Birthday Boy

Check out my guest post at My Freckled Life today - I'm giving some tips for bringing "baby meals" to new mamas!

Today is a very special day - it's my sweet husband's birthday! 

Happy, happy birthday to the guy who has been making me 

open-mouthed, scrunch-faced smile for years. I love you so much! 

(also, Throwback Thursday Wednesday to a couple outtakes from our engagement photos... such babies we were.)

Guest Post: Meet Stephanie!

Hi! My name is Stephanie and I can usually be found over in my little corner of the internet at My Freckled Life, where I typically blog about healthy living, fitness, food, and other totally random things that happen in my life. Oh, and lots and lots of pictures of my dog. Because I’m one of THOSE people that has more pictures of her dog on her phone than of her husband.

Just kidding. There are probably equal amounts of photos… maybe…
I’m so happy to have this chance to take over Lindsay’s blog today! Lindsay and I met because of the blog world (when we had the most awkwardly awesome blog date because no one else showed up to a meet-up!) but have since become real life friends. Which is even better, because we just happen to live about 5 minutes from each other! We’ve also discovered that we’re basically twins: Same college, same Hokie-obsessed husbands, same train commute…we’re basically the same person. Basically Lindsay is awesome, and I hope I can live up to her standards!

Anyway, today I thought I would take over Lindsay’s usual Five on Friday with Five of my recent favorite things!

Favorite Workout Motivation: Working out with friends!

After I finished grad school, I moved way out to the boonies of Virginia for my new job, where I knew absolutely no one. I quickly joined a gym, and while I did meet some gym buddies through classes, I mostly spent my time working out alone. Since we’ve moved to Fredericksburg however, I’ve made some great friends (like Lindsay!) and we’ve even had the chance to work out together on several occasions. Not only is a great way to get yourself motivated to actually go to the gym (especially during the holidays!), but it also makes workouts way more fun.

I mean, there is a big difference between making a goofy face during a Bodypump squats track to your best friend standing next to you and making that face to a random chick that’s giving you the judgey eyes. I’m just saying. Working out with friends is way more fun.

Favorite Last Minute Christmas Gifts: Subscription Boxes

I will be the first to admit that I’m not the best gift giver. But some people are just plain difficult to shop for no matter how much you pay attention to their subtle gift hints. Recently though, when in doubt I’ve started to go with subscription boxes. My personal favorites are Nature Box (for those snackers or health conscious folks), Bark Box (for the dog lovers) and Conscious Box (for those greenies who like to try new products). But I know that there are a ton more out there  – BuluBox, Birchbox, Ipsy, etc. I mean, come on, there is basically one for EVERYTHING at this point.

In my opinion, they are the perfect answer to the age old question “What do you get the person who has everything?” Subscriptions typically come in 1-3 month ranges, and definitely get you bonus points for being fun and creative!

Favorite At-Home Workout Videos: Blogilates

During the holidays life always seems to get a little crazy, and I know that I for one don’t always have time to make it to the gym. However I also need to to do something to counteract all of the Christmas cookies that seem to keep appearing in my kitchen. So when I’m in need of a quick workout at home, I’ve been loving Blogilates videos lately. They are usually quick but seriously hardcore, and I always wake up sore the next morning.

To give you fair warning, my husband tends to hide upstairs when I play her videos, because he says her voice is slowly burning his eardrums. But I just find her to be extremely peppy. So watch at your own risk. Your significant others may hate me for this one.

Favorite Way to Spread Holiday Cheer: Giving to others

Christmas is obviously known for the presents and Santa Claus, but when it comes down to it the root of Christmas is also about giving. That’s why every year I try and find someway to give back or spread the holiday cheer around to some of those who may be less fortunate. In past years we’ve participated in programs like Angel Tree or Operation Christmas Child, which are both set up to help give gifts to children or families who may not be able to afford presents this year.

It can even be as simple as donating a few small gifts to a friend or a family member you know, which is what we chose to do this year. I have a friend who has run in to a lot of roadblocks the past few months (including the birth of a very preemie baby), so our bible study got together a few gifts for her and her kids so that she could just enjoy spending the time with them this year without worrying about the financial burden. I’m telling you, there is nothing more Christmas-y than seeing joy on other’s faces!

