A little ocd

 I feel like I should be sitting in a circle of people with similar problems, everyone welcoming me by saying "Hi Leigh Anne". Instead I will just confess to you all............... I'm a little OCD when it comes to cleaning and organization.

I love to clean. I haven't always been like this. In my college days, I was a little lazy. However now after abandoning my home in Alaska and moving back in with my parents for 8 months.. I developed this cleaning and organizing obsession. I mean it. I have been anxious to move into my new house just so I can can clean and organize. Weird ? No... I consider it more of a healthy quirk! 

Well, in some of my down time the past week while searching "organization" on Pinterest, I kept coming across these cute things called cleaning schedules. GENUIS. Simply genius! 

So, I decided I needed one of my own (that matched my kitchen of course) to laminate and stick on the fridge. Lamination = instant dry erase check list. So at 1:00 AM last week, me and photoshop reacquainted ourselves and I came up with this beauty...  

Sharing is caring, so viola ... I share with you today, the ultimate cleaning schedule! Feel free to print, laminate and clean to your hearts desire. 

Click Here to download and print. Your house will thank you! 

moving day

I don't know if I want to jump up and down for joy... or cry tears of happiness. 

I'm being serious, my friends! Today is moving day! I am headed back to the great state of Alaska... to my home. 

When my husband left for Afghanistan back in December, I knew that moving back to Ohio would be the best thing for me at the time-- so I could finish school and spend time with my family.. because who knows when the next time will be that we actually live within driving distance from them!

My parents were so gracious to allow me to move back in and bring a little house guest (Gizmo) as well. Mind you I moved out the month after I turned 18, so I have been living in my own space for a few years now. It was an adjustment to go from having my own house to being back in my pepto pink zebra print room, but hey.... less space to clean, right? Honestly though I can't think of any down sides to coming home aside from the missing my friends part. 

Oh, and lets talk about my friends here. It has been great to be able to spend time with some of my friends from High School as well as being able to make some awesome new Blogging friends who live so close to me (Lauren and Shane). 

But this Ohio journey has come to an end-- and I am so ready to be back in the very first place where M and I made our home. I may not have a physical house yet (that will happen within the next couple weeks) but I have some amazing friends I am ready to see as well as lots of adventures I am ready to take my Dad on while he is here visiting with me. 

Oh and did I mention that I only have to wait a TEENY bit longer until my amazing husband is back here with me? The excitement I have is ridiculous. 

With changes in my personal life, there will be changes in my blogging life as well. I started this blog in February while living in Ohio, and I truly haven't got to express my passion for cooking! I love to cook and bake-- but rarely have while living here (due to lack of having my own things). So prepare your selves for some serious healthy recipe overload once I get moved in, as well as an array of Juicing recipes. I plan on getting more into photography, so I can truly capture Alaska and all it's beauty and share it with you here on the blog. And finally, my fitness craze will also be highlighted more often than not here on the blog. 

I am excited to really be able to show you my loves and passions the way I have wanted to for months now. However, work with me here for a little bit-- as I am moving across the country, searching for a house, and redecorating all before my husband comes home. 

Until then, I bid you a-due Ohio and thank you for allowing me to be graced in your bipolar weather presence for the past 8 months.

quick pic from last nights going-away-dinner! 

One year later ...

Wedding week is donezo my friends, because one year ago today is when all the fun actually took place! I wouldn't consider this date our anniversary, because technically we got married on June 16th, 2011 (you can read about that here). 

However, looking back on this date, 365 days ago-- I have nothing but thankfulness to everyone who made it possible. 

So to close up this week of reminiscing, I have a few quick thank you's for the people who this whole thing wouldn't have been possible without! 

Mom and Dad...
Where do I begin? I can't thank you enough for everything you did to make the day amazing for me, and in such a short amount of time. You managed to totally go with my ever-changing plans, and support and support me 100% ! This wedding wouldn't have taken place without the two of you! Thanks a billion for all that you do for us! I love you guys! 

My In-laws....

First of all, I have to say that this picture is so 'us' and I love it! I truly have been blessed with the best in-laws there are. And I know, I'm just like the 2nd daughter you always wanted ... right? (; On a serious note you guys have helped me through so much over the past years and the wedding was no exception. Thank you for everything you do and have done for us! 

Our Wedding Party...

