sunflowers in tennessee

I know you didn't have a choice but to grow where you were planted,

but thanks for growing up in my neck of the woods, sunflowers.

Even with a sleepy/cranky baby, 

you sure brightened our day!

Happy Tuesday!

mini messages

Dear Spring in Tennessee,

When I said I loved you, I lied. That was pre-allergy attack. Now, as I've been sneezing enough to break my back, I kind of hate you. The flowers and warmer weather are nice, but you're dead to me.

Dear Father,

I'm so, so, so excited for your visit next week! We are long overdue for a daddy-daughter date!

Dear Mother, 

Please don't get too jealous while Dad gets to spend a week with your favorite child. We will miss you so big, I know it! I promise, all we'll talk about is how much we love you and how beautiful you are and how miserable the visit is without you.

Dear Vicks Sinex Nasal Decongestant,

Um, you're awesome.

Dear Husband,

Thanks for willingly moving to the couch during this sickness. And for buying me the special kleenex that doesn't hurt my nose.

Dear Storm,

I love rain, thunder, and lightening. But, I hate damages. Let's make a deal. You bring all the storm like qualities, without the storm consequences. Deal? Deal.

joy filled friday

1 after work snuggle time (give me a down comforter, my nook, and 2 puppies...perfect)  

2 "Wicked" (saw it this week..amazing!) 3 playing Scrabble with Husband (even though he makes up words and I usually quit before finishing the game) 4 spring time in Tennessee 5 HGTV (all day, every day) 

6 any and all fairs/festivals 7 curled hair (when I actually do it) 8 milkshakes (Husband makes the best) 

9 pillow talks 10 clorox wipes (I seriously wipe down everything with those things.)

Happy Friday!

saturday

It's a cold, rainy Saturday here in middle Tennessee.
But I still HAD to get out of the house.
You ever have those moments (days/weeks) where you just have the itch to get up, shower, and drive?
That's today for me.
Probably due to the week of being sick and stuck inside.
It's like I can SEE the sick germs in my house.
I just want to open all the doors and windows and Lysol the begeebies out of everything.
But, it's rainy and slightly freezing, so I'm stuck with just cleaning.
I don't want to clean though!
I can hear birds happily chirping outside (despite the drizzly rain), which speaks to my adventurous spirit and tells me to get up and go!
Alas, rainy day activities are limited.
So, it's probably just going to be a trip to the bank and some other errands.
But, we'll take the back roads and the long way home, maybe even rent a movie for date night in.
Oh Saturday, I like you.

joy filled friday

1 bagel bites 2 out of town house guests 3 Saturday morning Bible studies 

4 house hunting (dreaming) 5 rose gold anything 6 a tidy house 7 empty laundry hampers 

8 silhouettes 9 pennants 10 dark wooden floors

Happy Friday, y'all!

the time for snuggles

When Mr. Sunshine gets temperamental and temperature highs are in the 20s, serious snuggle sessions are in order. Not that I'm complaining. No sir. I love the floating flurries and snow showers. It's like living in a snow globe and who doesn't want that?! I could actually use a bit more. I mean, what's the point of it being this cold and NOT giving me snow?

And when you have two of the sweetest professional snugglers, it's not that unbearable.

mini messages

Dear Everyone That Wants Happiness In Life, 

Get a sheepdog. I promise you, their hearts are as massive as their body. And, no shedding. Say what?! Told you. You need one. (Wait, I need one...Brandooooon?!?)

Dear Snow,

Thanks for coming last night! It was perfect, but could we get a little more? I mean, with the low of 1 today, I think I deserve it.

Dear Downton Abbey,

You're back in my life and I feel so complete again. Well, as complete as I can be without Matthew and Cybil. I'm still bitter. 

Dear Juan Pablo,

I think this'll be the best "Bachelor" ever. Thank you for learning to speak slow so we can all understand you. Me and my grandma hearing were genuinely worried about that.

Dear House,

Well, I finally de-Christmas-ed you. And although the house feels normal again, I can't help but miss the Christmas clutter. Until next year...

Happy Monday, y'all!

weekend with the family (a video)

 (best in full screen.)

How was your Labor Day weekend?

Mine was full of family, puppies, food, and laughter.

Just like I like it.

Happy Labor Day!

wilson county fair (a video)

Saturday, Husband and I went to the Wilson County Fair with my Godparents.

I lovelovelove fairs.

And I lovelovelove my Godparents.

So, pretty perfect Saturday if you ask me!

Mini Messages

Dear Olive,

You crack me up with your "Diva" tendencies. I can't help but sing Beyonce's "I'm a a diva, I'm a, I'm a a diva..."

Dear Tennessee Summer,

I love you and the memories you're bringing. Also, thanks for the tan!

Dear Place of Possible Employment,

Yes or No. That's all I need. Yes. or. No. Yes?

Dear Axios Girls,

I love love love y'all. Thursday nights are my new favorite.

Dear Blog,

I think I may like you again. I've missed writing and keeping up with my friends. Maybe I'll give you a second chance.

two years

Today Husband and I celebrated our two year anniversary.
Since we've been traveling all weekend for a wedding,
we decided to have a low-key day.
We drove down the road and spent the afternoon in adorable Bell Buckle, TN!

Now, time for pizza and a scary movie.

We are so romantic.

Dear Handsome,

Thank you so much for everything. I wish I could list out the ways you make my life better, but I know it would take way too long and nobody else would even understand. So, I strive to show you every day how much you mean to me. We made big decisions this past year and I'm so excited to start anew here in Tennessee. It finally feels like home, a place to grow roots. I can't wait to see what this next year brings.

