In Retrospect

Caroline at 2 weeks old. Photo by Bethany McGhehey.

Approximately one time per year, I get a little reflective and, well, cheeseball-ish. (Though, with Caroline's arrival, I've become one of those women who bawls happy tears at the drop of a hat. But normally, I save the sentimental nonsense for New Year's.)

And folks, it's that time of the year.

I was going to do a month-by-month recap of what we did this year, but honestly, it would have all been pregnancy-related, ha! And since most of y'all were here for that ride from the get-go, I won't make you suffer through it again.

In all seriousness though, this year was unbelievably, amazingly wonderful.

I mean, WE HAD A BABY.

And gaw, y'all. She is simply magnificent.

I cannot wait to see how she changes and develops throughout the coming year. I know that the best is still yet to come and this makes me exponentially happy.

I hope your 2014 is full of treasures. Not the kind that money will buy, but the little gems that can only be felt by the heart and experienced by the soul.

Thank you all for sticking around here for another year of memories. Let's do it again, shall we?

.............................................

*All photos are property of A Blonde Ambition Blog and Bethany Blair Photography. Please do not re-post or "pin" without express written consent. Thanks for being kind, y'all!

New Year's "Intentions"

Each year, I compile a list of New Year's "intentions": things that I intend to do or achieve, but without the rigidity of the dreaded "resolution". It's basically a resolution list for folks with commitment issues.

You can view my previous "intention" lists here and here. (Apparently, I had no goals to speak of in 2010. I suppose this is because I was busy getting engaged and whatnot!)

For 2013, here are a few things I intend to do, plan, begin, achieve, (insert verb here), etc.

1. I'd like to continue to broaden my circle of friends. This one was on my list last year and I feel like I definitely met that goal. You can never have too many shoes or too many friends. It's just not possible. With my new job I took in March 2012, I made a whole set of new friends. I've also become real life friends with several amazing women I've met through the blogosphere. I've rekindled friendships with girls I knew growing up and it's exciting to see how our lives have evolved! Friends, new and old, enrich our lives and make everything, well, better.

2. Continue to cultivate my writing career. I'd like to continue growing myself as a professional writer, both in my day job as a writer at a PR firm, and also as a freelancer. I've written for quite a few local magazines in the past year or so, but I hope to take things "national" this year. Wish me luck!

3. Drink less coffee. Kidding. Kidding. For the good of all mankind, I will continue drinking copious amounts of caffeine. Without it, I'm like a grizzly bear with an insane case of PMS. Trust me.

4. Host more dinner parties. Lately, I've rediscovered my love for throwing a good fete. I'm a strange bird, but I LOVE the time that goes into perfecting decorations, party favors, music, atmosphere, etc. And, I don't even mind the clean-up process. I get complete satisfaction out throwing together a crazy guest list and seeing all the different personalities interact with one another. Don't call me Martha just yet, though.

5. Learn to light our gas fireplace. Don't y'all dare laugh. This is serious business and I'm terrified of lighting the pilot. Okay.........you can laugh now.

6. Volunteer at our local animal shelter. Recently, my co-workers and I participated in a day of volunteering at various non-profits across NWA. Our team was designated for the Fayetteville Animal Services Shelter. That day, our company paid for the adoptions of EVERY animal in the shelter. It was so amazing to know that we saved the lives of over 30 pets that day. I have such a passion for our four-legged friends and hope to spend many more days at the animal shelter this year.

7. Really participate and enjoy NWA Fashion Week. Last year, I had a pretty major surgery that kept me out of commission for most of FW, save for the article that Citiscapes very graciously allowed me to write! I was able to catch only a couple shows, but this year...oh, it's on! I've already recruited a dear friend to tag along with me for the week. And to all the boutiques out there: I'm a very affordable runway model ; ) Call me, maybe? Ha!

Okay, this is the part where you tell me what you "intend" to do in 2013. Ready...set...go!

P.S.- Stay safe tonight, y'all. Live it up, but do it wisely and safely : ) That's my southern momma advice for the day.

