Returning to my favorite front porch

I am home for a week before graduate school starts. I have many emotions about returning back to school, but I figure I had a nice break and its time to get back into it. I am excited to be starting a new chapter in my life and anxious to see where it leads me. However, it is nice to be home for a little bit before the craziness returns. There are so many things that make being home such a joy. For instance, walking in the door and seeing this beauty of a picture of yourself:

wow. loving that neon background, I am thinking it will be a popular choice in my future Christmas cards.
Also, having all my favorites close by is t.r.o.u.b.l.e. it leads me to make irrational purchases like these:

New OPI color that I adore, chi hairspray (amazing smell and hold), and Hemp lotion (first fell in love with this in my tanning bed days, which I am strictly against now...funny how things change), when I saw it in Ulta I almost peed in my pants with excitement.

I spent an hour in Michaels. Nothing quite excites me like cardstock and stencils. My craft wheels were turning. I also get to return to my favorite friends, my mom's homemade sweet tea, and of course the mosquitoes.

This is what I spent my entire Monday doing. Its a little hard to see from the picture, but its a 20x24 wooden sign. Wow, I did not anticipate how much work this would be. I could not find any stencils the size I wanted, so I had to make my own and that threw a loop into the whole plan. But, finally its finished and I am feeling good about the finished product. I plan to hang it up on our new patio!! yay!! so excited about our cute little space. I will post more pictures when we throw a few more things together.

wrap it up

so I must say that I am pretty proud of myself today. I created this beautiful wrapped present for Mallory and Barrett's wedding this weekend! No telling whats inside...(lets just say that I liked their present so much, I got one for myself). I got the inspiration for the present wrapping from Emily over at Jones Design Company. That gal is so talented and I practically steal all her ideas. I am obsessed with her house and I want to one day create a space similar with the same cozy feel. I have been loving this flower ever since she did the tutorial and I have already done it for a few other projects. I see many more of them in my future.

I think present wrapping is so fun and gives you a chance to display your personality. I know there are online deliveries now for wedding gifts, but I feel like that takes the genuineness out of it. I love seeing how people choose to decorate their gifts, especially the ones from my younger cousins at the christmas time. Their use of tape is more for amusement that practicality, I am convinced. I hope Mallory and Barrett love their present and I am MORE than ready to be shakin my groove thang on the dance floor this weekend, bring on the band! I would request my favorite song as of late, but I know no one can sing it exactly like him, so I will just play it repeatedly on our six hour ride home. Have a good weekend everyone!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYut9FdRt3w

New Design/domain name

Hello lovies!

As you can see, I have had some major changes here in my blog world. I changed my design, created a new blog name, and got a new domain. I stupidly forgot to transfer my favorite blogs though so I frantically tired to find all of them through the history on my computer. Also, I wasn't sure how to forward my old domain to the new one, so hopefully everyone finds me again. Pass the word along to your bloggy friends for me! I have been thinking about changing my blog name and domain for a while and almost couldn't bare looking at that drab design that I sadly called my blog. So waaa-llaaa, a make over has happened, and I must say I am loving the fresh, new, clean look. Everything about is much more me.

Now, onto other topics,

WHY am I so addicted to reality shows? Does anyone else share in this addiction? I. can't. get. enough. Please, help snap me out if it. (although, secretly, I wouldn't want you to help, thats how addicted I am. sad.) One of my latest favorites is, "Million Dollar Decorators", I haven't decided who is my favorite yet but I am totally crushing on Mary's design style. She can come style my house any day, well any day I have a extra few mill laying around.

Also, there is "Love in the Wild" Does anyone else watch this? Please say yes and that they agree with me that Samantha and Mike are the cutest things. I hope they continue a relationship beyond the show, because we all know that always works.

I am watching my usual, the "Bachelorette" but must say that this is my least favorite season to date. I am not sure if it is because of Ashley or the guys, but I am just not thrilled. Although, I must say, I think JP actually likes Ashley a lot and she should end up with him or Ben, yet to be decided. For some reason I like Ames though, I know..weird. I think he is just so genuine and polite. Even though he did show a sassy side in the elevator a few weeks ago..

This are the things I talk about in daily conversation. Not normal. Thanks for stopping by to read my ramblings!

products that I am loving

WHEWWEEE, I havent blooged in a long time. It is becoming a habit for me, huh? I thought about it, and I must gush and brag about my recent favorite products. I recently was searching for a new nail polish color and I stumbled upon Mrs. O'Learys BBQ, I thought it would be fitting for my future move to Memphis, not to mention the color looked spectacular. Nevermind, that extreme run on sentence that just occurred. Well, today was the first day I tried the nail polish and it is just as wonderful as it looks on the screen!