Favorite Pinterest Idea: Cranberry White Chocolate Chip Nutella Cookies

Now that I’ve talked your ear off, I thought I’d end with something short and sweet. Literally. I saw these cookies on Pinterest the other day, and basically started drooling at my desk like a Neanderthal. Cranberries, White Chocolate, and Nutella? All of my favorite things thrown in to a single cookie. Tie them up with rainbows and starlight and I’m pretty sure they could solve world hunger. But seriously, I will be making these immediately. And so should you. And then share. :)

Well thank you again for letting me take over Lindsay’s blog for the day while she’s out having fun for the holidays! And thank you Lindsay for the opportunity!

Have a very happy holidays!

Love is a battlefield. Or something like that...

In honor of today being our "engage-iversary" (why is that a thing these days?? sheesh), I thought I'd share the story of the day C & I definitely almost did not get engaged. C originally wrote this for our wedding website, but I've never shared it here, and it's really too good not to post. It's a little long, but bear with me, because it's absolutely hilarious, and pretty much a spot-on representation of who we are - individually and together.

Join me, dear friends, as we travel back in time to December 2010, and revisit this potential disaster...

~~~

An engagement leads to thousands of questions. So many that, at times, I find myself slipping in a nupitally-induced coma. But before any of those questions can be asked, let alone answered, the question has to be popped.

Now, I’ve been trying to write this story for about two weeks now, but I couldn’t get past the first paragraph. Maybe because the story is awfully embarrassing—at best. Maybe because it’s tough to tell a story that hasn’t finished yet. Or maybe I’m just a bad storyteller. Either way, I’ve decided to skip paragraphs all together. So here’s a retro-diary of the proposal (dates and times are estimates):

December 18

I have the ring. Surprisingly enough, it isn’t that painful. I did some online research, familiarized myself with the four Cs, went to a jeweler, and bought it. But the hard part is figuring out the proposal.

I have ideas, even going so far as to talk to Ted Leonsis about surprising her at Caps practice, but nothing is panning out. After some time, I decide that the best place to propose is Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens in Richmond. Lindsay loves it - even to the point that she wanted to have the wedding there.

I also have a crystal snowflake ornament to use as a prop for the ring. It’ll blend in perfectly with the statuettes at the Garden. I just have to find a way to distract Lindsay and set it up. With her attention span, it’ll be as simple as pointing one direction and scurrying off for a few minutes.

So it’s settled.

December 26

8 am

We wake up early. The Garden opens at 10 and I want to have plenty of time to pop the question, ogle some flowers, take some pictures, and get moving to Culpeper. The day after Christmas - or Boxing Day for all of our Canadian fans - is the perennial Cuccherini-family-gathering-extravaganza-reunion. Plus, we're going back to Lindsay's parents' for a night with close family friends. I figure it’ll be perfect. And then I look outside.

I had planned for a little snow, and really don’t think anything of it. But the weather decides to flirt between mildly obnoxious and potentially catastrophic. For those of you in the Northern Virginia area, between four to six inches. So I check the Garden’s website, and we’re a-go. Good thing we woke up early.

9:30 am

Let’s just say that when it comes to romance, I’m mildly transparent. Lindsay figures out where we’re going about half way down the highway - this feat alone is impressive because Lindsay knows where we’re going exactly 0.03 percent of the time.

When planning this excursion, I somehow failed to account for the dimensions of the crystal snowflake. Specifically, it’s shaped like a ninja star. I’ve wrapped it in tissue paper and tucked it into my jacket, but the ends are starting to dig in. Not. Comfortable.

The weather is getting worse the farther South we go. Four to six inches is getting dangerously close to eight to ten. But, like anyone in the Ninja Turtles/My Little Pony generation, I trust the information on the website. We pull up to the gates.

10 am

"Closed due to inclement weather."

10:01 am 

s$n&svr#*tsok!3bbf*0)$!! (not our WEP key)

10:02 am 

Time to call an audible. I don’t really know what to do. I was prepared for weather, not for a closing. I’m still set on proposing, I just don't know how, when, or where. At this point, my plan is to drive up and down the highway until I see a sign that says “Romance Here -->-->-->” in flashing neon lights. But of course, before any of that can happen, we need to stop for a bathroom break. "Burger King: Have Romance Your Way" - or something like that.

10:15 am 

Back on the highway. No idea of what to do. Peyton-Manning-audible time.

10:50 am 

We’re at our exit to get to my uncle’s house. Instead taking the correct exit, I decide to go East, because, so far, Wests haven’t been having the best luck. We’re going in the direction of Old Towne, Fredericksburg*. I mean, they put an “e” at the end of Towne, so it’s got to be lovey.

We’re driving, I’m scrupulously scanning every sidestreet, antique store, and café. I see battlefields. Irony.

*It doesn’t actually have the extra “e.” I made it up for effect. 

10:55 am

Battlefield.

11 am 

Battlefield.

11:05 am 

F#ing battlefields.

11:10 am 

Losing faith, we turn around. I figure I’ll give Olde Town another try. Now would also be a good time to mention that the tension in the car is borderline overwhelming. We’ve been wandering around Virginia’s innards for almost two hours with no end in sight. Lindsay is confused and annoyed. I’m tired and angry. The ornament is beginning to burrow. It's not going well.

11:20 am 

