Pinteresting Tuesday is back.

Forgive me for being such a bum?

What was Pinteresting for you this week?

One:

I am absolutely loving this vintage outfit for a little girl. I think we must do something like this for our flower girl in our wedding!!

Two:

This is the easiest DIY project ever. Step one, buy an old, cheap painting from the dollar store. Step two, place letter stickers on the picture. Step three, spray paint the picture white (or which ever color you please)  and viola, peel off the stickers and you have a picture!

Three:

I love this outfit choice for traveling from Victoria's Secret! I need some leggings like this.

Four:

This is amazing. I can't tell you how many times we played that game when we were kids and finally said "Okay, skip Q." My roommate and I are planning on going to Penn State to watch our suite mates play in the NCAA Volleyball tournament (they just won the Big South championship!) Hopefully there will be one of these signs on the way ;]

Five:

Could you picture doing this. Better yet, could you picture being the person who opens the door?! I would pay someone big bucks to do this. Any takers? 

Time to get back to studying for the three tests I have this week. Dang Anatomy is kicking my butt! 

Happy Pinning.

adios, 

xo/Austin

Thanksgiving Break.

I know I have been slacking at updating my poor little blog.

You guys will never guess what went down this last week.

Wendy came into town!

{if you knew her, you would know I can just leave it at that and it's already crazy enough!}

Day two:

 She was here, we got a car!

He's a boy. His name is Jensen.

He is 1993 Honda Civic and only has 50,000 miles on him!

Can I get a hallelujah for no more walking everywhere?

Best part is, now I can apply to jobs not right by campus!

Day four-six:

We went to Virginia Beach! 

Oh man it was amazing!

I swear this is the best time of the year to go to the beach--there is no one there!

We had some wonderful food, took some awesome pictures, and we just enjoyed the hotel room!

Another thing Virginia Beach does during this time, is set up a huge light display on the boardwalk (which happened to be right outside our window!)

It was really just what I needed to get in the Christmas spirit!

Day six: 

Matty turned 20!

 It was probably not the best birthday since we spent half of it in a car driving back to Lynchburg...

Nonetheless, I am officially engaged to an older man :P

Day eight:

Wendy bought a house!

That's right! She bought a house here in Lynchburg.

The plan is, she is buying the house so she can rent it out to Matt and I and Kylie and Ryan (Matt's sister and fiancé) while we are here attending Liberty. When we leave (wherever we decide to go) she will be a landlord and rent it out to people around here and hopefully make money on the home!

Kylie and Ryan will live in the basement (which will be like a whole separate house) and Matt and I will live up stairs. I know, it sounds crazy... but us four get along so well that I don't think there will be a problem at all! I am so excited to get pictures and house updates for you guys! And then move in in August when we come back married for school!

Day eight was also Thanksgiving, which we spent with Matt's Aunt and Uncle and their kids! It was very relaxing and a nice change of a home cooked meal!

Day nine:

Black Friday.

We left at 11:45pm and shopped from Midnight until 5 am.

Wendy got me a new pair of boots for Christmas! 

{just wait until you see them, I am in love}

Matt made me wait in line at Target for an hour and 15 minutes to buy an PlayStation 3 that was on sale!

Needless to say, by 5am we were all just about comatose.

I then slept until 2pm that day!

While I was sleeping, Matt and Wendy went out and found a nearly new love seat and gigantic chair for our living room for a whopping $30. 

{yes I do love to brag about the money we save}

Day ten:

Wendy left for home. 

And our lives go back to normal for the next 3 weeks while we finish up classes.

Only a few more classes then finals. 

We can do it! 

Keep it Classy,

xo/Austin

I love Wedding Updates.

Busy, busy week.

What did we get done for the wedding?

One:

I finally tried on wedding dresses! I found a few I really liked, but not enough to buy. I am excited though that I get to go home and try on with my momma and my girls! I would tell you what I liked, but "you know who" will read this! If you're curious ask me!

Two: 

We took engagement pictures with Wendy! 

We went down(up?) to Virginia Beach for a few days and took them while we were there! They turned out so good! I was so surprised and impressed with Wendy's photography skills and with Matt's editing skills! This is just a sneak peak of what you're missing... I'll be sure to get all of them up once Matt lets me.

Three:

Matt and I designed our very own Save-the-Dates!

Okay, I am going to share this with you in case anyone is looking for cheap invites or Save-the-Dates... We made ours on Staples.com in the photo center... We got 500 for a whopping $19.99!! Gotta love a good deal (especially as a college kid!) I can't wait to send them out! They look so good! 

I absolutely cannot wait to go home in three weeks and start planning with my ladies waiting back home!

Question: What should we tackle next on the wedding list?

love, 

xo/Austin

Giving Thanks.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am sorry I haven't been keeping up with the posts this week.

