Live In Imagination

Wedding Card Book

2011-11-21T05:30:00.000-05:00

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

2011-11-20T13:01:00.000-05:00

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

2011-11-08T21:11:00.000-05:00

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)

2011-11-03T19:10:00.000-04:00

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

2011-11-01T20:31:00.000-04:00

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!

2011-10-30T22:00:00.000-04:00

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!

2011-10-29T20:03:00.000-04:00

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

2011-08-12T16:09:00.000-04:00

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

2011-08-05T12:36:00.000-04:00

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

2011-08-03T06:51:00.000-04:00

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?

Quote Journal

2011-08-02T18:57:00.000-04:00

If you have been reading my blog for a while, you know I absolutely love quotes.

Above is my quote journal where I keep all of my favorite quotes.

I have been pretty bad about updating it lately but am starting to get better.

I cut quotes out of magazines and glue them in my journal.

For a while I actually printed them from my computer (haven't always been a fan of my handwriting), but it took way too much time.

Not only do I fill my journal with quotes, when inspiration strikes I might doodle or draw a picture.

I fill it with beautiful images as well.

Guess you could say it is more like an inspiration journal.

I made it myself mainly because I couldn't find one already made that I liked.

It was really simple to make.

I bought a sketchbook at Michael's and then cut a piece of scrapbook paper to fit the front.

Then glued the scrapbook paper on to the front cover.

Pretty easy.

Where do you keep things that inspire you?

Happy August!

2011-08-01T06:50:00.000-04:00

Happy August everyone!

Wow, I can't believe it's already August, this summer seemed to fly by.

Know what my favorite part of August is?

School Supplies!

Oh my goodness, I get so excited when those school supplies hit the stores (it's like Christmas) .

I can smell freshly sharpened pencils, brand new notebook paper, and a new box crayons.

It is very exciting (must be my inner teacher).

What is your favorite thing about August?

Office Inspiration

2011-07-29T16:46:00.000-04:00

I have seen a few bloggers reveal their offices/craft spaces lately.

They are so beautiful.

Like this space from Little Miss Momma. I would never want to leave.
It's colorful, bright and happy!

And this space from Mrs. DIY & the Tennis Guy.
That desk is amazing, I'm obsessed with it.

These office/craft spaces are causing me to wish I had an office space of my own.
(Right now it would be more like wedding central.)
It would be a wonderful place to relax, be productive, and a constant space of inspiration.
I especially love the bunting decorations (my new obsession).

What would be one item you would have to have in your office/craft space?

Love that Carolina Sky

2011-07-28T22:38:00.001-04:00

Tonight the sky was simply beautiful.

It had some simple wispy light pink clouds.

So of course I had to take pictures of it.

Do you see any shapes in the clouds?

I can't quite decide if I do.

It was so beautiful, the perfect ending to an awesome day.

I just love the Carolina sky.

Movie Love

2011-07-24T22:46:00.000-04:00

We absolutely love movies.

I think between the two of us we own pretty close to 150 DVDs.

We enjoy watching movies at home as well as in the theater.

We enjoy a variety of different movies.

My favorite movies generally tend to be silly, musical or a romantic comedy.

Some of my favorites are See Spot Run, Singing in the Rain, Rocketman, The Notebook and Love Actually, to name a few.

Tim's favorite movies tend to be more action filled, comedies, thrillers, science fiction, or superhero movies.

His favorites include but are not limited to; Die Hard, The Hangover, Back to the Future, and The Original Star Wars movies (Episodes IV, V, & VI).

We have definitely found movies we enjoy watching together. We both enjoy children's movies, they are funny and listening to kids laugh in the theater is the best thing ever. We have had to comprise on some movies. I still have a hard time watching thrillers or really intense movies before I go to sleep, which basically means I don't really like to watch them at all (I get very vivid nightmares).

We simply love movies and watching them is one of favorite date night activities.

What are a few of your favorite movies?

Happy List

2011-07-18T23:47:00.001-04:00

Things that have made me happy lately:

Our beautiful wedding invitations arrived in the mail.

Buying wedding bands.

Having the best summer job ever.

Relaxing weekend escapes.

Receiving our first wedding gift (yay!).

The Hunger Games Trilogy, I am obsessed.

Harry Potter 7 Part II. AMAZING.

What is on your current happy list?

Courage

2011-07-15T15:38:00.001-04:00

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I needed this quote today.

So many things are running through my mind lately about life and the unknown future.

Not knowing if I will have a job or if Tim will have a job this fall is really starting to get to me.

Deep down I know everything will work out the way it's supposed to, but the not knowing scares me.

How are we supposed to find somewhere to live and start our new life together, if we don't know what we will be able to afford? This question is on my mind a lot lately.

I am trying to stay positive and courageous.

We are headed to Boone this afternoon for a weekend escape.

It will be wonderful and hopefully we can fit in the new Harry Potter movie.

Hope you have a lovely weekend.

Engagements!

2011-07-13T15:13:00.001-04:00

We received all of our engagement photos from our wedding photographer.

There are so many that I love but I promise to only share my top favorites.

I love this one.

And this one.

I was very happy with these and it makes me happy knowing we choose the right person for our wedding photographer.

We are trying to decide on one we want to use in our wedding guest book.

It's so hard to pick just one.

Which one would you pick?

{Photo credit: Emma Loo Photography}

Life Lately in Photos

2011-07-10T19:26:00.000-04:00

Tie-dying t-shirts

Seeing beautiful horses.

Lovely roses from my sweet fiance.

Getting back engagement pictures! (more to come soon)

How was your weekend?

Making a Difference: The Shine Project

2011-07-01T21:48:00.000-04:00

By now, I am sure you have come across Ashley, from The Shine Project.

Ashley is so amazing and inspiring.

She is working hard to make a positive difference in the world.

Just watch this video and you will be inspired.

Her latest project is phenomenal, and I feel so blessed to be able to help out.

Ashley is currently working to raise $20,000 for The Shine Project Scholarship Fund.

This money will go to four high school students from Cesar Chavez High School in Phoenix, Arizona.

How is she going to do this?

There are two ways to accomplish this goal and the best part is that you can help!

The first way is with a CHANGE for CHANGE jar. You can pledge to fill up a CHANGE for CHANGE jar.

Here is my jar:

I've already added some change! Such a simple way to help make a difference.

{a few examples from Ashley}

In October, Ashley will be hosting a silent auction as the second way to help reach her goal of $20,000 for the scholarship fund. You can buy something or donate an item to the auction!

For more information about CHANGE for CHANGE jars and on how to create your own, e-mail Ashley at ashley.theshineproject@gmail.com. You can also e-mail her for more information on how to get involved with the silent auction. Also please go check out Ashley's amazing blog.

Please spread the word about The Shine Project.

I know the blogging community can come together to make a BIG difference.

One Project Completed!

2011-06-30T15:21:00.000-04:00

Remember when I wanted clean up my memory board?

Well it's been four months, but I finally did it!

It's all clean!

I found tons of movie ticket stubs on my board.
They were from a large variety of movies and from many years ago.
The one on top is from 2007! That's when I graduated high school.
It seems like 2007 was so long ago.

