We've Got Orders...

Today was a little rough. We finally got J's official orders and our move date has been scheduled for a couple of weeks from now. It's not like I didn't know this was coming but seeing it on paper made it so much more real. I felt like such a baby because I literally just looked at them and lost my shit and started crying like an insane person. Thankfully after a bit of consoling and teasing from J, I was able to lock it up. It just makes me so sad to think about being apart for the next few months, but we will get to see each other every few weeks and time will go quickly.

I think I've just been feeling a little bit overwhelmed because everything seems to happen all at once! On top of dealing with moving technicalities, I have been planning on doing my bachelorette this coming weekend for the last 6 months. Everything was organized, everyone was excited, and then out of nowhere a hurricane decides to pop up :( We are still on, but keeping a serious lookout on the weather channel these next couple of days. Thankfully everything looks like it will be passing north of us...but fingers crossed! (And pictures to come soon...)

I've also been in work limbo for the past month or so because we are in the process of PCS'ing so I've been feeling pretty discouraged. I'm definitely not the kind of person who can sit around and do nothing all day without feeling horribly guilty. The one thing I am looking forward to immensely in Durham, other than seeing friends and family, is having a full time career again!

Starting my real estate company down here was something I will always be proud to have done. I met amazing people, learned a lot about real estate in Florida, and expanded my skills as an agent and broker. But with that being said, I also have a whole new respect for brokers like my mother who run a company and manage to do their own business at the same time. And I can't wait to get back to being just a regular, old agent for a while!

I guess today was just one of those days, but I'm going to have a big cup of tea, put on my coziest sweats, and settle down with a good book and the pups. Everything will be fine and we will be stronger for it. Nobody said this life would be easy all the time, but taking a deep breath and counting your blessings helps. And wine. Wine helps too.

Let Me Just Be Basic For A Minute...I'm Ready For Autumn.

I've reached that point at the end of the summer where ALL I can think about are the cool days of fall. Anything to get some relief from the stifling, timeless, stuffiness of summer.

I want to be able to turn off the A/C and throw the windows wide open so that the smell of wood stoves and crispy leaves fill the house. I want to wake up and have that moment where the air is so chilly that getting out of bed seems impossible, until you remember how amazing that first sip of hot coffee is. I want to come home from work and be able to get cozy and curl up with a good book and a cup of tea, knowing that outside the world is slowly going into hibernation but I am warm and safe inside.

For the love of god, I really just want to be able to walk to the mailbox without having a heat stroke.

There is something so alive and exciting and comforting about the autumn. Even the names of the months; September, October, November carry a specific, cozy promise in the way they sound when they roll off your tongue. The nights get longer, the evenings chillier, and you can hear people going for walks and laughing on the street only to stifle their noise abruptly and disappear into the night. There is something about the fall that makes you want to whisper so as not to disturb nature as she slips into her yearly slumber. Not fear, but excitement and expectation. For me, it borders on awe as this colorful burst of life happens before everything slips into rest mode for winter.

Needless to say... my autumn Pinterest boards are overflowing, I'm trying to wear sweaters prematurely, and I'm getting the urge to start re-reading Harry Potter. The signs are all present. Now I just need that first leaf to turn...

A whole lot of change, in a short amount of time!

I'm sitting in a little cafe in downtown Pensacola sipping my espresso and enjoying the change of scenery. It can get a tad repetitive working from home. And as much as I love watching the olympics I have a thing for coffee shops and their eclectic atmospheres. As far as work goes, I am winding down my real estate business here in florida and gearing up for our next move.

We just put our wonderful home in Milton up on the rental market. I didn't think I would be as emotional as I am about moving out of this home since we've lived in other places together. But this was our first home that we really got to make our own since we bought it. I've loved having all of the extra space (more than two people need!), and the neighborhood has been so homey to live in, but we knew it would only be ours for a few months. So now the search for renters begins!