We have been busy.

But I thought it would be nice to take a day away from the go-go-go mentality and dedicate a post to giving thanks.

Not too long ago a friend of mine told me about a book she has been reading.

{I'm not sure which book it is, but this one seems to be along the same lines as the one she was telling me about.}

The book is about a woman making a list of 1,000 things she is thankful for.

One Thousand.

That may not sound like a lot, but it really is.

She told me that she started her own "Thankful List" and she encouraged me to try to make on of my own.

So I did.

I got a new journal, and now have a journal dedicated to writing down only things I am thankful for.

What I am noticing is, when I consciously think about the parts of my life I am thankful for, my day automatically seems a little bit better.

There really is something to be said for positive thinking.

I encourage you all to make a list of things you are thankful for. Try for 1,000. Or maybe only 100. Either way, think about it, write it down, be thankful.

Here are a few examples of the things I have been writing down...

1. My fiance. 

2. Family. 

3. The opportunity to plan my wedding!

4. The privilege to get a higher education at a school as awesome as Liberty!

5. Movie nights with the roomies.

6. Coffee, coffee, coffee.

7. Holidays!

8. Naming a new car. 

9. Black Friday.

10. Christmas vacation!

That is just a few of the things on my list.

It is really amazing the things you realize you are thankful for when you think about it.

Happy Thanksgiving loves.

Question: What is on your top 10 for thankfulness?

Let the holidays begin!

xo/Austin

Confidence.

Everyone is insecure about something.

I think a big insecurity for girls is appearance and comparing ourselves to others.

I am going to share my retaliation to the world...

Every single time I look in the mirror I repeat this verse:

Every time.

I do it whether I have positive or negative thoughts.

That way I get a constant reality check for what actually matters.

Question: What do you do to gain confidence?

Weekend is on it's way!

xo/Austin

That's so Pinteresting.

Pinteresting Tuesday, on schedule!

Hey loves, how is your week starting off?

Mine is wonderful!

We start Thanksgiving break in less than a week..

Wendy comes in tomorrow...

And wedding dress trying on Friday as well!

Just a few more days left to push through!

So many Pinterests for me this week... How about you?

One:

So there are obviously many reasons I am PUMPED to get married. And for the most part I don't care much about presents. (I mean don't get me wrong, who doesn't love presents?) Anyway, the one gift I have assured Matt we have to ask for is a KitchenAid. They are amazing. And I have literally been waiting my whole life to get one. I have always said I would wait until I am married to get one, since it's too spendy for my pocketbook and it is the perfect gift. This one, is one of the many color combinations that I am loving. With the decals! 

Two:

Confession time... I have a minor girl crush of Zooey Deschanel. I love her voice so much. And I love 500 Days of Summer (yeah, it's that depressing odd-ball movie that most of you probably didn't like). So I knew when I heard she had a new show coming out this fall that I would love it! She is such a goof and the show is of course hilarious! New Girl. Have you seen it? 

Three:

So you know how no one ever likes to read when they have all the free time in the world to do so? Well I have recently got the strong desire to read. Noooooo I couldn't spend the last year of my life while I had no school and all the free time I wanted to to read, I would wait until I am slammed with school work and have no free time. But I did find this list on Pinterest of 1001 books to read before you die... And reading every Jane Austen book written is officially moving to my bucket list!

Four: 

I have been on such a baking frenzy lately. All I want to do is bake, and make food for everyone to enjoy. Does this happen to everyone when they get engaged? Anyway, I have been wanting an apron (why? Because I'm a mess... and because they're cute) This is one definitely in the running!

Five:

Now I'm not one to call a kid homely... but this poor guy just has no chance... His parents have to hate him for giving him that haircut! ;] Not only is the kid hilarious, but then you see the alpaca(llama?) in the background... What is wrong with that thing?! I dare you not to laugh at this!!

On that note I'm out to make "stuffing" for hall Thanksgiving dinner. 

{stuffing is in quotations because we have no stuffing mixture... so instead we are putting butter and garlic salt on wheat toast and calling it stuffing... shhh, they will never notice!}

What was Pinteresting to you this week?

Happy Tuesday,

xo/Austin

Wanna Wedding Update?

No wedding update last weekend... 

Sorry guys.

This week there isn't much of an update either.

It's hard to plan well away from home!

But we've got our ideas.

Let's start from the top.

We've got:

The Groom.

The Bride.

The Venue.

The Party.

The Style.

The Color Scheme.

What don't we have? 

Anything else.

We will get engagement pictures out there soon!

And Save-the-Dates.

Dress trying-on to happen soon.

And Guys' Tux ideas!

And I definitely want something as awesome as this in our wedding...

During Christmas break we will hopefully get a whole bunch done!

I can't wait to get home and plan with my family and my wedding party!

