photo dump {memorial day style}

What a weekend!  A great one.  To me, Memorial Day officially kicks off summer.  This year, we did it with a wedding :)

 

Our good friends, Brent and Jess, tied the knot on an absolutely beautiful KY day.  The rustic decor, BBQ, and Southern Belle bride made this one of my favorite weddings to date.  Other than my own, of course. ;)

Nathan and I have been friends with the groom, Brent, since high school.  Jess is from a surrounding county and went to school there.  He always had a thing for Jess but the stars never really aligned for them... until the beginning of last year.  They were engaged last July and married on Saturday.  Here are a few snapshots from the day...

See, I told ya, a true Southern Belle.

 

You can certainly see the happiness and love in these two pictures.  They were most definitely on cloud nine the whole night!  It was a blessing to see.

This girl and I were the "unsung heroes" for the day.  Between the two of us, we got all the bridal party lined up, music cued, boutonnieres pinned, and wedding started on time without a hitch.  I was a nervous wreck but it was flawless! 

And, of course, I couldn't help but have flashbacks to our wedding day when I married my best friend.  I would only wish for every bride to feel what I felt on my day.  There is nothing like it.

After a weekend of wedding festivities, we were pooped so our Memorial Day was pretty darn low-key.  I was a true housewife and shuffled water to my Hubs while he was busy planting and raking hay on the farm. 

His allergies have gone absolutely crazy since then and I'm doing everything possible to get him on the mend. It is just plain awful this time of year!

To keep up the tradition, I snuck in some sun time with Elizabeth to wrap up the holiday.  That marks two years in a row that we've spent Memorial Day together while getting a good dose of Vitamin D.

I couldn't end this post without giving my thanks to the men and women who have and currently are protecting our freedom.  Our country is great because of them.  They are a special breed of human-kind and they do not get recognized nearly enough for their sacrifices.

may blog challenge {part 5}

Day 23:  Things I've learned that school didn't teach me
This was tough for me for some reason.  I try to think of things that I tell my students about "life" in general.  Let's see...
Your value isn't based upon what's on social media.  The age of kids getting a Facebook, Twitter, etc. just seems to keep getting younger and younger.  It's so easy to become consumed with what's on these things but that's not what we should live our lives by.

There is never enough time.  The phrase "time flies" applies to this.  Pretty self-explanatory... blink an eye and who knows what you'll miss.

Base your life decisions upon prayer.  When faced with a decision, don't take it into your hands.  Just simply pray.

Day 24:  Top 3 worst traits
First, and foremost, my OCD tendencies.  It is so hard for me to not be consumed by my to-do lists and just learn to "let things go" sometimes.  I do have to give myself credit for becoming slightly better at this... but it's still certainly out of control.  I know I drive Nate absolutely bonkers sometimes.
Social media addiction.  I hate admitting to this one but it's true.  I have learned to give myself a limit to the amount of times I visit the sites each day.  I also do my best to completely abandon it when Nate gets home from work.  It is so easy to miss out on life when you're obsessed with Facebook.
Taking forever to get ready.  I am not, and have never been, one of those people who can get ready quickly.  Mainly due to the fact that I take long showers.  I often get frustrated at the amount of time it takes and am beginning to learn shortcuts.  I've come to the realization that sleep is precious ;)

Day 25:  Something I've been told about myself that I've never forgotten
In my opinion, a good work ethic is one of the best characteristics that a person can have.  I've been blessed to be surrounded by people who really do believe in the concept of hard work.  I pride myself on it, as well.  A former colleague wrote a reference letter for me not long ago and complimented on that by saying that I was one of the few college students he'd come in contact with that went above and beyond the tasks at hand.  He also contributed that trait to my success.

Hearing things like that only makes me want to work harder.

Day 26:  Something interesting I've read online
"Date a Girl who Teaches"
A sweet article about the quirky traits that we teachers often share.  It is oh-so true... especially for this girl.

may blog challenge {part 4}

Day 20:  Something I'm Struggling with Right Now
I touched on this topic on Day 16.  When I find myself worrying about something these days, it is almost always my current state of employment in the Fall.  Or should I say the lack thereof.  I think it is every college graduate's fear that they will not find a job after working their tail off for the past 4 years.  It's also a fear that I'll rush into a teaching position that isn't "right" for me.  I know that the Lord has a plan for me.  I consistently remind myself of that when I feel the anxiety sinking in.  Teaching is my dream and I only want to fulfill that.

