Happy Tuesday!

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend.  It was slightly rough getting back into the swing of things today.  But, it's definitely nice that tomorrow is already Wednesday.  Our weekend was absolutely awesome. We had some much needed down time, family time, cleaning time and just being together time!

Some favorite's from the long weekend...

+ Cucumbers and ranch for an afternoon snack.  It was so refreshing!

+I made this for dinner Sunday night and it was oh.my.goodness. This is a spicy sausage pasta dish that will seriously impress you! It is beyond easy and a perfect weeknight meal.  This dish is packed full of flavor and goodness! I found the recipe here!

+Memorial Day outfit.  I'm totally loving wide leg + linen pants.  They are so much cooler than jeans and I love them with wedges.  I'm addicted.

gray, "flowey" tank - TJMaxx

nude tank- Francesca's

white linen pants {wide leg} - Altar'd State

+This is how I started my morning today.  Hazelnut coffee with cream and sugar.  I'm so thankful for coffee in the mornings.  Such a wonderful way to start the day...

I also did some organizing in our closet this weekend, and I'll be posting about that sometime this week.  I hope y'all had a wonderful Tuesday and I'd love to hear how you spent your weekend.

love, the Blair Abode  

Our life lately...

This week has been somewhat busy for us, yet I'm trying to remember what I did. Ever feel like that? I didn't do the greatest job at capturing our week via pictures, but I do have a few to share.  I started back at the daycare/summer elementary day camp this week.  It was a great first week, and I'm excited about the summer ahead with this awesome group of kids.  It's so fun to watch them grow and change over the summer.

Here's a peek into our week:

+I ordered these wedges. I first mentioned these here.

+It has taken me a while to warm up to the color blocking trend. I love it on other people, but just wasn't feeling it when I tried to pull it off.  I guess that my obsession with all things neutral is to blame.  But, this week I found these coral skinny's and I was sold.  I will probably pair them with neutral tops mainly, but the shade of coral is perfect.

I found these at JCPenny's and they are MNG Mango brand for $40.

+I'm going to give you a peek into a messy bedroom.  I'll admit, I've slacked this week.  I really didn't do a good job at keeping things picked up.  I have fallen behind in laundry and our bedroom.  Maybe I'll find motivation today? I sat a laundry basket of clothes that needed to be laundered on the floor, and then I jumped into the shower.  Mozart, our precious baby had some plans up his sleeve. This is where I found him when I was done showering. Thanks for the laugh, baby boy.

Here's my baby out like a light on the couch

We are so thankful for a long weekend. Happy Memorial Day! We will be spending some time with Ty's family tomorrow and I cannot wait. Love weekends like this!

-Menu for the upcoming week-

Sunday: Spicy Sausage Pasta

Monday: Dinner at Ty's parents

Tuesday: Taco Tuesday

Wednesday: Leftovers or Buffalo Chicken

Thursday: Red Beans and Rice

Friday: Leftovers

Saturday: Mini Weekend Getaway for Hubs and I out of town!

Have a wonderful long weekend! 

love, the Blair Abode

Our life lately...

It has been quite eventful around here lately, but with refreshing down time for me.  It has been such a relaxing past week or so and I thought I'd give you a peek into our life via pictures...

+I graduated college on May 12th.   It was one of the best days ever.  My family gave me the most perfect party ever complete with Mexican food, family/friends and so. much. fun.  I graduated Magna Cum Laude, and it feels so good to be done. 

+I'll have to do an entire post devoted to my gorgeous gifts. Here's a preview: the gorgeous mint green amethyst ring Ty got me. 

+We enjoyed an afternoon together this week with a delicious shake from Braum's.  I got mint chocolate chip, of course.

After getting our shakes, we headed to the Bentonville Square.  The Square is the cutest, most sweetest place.  I love spending time there, and enjoying the sunshine.  Also, the very first Walmart is at the square.  It's totally adorable. Here she is:

+I did some freezer cooking with one of my best friends. We took it pretty easy this time and just cooked up ground beef with carrot, onion and celery, shredded chicken and twice baked potatoes.  Now, our meals will be way easier to plan and fix each evening. Entire post devoted to freezer cooking coming soon.