On another house hunting front, we are in the process of purchasing a wonderful little home in Durham. We thought long and hard about where to purchase our next rental since there are so many different duty stations in our immediate future, but we both new that having a little piece of Durham to hold onto was the right choice <3

In the next few weeks J will be finishing up his training here in Milton and will be moving on to the final stage of advanced in Texas. After a lot of thought we decided that I would not go to TX with him but would instead come to NC to fix up our little rental house and work for the family business through the holidays. With all of the chaos surrounding wedding planning, job searches, and the animals, it just made sense for me to be in Durham for the last few months of the year.

Every day I flip flop about if this is the right decision since I will miss seeing J every day, but we knew going into this relationship that there would be times where we couldn't be together 24/7. That doesn't mean I can't be a baby about it though! However, we both agree that me being able to have a more hands on experience during the last couple of months of wedding planning will be best, especially since we would be having to move around the time of the wedding and it would just be too many moving parts. Also, I will be able to have a full time real estate career in Durham again, which will allow us save some money.

All in all, we feel good about this decision and are super excited for the next 6 months! A wedding, a new house, and a winging ceremony all within a few months of each other. We must be crazy or stupid, maybe a little bit of both! The support system we have is INCREDIBLE to say the least.

If the first half of this year is anything to go by, I know that these next few months are going to fly by. So, here's to a whole lot of change in a short amount of time! Par for the course in this life of ours...

Durham (and TX), we're comin' for ya!

Holy August Batman!

I can not believe it is already August. This summer has seriously flown by and honestly, I am completely fine with that! This girl is ready for some cool fall nights, cozy sweaters, and pumpkin flavored everything. Basic I know, but there you have it.

I just got back from spending a wonderful week up in Durham with the family. We finalized some wedding details, had my first dress fitting, & did a little rental house hunting (more on that later!) I also got to see one of my favorite ADF performances (Paul Taylor), and pick up the new Harry Potter book at the midnight release from the old, local book shop where I bought the others so many years ago. Super nostalgic trip! Every time I go back to Durham to visit I feel so lucky to have been raised in such an open minded and forward thinking community. And luckily wedding planning keeps me going back and forth quite a bit!

It's hard to believe that in a few short months we will be saying our 'I do's'!! When we got engaged last December I kept thinking that our wedding date was soooo far out, but this year is flying by and I'm super thankful we started planning early. A lot of changes are going to be happening in the next few months leading up to the wedding and I am excited to see where these changes take us.

But for now, we are enjoying our last few weeks in the Milton House and spending time with all of our Florida friends :) One of the hardest parts about being a military family is having to constantly say 'see you later' to the wonderful friends you make along the way. The stress and love that comes with this lifestyle bonds you together with each other quicker and more intensely than most normal friendships and they are the glue that holds us all together.

As we approach this next PCS, I can't help but shed a few tears over the idea of parting ways with these wonderful friends and having to start over from scratch again. But if I've learned anything over the last couple of years, it's that distance over time and space have nothing to do with affairs of the heart, and while we may all be scattered across this planet nothing will cause this support system to falter. Also, we thankfully have the internet at our disposal so staying in touch is much easier :)

With all that being said, new beginnings bring a sense of excitement and adventure and we will be keeping everyone posted on our little journey right here through it all! Stay tuned...

5 Beauty Products for Perfect Summer Skin

If your skin is anything like mine, different seasons call for different products. I used to slather on tons of random beauty products every day that didn't even do anything beneficial for my skin. But then one day I went to the dermatologist for a check up and she asked me how many products I put on every day...when I started counting them up in my head it seemed a little bit crazy, especially when I got to around product 15...

She laughed and asked me 'why?' I still don't have the answer to that haha except that maybe they smelled good, or made me sparkly, or just because. Not very good reasons!

