Saying Goodbye

For all of those who might have stopped by for a little Mingle Monday action, I'm sorry nothing was live yesterday, I've been a little distracted.

My sweet grandpa passed away on Friday, and left an incredible 88-year-old legacy for us to remember him by. That guy was the sassiest, most giving, funny, and most rebellious old man you ever did meet. I'm sure going to miss him. So, we piled in the car this morning and drove to Wichita to celebrate his life and be together.

Although he is no longer here with us, I will forever keep the amazing memories we made in my heart until we meet again. He taught me some of life's most valuable lessons...

1// It doesn't matter if it's 8PM or 1AM, it's never too late to play a wild rumpus round of dominoes.

2// Greet people like you've known them for 20+ years with wide open arms and a huge smile across your face, even if you met them yesterday.

3// Always put the border pieces of a puzzle together first... unless you're feeling like living on the wild side.

4// It's never a real party unless it's done Porter style. Everyone's volume must be way too loud, the living room has to be heated to a balmy 85 degrees, and the corner piece of the chocolate sheet cake must be MIA.

5// You can't spend a whole afternoon planting a garden, forget to water it, and be shocked when all of your plants die within a week (it's safe to say I am still working on this one...).

6// God first, other second, I'm third.

7// Sticking out your tongue at other people is always acceptable no matter what age you are. :)

8// You will never find the meaning of life until you give yours away. Seek out to serve people who desperately need to be cared for the most, and then put them under your wing and love them unconditionally.

.:::.:::.:::.:::.:::.

I definitely inherited a splash of his naturally rebellious side, and we always bonded by teasing each other. He was a family man to the core and truly loved his family fiercely. Now although he is no longer with us, I will always remember him and smile when I think about...

+ sun tea on the porch
+ a beautifully kept garden
+ sonic happy hours and cherry slushes that turn your tongue bright red
+ jello popcorn
+ puzzles and mexican train dominoes
+ elbow nudges after cracking a good joke
+ the phrase "cool it" and "the look" everytime I was being crazy (which was all too often....)
+ an afternoon donut run
+ illegally feeding the ducks despite the sign
+ a good Sunday church service
+ family time

Thanks all for the many kind messages and love already sent my way. I am just blown away by your thoughtfulness and it's truly been a bright spot of sunshine.

If you think about saying a prayer for my family tomorrow, that would mean the world to me. It will be a tough day, but we're looking for forward to celebrating a wonderfully lived life.


Miss you already, Grandpa!

Follow along here:  BlogLovin, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest

Time to Play in the Dirt + Weekend Wishes

The weekend forecast has been checked, our list is made, and I am ready to get my hands dirty.
This weekend it's time to plant my very first garden! A big step for the Haskins House!

Luckily, my father-in-law and hubby are both garden planting geniuses, and my mom loves to garden, so it's safe to say that I'm in good hands. I will definitely be earning my green thumb badge with this undertaking, and I can't wait to learn more about keeping our own garden.

Not to mention I have lots of cute DIY garden projects in mind like a mini potted herb garden and making adorable garden markers. Can you tell that I'm head over heels excited?

{via}

What are you crazy kids up to this weekend? Anything fun on the books?

.:::.:::.:::.:::.:::.

In case you missed it...

+ week long blog link-up

+ new adventures in KC

+ a blogger must watch

+ our wedding featured on BRIDES.com

Cheers to a weekend full of sunshine and new adventures!

Follow along here:  BlogLovin, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest

Our Wedding Featured on Brides.com

Today is a very special day.
Our wedding is the feature story on Brides magazine online today!

You can only imagine my excitement when I found out our wedding was officially published and online for the world to see.

The amazing people at Brides reached out to me last fall asking to do a feature piece on our wedding, photographed by our dear friend, the lovely Sharaya Mauck. I had so much fun working with them to help capture the special details of our big day, and to relive it all over again is so much fun!

For more details on our wedding and to catch the whole feature, go visit Brides.com for the full scoop!

I just wanted to thank the great staff at Brides and Sharaya for making this come to life. Thanks so much for reliving our joy with us. 

If you are in the KC area and are looking for a photographer, Sharaya Mauck Photography is by far the best in the biz... go visit her site for more gorgeous photos!

