Where did this weekend go?

I keep asking myself this question this morning...It was so jammed packed with great things that it flew by in the blink of an eye!  Saturday I spent the entire day at Empower Ladies conference with some of my favorite bloggers and friends. Let me tell you..this day was amazing!! The message was that we are all God's treasures even if we may feel inadequate. All we have to do is believe and let Him in!! The day was full of great speakers, amazing worship, tears, hugs, massages and manicures....it was so refreshing! Here are some pics from the day..all cell phone ones unfortunetly! 

AMAZING! I can't wait until next year!

Saturday evening we went out to a couple different restaurants for some yummy food, drinks, and music! It was so much fun...I love my friends...do I mention this enough?? I just feel so blessed :)

Sunday we went to lunch with my mom, little sister Jodell, and Sean's parents. It was so delicious, and great to catch up with family...I took the cutest picture of my sister and I, but my laptop is out of commission right now so it's stuck on the camera, boooo! Afterwards we looked at a few more houses...still haven't found our home but we are feeling more optimistic about it!

We ended the weekend with some relaxing and cuddling...I love my husband and doggy so much!

Happy Monday :)

Jamie Leigh

 

Yay for Friday!

Today's post is going to be very short and sweet...it is a busy day at work! I am working at the Employee Holiday Program, so I actually have to "work" all day ;) TGIF!! I am SO very excited for this weekend!! The Ugly Sweater party is finally here! The girls I am hosting with and myself have come up with some super awesome recipes, games, and decor for the party! Stay tuned for Monday's post..it will be full of pictures!!  For today's 25 days of Christmas let me leave you with a sneak peak of one of our desserts for the party...Santa hats made out of brownies, strawberries and whipped cream....so cute and delicious!! 

 

Sorry for the lack of excitment in today's post! I hope you all have a fabulous weekend..It's the LAST one before Christmas! WAHOO!!!!!

This Weekend...

 

I have a lot of great things to look forward too! The bulk of my weekend will be spent with the boy, Ryan,  I PCA for. Even though I will technically be working it sure doesn't feel like work!

Tonight I think pizza and a Christmas movie sounds great...maybe Elf or Polar Express. I love them both!

Tomorrow is busy busy! My mom and I plan on taking Jodell and Ryan down town to the Macy's 8th floor display, which this year is "Life as an Elf". Every year around Christmas time we bring them down there, so it is now tradition. Here is a picture of us there last year.

Sorry it's so dark!! Terrible Lighting!

We also plan on going to the Holidazzle Parade Saturday night so I will take lots of pictures!

Sunday is the day I am MOST excited for!! After church my friend Jessie has offered to take our Christmas card pictures! YAY I am so excited to make our first Christmas card together! The rest of the day will be spent with family celebrating a late Thanksgiving. This year we all went out opposite ways, so we finally found the time to get together and celebrate!! I promise I will remember my camera this time!

This really is the most wonderful time of the year! I love all the joy and happiness in the air :) For today's 25 days of Christmas I wanted to share with you my favorite Christmas candy. I have the biggest sweet tooth, so I always keep my santa candy dish full :) Here is what you will find in it this year!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!!

Jamie Leigh

Sissy Time

This weekend I am very excited for. Although my husband is going hunting (I don't like when he's gone) my mom and sister will be coming over to spend the weekend with Remi and I. This means I get sissy time!  My little sister Jodell is my sunshine. She has always had a very special place in my heart.  

Back when she was young and I use to babysit her in the Summer. We developed a very strong bond. Funny fact: I use to sneak Sean over during the days and I would have Jodell Pinky Promise me that she wouldn't tell (horrible I know). She started callling me Pinky Promise and ever since it has stuck. I even got the word "Promise" tattoed on my ankle for her.

When I moved out, it was very hard. I loved living with my family, and being able to see them everyday. In fact now I see I took it for granted and really miss them, especially Jodell.

