Day 21 & 22 of Project 365

Confessions of a shop-a-holic  ~


I have found a new blog !! She has become my fashion Icon....sometimes its hard to find someone with the same flare and style as you but I DID. My Stalker tendencies have kicked in, I have downloaded her pictures on my Ipad and use them as a guide on how to branch out on new outfits ! I am having  a blast, and not to mention I went shopping for the first time in a long time for myself. Me and my dearest friend Cassi hit the mall, Friday and spent about 5 hours in only 4 stores!!!! We tried on everything, and we walked out with quality, staple pieces and not to mention, stylish  for both of our wardrobes. My new fashionist will  be starting what she calls 30 for 30, and I have joined!!!!!  I will be taking 30 articles of my clothing and only wearing those for 30 days. I will have to mix and match those pieces. Not including jewelry and / or accessories. I will be starting Feb 1st and will post my adventure of remaking my own style and expanding my creativity....and as I think about it I feel it may be easier said then done. The goal of this is to make us realize that we don't need new cloths we need to expand our own! And not be limited in our "Clothing creativity"
A few of my new purchases as I gear up for 30 for 30:

January 22nd -Saturday Date Night with My hot husband: 

I got this new Army Style Jacket and Shirt, I pared them with my skinnys and brown large belt! As I like to call them but my new "Stacy London shoes"!  She is my Absolute Favorite
(she is on TLC What Not To Wear) 

My Date Night with My husband !! Thanks babe for taking me shopping and out to a movie :) 

January 23rd- Sunday Church :

Trying my new out fit out. I go this new Dress and belt I pared with it. 

 Dress: JC Pennies

Sweater: Target

Brown Belt: Urban Outffiters

Knee Socks: Urban Outffiters

Sued Boots: JC Pennies 

TOTAL PRICE= $60.00 :) I love sales

One of my favorite parts of the day: One of the employees at the store asked me if I was in fashion? I said no. They said "oh you look like you should be and you know what you are talking about! you should consider going into the fashion industry. " I am learning that if you buy staples that you can use over and over, even if its a little more than a sale price its worth it in the long run. Also Have fun and look at the sale racks and buy things that fit, and if they don't fit and you wont get them tailored, DO NOT BUY them!!!!! I am the role model for that one rule...I buy even if it does not fit and never get it fixed!!! I end up never wearing it and it adds to my confusion of what I should wear in the morning. So after my shopping spree (and I wouldn't even call it that, seeing as I had A LOT of self control and only purchased a few items) I went home threw out 3 garbage bags of cloths and re arranged my closet! Like I said Total make over for my look and my closet!

AWESOMENESS!!! 

Nic & Cole

Day 20 of Project 365

My cooking adventure~

Being a new wife I have acquired a 
new desire to Cook!! Before that would have scared my socks off, now I am embracing it and trying new things. Unfortunately my husband is the recipient of the "bad dishes" He is a great sport about it.I have had my fair shares of bad dishes, just ask my family, I guess when the box said saute' I was a little unsure of what that meant...I thought it was HEAT UP for a min and then go on with the other directions that = LOTS AND LOTS of crunch (tooth breaking) rice. Lets see, I have a hard time with quarts and gallons...why cant they just put how many cupes that is....mixing...ohhh boy where to start on that one, I thought it was ok for lumps to be in the cookie or cake mixes but usually those mean that there is an ingrediant stuck together, so as you took a bite of them you got a mouth full of brown sugar, or baking powder,or flour! The list could go on. 
I know it is silly but I caramelized onions for the first time, and then put fresh chopped garlic and mushrooms in it. I also made homemade mash potatoes with baby carrots. I am trying to make new stuff everyday.I love chopping!!

It Also makes me very excited for a bigger kitchen, I on purpose saved some fun Kitchen stuff I got for the wedding, they are still in their boxes so I can open them in the new house when I have space~

My Kitchen inspiration is : Rachel Ray, Kelly Hernandez !!! And may I add......That SPICES is a entirely new world for me..a little overwhelming but I can conquer!

Nic & Cole

Day 19 of Project 365

Do you ever just feel like your life can be summed up in 20 seconds?! 

As I sat on the couch last night I felt like I had an out of body experience, I watched that common scene went right out the door in other offices like mine, that there are other people feeling what I feel at work, so today I would like to share my working day with you via a STAPLES commercial. And if someone could find an easy button for me I would appreciate it :) 

                                     the play button is in the middle of the screen

                                               

My day has a lot going on, I get to answer a thousand different questions at one moment! I am expected and expect myself to know the answers to them all. I will make a list of things to do for the day and not get to cross any off!!! And if you are a list person like me...you know just how frustrating it is, but don't you worry I add extra stuff on it like
MAKE COPIES, CLEAN UP, READ EMAILS, MAKE MORE COPIES,  GO THE BATHROOM  (The sad part is I am not making those up I really do it just so I can cross something off my list!!) 
But dont get me wrong I love where I work, and its a lot of fun.
Some of my favorite parts of the day, go like this.