Eeek... is this real?

Follow along here:  BlogLovin, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest

American Blogger: A Must Watch

Today is a big day for bloggers everywhere, and I'm squealing with excitement. I couldn't possibly be more excited to watch the newly released "American Blogger" documentary by Chris Wiegand.

 I remember back in 2009 when I started my little blog on a complete whim and my only followers were my family (thanks Mom!) and Adam. Looking back over those early posts makes me cringe a little bit, but I started to get comfortable in my own skin.

I didn't take me very long to fall in love with the blogging culture and the true community of great blog friends that has provided (aka: YOU!).

 I'm looking forward to crawling into bed in my jammers and experiencing the complete phenomenon of blogging while watching this film. Traveling across the country, I know the film's creator Chris will be able to introduce me to even more great bloggers and make me proud to stand among them in this little community we all know and love.

 You've got to give a whirl, and here's the trailer as a teaser...

 

So grab some popcorn!
Who will be watching it with me?


 

Follow along here:  BlogLovin, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest

New KC Adventures

Way back in January - doesn't that seem like ages ago? - Adam and I sat down after the new year began to create goals individually and together for 2014. Our list could've gone on for days as the great ideas poured in, but we knew we had to narrow our focus down and pick one big adventure or the year...

// Goal:   Eat + Adventure Local //

This was the perfect choice, as we absolutely love our city. Kansas City is bursting at the seems with so many great hidden neighborhoods, different districts to explore, an incredible food scene, and so much culture to discover. So we were thrilled to choose to experience local restaurants and places we have never been to, and get to know our beloved city more.

At first, our goal seemed a little daunting. The planning, the options, the time. But once we kind of let go of structure, we were able to go discover so many amazing places on a whim. So here's just a few amazing things I am thankful that I/we found and love...

Although Adam and I like to adventure together, especially with this goal, we also can add to the fun by choosing new local places we've never been to as we discover them. So, since my office is just over the bridge from this gem, I decided to grab my friend Karen for a little impromptu lunch date. 

We have heard amazing things about Genessee Royale from so many of our friends. It's tucked in this tiny, adorable hole in the wall in the West Bottoms district, and who would've ever guessed something so charming could exist by old train tracks and warehouse lofts. The decor is amazing.

The menu selection rotates with the weekdays as well as the seasons, but we both just died over the amazing pulled pork tacos with fruit salsa.

Next on the list is my love affair with the monthly West Bottoms Antique Stores. Every first weekend of the month, all of the stores that our house in these amazing old warehouse lofts open their doors for people to treasure hunt. It's a great mix of repurposed items, new creative crafts and decor, and beautiful timeless treasures.

My go to shops are Good Juju (which is actually opened weekly as well), Bottoms Up (this place is massive and full of awesome treasures), and my absolute favorite, Restoration Emporium. That fun gold polka dot burlap runner is from RE, and I always leave that store inspired to try a new craft or decorate our home.

So although this monthly event isn't necessarily new to me, I am starting to make plans to go explore every single month. It's food for my creative soul.

 I am praying to sweet little 8 pound baby Jesus that one of you is not from Kansas City, because if a local saw that I had not experienced the amazeball brunch at Beer Kitchen until last month, I may get slapped! How on earth have we not ventured to Westport for this deliciousness before now? 

Well, it's safe to say our lives have been changed forever. If you are in KC and decided to stop by, order the house made Drunken Donuts. These fresh bite-sized poppers are served piping hot to your table, rolled in delicate powdered sugar, and come with a grand marnier chocolate dunk pool that I could have sipped from a straw.

One of my absolute favorite spots to spend a Saturday morning is the City Market farmers market next to the river. Every single stall is packed with farmers and vendors from all over the surrounding states. The produce is cheap, the Amish baked goods are life changing, and they have gorgeous plants out the wazoo for pennies. 

Believe it or not, Adam had never gone with me before a few weeks ago. We were close by and I wanted him to experience the fun - he loved it, duh! I even picked up my new pet, Suzi the succulent, and planted her in a cute Anthroplogie measuring teacup that was sitting in our kitchen. Now she is basking in the sunshine through the bay window and it reminds me of our little local adventure.

