Great birthday weekend!!!!!

Well, I had a wonderful birthday weekend! I started it off by leaving work a little early to get a haircut which was amazing!! I added some layers and bangs! Then we went and saw Gamechanger, the movie about Nick Saban. It definitely got me in the mood for football season starting this weekend!!! We had dinner at one of my favorite restraunts and then had some drinks and enjoyed the beginning of fall weather and some live music.

Saturday, we hung an Alabama flag (that Emory got me for my birthday) and put out our alabama rug by our front door, and put new alabama stickers on our cars. Can you tell we are ready for football season??

Sunday, we grilled steaks at my mom's with my parents and my brother and his girlfriend. We also added a new member to our family!!! He is an 8 week old Weimaraner and he is the cutest thing ever! We just have to name him! He is doing well so far, I hope he keeps it up!!

25 years....

I can't believe that I am celebrating the start of my 25th year. It seems like yesterday I was blogging about being 24!! I had no idea what my 24th year on earth would bring, but it was an awesome one!! Here is a little recap....
1. I met my wonderful husband.
2. I spent new years in New Orleans.
3. I quit my job.
4. I moved.
5. I got ENGAGED!
6. I got MARRIED!!
7. I went to Europe for the first time on my honeymoon.
8. I saw the Eiffel Tower!
9. I got a new job (that I love)!!

That is alot of stuff crammed into one year. And that is only just all of the highlights. There are so many other things that I didn't even mention. I couldn't be happier. I have the most wonderful husband, the best family, and the best friends a girl could ever dream of. So, needless to say, 24 has been hands-down the best year yet. But, I am welcoming my 25th year with open arms! Here's to another wonderful year, and with so many wonderful people in my life to celebrate, it can't be anything but great!!

And since I never post pictures anymore, here are some of my favorites from the year 24...




** If you haven't checked out my last post about everything awesome, you should. It will explain where this great new look came from!! (Thanks again Miranda!!) Oh, and you should grab my button, because I definitely have one of those now!! Go, you know you want to!!

SHOUT OUTS TO AWESOMENESS!!

Did you notice my awesome, no AWESOME new blog design?? Yeah? Well, the AWESOME MIRANDA over at Little Sailor Design completely transformed my boring little corner of the world wide web into something really cool. She is a great girl from West Virginia (she went to the famous school, Marshall) but is an Alabama fan living with her sweet family in Hawaii!! (jealous much?!) She did THE BEST job! You all should check out her design shop! Because if I haven't mentioned it yet, she is AWESOME!!!!! Like whoa!!

Next, Casey Donahew. I think you have heard him a few times, because I have mentioned him here before. E and I have traveled to see him a couple of times (only because he is usually only in TEXAS) and he is absolutely great (not as great as Miranda) and you should check him out ASAP!!!!! Go, NOW!

French Red Wine....it is amazing. If you don't have any handy..go buy some. You will love it. We liked ours well, you know, In FRANCE. Specifically, Villafranche sur Mer, overlooking the Mediterranean. But, you know, a bottle of French wine in Alabama can be just as good. Well, almost.

My awesome Husband...2 months ago today, I married my best friend. We have so much fun! He is THE BEST EVER!

My AWESOME BFF C, she sent me the BEST flowers at work today! She is awesome and I miss seeing her everyday at work. Soon...we will live in the same town, right? We have to.

So, out of this blog, you should have learned that you need to contact MIRANDA ASAP to make your blog (almost) as cool as mine. Next, you should play Casey Donahew, drink some French red wine and kiss your husband (or wife..or partner..or whatever fits in the blank). Oh, and be jealous of my best friend, because she is awesome.

The signs are all there...

Pointing toward FALL!!! Yep, that is right! Just this week we started waking up and it was darker outside, it is getting darker earlier in the evenings. It is actually pleasant in the mornings and evenings, and you can just feel the changes in the air! I cannot tell you how excited I am!! This summer has been brutal! In facet, it has been one of the hottest on record here in Alabama. But, fall is just around the corner! That brings great weather, holidays, pretty leaves, my favorite clothes, and most importantly, ALABAMA FOOTBALL!!! That is the most exciting part! It starts in little over a week and I couldn't be more excited! What are your favorite things about fall?

Rewards

We had a busy few days at work this weekend, so yesterday I had the morning off and didn't go in until around 2. I got a lot of things done around the house that I wanted to get done and then went to work. We raise money to provide dance classes, among other activities, to children with disabilities, whether it be physical, emotional, cognitive, or anything else, there are no limits. Well, my job is to be in charge of these programs. Yesterday, our classes started, which is why I had to come in to work. I must say that I had seen all of the pictures, heard stories, and even met some of the kids who are in the classes, but seeing them in action was something that no one can prepare themselves for.