More updates to come!

love,

xo/Austin

Thursday Pinterests?

I apologize to you all and my poor blog for my neglecting you both!

I am hoping we all have some Pinterests on Thursdays too?

Here are some of mine!

One:

Christmas is coming! If only you knew my excitement. I am, as we all know, broke! So I'm trying to think of fun, inexpensive gifts to get or make for my loved ones. I love the idea of these homemade reusable sleeves! Now my problem is that I don't know how to sew... but I still love the idea.

Two:

I want it. It's a Pomeranian/Husky mix! I'm in love,

Three:

I have been craving any and every kind of sea food lately! These spring rolls look amazing. I am tempted to find some rice wrappers and make some of these... I will let you know if I do!

Four:

You all know how much I love thinking and planning my wedding! The only thing I like to think about more than my wedding is about being a wife! I can't wait to be a wife and have our own family some day! I love this idea for a fun surprise for a hubby or a kid, dontcha think?

Five:

It really just doesn't get any better than this. Please, don't miss a part of this picture. We've got a rat tail, a wool sweater with a pink shirt underneath, glasses from the 80's, and of course the cat that looks like it is about to lose it. Enjoy this.

I'm sorry for neglecting you, loves.

Only 5 more weeks left in the semester. Then I will be less busy. 

{I think I just lied, pretty sure life isn't ever going to slow down, but maybe I'll get better at carrying the load?}

I hope your week is going well, I'd love to hear from you!

Weekend here we come!

Question: What are you Pinterested in this week? 

xo/Austin

Muffin Monday.

No posts all weekend.

Fail.

Sorry guys, but it is in the past right?

The most exciting thing I did this weekend?

I baked muffins!

I love baking and cooking!

And Matt loves him some blueberry muffins.

I can't wait to be his wife and bake for him every day! And practice makes perfect right?

I got the recipe from here.

They were actually really good! 

{I know, I know I'm not supposed to be surprised when something I bake turns out well... but I'm new to this Betty Crocker thing, so that's just how it goes.}

For this time around I used the full fat recipe (since healthier ingredients seem to be more expensive).

But there is an alternative to certain ingredients that might not be so healthy. 

I'm going to give the healthy recipe, hopefully that one turns out as well as the other one did!

__________________________________________________________________

The Best Blueberry Muffins

{makes 12 muffins}

Ingredients:

Jam:

1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
1 tsp sugar 

Muffins:

1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
1 1/8 cups sugar/splenda*
2 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose/white wheat flour*
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp table salt
2 large eggs
1/2 cup apple sauce
1 cup non fat milk with 1 tbsp lemon juice 

(allow juice to sit for 10 minutes to lose some acidity before mixing with milk)
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract 

Directions:

Begin by making the jam: bring 1 cup of blueberries and 1 teaspoon of sugar to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook the berries, mashing with a spoon several times to break some of the berries open, stir frequently until mixture is thickened and reduced to about a ¼ cup (about 6 minutes). Transfer to small bowl and cool to room temperature, 10 to 15 minutes. Meanwhile, adjust your oven rack to upper-middle position and heat 425º. Spray muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray. Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt together in large bowl. Whisk 1 1/8 cups sugar and eggs together in a medium bowl until thick and texture is consistent (about 45 seconds). Slowly whisk in butter and oil (or applesauce) until combined. Whisk in the buttermilk and vanilla until combined. Using a rubber spatula, fold the egg mixture and the remaining cup of blueberries into the flour mixture until just moistened (batter will be very lumpy with a few spots of dry flour; do not overmix). Divide the batter equally among the prepared muffin cups (batter should completely fill cups and mound slightly). Spoon a teaspoon of cooked berry mixture into center of each mound of batter. Use a chopstick or skewer to gently swirl the berry jam into the batter using figure-eight motion. Bake until the muffin tops are golden and just firm, about 17 to 19 minutes (about 25 minutes for large muffins) rotating muffin tin from front to back halfway through baking. Cool muffins in muffin tin for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack and cool 5 minutes before serving.

___________________________________________________________________

My suggestion is to make the muffins to eat directly after! They are much better warm and with a crispy top. They get soggy if you wait overnight. They are amazing. And very easy to make. 

Hopefully this recipe serves you well as well!

<3

xo/Austin

Fall Accessory Obsession.

I feel like every season there is some kind of fashion accessory that I just "need."

This fall I just cannot get over boots.

Especially with boot socks underneath.

Love. And with leggings. 

This is just needed.

Love these socks. I think this is my favorite idea for engagement pictures!

I love these boots... but actually just this entire outfit.

The important question, is where am I going to get boots like these?

Especially with the $3 in my bank account...

I will find a way! 

Question: What's on your "fall fashion must get" list?

ciao,

xo/Austin