Be blessed, lovelies-

I Said 'Yes'

Exactly one year ago today, Stephen got down on one knee and asked a question that changed my life. Would I be his wife? You bet your Kate Spade slingbacks I would.

2011 was the best year of my life.

I always identified worldly success by the status of my career, the size of my waistline and the amount of money I had in the bank. Strange things happen though when you fall in love, though. It makes you re-think and re-evaluate every priority, every decision you make.

All I want in this world is to succeed in this marriage. I want Stephen to know every day that he matters more to me than life itself.

Next weekend, my paternal grandparents will be celebrating 60 years of marriage. They've celebrated 60 New Year's Eves together.

Here's to celebrating 59 more with Stephen.

Be blessed in 2012, lovelies-

Confessional Friday: {Link-Up}

It's the most wonderful time of the week, girls - Confessional Friday! (Not to mention, the last Confessional Friday of 2011...crazy, right?)

Let's get right to it, shall we?

1. We are having some of our wedding day pics "recreated" next month with the amazing Maliah Pinkleton and I'm so excited! Unfortunately, our photographer captured very few pics of just the two of us on the wedding day (I'd need an entire post to expound on this little debaucle), so we're enlisting the help of Maliah to get those shots. I met her at the Maude Boutique Photo Shoot at the end of October and LOVED her work. We are pumped to see what she creates...pumped!

2. To be fair, he did get several really nice pics, just not as many as we would have liked of Stephen and I.

3. I literally JUST got my pen pal letters in the mail! (Sorry for the delay, Sara and Kerstin!) I was so busy hooking everyone else up, I neglected my own. #PenPalFail

4. I confess that I haven't ever read any of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo books, but I'm so intrigued by the movie. Has anyone seen it yet? Thoughts?

5. I love our two big furry babies SO much, but I must admit, I do miss having a cuddly little dog. I loved getting to play with Max and Lucy, my parents' dogs, over Christmas. I wouldn't trade Ari and Cash for anything, but I wouldn't be sad if a little fluff ball arrived on our door step next week either : )

6. I am thisclose to buying the black Tory Burch Reva Flats I've been coveting forever. I found some previously owned via Ebay last night that were in impeccable condition! Should I?? Yes??

7. Stephen and I are having a wine night on Saturday to ring in the new year...and I fully intend to wear a sparkly dress and heels while doing so. Yes, that's right kids...I wear cocktail dresses around the house on special occaisions.

and finally...

8. I'm announcing a special giveaway at 12:00 p.m. CST for a monogrammed pretty from Thirty-One Gifts. Be back to enter...it couldn't be easier and you will LOVE what I'm giving away!



Be blessed, lovelies-

I Intend...

via Preppy Pink Lilly Lover

So last year's excitement of the engagement threw off my blogging game a bit, (and that was A-Okay with me!), and I didn't get to write my annual New Year's Intentions list. Remember this one from 2009? Yeah, what's funny is I've actually done most of the things on that list...so obviously something stuck.

With that little forward, I'd like to present to you dear readers, my 2012 New Year's Intentions:

1. Get More Involved with Our Church

Central United Methodist - Where we were married.

We LOVE our church (Central United Methodist in Rogers) and have already joined the 2012 Evangelical Committee, but want to continue to stay involved throughout the whole year. I know that the church has a senior citizen outreach program and S and I are far better with old people than with kids : ) We owe our marriage and our countless blessings to God and want to find even more ways to give back in the coming year.

2. Start Saving for a Trip to Italy
Stephen has family that live in Italy (yep, he's as legit an Italian as you get) and he's never been to their country. I went in 2007 and fell in love with the beauty of Tuscany and the magnificence of Rome. I'd love to go back, this time with the love of my life.

3. Learn to Make Coq Au Vin
This is supposed to be one of the most difficult dishes to master, but I feel like I'm equipped to take it on. I've branched out a lot with my cooking in the past year and have lots of fancy new cooking tools now. And if it doesn't pan out (pun intended), our two monster pups will love assisting in the clean-up : )

4. Start Learning to Speak Italian
Stephen and I want to start taking Italian language classes. His Nonna and Nonno speak fluent Italian and we want to pay his family's heritage homage and learn it, too.

