Fantasy Vs. Reality on Valentines Day

Yes, it’s a Hallmark Holiday. But I don’t care, it’s nice to do something nice on Valentines Day. Sometimes though a girl gets carried away with expectations. Here’s how my fantasy measured up to reality.

I really wanted to start Dean’s day off like this…

http://ohhappyday.com/2013/01/heart-balloons/

But instead I gave him this…

I thought about doing dinner like this…

But instead we did this…

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I was certain he’d get me this…

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But my husband rocks and instead he got me CAKE POPS…

With a side of roses and amazing shoes… I love him madly.

Valentines is rarely what we think it will be.

This year, that made it absolutely perfect.

Posted on February 15, 2013 at 5:00 am | 1 Comment

Bye, Bye Winter; Hello New Entryway

With winter comes a lot of stuff. Hats, gloves, scarfs, boots, big puffy coats. Ugh, I’m sick of it and so is my apartment.

Recently, Target challenged me to “spruce up” an area of my home in honor of spring. I instantly thought of the entryway to our place. It’s a narrow hallway overflowing with winter gear.

entryway now

Until this weekend. I removed the 14 winter coats (yes, that’s the insanity from just two of us!) and a silly basket oozing with knitted accessories. I packed all but a few away (luckily because it’s snowing AGAIN!) until next year and for the first time in many months, I could actually see the hooks again.

entryway after

bench

And then, I put my favorite new piece from Target just under a few spring coats. The perfect bench. It’s bright, but small. Funky, yet functional. AND my darling husband will no longer “have to” leave ALL of his shoes (and there’s many more than coats) by the couch because that’s the only place he can sit to put them on. He now has a bench. In an appropriate place. And a few pairs of shoes can even fit underneath.

My photos really aren’t doing justice to how cool this bench is… next to spruce up? The lighting apparently!

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So you see Spring? We’re ready for you and ~~I’m~~ my entryway is pretty excited about you, too.

Check out more Target finds on my Pinterest Board.

“It’s the right mix of classic and modern. An effortless elegance. Beautiful, yet affordable. Designed for a lifetime of housewarmings. It’s everything you’ll love about your home.” – The Threshold Line for Target

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Target via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are LOVE U MADLY’s and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Target.

Posted on January 19, 2013 at 6:05 am | 1 Comment

Believe

This year, whether this is our holiday to celebrate or not, we all need a little extra to help us Believe.

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Merry Christmas to all.

PhotoSource: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Posted on December 24, 2012 at 6:00 am | Leave a Comment

My New Favorite Gift: Pinch in a Pouch

I have a favorite new gift and I just have to share it with you. It was gifted to me recently and I could not get over it. It has everything a girl might need “in a pinch,” all in the tiniest of tiny pouch making it the perfect stocking stuffer or shoot-i-forgot-to-get-you-something-and-now-i’m-seeing-you Hanukkah gift.

minimergency kit

The Minimergency Kit (for her) contains… hairspray, clear nail polish, nail polish remover, emery board, lip balm, earring backs, clear elastics, mending kit, double-sided tape, stain remover, deodorant towelette, pain reliever, tampon, breath freshener, dental floss, and an adhesive bandages ALL IN A 3 INCH POUCH! I know it’s crazy. The kit for Moms has all that plus crayons, a thermometer, caffeine gum, sanitizer wipes etc. And there is a great one for guys too with all those weird things they like: lint remover, shoe shine wipes, and styptic pencils (don’t worry, i had no idea what a styptic pencil was either but apparently it’s for razor nicks, minor cuts etc – it’s a guy thing!)

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Yes, I’m just a little bit obsessed with these. And, no, this is not paid advertising – I just think it’s the best thing ever.

Find them here: For Her, For Him, For Mom, For Labor & Delivery, For Mother of the Groom

Posted on December 18, 2012 at 6:00 am | 2 Comments

Out All Night With Paul Rudd and Jake Gyllenhaal

I had two great dates in the last two weeks. Both men were a little dark, but with a smart sense of humor. One night with Paul Rudd (funnier, but surprisingly cute). And the other with Jake Gylenhaal (cuter, but surprisingly funny).

Ok. This may or might not be a psychotic-stalker interpretation of a date, but I’m pretty sure I had a moment with each of them. When they were bowing at the end of their plays, one of them winked at me - I’m sure of it.

My mom came on one of my dates….

Grace. “In alternating scenes of hilarity and poignancy, life turns surreal for an eclectic foursome whose destinies collide in the Sunshine State. A wide-eyed young couple (RUDD & ARRINGTON) head south with big plans to open a chain of Gospel-themed motels. When an agitated rocket scientist (SHANNON) and a prickly pest-control man (ASNER) enter the picture, the couple’s ordered world is thrown into utter chaos. GRACE examines those elusive paradoxes: Believing vs. Knowing, Love vs. Loyalty, Coincidence vs. Fate.!”

love u madly review: Standing ovation from the whole audience (including me). Paul Rudd was certainly good, but Michael Shannon was fantastic. My money is on him being a big theater star. Definitely worth seeing (especially if you like the humor of Book of Mormon).

If There is I haven’t Found It Yet. ”Fifteen-year-old Anna’s weight makes her a target for bullies. When her mom Fiona transfers Anna to the school where she teaches in order to protect her daughter, it only makes things worse. If There Is I Haven’t Found It Yet is an entertaining look at a regular family stuck somewhere between knowing what the problem is… and doing something about it.

Anna’s environmentalist dad, determined to finish his new book and save the planet, is no help at all. Just as Anna gets suspended for retaliating with a head-butt, her estranged uncle Terry (Gyllenhaal) arrives unannounced. A heartbroken drifter with the mouth of a sailor, Terry reaches out to Anna in a way that no one ever has. Their unexpected friendship sends her parents’ rocky marriage into a tailspin as the whole family wonders, what—or who—really needs saving?”

love u madly review: Jake Gylenhaal with a beard, a dirty mouth, and a British accent. Oh, yes. Worth seeing.