Right after we moved, Jodell sent this picture message to me. Whenever I am missing her, I read this message. SO P.R.E.C.I.O.U.S.

She is such a fun, loving, strong, beautiful person...and growing up so quickly

I cannot wait to spend the whole weekend with my little sissy. I love her so dearly. Pinky Promise Forever!

 

Jamie Leigh

Photo Weekend Recap

This was a incredible weekend. It was just the little weekend getaway we needed before we BOTH start new jobs this week! Saturday bright and early we headed up to Duluth MN, my hometown and such a beautiful city!
When we first got into town we went shopping...EXCITING news, I found and ordered my wedding band! I got an amazing deal as well because we got it at the jeweler my grandma has been going to for forever! We also went and helped my aunt pick out a dress for the wedding!

Saturday night we went to the most delicious restaurant ever, Pickwick! Sean ordered their famous pepper cheeseburger, and I got the walleye....we got the perfect table with a view of Lake Superior! Date nights are the best!

After our dinner settled we HAD to go to the ice cream shop and get my all time favorite flavor black licorice. I know I know, it sounds gross, and I myself HATE black licorice..but this is the best and the only place that has it...what a treat!

Sunday we enjoyed sleeping in and the sun! Sean and my little sister Jodell played some baseball with a broom stick and pinecone...how creative!

Today I will be enjoying one of my final afternoons off before I start my new job on Thursday. I hope you all had a great weekend!
Jamie Leigh

A Wonderful Weekend

This weekend was sure wonderful! It was busy, full of fun, and everything I had hoped for! 
Friday was GREAT! After work we met up with some friends to watch the Twins game and let loose a little. We celebrated our new jobs, and talked a lot about the wedding :) Wish I had some pics, but I forgot my camera.
Saturday the weather was unexpectedly beautiful! Sean had to work for part of the day, so my sisters, my mom and one of my bridesmaids worked on the wedding to do list a bit! We found a couple AMAZING hotel suites for the bridal party to stay in the night before the wedding! Can't wait! Saturday night my sisters, my mom, and I went to see a movie. We saw Something Borrowed with Kate Hudson. She is one of my favorites, and the movie was really cute! That night we had a bonfire with some friends! So happy it is finally bonfire weather!

Sunday we spent celebrating our incredible mom! We grilled, hung out, and opened gifts. 

Stop by tomorrow for a wedding update! 
Share with me a highlight from your weekend :)

Jamie Leigh

Incredible Weekend recap/ BIG week ahead

Hi friends, I hope you all had a relaxing, fun, wonderful weekend! I sure did! Let's start with a recap, then I have some news to share! So a little warning, this will be a long post!

Saturday my ladies came over in the morning for some caribou coffee, donuts, and to chit chat before we headed out to pick brides maids dresses! I LOVE you guys!

When we got to the bridal shop, the girls all went and picked out a couple styles and started to play dress up :-)

They tried on these...

And these....

But the one they all agreed on and LOVED is this dress!!

And this one for Jodell, my junior bridesmaid. She will be getting it hemmed shorter to match the other dresses!

The dress is so classy, elegant, comfortable, PERFECT! It is exactly what I was picturing my girls in! They also found some GREAT shoes and a flower for their hair!

They got the shoes in black, and the dress color is the apple red in the first picture as well as the flower!

I already had my wedding dress, I had bought it about a year ago because it was getting discontinued and I absolutely loved it....I decided I wanted to try on a couple of the new styles just for the experience and to make sure I still loved my dress! I tried on a couple very pretty dresses, but when I came out in mine everyone gasped....I knew it was STILL the one! So I said YES to the DRESS for the second time and couldn't be happier!

Afterwards we headed to Noodles for some delicious pasta and to chat more about the wedding! I honestly have the best bridesmaids ever! We all have been friends for a long long time, we are like sisters!

So now to the news of the week...This is a week of some big things including an interview and some surgery...both of which I am very VERY nervous for!