Day 21:  Links to My Favorite Posts
One of my favorite parts of blogging is the fact that I can look back and read my posts.  It's a virtual scrapbook to me.  Of the 337 posts I've done, here are some of my favorites...
observations on... comparison.
why I love to cook dinner.
one sentence.
the prayer of St. Francis.
Bliss.
teenage courage.
our story.

It's obvious to me as I was looking back at my posts, that my writing has become more mature in recent posts.  I contribute most of that to the fact that I'm inching closer to the real world.  I do cherish my older posts that mostly just dealt with recent happenings... there are many things that I had forgotten.  Thank goodness for blogging!

Day 22:  Gettin' on My Soapbox
Surprisingly, it was not hard for me to find a topic to get on my soapbox about... GRAMMAR. 

As a teacher, grammar is something that I constantly preach to my students about.  Grammar is a basic skill that we must know in order to be successful citizens.  It drives me crazy to see students who are about to enter middle school still not using correct capitalization.

However, my most favorite improper usage of grammar occurs when someone enters a full-on rant on Facebook... with countless grammar errors.

And, just for the heck of it, here's another grammar ecard.  I love me some ecards.

That seems like an appropriate note to end on ;)

my happy place

A happy place. 

We all have one.  A place we go to in order to feel a sense of true peace.  Happiness.  Life. 

 

For me, it is basking in the summer sun.

 

I did just that yesterday afternoon for over 2 hours.  It was heaven.

Just me, tanning oil, reading material, and my beloved Jason Aldean Pandora station.  Oh, and the dogs were trying to join me as well.  Typical.

For as long as I can remember, basking in the sun has been the place I go to for solitude.  Obviously, it can only happen with the right weather so I take advantage of it during these warm months.

There's absolutely nothing better for my soul that to just lay and be with myself.  Sometimes I will read.  But most of the time, you will just find me alone with my music and my thoughts. 

The relationship that we have with ourself affects the relationships that we have with those around us.  When we're in our happy place, we learn to love ourself.  Accept ourself.  Realize that we are wonderful in the eyes of God.

The summer sun has been my happy place for as long as I can remember.  It takes me back to my early high school years... before the responsibility.  It gives me a sense of freedom and reminds me how important it is to just spend time with myself every once in a while. 

Some things don't change after all these years.  I still have my love affair with soaking up some Vitamin D.  I still have my love for myself... and my happy place takes me back to that.

However, some things do change over the years. 

I didn't drink these bad boys all those years ago in high school to cool down.  ;)

What's your happy place?

recent happenings... summer is creeping in.

It appears that summer is beginning to make an appearance here in KY.  The weather hasn't reached unbearable levels (only in the 80s so far) but the humidity seems to be slowly creeping in.  Along with the humidity, Hubs and I have already begun our summer activities :)

 

I sat on the back porch one evening last week and watched the sunset.  I haven't taken the time to do that in far too long.  It was just me, an afternoon breeze, birds singing, and crickets chirping.  I really think the world might have stood still for just a minute.  It was heaven.

 

We have also completed about 90% of our landscaping.  Woohoo!  I was busy planting away with my "helpers."  However, they felt it was more important to nap... can't say that I blame them.

Here's what we have accomplished so far!  I just want to add a couple more finishing touches and I'll quit before it becomes tacky.  If you know me, that can happen quite easily.  The Camry made an appearance because she got cleaned inside and out.  Girlfriend was looking good!

I was running to town one day to run errands when this song came on.  The windows were down and the weather was great.  It was appropriate for the moment.  But, then again, when is 90s country not appropriate?!?

I, along with a couple other friends, are in the process of planning a wedding shower for our friend, Elizabeth.  After browsing Pinterest for many hours, these items stood out to me as our inspiration.  After some discussion, we will be doing a burlap, sunflower, and red chevron theme.  The centerpieces will be adjusted to make them more rustic, of course.  I am very excited to see how it all pulls together :)

Speaking of Elizabeth, we went wedding shopping on Saturday to gather many items for our upcoming DIY craft day.  We made stops at several local craft stores then hit up the consignment shops.  It turned out to be a treasure chest for me.  I got all these items (mason jar, purse, jewelry stand, quilt basket) for under $20 which made for one happy girl!

Finally, frog gigging season is here!  We made our first trip on Saturday to this beautiful spot.  The water is so clear that you can see the bottom.

 

We ended up only gigging one frog so the boys resorted to bowfishing for entertainment.  Meanwhile, us girls had a photo session with the frog gig.  Love these ladies!

