January Favourite Post || A Link Up!

I haven't been around much for the month of January to add my own favourite post, but I can't wait to see yours! Rob and I are in the house buying process (possession on January 30!!!), and I've also been consumed by participating in a #whole30 challenge. 2015 is going to rock for us, but I promise I'll come back when I've found a work/life/blog balance. In the meantime, I look forward to seeing your favourite post from January. :)

Hosts

Ashley from Hello Nature, Lexy from Crazy Cass Life, Nicole from a la Maxfield, and Hannah from Hannah Says

Now link up your favourite post from December!

The Circle || Fall Favourites

I'm linking up with Kiki for The Circle link up. This month's theme is Fall Favourites! I've talked a lot about Fall and what I love about it, but I can't get enough. #sorrynotsorry ;)

Pictures courtesy of Treasured Forever Photography and of my mother-in-law.

1|| Favorite fall fashion/clothing item? 
Definitely scarves! They keep me warm during the day for most part, and they can really make an outfit.

2|| Favorite fall drink? 
I've worked at Starbucks, and could never stomach the pumpkin spice latte. Maybe I can now, now that I'm no longer working there? Otherwise, it's a caramel macchiato!

3|| What's something on your fall bucket list?
I shared my goals a couple weeks ago, but I have yet to follow through with some of them. The snail mail goal is easy, but the gluten free pie crust is still stumping me.

4|| Favorite fall recipe?

I tried making oatmeal last year, but that didn't work out. I don't think I have a recipe really, but breakfast for dinner tastes SO much better when it's cold outside.

5|| Halloween candy or Pumpkin Spice Latte?

Halloween candy, but I'll also go for a latte. Just not pumpkin spice.

6|| Favorite fall scent?

I love love love the smell of apple cider. That includes nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice, etc.! They just smell so warm and cozy.

7|| Favorite fall holiday?

Thanksgiving, and my husband's birthday. His is on October 12th, and Thanksgiving for us Canadians lands on the 13th. Woo hoo long weekend! It also marks 4 years of being together since our first date :)

8|| What is fall (weather) like where you live?

Oh my gosh, we've already had 2 days of snow and a couple frosty mornings. We've also experienced 29*C weather, and then snow the next day. I think Alberta just doesn't know what it wants to do during Fall. I don't think we really get one, as I hear the snow is coming soon!

xo. Nicole

MFJ v. 02 || My Favourite Blogs

A huge part of my fitness journey has been finding inspiration and motivation. There are a lot of places nowadays to find those things, but it's hard finding what's right for you, or for me! I notice a lot of people using Pinterest to repin quotes and such, but that never really did anything for me. I like blogging, but I love reading blogs more. 

When I began my journey, which you can read about here, I came across a few blogs that helped get me started. They contributed to pushing me to go to those work outs that my friend offered me, and continue to push me through this month (August) while I can't afford the personal training. 

Pictures are c/o Glisten Fit and Livy Love

There are countless fitness blogs that offer a lot of inspiration, but these two really stuck out for me! 

1|| The picture on the left is Jessica! She blogs over at Glisten Fit and it's her own personal training business! She knocks it out of the park with how wonderful and helpful her and her blog really are. She posts monthly calendars, recipes, Fit Friday workouts, I friggin' love it!

2|| The picture on the right is Diana. She blogs at Livy Loves to Run! She has lost a considerable amount of weight just from exercising and changing her diet. She's just over 100lbs lost, looks SO good, and her face just glows! She is definitely a huge inspiration for my weight loss. 

By me sharing my favourite motivational blogs, I hope that you find some energy and drive in to helping yourself if you need it, too!

Source (the only source I could find for it!)

xo. Nicole

Winter Sponsors • Megan!

Today's sponsor is Megan! Her and I went to high school together, but didn't really connect until afterwards. She's grown to be one of my favorite people and someone that I can talk to about anything.
Her blog is always really cool to read because she writes so beautifully. Since August though, she's been using her Tumblr as a blog! I think you should check it out :)

• • • • • • 

Blog • Tumblr • Twitter

What is your favorite thing about the holidays?

Spending time with family friends!

What is your favorite holiday tradition with your family?

Watching the movie, "The Sound of Music" with my family. We've watched it every year for as long as I can remember!

Are you starting any new traditions this year?

This year I am working on Christmas, so I am missing it entirely.

What is your favorite holiday dish?

Turkey and cranberries is the best thing, ever!