I also found lots of old pictures mixed in with new ones.
It was like walking down memory lane.

Here it is finally updated!
It has a lot of my favorite pictures with a lot of my favorite people.
I like it. The board looks less clutter and it's not as dusty.

Hooray for finally completing this project!

Have you finished a project recently?

Book Review: ROOM

2011-06-29T15:15:00.003-04:00

ROOM by Emma Donoghue

Summary: To five-year-old Jack, Room is the entire world. It is where he was born and grew up; it's where he lives with his Ma as they learn and read and eat and sleep and play. At night, his Ma shuts him safely in the wardrobe, where he is meant to be asleep when Old Nick visits.

Room is home to Jack, but to Ma, it is the prison where Old Nick has held her captive for seven years. Through determination, ingenuity, and fierce motherly love, Ma has created a life for Jack. But she knows it's not enough...not for her or for him. She devises a bold escape plan, one that relies on her young son's bravery and a lot of luck. What she does not realize is just how unprepared she is for the plan to actually work.

Told entirely in the language of the energetic, pragmatic five-year-old Jack, ROOM is a celebration of resilience and the limitless bond between parent and child, a brilliantly executed novel about what it means to journey from one world to another. (via Goodreads)

Review: This book was intense. It took me quite some time to get used to the language of the book since it is told entirely from Jack's point of view. He has his own grammar style and he enjoys making up words as well. At some points it was a little annoying but I know it was vital to the story. This book was intense to think about a 5 year old spending his whole life in one room, only knowing what has been provided for him and never having stepped outside. It was interesting to see the world from Jack's point of view. This book pulled me in from the beginning, even the cover art is what had drawn me to the book in the first place. I think I finished this book in a matter of three or four days. This was a very good read, although I was a little disappointed with the ending but overall still worth the read. I highly recommend this book. Because I was disappointed in the ending and had a hard time getting used to the writing style I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars.

Book Review: Heart of the Matter

2011-06-29T12:02:00.000-04:00

Heart of the Matter by Emily Giffin

Summary: Tessa Russo is the mother of two young children and the wife of a renowned pediatric surgeon. Despite her own mother's warnings, Tessa has recently given up her career to focus on her family and the pursuit of domestic happiness. From the outside, she seems destined to live a charmed life.

Valerie Anderson is an attorney and single mother to six-year-old Charlie--a boy who has never known his father. After too many disappointments, she has given up on romance--and even to some degree, friendships--believing that it is always safer not to expect too much.

Although both women live in the same Boston suburb, the two have relatively little in common aside from a fierce love for their children. But one night, a tragic accident causes their lives to converge in ways no one could have imagined. (via Goodreads)

Review: I have enjoyed all of Emily Giffin's novels. This wasn't my favorite, but at the same time it had me turning page after page because I just had to know the ending. I enjoyed reading it. The story was intriguing and it definitely pulled me in. The writing was wonderful (as expected). I wasn't happy about the decisions made by Nick, Tessa's husband. I found it interesting to see the reactions and emotions of Tessa as well as Valerie and the way they ended up being connected. I think this book presented a good point, that you can't be sure of what you would do in a situation until you are in that situation yourself. Although I wasn't too fond of the plot, I gave this book 4 out 5 stars.

Have you read it? What did you think?

More Engagement Pictures

2011-06-27T15:18:00.000-04:00

Yesterday Tim and I had our engagement pictures taken with our wedding photographer.

It was a wonderful experience and it makes me even more excited for October.

Here are two pictures from the {Sneak Peek} she posted on her Facebook page.

I loved working with Emma Loo Photography.

Make sure you go check out her amazing blog, and her inspiring Facebook page.

Walk Around the Neighborhood

2011-06-24T15:36:00.000-04:00

Yesterday Tim and I went for a short walk around his neighborhood.

I enjoyed going on a walk with him because we got to spend uninterrupted time together.

We spotted a few lovely things on our walk.

We saw the ice cream truck. It played a fun tune and it was very hard to resist buying ice cream.

I used to love the ice cream truck when I was little. It was so exciting!

One of Tim's neighbors had a beautiful peach tree growing in their front yard.

Too bad I don't like peaches.

There is a beautiful nature trail throughout his neighborhood.

One of my favorite things about his neighborhood.

We spent some time walking it, taking in the nature and enjoying each others' company.

Love this message on this sweet garage door.

What is one of your favorite things in your neighborhood or around your home?

Bride and Bridesmaids Bouquets

2011-06-23T22:26:00.000-04:00

I love hydrangeas. They are very beautiful flowers.

Which is why I have decided to carry them on my wedding day.

I also am going to use silk flowers, because I can keep my bouquet for as long as I want!

Plus they didn't take a huge chunk out of my budget. (Thank you Michael's coupons.)

My bridesmaids will also be carrying a bouquet of hydrangeas.

These flowers are just so beautiful.

What did you/would you like to carry on your wedding day?

Happy Birthday To My Favorites!

2011-06-22T15:23:00.000-04:00

Happy Birthday to my sweet mother! She turns 35 again today!

Thanks for always being there for me and loving me.

I hope I grow up to be as wonderful as you are.

Love you Mom. Happy Birthday.

Also Happy Birthday to my amazing husband-to-be.

Thanks for always making me laugh and for loving me.

You're super and I am excited to celebrate many, many more birthdays with you!

I love you.

This is a happy day. It brought me two of my favorite people in the world!

Inexpensive Dates

2011-06-21T12:04:00.000-04:00

Tim and I have been together for quite some time (five years and counting).

We started dating in high school and through four years of college.

So we have definitely had dates where we didn't spend very much, if anything at all.

One day we looked up streets that had our names.

Then we drove to these streets and took our picture in front of the street sign.

All we spent was the gas money, back when it was a much lower price.

We also went on a few picnics to our local park.

Grabbed a blanket, some food, and a deck of cards.

We talked, ate, and just had fun.

We also love to visit our local AMC movie theater on the weekdays when it's $5 movie day!

What is one of your favorite date activities?

My Favorite Things

2011-06-20T00:35:00.000-04:00

I don't really consider myself to be a high maintenance girl, but there are a few things that make life just a little better. They are some of my favorite items and I thought I would share them with you.

One. Ponds Dry Skin Cream. This stuff is amazing. I use it mainly on my face as a moisturizer. My face hasn't been dry since I've started using it. Every once in a while I'll use it on my feet or elbows. The best part about this cream is it's inexpensive ($5 to $7) and it will last for a very long time.

Two. Maybelline Great Lash Mascara. I love this mascara. Even if I don't wear foundation, I use this mascara. It's wonderful.

Three. Merona Crossbody from Target. I love this purse, it was definitely worth the splurge. It's just big enough to hold the essentials; my wallet, sunglasses, camera, and cell phone. I used to carry a bigger bag, but it always ended up full of junk. This bag is the perfect size.

Four. Pretzel M&M's. These are delicious and my new favorite snack. Love the combination of sweet and salty.

