Home Is Where The Heart Is

Yesterday we had lots of errands to run & one of them was Ikea (the greatest place for homeowners in my opinion). The reason why I love Ikea is because they have all the latest home furnishing trends at affordable prices. Who doesn't love more for their money lol.

Let's just say I fell in love with everything, I cannot wait to get everything in the house & start decorating! My style I think would be contemporary cozy if that exist lol, I just love the feeling of going into a house & it feeling cozy but also looking very classic & sleek. I just can't wait to make the house feel like our home. 

We had lunch before going to Ikea at a new spot called The Sweet Auburn Market which was awesome because they have so many different food vendors from bbq, meat pies, seafood, ect. They also had a fresh market with fish, different meats, & veggies. I loved the busy atmosphere & the diversity.

After finishing everything we had to do we headed to Atlantic Station to have coffee. I love how they have the whole place covered in Christmas decor already. Lol it seems so many people are getting into the Christmas spirit early this year & I love it! :)

Shirt: TJ Max (still few in clearance) | Leggings: Forever21 | Boots: DSW 

| I love when I capture moments like these! |

Cajun Chicken Pie with Mash... The Best!! (a must try)

The Nutella & Strawberries Crepe was Amazing!!

This has been the bed I had been searching for! But I am changing the bed spread of course :)

| Coat: Old Navy (right now 30% off!!) |

Sorry for my cheesiness but I cannot wait to marry & create a home with this man! 

❤

Cafe Nineteen @ Atlantic Station

xoxo, JazminV

Saturday Night Lights

This previous Saturday we decide to visit the lights at Lake Lanier with family, if you haven't been it's a car ride through roads decorated in lights & at the end there is a village with more activities.

The last time I had been here was a good 6-7 years ago & boy had it changed!

First I had remembered a lot more lights & a lengthier ride through them. Second the village changed location & it seems less traditional.

I don't know if maybe it was because I was a lot younger but it really changed a whole lot.

I remember being in the car for the longest looking at all the lights, & after getting to a cottage style house, you could buy warm food, drinks & also visit Santa's workshop. 

The workshop had everything from trees set up to ornaments to also things for the house & toys. Also you could meet santa there & take pictures.

Outside they would have two fire pits for marshmallow roasting & a carnival.

Some things I actually enjoyed about this year's set up was the free tubing/sledding they had & the bon fire on the lake's shore. Another thing that was okay was the free ice skating (warning though: it isn't real ice so that was a bummer lol) but it was nice for the kids.

Overall it was nice & I enjoyed myself because I was around those I love!

xoxo, JazminV

Baby It's Cold Outside

Lately it's been getting really cold, especially at night! So after work these have been a few things I love to do. With holidays around the corner it really ties into it & makes me super excited for all the festivities ahead!

1. Abuelita Hot Chocolate! If you haven't tried it,  you seriously have to! Being raised in a Mexican family I was around this drink so much especially during cold nights & holidays so it's a little piece of my childhood.
2. Another childhood memory is Pan Dulce (mexican bread) because if you are having abuelita you have to have pan dulce to drink it with. As a child I would dip my bread in the abuelita | I may or may not still do that lol ;) | ahhhh so good!!
3. Coffee because my fiancé prefers it lol & for me it's a second choice. But you can't really go wrong with coffee on a cold night.
4. Movies (preferably Christmas movies) there is nothing better to drink your hot chocolate or coffee then with a great movie! Hallmark has been playing Christmas movies non stop & I love it!!
5. Couches & Blankets: the perfect spot to snuggle up in, watch a Christmas movie, & eat your pan dulce with hot chocolate! (mmm perfect scenery)
6. Comfy Slippers: because who wants to be walking on cold floor, lol not me.
7. A fireplace always adds a nice touch to a nice warm cozy night. It might be the warmth of the fire or maybe just the sound of the crackling fire but whatever it may be it nice to have on a cold winter night.
8. Cookie Mixes: One thing I love to do during cold nights or holidays is bake warm treats. They always hit the spot on a cold night. & well for me has kinda become a tradition.
(I have a stash of at least 10 different mixes at a time lol)
9. The good ol' Christmas tree, I don't know something about a tree that makes me feel happy & I am guessing that it's because I love the holidays so we usually put ours up the week before Thanksgiving & after that I stay in the living room until bed time lol. I think more then anything I love the memories a tree brings, for me it's family & that to me means the world!!
So now you know my go to's when it's starts getting cold outside, what are yours??? :)


xoxo, JazminV

Date in Atlanta

Yesterday was such a nice day out in Atlanta & my fiancé had the day off so we took complete advantage.

