Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Fourteen Days of Valentine's | 2018

Hello everyone!
For the past several years I have given Erik the 14 days of Valentine's as his Valentine's day present.
Each year it has gotten harder and harder to try not to repeat items but I was able to think of a few more this year.
Here is what I came up with:

Day 1
Mints
You take my "breath" away!


Day 2
Milky Way
You are "out of this world!"


Day 3 
Payday
I hit the "Jackpot" with you!


Day 4
Halo Top Ice Cream
You are my "angel!"


You could do any brand of ice cream and say you make my heart "melt."

Day 5
Starburst
You make my heart "burst!"


Day 6
Link Amiibo
So glad we are "linked" together!


Full disclosure this is one of Erik's current Amiibos. His new one is still in the mail. 

Day 7
Airhead Xtreme Sours
You make me "lightheaded!"


Day 8
Jolly Ranchers
Have a "jolly" Valentine's day!


Day 9
Hershey's Hugs
Sending "hugs" your way!


Day 10
Peach Tea
You are "tea"-rrific!


Day 11
Reese's Hearts
You give me all the "heart eyes!"


I made an emoji to go with this saying and used two of the red Reese's hearts for the eyes.

Day 12
Honey Bunches of Oats
I "cereal"-sly love you!


Day 13
Diet Mountain Dew Code Red
You are "red hot!"


 Day 14
Bag of Pebble Ice
Netflix and "chill?"


My family is obsessed with pebble ice...

I love this Valentine's tradition!
It's so versatile and doesn't take a lot of time. 
What are you getting your lover for Valentine's day?
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Monday, January 29, 2018

My Monday | The Comparison Game

Hello everyone!
I'm sure you are no stranger to what has been going on with social media lately...
It has made me so sad to see social media shown in such a negative light.
For me it has always been a source of inspiration, motivation and a lot of times a big old slice of humble pie...
I follow many amazing people who share their lives, the up and downs and who offer words of encouragement and positivity. 
I have created a space where I know I can go and leave feeling better and ready to take on the world. 
Now I'm not dumb...
I know that not everyone is going to make you feel good, especially on the internet.
If that is the case DO NOT follow them.
It's as simple as that.
I have unfollowed so many people who have made me feel negative emotions and I know that is why I appreciate the space I have now.
 Most of the time it has been more about me than the person I unfollow.
I will see things they have posted and mean thoughts pop into my head. 
When that happens I stop and reflect about why I feel that way and try to decipher where that emotion comes from.
Most of the time it's because I am not in a good place.
I am upset that I am not skinny, rich or have the career I want.
It's not their fault they hit a sensitive nerve but I will unfollow them because I know that is what I need.
If I really love them I usually go back to following them once I have overcome my difficult time. 
I am sure that you have heard the phrase "comparison is the thief of joy"
I love that quote but recently discovered this one that went into a little more detail. 


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Comparison is thief of EVERYTHING!
I think that is so true and I hate the power we give other people when we compare ourselves to them.
Focus on yourself.
Focus on your goals.
Focus on your achievements.
Cheer other's on their journey's
Celebrate other's victories!
This might take some training, I am still working on it, but it is honestly the best feeling when you feel genuinely happy for someone else's accomplishments.
Right before the big Social Media controversy hit I noticed comparison came up in several of my daily conversations.
Do you ever compare yourself to your sisters and feel bad?
No! I have three amazing sisters who have great lives.
They have spacious houses, beautiful healthy children but guess what?
I am not them.
You follow a lot of successful people on Instagram does it make you feel unworthy?
Nah! I love following people who chased their dreams and succeeded. 
It encourages me to continue to chase mine. 


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Social Media can be consuming.
I know several people who are OBSESSED with following people they hate to see what is going on in their lives.
I have been guilty of this too!
Your emotions are controlled by that person.
They had a bad day?
Wahoo!
They had a good day?
Why can't I have a good day?!
It is so unhealthy.
Unfollow them!
You do not need that negativity in your life.
Do not give that person power over you.
You are in charge of what you surround yourself with.
Choose good people!
Kick the negative nasties to the curb.
Okay...
Rant over.