I have to admit that I live for summer.  I look forward to the long, warm nights and fun activities that come along with them.  I love the freedom that it gives me... a perk of being a teacher ;)  After this weekend, the warm months bucket list has had a few items crossed off.  Gotta admit that I love crossing things off any to-do list!

I have another two weeks off before I begin working again and I intend to make the most of them.  First up, a lay-out session this afternoon.  This is life, y'all! :)

may blog challenge {part 3}

Day 14: Ten things that make me really happy
{one}clean sheets, {two}fresh flowers, {three}driving with the windows down, {four}country music, {five}Sonic milkshakes, {six}my planner, {seven}a clean house, {eight}watching re-runs on the DVR, {nine}DIY projects, {ten}my friends and family (duh!)

Day 15: A Day in the Life
I gotta be real with y'all.  I totally failed on this one.  Currently, I have a few weeks off before I start working again and it has been crazy around here.  I'm catching up on my to-do lists and actually trying to get ahead on some things.  Let's make a deal, mmkay?  I promise to have "A Day in the Life" post for y'all sometime this week.  I do love looking back on these so I want to have one for my own memory :)

Day 16:  Something difficult about my "lot in life" and how I'm overcoming it
This one was tough for me.  I haven't had any real tragedies in my life and I know I'm beyond blessed because of that.  The thing I am working the most on in my life right now is just learning to be content in the moment.  I have probably written about this before on here but I'm sure it bears repeating.  Our society often puts us in a state of mind where we're constantly going 100 mph.  It's exhausting and we miss so much because of it.  I am in a very happy place in my life right now.  I'm a newlywed, just graduated college, and am hitting the job market.  I could easily be overcome with anxiety about finding a job but I constantly just pray for the Lord to give me peace about this subject.  I know He will put me where I need to go!  Contentment is something I will continue to strive for.  It will only bring more happiness to me :)

Day 17:  A favorite photo of myself and why

This is from our wedding day.  Obviously, it is one of my "better looking" days.  Make-up and hair are just as they need to be.  But the reason I love this is because I can remember the exact moment my photographer took this picture.  Nate and I had just finished our first look and we were beginning to take pictures with our wedding party and family.  My photographer was trying to gather them for a picture but they wanted to play with their guns for a bit longer.  Boys will be boys.  So instead she took even more pictures of me.  I was cracking up at the boys when she snapped this.  I remember the pure happiness I felt at that moment.  I was surrounded by such loving and supportive people and was about to marry my best friend.  It was a beautiful day and I couldn't find a reason not to smile.

Day 18:  A Story from my Childhood
I have so many wonderful memories from my childhood.  My sister and I are very close in age so they all pretty much involve her one way or another.  That's the great thing about siblings... a forever playmate.  Anywho, I cannot pick just one memory from my childhood so I'll highlight a few of my favorites. 

(1)  Each summer, we would spend many days with my great-grandparents.  Specifically during VBS week.  My sister and I (and sometimes our cousin) would pack our bags and go there to be spoiled rotten.  We would play countless card games, have milkshakes as we pleased, run outside in the yard, play pool in the basement, and just be kids.  Now that my Papaw has passed, I cherish those memories even more.
(2)  I also remember many fishing trips with my Dad and sister.  We had access to ponds in our area that were stocked with catfish and bluegill.  We would spend hours staring at a bluegill bobber.  My sister often became impatient and played in the dirt but I lived for those mornings when we learned many life lessons from our Dad... including how to bait a hook and set a fish loose.  Nate still compliments me on those skills ;)
(3)  Finally, shopping trips with my Mom and Nana.  I remember I would get so annoyed going to yard sales and consignments stores when I was younger and now I absolutely live for it!  I felt like such a grown-up when I went shopping with them and I enjoy those shopping trips even more these days :)

Day 19:  Five of my favorite blogs
Stephanie @ Beautiful Mess.

A fellow southern girl who married a country boy.  From her tales of raising a puppy to building a house, I can relate to many of her posts!

Natasha @ Hello! Happiness

 

A lady from my neighboring state who has had a whirlwind life the past couple of years.  I love her positive outlook on nearly everything she writes about.

Erin @ Living in Yellow.

 

Everybody knows this girl so do I really need to explain why I love her?!?

Jennifer @ Life in the Green House.

 

She's a fellow teacher and lover of organizing.  She is passionate about all things in her life.

Shalyn @ So Shay.