We started our day early by stopping to get breakfast at chick-fil-a. The whole way there we heard Christmas songs which really gets us excited for the holidays lol :)). It's funny because I haven't been this excited for holidays in a long time, so I know this year will be extra special! 

We got to the museum first & we decided to visit the High Museum of Art which turned out to be very nice & educational! I love when pieces would have a story behind them because it makes you kinda visualize the inspiration behind them.

After the museum we had lunch at a spot called Bartaco, which was amazing! From their food to desserts, everything was really yummy & I would definitely return!

We then made our way to a new shopping center called Avalon. It had a lot of great stores & a lot of cute restaurants. I can't wait to go back during the Christmas season because they are planning to finish a skating rink & have the whole center decked out in Christmas decorations!!

I seriously cannot wait for the holidays!

After walking around & visiting several stores we headed home.

I love little day outs like these when I get to spend one on one time with my fiancé because the conversations & laughter are endless!!

Cardigan: Target | Shirt: Old Navy (Similar Here) | Jeans: AE | Flats: Express

High Art Museum

Bartaco Resturant

Avalon Shopping Avenue

xoxo, JazminV

Game Day

Atlanta Hawks vs New York Knicks

My fiancé is big Knicks fan so I knew when the tickets went on sale he was the first one buying them lol. Not only did he buy for one of the Knicks game but for the two times that they will be here in Atlanta. He got a great deal on them as well, every ticket was $15 each! He also got us tickets to go see my team (Chicago Bulls) & in all we probably spent $90 for all three games!

This past Saturday was the first game & as always the stadium gets packed because there is so many Knicks fans in Atlanta & well the Hawks have a great fan base as well. We sat at the top which I prefer because it's a great view (makes great pictures lol).

The game was great & I was really rooting for the Knicks but unfortunately they lost at the end. It was a close game which made it a good one because we were literally on the edge of our seats. Maybe next time Knicks...

After the game we were starving so we stopped by a pizzeria called Fellini's, it was good pizza but I think I still like Antico's better.

Such a great night over all, & I wouldn't have changed anything (maybe just the pizzeria lol).

Shirt: Handmade {let me know if anyone wants a how to} :) | Cardigan: Forever21 | Boots: Nectar Clothing | Jeans: AE

xoxo, JazminV

Conversations

This week has by far been one of the most productive weeks in a long time & it feels great!

From planning a wedding, exploring housing options, setting up the venue for an event, getting business paper work together, ordering marketing signs, starting the remodeling process of the salon, & getting my planner in check. Sometimes I wished we had more time in a day lol.

Lately my watch has made my wrist it's home lol. I cannot seem to leave the house without it. I don't know there is something so classic about this watch that I can seriously pull off wearing with everything! & I am not a watch person (until now lol) so this must say a lot about a watch lol.

(Watch: Daniel Wellington)

On Thursday (yesterday) I finally had sometime to enjoy the day out, & it was perfect!

As much as I love hanging out with my fiancé it's nice to have a outing with just girls :)

I have never been the type to have girlfriends or get close to girls besides family but a few months ago I had a chance to meet some incredible ladies that have really impacted me & I can say they truly have become my closest friends. God truly has blessed me with amazing souls & I couldn't be more grateful! 

Our day started by making our way to a coffee shop called Orange Coffee Bar in Duluth, Ga, this place is amazing & they always have awesome lattes & desserts! There we stayed for a an hour or two just talking about dreams, ideas & literally everything under the sun.

After there we went to I Love Pho, which was my first time as well as Caro's. It was good, I just got full fast (maybe it was the BK I ate earlier lol). We stayed there for another maybe 3 hours, just talking & being loud lol well I know at least I was. When we got back home we parked at the publix parking lot & talked for another hour or two before we actually got into our own cars to go home (we could talk for hours if we could).

