Baby bucket list (revisting)

Find the original bucket post here

Since last August, we have definitely made better financial choices and developed healthy habits too. 

IOU Letterpress - $6

 We have been rigorously planning our dinner menu and making weekly grocery lists - this not only dramatically reduced our eating out bill, but it lets me better control what I'm eating (and giving us leftovers to avoid the cafeteria food at work)!! I also have been keeping up with my running or walking goals, as well as going to the gym with my trainer. 

Financially, we just couldn't get it together in the last 6 months. There were always things to buy, things to do, and credit cards to use for it. Then came THIS BOOK. And it put some reality to our financial excuses. (seriously, read this book.)

And with some failed attempts of paying off our credit card debt (and costly vet appts that certainly didn't help!) - We realized we were fighting a losing battle if we kept on using our credit cards for purchases. 

Starting March 1st - We stopped using our credit cards. 

18 days in and still no new charges.

We made a poster with the debt amounts on both credit cards, and a descending $1k incremental list that we will victoriously cross off until we get it down to $0. We are going to start with the smaller debt amounts to pay off first, then tackle our larger and final credit card account. It has been a constant challenge not to give in to old habits. But, again, it is so important for us to be debt free (besides the house and student loans) before we bring a baby into the world. ... Which is something we are really looking forward to do. 

How do you handle debt? 
It's been really rewarding so far this month to make some big payoffs towards our debt. I finally feel like we are on the right track to financial freedom!

Iceland: Day 3 Horseback Riding and Caving

After our fun night out, Day 3 (Tuesday) of our adventure included Horseback Riding and Caving. It was an all day adventure that we topped off with an AMAZING crepe and ice cream dessert.

 The Icelandic Horse is truly beautiful, friendly, and easy to ride. I highly recommend doing this on your visit. It was easily one of our favorite things. Spelunking on the other hand, while cool, was not worth it's cost to do. It was a relatively short out and back in a lava tube (cool!) but nothing too special to see or experience. Then there was an option to do another route back, which involved army crawling for about 15 ft. I opted to just go out the way we came in and Ben continued the other way. 

Horseback riding and Caving booked through: Arctic Adventures
Actual horseback riding done at: ishestar
Crepe Desserts: Eldur and Is

Feel Good Friday

JT IS BACK.

Stand Out

Wear this:

Lace Dress $298.00

With these:

Bandolino Wedge - SALE $39.99

Finish with:

Ann Taylor - Ombre Leaf Earrings - $48

Rent the Runway

Few things make me feel as amazing as putting on a dress, stockings, and pretty jewelry. Nights out with girlfriends, the husband, or just an afternoon wine tasting... I love dressing up.

I fondly remember when I fell in love with dressing up. It was on the way home from our annual family vacation to Delaware, we stopped at the outlet stores. And there it was: pink and white gingham dress with lots of white tulle underneath. I remember being so happy wearing it to the first day of school; And equally sad when I grew out of it. 

That is why I love this site. Rent the Runway takes quality, high end designer dresses and makes them relatively affordable for any special moment you might have: bachelorette party, anniversary dinner, weekend getaway, bridal and bridesmaid needs, etc. Their customer service is second to no one and their boxes ship quickly and are easily tracked. And they have expanded their sizes from 0 to a size 16 (kuddos RTR)!!

Please use my referral link to set up an account (it would be crazy amazing of you!)
http://www.renttherunway.com/referral/dana.brutsche

Here are some of my favorite items right now:

Looking to buy high end, designer dresses? I have the best luck at GILT. 

Totally drool worthy.  

And here is where I buy mostly all my dresses, in case you missed it.

for the love of stamps

I have such a hard time resisting anything: 

stamps. typography. or letterpress.

This time is no exception. How perfect would these stamps be for your wedding invitations?! The stamp adds a lot of character and charm! (and very inexpensive too!)

Find more at Paper Pastries.

Custom Hand lettered Wedding Invitation - $125

Find stock paper at Paper Source

Yarn Wreaths

A pretty, easy way to brighten up your front door...
   ...or completing a color palette to your room
   ...or adding a cute, feminine touch of flowers and color to any room!

ItzFitz - $45

Little Lamb Workshop - $30

FeltbyNature - $25

knockknocking - $60

Iceland Day 2: Night Adventure

With our travel package (airfare, hotel, flybus) we choose to include a Northern Lights Off-Road Adventure! 

This included pick up at the hotel, drive down to the southern coast of Iceland, seeing the black sand beaches, a huge lobster feast, and chasing the Northern Lights. Seeing the northern lights is always a gamble, it's not 100% predictable - though clear skies and a sliver of a Moon tends to make it more probable. This just so happened to be our case Monday night. It was amazing. Even the tour guide was amazed (and he chases them for part of his living!). It was a spectacular site, and we felt so lucky to have seen them!

Tour Group: Icelandic Mountain Guides
Lobster at: Fjöruborðið

Friday Feel Good

Kate Spade Floral

Gah. want all these.
Kate Spade why are you so cute all the time!
 
Find all floral lovelies here

 

Iceland Day 2: Exploring Reykjavik

Find day one recap here

Even after a pretty much sleepless flight over, landing at 6am, we promised each other that we wouldn't spend our first day sleeping. On the ride to the hotel, I admitted to Ben that his job of waking me up at 10 or even 11am would be very hard. 

We were staying at the Center Hotel: Plaza location. Our 45 minute trip from the airport (via Reykjavik Excursions - Flybus) was great - a fancy bus with wifi for the win!  When we arrived, extremely sleepy and a day late, Angel, working the front desk, was seriously the nicest guy in the history of hotels front desk employees. He was welcoming and very friendly, it was a great start to our adventure. 

And then we spent the next ten minutes figuring out how to turn on the lights in our room. (hint: it had a room key/card slot that would trigger the connection for all the lights, then you could turn on anything, if the room key was in the slot). The bathroom was very tiny, our view was great, the all hot water smelled like rotten eggs, but the rooms were warm and otherwise great!

We woke up mid morning, and got ready to get lost in the city. We walked all around, maybe about 5 miles total - saw sights, lots of cats, took pictures, had great espresso, and just plain enjoyed being tourists!

Highlights:
Espresso at Fish & More
Leif Eriksson at Hallgrímskirkja
bread bowl soup at svarta kaffi
walked the shopping area and had amazing desserts on Laugavegur

Wedding Invitations

Oh just stumbled on this cute little video our wedding invitation designer did, showcasing our invitation layout. 

We loved working with Kerri, and I super, highly recommend her talents for any announcement or stationary design needs! 

Find her here

5x7 Ruche Invitation . Vertical from Kerri Efendi Designs on Vimeo.

Friday Feel Good

When each day is over
I wish that you were closer 

than you are right now