If my husband and I were an outfit

{If my husband and I were an outfit, this is what we'd be

Opposites attract, we're proof of this you see

He's a t-shirt kind of guy and comic heroes are his fave

I'm more influenced by Barbie, fake or not, she's a babe

Green Lantern, Flash and Hulk, he's teaching me a lot

And adding it to my fashion? It makes him happy, so why not?

Super heroes are all about fashion, just look at how they dress

I have an appreciation for the powers they possess

This outfit makes me feel beautiful, it's a little him and a little me

We're newly weds in love, I hope it's obvious to see}

One month and counting...

Today marks one month until our wedding! Ah!! I can't believe how quickly it's approaching.  I'm not going to lie, the planning process has been stressful and time-consuming.  It's easy for me and Chris, and I'm sure any couple, to fight in those circumstances.  But Valentine's Day yesterday was a perfect excuse to put all planning aside and just enjoy each other's company.  With the upcoming wedding and everything going on, we decided to stay on a budget and have a date night, but not splurge on gifts.  I did buy him a card and he bought me two bouquets of gorgeous flowers.

I surprised Chris with homemade peanut butter cookies, Prosecco on ice and a cute table setting.

Maybe it looked kinda cheesy, maybe not... I guess that depends on your outlook :-)  I loved it though.  {heart champagne flutes, red & pink heart shapes table scatter, napkins and paper plates all from Dollar Tree}  I experimented with the cookies and decided to try to make them heart-shaped.  The first batch wasn't quite right; They didn't look horrible but they also didn't look enough like hearts.

One the second batch, I formed the dough into a more drastic V-shape.

They turned out much better! ...actually, I think they turned out adorable!  It took a couple extra minutes but it was worth it.

After popping some bubbly and toasting to love, we headed out to dinner.  We're blessed to live in downtown Fort Worth and so we decided to walk.  It was a tad chilly, but thankfully the weather the last few days has been quite nice!  When we were trying to decide earlier that day where to eat, Chris and I had a telepathic moment where we both thought of Thai food at the same time.  He texted me while at work and suggested it and I thought Wow we're exactly on the same page.

If you haven't tried TIE in downtown, it's phenomenal.  This was only my second time eating Thai food; both experiences were at Tie.  I fell in love on our first visit.  It's delicious and it's affordable... and the restaurant is currently BYOB.  Not to mention the friendly staff and relaxed atmosphere.  You wouldn't think it could get any better, but it does... the music playlist.  I'm not sure if it's an XM radio station or what but it's straight up 90s jams and it takes me back to my childhood!  We brought along a few Shiners and enjoyed a fabulous meal for less than $30 before tip.

We thought about going bowling, but after calling the Lucky Strike and discovering they had a two and a half hour lane wait, we opted for something else.  Since we were already roaming downtown on foot, we headed a few blocks over to one of our favorite bars, Paddy Reds.  We ordered a few Shiners (since we had to store our leftover byob beers with the bartender) and played a couple of games of darts.

I think one of the things Chris loves about me is the fact that I love to dress cute and sassy, but I'm still one of those girls that is perfectly happy drinking a few beers and relaxing at the pub.  I was feeling a little Blair Waldorf compared to the other bar patrons {ha!} but that didn't stop me from loving this outfit!!

{pink lips: Mary Kay @Play Lip Crayon in Perfect Pink + Mary Kay NouriShine Plus Lip Gloss in Icicle // Earrings: Kate Spade // Necklace: Chloe + Isabel}

{Booties: Isaac Mizrahi (old) similar // Wristlet: Coach}

{Heart blouse: LC Lauren Conrad // Skirt: Proenza Schouler}

The night was perfectly us.  I loved it and I love him.  Hope you had a lovely Valentine's Day too.  One month and counting... I can't wait!

Bridal Shower Bliss

Hey y'all! Hope you had a fabulous weekend! I've had a super busy few days and I'm just getting back into my normal week routine.  The wedding is creeping closer and closer and panic has set in.  My every waking moment has been me obsessing over wedding thoughts in my head... mostly "crap I haven't called her back or sent that form" or "I can't respond to this person until I talk to vendors A, B & C" or "who the heck does this or that on the wedding day?" ...it's exhausting planning your own wedding sometimes.