 

An honest Texas girl with a Texas-sized heart that loves every bit of her life.

SPD: DIY Michael's Crate Storage Center

Alright, y'all.  I'm so excited to share this DIY project with you! 

 

Here's some background info.  Hubs started living in our house on the farm a year before we got married.  As with any new homeowner, some pieces of furniture were put on the back burner as being unnecessary for the time being.  For us, it was an entertainment/storage center near the TV. 

 

Fast forward about a year and half.  We've been married nearly 8 {wow!} months and I had enough of the whole wires hanging everywhere deal.  Since they don't give you a paycheck during student teaching, we were on a limited budget so I knew a DIY project was in order.  I consulted Pinterest and this beauty immediately caught my eye.

 

{original pin}

 

And so I was inspired.

 

Here's what you need for this project:

 

Krylon WoodStain - Earthen Brown.  (I used 3 cans.)  This stuff is awesome... it's like wood stain spray paint so you don't waste time using a brush.

 

 

Michael's Wooden Carry-All Crates.  (I used 6 crates.)

Step one. 
Lay out all crates in a ventilated area... preferably with some type of tarp/paper underneath it.

Step two. 
Shake the Krylon WoodStain well and spray onto crates until you reach your desired color.  I recommend using a little, letting dry, then adding more if you need to.  A little goes a long way with this stain!

Step three. 
Allow your crates to dry overnight.  The can says that it will be ready in about an hour but I really recommend giving them plenty of time to dry so that you don't get any smudges on your pretty stained crates.

Step four.
You can finally bring your crates inside and assemble them!  Some of the tutorials I read bolted the crates together.  Fortunately for us, the crates were all level and we felt it wasn't necessary to bolt them together.  This also gives us the option to rearrange them in the future if we want.

Once the crates are arranged and assembled, pretty them up with your belongings.  I used lots of items from our wedding... our guest book, my bouquet, the unity candles, redneck wine glass, and the lantern that was on the mantle behind us.  I also included the stitchery that my mom handmade for us as a wedding present.  It was also used on the mantle in our wedding.  Some fresh flowers, painted mason jar, and our telephone complete the piece. 

Off to the side, there is a quilt that is very special to us.  Nathan's great-grandmother made this for us as a wedding present.  She passed many years before we actually got married but made sure she completed it before it was her time to go.  I had the pleasure to know her and am so grateful that she is still a part of our lives through this quilt.

This is a snapshot (before and after) of the area.  You can see how terrible those cords were.  Praise Jesus they are now gone!  I love this piece so much :)

So how much did it cost?!  From my calculations, this project was less than $75.  Much cheaper than buying a piece of furniture anywhere.  I used coupons for the crates at Michael's and, lucky for me, the stain was on clearance at Michael's when I bought the crates.  Total win-win.

Now go forth and link up, ladies!

guess who graduated?

This girl.  I'm no longer a student.  I'm an alumni.

 

It's kind of an unspoken tradition for WKU graduates to decorate the tops of their caps.  It helps our families pick us out amongst the crowd of black.  Mine is, of course, based upon a Dr. Seuss book.

Graduation day was bittersweet to say the least.  It was a day for me to reflect upon how much my life has changed in the past 4 years.  New friends who will sadly be moving back home.  Lots of opportunities to include on my resume.  Saying good-bye to what I've come to love about college.  The time to find myself and love myself.

It was also a time to think about all I've accomplished.  I graduated Summa Cum Laude with a GPA of 3.95.  I've had experiences within a diverse population of schools.  It's time for me to take the next step in life.  I know that God has a plan for me.

And, finally, time for a photo dump from the day.

 with the Hubs

I ran into one of my best friends who was also graduating that day.

I'm sure you recognize these guys. 

me and the fam 

my amazing grandparents 

Nate's family 

right after I graduted... I'm not sure who was smiling more.  So thankful for this boy! 

 new friends, old friends.  thankful for each and every one of them.

 

my sweet Lily and I.  dance recital for her; graduation for me.  DQ ice cream with the fam to celebrate! 

officially an alumni.  say what?!? 

my DQ ice cream cake.  my family knows me best! 

all dressed up on mother's day.

 

 

Now I ask you to pray me (and my fellow graduates) as we enter this thing called the real world.  I'm a planner by nature and it's hard for me to not know exactly what I'll be doing with my life in the next few months.  I know that I'll end up where I'm supposed to.  For now, I'm enjoying having some time off and being a housewife :)