Five. Real Simple Magazine. I love coming home to this magazine it the mail box. It has lots of organization tips (my favorite), recipes, real life stories and fashion. It's the perfect magazine. I can't bring myself to throw them away because I know I'll find it useful in the future (with my own home).

These are a few of my favorite things (cue Sound of Music song) that make life more awesome.

What are a few of your favorite things?

Look!

2011-06-18T23:43:00.000-04:00

As I was helping my mom in her flower garden today, we came across a friendly creature.

Take a look at what we found!

It was pretty cool to see and I was very excited to get this picture.

Which bug/critter do you find most interesting?

Happy List

2011-06-17T00:30:00.001-04:00

Things that have made my happy the past couple of weeks:

Beautiful flowers.

Spending lots of time with Tim.

Getting my room cleaned out.

Friends on DVD.

Receiving lovely packages in the mail.

Finally getting my diploma! *happy dance*

The photo book I made with our engagement pictures and my favorite quotes about love.

Finishing two books (reviews coming soon).

The latest X-Men movie (mainly, James McAvoy)

What is on your happy list?

Summer Goals

2011-06-09T14:16:00.000-04:00

The summer is just around the corner (if not already here).

I thinking setting goals are important and I love making lists.

Here are some of my goals for the summer:

1. Complete clean out and decluttering of my room

2. Complete at least 5 things on my list of 101 things in 1001 days

3. Read enough books to reach half of my reading challenge.

4. Find a teaching job.

What are some of your current goals?

Help Nakate Project Reach Their Goal!

2011-06-08T16:27:00.000-04:00

Remember when I wrote this post about Nakate Project?

Well they are so close to reaching their goal of $700.

This will allow them to make a trip to Uganda this summer to make a difference in the lives of the women they work with. Right now they are thinking they might have to wait until the fall to make this trip.

They only need $80 more.

If every person who reads this just donates one dollar, they will be so much closer to their goal.

By donating you are helping to make a difference.

Don't you want to help out Nakate and the other women in her village?

If you can't donate you can help spread the word by blogging about this organization, by tweeting or posting about it on Facebook.

Just copy and paste this:

Help out Nakate Project make a difference in the lives of women in Uganda.

http://empowered.org/Nakate-Summer-2011

image via Nakate Project

Bridesmaids Brunch

2011-06-07T09:58:00.000-04:00

On Saturday, I held a bridesmaids brunch.

I invited my bridesmaids over to discuss wedding details, for everyone to get to know each other some, and so they could see my wedding dress.

It was a lot of fun and it makes me excited for future wedding related events.

I made the bunting myself. It was fun and definitely an easy way to decorate the room.

I think other than the bunting, my favorite detail was the cups we drank out of.

We used Mason Jars and I created a name tag for each jar.

They were so cute.

We used these colorful straws to enjoy our drink of choice (apple juice, orange juice, and lemonade).

On the menu, we had;

Blueberry muffins

Chocolate chip muffins

Strawberries

Watermelon

Grapes

Blueberries

Fruit dip

Chocolate covered strawberries

And Chicken Minis from Chick-fil-a

The food was delicious!

And the company was amazing.

I really enjoyed planning this and putting all the details together.

We used some flowers from my mother's garden in the centerpiece.

Book Review: Safe Haven

2011-06-06T17:30:00.000-04:00

Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks

Summary: When a mysterious young woman named Katie appears in the small North Carolina town of Southport, her sudden arrival raises questions about her past. Beautiful yet self-effacing, Katie seems determined to avoid forming personal ties until a series of events draws her into two reluctant relationships: one with Alex, a widowed store owner with a kind heart and two young children; and another with her plainspoken single neighbor, Jo. Despite her reservations, Katie slowly begins to let down her guard, putting down roots in the close-knit community and becoming increasingly attached to Alex and his family. (via Goodreads)

Review: I am a huge Nicholas Sparks fan, I've read all of his books. Although I find most of his books pretty predictable and they all follow a similar pattern, I am still drawn to them. I started this book, and his writing style pulled me in as it always does. Katie had a secret but was looking for away to start over and leave her secret behind. Her secret kept her from letting her guard down and to be able to fall in love again. A typical plot line for Sparks but I still wanted to know what happened. I remember at one point thinking, "I know what will happen in the end." Although I did to an extent, I was surprised by the ending. The last few chapters had me on the edge of the chair, it was so intense and I could not stop reading. This was such an amazing book, I highly recommend this one. It was well written and definitely pulled me in from the beginning. I gave Safe Haven 5 out 5 stars on Goodreads.

Have you read it? What did you think?

Book Review: Chasing Harry Winston

2011-06-06T14:25:00.000-04:00

Chasing Harry Winston by Lauren Weisberger

Summary: These three very different girls have been best friends for a decade in the greatest city on earth. As they near thirty, they're looking toward their future...but despite all they've earned — first-class travel, career promotions, invites to all the right parties, and luxuries small and large — they're not quite sure they like what they see...

One Saturday night at the Waverly Inn, Adriana and Emmy make a pact: within a single year, each will drastically change her life. Leigh watches from the sidelines, not making any promises, but she'll soon discover she has the most to lose. Their friendship is forever, but everything else is on the table. Three best friends. Two resolutions. One year to pull it off. {via Goodreads}

Review: I found this book entertaining. It definitely was not a challenging read, would be perfect as a beach read. I had a difficult time relating to the characters who almost all have the "perfect" life. I thought the characters were a little ridiculous and over the top. Especially the way Adriana became annoyed when her parents would visit their penthouse when they paid for all her bills, the apartment she lived in and all her other expenses. It took me awhile to get pulled in to the book, and I had to concentrate to finish it. I gave this book 3 out of 5 stars on Goodreads. I think I would have enjoyed it more if I read it on the beach and had gotten a tan out of it. ;)

Book Review: Water for Elephants

2011-06-04T21:59:00.000-04:00

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

Summary: Though he may not speak of them, the memories still dwell inside Jacob Jankowski's ninety-something-year-old mind. Memories of himself as a young man, tossed by fate onto a rickety train that was home to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. Memories of a world filled with freaks and clowns, with wonder and pain and anger and passion; a world with its own narrow, irrational rules, its own way of life, and its own way of death. The world of the circus: to Jacob it was both salvation and a living hell. (via Goodreads)

Review: I had heard wonderful things about this book, but was still a little skeptical about it. As soon as I got past the first few pages, I was hooked. This book pulled me in. I love the way Jacob narrated the story. I thought the way the book went from the present day to past was written very well. It was not distracting from the story. I enjoyed following Jacob's character and the relationship he developed with Marlena and Rosie. I thought this book also showed an interesting look into the circus world in the depression. I could not put this book down, I was desperate to find out what happened on the next page. This is one of best books I've read lately. There was a little more foul language than I care for, but the story was still amazing. I highly recommend it. I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars on Goodreads.

Have you read this book or seen the movie? What did you think?

Pin Away

2011-06-04T17:18:00.000-04:00

Have you started Pinning?

It is amazing and inspiring as well as fun!

Here are some of my new favorite quotes found via Pinterest.

All images found via Pinterest

Hope you have had a wonderful weekend.

