Coffee Date & Link Love

Good morning! Come on in! Take a seat, would you like coffee or tea? I made some of these cookies would you like 1 or 5? How are you doing these days? What's been on your mind? My mind has been taken over with baby prep. I am getting so antsy now and I still have 9 ish weeks left. This sweet little bundle in my tummy loves to squirm about and stretch out. I am just getting so excited to meet him or her soon. Do you have any advice do you have for a first time momma? I ordered this sweet print for the nursery, I am very excited to hang it up.

Valentines is coming up. What fun things do you have planned? Or do you enjoy the day to stay in and make the day special at home? Clint and I aren't much for making a big deal about Valentines. Do you decorate for Valentines? This is a fun way to leave your special someone a love note, or what about this cute print or this one? I made some cute valentines mug cozies if you want one just pop over here. Ill even give you a special discount code 'coffeelove' for 20% off.

This past weekend Clint and I were visiting family but it was storming so our plans changed a bit.  The freshly fallen snow made everything so crisp and clean! 

All this snow and cold have me thinking about soups and warm comfort food. Want to swap recipes? I am always on the look out for some good healthy recipes. What are some of your favorites? Lately I have really been wanting to go vegetarian again. We will see after baby comes if I can manage to do it. Clint will never become a vegetarian so it makes meal planning a bit more difficult. Here are a few vegetarian recipes I want to try out.

Coconut Red Lentil Soup

Mushroom Kale Stroganoff

Greek Lentil Soup

What are your plans for the rest of the week? Anything out of the ordinary happening? I have a survey going on right now. I would really appreciate it if you popped over and filled it out. There is also a giveaway going on over here if you want to win some hooked by amber goodies. I hope that you have enjoyed coffee or tea  with me and that we can do it again some time soon. 

coffee date & link love

good morning. if we were meeting for coffee today i would probably not have a chai latte instead. i have just been craving one for a while now. we could chat about the new year and all the exciting things that this year holds.  i would shared my word for 2013 with you and ask you if you picked a word?  i would tell you about this great community of people who picked a word for the year too. 

if you are still looking for the perfect calendar for 2013 i would share with you this adorable calendar that you can customize from my owl barn. i love owls, do you?

if we were meeting for coffee i would ask if you have heard of the beautiful and talented hannah.

she makes the most adorable earrings, bracelets, and necklaces. 

i love everything in her shop and these adorable new necklaces?!

i mean come on, i could take one of each!  

what's your favorite from her shop?

 

if we were meeting for coffee i may have snuck a few of these into the coffee shop to share with you.  no bake cookies that combine chocolate and peanut butter together, what could be more perfect? 

they would help with the sweet tooth i have developed since being pregnant too. 

 speaking of sweet, i would ask if you were into valentines? i haven't really been in the past because it is so commercialized but if i can find a fun way to celebrate the handmade way why not?

 these plantable valentines are so darling and simple to make too. 

maybe we could spend the afternoon making some?

 *1*2*3*

there is also so many cute free printable valentines and print out there.

these darling prints are all free and way to cute.

there are also adorable prints here, here, here, here, and here.

do you decorate for valentines? i think i might try this year,

now lets see if my hubby will let me hang up these cutesy prints for valentines.

thanks for coffee/tea/latte.

hope you have a fantastic rest of the day and we can meet up again soon. 

hugs,

amber

linking up with amy and alissa

coffee date

hey friends lets catch up over a cup of joe, or tea, or a latte? i will be sipping on a coconut latte. there is something so comforting about warm drinks even if it is sweltering outside. if we were having coffee today i would tell you that i am fighting a nasty cold and it is keeping me up at night and all my hacking is keeping clint up too, bleh! 

i would also tell you that i was asked to start selling my crochet goodies in a brick and mortar store! woo!

i am excited about it and have been trying to build up my stash of goodies to sell.

i would also tell you that my momma, sista, and step dad are coming our for supper tonight which means... BBQ and smores! yes please!

 i would ask you how you are soaking in this beautiful summer? i have been loving it! it seems that clint and i are always out somewhere doing something but i wouldn't have it any other way. 

this past weekend we went to the lily festival, yes we are old people at heart and enjoy doing old people things. oh but the flowers were beautiful!

what about you?what have you been busy with this summer?

i would love to catch up with you!

 

coffee date

if we were meeting up for coffee...
i'd say lets head to a local coffee shop because i need to get out of my place for a bit.
i would ask you to people watch with me. i love people watching,

i hope you do too. {listing}

i would also ask you how you were doing? what are the highs and lows of your life right now?
i would tell you that i am doing good. still not stressed about wedding planning, everything seems to be falling into place. i would tell you that i am counting down the days until i get to see my clint every single day! it really could not come soon enough. i would also tell you that a surprising amount of people don't believe in marriage. people who i just meet tell me not to get married. most of these people are married and it makes my heart sad. i know that marriage will not be easy but i know it will be worth it.

i would ask you what your plans for the week are?
this week i am working everyday. i enjoy work but all my shifts are in the evening so it kinda eats into my social life and being an extrovert that isn't always a good thing. i need to be with people to be rejuvenated. not having this has kinda got in me in a funk right now. i'm just not myself. i need to learn that it's ok to say no to shifts that become available and take time for myself.