5. Learn to Bake My Great-Grandmother's Rolls
Grandma Ruth is now very old and can no longer bake, but I want to learn how to make her famous rolls to carry on her tradition. Few people have been able to replicate them (my Memaw is the only one that comes to mind), so I feel like if I can learn, it would honor her.

6. Finally Buy Those Tory Burch Ballet Flats
Because I had to throw something semi-selfish on this list and I think they'd look great on my tootsies : )

7. Cultivate New Friendships and Old Ones, Too

Kind of speaks for itself...I just want to keep being a good friend to others and continue to make new friends. Sometimes we lose touch with our old pals because of jobs, life events, etc., but it's so important to remind those people that they're important to us and we prize their loyalty. It's also important to open ourselves up to those who come from different walks of life; we can learn so much from them.

8. Continue to Give Starbucks a Large Portion of My Paycheck
Because I had to put something on here that I know I can accomplish...without a doubt.

9. Convince Stephen That I Need a Goat
This is sort of a running joke, but I have a thing for goats. Maybe it's because I grew up on a farm, maybe it's because it's because I like goat cheese. I think goats are cute. And the fact that they can eat and digest tin cans is just awesome. He says it would go against the covenants of our subdivision, but to that I say, "Pish posh!" Bring on the goats.

10. Make This First Year of Marriage Amazing

Our marriage comes first, now and always. I want Stephen to go to sleep every night knowing that I love and respect him more than anyone else on this planet.

What are your 2012 Intentions?

Be blessed, lovelies-

Date Night + NYE Looks

Last night, Stephen and I had our "Christmas night" at home. We decided to wait until all the family get-togethers were finished so that we could be alone and just enjoy every second. We exchanged gifts and had dinner at one of our favorite restaurants, Bonefish Grill. And guess what else?! I discovered that my new camera, (the b-day present from Stephen), came equipped with a timer! This may have been the best part of the evening.

Coat from Victoria's Secret last year, pants from Dillard's by Chelsea & Violet, sweater by Ann Taylor and scarf was a gift from parent's 3 years ago.

New shoes were a gift from Stephen!

Among my favorite gifts he bought me, the shoes in the above pic, an adorable Judith March coat and one shoulder ruffle dress for dressy parties this year! (Yes, my husband is daring enough to pick out clothes for me...and in the PERFECT size, nonetheless!

Love the pleated ruffle detail....

After dinner, we came back to our house and had some cuddle time with Ari and Cash. They are mostly outside dogs, but once in a while they get to come inside and hang out : )

I have no idea why his eyes look so crazy...his eyes are brown!

Whether your husband buys it for you or not, all of us girls are going to be needing something cute for this weekend's NYE festivities!

New Year's Eve will always be special to me, since that's the night that Stephen proposed to me : ) However, I've always thought NYE was a great excuse to throw on a sparkly party dress, super chic pants or a dressy blazer, just because. Even if you're celebrating at home this year, you can incorporate some high style into your look.

1. I don't like this dress. I lurve it. The Warehouse Sequin One Shoulder Dress is a great little frock for stylish parties!

2. I LOVE this One Shoulder Metallic Jacquard dress from ASOS. Perfect for a super dressy party or get together where black tie attire is required.

3. This Icicle Elegance Necklace from ModCloth is just the right amount of shine for your NYE.

4. These One Avenue Drop Earrings by Kate Spade scream glamour, don't they?

5. Rachel Zoe can do no wrong. This amazing Double-Breasted Metallic Jacket proves just that.

6. Chevron print sequin heels? Can it be? It is. And you can get them here.



So tell me, what are your plans for New Year's Eve and, more importantly, WHAT WILL YOU WEAR?

Be blessed, lovelies-

What to Eat, What to Eat?...

Photo via Glamour Mag- May 2010



Greetings gals and guys! Most of you probably saw my post from last Friday about getting my diet in check in preparation for my upcoming wedding. I received lots of comments and emails suggesting that we "do this together!" , which I thought would be a great idea! Unfortunately, I'm terribly unqualified to talk about this topic, so I enlisted the help of "S" (my finace) to give us a little recap of eating well.