Recently, I have started the process of throwing out all of my products that aren't cruelty free and vegan. When I thought about all of the crap I was putting on my skin that wasn't even GOOD for me, that had been tested on innocent animals, I felt completely sick. Not to mention, I want to put things on my skin that have some benefit without causing undo stress on the environment or animals.

This project has ended up being way bigger than I initially thought. Many brands claim to be cruelty free or vegan when in actuality they aren't. For me, having my products be cruelty free was the most important factor, with them being vegan a plus.

Here are some of my favorite products for glowing, healthy, summer skin.

1. Alba 3-in-1 Clean Towelettes: I love everything about these towelettes. At night I use them as a make-up remover and toner after I shower. In the morning i rinse my face with water and then tone with them. They don't dry your skin out or leave you feeling greasy. Also, they smell amazing.

2. Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Serum: this product is incredible. I have been a big fan of oils for a while now in regards to skin care which is funny because the thought of putting MORE oil on my skin would have horrified me in college. This product goes on smooth and soaks in immediately, leaving your skin feeling fresh and light. Kiehls is considered to be a cruelty-free company but when it was bought out in 2000 by L'Oreal it became a little but wishy washy since L'Oreal sells in China. Now this product is not considered to be cruelty free since China has mandatory animal testing, but sales have recently halted there until further notice. I'm not sure I will buy this product again if they continue down this current path. More research needed. 

3. Hope in a Jar Eye Cream: this eye cream is on point, and all Philosophy products are 100% cruelty free! This eye cream goes on smooth, morning and night, and I noticed a difference in fine lines around my eye crinkles within two weeks. I love all of their products but this one is a personal favorite. 

4. Beauty Counter Dew Skin: this shear tinted moisturizer provides just the right amount of summer coverage with absolutely no cakey residue. It goes on delightfully smooth and your face feels completely naked and not greasy. If you need more coverage the Beautycounter Tint Skin provides a bit more but still has that wonderful light feeling. 

5. Beautycounter Touch-up Skin Concealer: when I have a spot that needs a little bit more coverage this product blends in nicely and gets the job done. I also use it under my eyes to get rid of dark circles and brighten them up a bit. This concealer goes on perfectly over the Philosophy eye cream and doesn't wrinkle throughout the day. 

These basics keep my skin dewey, healthy, and glowing during those hot, sticky summer months. And I'm sure that I will continue to use most of these products into the fall and winter since they make my face feel and look so clear and amazing. 

I am attaching some links below for great resources on cruelty free and vegan beauty products!

The Cruelty Free Kitty 

My Beauty Bunny

The Good Trade

Je T'aime by Hotashi

Happy and Healthy skin is in!

The Pursuit

Every once in a while I have one of those absurdly dichotomous days where I feel simultaneously empowered and motivated to do a bunch of exciting, bucket list worthy things, but also completely frozen by indecision.

It's easy to get comfortable with life and not push yourself to try new things or go outside of your comfort zone. Now don't get me wrong, I love me a good comfort zone. In fact, I'm really, really, good at creating and maintaining a super cozy comfort zone! But, the wonderful thing about having that safety net, whether its your home, your family, your job...is that you can still take an adventurous stance in another aspect of your life.

My comfort zone has always been my family and home life. I've been lucky enough to have this wonderful sense of support from my family and friends that can only come from having that close knit, judgement free, forever kind of love. No matter where I traveled, how long I was gone, or what I did, they would always be there to welcome me home. And thankfully that remains true to this day, a fact that I appreciate and crave even more so since I am marrying someone in the military. 

I want to travel, make art, dance, read books, WRITE a book! Grow my business, take over my family business, network, meet new people! Learn a new language, get my Ph.D,  run another half marathon, get my yoga certification! There are so many crazy, exciting thoughts and adventures in my head on a daily basis, in addition to all of the necessary information that I need to live my life, that sometimes I don't know what to do with myself. 

