Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Everyone...needs a nap!

Every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday our friend comes through the door of our office to greet us. This friend is in her early 20's and she is developmentally delayed. She does basic tasks like sweeping, vacuuming, and cleaning the windows. She is always a bright spot in our day because she is so good at complaining. Her favorite thing to say is, "I need a nap" and "When is it Friday?" I think we all appreciate it because she always says exactly what we're all thinking but try not to say. I love her frankness and how much she loves to gives compliments. She absolutely adores everyone and won't shy away from telling you that she loves you. Her ornery streak is apparent when she comes in every five minutes to talk instead of finishing the chores on her list and let's out a huge sigh when you ask her what she's supposed to be doing. Despite the interruption she brings, her presence is never quite filled when she is gone. The other day she told me: "I am Cool, I am Powerful, I am Confident! And everyone at FHU.....needs a nap!" So true.

I will miss my friend when I go back to Texas--what a treasure!

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Ridiculously Stylish Littles

Sooo I don't have a kid. And I won't have a kid for some time. However, that does not stop me from wasting spending countless hours looking at stylish children on Pinterest. I've slowly been transforming the hubs into a fashion "liker" so the kids shouldn't be a problem. Here are a few of my very favorites at the moment:
http://www.fashiondivadesign.com/stylish-kids/
photo from instagram
http://web.stagram.com/n/fashionkids/
from themetapicture.com

Saturday, February 22, 2014

The Emmitt Has Arrived!

My birthday present FINALLY came in the mail today. Commenced taking pictures. Hilarity ensued. Behold the goodness:


Friday, February 21, 2014

Follow my blog with Bloglovin Ok, so as a new blogger I'm trying to slowly set up everything I need to be successful. Bloglovin' told me to post this code into the top of a new blog post, so here I go!!! P.S. Hopefully by tonight, I'll have some Social Media buttons so I can feel truly legit! Go Blogger Go!

Christmas in July 2009

Hallelujah it's Friday!!! This has been one of those weeks that just seems to drag its feet, sits down for a long cup of coffee, decides to eat that second cookie and then finally heads outs the door. I'm looking forward to Saturday because Joshua and I are heading to Memphis for a day of shopping, fun, and BBQ. This will be the farthest we've driven our "new" car so pray that it still handles just like it does around town! For now, I want to leave you with a little Throw Back Thursday photo since I didn't post anything yesterday: 




























This little beauty is from Summer 2009. It was the first summer Josh and I were dating and we worked together at Camp Wamava. It was Christmas in July and as per tradition, Josh played The Grinch in the annual performance. Notice his gorgeous tan and my explosive freckles. Love it.

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Deep in the Heart of Texas












































Well, it's official. My heart, body, and soul will finally be one again in the great state of Texas. There is no place like home, and I've said before that my home has never felt like Tennessee. I've been waiting to feel settled during our time here and it just never happened. We have big plans ahead of us; nothing is quite set in stone yet but we are fervently praying and laying the groundwork for our future. My heart fully trusts that we are making the right leap of faith and I'm finally feeling optimistic again.

The Stars at Night certainly are Big and Bright in Texas!!!

Saturday, February 15, 2014

Christmas Photo Dump Take One

Well, my lazy self is finally getting around to editing the photos I took at Christmas time. I know, it's February but I finally remembered I have Photoshop and some sweet actions that do all the work for me. I probably took about 500 photos but here are just a few of my favorites:
1)Santa's Handsome Helper constructing the tree, 2) Me, fixing the branches, 3) and 4) The tree and general shenanigans, 5) Some highlights from our annual "Lighting" expedition, 6) A house that would make the Griswolds jealous, 7) Dirty Santa gifts at my Grandparents house on Christmas Eve, 8) My littlest as a "Hot Box Christmas Girl," and 9) Josh doing his best Elvis with our new Guitar-shaped popcorn container. 
I'll be back with more photos from Christmas Day!!!


























Friday, February 14, 2014

Valentine's Day Looks with Polyvore

It's Valentine's Day and my sister asked me to come up with an article for String of Pearls. After perusing Pinterest for some inspiration, I came up with three Valentine's Day looks with the help of Polyvore. Check out my looks for Class, Date Night, or a Girl's Night Out.
For Class



Valentine Date






















Valentine's With the Girls
























Combo red shirt / Leather jacket / H&M boot cut jeans, $50 / Bucco white sandals / Style Co style co handbag / Gold necklace / Madewell hair accessory / Stila gift sets kit

The Hubby and I will probably spend the night in making homemade cards for each other--we did that on our first married Valentine's and I think it would be fun tradition to carry on! What do you and your special someone like to do for Valentine's Day?

Thursday, February 13, 2014

On Buying Cars

Welp. We did it. We bought a "new" car! I've been stressing out about this since our car went back to the shop for the third time. The hubs talked to the mechanic and he's still not 100% sure what's wrong--he took it to another place with a fancier computer and they have an idea but the part he needs is really hard to find because our car is almost 20 years old!