Last but not least. we were celebrating a ton of family and friends' birthdays this weekend, so we picked Taco Republic in Westwood to indulge. Holy Casa Margaritas! Those were delish by the way...

The whole atmosphere is fantastic. Everyone sits outside at oversized picnic tables, where the margarita bar is close by, country music is playing in the background, and fun garden lights hang over head. Everything is a la cart and woah... the Del Mar taco and Camarones taco were both unreal. A side of fresh grilled Elotes on the cob was the cherry on top. 

Naturally, since we were celebrating birthdays, we just had to order some brown sugar cinnamon churros so each of us could dunk a little piece in the spicy chocolate dip and swear we were in foodie heaven. And apparently they have $1 tacos from 2-6 PM on Saturdays, so that's where you can find me every weekend - ha!

.:::.:::.:::.:::.

So anyway, if you plan on sweeping through the KC metro anytime soon, I've basically laid out your entire weekend for you. You're welcome.

Just a few months have passed and so many awesome places have been discovered, but somehow the list is getting longer. So much to see, so little time.


Bring on the next adventures!





PS - Don't miss out on the WEEK-LONG "Mingle Monday" link-up, yo! Get some exposure for your blog HERE!

Follow along here:  BlogLovin, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest

Mingle Monday Link-Up!

Oopsie! I apologize for the little glitch in auto-posting this morning - I planned for the post to go live at 6AM CST, but that apparently didn't go through. Sorry!
I am going to blame it on a case of the Mondays...

Nevertheless, I hope you all had a great Easter weekend! We had a blast celebrating undeserved grace and unconditional love and I couldn't be more thankful. Easter Sunday at our church was absolutely fantastic, and then we hopped back and forth between families.

I should have worn stretchier pants... haha!

So, I am glad you stopped by for some blog networking and fun. Despite my MIA status lately, I have lots of fun things to share this week, including a delicious recipe for cookie bars... omg!

      
HOW TO MINGLE
 ** Only 3 easy rules - that's all I ask! **

1) Link-up your blog below.
2) You must share a link to Mingle Monday on your post or the Mingle Monday photo.
  3) Answer the weekly question in the comments section below and have FUN!   ** What were the highlights of your Easter weekend? **



________________________________________________________________________________________

As of right now 100% of advertisement sponsorship proceeds now go to my charity of choice, the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge. There are dozens and dozens of Hope Lodges across the country that give cancer patients a free place to stay while out of town for cancer treatment - such a cool place! 

With just $10, you can get a month long ad and know that it is going to help real cancer patients and their families. So please join me in my fundraising effort by becoming a sponsor HERE!

With your help, we have raised more than $300 so far to help cancer patients and I delivered the money last week - so thank you! 

_________________________________________________

A BIG thank you to these awesome gals for lending a hand. With their help, I have been able to donate a few hundred dollars to ACS Hope Lodge! Please go visit them and say hello!

Rachel @ Rachel Rewritten

Rebekah @ Blue Giraffes and Concrete Jungles

Elizabeth @ All Kinds of Things

Holly @ Faith, Hope & Baseball
Kayla @ A State of Stylish Grace
Karen @ Mrs. Looking Good
Sammy Dress

Have an unexpectedly GREAT Monday, y'all!

Follow along here:  BlogLovin, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest

Mingle Monday Link-Up!

I am back from a wonderful weekend getaway at the family cabin, and I can't think of a better way to kick off the work week than by mingling with my faves!

Welcome to Mingle Monday! I hope you will grab a latte and bounce around to find other great blogs!
Please do me a favor if you have a second. If you can take 15-30 seconds to tweet or share about this beloved week-long link-up, I would really appreciate it! After all, the more the merrier, that's for sure!

Enjoy yourselves, and may my little link-up bring you some wonderful new readers!

      
HOW TO MINGLE
 ** Only 3 easy rules - that's all I ask! **

1) Link-up your blog below.
2) You must share a link to Mingle Monday on your post or the Mingle Monday photo.
  3) Answer the weekly question in the comments section below and have FUN!   ** What home remedies have your tried and did they work **
(psstt... I tried a baking soda lemon juice paste for blackhead removal and it worked like a charm! Who knew?)




