Wedding Card Book

We received so many beautiful cards for our wedding. 

The messages, notes, and blessings written inside meant so much to us, that I couldn't bring myself to recycle them. A few days ago, I posted this on Twitter:

Thankfully the wonderful Molly suggested I search Pinterest.

I searched and came across this idea. 

It seemed simple enough and a great way to save those cards that mean so much to us.

Here is my version: 

For the first two pages, I used an extra invitation and program from our wedding (the heart is covering our last names).

Overall, this project probably took me 10 to 15 minutes. 

It was very simple to do. 

The materials I used were a 3 hole punch, 2 large binder rings, and our wedding cards. 

Although I only punched two holes in each card, it was easier to use a 3 hole punch because this helped make sure the holes were as even as possible. 

I love this because with the binder rings, it is flexible enough to hold every card even though the cards are a variety of different sizes. Right now, our wedding card book is sitting on our mantle. I am excited to have it so that we can go back and read the cards on an anniversary, with our kids, maybe even our grand-kids one day. 

Locks of Love

Since my junior year of college, I have been growing out my hair so that I could have long beautiful hair on my wedding day. I was so happy with my hair on my wedding day. It was beautiful and perfect. 

Photo via Geri Cadle, Photography

But to be honest, long hair can be extremely annoying and frustrating. It would take me a good 10 minutes just to brush my hair after washing it. I could spend anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour blow drying and straightening my hair. I decided it was time for a hair cut. It took me a while to decide exactly how much to cut off. My hair hasn't been above my shoulders since high school. 

After a lot of back and forth, I decided to cut off enough to donate to Locks of Love.

I cut off 11 inches of my hair. It was a dramatic change, but I am very happy with it. 

Especially knowing that my hair will help someone in need. 

(the back after getting it cut)

(the front, Tim and I at the Renaissance Festival)

That Time I Met My Favorite Author

A long time ago,  I created a list of 101 Things to do in 1001 Days.

Lately, I haven't done a very great job of keeping up with it. 

One of the things on my list is to write my favorite author a letter, telling them how much I have enjoyed reading their books. Well I am pretty confident that meeting that author in person definitely trumps writing him a letter. 

Of course my favorite author is Nicholas Sparks. 

I was able to meet him a few weeks ago at one of his book signings.

I bought his new book, The Best of Me and now it is autographed! 

I was so nervous and excited all at the same time. 

Nicholas Sparks was very nice and it was so wonderful to meet him!

Have you ever met anyone famous?

Happy List (2)

I have missed creating happy lists, they always helped me focus on the positive. 

My current happy list:

1. Being his Mrs.

2. The beautiful fall leaves.

3. Getting the giggles from conversations with my first graders.

4. Admiring the beauty in an old building (picture above)

5. Living in our new home. 

What is currently on your happy list?

How to Improve Your Every Day Pencil Holder

Before school started I knew I needed a cute container to hold the pens, pencils, and markers I would be using every day. My mom gave me a wooden pencil holder that had seen better days. I decided to give it a make over. 

I grabbed a sheet of scrapbook paper, scissors, a bottle of Mod Podge, and got to work.

About 15 minutes later...

I had a wonderful new container to keep my pens, pencils and markers in. 

It now sits on one of my tables at school and I love looking at it every day!

This was a very easy project to complete. 

It did not require a lot of time or materials.

Plus I love the final product! 

What is one of your favorite things DIY crafts?

Happy Fall!

Fall is absolutely my favorite time of the year! 

I love it even more, since every fall I will get to celebrate our wedding anniversary. 

I really enjoyed exploring fall in our new home. 

The trees in our new backyard are absolutely beautiful. 

I have also never seen so many acorns in one spot before.

Our backyard is full of them!

Today is also Halloween. 

We don't have a lot of decorations but managed to get a pumpkin for our front porch! 

I am so excited see all of the trick-or-treaters tomorrow.

Hope you  have fun celebrating fall and Halloween! 

I am back!

Hello. I am back!

Did you miss me? I missed you all! 

I have so much to share with you. I have survived my first 2 months of teaching, I now have a husband (that is so weird to say) and am a homeowner! A lot of exciting things going on in life that I can't wait to tell you about. 

I have missed reading all your wonderful blogs and keeping up with you all. 

I am looking forward to getting caught up with everyone. 

How have you been?

Happy List

This week has been busy in a very good way. 

I have spent a lot of time getting ready for school to start.

I got to spend time in my classroom this week, rearranging furniture and working on bulletin boards. 

Here are a few pictures of things that have made me happy this week.

1. Seeing a beautiful butterfly in our flower garden. 

2. Our wedding invitations are waiting patiently to go in the mail. 

3. Spending the last day of my summer job making tie dye cupcakes (they were delicious and messy).

4. Looking up at this beautiful evening sky. 

What is on your happy list this week?

Dreams Do Come True

I have some exciting news! 

I am officially going to be a teacher! 

I'm so excited and nervous.

It is hard to believe that the one thing I have worked towards my whole life is finally here.

Dreams really do come true.

Have any of your dreams come true?

Wedding Wednesday: Unity Ceremonies

One of the things I am having a hard time deciding on for our wedding is the unity ceremony. 

There are traditional ones like the unity candle ceremony. 

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Since our ceremony is outside, this isn't the most practical option. 

The wind could blow the candles out and we don't want to risk burning down the historic site we will be on. 

Or we could go with the sand ceremony.

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But we aren't really fond of this idea. Mainly because we are afraid it might get messed up with transportation between the wedding ceremony and our future home.

I am really considering doing a tree ceremony. 

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The parents of the bride and groom can add soil to a tree in a pot. 

Then the bride and groom can either water it or add soil themselves. 

The bride and groom can then plant the tree in the yard of their first home. 

The last option is a Love letter ceremony. 

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The couple writes love letters to each other before the ceremony and then place them in a locked box to be opened on a specific date. Most likely on their first wedding anniversary. I like this idea too. 

Which one would you/did you use?