Each child in the class is paired with a teenaged volunteer for the year, they have dance classes once a week. They have a holiday performance and a spring recital just like any other dance studio. The smiles on these kids faces is amazing. All of the programs are provided at no cost to the parents and is fully funded by donations and sales of tickets to other shows that go on in the theater. I am so excited to see these kids get the opportunity that everyone else does, to fullfill their dreams. Their parents are so proud too. This is something that their parents can only dream that their child could one day do, and our programs give them an opportunity that they don't get anywhere else. I am so excited to be part of such a wonderful organization. I am not sure who gets the biggest smile on their faces, the kids in the classes, or the people helping out who don't have disabilities, realizing just what a difference it makes. It is truly inspiring, and if you ever got the opportunity to see it, you wouldn't have a dry eye when you did.

I love my job.

So sorry ya'll....

So I have no excuse for being MIA except well, life. As you all know, I started a new job and I dove head first into that. It is SO much fun, but like anything that you want to be successful in, it is time consuming. I do want to catch you all up, and I PROMISE I will carve some time out this week to do just that. I have a BIG week! Lots going on at work and I cross the quarter of a century mark on Friday. So, needless to say, lots going on and I will catch you all up as things go by....

Have a great week!! It's a big one over here.

What a weekend!!!

I guess since I haven't blogged all weekend, I will have to start with Wednesday...so, since I don't have a TON of time, and I am so excited that I can't sit still for too long to write too much! Here is a quick recap....

Wednesday, had an interview with a local non-profit. (If you wanna know more, comment and I will reply back, I don't wanna post too much info on here).
Thursday, got the call that I got the job!
Friday, Emory had the day off and we ran errands all around town.
Saturday, I worked a bridal fair for my wedding photographer, Alicia. I had SO MUCH FUN!! Alicia had a wedding to photograph, so it was me, Alicia's husband Jay, and the other sweet girl that photographed my wedding, Brooke. We had so much fun talking to people! It was a blast and I can't wait to hang out with them more!
Sunday, we had a lazy day and I got everything ready to start my new job!

I am SO looking forward to what is in store with this job. It is a new position and so I get to sort of make it my own and make it work for me. I think it is going to be pretty awesome and very rewarding! I can't wait to get started!

Well, that is the VERY quick update, I am off to spend some quality time with my husband! It has been such a great weekend, we almost don't want it to end. Hope you all have a great Monday and a GREAT week!!

Around Here

So, things have been pretty mundane around here. I mean it is August in Alabama so anything that doesn't involve sitting inside in the air conditioning is pretty much off-limits right now. I mean seriously if I go outside, I can feel my appendages starting to drip and it isn't from the sweat, it is because I am melting. Seriously, being made of sugar is not good in the South.

No for real, I know it is hot but it is also a widely known fact that we live in the South where it is cool for approximately 2 months of the year. It is known, so I am choosing the suffering by staying here, so I can't complain. Even though I do, but I am done because I do realize that I have control of the climate I choose. For me, I can stand the heat in order to have sweet tea, casseroles, seer sucker, boots, camo and a cute Southern drawl. Not to mention Mint Juleps on the wrap around porch every afternoon to beat the heat while walking around everywhere without shoes. (Ok, not really, but I thought I would throw that in there for those of you who have never visited these parts.)

Needless to say, things have been pretty low-key and we haven't really gotten out of the house much. I stay in as much as I can and am still trying to get things put away while still keeping up with the daily demands of a house. It is working out pretty well so far. Today is Emory's Friday, so we are looking forward to a long weekend together! It should be fun, and a lot of time spent indoors!

Happy Thursday! Have a great one and stay cool!

200 Posts!

I can't believe this marks my 200th post! That is crazy! That is almost like writiing a 200 page book in little over a year! SO much has gone into those 200 posts! But nothing is more exciting then the past few months and the months to come! :)

I completely forgot that I was going to do 200 posts and was just going to let you know a few random things, so since that is what I was thinking, I am going to continue with that train of thought since that is all I can do. So, here it is in list form, sorry so boring, you will just have to be ok with it! LOL

1. Vistaprint is officially awesome!! Last week, it was advertised that they were offering some free items and all you had to do was pay shipping and handeling. SO, last Thursday I ordered some personalized notecards with envelopes, a return address label stamp, return address stamps and personlized sticky notes. All items were free and all I paid was shipping! I ordered them on Thursday and everything was here yesterday!! WOW! That was crazy and they are awesome!!

2. Speaking of return adress labels...all of those thank-you cards for the wedding gifts? They are DONE! Sent and done! That is a HUGE thing marked off of my to-do list. I have to get a few more stamps and then they will all be sent! It is such a great feeling because writing that many thank-you notes had become a daunting task!!

Now, since this is my 200th post, I think I should do something to celebrate. I will have to think on it and get back to you! In the mean time, go over to one of my IRL friend's pages and check out her giveaway and her cute little family too!! Have a great Tuesday!