{source}

i would ask you what you would like prayer for? i believe that prayer is a powerful thing and that although God knows all that is going on in our lives he wants us to bring them to Him.

i hope that you enjoyed our time together and that we can do this again some time soon!

cram time

if you were to come over for coffee this morning this is what you would see.
i would still be in my jammies
i would be covered in a sea of books
i will my laptop on my lap and i would hopefully be feverishly typing away.


you see this is my last paper of the semester
i have set a personal deadline and that deadline is.... today by 4:30!
i have 2200 words left to write, then edit, format, print, and hand in!

so unfortunately a morning coffee date probably wouldn't be very fun.

hope your day is more fun than this!

Christmas-y home tour

hello and welcome
grab a cup of coffee, tea, hot chocolate, what ever Christmas-y drink you wish and join me as i give you a quick little tour of my placei live in a basement suite so as you come down the stairs you will be greeted by this lovely little wreath i made from a vine. unfortunately living in a basement means a lot of unnatural light but it is still cozy, warm and very beth and amber.
as you come in you will find our little note centre and where we drop our keys. the little gingerbread man and bird keep a good watch of the place. i found some bittersweet in the ditch and my dear clint went and cut it down for me. i'm a sucker for bringing the outdoors in. i also made some gingerbread men garland and hung it up in the bathroom.as we move into the livingroom you will find, yet again, some outside life indoors. i love red willow branches and clint once again so lovingly went and cut some down for me. our simple tree is decorated with gingerbread men and little snowmen. i made some very simple but cute (in my opinion) stockings to up. under them is a nativity scene my great great aunt bought me years ago. it is so cute and colourful.
beth and i have candles scattered e.v.e.r.y.w.h.e.r.e. and out place smells amazing because of it. i just got this bath and body works, butter and rum, candle and it always smells like baking :)on the other side of the living room is a wonderful built in desk and bookshelves. this is my sewing area and where all of our lovely Christmas music comes from. together we have a collection of books, vintage pieces passed down from grandparents, candles, and recipes books that we display here.next is my room. i'm keeping it real here friends, its the last week of school so there are papers and things laying about. i once again have branches :) there was lots of left over bittersweet so i tied it together and hung it from the ceiling. i want to make some little birds to perch on the branches. once again the gingerbread men make an appearance on yet more red willow branches. i have little cluster of candles, old bottles, perfume, and an etsy print.

this is my first place (besides dorm) so far it has been great.
i have loved decorating for Christmas for the first time in my own place.
i hope you enjoyed this little tour.
come back again some time.

blessings,
amber

sippin peppermint tea

good morning
today i'll be sipping on some peppermint teayesterday was our first really cold day
my legs went numb as i walked to school
i had forgotten what real cold felt like but now i remember and i want spring again

i woke up to a wonderful text announcing the arrival of my newest cousin
Tehay Faith Marie Branconier
she is a cutie pie and i can't wait to hold her, hug her, and kiss her!

i have been planning bits and pieces of our wedding everyday
i am loving how it is coming together
today i am meeting with the location rental guy and caterer to figure out a menu
and find out how many pennies are coming out of the piggy bank

the only problem with planning a wedding while still being in school
is that i justify not doing my homework
but it is a good thing i only have six questions and a six page paper left for this semester...
no exams!

i best go get ready to head to the city to research for my final paper.
enjoy your day!

perfect day

good morning!!

we got our first snow fall f.i.n.a.l.l.y.it got me really excited
i put christmas music on
started making some christmas cards
got my leg warmers out
did some christmas shopping
had a great evening with clint, his sister and brother in law
and to end it all off went to a matt good concert

the concert hall was built in 1906 and they have kept it looking beautiful
i didn't want to brave the icy roads so i spent the night in the city
so this morning im catching up with dear friends and sippin some nice strong coffee
since im still chillin in the city ill do some christmas shopping and such before the malls get to busy but i just need to pick up a few things since this year im trying to do handmade gifts

what handmade gift ideas do you have? leave me a link if you have tutorials on your blog i'd love to see some different ideas

have a fantastic tuesday!

imperfect beauty

Good morning friends!
I would love if you could all come over and we could sit on the back deck sipping homemade iced coffee on this hot summer day.
We could listen to the birds chirp about.
Enjoy the smiles of the flowers and the radiant array of colours dancing about.
If we were lucky we may be able to see a butterfly or two.

Clint and I came across this butterfly while we were hiking this past weekend.
I love it.

It's beautiful.
still so perfectly intricate.
yet broken.

My heart was touched by this butterfly.
it's imperfect beauty.
it will not be forgotten.

What little things have you been seeing around that have touched your hearts?

hugs,
Amber

good sunny morning!

Good morning !!

How about some fresh homemade ice tea... it tastes like sunshine!