What makes you completely speechless but excited to tell people about at the same time? What is something that you've never done before but have always wanted to try? What is the one thing people would never expect you to do? How are you going to make a difference in this crazy world that we only get a few short decades on??

I'm sure we all feel like this some days. Just full to the brim with life but not sure how to accomplish our hopes and dreams. And honestly, I don't think I know the answer to that question yet, and I'm sure the answer is different per person and per idea. But I'm pretty sure the only way nothing will come of your dreams is if you don't try. Start somewhere. Anywhere is fine. Just start. 

Monday Morning Motivation

Monday mornings have always been a bit of a 'catch-up' day for me. So, when the storms rolled in this morning, and the thunder started rumbling, I poured myself a hot cup of coffee and started going through my emails from the last 24 hours.

I love the feeling of getting my week started with a bang. And recently, it's been difficult for me to have that feeling of excitement since things around here are much slower than I am used to. But I've got NPR on the radio, its less than 107 degrees, and my to-do list is getting out of control!

There are new client searches to get started, closing details to organize, wedding vendors to respond to, offers to be written (!), and a million little details in between.

Setting the tone for your week early on is a great way to ensure productivity, something that is easy some days and nearly impossible other days. Usually I wake up and get the coffee started, put some essential oils in our diffuser (peppermint, sweet orange, and eucalyptus since it's been so hot), and turn on NPR (or HGTV) so that my brain has a chance to wake up as I'm getting ready.

Then it's on to the emails, and phone calls, and texts. I absolutely love my Day Designer planner because as I'm going through everything I have an easy to fill out blue print for my week! Each day has a timeline progressing in half hours, a notes section, a to-do list chunk, and a spot for top goals (because let's be honest...the top three things on your list are the ones that HAVE to get done).

Some days those are the ONLY things that get done, but that's life. Especially when you are awake half the night because your 70 pound dog is sleeping on your head because the smoke detector is beeping in the guest room and it is the single most terrifying thing he's ever heard.

But! I will get everything done today! And I will do it with a smile on my face because I am thankful, and alive, and motivated woohooo! (How's that for a Monday mantra??)

What are some ways you get started on the right foot on a Monday Morning?

The ABC's of Real Estate: EMR

Most of you know that I am a Realtor by trade, but for those of you who didn't know...I am a Realtor by trade! I've been working a lot over the weekend to revamp my company's Facebook page where we are constantly posting events, listings, market trends, and other helpful tidbits. Check it out and give us a like! I am happy to answer any questions you have :)

Emilie Morgan Realty

What's on the Menu: Fourth of July (Part 2)

It's actually, officially INDEPENDENCE DAY!! However, we celebrated too hard all weekend so I am celebrating by watching Captain America and trying to force my dogs to snuggle as they run about the house barking at fireworks (high five)!

heh heh heh 'Merica

We did have a great BBQ yesterday and were able to spend time with our wonderful friends, eat some amazing food, and drink too much beer. We were ALMOST outnumbered by dogs since all of us are in that awkward 'we don't have kids yet but treat our dogs like they're babies' stage, but the humans won out in the end.

J and I got up early so he could start marinating the ribs in a new homemade sauce (Pineapple Habanero), and I had to get the biscuits and veggie burgers crackin.

The veggie burger recipe is from one of my all time favs Thug Kitchen. They are super easy to make, and only require a few ingredients that we usually have laying around the house:
-3 cans white beans
-an onion
-cumin, chili powder, paprika
-jalepenos
-bread crumbs

All you have to do is bake them for 30 minutes and they are good to go!

The biscuits are another favorite of ours from the Foster's Market Cookbook.
They are amazingly buttery, and cheesy, and delicious! And, they are good for several days after so you can heat them up and have them with breakfast and dinner.

We also had sides galore thanks to our amazing friends, and everyone was stuffed by the end of the night. I for one will be doubling up on Pure Barre this week, especially since Wednesday is Glow Day at the Pensacola Barre studio! (and who doesn't love doing pilates covered in glow paint??)