I'll post more on the interview once I have some news, it is tomorrow! Send me some luck, this would be a great opportunity!

Thursday I have to get my wisdom teeth out....all four of them......all four of them which are impacted! AWW I am a wimp, and not good with pain, needles, blood, etc. Today I had my consultation for the surgery, and it was very scary....I had to go over all the things that could possible happen which included my jaw breaking because they are impacted, permanent numbness/tingling in my bottom lip because the bottom ones are close to a vital nerve, and sinus issues because the top ones are up in the sinus area. UGH! I know they do this all the time, but hearing these things made me very uneasy...and because they are impacted it isn't just getting teeth pulled, it's surgery...

If I am MIA in blogging world this week, this is why!

Have a great week! 

Jamie Leigh

A LOT to look forward too!

How was your weekend? I hope it was better than mine! I. AM. STILL. SICK! ugh! It started on Tuesday and since then I swear this sickness had made its way through every part of my body
body achesfeverchest paincoughsore throatcongestionheadachesinuschills
Thats pretty much what my weekend/past week consisted of! I do have to say that I have the most amazing fiance in the world. He did not leave my side and waited on me hand and foot. I am such a lucky girl! Today I am starting to feel on the mend, but I am definitely still going to lay low because I have  A LOT to look forward too this week!
Thursday is my graduation! I cannot believe it, it still doesn't feel real! My grandma's are coming down from Duluth MN for it, and we will be going out to dinner to celebrate with the family after the ceremony! My mom also ordered my favorite cake, red velvet with cream cheese frosting! YAY! Another cool fact, I am graduating WITH my sister! SO FUN I can share this with her!
A couple other things I have to look forward too:
Ordering my wedding cake!Picking out flowers for the wedding!Food tasting! Invitations!
YAY! What a busy but exciting week! Now I am off to take a final, then only one more tomorrow! 
Jamie Leigh

The Essence of Faith

It feel like forever since I have blogged! It really has only been a couple days but it feels much longer! Heres a little weekend rewind!

 

Saturday Sean and I went shopping with my family at the Mall of America! It was so much fun spending time with all my loved ones! Sean got some new clothes for when the warm weather finally decides to join us, and my mom tried no some dresses for the wedding :) Saturday night we got to spend time with Sean's family that was in town from South Dakota! There's nothing better than a weekend full of family time!

Sunday we had brunch at Granite City which was delicious! Then we ran a couple errands, and finally retired into some comfy clothes to watch the series The Walking Dead! Very very good!

 

Now for today...

 

At church on Sunday the message really stuck with me. We had a visiting Paster join us and share her ideas about changes in the church. She strongly believed that people would get bored with church if there weren't changes made to the way the message of Jesus is shared. In Indianapolis she started a very unique worshiping community that meets in a dinner theater. It has taken off and is now grown to 3 worships each Sunday. Amazing huh?

 

Since our church is expanding to a new location they are welcoming the new ideas and vision to create a unique new ministry. This is very exicting to me! Things like contemorary music, discussions, and more interaction within the fellowship will be implemented. Everyone seems to think it will attract a younger generation..what do you think?

 

The message that really stuck with me is this: "The essence of faith is risk." Faith=Risk...do you agree with that? I definitely do. Having the faith in Jesus doesn't mean you know the future events or outcomes...but you just rely on the fact that Jesus will take care of you and lead you down the path your meant for.

 

This reading fits perfectley with this post:

 

"But the Lord says, Do not cling to events of the past or dwell on what happened long ago. Watch for the new thing I am going to do. It is happening already-you can see it now!" ~Isaiah 43:18-19b

 

Jamie Leigh

 



Thankful on a Thursday!

I am SO thankful and feel so blessed today! It is a good day :)
101. Blogging friends! I am so excited to meet up with some of my favorite blogging friends (Steph,Ria,Jessie, and Laura) for a delicious dinner at Olive Garden! Can't wait ladies!