We stumble upon a quaint little overlook. Well, it might be quaint; I'm not sure because it's blanketed with snow. Because Lindsay is cold-blooded, she likes to keep a tropical climate in the car. Add that fact to my growing aggravation, and I decide that I need a literal and figurative cool-down walk. I park and ask Lindsay to join me. I can't aptly describe her ensuing look, but it wavered somewhere between, "I wouldn't enjoy that" and, "If you ask me that again, I'm going to stab you in the eye with the windshield wiper." She begrudgingly gets out.

11:35 am 

We start to walk toward the river and I'm out of ideas. I'd rather not risk pulling out a diamond ring in a couple inches of snow. Too many opportunities to fumble. Plus, Lindsay has absolutely no intentions of meandering anywhere that's unpaved.

Losing confidence, I direct us to a tiny, weathered cafe that sits on the riverbank. What's the worst that could happen? We walk up to the door to look at the menu. The restaurant's name: Tru Luv’s.

No. Freaking. Way. Maybe I'm just battered from the day's events, but this sure seems like sign from somewhere. We try the door. It's open - thank God.

Generally, Tru Luv’s seems like a nice place. Black carpets, black tables, white tablecloths. I mean, it must be alright, it has salad forks. The entire back wall is a window with a gorgeous view of the Rappahannock - and another battlefield.

(Editor's note: RIP Tru Luv's, now closed.......)

11:45 am 

It takes me a minute to realize how alone we are; the snow must have scared off any would-be Tru Luv patrons. We sit in tense silence. I'm trying to think of a way to Houdini this ornament from my pocket without looking like a moron. Then I realize we've been in the restaurant for about five minutes and I still have my coat on. So, yeah, I look pretty dumb already.

11:50 am 

There's no suave way to do anything with a winter jacket on. New strategy: dispatch Lindsay for a few minutes.

So Lindsay says, "Will you go out to the car and get my wallet for me?" Now's my chance.

I respond, "Why don't you just run out there real quick, it'll take you two minutes."

Jackpot. She's leaving - of course, by "leaving" I mean she stormed out muttering something under her breath about torture.

11:55 am 

Time to set up the ornament. I get stage fright. At home, it seemed as simple as placing the stand into the base. At the restaurant, it seems more like a combination of Jenga, Musical Chairs, and Mousetrap. First, it's lopsided. Next, the waitress walks over and asks how I'm doing (I know, right? The nerve). Then, I can't get the ring out of my pocket because it's the box is buried in thirty pounds of tissue paper. Time is running out. She's walking in. I don't know what to do. If she sees it, she'll know what I'm doing, but it's too late to hide anything. What would Peyton do?

He'd obviously cover the whole contraption with a dinner napkin. So that's what I do. Bam. Done. Success.

Lindsay is standing by the table. She looks, umm, displeased.

Noon 

"What is this?" she mutters.

"Oh, just something."

"What is this."

"Just open it."

"Yeah, you want to get married and stuff?"

"I guess."

Please pay special attention to those last two lines. As mentioned, romance isn't exactly my thing. Apparently communication isn't either.

Moving right along, I attempt to put the ring on her finger. Wrong hand. Can anything go right today?

12:05 through the rest of the day 

We successfully get from the cafe to my uncle's, then to Lindsay's parents' house. Both of our extended families are thrilled for us.

So, in conclusion, the day was a success. Well, successful in the same way that the Titanic was the first ship to ever successfully use the SOS signal.

Guest Post: Meet Maddie!

Hi guys! I am Maddie and you can usually find me blogging in two separate places. First up is Tinge of Whimsy, where I normally ramble on about our travels and sometimes delve into more serious discussions like infertility. and other days you can find me whipping up yummy treats at my other blog, The ThankFull Tummy.

Lindsay and I found each other last year and she only recently discovered that I fall into the category of a Hoo and not that other Hokie school;) and how sweet of her, she still let me take over for the day!

Growing up, we would always have a cake to wish Jesus a Happy Birthday on Christmas and my mom would always make a watergate cake. One of my absolute favorites and since I am a lover of whoopie pies and often times love to create new versions...last year I decided to try my hand at a watergate whoopie.

Watergate Whoopies

Ingredients 

• 1 box white cake mix 
• 1/3 cup veggie oil 
• 2 eggs 
• 1/4 cup sprite 
• 3 packets pistachio pudding 
• 1 cup whipping cream 
• 4-6 oz cream cheese softened 
• (see notes below if you want cool whip version instead) 
• green sugar crystals (optional) 

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 
2. Combine cake mix, oil, eggs, 2 pudding packets & water in bowl.(should be thick, but if any dry cake mix left, add a tsp more of sprite).
3. Drop by tablespoon onto lined cookie sheet (leave about an inch between each cookie) or pour green sugar onto a plate, form the dough into tbsp size balls and roll it in the green sugar. 
4. Bake 8-9 minutes.
5. Cool on pan 5 minutes, move to cookie rack until completely cooled. 
6. Beat softened cream cheese on low for a min or until fluffy, add dry pudding packet & two tbsp of whipping cream, beat on low till pudding is fully incorporated into cream cheese and add remaining whipping cream, turn speed to high and beat until stiff peaks form. 
7. Let set in fridge for at least an hour before frosting. 

Thanks for having me over today, Lindsay! I hope you guys are enjoying your holidays!

Guest Post: Meet Lindsey!

I'm so excited for this week, and it's not (all) because of Christmas! I have several guest posts for you this week, and I get to introduce you to some awesome bloggers! Hope you will take the time to read their posts and check out their blogs - they are some great ladies!

First up is Lindsey from the Crafty Practitioner. She has a yummy recipe to share with you, and we did something fun: a Q&A! I came up with a few insightful (ha) questions, and Lindsey indulged me with the answers. Enjoy getting to know her!

