these are the worst.

day 24 of the challenge. your top 3 worst traits.

this is awkward. we're just gonna throw that out there. day of 24 should have made it to my post on things that make me uncomfortable. (guysssss, remember that one?) 'cause this is def uncomfortable. like when my mom or college roommate would catch my dirty underwear on the floor instead of in the hamper. yikes, it's just plain aaaawwwwkwaaaard. no ifs and buts (or butts) about it.

so let's take a deep breath and just do this already.

1. sensitivity. the same trait that made it on my best qualities post (the one where we had to sell ourselves like on a resume) is making this list. the same trait that makes me feel sympathy towards another person or feel elated when someone encourages me is the same trait that affects my heart so negatively when i am targeted by someone's criticism or not so positive comments (even if that person may not have even meant it to be malicious). 

2. over-thinking things. this is probably a result of my sensitivity. conversations. situations. opportunities. retail purchases. i think through conversations and wonder what did he really mean by that? or what did she think about when i said that 'cause i didn't mean it that way?! or i'll stand in front of my closet and be like did i really need that pair of shoes? (okay, maybe the retail part is not so bad. Ryan certainly doesn't think it's a bad thing.) 

3. worry wart. when i call my husband or my family's cell phone and they don't reply after 3 calls and 10 text messages, i start to worry and my mind goes to a different million worse case scenarios. when i can't remember if i unplugged the flat iron or turned off the oven, i start to worry about burning the house down. when i lay down to sleep for the night, i can't help but wonder if we locked the door and set the alarm. if it starts to rain, i can't seem to recall if i closed the car windows or not. my mind sometimes is a freaking computer desk-top, waaaaaaay too many windows and programs are open and running. 

these are traits are not obviously not uncommon. and before you all start freaking out on me and not wanting to be my friend, some of these are extreme cases but it does not make them less true about me. however, i will note, as i have recognized these traits in myself, i have intentionally and personally been working on these specific areas of my life. i think growing up and marriage does that to you. to survive this world, you really can't sit around and let people or situations affect you so negatively. i am not an absolute pro at this yet, but i am learning to be better at letting things go. ah, yes. no fun, but it's truth. and alas, i know i can't just put my head between my knees and rock back and forth, worrying that the world is going to fall apart around me. 

despite my worst traits, my insecurities and my own brokenness and the madness of this crazy world we live in, i believe in a God who is in total control...both in my life and in the world around me. i am confident that He who started a good work will complete His work in me (Philippians 1:6) and that all things work together for good (Romans 8:28).

thank God! literally.

so there you have it. we just got down to the nitty-gritty (where's the toast, Nachooooo?!) and you got my three worst traits...so um, can we still be friends? 

much love. {happy friday, friend.}

sponsor love + giveaway with Datevitation.

meet Datevitation.

Datevitation.com is the web's first online platform to create a custom love coupon book. Unlike the pre-packaged love coupon books on the market, you pick the dates and can customize the text to your liking.  Once you are done customizing the text in your book, Datevitation will print it out and ship it to you. Our library contains over 350 super fun date ideas, as well as over 100 book covers to fit whatever occasion! This is a family run business by the husband and wife team, Alex and Olga Karpman. Get to know them over at the Datevitation blog - and be sure to check out Alex's proposal to Olga over at You Tube (it has received over 1 million views!).

i surprised Ryan with his Datevitation earlier this week - and he loved it! when you create your own date book online, they allow you to customize each one, so i even included inside jokes in a few of them. at first Ryan didn't realize this and was like, how did they know that?! 

i personally loved how easy it was to make our Datevitation book - and normally, Ryan is the one planning all of our dates (and he is so good that i didn't know if i could top them!), so this was a fun gift to give him. what will be even more fun is when he starts redeeming his coupons! (i still can't believe that i put a sky-diving coupon in there - what the heck was i thinking?!)

{giveaway:}

Datevitation is giving away one of their custom coupon books to a lucky Much Love, illy reader! like i said, it's perfect for that significant other in your life - but since it's customizable to just about any one or for any occasion, these books would also make the perfect Father's Day present (which believe it or not is just a couple weeks away - better get on that!)!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

{don't want to wait?}

use coupon code LOVEILLY for $10 off of your purchase through the months of May and June - meaning one of your custom books would ring up to only $10! if you plan to create a custom book in time for Father's Day, remember to place an order by June 6!

Giveaway is open to US Much Love, illy readers thru May 30th.

Winner will be announced on May 31st.

much love.

{happy thursday, friend.}

flashbacks.