Go into bathroom (because I haven't gone ALL DAY) barely make it in on time.....sitting there, I hear 2 girls walk in, all is quite..then I get to hear this conversation.......

Girl 1: .PSSST....

Girl 2: "Yes" 

Girl 1: "have you started your, ummm "you know what"yet ??!?"

Girl 2: "Ummm I don't know!???"

Me: SNICKERING to myself

Girl 2: "have you?"

Girl 1: "no, that's embarrassing!"

GIRL 1 and 2 as they come out to wash their hands seeing me standing there......BRIGHT RED!!!!! 

Ohhh to be in 5th Grade again. I do not envy them at all, the confusion of not know if you really did start or not!!! 

Me and my Copier it is a Day to Day Love - Hate Relationship. (Please do not shake my printer if it is out of ink)

Day 19 -In the life of Nicole

New Year New Goals

I have decided that I wanted to do the Project 365, take a picture everyday, and I will still blog but on days I can not find a single thing to share or blog about, at least I will get a picture up there!

So to play catch up on the past few weeks of my life and 2011.....

Dec 31st / Jan 1st- 

HAPPY NEW YEARS 

We Rocked in the New Year with Our family and lots of Kids

Jan (some where in the first week) 

Meet my favorite Blazer Player- Patty Mills. As we walked down the mall, I walked past him and said "Babe, that looks like Patty Mills" and Tom looked and said "Honey that's because it is Patty!" So as a person with stalker tendencies asked "can we follow him" But as a reasonable man that Tom is said no, something about him being on the phone and its not nice to stalk people. But I didn't really hear anything because I was focused on how to get to Patty Mills...some sort of excuse to turn around and go the opposite way of the car.  After I instantly posted on Facebook...oh the joy of having a "smart phone" I somehow convinced Tom to "just see" if Patty was off the phone yet, AND WELL it worked. ( my hunch is, its because he loves me  A LOT) W not only found Patty but he was off the phone. I smiled really big and he looked at me like I was a crazy woman. We went up and I said "Hi Patty, I am a huge fan, you are my favorite player." - and then it started to go down hill........FAST. I got a red and started sweating, I was star struck and could not even remember how to speak, I believe the next words out of my mouth went something like this...."I love, playing you watch...."

Oh man talk about lame!!!! But Tom picked up what i was trying to say and talked with him, he was super cool, he was looking for his Mum and Dad they left him in a store! :) And as a person with Stalker tendencies  I had my phone camera up and ready "just in case" 

Patty Mills!!!!

Skip ahead a little bit....

January 12th - Happy 7 month anniversary to me and my Thomas. Life is great, I love being married, actually, every month just gets better!

January 13th

We began the house purchasing process for the 2nd time!!!

"Thats my house!!" :) 

 

WE put an offer on this house, its everything we want in a house with a double lot property and 3 thousand square foot house.We should know if they like our offer by Monday at 5pm!!! Meanwhile I have already started to paint and decorate in my mind. :)

So there is a little catch up and some pictures for my day.

3 Things Friday - Grammy

   

    I am not sure if this is because its almost Christmas and I am extra sappy or what but this is my 3 things Friday.

1. I was adopted when I was 15 years old. I was born into this world as a Newton, and then turned into a Lehman and will finish up my life as a Brittingham! ! . But long before I was "officially" adopted, I was brought and accepted into this family. The Lehman's! They were a loud bunch, they always said what was on their mind and they yelled and talked over each other, but THEY LOVED EACH OTHER. I gained a new dad, 2 aunts an amazing uncle. And 2 LOVING grandparents. From the moment my parents got married I was treated as a biological granddaughter. And after a very long Christmas 13 years ago, where I spent 3 days leading up to Christmas in Redmond with my "Real Dad" My parents came to pick us up and drove us straight to Christmas Eve at the Lehman's. (it was on hold until the "whole" family could be here, we are not complete with out my girls- My Grammy said) And as we showed up late Christmas eve night we were greeted and we opened gifts and an extra gift was that my Gramp's and Grammy were going to pay for our adoption to make us official Lehman Girls! ! So 13 years ago I was given the best gift - the gift family.

My Daddy Giving me away June 12th 2010

2. Every Christmas I would learn a new treat to make from my Grammy, She would literally "Deck the Halls" she had this amazing way of decorating and making amazing things for people- she truly was the most giving person I have ever known. But YES every ounce of "desert / treats" comes from her. We would do peanut brittle, brownies,cheesecake, rice cakes, lemon bars, fudge, sugar cookies, Jam (in the summer time) ...and the list goes on. And each grand kid got to come over on their own day and make stuff for people in the church. And the older you got the hard the treat you got to make. My very last year we made peanut brittle and then sat and ate all of it and talked. And after all 7 of us would make a treat we would come over and wrap them up in a goodies sack and load in the car and take the treats to the people in the church and bless them.

Grammy Made all of our Stockings , and every year we got our Grandkids photo!