An Organized Bride

2011-06-01T00:55:00.000-04:00

I am a huge fan of organization.

It keeps my stress level way down.

Here are a few things I've done to stay an organized bride (so far).

My sister gave me this bag. I love it. I love that I was able to customize it with our pictures.

I keep all my important wedding information in it to keep from losing it.

I think one of the first things I did was create a Wedding Binder.

I use this to keep all of my ideas together.

This binder holds my lists of things to do in one spot (I think I have four or five right now).

I also added in dividers for specific details.

The dividers are pockets, so if something isn't hole punched I can just keep it in the pocket.

I have a section for Budget, Bridal Party, Vendors, Guests, Ceremony, and Reception.

This helps my binder stay organized and I can easily find what I am looking for.

I also created these folders to give to my bridesmaids.

I just used extra folders we had around the house and some scrapbook paper I had lying around.

Inside the folder is a list of important phone numbers, Tim and I along with the rest of the bridal party.

Also the dates and addresses for the rehearsal and wedding.

They can use the folders to keep up with any other wedding information, that way it is all in the same place.

These are just a few things I've done to help keep me organized and remain sane.

How do you stay organized?

Happy List

2011-05-31T17:14:00.000-04:00

{image}

A few things that have made me happy lately:

Pretzel M&M's

Pink heart shaped sunglasses

Watching Mr. Bean on Netflix

My new cross body bag from Target

Quality time relaxing with Tim

Lots of time for reading and sleeping

What has made you happy lately?

Did I really Graduate?

2011-05-27T14:42:00.000-04:00

(in my cap and gown)

"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go..."

- Dr. Seuss

It's still hard to believe that I graduated college.

It doesn't feel real yet.

But I am looking forward to the future.

Hope you all have a lovely weekend.

Road to Recovery

2011-05-26T00:05:00.003-04:00

{image}

In March, I fell and dislocated my knee. This was probably the most pain I've felt in my entire life.

After I fell, I pretty much spend the next four days in my bed or on the couch.

I hate feeling helpless. I hated having to ask for help with everything, including taking a bath.

It took all my energy to walk down the stairs to get in the car and go to the doctor.

When I started physical therapy, I was so nervous.

I didn't know what to think or what to expect.

The therapists I have been working are the sweetest most encouraging people I could have been paired with.

That first day of therapy was difficult. The simplest tasks were so difficult.

All I was asked to do was to tighten my muscles and lift my leg off the table I was sitting on.

The pain was intense plus the realization that I couldn't complete this simple task got me pretty upset.

I remember thinking "This is such a simple task, why can't I do it?"

It took awhile for me to adjust to walking much slower, taking the steps one at a time, not being able to drive.

But I have made a lot of progress. It took work but now I can drive, I can walk pretty close to what my normal pace was, and I am no longer taking the steps one at a time (still slowly though). My knee still gets irritated if I stand to long or spend too much time walking but it's getting better.

After going to therapy twice a week for the past five weeks, I am happy to say that today should be my last physical therapy session. I just might have to find a small way to celebrate.

p.s. Thanks for all your responses to yesterdays post.

Bridesmaids Dresses

2011-05-25T00:35:00.000-04:00

It has been difficult to pick out a dress for my bridesmaids.

Each bridesmaid is beautiful. But it was proving very hard to find one dress that will be flattering on three different people. Of course, I wanted it to be a dress they would be happy in as well, unlike some atrocious bridesmaids dresses we've all seen from the past.

I asked for their opinion on the three dresses below.

1 | 2 | 3

I would like your opinion as well.

Which one would be your favorite?

Making a Difference: Tom's Shoes

2011-05-24T11:54:00.000-04:00

Have you heard of TOMS Shoes?

I am sure most of you have, but in case you haven't, they are an amazing company.

TOMS makes shoes that are stylish and comfortable.
For every pair of shoes purchased, TOMS gives a pair to children in need all over the world.
Their motto is One for One.
This video explains what they do better than I could.

I absolutely love my TOMS shoes. Actually I think obsessed would be a better description. They are so comfortable and cute. I love when people ask me about them because then I get to share the TOMS Movement with them all because I was wearing cute shoes.

They have all different kinds of styles for men, women, and children in their shop.

How can you help?
You can buy a pair of TOMS shoes and donate a pair to a child in need.
Spread the word about TOMS and their movement.
This is an amazing way to help make a positive difference in the lives of others, plus you get an awesome pair of shoes.

Website : Blog : Facebook : Twitter

Do you have a pair of TOMS?

Hello Monday.

2011-05-23T00:39:00.000-04:00

Hello Monday.

Here are some quotes to start off your week.

“Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual

experience of living every minute with love, grace and gratitude.”

- Dennis Waitley

“Experience is what you get when you didn’t get what you wanted."

- Randy Pausch

“If anything it’s a reminder that you can’t live your life holding grudges, with hate in your heart, being unforgiving. Life’s way too short, there’s way too many questions left unanswered, for us to fester and dwell on things that are completely unimportant in the long run."

- William Beckett

"If there is any secret to this life I live, this is it: the sound of what cannot be seen sings within everything that can. and there is nothing more to it than that."

— Brian Andreas

“When you believe in a thing, believe in it all the way, implicitly and unquestionably."

- Walt Disney

"Yes: I am a dreamer. For a dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world."

- Oscar Wilde

“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.”

- Leo Buscaglia

“To find the balance you want, this is what you must become. You must keep your feet grounded so firmly on the earth that it’s like you have four legs, instead of two. That way, you can stay in the world. But you must stop looking at the world through your head. You must look through your heart, instead.”

- Elizabeth Gilbert

Hope you have a wonderful day!

Save the Date!

2011-05-20T15:52:00.000-04:00

I realized I haven't shared very many wedding details with you lately.

My sister, Megan, created our Save the Date postcards that we sent out. Tim's sister, Meghan, took the pictures we used. I like that they both helped us with this. (yes, we both have sisters named Megan/Meghan)

Front

Back of postcard

There are some wedding details that I am dying to share with you all, yet I am trying to keep most things a surprise for our guests. I will try to share what I feel won't jeopardize the experience of our guests.

We created a wedding website which I was pretty excited about.

Our colors are a sage green, a latte brown, and a chocolate brown.

Only 5 months and 3 days until we get married!

I'm very excited.

Strawberry Pie

2011-05-19T19:23:00.001-04:00

The other day I looked in the refrigerator and realized we had a ton of strawberries.

After my sister begged and begged, I finally made strawberry pie!

And it was very delicious. Perfect for summer.

I used this recipe found via Kraft Foods.

Ingredients:

2 cups fresh strawberries, divided

2/3 cup boiling water

1 pkg. (3 oz.) JELL-O Strawberry Flavor Gelatin

Ice cubes

1/2 cup cold water

1 tub (8 oz.) COOL WHIP LITE Whipped Topping, thawed

1 ready-to-use reduced-fat graham cracker crumb crust (6 oz.)

Directions:

SLICE 1 cup strawberries; refrigerate for later use. Chop remaining berries; set side. Add boiling water to gelatin mix; stir 2 min. until completely dissolved. Add enough ice to cold water to make 1 cup. Add to gelatin; stir until slightly thickened. Remove any unmelted ice.