"S" (formerly known as the "Muscle Maniac" on here, tehe) is nearing the end of his personal training certification and is somewhat of a guru when it comes to diet and exercise. He works for a weight control/nutrition company that supplies protein powder, supplements and vitamins to a major retailer. Without further adieu, here's my guy (with photos of my fav girls from Glee!):

Happy belated New Year, Blonde Ambitioners!


I’m sure that by now we’ve all thought about those two or three things that we've vowed to do differently in 2011. Most common New Year’s resolutions include either getting back into shape or eating right or just some change to improve overall health.

If you are one of these people that would like to do better in the area of health and fitness, it is important to remember that for you to succeed with these goals, you must change your lifestyle.

During my teen and college years, it’s safe to say that I was not a healthy eater. In fact, this is my confession to you…I loved/love/will always love food! Furthermore, I can eat A LOT of food (Leslie's seen me do it). Among my favorites: burgers, fries, pizza, fried catfish, anything dipped in cheese and any traditional Italian or Southern cuisine.  In a perfect world, all the aforementioned foods would be just what our doctors ordered. However, these foods in regularity will get you high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and a handful of other issues that will have your doctor lecturing you.

Moderation is Key

Bottom line, it is essential that you eat to live and not live to eat. Cliché I know, but it’s very true. My philosophy on diet is simple, “guilty pleasure” foods are acceptable in moderation.
It’s ok to cheat once or twice a week because you’re more likely to stick to your diet if you don’t have forbidden foods. So if you have pizza one night…great! Don’t obsess over how many calories you just ate. Enjoy it and be done with it. Tomorrow, get back on track.

What to Eat, What to Eat?...
 So how do we eat “right”? First, let me clarify one thing, eating right does not mean starving yourself. A healthy diet includes eating regularly, getting the right macronutrients (Fat, Protein, Carbohydrates). Try to follow the simple 1-2-3 rule of macronutrients. 1 part fat to 2 parts protein to 3 parts carbohydrates. Never does eating right consist of skipping meals. And for the love of all things fitness, please do not skip breakfast.

Photo via Glamour Mag- May 2010



Break the Fast

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day for a reason. The word “breakfast” comes from the phrase “to break the fast” which is exactly what you’ve been doing throughout the night so your body is highly efficient in nutrient absorption in the morning. Keep in mind that people who skip breakfast are far more likely to over eat at lunch. Not only does skipping breakfast slow your metabolism, but people who skip meals have a difficult time trimming any weight because your body does not know when it’s next energy source is coming so it begins to store extra fat as a “just in case” method to ensure that it has energy. As for eating regularly, I would suggest eating 5-7 times a day. Before you freak out, 3-4 of these eating occasions should be more a snack than a meal. For example, maybe you have a protein bar or shake between breakfast and lunch, and a cup of almonds between lunch and dinner. Also, despite what many say, it is acceptable to have a snack before bedtime.

Get Enough Calories!

 A final note on diet: Women tend to be very focused on calorie counting and that’s great. The lowest caloric intake that I would recommend in a day would be 1200. Most people (even those looking to lose weight) probably would want to be in the 1400-1700 calories per day range.

Please email Leslie with any questions on types of foods or how to prepare foods that will be a healthy fit for your life. Bottom line, find something that works for you and get consistent and you will see change! Results may vary ; )

**Each "Fierce and Fit" question we receive from you guys will be entered into a drawing for a FREE diet consultation with S- tailored for you and only you! We'll do the drawing next month, so send those questions in!

Be blessed, lovelies-

Going to the Chapel!

...and WE'RE GONNA GET MARRIED!

In case my overly obvious context clues didn't give it away, S and I are engaged as of Friday night! To put it mildly, he took me by complete surprise and popped the question about 10 minutes before the stroke of midnight.

And the ring....oh my Lordy. This emerald cut beauty speaks for herself, doesn't she?

Blurry iPhone pic, but you get the idea!

The night started out just like any other date night. We had planned to get food from a local restaurant and go to a movie, which we did.

Here's what I wore:

And here's what my gorgeous fiance wore:

We came back to S's house after watching Black Swan and laughed and talked about the evening and prepared to toast at midnight.

