Because I Said So Reader Survey

Happy Wednesday!

It's not the beginning of the year or even THAT close to the end of the year. But, lately, I've been suffering from a tiny bit (read HUGE BIT) of writer's block wondering what to post and what my readers want to read.

That's where I hope y'all can come in! It would be so so helpful if you could fill out this reader survey. The survey is anonymous, but please don't leave any hateful feedback!

P.S. There will be some changes coming to Because I Said So in the next few weeks! I'm planning on moving my blog to Wordpress.org and going self hosted. So in addition to all of your wonderful suggestions, I'll also have an all new blogging platform! YAY!

October Tidbits

If you haven't read my "tidbits" before, you can read them here and here. I write them when I have so
much to write about, but they don't make for very good blog posts on their own.

Tidbits: for when you have so much going on and nothing going on all at the same time.

Something about this weather, y'all. Fall makes everything better. I want to go everywhere and do all of the things and take cute, artsy pictures of it all.

I don't know what it is, but it's definitely a scientific fact. October is "good mood" month. Take this morning for example. I literally rolled out of bed, went outside, said yep it's a good day and ran 2 miles at 8:30AM. Who am I? #boombaby

But really, can every day be this great?

Shirt: Land's End (also, similar in red here) || FitBit cover: Tory Burch

• Whenever I get stressed about the wedding planning or have a million doubts going through my head, Josh will tell me, "When I gave you that ring, it came with a promise." And then I proceed to melt into a puddle.

• My dad biked 150 miles this weekend to help raise money and awareness for Multiple Sclerosis. The weather was perfect and I can't think of a better way to spend the weekend--he's done this race almost every year since I can remember. Maybe next year I'll challenge myself to do it too! Find more information here.

• The Steelers won today and you know what they say...happy (almost) husband, happy life.

• I never realized how much joy a clean house brings! When I don't have any dishes in the sink and the kitchen is clean, bless.  P.S. I'm probably turning into my mother. 

• Still excited about Fall TV shows. But, I hate waiting an entire week to find out what happens next!

• I downloaded the Think Dirty app yesterday--which basically tells you how toxic your beauty products are on a scale of 0 to 10 (0 being the best + 10 being the worst)--and honestly, we need to throw everything out and start over again. Everything labeled "natural" or "green" is just as bad for you if not worse! My goal is to eventually have a chemical free house a year from now!

I hope everyone is enjoying this weather as much as I am! (Literally siting outside on the porch blogging right now). Life is good.

Your Guide to Fall TV

I've never been one to keep up with TV shows. For whatever reason, I drop off after the first couple of episodes. But now, it's all changed. Maybe it's because I have my own DVR or because I went to a media event and got to preview some of ABC's new fall shows or because the shows that are out are JUST THAT GOOD. This year,  I'm all for fall TV. Here's what I'm watching (and recording):

Timeless (NBC || Mondays @ 10/9c)
I started watching this show on a whim--mainly because I had been watching football and the commercials kept coming on. Such a good decision, y'all.

The first episode was this Monday (Oct. 3rd) so you still have time to jump on the bandwagon. This show encompasses history and time travel and fighting bad guys all in one. Go record it now!

Designated Survivor (ABC || Wednesdays @ 10/9c)
This is one of the shows I got to preview before it was out on TV (working at a marketing agency has it's perks) and I knew when I saw the pilot episode that I would be watching this obsessively every Wednesday night come hell or high water. It's that good.

Basically, there's one survivor (Kiefer Sutherland) when The Capitol gets bombed and he's thrown into being president. The doubt he can make it as president, politics, and race to find out who did it encompasses each episode. It's a much watch.

Once Upon A Time (ABC || Sundays @8/7c)
This has always been one of my favorite shows ever since I starting binge-watching the first couple of seasons on Netflix a year or so ago. I'm all caught up and eagerly watching every episode! Fairytales meet the real world, yes please.

What's on your must watch list this Fall?

P.S. I'm still waiting for the next season of Jane the Virgin to come out later this month! The season premier is October 17th at 9/8c!

Fall 2016 Bucket List

Fall is my most favorite season (Christmas season--yes it's a thing--is basically tied though) for a few reasons: the weather, the smells, and the activities!