After the day was over I noticed something..... I have never had that.

I have never had girls I can spend hours with just talking & laughing, let alone start being really close with. & I love it! I loved how genuine it was, I loved how excited I got just being around them, & I love that they are such amazing driven women. I mean is there such thing as perfect friends lol?

Seriously this day was one for the books.

Amazing!

xoxo, JazminV

The Weekend

My weekend went great, although it feels like we completely skipped fall & went straight to winter (Georgia weather for you -__-) we made the best of it.

My weekend usually starts Friday even though I work all weekend I count it because my fiancé doesn't work so that means staying up which I don't mind, even though I work early in the morning. Sometimes I start thinking (like now lol) ever since I met my fiancé we have been inseparable. We literally spend every day together whether early in the day, at night, or sometimes all day! & till this day I have not got tired of it! Sometimes & even in dating you eventually need "me" time, & I know I would in the past. But now it's so different, I can't imagine not spending a day without him.

He literally is my best friend!

............................

Okay woah I went off subject big time lol.

Oh yeah, Friday. So for me it's a work day, from 10-7 I am in the salon. About 6:30pm my fiancé usually gets there from work to eat, from there we go to his house so he can change for church.

On Friday's there is youth service at the church we attend & lately my little brother has been going with us as well which makes me so happy because I have been praying for it. It has taken a while but I know God is always faithful & His timing is perfect.

The preaching was titled Warm Bodies: Starving for love

[Ephesians 2]

One reason I love Open Heavens is because they always give amazing messages, & Friday was no exception. Pastor Heber did an amazing job. He spoke on becoming a spiritual zombie. See sometimes we forget how amazing God is, we forget everything he has done for us or maybe we just get frustrated waiting for His promises & we forget everything is done at His perfect timing so we tend to slowly fall out of God's path. We start hanging out with the wrong people, doing the wrong things & we stop craving God's word. & Just like a zombie we have no sense of direction, we feed on things of the world & we are never satisfied!

See in the movie "Warm Bodies" the zombie's heart starts beating again when he sees a girl & he becomes human again. How? By Love.

If you have encountered God you know the feeling when you first do. For me it was an overwhelming feeling of love, to know someone loved me so much that He died for me! It just sends chills down my spine, & brings tears to my eyes. Well that’s the feeling we should have everyday, let's never get accustom, use to, or just do it out of habit. We should be amazed with Him just like we were when we first encountered Him!

If we have fallen out of God's path & have become zombies, there is good news. God loves us so much that He will always be there for us & never ever leave us. He is just waiting for you to ask, "God restart my heart."

Let me tell you it's not easy leaving things you once loved or even making new friends because your old friends weren't being a good influence but when you overcome it all, you will feel alive again, renewed & free! You will be walking with direction & purpose.

All it takes is that one step of faith.

❤

After church we went to Stake & Shake with close friends, let's just say if it were up to us we would stay up talking & never sleep lol. But we have to work sooo that doesn't really work out lol.

Saturday I had to wake up early (5am) to go & prepare fruit arrangements for the venue so since it's fresh fruit it has to be made the same day. After we finished them we placed them on each guest table & then I went to work at the salon until 7.

After work I was extremely tired but we decided to go to Hell's Gate which is a alternative to a hunted house, it takes you through 9 different scenes that are based on the book of Revelation, including the Great Tribulation period. Let's just say it's so much scarier then a hunted house & I have been to several. Not going to lie it even made me cry. So worth going, they are at a church in Dawsonville, Ga every October.

Sunday was a relaxing day, went to work from 10-6 & then hung out with my fiancé all night watching tv series (right now our favorite is FleMarket Flip, obsessed lol) & snacking on yummy food.

Another fun weekend! :)

Oversized Sweater: h&m | Scarf: h&m | Boots: DSW

On the way to Hell's Gate

Jacket: Forever21 | Sweater: AE | Scarf: JCPenny | Jeans: AE | Boots: Target

Can you tell I love Starbucks?? Especially the pumpkin spice latte! :P
Btw: thank you Mari for the latte. :)

xoxo, JazminV