~~~~~

Q&A with Lindsey

1. When and why did you start blogging? 

I actually started blogging quite a long time ago, I think it was in the fall of 2009. It was on a different blog from my current one called "Waiting on our Miracle". This blog was centered around my journey with infertility. My husband and I were going through treatments trying to get pregnant and I used my blog as a place that I could share my feelings and discuss what we were going through. We didn't share what we were going through with much of anyone in our "real life" so I needed a place to vent. I eventually progressed on to a new blog that I named "Worth the Wait" which focused on my pregnancy and the first six months of my son's life. I felt like both of these blogs were very focused on specific topics and I really wanted a lifestyle blog where I could talk about all the things going on in my life as well as fashion, beauty, and other things and that is when I created The Crafty Practitioner!

2. What do you think makes your blog unique from others? 

I try to incorporate many different things into my blog including recipes, DIY projects, crafts, link ups, fashion, giveaways, and person writing pieces.

3. What are three blogs you read that you would recommend to others? 

Life As Always - sarahandstewart.blogspot.com
You Gotta Have Hart - ugottahavehart.blogspot.com
Flying on a Rainbow - flyingonarainbow.blogspot.com

4. What is an "ice breaker" fact about yourself that most people wouldn't know? 

I thrive on to-do lists. I cannot function without them.