So glad that you have popped over today. We would most definitely be sitting outside in the front yard soaking up the sun while we chat. I just can't get enough sun, the warmth is the best. It feel like a hug from God.

If you were over this morning I would tell you about the great time I had this weekend at home {pictures to come} my mom had a great 40th birthday bash. Surrounded by tons of great friends and family. There was a ton of laughter! it was great.

What did you do for the weekend? Low key? Busy?

Oh my you must see these beauties!

I love peonies, they are so beautiful.

Also the music that I would have playing in the back ground would be Jacob & Lily.
I love them right now.

Have a great day!
Blessings,
Amber

check out this giveaway and this one too.

also huge discount at life handmade
CELEBRATE = 50% off

linking up for some coffee

sushi, pools & popcorn

Good morning dear friends!
How are ya doing this fine morning?
I will have a latte with cinnamon lightly sprinkled on top.
What are you having this morning?

Over coffee today I would be kinda on the giddy side because last night was date night! We headed to the city and had copious amounts of yummy sushi! It's kind of a date night must.first off sushi pizza?! what?! and i thought that the crabmeet was pretty funny.
Also if you are ever at a lose of what to do on a hot afternoon with kids, or kids at heart... kiddie pools are great!
especially when you try and get them to get their face wet by showing them how to do the motor boat.
Last night we looked around sugar mountain, which is an old train car turned into a candy shop! Super fun! And looky what I found! I thought pink popcorn had gone extinct. I never really liked the stuff but it still brings back memories.

Also I am now playing words with friends, if you play too start a game with me Abranconier. You will be sure to win because spelling is not my forte... at all.

Lastly be on the look out this week as I will be celebrating having 100 followers (better late than never right?)

Blessings,
Amber

oh deer, my dear

Good morning to you all and happy Tuesday! I'm not so much up for coffee maybe a mango smoothie would be more like it. If we were meeting this morning I would tell you what a great weekend I had. It was so great on Sunday my momma, sister and I went to the park after church for a walk around to enjoy the sun, warmth and nature!

{little bambi}

{trying to eat Erin}
{we love each other}

{we really do}{momma and her girlies}
{serious faces aren't really our thing}

It was a great day! Love spending time with these lovely ladies!!

How are you doing today?
What's going on in your life this week?

Blessings,
Amber

coffee date

caramel macchiato & a fire place please!

Hello friends!!

Oh how I wish so much that we could have a real coffee/tea/breakfast date today! The weather it blech and all I want to do is sit in a coffee shop(with a fire place) and chatter away.


I would tell you that I love work a lot but yesterday I was covered in boogers, and unknown substances. I guess that's the way it goes at day care right?! Also kids say the most hilarious things. At our day care we encourage kids to talk to each other if they are having an issue instead of instantly telling on them. Well one little girl had stepped on another and they both came running over to me crying. I told them that they needed to talk to each other first. The girl who had been stepped on said, " Ya know it make me really sad when you step on me. I have bones in my body you know and if you step on me it will hurt me. I also don't like being your friend when you do that." I just had to sit back and smile. Then they went running off laughing.

I would also tell you that I was at a double bridal shower last night! So much fun! I love seeing all the presents that people get. I am also needing to make an appetizer for work on Wednesday for a 'going on maternity leave party' any ideas? Any good recipes? I was thinking hummus or mango salsa with stuff to dip but, I would love ideas too!

One last thing! I would tell to just brag on my boyfriend. I'm pretty sure he is the best! I love him so much and each day I am falling more in love with him. He is just the sweetest.

Hugs,
Amber

oh ps... check this out!
linking here

breaky-coffee-tea date

Hello friends!

If we were meeting for a breaky date I would be having peppermint tea with honey please! It just so happened that i woke up with a bit of a stuffy nose and a scratch in my throat. I suppose that this is one of the perks of working at a day care. Another wonderful perk is that I would actually have time to go out and have a breaky/coffee/yea date because work, for me, doesn't start til 10:30.

{clearly not pep tea but a yummy drink I had a while back}

I would probably also tell you that I am loving my job so far. I have been working at the day care for a week now and love every minute of it. Kids are just the best! They say the most hilarious things, do the most hilarious things, and they love to love! (There are always hugs being given!)

I would also tell you that I am reading One Thousand Gifts, or at least trying to. You must know that I do not enjoy reading but I have heard so many wonderful things about this one that I had to give it a try. When I went to buy it that lady said this book will change your life. So maybe I'm a bit scared to dive right in. Growing and being stretched are good but can be very scary at the same time.

And I would like to tell you that I am trying to grow as many herbs this summer so that I will be able to freeze them and use them through out the year. My mom is also growing some produce for me. It is very exciting since I am going to try my hand in vegetarianism for a while. It's on my list of 25 by 25.

Oh my I have been chatting, what about you?! What is new in your life? What are you going through right now? What would you tell me if we were having a breaky/coffee/tea date this morning?

linking up for some virtual coffee.

Blessings,
Amber