WHISK in COOL WHIP. Stir in chopped berries. Refrigerate 20 to 30 min. or until mixture is very thick and will mound. Spoon into crust.

Getting ready to add in strawberries.

After being placed in the graham cracker crust.

REFRIGERATE 6 hours or until firm. Top with sliced berries.

Final Step: Eat and Enjoy!!

*Problem solver:After we refrigerated the pie for 1 day and 1/2 it was still kind of mushy, so we just placed it in the freezer for two hours or so and it turned out delicious.

What is your favorite summer dessert?

Making A Difference: Nakate Project

2011-05-18T11:53:00.001-04:00

I have recently been provided with the opportunity to work with an amazing organization, Nakate Project.

Nakate is an organization that started in December of 2010, and has since grown to support over 20 women in Uganda on a month to month basis. Nakate sells beautiful necklaces made by these women in Uganda to help support them. This project started because of one girl who touched the hearts of the founders of the Nakate Project.

This is a picture of Nakate. She inspired this entire project to help the women in her village.
Isn't she simply beautiful?
Read the whole story.

Because Nakate gives as much back to the women in Uganda as they can (almost 100%), this does not leave much left for the funds of Nakate as a business.
There are several easy ways you can help out the Nakate Project.
1. Donate just $5 to help support the team. Donate here.
2. You can sign up to be an advocate to spread the word about the Nakate Project.
3. Buy a beautiful necklace to help support the women in Uganda.

The summer line for the Nakate Project's shop comes out today!
Here's a sneak peek.

Aren't these bracelets and necklaces amazing?

Nakate Project Website : Twitter : Facebook

All information and photos via The Nakate Project.

Love the One You're With Review

2011-05-17T14:33:00.000-04:00

Love the One You're With by Emily Giffin

Summary: Ellen and Andy's first year of marriage doesn't just seem perfect, it is perfect. There is no question how deep their devotion is, and how naturally they bring out the best in each other. But one fateful afternoon, Ellen runs into Leo for the first time in eight years. Leo, the one who brought out the worst in her. Leo, the one who left her heartbroken with no explanation. Leo, the one she could never quite forget. When his reappearance ignites long-dormant emotions, Ellen begins to question whether the life she's living is the one she's meant to live. (via Goodreads)

Review: I really enjoyed this book. I love Emily Giffin's writing style. She makes me laugh and connect with the characters. I could not put this book down. The internal struggle that Ellen faced kept me intrigued. While I did not agree with way Ellen was treating her husband, I absolutely had to find out what her final decision was. I could not put this book down. I definitely recommend this book. I gave this book 5 out 5 stars on Goodreads.

I Graduated, Now What?

2011-05-16T10:29:00.000-04:00

I am a college graduate!

It is kind of scary and exciting all at the same time.

Graduation was a wonderful experience.

The ceremony was a little long but exciting.

After the ceremony we had a picnic with my family and everyone who came to support me.

It was fun to be outside spending time with everyone.

My family (minus Megan) with Tim after graduation.

Because of my dislocated knee, I was required to wear flats.

I was happy to be wearing some Toms.

My family at the picnic.

I was very happy that Tim could be there and that we got to spend most of the weekend together.

Graduation means we are one step closer to getting married!

I was so blessed to have all these people there to support me, and to have their support and encouragement throughout the past four years.

Now if only I could find a job.

Eat, Pray, Love Review

2011-05-15T18:51:00.000-04:00

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

Summary: In her early thirties, Elizabeth Gilbert had everything a modern American woman was supposed to want--husband, country home, successful career--but instead of feeling happy and fulfilled, she felt consumed by panic and confusion. This wise and rapturous book is the story of how she left behind all these outward marks of success, and of what she found in their place. Following a divorce and a crushing depression, Gilbert set out to examine three different aspects of her nature, set against the backdrop of three different cultures: pleasure in Italy, devotion in India, and on the Indonesian island of Bali, a balance between worldly enjoyment and divine transcendence. (via Goodreads)

Review: I enjoyed this book for the most part. It took me a while to finish it. I really enjoyed the beginning during Elizabeth's journey through Italy. I had a difficult time relating to her journey while she was in India and it took me a while to get through this section. It was very interesting to see her journey to happiness and peace. I gave this book 3 out of 5 stars on Goodreads, because it didn't quite hold my interest as much as I was hoping, but it was an entertaining read. I did collect some wonderful quotes from this book.

Daniel Boone Native Gardens

2011-05-15T12:30:00.000-04:00

Well I had posted this last week, but blogger deleted it.

So we'll try again.

I went to the Daniel Boone Native Gardens twice while I was in Boone.

Tim and I went on Saturday, and my mom, Hannah and I went on Sunday for Mother's Day.

It was so beautiful.

The gate was so beautiful and inviting.

The flowers and plants throughout the garden were so incredibly beautiful.

The gardens were so peaceful and relaxing.

It would be the perfect place to lay down a blanket and read a book.

Where do you feel the most peaceful?

A Visit to Valle Crucis

2011-05-10T20:08:00.000-04:00

This past weekend was very busy but wonderful at the same time.

My grandparents made it to Boone for my graduation, so on Saturday Tim and I took a trip to Valle Crucis with them.

This is beautiful and small community about 15 - 20 minutes from Boone.

We enjoyed exploring the original Mast General Store. There are a handful of these stores throughout the High Country. It was nice to see the original, which is a working post office. Pretty cool, right?

Tim and I in front of the store.

I love the old gas station sign.

My grandparents in front of the store.

Behind the store was a building that used to be a school house.

Isn't it cute? I would love to teach in a building like this.

We had to sit on the porch of the school house and enjoy the beautiful view around us.

While I don't think I could live in a small town, it would be perfect for relaxing weekend getaways.

Part of the view.

I have so much to share with you from my very eventful weekend. I think I took close to 200 pictures over the course of 3 days. I might be a little crazy.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day!

Where is your favorite weekend getaway?

Next Stop, Graduation!

2011-05-06T11:41:00.000-04:00

Wednesday was my last day of student teaching.

I was very sad to leave my silly students and all the wonderful people I had the opportunity to work with.

All of the students were so sweet today.

They gave me some very entertaining letters.

My two favorite letters said, "You are the flower of my heart" and "You are so good you should be in a wedding."

Some of my favorite comments:

"If you don't come back tomorrow, I won't either."

"Can I come to college with you?"

"If you leave, I'll cry all day."

And the comment that made me laugh the most:

"Will you give me some sugar?"

He was referring to hugs, but I was always under the impression it meant kisses.
So of course I shared a hug with him.

This semester was very challenging for me. I learned to handle situations I never imagined would come up.

There many times were I was so stressed, frustrated, and discouraged that I couldn't wait to be finished with the semester. Then I would remember this quote:

"Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, “I will try again tomorrow."

-Mary Anne Radmacher

It reminded me to keep trying, to not give up. It help me remember that I needed those students in my life as much as they needed me in theirs.