I love you, today, more than ever, and tomorrow, more than that. 

family week pt.1 (nashville cherry blossom festival!)

My family came to visit our new Tennessee home this past week!

As always, it's never long enough and before I realized it, it was Thursday and they were packed up and ready to go.

But, I loved showing them around our new place

(and taking advantage of Mom's new fancy camera.)

First up, the Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival to support our godparents and their pottery.

things

These are random thoughts running through my mind.

(Hey new iPhone, thanks for being awesome and making self portraits easier with the front facing camera!)

We have officially been TN residents for over a month now and I couldn't be happier. My only issue is having 2 measly days of snow. Now that I'm aware of what TN is capable of, I don't understand why we can't have that more often.

Speaking of curtains (just go with it.) Our living room is my favorite place. I'm so proud of how the decorations have come together. There's just one thing missing...curtains. It drives me crazy. Not only are most curtains expensive, there are so many choices! I want these curtains to make a statement in my living room. Oh, the troubles.

I have come to the realization that I am about as domestic as a toddler. Scratch that. I think the preschoolers can make yummier meals and play house on the playground better than me. I wish I had the skills to sew like crazy. Then I could make my own curtains and not have to buy many clothes. And then there's cooking. Don't even get me started. I have about 3 things I can successfully make. Chili, scrambled eggs, and brownies. That's it. Truly, for real, not joking...that's it. Poor Husband, I have completely failed as a wife in those areas. Going grocery shopping intimidates me. What are the main things every house needs? I don't know! How do you go grocery shopping when you don't know what you need? Are you supposed to have tons of recipes memorized so you automatically does on the list? Clearly I need help. I need a grocery fairy. And a cooking fairy. And throw in some money while you're at it.

I want to lose weight. I want to work out. I want to eat healthy. Yet, I'm so overwhelmed I do nothing and feel miserable. 

I think I want to dye my hair red.

Valentines day is coming up and I am kind of dreading it. I become this crazy hopeless romantic when it comes to gift giving and receiving. I imagine these wonderful, romantic, unattainable gifts that inevitably let me down when I receive or give to others. I need to realize every present, big or small, is special and thoughtful. I also need to calm my imagination down. Most people truly just want to know you thought of them. I feel as thought I have to prove my love for them in crazy big ways, therefore I expect the same. It's not a good habit. I'm working on that.

I hate doing laundry. No, more than hate. I loathe. Super loathe. I'd rather get rid of all my clothes and keep 7 outfits to rotate. Hmm, maybe.

Confession: I watch The Bachelor. There, said it. If you also watch this trainwreck of a show and don't know why, visit Alycia at (The Crowley Party) She has the funniest recaps of all the episodes. She gets it. She gets me.

I miss having my brother nearby. He is truly one of my best friends. Even though he is younger than me, he is a worthy role model in my life. No one can make me laugh like him, or get me angry like him. I was spoiled these last few years to have him live in the same city. Now, I miss him like crazy. We still talk almost every day via Facebook and texting (most of our conversations are about new YouTube videos and Downton Abbey.) It's just not the same. I love you, Brother!

Now I feel all sappy. Stupid.

Well, I guess I'll sign off here and scope Pinterest for an hour, searching for motivation to do something more with my life...

mini messages

Dear Husband, 
I hope you had a fantastic brithday. Minus the mishap with the chocolate chip pancakes (again, why are they so hard to make?) You were to sweet to smile and eat them anyway. And when we went bowling, the girls totally decided to let the boys win, since it was your birthday...love you!

Dear Tennessee, 
You have made this girl very, very happy. Waking up to snow two days in a row? Thank you! You'd think I never lived in snow before, but I have. I just really love snow.

Dear Downton Abbey,
I love/hate you. Don't you understand that we can't watch your show through endless tears?! Lay off a little, geeze.

Dear Me,
I'm so proud of you for being off of soda's for over 2 months and off of caffeine completely for a week. You deserve a special treat. (Yes, I did write a message to myself.)

Dear diybride.com,
I feel so honored that my wedding has graced your pages. To see the sweet post, click (here.)

Happy Monday!

it snowed last night and we have a birthday boy!

I was falling asleep last night, 

doing my daily bedtime routine,

skimming through instagram one last time, 

when it happened.

I saw a friend's picture of snow in a nearby city.

I quickly checked my phone weather app

and once I saw the snowflake symbol,

I freaked.

The distance between my bed and the front door is about 20 big steps.

It took me 2.

Our front yard was covered and huge snowflakes kept coming down.

My first official snow as a Tennessee-en.

There something so peaceful about snow falling.

Especially at night.

I ran back inside, screaming for Brandon to hurry and come look.

He was in the shower and I couldn't wait for him.

I put on my rainboots and jacket 

(The first trip outside was a little uncomfortable being barefoot in my pajama shorts and shirts)

and ran back outside to instagram every moment.

(It's what you have to do, right?)

After an hour or so and after much coaxing from Husband, 

I finally came back inside and prayed it would last until morning.

I woke up and happily noticed that it stayed all night.

I'd like to think it's just for me, but since it's Husband's birthday,

I'll say it's all for him.

Oh yeah, it's Brandon's birthday!

Happy 28th, Handsome.

To celebrate, I got up extra early to make him a birthday breakfast.

(And to play in the snow...)

Chocolate chip pancakes (why are pancakes so hard to make?)

Cheesy eggs.

Bacon.

Tonight, we are eating out with some super awesome friends

and I cannot wait to spend the day being extra sweet and thankful 

for my hottie of a man.

That last picture cracks me up. 

Whenever Husband and I try to snuggle, Bailee has to squeeze in.

Every. Single. Time.