But then there are milestone moments in the process that are so fun that it snaps you out of your planning funk and renews your excitement!  This past weekend was huge for me when I celebrated with my bridal shower!

Chris and I have been together for a total of over five years... four of which were spent long distance.  So most people haven't been all that surprised when we said our parents hadn't met yet.  BUT, we can now check that off the list!  I was blessed to have my future in-laws come into town for my wedding shower!  Our parents were so excited to meet and it went really well (I knew that it would!).  It was something that made my bridal shower day just that more special.

The bridal shower was beautiful and I really enjoyed myself.  There's something about your girlfriends asking a million and one questions about how you're doing your hair and what accessories you're wearing and if you're nervous and where you want pictures... it's WAY different than your vendors asking you these questions!  Vendors= me wanting to punch someone in the face... nothing personal lol... you're just stressing me out!  But when it's your girls, it's fun and overwhelming in a good "I'm so in love" way!! And that's exactly how I felt... excited!  That excitement can be stolen very easily in this process, and I feel so blessed to have great bridesmaids and girlfriends and current family and future family that have made me feel so loved!

I don't want to post too many photos from the shower, since I have professional photos from my photographer on the way... but here's a few pics and a couple of my favorite details from my bridal shower!  Thank you again to everyone that helped plan and make my day special!
{product details below/ full outfit details coming soon}

{product details}

Bridal Shower Invitations

Necklace (similar)

Perfume

Lipstick

Happy 2013!!

Oh my goodness! Can you believe it is already halfway through January?? And it's my first post of 2013?! Haha just like me to already be behind! Sooo... Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a very blessed holiday season! I'm excusing myself from my lack of posts these first 2 weeks of the year, only because life has been crazy busy since I GOT ENGAGED!!!

Everything has been a complete whirlwind! In a good way, of course ;-) Chris and I celebrated our 4 year anniversary on New Years Eve, and that is when he popped the question! I'll save the juicy details for my wedding website (coming soon!!), but I will tell you, it was just as I imagined... simple and classic and romantic! Yes, Chris got down on one knee and everything ❤❤❤ And the bling! OMG! I'm so in love with my ring! Pictures online don't even do it justice! It's so sparkly and vintage-looking and even includes two sapphires, which he knows I love. I wanted something original, something I had never seen one of my friends with... I like to be extra sassy and stand out! ;-)

On top of this MAJOR news, I have other major news in my professional life! I have made a decision to move myself up into leadership! I already manage a group of amazing girls, and I'm making the decision to just keep adding more!! I WILL be a sales director in Mary Kay, and I'm SO excited about the opportunities that lay before me! Yes, that's right... that means I am saying there is a free Pink Cadillac in my future!! I have known in my heart for a long time that this is the direction I would be taking, and I am stepping out of any fear and taking on the challenge in this, the 50th anniversary year for Mary Kay! Making this move now will help me to contribute so much to my future husband and future family! Chris and I have big plans and big dreams for the future, and this is going to be amazing in helping us to realize those dreams!

I can't believe how unbelievable lucky I have been so far in the new year! I know 2013 is going to be so great and I'm excited for these new journeys I am beginning! This year will probably be a crazy rollercoaster but I am so ready for it! I am abundantly blessed by my God and it takes my breath away how He is working in my relationship AND in my professional career!! My He also bless you and yours in the new year!

Our newest addition to the fam!