________________________________________________________________________________________

** REMINDER **

I feel very honored to be a part of the blog community, and very blessed that my little blog has grown since the day of my first post. I want this blog to focus on paying it forward, so I have decided to re-do my sponsorship platform.

As of right now 100% of advertisement sponsorship proceeds will go to my charity of choice, the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge. There are dozens and dozens of Hope Lodges across the country that give cancer patients a free place to stay while out of town for cancer treatment. 

With just $10, you can get a month long ad and know that it is going to help real cancer patients and their families. And for $25 you get a prime ad spot AND an awesome Hope Lodge "HOPE" t-shirt to be mailed to you ASAP as my thanks to you!

This is your day to give back and also get some great exposure in return, so please help me raise money for this awesome organization by becoming a sponsor HERE!

A BIG thank you to these awesome gals for lending a hand. With their help, I have been able to donate a few hundred dollars to ACS Hope Lodge! Please go visit them and say hello!

Rachel @ Rachel Rewritten

Rebekah @ Blue Giraffes and Concrete Jungles

Elizabeth @ All Kinds of Things

Holly @ Faith, Hope & Baseball
Kayla @ A State of Stylish Grace
Karen @ Mrs. Looking Good
Sammy Dress

Wishing you a killer start to your week!

Roadtrip Weekend

Well friends, at lunchtime I'm grabbing my man and my pup and hitting the open road.
It's the first time in a long time that my sweet hubby and I have been in the same city  for an extensive amount of time and I'm loving it.

Missed him.

So, we're taking advantage of the beautiful weekend and heading south. We're going to one of our favorite spots, the family cabin (yes, the one where Adam proposed! It's our favorite spot.).

{via}

The game plan is to sit out on the deck, sleep too late, watch the turtles swim leisurely across the pond, maybe do a little kayaking, play fetch with Beast, practice using my camera better, cook some great meals, eat at Carolyn's, play cards, and just enjoy time outside together.

I'm literally giddy thinking about it!

Also, if you think about it and want to say a little prayer for my precious grandpa, he's not doing so great. We are planning to stop to spend a lot of time with him on our way to the cabin and again on our way home. Love that sweet man so much - thanks in advance for any phone calls to the Big Man upstairs on his behalf. :) 

God is good.

Life is wonderful.

Time to adventure.

.:::.:::.:::.:::.:::.

In case you missed it this week...

+ week long link-up

+ my current obsessions

Have a fantastic weekend - catch you for Mingle Monday!

Absolutely Loving...

So this weekend I was perusing around on Pinterest for hours, which can only mean two things...

1 //  It's going to make me hungry and want to bake everything.
2 //  I am going to get so many ideas that my head will be spinning and I won't even know where to start.

That being said, I shouldn't be shocked that my DIY list has grown substantially and now all I want to do is shop 'til I drop...*le sigh*. Don't worry, I haven't gone out on some kind of neurotic shopping spree, which I know both my debit card and husband and thankful, but I am scheming. And scheming is never good.

So after thinking about it and setting some priorities, here are my current obsessions (both already purchased faves and little wishlist items). I seriously cannot get enough!

// Current Obsessions //

1) Succulent Living Wall/Vertical Garden DIY
Holy gorgeousness. I was inspired by a sweet little succulent that I found at the Farmer's Market this weekend and transplanted into a quaint little Anthro teacup I had in my kitchen. But now, I suddenly have my eye on bigger projects. Hence, a vertical hanging living wall and a cool rustic letter, both of which would make our beloved patio so fun, don't you think?

{via}

{via}

Has anyone ever made a living garden?
Tips? Tricks?


2) Linen Striped Sperry Top-Siders
So I was waltzing through Nordstrom one day on a mission to help my hubby find some new jeans, when I spotted these beauties. My sister has been telling me for years how awesome and comfy Sperrys are, but once I saw these cute neutral stripes I couldn't get them out of my head. Thankfully I had a Christmas gift card and an item I needed to return for store credit, so they are now permanently glued to my tootsies.