5. Do you have a favorite holiday tradition? What is it? 

My favorite holiday tradition now that I am married is the Christmas hustle and bustle and Justin's grandmother's house. There is so much family and it is awesome. I grew up with just my parents and myself for holidays most of the time so it was always more quiet. Justin's Gram makes handmade ravioli and homemade sauce and the holidays are just full of tradition up at her house!

And now for a yummy recipe!

Crafty Practitioner's Cornbread Casserole

 Prep Time: 15 Minutes

Cook Time: 1 Hour 10 Minutes

Servings 8-12 (depending on size)

Ingredients:

• 19 oz. Creamed Corn (Canned)
• 19 oz. Canned Whole Kernel Corn
• 3/4 Cup Yellow Cornmeal
• 1 Cup Sour Cream
• 2 Eggs (Beaten)
• 1/4 Cup Melted Butter
• 1 Cup Flour
• 1/3 Cup Sugar
• 3 tsp. Baking Powder
• 1 tsp. Salt
• Pepper to taste
• Butter or Pam for Casserole Dish

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Butter a 9 inch casserole dish.
3. Mix cornmeal and sour cream together and set that mixture aside.
4. Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and pepper together.
5. Add melted butter, eggs, creamed corn, kernel corn into dry mixture.
6. Add cornmeal mixture in.
7. Pour into buttered casserole dish.
8. Base for 60-70 minutes.

You want a piece of me??

It's true! For the very first time, I'm offering up the opportunity for you to have your very own piece of Typically Late! I'm looking for people to guest post during the week of Christmas, and I'd love to have you! If you are a blogger, that's awesome, and we can trade posts if you want. If you're not, that's great, too! Anyone can write a post (but I don't promise I won't edit it before it goes up... you know how I feel about grammar and punctuation!) and it can be about almost anything. If you're interested, send an email my way: typicallylate@gmail.com. Can't wait to hear from you!

Surprise! A Guest Post

Happy Friday! I'm still honky-tonkin' it up in Nash-Vegas, but never fear! I've got you covered. Today's post is a real treat... it's a guest post from my BFF! I've mentioned my L2 plenty of times before, but this is the first time I'm letting her dip her blogging toes into the world of Typically Late. I hope you enjoy her post! Leave her a comment if you feel so inclined, or visit her blog, which she links to at the end. Have a great weekend!

~~~~~

Hi everyone!

When Lindsay asked me (via text at 5:42 AM the day before she left) to do a guest post while she was in Nashville, I jumped at the opportunity. It can’t be that hard to do one blog post, right? I was really excited and couldn’t wait to get started. Fast forward about five minutes, and I realized I had no idea what to write. Lindsay is the writer in our little best friend relationship, while I have assumed the role of comic relief. Typically I’m not even trying to be funny, but I end up in ridiculous situations or say stupid things without really thinking about it. One thing I am good at though – amusing pictures in Microsoft Paint, and semi-homemade birthday cards.

True love - Sorry C!

C's birthday card this year

 Anyway, here goes nothing….

My husband and I have been married almost one year now (shout-out: Hi Nick!) and I have this secret ultimate dream of being a Martha Stewart-esque housewife. You know, that cooking/cleaning/crafting/creative extraordinaire who can whip up a five course meal, build the table the dinner is served on, and maintain a spotless household without breaking a sweat. In reality, I am more Paris Hilton than Martha.  In fact, it has taken the dog about a year to stop sprinting up the stairs as soon as I walk into the kitchen (I had a weekly habit of setting off the smoke alarm for a while – one new non-sensitive smoke alarm later, and I’m back in business.)

Lindsey + Stove = Smoke Alarm

To kick off this domestic goddess adventure, I asked for a sewing machine for Christmas two years ago. Two years later, I have brushed the dust off the box and actually opened it. It may have taken close to three hours and several YouTube videos to learn how to thread the machine, but I got there in the end. Now came the hard part – finding a project I could actually do. Forget learning the basics and the different stitches, I was ready to make stuff. I was positive I would be a natural at sewing and would be making my own clothes in a matter of weeks…watch your back, Christian Siriano.

See how clean and perfect it is? That's because I haven't used it...

I Googled my way through the sewing blogs and found a manageable tutorial - the One-Hour Skirt by Brett Bara. I didn’t have high hopes for the result, so rather than use extra fabric making the skirt for myself, I thought making a child-sized skirt would be more economical. Do I have a child? No. Do I have a fur child? In fact I do! Meet my pride and joy, Lily.

Lily-bear, as she is known around our house

Much to her dismay, she has served as a model for my sewing works of genius. I went through the One-Hour Skirt video, had Nick teach me how to iron (the tutorial required ironing the seams and let’s be honest; I’ve never properly ironed in my life), and ta-da! The final result:

Blue Steel

 

I am actually quite pleased with myself about this! One small step for Lindsey, one giant leap for mankind. Next stop- my own talk show.

Shameless plug alert: I admire Lindsay’s blog so much that I have decided to start one of my own. When I say I JUST started it, I actually mean I just started it – two days ago. There’s not much on there yet, but this baby is going to be awesome. You can find me at From Virginia With Love. Follow along with me, my husband, and our dog while we navigate the newlywed waters and I attempt to achieve my goal of becoming a domestic diva. Check it out!

xoxo,

Lindsey

A Guest Post! Hooray!

Today's post is something special.... C decided to put his English degree (professional writing AND creative writing, so it's really like TWO English degrees...) to use and write a guest post! Oooooh. Intriguing, right? Right.

When C said he wanted to put together something for the blog, I had no idea what to expect. The content could have been anything. What I did get surprised me, and made me laugh - so I consider that a win. Enjoy!

This picture is really just to give you a graphic example of a typical moment in our relationship.