All my love.
Autumn

PS: I had to stop myself from putting hundreds of inspirational quotes in this post...
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Monday, January 22, 2018

My Monday | Spread Love

Hello everyone!
As I was brainstorming content for February I decided I really wanted to focus on spreading some love around.
I have always loved Valentine's Day and the excuse it gives to show love to those closest to me.
I decided on a few things I could drop off on friend's and family's porches. 
Drinks, flowers, donuts, dinner. 
Nothing too fancy.
After Scout passed away we were blown away by all the love and support we received.
We haves piles and piles of goodies currently in our house.
I decided that I didn't need to wait till February to spread the love and have committed to at least one "drop off" a week.
It will be a great excuse for me to get out of the house, focus on others and hopefully let them feel some of the love we have been so generously given.


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Over the weekend we had a big snow storm hit our city.
We received at least six inches of snow.
Erik and I were hanging out inside our house one morning when I heard some noise outside.
I peaked out the window to see our neighbor and her son shoveling our driveway and walkways.
I was so blown away because there was SO much snow and they were dedicating a portion of their morning in the cold to do this for the youngest people on the block.
Not only did they shovel it but they salted it.
And not for the first time either...
They had no idea that Erik and I had recently lost our Scoutie and what it meant to us for them to take some time out of their day.

I hope their example and my goal can encourage you to do some good to those around you.
There have been times where I have found myself feeling like I don't have much to offer because I don't have the time or money.
It is so simple to make someone's day.
Drop off a homemade goodie, send a text, shovel a driveway, pay for the person behind you in the drive thru, give someone a smile or a compliment.
It doesn't take much and it might be exactly what they needed that day. 
Wherever you are whatever you may be experiencing I hope you can feel my love for you.

All my love,
Autumn

PS: If you would like to follow me spreading some love I will be posting my "drop offs" on my Instagram feed and stories.
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Friday, January 19, 2018

Winter Twig Votives

Hello everyone!
During the winter months I always like to add candles to our home to make it feel a little more cozy during the dark winter nights. 
Our house is so bare once the Christmas decorations come down that I wanted to add some decor.
I decided to make twig votives to help me accomplish both of these goals!


You will need:
Glass Votives
Votive Candles
Craft Twigs
Spray Paint
Glue Gun
Glue Sticks


Measure the craft sticks from the bottom of the votive to the top of the votive and break.
Repeat until you have at least thirty twigs per votive.
Spray paint twigs to your desired color.
I wanted my twigs to look like birch tree twigs because birch trees are white and say winter to me.
I couldn't find any birch tree craft twigs so I decided to paint them.
You can keep your twigs plain or paint them any color you prefer. 
Once the twigs are completely dry use your glue gun and place a line of glue down one side of a twig.
Place onto glass votive immediately and press to secure it into place.
Continue around the votive until you have covered the glass.
Repeat and create as many votives as you like. 
Add a candle to the center, light and enjoy!


These were such an easy craft to make!
I thought the twig votives would be perfect for winter as most of our trees are bare and just twigs.
I think these would be perfect for fall as well.
How do you decorate your house during January?
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Monday, January 15, 2018

My Monday | Take Care of Yourself

Hello everyone!
Today I wanted to talk about the importance of taking care of yourself.
Over the last several months I have realized the importance of listening to your body and what it needs.

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When life gets busy I tend to focus more on what needs to be accomplished or what others need and all of my needs immediately fall to the wayside. 
I don't think it is a bad thing to want to take care of others, you just can't forget to take care of yourself in the process.
As I mentioned in my New Years post I am currently unemployed.
I quit my job last October and it has given me the opportunity to slow down and listen to my body.
It was a much needed break to focus on my mental health.

At the beginning of the month my depression hit me hard.
It usually does in January but this year I actually had the time to take care of myself
I listened to my body and took it slow.
I mean real slow...
Usually I can get several things off of my to do list in a day but instead I took the entire day to clean two rooms. 
Two rooms...
And by clean I mean pick up. 
No dusting, vacuuming, etc.
At the end of the day it may not feel like you did much but you took care of yourself and that is what is important.

