm sitting here on my floor, back in our house in Florida, after an amazing, whirlwind of a Christmas. Spending a whole week with my family was incredible. Getting to be back in my hometown with my friends and loved ones was such a breath of fresh air and truly rejuvenated my heart in a way that I didn't know I needed. I think it's easy to get caught up in life and just fall into a pattern that allows you get by but does nothing to feed your soul or excite you. One of my big goals for this new year is to make sure I fight that easy, yucky pattern and do things that take me outside my comfort zone and allow me to live each day in a fulfilling and passionate way. 

I don't know if it was being around my family and friends, or getting out of Florida for a couple of days, but it took this trip up to NC for me to jumpstart my mental enthusiasm again, and I'm not going to let go of that! So, with my heart a little fuller, my mind a little clearer, and my ring finger a little heavier (!!!) I am excited to jump headfirst into 2016! 

This year is going to be another doozy for a lot of reasons, but the best one being that James and I got engaged over the holiday! I am so happy and pumped for our life together. We have already been through so much and built such an amazing partnership that I can't even imagine the crazy, awesome things that lie in store for us. I can't wait to take this next step together and continue down this winding road of ours :)

As I write this post, I have a huge load of laundry going, a pot roast in the crockpot, there are four sleeping pups covering my furniture, I'm looking through my new cookbook that my parents gave us for christmas, and the only sound is Chef's Table playing in the background on Netflix. It is heavenly. Our home has been a little crazy the past couple of days because two sets of our good friends are moving in the next couple of weeks :( I want to spend as much time with them as possible before they PCS so we've been a home base for all six of us, and I honestly wouldn't have it any other way. It will be so sad to see them go off on their next adventures but part of the beauty and sadness of the military life is watching your friends leave but knowing they'll always have your back. 

So, while everyone is off running errands and doing last minute moving things, I volunteered to hang out with the pups and have a few minutes of quiet time to reflect on the past couple of weeks and try to get our home in order so we can move into the new year seamlessly. It's always crazy to me when the end of December hits! Where did this year go?? So much has happened and changed but at the same time all of the important things have stayed the same. You know, the things that truly matter like family, friendship, and love. We're all a little older, maybe a bit wiser, but still the people we were this time last year, just better! 

I hope that everyone has a beautiful New Year! See you on the other side...

10 Of My Favorite Things Right Now

In the spirit of the holidays I've been thinking about all of the things I'm thankful for. Of course the list is insane! There are just too many wonderful, kind, and amazing people in our life to forget how lucky we are :) We have made so many friends down here in Florida and even though we're going through our first wave of friends PCS'ing away from us I am so thankful for these friendships and know that we have a support network that distance cannot break. (All the feels!)

So, with that being said AND with the obvious exception of friends and family, here are 10 of my favorite things right now...

One: Essie's holiday glitter nail polish <3 
Two: Sipping delicious christmas blend coffee
Three: Re-watching all the episodes of Peaky Blinders before season 3 comes out!
Four: Getting to spend time baking in our amazing kitchen
Five: All of the beautiful holiday posts from my favorite bloggers :)
Six: It's finally cold enough to wear hats!
Seven: The folksy holiday music channel on spotify
Eight: Shopping for the perfect gift for all of my people
Nine: Watching christmas movies with J in the evenings (even though I ugly cry during each and every one)
Ten: The incredible support EM Realty has gotten from our community!

What are your "10 Things" this cozy Friday evening?
<3 EM

Cold Weather Fashion Favorites: Party Time

One of the best parts of the holidays is getting to see friends and family that you don't normally get to spend time with. And a perk of these reunions is that you get to see each other at holiday parties! Now, I've been known to go out in sweat pants when highly unmotivated, but the fashion this time of year is just too fun to pass up! With that being said, here are some of my absolute favorite holiday party looks...

1. Faux Fur: adding some faux fur accessories is a great way to dress up an outfit. It's also super comfy to wear if you decide to take a little catnap at the bar...

2. Sequins: You know where I stand with sequins. We love each other and have been in a committed relationship for years. To keep it from getting out of control, try pairing one sequined piece with something more casual like a fitted T, jeans, or a skirt. 

3. Texture: holiday parties are a great place to play with different textures and fabrics like feathers, or tartan, or chunky knits. Mix them all up in crazy ways and see what works for you! A nice, classic black blazer is a great way to keep it in check when your mixing everything else up ;)

Happy Holidays!!

xo Em