I love that it's no longer 100 degrees with 1000% humidity. Literally sweating even thinking about it. Summer is great and all, but give me sunny and 70 degrees and I'm one happy camper. I love the smell of bonfires and the local fair. I also love the smell of coffee, even though I don't drink it anymore! And, oh, the activities. Since the beginning of fall last week, I've had some time to think about all the things I want to accomplish this season and I'm sharing a few of them with y'all below!

1. Go to Bath and Body Works and stock up on my favorite "fall smell," Autumn.

2. Get married! It's getting so close and I'm so excited and there are still so many things to be done. #neverendinglists

3. Go to a fair. I love the fair. I've loved going to the fair since I was a little kid. Last year, I went with my dad and sisters and while we didn't ride any rides (as a kid they didn't look so dangerous), we stopped and visited ALL of the animals!

4. Bake a pie! I'm attempting gluten free quiche this week for dinner so if that goes well, I may go on a baking spree.

5. Get all of my fall clothes from last year from my parents house and buy more, of course. I left them all there and only brought my "summer clothes" when I moved into our house. And now that chokers are a thing, I may have to go buy me one (or at least a dress with one built in)!


What's on your bucket list? 

Save the Date Magnets

There are so many different kinds of save the dates out there. Postcard style, DIY, magnet, the list goes on--How's a girl to choose? Let me give you a hint: I didn't! I made Josh choose. I gave him a few options after deciding I couldn't narrow it down anymore. I'm working on "delegating", can you tell?

We found our Save the Dates on Minted.com and decided to with the magnet style! (You can find the specific style we picked, here) While it's a little pricier for the magnet, it's so convenient. 

We thought of it this way: our magnet supply is dismal having just moved in a few months ago, so anything that's sent as a magnet already, is a-ok in our book! We figured our guests would think about it the same way.

We also decided to slip in a card for family members that we may only see once a year, once every five years, never met before (I haven't met some of Josh's extended family and he hasn't met some of mine!), to visit our wedding website! I actually used the "business card" template from Minted.com for these and they turned out so good.

My next challenge is picking out invitations and I'll likely get them from Minted because it's just so easy! P.S. If you shop Minted.com, use my code for a free $25 towards your next purchase!

Back Porch Reading

One of my favorite past times and stress relievers is getting lost in a good book. I know I'm stressed when I haven't read a book in a while! If it weren't for Josh forcing me out of the house to do things, I'd probably stay at home and read all the books and eat all of the soup out of this mug (kidding, but only slightly).

P.S. Only 75 days until I'm a MRS.

My mom and I have a book trade going where she'll read a bunch of books and then pass them to me. When I'm done, I'll trade them in at a local bookstore and the cycle continues. Recently, she gave me 

the best book to get sucked into, so to speak. 

The Little Beach Street Bakery. Set in a quaint English village, a failed business woman learns to love and start over again. As with most stories, it's a little more complicated than that (otherwise it wouldn't be much of a book). I liked the book so much that I immediately downloaded the sequel, Summer at Little Beach Street Bakery and finished that one in record time.

NOTE: You'll want to read The Little Beach Street Bakery first. It's one of those series where you can't just hop in, even though the author does a great job of catching you up.

Now that the weather is starting to get cooler (only slightly and early in the mornings), I'm trying to utilize the back porch more...to read, obviously! And, I can't wait to decorate for Fall and Christmas!

You can shop some of my back porch picks below!

While the Guys Watch Football, The Girls Will Play

Lately, every Thursday after work, my friends and I go out for margaritas. A little bit of good ole fashioned gossip and Mexican food is good for the soul, right? I'm here to tell you--IT IS!

Best part? I don't have to watch Thursday night football. Don't tell Josh.

Now, don't get me wrong, I like watching THE STEELERS play, but I don't have to watch every.single.game. See post here.

Girl's nights are the perfect way to get through the rest of the week (aka Fridays) and to get over the first part of the week. We like to pretend we don't have to work the next day and end up talking for hours.

Popular topics include: our fur babies, blogging, boyfriends/fiances/husbands, the fact that chokers are actually back in (but really--we saw like 40 last time we went out), and how we can put away so much salsa, queso, and chips! 

If I'm being honest, it's kinda sorta hard to make new friends after college and keep in touch with your old ones. Guys can grab a beer watch some football and instantly be BFFs. Girls, not so much. So, I'm entirely grateful for GNOs, the friends I've had for years, and the new friendships I'm forging now!

Cheers to the weekends, handcrafted margaritas, and many more GNOs!

P.S. You'll want to check out Kait around the Kingdom and Live FabuLiz!