3) Crate & Barrel Smoothie Straws
If you absolutely love smoothies and don't own these yet, you'd better hop to you nearest C&B! Every morning I fix myself a fruit and spinach protein smoothie to start my day off right, but I was tired of tipping up my glass and getting it all over my freshly set makeup. Umm, I cannot say enough how much I love these smoothie straws. They are super wide, hard plastic straws in fun colors and make sipping a little concoction extra fun!

4) Maybelline Falsies Mascara
I decided to steer away from my usual go-to-favorite mascara on a mere whim, and I tossed this guy into my Target basket. It's incredible! I have short, straight, blonde lashes that make me look like I am sleepy until I can swipe on a coat of mascara. But the second I tried this mascara I knew it was a game changer. My lashes actually CURLED and every single lash was coated without it being clumpy or chipping off. I'm sold.

5) Tom's New Sandals
Okay, I don't own these puppies, but they're on my wishlist. First off, I absolutely love Toms brand. I love their mission to help people, I love their products, and I'm sold. So when they announced their new sandal line, I was already sold. I've been reading tons of reviews and have even felt the sole of them, and I was surprised my how cushy and comfortable they feel. Saving my pennies...

6) "Am I Wrong" by Nico & Vinz
I'm definitely that person who hears a song once, becomes obsesses, and plays it on repeat for the next 3 weeks. Trust me, or even better, ask my poor husband! Haha. I literally heard this on the radio on my way home last night and I cannot get enough. Listen to it, download it, and then tell me it's not so gosh darn catchy. I dare you! :)

What are you absolutely loving lately?

Mingle Monday Link-Up!

Thanks for stopping by for a little week-long mingle action!
I can't think of a better way to start a week off than to do a little blog networking and meet some new friends.

I hope you will do me a favor by helping spread the Mingle Monday word. After all, the more the merrier, that's for sure! Enjoy yourselves, and may my little link-up bring you some wonderful new readers!

     
HOW TO MINGLE
 ** Only 3 easy rules - that's all I ask! **

1) Link-up your blog below.
2) You must share a link to Mingle Monday on your post or the Mingle Monday photo.
 3) Answer the weekly question in the comments section below and have FUN! ** What DIY projects are at the top of your list? **




____________________________________________________________________________________________

** REMINDER **

I feel very honored to be a part of the blog community, and very blessed that my little blog has grown since the day of my first post. I want this blog to focus on paying it forward, so I have decided to re-do my sponsorship platform.

As of right now 100% of advertisement sponsorship proceeds will go to my charity of choice, the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge. There are dozens and dozens of Hope Lodges across the country that give cancer patients a free place to stay while out of town for cancer treatment. 

With just $10, you can get a month long ad and know that it is going to help real cancer patients and their families. And for $25 you get a prime ad spot AND an awesome Hope Lodge "HOPE" t-shirt to be mailed to you ASAP as my thanks to you!

This is your day to give back and also get some great exposure in return, so please help me raise money for this awesome organization by becoming a sponsor HERE!

A BIG thank you to these awesome gals for lending a hand. Please go visit them and say hello!

Rachel @ Rachel Rewritten

Rebekah @ Blue Giraffes and Concrete Jungles

Elizabeth @ All Kinds of Things

Holly @ Faith, Hope & Baseball
Kayla @ A State of Stylish Grace
Karen @ Mrs. Looking Good

Thanks for teaming up to make a difference!

Weekend Outlook + Giveaway Winner

I'm sitting here at work taking a quick coffee break and wishing I was with my blog friends at GO Blog Social, just blocks away. I've never been to a blog conference, but I am dying to go! Have you been to one before? Thoughts?

Also, thanks to all who entered the Scentsy giveaway! The lucky winner is... Stephanie Hubers! Congrats, I will contact you to get your prize to you!

Anyway, it's a good day, simply because it's Friday. My favorite day of the week. I am so antsy for some weekend relaxation to begin, and this weekend has a pretty promising outlook...

Friday//
I may run down the street over lunch to check out the West Bottoms Antique Shops, since they only open the first weekend of every month. There are so many great finds like re-purposed furniture, art, and home decor. My three favorite shops are (RE) Restoration Emporium, Good Juju, and Bottoms Up.

Adam is with the guys out at The K to watch the Royals Opening Day. So, I may round up the women folk and then we can meet up with them for dinner. Possibilities are endless!

