Shirts & Pants: Marshalls, Shoes{Left}: Target, Shoes{Right}: Payless

Okay so I need to get over my insecurities & start having Andrew take actual pictures with my nice camera for future outfit post's. {There's just something about having photos taken of me that makes me uncomfortable... Suggestions to get over this?!}

ANYWAY... This past weekend I went a little crazy when shopping at Marshall's. Honestly, I never shop there, I always pass it up and go straight to the mall. Well I can now say that will not be the case anymore!! I spent a decent amount of money but got SO much cute stuff for Fall, seriously it was ahhhh-mazing!!!!

The outfit on the left... I want this shirt in every single color. I'm a huge fan of blouses like these but never even considered buying on in a cotton material, boy was I missing out! This shirt is seriously the most comfortable thing I've worn in a while! The skinnies {I have them on right now} were such a lovely find, I have a huge issue finding jeans that fit me. I have large thighs & a small-ish waist which makes finding jeans that fit & look decent on me, HARD. Again, I want these in every color they had... Bonus?! They were each only $15, total steal! **The boots, which you can't really see... I believe they are from Target but I bought them last year so I forget all the details but they are my go-to flat brown boots for fall & winter!**

Now onto the outfit on the right. Jeans, same as the outfit above. The sleeveless blouse {which has a solid black collar, apparently collar's are in this season, personally not a huge fan, so this is as close as I'll get to that trend... You can't really see it but I promise it's there!} was extremely comfortable and so light weight. I wore a black tank underneath it because it was a little see-through. This blouse was $20, $20 well spent! My shoes I bought last year sometime from Payless, I think they were $15 but I don't really remember. I paired this outfit with my faux leather jacket to walk from bar to bar {wore it out Saturday night with my girls!}. I also ended up changing my shoes to some boots I bought from Target so this is what it ended up looking like...

***Pay no attention to my crazy hair, I was not entirely prepared to take this picture obviously***

Hey there!!! So for today's post I have something extremely special to share with you all. This May one of my friends got engaged in one of the most adorable ways that I have heard, here is her story in her own words...

Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend!! {P.S. sorry for the late post, Monday's just aren't agreeing with me lately :( }

Well, Andrew & I hosted our very first BBQ in the new house this past Saturday & I would say it was an absolute success.

Unfortunately I do not have many pictures during the event {We were busy mingling with family & friends, drinking some beer & playing ladder ball!}, however I have a few of the house all set up & looking fantastic... I was quite proud of it all

Yummy food, there was way more by the time people started showing up & bringing dishes to share!

I made labels for all of the condiments

Hot dogs & Hamburgers galore!

The drink station :)

Our living room all ready for the guests!

By the end of Saturday night just about all of the food was gone, the punch, devoured... All we have left is a refrigerator full of beer... & let's be real, there could be worse things! ;P

So, since I had such a lack of photos from the weekend, I decided that I would share a recipe with you all. This is by far my most favorite summer dish to whip together, either for Andrew to pick on while he's home {which is majority of the time, he doesn't like to share this with people... ever} or to bring to family gatherings! It is my grandmother's summer pasta salad. {Now I am sure people have made this before & it's not an original, however she is the one who inspired me to start making it myself so to me, it's hers}

1. Grape Tomatoes, cut in half {this is extremely important}

2. Broccoli... cleaned & torn apart {You can buy them already to go if you wish}

3. Cubed Colby Jack Cheese {Cut in fourths}

3a. Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese {I failed & didn't have enough cubed cheese and seeming as it was so late, I didn't have time to get more SO this had to do }

4. Old Dutch Sweet & Sour dressing Wish Bone LIGHT Italian dressing {Old Dutch is essential! Any Italian will do}

5. Shell Noodles {I buy the medium shells, make the whole box}

1. Boil & drain the noodles {Pictured above}

2. After you cut the tomatoes in half, put them in a large bowl

3. Add the broccoli

4. Mix in the cheese

As many people who know me, know, I am an extreme DIY-er. I love making things on my own & it always makes me extremely proud when I get to show it off. This past week I tackled probably one of my favorite projects to date, my chevron wall art. Andrew & I were struggling trying to figure out just what we wanted to go on the wall behind our couch & this little idea popped into my head... & of course I had to try it. {Worst case scenario, they turned out badly & I could just dispose of them}

Artist's Loft Acrylic Paint... Purchased from Michaels {Buy one, Get one Free at the time}

Artist's Loft Canvas... Purchased the value Pack from Michales {5: 16X20 canvas's for $20}

Here are all of my supplies sat out... Canvas, Paint, Paint Brush {also from Michaels}, Pencil & Ruler

It looks a little messy but that's just because I wasn't too precise with the first color, I went back in after and cleaned it up a bit

I tried multiple times to get a "true" picture of the color but it just wasn't happening, it really isn't that yellow in person but you get the idea :)