102. Another house to look at! We have been waiting to hear on an offer we have on a short sale since November. We LOVE this house and it felt like home...however I like to check for other options as we wait just to see whats out there. One really caught my eye yesterday so my Realtor is doing a little research on it's situation and if all turns out good we may look at it this weekend!
103. Daylight Savings! Can you believe it is already this weekend??! Wow time flies! I can't wait for it to be light out until 9 though....Summer is coming :)
104. A restful weekend ahead! I am definitley looking foward to another weekend of just hanging out and doing whatever we want. It is nice to not have the whole weekend planned out, it feels like they last longer!
105. Spring Break! Tomorrow is the start of spring break! I still have school, and I don't get to go anywhere warm, but I am thankful to be picking up some extra hours at work!
Happy Thursday everyone, I hope you have a spectacular day!
Jamie Leigh

Hello Monday...

Monday is here again...not my favorite day of the week! Anyways I had a wonderful weekend as usual! How blessed I am!
Friday night Sean and I had a lazy  night! I got home from work to find a delicious taco lasagna dinner! I cannot say how amazing it is to have a man that likes to cook and is good at it! Afterwards we just watched a movie and relaxed :-)
Saturday we shopped until we dropped! My aunt and cousin came down from Duluth so my mom, sisters, aunt, cousin, me and Sean (poor boy) went on a shopping spree! I got some really cute new stuff for spring/summer that I can't wait to wear. Thanks mom your the best! 
Sean and my little sister Jodell kept each other company, so sweet! They stayed busy playing Angry Birds!

Saturday night we went out to Buffalo Wild Wings to celebrate Sean's sisters birthday! Yum Yum!
Sunday our plans got turned upside down when Sean's boss called. Sean had to go down town to the Home and Garden show to work. I have to get use to him being on call....it's just part of his field. So I went home and spent some time with my dad. We ran some errands and looked for deals on movies at Blockbuster since they are closing down! We got 4 movies, each only 4 bucks!! 
It was definitely a fun filled weekend! Can't wait till the next one ;-)
Happy Monday, 
Jamie Leigh

Live Laugh Love

I have always loved this quote...3 words that are SOO meaningful! This was exactly how my weekend was, it was perfect!

We didn't do much at all.....we cooked, talked, laughed, rested, watched movies, and talked some more. 

Friday Sean cooked me my favorite dish! It is from the Italian restaurant Amore Victoria, and called mushroom passion! So Sean decided to try to make it at home! It is a balsamic cream sauce, with mushrooms, garlic and of course pasta! He put his own little twist on it and added chicken, it turned out amazing!

Cell phone pic, sorry its blurry!

Saturday we slept in, and laid around in our pj's most of the morning! Then I went and visited my little sister who is always so sweet and fun to see! Saturday night we went out to dinner with Sean's parents to Carols! It is a DELICIOUS little restaurant where everything is homemade! Afterwards we just watched some TV and talked about our future :-)

Sunday we went to church, which was wonderful and refreshing as usual! Later we watched the Never Ending Story...I had never seen it before, so Sean insisted I had too....it was weird, but entertaining! 

I just love weekends that you don't have anything you HAVE to do! They last so much longer, and Monday I feel so much more relaxed and ready to face the busy week ahead! 

What did you do this weekend?

Jamie Leigh

An Amazing Start to the Weekend

So yesterday I told you that I thought Sean was brewing something up for today....well I was right! When I got off work today Sean was waiting for me to take me to my Valentines Day surprise. He took me to get massages, and to lunch! I have never gotten a massage before, but I was in need of one terribly. It was amazing!! I am such a lucky girl! Thank you sweetheart, I love you!! That was definitely the best start to the weekend I could have asked for!
 Tonight we are going to my sister and her bf's house to play games and have dinner! Can't wait! Saturday night we have our Valentines double date with Jessie and Justin. I cannot wait for this, the food at the restaurant we are going to is to DIE for!
Sunday we don't have much planned, which is always nice. Sean needs to change my oil, and I am sure we will make a trip to the gym!