• • • • • •

Working on Christmas day is a HUGE bummer :( The field of working in group homes can be tricky with the STAT holidays, because the kids sometimes don't have homes to go to for the holidays, so the homes have to stay open...which means some youth workers are working. I hope there are other days this month that you can see your friends and family! 

Thanks for sharing, Megan! 

xo. Nicole

Winter Sponsors • Shelby!

We're on to meeting our next sponsor for the winter here on A Broke Bride! Her name is Shelby and we became friends when we worked at Starbucks together in St. Albert, Alberta. Since then, I had met my then husband-to-be, (she witnessed the VERY beginning of our relationship and the sneaky texts during work), moved a city and then a province away, and now back to Alberta! We're now only about...an hour(?) away from each other! Since we became friends, Shelby has started her own blog, Ankkuri! 

• • • • • •

Blog • Twitter

What is your favorite thing about the holidays?

Wrapping gifts. I'd like to believe I'm a pretty fantastic gift wrapper. I always go all out with a theme, fancy ribbons & tags.

Your favorite holiday tradition with your family?

My family doesn't have a lot of traditions. For the holidays we always go to my sisters for Christmas Eve to exchange any presents.

Are you starting any new traditions this year?

We set up a Christmas tree for the first time in five years this year. My boyfriend & I bought a cheap small little white tree & a few red & silver ornaments.

What is your favorite holiday dish?

Yorkshire pudding! On Christmas Day we have a proper English dinner. & it's one of the few times a year we have Yorkshire pudding.

• • • • • •

Oh man, I can't even imagine not having a Christmas tree for 5 years! I'm happy you have one this year, and I hope you share your wrapping skills for the rest of us with the skills of a 12 year old, haha!

xo. Nicole

The Blogmopolitan Quiz!

Ooo this was exciting to come across! I love reading the monthly magazine, Cosmopolitan, and seeing how the celebrity cover stars fill this out. This is also a good way for you, my readers, to know me better! I hope you participate in the Blogmopolitan link up!

You can find the copy of the quiz that you can download yourself over on Erin's blog today! Have fun and let me know if you do it by linking me in the comments here!

xo. Nicole

 

You're it!

Tag, you're it!

Jennifer from Sail The Ship tagged me...so here we go:

The Rules:

Answer the 11 question set

Set 11 questions for the people I tag

Mention the blog that tagged you

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?

I have no idea! We tried Alberta and all we did was miss our friends, and I would live anywhere but Surrey right now...

What is your idea of food hell?

Prison food or food that is under cooked.

What are your top 5 holiday destinations?

Banff (our upcoming honeymoon!), Maui, Alberta, Cancun, and maybe just at home with no work that day.

Top 3 Ryan Gosling films?

Crazy, Stupid Love, The Notebook, and no idea what other movies that he's in..

Would you rather walk on hot coals or run through a pit of snakes?

Hot coals FOR SURE

If you had to live in one season for the rest of your life, which would you choose and why?

Spring! I hate when it's super hot out and I don't like when it's super cold out. In Vancouver it'll just be rain, but I'm okay with that.

If your life was the Truman Show, what wouldn't you want us to see?

When I get cranky and whiny, haha!

Idea of a perfect Valentines?

Rob! But it would have to be relaxing, watching Netflix, and just enjoying each other's company.

What would your last meal be?

I had hoped I wouldn't have to think about this one, haha but probably bacon, hash browns, and perogies!

Worst fear?

I've thought about this one a lot lately (I should really stop), and I really don't know. Might sound lame to some, but I dread getting a phone call out of nowhere one day saying that someone I love has died. I get a lump in my throat just thinking about it..

Elephants or Alpacas?

Elephants! Alpacas are just weird..

So now it's my turn! I tag...

Megan from Mind Wide Open

Adriana from Horses of Ares

Nicole from Gypsy in Jasper

Amanda from Little Lady Little City

My Questions to You Ladies:
If you could only have one outfit in your wardrobe, which would it be?
What happens during your ideal 'girls night in'?
Greatest accomplishment so far?
What is one thing that you're looking forward to most for 2013?
Where have you found inspiration lately?
What was one cool thing that happened to you this past January?
Who's your Valentine this year?
How many animals have you had over the course of your lifetime?
What was your first vehicle?
Do have a favorite blog? Please share!
What was the last craft/DIY that you created?

Can't wait to read your answers, ladies!

xo. Nicole

Outside Everywhere Giveaway Review!

