Rom Com Valentine Playlist

My Rom Com Holiday playlist was such a hit (thank you to all who liked, downloaded and listened), it only seemed right to follow it up with a Rom Com Valentine playlist. Full of loveable songs and scores from my personal favorite romantic comedies.

February 1st kicks off the lead-up to Valentine’s Day. So, I give you a 30 song playlist to set the mood.

It’s Complicated, Because I Said So, One Fine Day, My Best Friend’s Wedding, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, and of course Valentine’s Day are just a few rom coms featured on the playlist.

Just like my holiday playlist, I encourage you to listen in its already curated order instead of shuffling. Press play while on a walk or driving around town to become quickly transported.

Favorite, save, listen, download my Rom Com Valentine playlist here. Let me know if you recognize which songs are from which movie.

L-O-V-E!

“I love that when I breathe you in you smell like cake batter. And I love that you have this insane way of talking in circles that makes perfect sense.”

Annie

Rom Com Holiday Playlist

I oddly (or maybe you can relate) love to listen to movie scores as I walk or drive around town. It instantly transports me to my main character alter ego on the set of my own romantic comedy. Hans Zimmer take me away!

If you’ve never done this, try it! Father of the Bride, You’ve Got Mail, and The Holiday are some of my favorite scores. This leads me to the holidays. Today is December 1st which means full-fledged Christmas music is on until the big day!

I typically always throw together or freshen up an old holiday playlist to listen throughout the season. However this year, I’ve created a rom com holiday playlist inspired by all of my favorite Christmas movies.

Picture this: Sybill is making coffee in the kitchen, Elsie is serving up her homemade eggnog, there is construction paper garland hung from the bookshelves, Graham is acting out Mr. Napkin Head, Meredith and Amy are bickering, Nanny is sneaking holiday fudge… These moments combined would make for the ultimate Christmas scene, but they really are a combination of my favorite holiday movies. Don’t forget Sara and Johnathon, Buddy, Eloise, Kevin, Judy, Betty, Phil and Bob!

My playlist has scores, Christmas classics, and a few non-traditional, but movie scene-inspired songs in its mix. Listen and let it transform you to a cottage in the Cotswolds. Alright, I’m getting cheesy, but this playlist is really good. Like really good IMO. Oh, and please listen in order, none of that shuffling buisness on this one.

Favorite, save, listen, download my Rom Com Holiday playlist here. And let me know if you recognize which songs are from which movie.

You, you, you, you send me!

Annie

Out of the Box

I've got a new one for you, one that takes things slightly out of the box, literally. June Box is bringing a new approach to gift giving. No shopping, wrapping or shipping hassle when you use June Box. The thought and crafting that Carson and Katie Rock have put into June Box makes it a stand out in my eyes. 

Last week I got to sit down with this husband/wife co-founder duo. They greeted me with fresh baked beer bread, and instantly had me hooked. I got the inside scoop on why they started June Box, got to see how each box is put together and hear all about what is ahead for this new company. With a passion for starting their own business, the idea came and they ran with it. They wanted to make the process of gift giving easy. They have found the products, designed the packaging, ship each box and even include a hand written note to make your gift fit each recipient personally and perfectly. 

Since graduating school my friends are spread far and wide. How nice to be able to send a friend a gift for their birthday, when they start a new job, move into a new home, or to just send them a little box of sunshine. 

They have boxes in a range of themes for all of life's occasions. Boxes for your BFF, your bridesmaid, your mom, your boy, the little ones and the furry ones. Getting married? June Box can even handle your welcome gifts for out of town guests.

The products Carson and Katie have rounded up is what makes June Box stand out to me. Each box includes items you would actually use and want. One of my favorite boxes is the You Knead It box. It includes a package of beer bread mix, a tea towel and a butter knife. The perfect thing to send to your friend a few states over who just moved into her first big girl apartment. Biased because I got to try the bread and it's stinking good, but really, you knead it. 

Q&A with Carson and Katie:

Where did you get the name, June Box?  June is the month we got married in, but we also wanted something short, simple and available on social platforms which made us land on "June Box" 

What is June Box’s mantra?  Thoughtfully curated and hand packed gift boxes for all occasions. 