S had told me earlier that evening that he had a couple surprises for me. The first? A Lite Brite. Let me explain...

I told S a few months ago that I missed my childhood Lite Brite, (it was my fav toy as a kid.) So S comes walking out of the room with this:

I laughed SO HARD.

I had honestly kind of forgotten about the remaining surprise until S told me he had one more thing up his sleeve.

...and this "surprise" was brighter and shinier than any Lite Brite.

Ignore the lack of make-up and disheveled hair...there was lots of hugging and crying!

It was a perfect proposal. Just me and my sweet angel boy. He got down on one knee, said some words I'll never forget and I bawled like a baby.

We plan to wed in September and we couldn't be more thrilled! Although this blog won't turn into a wedding blog, I will be doing posts from time to time about the planning process and the exciting moments along the way!

One last thing. About this time last year, I was pretty jaded by the whole romance/relationship thing. I wanted so badly to find my perfect someone. I prayed and prayed to God to show me the man he meant for me to marry. On July 15th, S fell into my lap and I knew immediately he was The One.

Single ladies, do not ever, ever give up. Just when you are discouraged, God will reveal his plan to you. Don't be afraid to pray to Him and ask for your heart's desires. I did and I have never been so happy.

Be blessed, lovelies-

2010: A Look Back

I was originally planning on having one of my guest blogger posts today, but I felt compelled to go a different route instead. Don't fret, Sarah and S will be here on Monday/Tuesday with their excellent posts for you all to enjoy!

Today, I wanted to take a look back at 2010 and all of the wonderful things that encompassed it.

For me, this year has been one of finding my true self again, strengthening my relationship with God, making new friends, having amazing experiences and, for the first time in my life, learning to live in the present instead of dwelling on the past or worrying about the future.

2008 was the year where I started my first "big girl job" and learned to be an independent woman. I learned important lessons like how to renew car tags, fix leaky toilets, decorate a 6' x 12' cubicle and shop on a (gasp!) budget. I also learned the ropes of cutting coupons and how to distinguish between "I really want it" v.s. "I really need it".

2009 was a year of change. I learned that my plans don't always match God's. I learned to fly free as a single lady. I realized the value of my friendships. I realized that being happy with myself had to come before being happy in a relationship; essentially, I got reacquainted with Leslie. 



Impromptu photo shoot during my first week as a single lady in '09 : )

 
2010 was the year that, for the first time in my entire life, I let go and let God steer the ship. I learned that stressing about tomorrow, next week or next year is useless and that the present can be pretty incredible if we learn to live in it. I reconnected with old friends, grew this little blog, made new friends through said little blog, took a long-awaited road trip with Miss Dee, travelled to some cool places and...

 somewhere in the midst of all that, met a pretty amazing guy : )

A few especially memorable things:

The Celebrate Arkansas magazine article in July about A Blonde Ambition. It's nerdy, but this was so exciting for someone that started her blog on a whim and never expected for anyone other than her momma to read it.

For a couple of days, I felt like a celebrity. Then I remembered that I'm just a girl who works at an office and watches Ghost Whisperer re-runs and bakes cookies on Saturday nights and then I felt utterly un-cool again ; )

I went to California with my family and saw places like San Francisco, Napa, Cambria, San Luis Obispo and Los Angeles.

I redesigned my blog.

I got involved in a great church.

I re-newed my love of working out.

I met S.

Saw one of my favorite bands, NeedToBreathe at the Ryman.

Paid a visit to Mr. Cash and Mrs. Carter-Cash.

Went to the hollowed ground known as Sun Studios in Memphis.

Survived my first blizzard.

Started my personal styling business.

Drank more Starbucks lattes than any one girl should.

...and lots more.

Sometimes when I get anxious about what tomorrow will bring, I just take a look back at this past year and remember just how blessed I have been. I remind myself to sit back, Pumpkin Spice Latte in hand, and enjoy whatever today brings.

Here's wishing all of you girls a fabulous 2011. Above all, may you find comfort and true happiness in yourselves!

Be blessed, lovelies-