3. I was told a story by a woman who had known my Grammy for a long time. So I will tell you the story I heard;
" You know your Grammy was a very special lady in so many ways. She blessed my life beyond words. She prayed with me, encouraged me and helped in practical ways. Not only was she a blessing for me but for my daughter. Do you know, ever year she would ask me what I wanted for Christmas, and ever year I would say KITCHEN TOWELS. And every year she made me some, not only did she fill a need, she did it from her heart. And she would give my family a treat of some sort and on the tag it would say Love the Lehman Crew."
(I smiled knowing it was from me and my cousins- Hopping that they tasted good,and lord knowing there may be an egg shell or two in them) - (with tears rolling down her face) she said " I miss my kitchen towels I miss the treats, I miss your Grammy. BUT I started a tradition with my kids , and we make treats and hand them out because of you and your family."

This year I got a goodie bag from her, filled with yummy food...So even though the tradition does not live on in my family, someone else is doing it (and that makes my heart melt) 
*so what you should know about me to relate to this #3 is that I want and desire to be more like my Grammy. A caring and giving person that one day people will know me by my GOOD Actions. And to decorate my house and teach my children all the goodness of the Lord in this season and in life. To leave a legacy bigger then me, to touch generations for the Lord, and that one day my kids and grand kids will resemble my Grammy and still carry on her traditions. 

And this is who I get to start my Family with and our Traditions!

 Nic & Cole

3- Things Friday

IT FRIDAY, finally. With the Christmas Vacation approaching the teachers I mean kids are a little excited :) And who wouldn't be ?!!! So hear is the 3 things about me for this week.

Tom and I, in our seats at Reser Stadium.We love our Beavs

1. I am a HUGE, over the top, almost like a boy- Sports fan. I love watching and playing them, all sports Hockey Might just be my favorite! And I like to yell and scream and trash talk while at NBA games (mind you no one can hear me when I am up at the top of the Rose Garden my back against the wall!) but non the less I YELL. And even if I do not know what is going on I pretend to be super smart and know my teams and the calls they make, and then ask Tom later that night what happened. One goal Tom and I both have is to visit different playing arenas and fields all over the USA. 

Tom and I at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Cubs are my favorite Baseball team!

2. Zoos......I love them. I love going and seeing all the animals! Even if I don't have any kids with me I would go to the zoo all the time! And not only would I go with no kids I would spend hours there. There is something super exciting and cool there!

Christmas Eve 2009 - Lehman Family Christmas

3.  Fall is my favorite time of the year, I love the outfits I get to wear and the boots (ohhh the boots!!!!) scarves, hats, sweaters....I could go on!!! Christmas is my favorite Holiday, I love to put up the tree and turn all the lights off and look at the tree. I love to GIVE gifts, its a delight for me. I even love the smell of Christmas, the cinnamon, the trees, the smell of shopping! Love is in the air, people seem a little nicer. And this year is an extra special time, I get to wake up Christmas morning with  my husband and share Christmas with him. I have waited a long time for this day! ;)  FAVORITE TIME

I told Tom that this was going to be my Wedding Night P.J's :)

                                           NIC & COLE

Im an Auntie!

Babies, Babies and more Babies!!

This year has brought a lot of Change for me personally but also for the Brittingham Family. With a new marriage, and 3 out of the 4 "Britt Boys" got promotions and new jobs!! 2 of them have moved locations, but also the NEW JOY of not only 1 but 2 new Brittingham Boys, promising to make their appearance this winter!

Sheena was due November 13th and Jenn was due December 20th. 

Oliver James Brittingham was a stubborn little guy and wanted to wait an extra week, he was a little to comfortable inside. He was born on Nov 19th weighing 8lbs and 13 ounces and sooooo cute. He looks just like his mom, and has the Brittingham chin. It was fun to be part of his birth and get to hold him and love on him.

             Minutes after he was born..I love him just staring up at his daddy!

And 2 days later Jenn went into early labor they put her on bed rest in the hospital and after a week in there, they could not get her blood pressure down and baby was needing to come now. So they did emergency C Section. 

                          Cason Thomas Brittingham 

Weighing 5 pounds 1 ounce was born Nov. 26th named after his uncle Thomas! (which was a great surprise to us)There is a very sweet story behind the birth of Cason. His parents had decided to be done and 3 days before they got the issues solved, Jenn got pregnant. And their son Jaxon, had said "mom I had been praying that Jesus would give me a baby brother. And he answered my prayers." - Not only did Jaxon pray for another kid but a brother and that Jesus told him that his brothers name would start with a C!!! :) 

He is doing great, gaining weight by the day, he looks just like his older sisters and brother! 

                So that adds the Niece and Nephew count up to 8!!!!

I love being in a big family that will only continue to grow, It was something I had prayed about my entire life that I would have lots of sister and brother in laws and lots of babies!

 

 

 

 

 

 

           

Ollie James Brittingham  

Auntie Cole and Uncle Thomas with baby Oliver

And one day we will be holding our own, but for now this is GREAT! I love being an Auntie~

Nic and Cole