Yup, that's right. I won another giveaway. It's an awesome prize too! This giveaway was hosted by Gentri from Gentri Lee! Allison from Outside Everywhere sent me this as my prize :)

I had my pick from the shop and I picked this lovely chevron necklace. I'm so excited to finally have a day off to wear it out and show it off. She even made a little card saying "Congratulations!" Allison was amazing and made sure I got exactly what I wanted. She put a longer chain on it because I prefer long necklaces over short ones. It's beautifully hand crafted :)

You can check out Allison's shop by clicking HERE!

xo. Nicole

ABC's of Me

I was perusing Liz's blog today, and came across this. I figured, why not?!

Age: 20.

Bed Size: Double Twin.

Chores that you hate: Dishes and cleaning out the litter box.

Dogs: No, but we want one.

Essential start to your day: I would have to say knowing what I'm going to wear or a shower.

Favorite color: Purple, or pastel colours.

Gold or silver: Silver, but I also like white gold.

Height: 5'5"?

Instruments you play: None.

Job title: Barista and Child and Youth Care Worker.

Kids: None currently.

Live: In Surrey, BC, Canada.

Mother's name: Denise.

Nicknames: Nik.

Overnight hospital stays: The only one I can remember is when I got my tonsils out in Grade 1.

Pet peeves: Rude, ignorant people, Bad drivers, People who chew with their mouths open, oh I could probably go on.

Quote from a movie or TV show: "I'll be Back" and then you say "I'll be Beethoven" ;)

Righty or lefty: Righty.

Siblings: 2 sisters.

Time you wake up: Now, this depends on what time I work or have to be somewhere.

Underwear: I like to wear it.

Veggie you hate: Brussel sprouts and beans!

What makes you run late: The lack of knowledgeable drivers here in Surrey.

X-rays you've had: My wisdom teeth, and probably my arm when I broke it when I was 2.

Yummy food you make: I don't really have a signature food except for those hash browns that Rob introduced me to.

Zoo animal: I would have to say, the zebra. I just love the print.

xo. Nicole

My Favourite Blogs!

As a new blogger, I am always looking for new inspiration. I've come across a lot of blogs and have a few favourites that I check and read every single day! I really hope you'll take the time out of your day to go and check them out.

As soon as I get home, I always go to my favourites tab and check out my list of blogs. 

(P.S.: I couldn't quite figure out how to make the pictures link to their blogs, so just clicking the name above their picture works!)

Firstly, I always click on Kaelah's blog, Little Chief Honeybee. 

She has always been the nicest person to talk to and she almost always replies to your mentions on Twitter! She has a little family consisting of her Fiance, step-son, and two dogs. There are always giveaways and outfit posts on her blog. Her blog is definitely one that I look to for inspiration! I hope one day that mine can be as big and successful as hers.

Secondly, I click on Allison's blog, Crafted Love.

There is always a DIY here! She's very inspiring in the way she works so hard and always makes time to blog and update her followers. She is engaged and recently got two kittens! 

Third, there's Molly's blog, Smart, Pretty and Awkward. Molly started her blog a few years ago and her followers have skyrocketed! Every post has 3 tips, one on how to be smarter, one on how to be prettier, and one generally on how to be less awkward. It's a gorgeous  blog and I sat there and read as many as I could the first time I came across it!

Fourth, there's Jess over at boho baby bump.

Jess is such a wonderful wife, mother and person! You can really tell what kind of a person she is by reading any of her posts. She writes from her heart and is so passionate and kind! I definitely advise you to check out her blog for an uplifting experience.

As someone who recently found out about my dairy and egg allergies, I'm always on the hunt for some vegan recipes. I came across Angela's blog long before I found out about my allergies. Her blog, Oh She Glows, has so many recipes! I'm checking it daily for her recipes and exercise tips! It's truly a wonderful blog that anyone, Vegan or not, will love.

Liz at srsyliz is so stylish and crafty in her graphics. 

I'm always using her desktop calendar wallpapers on my laptop! She's a super sweet and wonderful person with really great style.

I love perusing through Jessica's blog, TART!

She has such a cute little family, and her blog is one that I hope mine to be like. She's such a wonderful role model in the way of being a wife, mother, and blogger! Her daughter, Rowan, is also just super adorable and quite the style star.

Lastly, I am always clicking on Nicole's blog, Making It Lovely. She's a crafter, wife and a busy entrepreneur all while being a mother of two! She's been in a few magazines and she has transformed her entire house in to one that makes me want to move in or at least, decorate mine like hers. Her blog definitely deserves a look-through!

I hope you can enjoy these blogs just as much as I do, and maybe they could be as big of an inspiration for you as they have been to me!

xo. Nicole