Some might think the next step for me and Chris would have been getting engaged... well, we took a different step first, on our OWN path... maybe it's not what people were expecting, but that's what Chris and I are like ;-) We don't ever do anything the easy, expected way, and it's one of the things I love most about our relationship. And one of the best things about Chris is that he always reminds me to follow my heart <3
We took a stroll through the Austin Pets Alive animal shelter 2 days ago, just for fun. We spent most of the time looking at the dogs, actually... but I had to make a stop in the cat house before they closed for the day. So in we went... and stayed for quite awhile. I could love every one of those kitties! I will never understand people that don't like cats... frankly I find it kind of gross how mean people are about cats. I love dogs and I want one in the future... but for me and my condo living, I won't do that to a dog. So for now, my soft spot for kitties is all that I am entertaining. And I really believe if more people spent time looking at sweet rescue cats, they'd realize they make amazing pets because they DO seek your affection. Cats are awesome... so smart and so loving, despite what some people think. And if you think cats are mean or temperamental, I'd love you to meet this new little guy! He is the most chill kitty in the world, with a purr that rumbles his whole little body.
Welcome to the family, Raider! Daddy and I love you! Remember to stand your ground when you meet the Kuj! She's tough, but not quite as bad as every one else makes her out to be :-) Hopefully you will be great kitty friends!

RIP Abner

We lost a great dog this morning... RIP little Abner. You were such a sweetheart.
Abner was a rescue... not from a shelter but only by the grace of Chris' heart. Chris knew of this dog in the neighborhood and knew it was being abused. He and his parents brought this pup back to life and helped him go from a scared, shaky, starving puppy to a healthy dog (or as healthy as possible) with an amazing personality. As soon as he realized he was part of the fam, the personality came out!
I will always miss seeing your little head pop up from behind the bed, or the sofa, like a gopher. I will miss seeing you start shit with 3 dogs twice your size and having the time of your life teasing them. I will miss seeing you snuggled in your doggie pjs because you didn't have enough weight to keep yourself warm. I'm not going to lie... i won't miss you accidentally stomping all over my feet, because it hurt! But I will miss that excitement and joy that caused you to romp around the room and spin in circles!
You brought a lot of joy to the family in the time you were with us, Abner, and I just hope the only doggie memories you have in doggie heaven are of your amazing family that loved you and wanted you so badly to have a good life. You never deserved any of the bad stuff in the beginning from those other people; No person, no dog, no cat, no one deserves the way you were treated. But I hope the last couple of years with the fam did something to make your life better. You were such a good dog and I hate that I didn't get to say goodbye. RIP little gopher.

Austin <3

Museum Shops

What's the best part of a museum when you're a little kid? The gift shop! Well guess what... that shop isn't just for grabby little hands to plead with parents "please buy me this thing I don't need"! Museum shops are actually places I love going to and love recommending... why? Because they are great places for gifts. Yes there are many shops with small overpriced items that no one really needs, like magnets and shot glasses and playing cards, etc. But among these trivial items, many times you can find great, unique gifts that you don't see anywhere else, like interesting jewelry, or local foods and spices, or handmade crafts. Keep an eye out in the kids' book section too, because many times you can find great educational books that you would never see at WalMart or the toy store.
Every time I'm in a shop with my mom I notice that she will make purchases for nieces and nephews... like children's books or puzzles... I've even seen the modern version of paper dolls aka magnetic dolls with different backgrounds and clothes you stick to them! I, myself, have purchased adult gifts like specialized art and photography books.
Chris and I went to the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum on Sunday in downtown Austin. We had never been and we were both surprised at how big it was inside and how much there was to see! After wandering for hours through the 3-level building, we hit up the gift shop. Chris bought me an amazeballs smelling candle, made in Fredericksburg, TX! It's a soy candle that smells exactly like the beach! After smelling literally every scent, this is the one I chose... summer's ending and I figured there's no better way to "stay" at the beach throughout the winter. So until the next time I'm relaxing on the sand of South Padre, I have my candle :-)
So don't forget... next time you want a unique gift, or just something local and interesting, don't forget those museum shops! Many times you can enter the store without having to pay for or see the exhibits, and I guarantee, you'll have people asking you where you bought that interesting something!
Thanks ,Chris, for my candle ;-) Love you! Happy shopping y'all! :-)

Happy Memorial Day

This is my man, my hero, my best friend, my soul mate. My marine ❤ Chris, you are the best man I know and I can't believe how lucky I am to get to be your girl :-) You're brave and selfless and I'm so proud of you! Thank you, for everything, not just as a girlfriend, but as an American. You've taught me so much and touched my life more than I ever thought possible. You are amazing!! And I love you more and more each day!