+Our first anniversary is May 21st, 2012.  We decided to eat dinner Saturday night as our celebration.  I'm sure I'll talk Ty into eating Mexican on the actual day, but we picked Outback as our treat. Of course, you cannot go to Outback and not get their famous Wallaby Darn.  It's the best peach drink you've ever tasted.

Their french onion soup is to die for. I had their baby back ribs as my meal, but cannot pass up a cup of the soup before my meal.

A few pictures from throughout the night. Myself, Mozart and Ty before we headed out to eat.  Mozart was really excited that his Momma and Daddy are celebrating ONE year together! 

The dress I wore for our dinner.  This is one of my graduation presents from my Aunt Tam. Is that not the funnest dress ever? 

love, the Blair Abode

Things I love

Ahhh! Saturday Morning. It doesn't get any better than this.  Here are some things that must happen in my weekends: 

My Saturday mornings always begin with this.  There is nothing better than sleeping in until 8, and then coming downstairs and making coffee.  My sister-in-law actually told me about a trick for coffee.  She adds cinnamon into her filter before brewing the coffee.  I did that this morning, and it is so heavenly. Try it! I did about 1/2 teaspoon.

Hubs and I usually eat Mexican food Friday night, and I so look forward to my enchiladas and margarita. It helps me through the week.. not kidding.  I also find time to shop, organize and plan the coming week.  I find so much refreshment in weekends that we are able to be home. 

I'm looking for a graduation dress, and I'm going to include a few pictures.  These are not the actual dresses I have my eye on.  I haven't been able to find anything that I have liked enough to buy.  The pictures are just examples of styles I am thinking of.  Here are my options: 

1. A dressy, sophisticated dress.  This would require the most $, and possibly wearing heels.  Here's Antonio Melani's Celo Lace dress.  I have actually seen this one at Dillard's and it is gorgeous.  Not sure I need something this dressy? 

2. A summery, sun dress.  Possibly made of cotton.  Fairly casual, and I would be able to wear a flat, "strapy" sandal. Here is Loft's Surplice dress.  I have actually tried this on in chocolate brown.  It's a really cute fit, but totally casual and made of cotton.  I have some darling summery heels I could do with this + jewelry.  Is that enough?  

3. Wearing a dress I already own.  Of course, this option makes the most sense, but sounds like the least amount of fun. Ya know what I mean? 

What is your favorite option? 

love, the Blair Abode

Welcome to Our Abode...

a place in which a person resides; residence; dwelling;habitation; home.

Let me start by introducing myself.  My name is Darian Blair.  I am married to my wonderful husband, Tyler.  We have a precious Havamalt baby boy, Mozart.  That's a Havanese and Maltese mixed together.  It really doesn't get any cuter than this. Does it?

Tyler and I got married in May of 2011.  He is an electrical engineer and I am graduating in two weeks with a degree in early childhood education. Oh, how happy I am to be finishing.  Now, just waiting on that job!  

I decided to title this blog, "The Blair Abode" because I want to share my adventures around this abode of ours!  Hubs and I live in a town-house, and I always, I mean always am up to something.  Whether that is organizing, cleaning, shopping or planning.. I'm always looking for ways to improve our life style and make life more easy and peaceful.  Life is hectic enough! I strive to make our home a place that we can come to after a long day and find refuge and comfort.

The last several months I have been an organizing machine.  Not that we were messy before, but I realized how much more smoothly life goes when EVERYTHING has a place.  I'm seeing the benefits of that, and I want to share and enjoy this journey with others.

On this blog you will find projects I am doing/have done, and things that I have found to be helpful.  Now, I by no means am proclaiming to be a professional, I see this blog as one more way I can be organized while also sharing with others! So, join me on this journey!

Welcome to the Blair Abode... Kick your shoes off and stay a while!

Here are a few picture of us

Our Wedding Day.. So in love!

The next two pictures are from a styled shoot we did by Melissa McCrotty. Check her out! She is beyond fabulous!

Love, the Blair Abode