 This wedding was planned with M being in basic training and Airborne school, which meant we had to flip flop with a date several times and not one of them bailed or let us down in any way. To my brother in-law and sister-in-law who totally dropped everything and flew from Cali to Ohio just to be apart of our special day, words cannot explain how much that means and shows about the type of people you are. To my maid of honor and best friend for the past 8 years, you have and always will be my right hand lady and this wedding wouldn't have been half as amazing without you in it! To my sister (in law); not only did I get to officially become your sister but I got to be so honored to have to be one of my bridesmaids and the biggest help! Seriously, you rock and I love you to pieces! To all the guys, thank you for not taking my husband to a strip club on the night before the wedding, not showing up to the wedding hung over and being everywhere on time-- best groomsmen ever? I think so. 

To my husband ...

Happy wedding-day-anniversary! It seems like just yesterday I was standing across from you, at the alter dripping sweat, saying my I do's. In all seriousness, you deserve the biggest thank you of them all. You had enough faith in me, to trust me to plan a whole wedding in a very short amount of time-- and only being able to hear about the details via our snail mail letters during basic training. Then you showed up, with only two weeks in Ohio and totally went along with all of my wedding shenanigans like a champ. But most of all, thank you for being the greatest blessing to enter my life. There isn't any other person who makes me smile or laugh the way you do. I am so glad to be on this adventure of a life with you, and I can't wait to see where it takes us next (aside from our long overdue honeymoon in December). Even on the days that aren't so perfect, or I'm a brat-- I am constantly remind myself how great this life is that you provide for us. I am more than proud to be your wife and I can't wait to be in the same continent/country/state as you so, so soon! 

xoxo

Wedding Week: The Reception Part 2

Okay, so I could have squeezed all these photos into yesterdays post-- but I decided to save my favorites for today. I am already chuckling under my breath just thinking about some of them. 

Somewhere along the lines, we made a so called 'promise' not to do the typical cake smash. I made M wholeheartedly agree not to be mean, because I was terrified of getting cake on my dress. The agreement was set, we cut the cake, we were about to exchange bites ... and then, something inside of me switched and you could see it in my eyes. I didn't think twice. I went for it... cake, right for the left eyeball. I thought I was SO smooth and funny. Until the unexpected happened: payback. As I'm getting my jollies about my cake smash, M got me good. All over my hair, face, eyes. The video truly needs to be submitted to AFHV. 

See, it was all in good fun. I do feel bad for getting cake on M's uniform and making him have to go and change -- but hey we made memories, right? (; 

Wedding Week Day 6: The Reception

And now the real fun begins... 

Who doesn't love a good wedding reception? Food, dancing, alcohol, fun. Sometimes I wish every day was a wedding reception, don't you?

For pulling this shindig off in a total of 3 whopping weeks, I believe we (myself, mom and mother in law) did a pretty good job! Everything was perfect in my eyes, except one teeny tiny HUGE thing. The DJ. At the time, I attempted to brush it off and pretend like he wasn't "that bad", but after watching our reception video this past week I'm going to come out and say it..... our DJ, was THAT BAD. 

I requested "classic rock" to be played while we at dinner.... we got country. 

I asked for there to be no country music played at all .... see above. 

The father daughter dance .... well, he played the wrong song 4-5 times before he got the right one. 

I could continue my rant, but at this point it's more fun to sit back and laugh at all the awkward moments memories the DJ created for us. 

We had hundreds, I mean HUNDREDS of photos taken at the reception, so I must break this up into two days.

Want a hint on whats to come tomorrow? ... think cake...lots of red velvet cake..... in my hair. 

Wedding Week Day 5: The Ceremony

Day 5 of this week long journey! 

Ah, the ceremony. Everything went so smoothly. I kept my eyes as dry as possible (aside from the sweat dripping into them), and took it all in. And you know how they say, rain on your wedding day is good luck? Well ladies and gents, we got rain... and a huge crash of lightening right as we started saying our vows. Oh the irony! 

By far one of the best/hottest moments of my life! 

 Day 6 tomorrow! Looking forward to sharing even more fantastic moments with you all! 

Wedding Week Day 4: 'Other' adorableness

There is a lot of adorableness coming up as you scroll down, as well as a little bit of my decor! 

Fun fact: Our wedding was fully put together, date set and all within 3 weeks. How 'bout them apples?

So, today without further a-due, are some photos that don't fit into any other category, besides 'other' (: 

TWINS! ... My niece and nephew. 

 Those flower balls... all hand made, by my mother in law and grandma. They used to own a flower shop and put their talents to use for the big day! 

Tomorrow...I bring you, the big day.....the big moment... the ceremony!