And thank you to every single veteran, and every single person still out there somewhere fighting the good fight for our country! Freedom isn't free! It takes a whole lot of brave men and women just like Chris, and they deserve to have everyone (not just their head-over-heels-in-love girlfriends) recognize and thank them :-)

Semper Fi! God Bless America ❤

Missing him

I'm not real sure what to do with myself right now... thought writing might make me feel a little better, kinda like I'm getting it out instead of holding in. I miss Chris so much right now, it's ridiculous. I decided to get more comfy for evening tv, bc I'm not feeling that well... so I moved from the Living Room couch to my bed. Well, in my bed I have one of Chris' shirts to sleep with, bc it smells like him & it can just be really comforting sometimes... not tonight. As soon as I picked his shirt up to give it a hug, I burst into tears! Granted I don't feel well & I'm probably just being a baby right now... but for real, long distance is so hard sometimes. Chris and I have been together 3 & 1/2 years... not a single second of that have we lived in the same city. Things that other people take for granted, I long for... a hug, a kiss on the cheek, a note left on the counter, running stupid errands together, eating dinner together and talking about your day...
And when you don't have your loved one around, you depend on friends, right? Yeah well, I can't even remember the last time someone said to me, "Hey Cassie, that whole long distance thing, how's that going? How are you handling it? Are you doing ok?" And it's not that I think people don't care, it's just not what comes to mind I guess. I get questioned probably once a week when I will "finally" get married (seriously y'all, we're still young... I'm not the odd one for not getting married at 25, sheesh). But never the question about how I'm holding up... it would just be nice for someone to question how my present is going, not my future that hasn't happened yet.
The distance is worth it, I love Chris more than anything & I know God has a plan for us... this is all for some reason, whether I can see it now or not, but sometimes it just really hits me hard. I miss him like crazy right now. Hoping I feel better in the morning... meh :-/

Little things ❤

Sometimes, it's just the little random things that put the biggest smile on your face...

❤ Your pet sleeping soundly and looking so cute that you don't want to move or make noise just so you don't disturb them

❤ Someone holding the elevator door for you

❤ The thing you go to the store for surprising you by being on sale

❤ Your boyfriend calling you before he even gets out of bed in the morning

❤ Checking your mail and getting a new Architectural Digest

❤ Skipping over articles in girl magazines about "where to meet guys" and "how to make him your boyfriend" because you're already head-over-heels in love with the man of your dreams and he loves you just as much

❤ Dressing cute, even if you're just running to the grocery store

❤ Smelling fresh flowers on your kitchen table as you drink your morning coffee

❤ Having a friend tell you they miss you on your facebook wall

...take 10 seconds to say a little thank you prayer for your little things, in that moment, and see how it changes your attitude towards life. Every day is full of thousands of little things that will warm your heart if you just allow yourself to notice them 

Mmmm Filet

I've been thinking for a long time now that I need to start experimenting with more cooking, so when I eventually get married I don't horribly disappoint Chris. So I'm always on the lookout for new recipes that sound like something we'd both enjoy. He's easy to please, he will literally eat anything... it's me that's somewhat picky. But there's a few things I love and will never turn down, one of those things being Filet Mignon. Mmmm.

I happened to be flipping through the TV as I'm putting together Administrative Professionals Day gifts (which I currently have available, email me) and came across the Nate Berkus Show. It's a repeat but I haven't seen it.. Sherri Shepherd is co-hosting and I find her funny so I stopped. They are cooking a great recipe that's making my mouth water, so I decided to look it up and save for my own recipe box, as well as share with you. Enjoy!

Chef Aaron "Big Daddy" McCargo Jr.'s horseradish-crusted filet mignon, with a side of braised Portobello mushrooms.