What are you doing this weekend? Anything special for Valentines Day?
Jamie Leigh

Not Ready for Monday

I am definitely not ready for Monday. I haven't been feeling very well, and Monday's are my busiest days of the week...."I can do all this through  Him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13. I have been reminding myself this a lot lately...
Anyways, this weekend was wonderful. Friday night we went out to Buffalo Wild Wings with some of my favorite people. I should have taken more pictures, but at least I got one of us girls

My friend Nicole is amazing with hair, and will be doing it for my wedding. She wanted to play around with my hair for some bridesmaid hair ideas...what do you think? I don't want tight updos, but rather have it look natural, curly, and loose.

Saturday Sean and me finally got new phones! He got the iPhone, and I ended up going with the Microsoft Focus because it is compatible with my laptop. I LOVE LOVE it! I have never had a smartphone before (sad I know), so I am just amazed at its capabilities! We spent most the day figuring out our phones, and ended the day with chili and a movie!
Sunday was game day! We ended up just relaxing at Sean's house with his parents instead of going to the party we were planning on since I wasn't feeling so hot! 
How was your weekend? I hope it was fabulous!
Jamie Leigh

YAY for Friday!

I am SO glad this week is finally coming to an end!! Our weekend plans are kind of up in the air right now...we were suppose to go up north but it's looking like thats not going to happen, which I am okay with. I am a huge homebody, so it will be nice to just stay home and relax!
This afternoon I had my graduation meeting! I am so excited the end is getting close, it doesn't even seem real! 6 more weeks left! Tonight Sean and I are meeting up with some of our friends for dinner....Our friend Nicole is the reason Sean and I met, she has been my best friend since we were 3. She is so fun and I can't wait to see her! 

Saturday I plan on sleeping in as LATE as I can, which will probably only be like 8 haha. Afterwards Sean and I are contemplating switching to AT&T to get iPhones. My contract is up in April with my current service provider, but right now there is an amazing deal on iPhones...tough decision. 
Sunday we will obviously be watching the super bowl! I am more excited for the food, commercials, and socializing then I am for the actual game. Sean is making buffalo chicken chip dip, so delicious! 
I hope you all have a spectacular weekend!!! 
Jamie Leigh

Weekend Rewind and Magic Bars!

Sean and I had a lovely weekend! I am a little sad it is over and went so fast! Now I just got to focus on getting through another week of school....7 more weeks!!
Friday night Sean and I got some take out, and watched my favorite wedding shows! Afterwards we laid around and talked till late....it was so nice to have that time to just BE and TALK...I definitely embraced it!
Saturday we had another cake tasting which we were much more impressed with than the first! It was so delicious and moist! We have one more place to check out before making a decision. Afterwards we ran some errands then went home for the night. Sean was sweet enough to let me pick the movie for the night, so I chose Letters to Juliet. It was really cute, kind of predictable but good overall! 
Sunday we went to church! Last weekend we missed since we had family in town, so it felt so nice to be there! Our Pastor is SO wise and inspiring. He is constantly challenging me to be a better person, which I am so grateful for. Later in the day I decided I wanted to bake. My co worker had made these delicious bars, magic bars, for our pot luck last week, so I wanted to try out the recipe. I wanted to share it with you, I highly recommend them and they are SO easy.
You will need:
1 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs1/2 cup butter14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk  1 cup shredded coconut1/2 cup chocolate chips1/2 cup butterscotch chips1/2 cup white chocolate chips 

First you melt the butter and mix it with the graham cracker crumbs. Press into the bottom of a 13x9 pan

Next you pour and spread the sweetened condensed milk over the top

Then you add the coconut and chips. Press down.

Bake at 350 for 25 minutes. Enjoy! 

Jamie Leigh