Saturday//
Off to Zumba with my friend Magoo (no, just a nickname, but I wish it was her real name...) and then head on a nice long trail walk with hubs and pup. Saturday evening is all about celebrating our friend Ally's birthday, so the bash will be one heck of a good time!

Sunday//
I don't have my 4th grade Sunday schoolers this week (my break week!), so we can head to church whenever works best. I suspect I will want to cook a more complex recipe for a nice dinner and possibly bake a berry pie (aka: earn some serious wife points).

// What's your weekend outlook? //

In case you missed it this week...

+ weekly link-up

+ tv addicts, help!

+ adam's 30th birthday bash

+ gratitude lately

Catch you for Mingle Monday at the start of next week!

Gratitude Lately

After fantastic midnight thunderstorms and listening to the gentle pitter patter of raindrops falling on the Haskins House this morning, I decided to wake up extra early for a little adventure before work. 

It's amazing how the little moments can fill your heart with gratitude.

Thankful for delicious fancy spice lattes and friendly barista smiles on an early rainy Thursday morning.

For thunderstorms that help me sleep like a newborn babe and the smell of fresh rain.

For colorful petals that have the ability to brighten any mood.

For furry paws and sleepy Beast cuddles curled up in bed.

And for thankfulness that brings, which always seems to put everything into perspective.

// What are you thankful for today? //

  .:::.:::.:::.:::.:::.

I feel very flattered to be featured on The Blog Baton this morning. Catch me over on their Instagram (@TheBlogBaton) today for some extra fun adventures, and find out more how you can be featured here.

Wishing you a cheerful day full of all the little things that make life so sweet!

PS - Don't miss out on the WEEK-LONG "Mingle Monday" link-up! Get some exposure for your blog HERE!

PPS - Don't forget to check out my awesome giveaway! Deadline is tonight at midnight.


_____

Adam's 30th Birthday Bash

Last Saturday evening was one of those moments that will forever be branded on my memory.
It was the perfect recipe for a stellar evening. KC local hole in the wall. Cold beer. Good food and even greater company. Mr. Evans turned the big 3-0 and celebrated with our nearest and dearest friends.

It all started when I asked, well begged, hubs to let me throw him a party. Once I wiggled a positive confirmation out of him, I began the hunt to find the perfect spot. After writing down a list of what would make this party uniquely for him, I knew I had to find an awesome local place that poured microbrews and international beers by the pint with a chill atmosphere.

So when I waltzed into Haus in the Martini Corner area of KC on a whim, I knew I hit the proverbial jackpot.

I was thrilled to sit down with Desmond Carr, the dynamic managing partner for Haus KC, to hammer out a game plan. Lucky for me, it wasn't too hard to come up with some great ideas after choosing some great items to serve off of their gourmet German pub themed menu. 

We also worked together on an idea to put together a special birthday beer flight, where Adam could pre-select four specialty beers for our friends to try at the party. I mean, what could possibly be more manly than German pub food and hand selected beers. It was a done deal.

Once details were finalized, it was time to focus on my favorite part - the creative side. I ordered these invites that I loved from 2 Bird Studios on Etsy (check them out - they were great to work with!) and before I knew it, the date was saved. I recruited my ever-so-crafty mother-in-law to help me with some simple DIY decor, and we were ready to party hardy, my friends.

 Adam's parents surprised him with a limo ride to the party, which was fun to see him so embarrassed by it. Once we got there, I loved how they laid out beer flight sheets at every table. When we ordered our tasters, they matched them to the description by placing them on the info sheet in order. I am pretty sure the beer nerd in Adam totally geeked out in that moment, and that made me smile from ear to ear.

Shortly after, friends and family from near and far started to arrive to celebrate how awesome my buddy is. We had a horrible time... can't you tell? ;)

 

We have such great friends and family. Some even traveled hundreds of miles just to make Adam's birthday special. It was perfect.

And just in case you wanted to see the best/worst photo of the night... here you go.

You're welcome.

Needless to say, we ate, drank, and went home merry. 

The perfect night.

PS - Don't miss out on the WEEK-LONG "Mingle Monday" link-up! Get some exposure for your blog HERE!

PPS - Don't forget to check out my awesome giveaway! Deadline is Thursday!