I enjoyed my time student teaching and I am so grateful for all the things I learned.
Now I am glad to be graduating and hopefully having the opportunity to lead my own classroom.
On Sunday I will be a college graduate!

Eat, Pray, Love Quotes

2011-05-03T22:42:00.000-04:00

I finally finished reading Eat, Pray, Love.

I do not have a review ready, but I thought I would share some of my favorite quotes from the book.

My favorite:

"You were given life; it is your duty (and also your entitlement as a human being) to find something beautiful within life, no matter how slight."

"And love is always complicated. But still humans must try to love each other, darling. We must get our hearts broken sometimes. This is a good sign, having a broken heart. It means we have tried for something."

"To lose balance sometimes for love is part of living a balanced life."

"Some days are meant to be counted, others are meant to be weighed."

If you've read the book, what is your favorite quote?

*Book review coming soon

Hello May.

2011-05-01T12:05:00.000-04:00

{my city}

Hello May.

I hope you are having a lovely start to this wonderful month!

I am looking forward to graduation in seven days.

As well as more time to read and blog. :]

What are you looking forward to this month?

Happy Earth Day!

2011-04-26T21:59:00.000-04:00

On Saturday, for Earth Day, Lowe's was giving away free trees.

Their goal was to hand out one million trees.
So of course we got our free tree and planted it in order to celebrate Earth Day!!

Look at how cute our tree is! We were surprised by the size, in a good way.
I was very excited to plant our tree!

Step 1: Fill your pot up with soil!!

Step 2: Place your tree in the pot and make sure it is surrounded by dirt.

Step 3: Water your plant! Make sure you don't flood it!

Step 4: Place your tree in the sun and watch it grow! Yay!

I was ecstatic about our tree.
I can't wait until Tim and I have our own home so we can plant it in the ground.

How did you celebrate Earth Day?

Weekend Escape

2011-04-25T01:35:00.002-04:00

Tim and I spent the weekend in Boone.

I really do miss that town.

We had no specific agenda or things to do and it was perfect.

We watched movies.

We went on a picnic.

This was our view while we enjoyed our delicious food.

So beautiful.

Tim and I with the amazing mountains behind us.

We also completed puzzles while watching movies.

At first I wasn't excited about working on the puzzles but it was fun and relaxing (until I got frustrated).

While drinking out of crazy straws.

This weekend was relaxing and wonderful.

Just what I needed to help me get through the next two weeks.

Hope you have a happy Monday!
What was the best part of your weekend?

Happy Easter!

2011-04-24T15:33:00.000-04:00

I hope you all have a Happy Easter and have enjoyed a wonderful weekend.

Tim and I spend the weekend in Boone for much needed rest and relaxation.

I did not want the weekend to end but only 2 weeks until graduation!

Have a wonderful day!

P.S. I created a color board and it's up on Bright Wishes. Head on over to check it out, please!

Guest Post: Chelsea Elizabeth's Happy List

2011-04-21T06:30:00.000-04:00

Hello everybody! My name is Chelsea Elizabeth and I'm from the blog "Organized Mess". I post about all different things, usually centered around fashion or food. I wanted to share with you a list of my top 5 things that put me in a good mood.

1. Starbucks

I became an obsessive coffee drinker about two years ago. I love anything coffee related whether it's a lottee or morning coffee. Starbucks quickly became my favorite and it's my "go-to" place when I'm having a down day. My favorites? The white chocolate mocha or a caramel macchiato.

2. Good Food

I am one of those people who will try anything, last week in Philadelphia I tried fried calamari and loved it. I love restaurants that surprise me and have incredible food. My favorite cheap, on the go restaurant right now would be "Chipotle".

3. City Trips

My heart belongs in the city. I knew that as soon as I graduated from high school that's where I would be headed. I just sent in my deposit for a college in the city and now I'll be leaving in 4 short months.

4. Reading

Reading puts me in such a good mood, I love being relaxed and laying in bed or sitting outside enjoying a good book. It's one of my more laid back hobbies, my other hobbies include tennis, running and baking. I just finished reading "Water for Elephants" and it was incredible.

5. The People I Love

This is the thing that makes me more happy than anything else. My friends, my family and Derek bring more happiness to my life than anything else ever could. I think it's important to surround ourselves with people who are going to love and care for us back.

Well, I hope you all enjoyed hearing my list of favorite things. I would love to hear back from you all and know what makes you happy! Feel free to come visit me at organizedxxmess.blogspot.com sometime. :)

<3Chelsea Elizabeth

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Thanks for sharing your happy list with us Chelsea Elizabeth. Make sure visit Chelsea over at her spectacular blog, Organized Mess.

Guest Post: How I Get Inspired

2011-04-20T06:30:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone, I’m April from A Little of This and That. I’m very excited to do a guest post today about inspiration.

Inspiration can be very fickle because you can be overflowing with it one moment and then the next, be completely un-inspired. Life is like that though. You never really know for sure what is coming next. For me, I get these awesome moments of inspiration and creativity so much so that I can hardly get through the workday and rush home to get started only to find that the things of life (family, bills, pets, cleaning, driving) have taken over my mood!

Inspiration is also something that every one of us needs…not just people who do “creative stuff” for a living. Inspiration drives us. Inspiration fuels us.

So, here are a few ways that I get inspired...

1. Keep a creativity journal. I have a small spiral notebook that I keep in my purse to write down ideas that I think up throughout the day. Jot down your thoughts, words, and descriptions of pretty things you see or even interesting people. When you go back and look over it, it almost always can be inspiring in some fashion.

2. Keep an “I love” board. I have a bulletin board in my bedroom that I decorated to be pretty. As I browse through magazines and see pictures I love or receive cute cards and mail I’ll tack them to the board. Not only can it be inspirational, but it can be part of your décor! It’s also helpful to change up the pictures/cards/photos every few months or so.

3. Keep a computer folder for inspiration. I have an image folder on both my work computer and my personal laptop that is simply called “Inspiring”. As I’m browsing on the internet or through other blogs and find something that is interesting, thought provoking or just plain pretty, I’ll save a copy of the picture into my Inspiring folder. After you get a good number of them, it’s awesome to scroll through and see all the things you once thought were interesting.

Well, those are just my helpful tips. Above all remember that you can be inspired by ANYTHING. It can be people, photography, fashion, books, nature or a recipe. Keep your eyes and ears open for things and stockpile them for those days when your inspiration runs dry.

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Thank you for sharing your inspiration with us April. I definitely keep an inspiration folder on my computer as well! Make sure you check out April's awesome blog and leave her a comment!

Awesome News

2011-04-19T18:49:00.000-04:00

Today I went wedding dress shopping.

It was actually fun. I was glad to spend some time with my Mom and sisters.

I found my perfect dream dress that I will get to marry my best friend in.

I am very excited.

Only 186 days left!

(this isn't my dress, but I love the little brooch)

P.S. Make sure you stop by tomorrow to check out another wonderful guest post.