Horseradish-Crusted Filet Mignon with Braised Portobello Mushrooms
Serves four

Ingredients for the Steaks
1/2 cup prepared horseradish
1/4 cup spicy brown mustard
3 tablespoons minced garlic
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons cracked black pepper, plus more as needed
4 6-ounce filet mignons
Coarse sea salt or smoked salt
3/4 cup panko bread crumbs
1 tablespoon canola oil

Ingredients for the Portobello Mushrooms
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
4 Portobello mushroom caps, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cracked black pepper
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1/2 cup red wine
1/4 cup beef broth
1 tablespoon sherry vinegar
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme

Directions
To cook the steaks
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the horseradish, mustard, garlic, olive oil and pepper. Season the steaks with salt and more pepper and coat both sides with the mustard mixture. Dip the steaks in panko to coat on both sides. In a large skillet, heat the canola oil over medium-high heat and sear the steaks for two minutes on each side. Lift the steaks from the skillet and set aside on a rack set in a baking pan.

To cook the Portobellos
Drain any excess oil from the skillet and then melt the butter in the skillet over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms to the skillet and season with the salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, until the mushrooms soften and color slightly, which takes between three and four minutes. Add the garlic to the pan and stir into the butter and exuded juices from the mushrooms. Add the wine and broth, stir, and cook for about three minutes to reduce slightly. Spoon the sauce over the mushrooms to coat them. Stir in the vinegar and thyme.
Meanwhile, cook the steaks in the oven for about five minutes so they become about medium-rare, or until cooked to the desired doneness and until the breading browns. Let the steaks rest for about 5 minutes before serving with the mushrooms spooned over them.

Chef Aaron McCargo, Jr.competed on and won the fourth season of "The Next Food Network Star" in 2008, and is the host of Food Network's "Big Daddy's House." His cookbook, "Simply Done, Well Done," was released in April of 2011. For more information about Aaron, visit his website at Aaronmccargo.com.

Recipe source: Nate Berkus Show

Roadtrippin'

Happy weekend! Welcome to Austin! I'm down for the week visiting Chris and the OTHER Chris, aka my brother... can you believe my boyfriend AND my brother are named Chris? You're probably thinking that could be confusing... yeah... it is! But how wonderful is it that I can drive 3 hours and be in one of the coolest cities in Texas and visit both of them?!

I like to travel, even if it is from Fort Worth to Austin and back. And I love being in the car for my travels. We live in a world based on speed; how fast can you get there, how quickly can you get it done, when are you moving on to the next thing? Most people would probably rather fly, especially when you take frequent trips to a place nearby. Not me! Give me my car! Because really, what's so wrong with taking some time to get somewhere? Why should everything I do be based on how fast I can do it? Why should I hop a plane and sit silently next to someone I don't know and more than likely, someone that doesn't want to know me because they're grumpy about the flight they're on? Something tells me there's many more friendly, interesting people to encounter along the road, especially in Texas!

There is no place I love to be more than my car! There is nothing better than a mix CD, windows down, sunroof open and an iced tea next to me as I fly down the Texas highways! Yes it's gas money and time and car maintenance, but it's also freedom! I suggest we all step back from life and take a minute to realize how fast we try to move through it... everything can slow down a little bit if you make an effort. Why not enjoy some quiet time to yourself instead of stressing yourself with making a flight on time, limiting the size of your luggage, throwing out all your liquids or putting them in individual bags, getting dressed just so you can strip in public and be searched for things you wouldn't even dream of bringing with you... why not put some effort into getting yourself where you need to go, maybe basing a decision on what you may get out of it, and not just how you can save some money and/or time?

Don't get me wrong, I know in a down economy every one must cut corners, everyone needs to think about time and money... but don't we all do that a little TOO much? Haven't we all forgotten that one amazing roadtrip memory we have? You know... like when you were in college and Jill's car started to overheat and smoke on the highway on a trip to Houston and you have to putt along until you make it to Wal-Mart for some anti-freeze! "Swing swing swing from the tangles of my heart"... yes that's actually one of my true college stories! Or the first roadtrip you took with your significant other, or the first roadtrip you took with your kids... I'm willing to bet every single person has at least one great memory of being in the car.  Now how many great memories do you have of being on a plane? Just sayin'...