1 - love my scarf from Ecoshag and in a super giggling mood / 2 continuing to fall head over heels for this man / 3 - crunching the leaves under my favorite Minnetonka Moccs / 4 - got 'em bangs and hair cut / follow me via instagram at @muchloveilly

day 21. a list of links to your favorite posts in your archives.

this week has been a complete whirlwind, so i am running very behind on le challenge. i also am lacking on much mental capacity so we are going with this easier challenge. and actually it was really fun to look through some of my old posts - lots of good memories and growing moments. so for those who have been here since day 1 can have fun reminscing with me, or if you are brand new, get to me and my little ole blog just a wee bit more!

i never would have imagined where blogging would take me when i wrote this post.

this one was absolutely one of the happiest days of my entire life.

includes some of my favorite pictures ever. sorry about the mushiness. mmkay, not sorry.

saying goodbye is always hard to do.

first outfit post ever and made a promise that i broke.

meeting blog friends is always a heck of a good time: here and there.

we are a little obsessed.

this weekend was about more than being around crazy teens and tackling the great outdoors.

i am an ugly crier.

making this apology before i felt like i was going to explode.

super high up there on the list of happiest days ever: here and here and here.

any post involving my family being together is def one of my faves.

spent my first Christmas away from home but feeling welcomed by my new family.

he really, really loves me.

marriage is a learning experience.

sometimes, always, and never.

on the edge of something.

good thing, i gotta to head out the door and grab dinner with Ryan or else, i would be going on and on with this list. i would be very impressed if you made it through every single link!

it made me think how one day i'd love to turn this blog into a book - not one i'd publish to the public, but rather one for myself to pass on to my kids or to keep alongside with all of my journals...since this blog has been one of my favorite ways to document my every day. and as always, thanks for reading - enjoy! xo

much love.

{happy wednesday, friend.}

p.s. are you Zoe Aron and Krysten Gautreaux 'cause both of you just won the Naked Hope book giveaway!?! shoot me an email at muchloveilly at gmail dot com with your mailing address to claim your prize. congrats to Zoe and Krysten - and thank you so much to Abby for a fabulous giveaway! 

sponsor love + Target GC giveaway with Diligent Joy.

meet Abby of Diligent Joy.

I'm Abby and I write the blog Diligent Joy. It's all about me, my family (one husband, one daughter, and two dogs), the books I read, the places I go, the music I play, my goals, my thoughts, and the beauty products that I love. 

***

first off, totally stating the obvious here,  Abby is just down-right beautiful! the pictures on her blog of her and her precious family always bring a smile to my face. be sure to get to know them a little bit more in this cute post - i loved reading through it! actually i've loved reading through Abby's blog - it's refreshing and so down to earth. you won't regret adding her blog to your list of daily reads, my friend.

I'm a bit of a beauty aisle addict and I love sharing tips and favorite finds with my readers (for hair and makeup tips, check out my Beauty Aisle series). Most of the products that I purchase come from that Heaven-on-Earth that is known to us as Target. I find lots of goodies in the Target beauty section (and in all the other Target sections, which proves to be both a blessing and a curse on a regular basis) and would love for one of you to as well, which is why I'm giving away a $25 gift card. ~Abby 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway is open to ALL Much Love, illy readers thru May 28th.

Winner will be announced on May 29th.

much love.

{happy Tuesday, friend.}

struggles.

 t-shirt: c/o Skip N' Whistle / skirt: Forever 21 / sandals: c/o Blowfish Shoes 

day 20 of the challenge. share something you are struggling with right now.

i am struggling with...

...not being able to hold back from eating the entire bag of sour gummies sitting on my desk right now.

...not not wearing this Skip N' Whistle t-shirt every day because it has easily become a favorite.

...the fact that i finished the first season of Hart of Dixie last week and cannot find season two anywhere.

...missing my long hair and being able to put it up in a messy bun especially this morning when we ran out the door to church in a hurry and it was rainy and icky outside - so really, what was the point of straightening my hair? 

...all these pesky spiders making their appearances around the apartment (due to the warmer weather, people - i promise i have kept a clean home for me and the husband)

...missing Chicago and springtime city happenings.

...that i have not yet seen The Great Gatsby or the new Star Trek yet!

... trying to organize and settle on all of my wedding reception ideas because Pinterest is so freaking awesome. tell me, how did people plan weddings before it?!

much love. {happy monday, friend.} p.s. are Erika of Rouge and Whimsy 'cause you just won the Minnetonka giveaway!?! shoot me an email at muchloveilly at gmail dot com with Minnetonka shoe of choice, shoe size, and mailing address to claim your prize! congrats to Erika and thank YOU, Minnetonka Moccs, for a fabulous giveaway!