Guest Post: Caroline

2011-04-18T06:30:00.001-04:00

I am so grateful that Sarah is allowing me guest post on her beautiful blog today! A few things about myself…I’m Caroline and I am a sophomore at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC. I am studying to become an elementary school teacher! I am the middle child of two sisters, which let me tell you, makes for an interesting life. I am currently a part of a new initiative starting at Appalachian- a church called Elevation Global. It is incredible exciting and consumes my life right now! I also have a little blog of my own, When God's Design Met Caroline which I love dearly! When Sarah asked for me to start brainstorming ideas for a blog post, a blog post from my Pastor immediately came to mind. He wrote,

“Happiness is not finding the right person.

It’s being the right person.” – Pastor Steven Furtick

{via}

I cannot tell you how inspired I was by this quote! Speaking as a single gal and someone who is searching for Mr. Right, I cannot help but cling to these words. A lot of times girls, especially college girls, believe that they will find a portion of their happiness when they have found someone to spend the rest of their life with. When they have finally settled into a happy, comfortable, healthy relationship. When they have found someone they are head over heels in love with. When they have a sparkling ring on their left hand that promises a forever. Now, don’t get me wrong, I want all of that! (Truth be told, I want that a lot!) But, I realize that right now may not be the season in my life where I will find my Mr. Right. I do believe that God is preparing me for the man that I will spend the rest of my life with. And I choose to find my happiness in that fact. “Stop looking for the person of your dreams and start becoming someone another person is dreaming about. Make someone else’s dreams become a reality.” I am thrilled with the fact that as a single girl, I am able to concentrate completely on building myself up. I am able to have closer friendships with my girls, participate in various activities and groups, and also grow in my relationship with Christ. I consider this season in my life a true blessing. I want to be a blessing to my husband one day when I finally marry him. I want to be completely prepared to love him with all of my heart because I went through this period of waiting in my life.

{via}

In a newer blog post, Pastor Steven wrote this,

“If you’re single, stop waiting for God to bring you the right person and start running after God with everything you’ve got. When you see someone running alongside of you, you’ll know God’s will has fallen into place.”

How encouraging is it that all we need to do is be ourselves and continue to live our everyday lives and God will take care of the rest?? Don’t waste another second of your life basing your happiness of your dating life. You may be waiting in a season of your life for God to bring the right person. Or you may be wondering if the person you’re dating is the right person. He will do it. He will reveal it. In the meantime, be what you’re looking for. It is always God’s will for you to become the kind of man or woman that will be the husband or wife of someone else’s dreams.

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Thanks for sharing with us Caroline and providing us with this encouraging message. Make sure you stop over at Caroline's wonderful blog and show her some love.

Happy Weekend

2011-04-15T16:45:00.000-04:00

It is the weekend and Spring Break!

Major happy dance going on over here.

Sorry, I just really had to share that.

{via}

Also I have some awesome guest posts from some wonderful ladies lined up for next week.

Make sure you come back and check it out!

I hope you all have a lovely and fantastic weekend.

Happy List

2011-04-14T20:41:00.000-04:00

1. Field Trip day tomorrow!

2. Spring Break starts tomorrow night.

3. Only 24 days until GRADUATION!

4. Our Save the Dates came, and I love them! Thanks sissy!

5. Wedding Blogs

6. The pink color of this beautiful flower.

7. Finally up to Day 111 in my 365 Project (it's taking a while, but I will not quit).

ABC's of Me

2011-04-11T19:26:00.000-04:00

I have seen this around the blog world. It is such a neat idea. I first saw it on the lovely Pia's blog.

Enjoy!

Age: 22

Bed Size: Full.

Chore you hate: Laundry and vacuuming, it's a tie.

Dogs: No, thanks. Not really a pet person.

Essential start of your day: Shower

Favorite Color: Pink!

Gold or silver: Silver

Height: 5'4"

Instruments I play (or have played): Piano, recorder, flute

Job Title: Student...future Elementary school teacher

Kids: Love them! I want 2 or 4.

Live: Charlotte, NC

Mom's Name: Beverly

Nickname: Sissy, Sasha, Blondie

Overnight hospital stays: None yet.

Pet Peeve: People who pop their gum.

Quote from a movie: "Most of all I'm scared of walking out of this room and never feeling the rest of my whole life the way I feel when I'm with you." - Dirty Dancing

Right or left handed: Right.

Siblings: One older sister, younger brother, and younger sister.

Time you wake up: 6:20 am on weekdays

Underwear: Yes. Not sure I understand this one.

Vegetables you dislike: Green Beans, Broccoli.

What makes you run late: Taking 30 minutes to decide on what to wear.

X-rays you've had done: Teeth, knee

Yummy food you make: Strawberry pie.

Zoo animal: Giraffes and zebras.

“There is no failure except in no longer trying”

2011-04-09T14:21:00.000-04:00

This past week, I had an MRI in order to figure out what I did to my knee when I fell at school two weeks ago. I managed to dislocate my knee cap (which thankfully popped back in on it's own) and I also tore the ligaments on the inside of my knee. This caused my knee to fill up with blood and swell to the size of a large grapefruit (making it very difficult to walk). The swelling has gone down and I am slowly getting better, but it's going to take a while.

So on top of student teaching, preparing for graduation, and planning a wedding, I now have to start physical therapy. Blogging has taken a backseat to all of these things at the moment. Hopefully things will start to get calmer soon. Graduation is only a month away! I really do miss it and all of you. Hope you have been doing well.

{image}

isn't this picture adorable?

If anyone would be interested in writing a guest post please e-mail me: liveinimagination{at}gmail{dot}com

Favorites: Tangled

2011-04-04T17:15:00.000-04:00

Have you seen Tangled yet?

It is definitely my current favorite movie.

This movie is based off of the fairy tale of Rapunzel with a few changes.

I love this movie. The story is so sweet (bring a tissue).

This movie makes me happy. I love the spirit and personality that Rapunzel has.

I watched it twice this weekend while I was confined to my bed.

If you have not seen this movie, go see it now!

What is your current favorite movie?

Happy April!

2011-04-01T17:07:00.000-04:00

I am currently confined to the inside of my home.

I fell at school on Wednesday. Now my leg is strapped in a brace and I have to walk with the help of crutches.

I desperately want to venture out, but I can't drive and by the time I get down two flights

of stairs, I am exhausted.

Here are some beautiful pictures I took in my Mom's garden for my 365 project.

Enjoy!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Imaginon Pictures

2011-03-31T17:50:00.000-04:00

Outside of Imaginon they had these really neat letters. It reminded me of a typewriter.

I can't wait to go back and take pictures of us together when it is not raining.

I loved these stamps.

The side says Hear the Truth and then the ear is on the bottom.

How cute is that?

This one is of an eye, and the side of the stamp says Seek the Truth.

I think these are so fun and inspiring.

I loved it!

I also loved this book.

I am definitely still a child inside because I got excited about these things.

Also check out their fun carpet.

What do you still get really excited about?

Anniversary Adventure

2011-03-29T21:23:00.000-04:00

This weekend to celebrate our anniversary, Tim and I went on an adventure in downtown Charlotte.

We started off with lunch at Fuel Pizza.

It was so delicious.
I have been craving it since I saw Chelsea enjoy it on her trip here!