Where do you see June Box going in the future?  Our goal is to make gift giving easier. We want to give people a way to still put thought into their gifts, but have the convenience of online shopping. We are constantly trying to grow our assortment so we have gifts for any occasion you could want to send a box. We're looking forward to a "build a box" option and a full lineup of wedding boxes coming out soon! 

What’s an average day in the June Box world?  On a average day we'll ship out the previous day's boxes (we try to get all boxes delivered within 3 days of your order), update all our social platforms, reach out to new vendors, and continue building out new parts of our website. We also like spending time meeting with future brides and business owners about customized bulk orders at our storefront in OKC (open by appointment only). 

Which is your favorite box?
Carson = "You Knead It" I can't get enough of the Soberdough beer bread mix in this box.
Katie = "Relax" I love the colors of this box, all the products are great, and there are so many occasions to give someone this box! 

Any tips for entrepreneurs?  Go for it! If you have an idea you want to pursue, we'd tell you to jump right in and make it happen. We saved for a year to start this business and Katie still works full time at an oil company while Carson works part time doing consulting. We're excited to be making June Box go from a dream to a reality and for an entrepreneur there is no better feeling than seeing something you've dreamed up actually take shape. So we'd say do what it takes to get your business started as soon as you can! 

Favorite bite?  Carson = Ribs. I love barbeque anywhere, but the ribs at Red Rock Canyon Grill are at the top of my list right now. Katie = chips and queso!

Guilty pleasure?  Carson = AM talk radio/documentaries, I'm kind of a nerd sometimes. Katie = Dancing with the stars. Last season was the first time I had ever watched it, but I'm totally hooked! 

Now for the really fun part. Want a June Box sent to you? Enter the June Box/Take A Bite giveaway for the chance to receive your very on box on your doorstep! June Box is giving away one of their most popular boxes, Ray of Sunshine. Comes from the idea that you can send someone a little sunshine! See below for how to enter!

To enter the giveaway:

1. Follow both @shopjunebox and myself.

2. Tag three friends you would send a June Box to!

Winner will be announced Thursday morning!

Make sure to follow June Box on Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to say up to date with all the JB happenings! 

Annie

Valentine Vibes

wafer cookies // waffles // iced heart cookies // xoxo
white chocolate cherry cookies // homemade kit kats // pop tarts // raspberry smoothie
donuts // hershey kiss cookies // bundt cakes // scones

I love Valentine's Day, I've said it before. I see no harm in a holiday about pink and red and hearts and candy and loving on people who are special to you. Oversized teddy bears, red roses, and other commercialized stuff aside, it's a pretty cute holiday. 

If all of the above were in my possession this Valentine's Day I wouldn't be mad about it. Even better is that those cute little bundt cakes found above can be (if you are in the OKC metro area)! My friend Sallie, of Sallie Sells Cakes, makes delicious and adorable bundt cakes.  She has three special flavors for Valentine's Day including White Chocolate Raspberry, Red Velvet and Chocolate Covered Cherry. Need a little sweet treat for your lovie? Her mini bundts are only $5. Send orders to salliesellscakes@gmail.com.

Annie

Halloween Sluts

I don't mean to offend anyone, but I hate, HATE those slutty Halloween costumes you can buy at the party store. You know, the sexy Alice in Wonderland, sexy kitten or sexy fireman? Fireman are supposed to be respected, not turned into skimpy sexy outfits for girls to parade around in on Halloween. I've never seen a fireman walking around in knee-high socks and heels with a little red skirt and fireman hat on. At least not in Oklahoma.

These Halloween brownies are slutty, but not in a slutty costume kind of way. I'm on a slutty brownie kick and pretty much think they are going to be my go-to dessert from now on. Don't be surprised if Christmas, Valentine's Day and St. Patrick's Day slutty brownies pop up in the future. Thank goodness Oreo likes to celebrate as much as me and provides themed cookies to go with each holiday.

Third times the charm because this batch turned out perfect! Tips I learned: make sure you use a 9x9 pan, an 8x8 won't cut it. Double layer your foil, for easier removal from the pan, and 35 minutes is the baking time that has worked best for me to get fully cooked slutty brownies.

Halloween Slutty Brownies
yields 16-20 brownies
Recipe stays the same as the original just sub holiday themed Oreos for the regular ones and add holiday sprinkles!

Annie