Picture: http://dailyvarnish.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/opi-mrs-oleary.jpg

Product #2 is Neutrogena fresh foaming cleanser. My pores are finally breathing and for a cheap price tag of $4.00! I have always used the face washes with the exfoliating beads and always felt like my makeup was still on after my watch. Then I was watching the Doctors one day and they said something along the lines of washing your face with foaming face wash is much better for it than the exfoliating bead scrubs. After watching, I was on a mission to find a replacement face wash. It is a make up cleanser as well so it is perfect for giving my pores a little present everyday!

picture: http://www.acne.org/images/products/img-565.jpg

Product #3 is crest 3D mouthwash. I am addicted. Not only does it feel fresh, but it actually works. I saw a huge difference within just a few days of using this product. Its an acquired taste, but it has been worth it!

picture: http://www.blendingbeautiful.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/crest-white-mouthwash.jpg

Georgia Peach

What a weekend! Thank goodness for this weekend, it has been one of my favorites of the year. I always love getting to see my favorite people and just driving through Georgia puts a smile on my face. I left for Georgia on Thursday so that I could go with Joyce to pick up her wedding dress. After months of dress drama, her dress finally arrived. Only not to be all the way finished, what fun. Poor gal. Needless to say, we were at the dress place way longer than we bargained for but it was great to see her and she looked stunning in that unfinished dress haha.

Then mom and I went out to eat for a little birthday celebration, since I was not in town for her actual birthday. Do you know they have a new drink called the strawberry pina colada? I know, it truly does sound like it only exists in Heaven. The next day mom and I rushed around looking for some bridesmaids dresses for Joyce. This was an adventure and I think we found just what she was looking for. Its so exciting to see the wedding coming together! Then, it was off to the airport for me to pick up my p.i.c. Kris had to fly since he had a class on friday. Then, we headed straight to Atlanta to see Erin. Sweet friend had been so excited about my arrival she planned out the whole night. Including having drinks and chips and salsa waiting for us upon our arrival. I am so grateful for Erin. She always makes me laugh hysterically with her crazy stories and she is such a hardworking, reliable person. I am proud of my little chemist! We spent the night laughing, singing, dancing, and having the best time. Literally, I woke up the next morning thinking I had done a full body workout the day before. It was fun meeting up with old friends and seeing people that I had not seen in a while. It so interesting to see where people's lives take them.


Saturday morning we loaded are things back into the car and drove to Tyler and Joyce's house for some more wedding planning. She made us some delicious chicken fingers and macaroni. My kind of meal. Then, it was on to Dahlonega to celebrate Hannah and Elliot's wedding. Wow! It is gorgeous up there! Mountains were the backdrop of their wedding which was held at a beautiful farm house that had a barn, bar area, pool, and ruins in the backyard. It was an amazing venue! Just thinking about the evening makes me smile. I saw a TON of people that I had not seen in forever and I absolutely loved catching up with them. The weather was cool for a June night and the dance floor was on fire! Everyone was dancing the night away. I wore the wrong heels for dancing but refused to sit down for more than one song at a time. Even though Kris assured me that it was ok my wheels were flat, I insisted we go back to the dance floor. It was sweet to see how happy Hannah and Elliot were. Perfect weekend.

poor bloggy

So, I feel like I have not blogged in forever! Blogging is a relaxing thing for me to do and to know that I haven't had time to properly blog makes me feel a little crazy. I have been busy apartment shopping, working, and being a little bookworm that I have put my tiny bloggy aside. However, I am back! and boyyy do I have a lot to blog about.

The first exciting thing I want to blog about is my love for Max and Chloe:

I have been saving up for a Max and Chloe monogrammed necklace for a while. Recently I finally had put aside enough extra cash that I was able to purchase it. It has recently become my favorite piece of jewelry. I think it looks so feminine and elegant. Then, Kris and I celebrated dating for a year on saturday and I came home to this Max and Chloe ring. I am not really into wearing big jewelry but I think this piece is so fun and I love it so much! Thanks Kris!



Bookworm:

I also have several books I have been switching reading. I can't decide which one I like best so I read a few pages in each of them at a time. Since I have never been a Maid of Honor before and I will be at my brother and his fiance's wedding, I wanted to be informed of my duties so I picked up this precious little book. Isn't it cute? Informative too! Kris also got me the new "Book of Awesome" I think these books are so great and allow you to stop and think about what things in life we seem to take for granted. Some of my favorite pages are: "picking up things with your feet," "finally peeing after holding it forever," and letting go of the gas pump perfectly so you end on a round number." I think it's is so funny when I read it, I say to myself, "oh, I love that!" or "that is great!" This book definately cheers me up! Then there is "Heaven is for Real" This book is an incredible story about a boy who visits heaven during one of his surgery's and comes back to earth and shares what he saw. It shows how great God's love is and a glimpse of what we might expect from Heaven.





I had a great weekend working and relaxing and I came home to these lovlies on Saturday...

sweet boyfriend.

Hope everyone had a great weekend!