reading list | 01

Jan 29, 2017

Every year I attempt some sort of reading list and occasionally it will work out with one or two books read. Last year, I don't even think I read one book! My nose was too deep into Instagram or Facebook to have time for reading an actual book. My problem was also not wanting to buy a book and not like it. Liam bought me a book for our anniversary and I really don't like it (I wanted it) but it's not good. This is when I rediscovered a library card. Yup, take me back to first grade again to check out books from the local library. Here's a secret, I love it.


My local library is between five counties and you can check out books from either one. I can check audio books or even digital copies, which I haven't done yet but definitely plan on it when we travel and I don't want to carry books around. Discovering something that I already knew existed. This year I decided I wanted to read 30 books for the year that I turn 30, it's quite the feat for me but I already have read one in January! I am starting with my Summer reading list that I never got to. The Goldfinch was last year (so I guess I did read one).

Up first:

Station Eleven by Emily Saint John Mandel.
A very enjoyable read and a hard one to put down when I got down to the nitty gritty. It was written in a world before and after a pandemic flu from the perspective of three different main characters. The book keeps you on your toes wanting to know more about each character and how this has effected them with tons of 'what if' questions. By the end I was hoping it wouldn't end. I am not great at book reviews so I apologize for my lack of detail. My reviews are more along the lines of I really enjoyed this, it was alright but wouldn't read it again, or oh god no.

I would recommend this book to anyone who isn't freaked out but post-apocalyptic types of books and movies but enjoys a good read. I was on a kick with this post-world because we watched two of the previous Resident Evils so we could see the newest one this weekend on a date night!

Now on to my next book...

things that make me happy | 05

Jan 23, 2017

I'm a little behind on the week with a lot going on. It's not a bad thing at all but I am happy to report that this week will be a slow week for us. We have no real plans and it's exactly what we need after two weeks of going here and there every night.

Ice skating! It has been so long since I have gone ice skating and it was a blast. Liam had never gone before and we decided we would go with two of his friends. We had such a good time and no one fell! Liam was adorable, I don't think he ever got the hang of it comfortably. We will be going again in the next few weeks.

We had dinner with some friends at our place. It was the first time us hosting dinner with more than each other! Hooray! They loved the kitchen and thought it turned out great. I think we're biased and think it's the best but it's wonderful.

I went to the public library and got my library card for the first time since I was in second grade. Now I can read all the books I want and not have to buy them. It's exciting because I have been wanting to read and haven't had the time. Now I am going to make time.

We did some wine tasting at the local glass museum fo' free. It's one of the events when we started seeing each other so it was a walk down memory lane for us.

Best part about last week?
We went browsing for shiny objects and came closer to deciding on the style of rings I liked and what I didn't like. We found out that I have tiny hands (duh) so getting the ring that I seemed to Pin a lot was out of the question. Damn tiny hands. Well, it was a fun outing together, talking about our future and what looks good and doesn't. He ultimately wants to buy something when I'm not around but with our situation, it's more difficult for him to get around without me. We'll see how he pulls it off. It was super exciting though!


Now it's Monday and possible winter storm warning so we are going to go cuddle on the couch with some hot chocolate and The Bachelor (don't judge us).

vacation set.

Jan 15, 2017


We figured it out!
The weekend of Labor Day, we will take our first real vacation together, Liam's first time out of the country, and we can not wait! We decided to go to Paris and we have received mixed reviews: amazing or not bad but nothing special. It came down to a few things for us on deciding where to go for vacation.
  1. Cost (of course).
  2. Our song mentions the Eiffel Tower and the Northern Lights so we decided Eiffel Tower it is, maybe later for winter we'll do Iceland.

It is so exciting for me to go back to Europe and for Liam to finally get out of the country. He may be a little nervous, he has stayed close to home his entire life and I think he needs a little culture in his life. Everyone thinks he needs a little culture in his life, a bit sheltered in that area and I am always up to travel. We will also spend a few days in Zurich, Switzerland just because we decided it would be awesome to see Switzerland!

We have not bought our tickets just yet but we priced them out last night and decided we would wait a few days. I am pretty sure this week we will buy them but we are still looking around at dates and places to visit (in case these are not the places we will visit but most likely yes). Then next steps to search for some AirBnB spots, potentially renting a car for travel, and spots to visit and things to do in each location! Any suggestions will be most helpful.

This is going to be a great year. I wish i had more vacation but we are going to squeeze in as much as we can try!

the kitchen! reveal day

Jan 14, 2017

If you have been reading for the last few weeks (or months), we have been renovating our kitchen and we are about 97% complete. The important thing is that I can now cook in my kitchen! I have cooked almost everyday and I absolutely love it. I love my sink, my butcher block countertops, and my IKEA island. Also, the gas stove is always a plus.