After looking at a couple of dealerships, finding two cars we liked only to have them sold out from under us, we finally found a great little car. It's just what we were looking for: it's in the 2000's(my first one, yay!), had fairly low miles for it's age, roomy in the backseat and the trunk, and there's a CD player!!! It cost a little more than we were hoping for, but it will be paid off in a year--hopefully less since we're going to buckle down on our budget for awhile. I'm really pleased with it and I think it's a good find for the very first time we've ever bought a car(I was lucky enough to have my first two given to me).

It's pretty nice inside already but this weekend we'll give it a little extra TLC so it will feel more like ours and smell more like us instead of weird new car smell. I'll just stick my new candle warmer in there(under supervision of course) and it'll be smelling like vanilla sugary goodness in no time!

Seeing that much money leave our possession at one time was really scary for us, but I know this is only preparing us for the other big stuff ahead. One of these days we'll have a baby and then we'll buy a house and those don't come cheap! We know better now what questions to ask, what fees to look for when financing, and not to believe everything you hear--it could be too good to be true!

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

A Little Less Grown-Up

Well, I'm feeling a bit more wise lately.

Our poor little Buick Regal down about two weeks ago and we are still waiting to hear from the mechanic. In the meantime, my sweet little sister has let us tote her around in her car. She's never once complained and it's a trait that I highly covet in her. I just hope and pray that we can find a suitable and affordable car soon because I fear the old girl's on her last leg.

No one ever said growing up would be easy; my parents certainly never led me to believe that would be the case--they worked very hard for everything and somehow I never noticed the "bad stuff." Now that I'm an adult, married, and living far from my parents I  have different perspective. There are some days that it just feels like it is pouring down heartache from the hills--so many burdens creep up and I keep them on my back like a worn-out winter coat. My worry weighs heavy on me lately and there are times when I just wish to wake up in my old room; I'd throw open the windows, turn up my stereo, and lay on bed reading or drawing for a couple hours before sitting down to a meal made by my sweet Momma.

I didn't appreciate those days enough when I was younger. I didn't realize all of the effort my parents put in to give us a comfortable life. Right now, in the spring of our marriage, I feel as though those comforts are unattainable--just out of reach and if I wish too hard for them I will knock them right off the edge of the shelf.

Though we're older, we are still very young and I know there is always a reason for the troubles we bear. I have a steady job, I know how to cook a nice dinner, and we'll come through this one knowing how to buy a car on our own. It may hurt to go through the fire, but it will eventually fade out and leave us with tougher skin for the next one....

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Days Without Caving = Zero

Story of my life on Pinterest today:

iwastesomuchtime.com







































I have to admit though, I never really liked this photo for inspiration. The word "skinny" just gives me the creeps. Personally, I would prefer it to say "Nothing tastes as good as FIT feels." At 5'9", I'm a fairly tall girl and my bones just aren't meant to be super thin. I've made my peace with that and it's cool: I don't need to be a model to feel beautiful.

However, hubs and I keep making promises over and over that we are going to get in better shape and that's where this photo really comes in. Oh but you just don't understand. Joshua and I LOVE to eat. If eating were a hobby, we would do it all. the. time. Most of our travels center around whatever cool restaurants we can find in an area. This need for sustenance has sadly caused me to gain quite a few pounds since we got married and now that I'm starting to see my old chubby self again I need to make a serious change. At one time we were so desperate to get healthier that we made up our own points system--you earned points for healthy stuff and lost points for unhealthy. That lasted all about a month before we got tired of it. We're currently attempting a more Paleo approach to eating, but have yet to go a single day without eating something we're not supposed to. Our newest contraption for accountability is a sign that Joshua made that says: "Days Without Caving" with two little hooks for numbers. The idea is that each day we go without screwing up we can change the number. If make it a whole month of days without caving we get to reward ourselves with a treat--yes, I know rewarding with food is terrible, but come on--BACON.

We currently stand at "Zero" but the sign hasn't officially been up on the wall until this past Sunday. We're both enablers so this should be totally fun....BACON!

Monday, February 3, 2014

Lectureship...or How I Lose My Husband for a Week







































It's here again. The 78th Annual FHU Bible Lectureship. You know what that means don't you? Lots of cute little old ladies and gentlemen puttering through our building telling me how everything used to look. Also, it means bad weather. Without fail, every year it is either super cold, raining, or there is a freak snow storm. Do we ever cancel? No Way--we'd rather risk it rather than disappoint. Finally, it means that I basically lose Joshua for a week. Since they've "graciously" given sound duties to the theatre department(which is weird) the hubs has to coordinate all of the microphones, power points, and student workers for each event. There are a lot of events each day, so if none of the student workers can take the shift it's left up to him. He dreads this week like no other and I always hate it for him. He tries so very hard to please everyone but sometimes outdated equipment and over booked time schedules get in the way. If anyone actually comes across this blog and has a minute, please say a quick prayer that this whole week will turn out great and that any hiccups will be easily managed!

*P.S.--Only 6 more sleeps til my birthday!!!