Here are some photos from our festivities...

Sweet Friends 

Men & Their Fire Sticks

Dog Pile Up

Poodle Mama

Cop & Tuck 

Lovely Milton Ladies

Happy Fourth of July friends! Hope everyone had a wonderful, safe long weekend :)

Let's Talk Food: Our Fourth of July Menu (Part 1)

If BBQ is not synonymous with Independence Day, then I don't know what it, which is awkward because I'm a vegetarian (most of the time). When we cook any meat in our house I am adamant that it comes from our local butcher so I know exactly what farm the meat came from, how the animal was grazed, and any other horrifying details they choose to give me that day.

J is actually kind of a master griller so it makes my vegetarianism quite difficult sometimes. For this weekend, we compromised though with a menu of delicious dishes and sides that cater to all diets! Even my lovely friend who is gluten/soy free (love ya girl!).

With that being said, here is a list of our favorite cookbooks that we whipped out for the occasion!

1. Foster's Market Cookbook
2. Thug Kitchen
3. 12 Bones Smokehouse: A Mountain BBQ Cookbook

These cook books are staples in our kitchen and you should definitely check them out!

For today's cookout J mixed up some of the 12 Bones Chicken Rub and marinated a pork butt in it over night (thank you little piggy butt!) You slow cook the pork in the oven for 4 hours on 275 so it comes out perfect for pulled pork sandwiches or tacos!

The we made the 12 Bones drop biscuits. This is our first time using this homemade biscuit recipe since the Buttermilk Biscuits in Foster's Market Cookbook are so delicious but I'm excited to see how they turn out. Instead of smoked gouda we used chipotle gouda for an extra kick.

12 Bones Chicken Rub

Gouda Drop Biscuits

Kitchen War Zone

What are you cooking for today's festivities??

Happy 2nd of July!

Let the Festivities Begin...

I'm sitting here drinking a G&T, watching Shark Week, snuggling with my dogs...the usual, and I literally just realized that today is Thursday and not Friday. Which is weird because this morning I knew it was Thursday (according to my FB post) See below...

What I'm getting at is that it is BASICALLY Friday now so everything is good, but things got weird there for a while. 

This weekend will be filled with fireworks, junk food, and lots of red, white, and blue down here in good old Florida and I can't wait to spend time with good friends and pig out (aka wear daisy duke overalls, drinks lots of beer, and yell "MERICA" a lot while holding fiery objects). 

In order to prepare for this weekend of unhealthy eating and laziness I went to Pure Barre, did 3 crunches, and didn't eat any cookies (yet...the night is young...but since I'm calling in Friday early I guess were good). 

I've also been very busy updating my Fourth of July Pinterest board, #becauseamerica and you can check it out here for funsies :)

List of the Day: What makes for a good Fourth of July Experience

1. Friends: this one is obvious. You need people to party with, and who better than people you like to be around!! Especially since people will be drinking and we all know everyone gets annoying when they holiday drink so it's good to surround yourself with people you like regardless of their mental state.

2. Game: Corn Hole, Bocci, Volleyball, flip cup...you name it! This is a holiday celebrating America so obviously we need to incorporate a little bit of friendly competition. And beer.

3. America Jello Shots: Maybe this isn't a must for everyone but I always like to include it to really drive home the point, aaaaand it reminds me of tailgating in college. 

4. Greasy food to soak up the alcohol: This IS a must. Grills must be involved. And it's best to alternate greasy food, drink, greasy food, drink, just to be safe. You know the drill. 

5. Nalgene of water: HYDRATE YOUR BODY SO YOU DON'T HATE YOUR LIFE THE NEXT DAY!!! We are not 23 anymore. Hangovers hurt. They make you sad. AVOID AT ALL COSTS. 

So, everyone stay safe! Don't drink and drive! And wear your protective eye gear if you are the master of firework ceremonies!

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND!!!