~~~~~

So I found myself listening to Carly Rae Jepsen, this spunky little Canadian that’s infiltrating our blue-collar American Billboard Charts, and I found myself wondering two things:

1. When did I start to hate myself?
2. When did it become such a damn chore to listen to music?

The answer to my first question is pretty apparent. It was when I hit play on this URL*. Unfortunately, my second question is more difficult to answer. 

-->Editor's note: "Call Me Maybe" just came on via Shuffle on the playlist I'm currently listening to. Hilarious.

Discovering new, under-the-radar music used to be a fairly big part of my life. I loved getting my friends tuned into randoms that I found on TV shows, stumble, Genious suggestions, other friends’ collections, etc. I liked knowing that I was just wading into an ocean of untapped notes and lyrics. I’d find new bands seemingly every week and spend hours trying to find their music. I can’t pinpoint the moment this stopped, I just know that it did. 

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not upset by it; music is divisive. I spent an equal amount of time defending my music as I did gathering it. Because music is genre-oriented—how many cowboys do you see at rap shows, for example—people tend to associate themselves with the type best suited for their demographic. This leads to all-out music wars.

Basically, if music resembles the United States, most people settle in Kansas. They sample from all states. That being said, people in Oregon refuse to listen to music from Florida. They spend an insufferable amount of time defending their own music and crucifying others. During my musical heyday, I tried to hold conversations with people from every state. It was exhausting.

It’s never easy to sit back and tell someone, “I like what I like. You don’t have to like it too.” I like to think that humans, in general, are too gregarious for the opposite to be the norm. 

So back to Ms. Jepsen. While I find her music elementary, I can’t help but notice a surface-level charm. She’s not on the lyrical level of Bono or Dylan, but she’s miles ahead of Nicki Minaj and Rebecca Black. Carly’s song isn’t trying to overstep its bounds. It’s a summery, made-for-radio song that we’ll probably forget about by July. But honestly, it’s pretty catchy. And that brings me back to question one…

*Quick side note. My first impression upon seeing Ms. Jepsen, “Oh, she’s actually pretty cute.”

-->Editor-inserted photo:

Thanks, Google Images.

That led to the now-necessary Wiki search to verify that the law and my conscience allow me to have those thoughts. And remember that there’s a difference between those two**.  Good news, I’m safe and she’s older than me.

** Two quick formulas:

•  Law = 18+
•  Conscience = [(my age) / 2] + 7

~~~~~

I'm sure everyone has already seen this, but it is pretty funny....

[source]