I say we all step back a little from our crazy technological shortcut world, our apps to book flights and restaurant reservations, our text messages and tweets, and maybe we remember a time that was not that long ago... a time when adventure was not "checking-in" to the spot where everyone already is, but rather a time when we just jumped in our cars and went! That's my favorite thing about my roadtrips... I may not have a new destination every time, but you can bet the scenery along the way changes each time. I can choose a different route, I can choose a different rest stop, I'm in control and can change my path at any point and it's that freedom that never allows me to get sick of the I-35 drive. I could focus on the destination and getting there quickly, but I choose to enjoy the drive :-)

The comforts of getting old

I've been thinking a lot about our 10-year high school reunion coming up and how much things have changed since high school. You wouldn't think in a mere 10 years you feel like a completely different person, but I do. And I'm sure most people I know do. The things that were important in high school seem like a joke now. Life has gotten so real, but at the same time, I look back at life then and compare it to now, and I'm so much better now than I ever was. I actually feel excited to go to the reunion, which isn't something I predicted for myself. I didn't like high school that much. Of course I have some great memories of really fun times, but it was a very uncomfortable time for me... I think it's like that for a lot of kids.

I think the reason I'm excited about it is I'm actually comfortable with myself now. Maybe it took me longer than my friends, I don't really care. But at the age of 28, I'm finally feeling like I know myself and I'm starting to see what I want for my life, not what someone else wanted. It takes a strong person to be confident in themselves... I think I had to face a lot of things in my life before I could ever look at myself and see ME.

There are two reasons I'm finally to this point... my boyfriend Chris, and my bold move to take a chance on Mary Kay. When you fall in love, you realize things about yourself you never ever knew. I look back on how my relationship came to be and the fact that Chris and I were in high school together but didn't get together until years later. That's GOD... all GOD. He knew we were two different people in high school than we are today and that's why our relationship didn't develop until we were both older. We weren't ready for each other back then, because we hadn't tested ourselves... we didn't know ourselves. And in our relationship today, we're still finding ourselves. Mary Kay is the way I'm finding myself. Chris is a marine, and let's be honest, can we all think of a way to get to know yourself and test yourself better than going through the Marine Corps and fighting wars..? Not really... that's pretty hardcore "getting to know yourself". It's what Chris needed... and what I needed was Mary Kay.

I think a lot of people think I'm crazy the way I've taken to MK, but I don't really care. It's not just my job, it's my livelihood, it's my purpose every day. I have learned more about myself in Mary Kay training in the past 3 years than in the first 25 years of my life. Because it's scary to bet on yourself when you don't even really know yourself. Scary but not at all impossible. It takes faith and it teaches you faith. My relationship with God is great, and continuing every day to get greater. I have Mary Kay to thank for that. My faith was really being tested before MK, and I think I was failing. There are things in my life that I had to face that no one, even the closest friends of mine, know about. That's true, still to this day. When you're tested, and you take on those tests with God by your side, you come out of them so much better. I can't say I'm thankful for some of the things that have happened, but I can say I'm thankful for the things they're teaching me.... like, high school was a lifetime away, and every single stupid insecurity I had back then is fading away... because I CHOOSE to make them go away, and I CHOOSE to believe in myself more than other people believe in me. I could be focused on a lot of negative feelings about high school, about mean girls and guys, or stupid things that happened or that people did to me, but I CHOOSE to be focused on remembering the fun things and looking at how far we've all come.

10 years is a long time, especially throughout your 20s. A lot can happen... the biggest things that have happened to me are falling in love and beginning to find myself. I don't care if it takes me longer or if everyone else already has everything figured out in their lives. I don't care if it seems like "I'm behind" because I'm not... I'm living the wonderful life my Father in Heaven has given me at the pace he intended. In high school, you focus on being on the same page as everyone else... 10 years later, you focus on standing out and not being one of the crowd. I think deep down, I've never been one of the crowd, I just thought I was supposed to be. But I value myself more than that now, and it's the most freeing feeling. Bring on the reunion because all it means to me is great memories with a few great friends that I don't get to see as often as I'd like, because life at 28 years old is crazy ;-)

I smell a sweet boyfriend

Roses from my boyfriend <3