A few years ago I worked in a management position in the customer service field.
I spent all day running back and forth between seven employees, hundreds of customers and their needs.
It was exhausting and very time consuming.
Most days it would be three o clock in the afternoon and I would realize I had not had anything to eat or drink that day.
I never took the time to take care of myself.
I ran myself ragged and ended up getting sick.
The doctor's couldn't figure out what was wrong with me.
They put me on bedrest and I took a week off of work and eventually got better.
The doctors never found out what was wrong with me but I honestly feel like my body was telling me to take a break.

Please take the time to take care of yourself.
As they say you can't pour from an empty cup.
Listen to your body.
Stay in bed and watch trashy TV.
Go for a walk.
Take a whole day to clean two rooms.
Take a bubble bath.
Whatever your body is telling you you need to do, DO IT!
But be honest with yourself as well.
That day in bed can easily turn into a week and chances are you don't really need that. 
 How do you take time for yourself?
I'd love to hear.

All my love,
Autumn
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Monday, January 8, 2018

My Monday | Taking A Break

Hello everyone.
The past week has been a hard one for us.
We said goodbye to our baby Scout a few days ago.
He was diagnosed with cancer last August and I am sad to say it finally took him.


If you have been following us for awhile you know that Scout was our baby.
We were those crazy dog people you always hear about.
We threw him birthday parties, Santa Clause and the Easter Bunny visited him and Scout was the only one we could justify buying a monthly subscription box for. 
Our hearts are broken and we are trying to adjust to the fact that he is gone.
We got Scout a few months after we were married. 
We have always been the three amigos.
Now that he is gone it's hard to imagine what life will be like. 
It also feels like we lost the first few years of our marriage.
Scout was such a comfort to me whenever I was having a hard time.
If you didn't know I deal with depression and anxiety. 
I always told Erik that he could heal whatever I was going through.
The loss of Scout has not been easy for my mental health and it will be hard to deal with in the future.
There were so many things we had looked forward to doing with Scout.
Holidays, trips to the cabin, but the hardest thing for me has been the realization that Scout will not meet our children. 
Scout was so kind and gentle with all our our nieces and nephews.
I loved watching them play together.
I know he would have been the best big brother. 
I absolutely love sharing my life here with you but I feel it will be best for us if we take some time off to grieve and enjoy each others company.
It won't be a long break but it will be quiet over here for a few days or so. 
Thank you for all of your love and support.

All my love,
Autumn
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Wednesday, January 3, 2018

Hagen Family 2017

2017


Each year I make a video recap for my family to enjoy on New Years Eve.
Here is 2017.
What are your 2018 New Years Resolutions?



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Monday, January 1, 2018

My Monday | Plan For The New Year

Hello everyone!
And hello 2018!
This year I will not be posting a Makeover Monday every week.
It has gotten to the point where I do not have the time and money to keep it up!
I will still post when we do an update to the house. 
I am hoping about once a month...
I also wanted to take Monday's in a different direction this year.
I have gotten a lot of feedback regarding my content and how perfect my life looks.
I don't want to ever give off the appearance of perfection.
My life is far from it. And that's okay!
So I thought we would cut through all of the fluff and get a little personal here every Monday.


Our first topic: my plans for 2018.
I am such a planner...
I like to plan out every single detail of my life.
With the start of the new year I would normally have a list of goals I want to accomplish and at least five or six baby steps of how to get there.
Last year I set the largest goals I had ever imagined and I didn't complete a single one.
Some difficult things came up and changed our direction.
It really changed me and engrained in my mind that you cannot actually plan life.
For the first time in a long time I have no idea what this year will bring.
I am staring it out with no job and no plans.
It is so unlike me...
Can I tell you how terrifying it is?
But can I also tell you how exhilarating it is?
The only goal I have is to focus on what feels good and chase it.
There will be some big highs (checking items off my bucket list) and big lows (we don't expect Scout to be with us much longer.)
And I cannot wait to share every single moment with you.
So whether you have your goals written down or plan to take it one day at a time like me I wish you the best.
Know that I am cheering you on every step of the way.
I hope this year brings you happiness you never thought imaginable.
2018 let's do this!

All my love,
Autumn
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