But I'm sure you don't care much about my cooking and want to see the final product! I'm learning how to use my camera better and taking photos of the house, one day I'll be as good as Chris Loves Julia and Yellow Brick Home. For now, let's get started:

There are a few cosmetic things we need to finish up but right now things are fully functioning in order for us to cook and that's what really matters. The blue tape resembles where we are going to build our shelves in the future. There will be two sets of shelves but not exactly where the tape is showing it. We're too lazy to take the tape down and we will revisit this in the spring time when it's warmer out.

We plan on keeping the holiday cards up for a while, we really enjoy seeing all of our friends on the fridge. We have some work to do on placement of things but it will come together when we have the open shelves. More shelves will go along the wall by the stove and we want to hang some artwork as well (by "we," I really mean me).

It looks fantastic. It's  exactly what my heart dreamed! The only thing I want right now I know I  won't get rigtht away is the subway tile backsplash. We are in the middle of deciding on a matte or glossy finish tile, we received a whole case of matte finished tile for free, it won't cover everything so we would need to buy more or buy everything in the glossy finish. It's 22 cents a tile so it's not out of budget but mostly free tiles is difficult to pass up... not sure what the verdict will be!

I love my farm house sink, it's so large and clean and beautiful. Most people see the sink and just love it too. How could you not? The knobs go perfectly with everything too, my modern look. The soft closing drawers are the special touch, the cherry on top honestly.


We are both so so so happy with how it turned out. Especially because we built it. WE BUILT A KITCHEN. From this to now. I love it. The proud feeling of this kitchen is going to last for so long and thanks to everyone who rooted for us while we went through it. I am going to go sit at my island to meal plan and stare the hard work we accomplished.

things that make me happy | 04

Jan 12, 2017

The new year has started off extremely busy! The good kind of busy where you have events every night, cooking in your brand new kitchen, all of those sorts of things! But I have no abandoned you yet blog! So what's been happening in the world of OHS? What's making me happy recently...

Blog makeover. Easy peasy with the great help of an awesome Etsy shop owner. I love it, simple-clean-white. It suites me well.

Liam and I celebrated our one year anniversary this past weekend and it was super low key and a lot of fun. We exchanged cards in the morning and he totally won the card contest, hands down. He did a great job surprising me with it since he hasn't gone anywhere without me recently. He almost looked at my card while we were in Target but I caught him before any mishaps.

It was freezing on our anniversary so it was difficult to spend any time outside. We went to breakfast and it was delicious, I love going out for breakfast- one of my favorite meals. Afterwards, we decided it was time for pedicures. Liam was terrified the first time I had ever taken him and now he wants to go every few months, he loves it. It was so relaxing. We headed to the arcade in the mall where we had first hung out and looked at puppies! We had no intention of buying a puppy but we wanted to look. We did fall in love with one in particular but we want to adopt a dog and not spend $850 on it.

I was surprised with a "1-year Anniversary Starter Pack" when we got back to the house. It was the sweetest thing! We built the puzzle on the island while I put our groceries away and shouted Alexa, do this. Alexa, do that. Alexa, what's the weather. Super excited!


The Bachelor started. I know, this is a bad thing to be addicted to but it is so entertaining I can't help myself. Please don't judge me too harshly.

I started the gym back up! No, not one of those new years resolution type gym moments but the moment you finished renovating your house and you can actually have a life to go to the gym. I suck at running, but I do it anyways.

Girls night was last night. We learned that Canadians don't know that rock, paper, scissor you go on "shoot!"


So far 2017 has been full of friends and food that we can make ourselves!

cheers to 2017

Jan 4, 2017

Figuring out what to do for New Years Eve is always a struggle, it is always supposed to feel like some BIG extravagant party where you dress up, wear party hats, and toast champagne at midnight.


We did wear party tiaras and we sort of toasted at midnight with red solo cups. I think it was one of my favorite NYE memories to date. It amazes me how much can change in only one year. It was a low key night with some really great friends and lots of cheese, I mean lots of cheese and don't ask us why. The boys built a fire, we vegged out, and spent time together. When we started this year, none of us were really that close and over the months we became the girls.

The girls minus one. She decided to stay in Canada, but she was there in spirit and SnapChat.


We cheers to a new year!
What type of goals are we planning for 2017?
  • Getting back to the gym, not like those people who go to the gym for the first few months and stop. We only stopped because we moved and started rebuilding an entire bathroom and kitchen.
  • Travel. Travel far or travel not so far, just travel.
  • Begin scrapbooking again, I loved Project Life and stopped a few years ago. I want to start on a minimalist version.
  • Save money. Future house or new car next year.
  • Spend more time together. Yes, we live together but we like Candy Crush a little too much and may need to put down our phones once in a while.
  • Learn how to sew.
  • Make our house a home.
  • Finish renovation projects: stairwell, stairs, third floor living area.
  • Help more with the DIY projects we make and make at least 5 of the projects I pin.
  • Volunteer our time somewhere.
  • Enjoy the moments more.

My new planner can help with some of this stuff! By the way, I love my new planner. We have so many adventures to plan and memories to make this year. I can not wait to see what it will bring.

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