After enjoying an appetizing lunch, we decided to head on over to the Public Library in downtown.

Neither one of us had been inside it, even though we've lived here all our lives.

It was wonderful to see so many books in one place. We each were able to find something to read and we spent a good thirty to forty minutes reading.

After our trip to the library, we headed over to Imaginon.

It is actually a children's library.

It was so bright and colorful.

I can't wait until I can go there with someone under the age of 10.

I loved this beautiful structure they had in the middle.

It reminded of something that would have jumped right out a Dr. Seuss book.

They also had this amazing section where you could share your story with an anonymous post-it.

I thought it was such a neat idea. Each shadow person had someone's story on it.

This one was my favorite.

They also had some interesting structures outside!

I will share those later.

We had fun spending all day together.

What do you enjoying doing with people you love?

Happy Anniversary!

2011-03-24T06:56:00.000-04:00

Today Tim and I have been together for 5 years.

5 years (that is half a decade). I can't believe it.

I am so happy and blessed to have him in my life.

He has been there for me through some really difficult times.

He stood by me when I felt like no one else was there.

He puts up with and sometimes entertains my crazy over dramatic reactions.

He encourages me to follow my dreams. He believes in me.

He allows me to be myself and embrace my inner child.

Most importantly, he loves me.

I am so happy that this year I can call him my fiancée.

At this time next year, I will get to call him my husband.

Tim, thank you for loving me. The past five years have been amazing. You're amazing. I am so excited to spend the rest of my life by your side. I love you.

Check out Our Love Story and Our Engagement Story

Wedding Wednesday: Invitation Inspiration

2011-03-23T07:04:00.000-04:00

I have been looking at some wedding invitations for inspiration.

Above is a collage of some of my favorites (please forgive my poor collage creating skills).

Our colors are green and brown and we are going to have an outdoor ceremony. So I chose invitations I thought would fit well with our colors and location.

I think number 2 and number 7 are my favorite.

Which one is your favorite?

Most invitations were found via Wedding Paper Divas. I forgot some of the other sources.

New Obsession

2011-03-22T07:08:00.000-04:00

I have a new obsession; The Cosby Show on Netflix.

This show is very funny and entertaining.

I find myself giggling a lot when I watch it.

Below is one of my favorite scenes from the whole series.

Enjoy!

I hope my future family will be as silly and fun as the Huxtables.

Hope this gave you a smile.

Our Engagement Story!

2011-03-20T20:44:00.000-04:00

I am a terrible blogger!

I just realized I shared with you that I was engaged and when it happened, but I did not share with you all the details! Please forgive me. Here is the story:

{taken the day after in the spot}

Tim had been planning a surprise trip to Charleston, SC for a few days before my birthday. We were both really excited for the trip and to be able to spend a lot of time together. The morning of the proposal, we went to visit the South Carolina Aquarium. After we spent a few hours there, we continued exploring the beautiful city and decided to take a carriage tour. Our tour took us through the historic district, around Rainbow Row, the battery, and many beautiful historic homes. After our carriage ride we decided to walk back down the peninsula, and stopped to sit on a bench under a gorgeous canopy of trees right next to the water. Tim asked me how much I loved him. I answered "a whole lot", and then he pulled out the ring box and asked "Enough to marry me?" And I said "Yes, of course!"

I was extremely happy and had a hard time believing it was real.

Now we are planning our wedding for October 2011.

A Lovely Quote

2011-03-19T13:53:00.000-04:00

"You were given life; it is your duty (and also your entitlement as a human being) to find something beautiful within life, no matter how slight."

- Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

For Japan With Love

2011-03-17T21:29:00.000-04:00

By now, I am sure you've heard of the tragedy that hit Japan last week.

Tomorrow, March 18, I will be participating in Bloggers Day of Silence to help spread awareness.

There will be no posts here tomorrow.

{via utterly engaged}

For more information, and to donate to the relief fund or participate, please check out forjapanwithlove.com

Spread the word.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2011-03-17T18:09:00.000-04:00

{image}

I hope you have had a wonderful St. Patrick's Day.

My students today were convinced that Leprechauns are real.

They asked, "If we catch a Leprechaun, can we bring it to school on Monday?"

They are so silly.

I hope your day was full of green, luck, and rainbows.

Grab My Button

2011-03-14T22:08:00.000-04:00

I finally made a grab button for my blog!! Yay!

Please feel free to grab it below or from the left sidebar.

I am working on a page of Blogs I Love (yours!), so let me know if you want me to add your button to the list!

I hope you have had a wonderful start to your week!

Spring has Sprung

2011-03-12T15:50:00.000-05:00

Spring has sprung here in Charlotte.

And it is beautiful.

Spring and Fall are my two favorite seasons!

Here are some of my favorite pictures I've taken recently.

These trees are so beautiful.

I am obsessed with these yellow bushes.

I think they are so vibrant and beautiful!

My favorite picture.

This rainbow was so beautiful.

Seeing it put me in a very happy mood.

What is your favorite part of spring?

To Be Read

2011-03-10T07:13:00.000-05:00

I have set a goal on Goodreads to read 35 books in 2011.

I have not finished a book yet but I am working on it.

Hopefully I will finish Eat, Pray, Love soon.

Then I have several books in my to be read pile:

I am also taking any suggestions you might have for a good read.

I forgot how much I love to read.

Wedding Wednesday: DIY Flower Girl and Ring Bearer Cards

2011-03-09T00:15:00.006-05:00

Last week, I made my own flower girl and ring bearer cards.

I was so excited about them!

And I am so excited that they agreed to do it.

Here are the cards:

I found these stickers at Hobby Lobby and added them to a blank card.

Then hand wrote the names and a message on the inside.

They aren't perfect, but I love them.

October can't come soon enough!

Learning Experience

2011-03-07T18:23:00.000-05:00

Student teaching has definitely been a learning experience.

It has kept me very busy (and exhausted).

I have learned a lot.

I've learned things that I could never learn from a lecture class.

{via}

Student teaching has helped me learn:

- how to stay calm when a student spits at you

- to not make a disgusting face when a student uses the classroom floor as a toilet

-to pick my battles (some just aren't worth the energy)

-how to become a copy machine technician (think that can go on my resume?)

-the importance of sleep

- not too take life so seriously

- to expect the unexpected (you never know what will happen or what will be said)

- everyone has their bad days

(and I'm only half way through the semester. 62 days until graduation!)

Some Of My Favorites

2011-03-02T22:04:00.001-05:00

I got our engagement pictures back.

I love them and am so happy with how they turned out.

I am going to share my favorites with you!!

These are just some of my favorites.

I loved all of them.

Meghan did such an amazing job and I am so excited that she is my future sister-in-law.

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P.S. Tim and I have entered to win $100,000 Ultimate Wedding. We need you to vote for us so that we can win!

Vote here.

Thanks!

Snail Mail!

2011-02-28T22:13:00.000-05:00

I absolutely LOVE getting mail.

Who doesn't?

Even if it is something I ordered and am expecting, I still get really excited.

Isn't this the cutest envelope ever??

I ordered some prints from Flapper Doodle when she was having her $1 print sale.

I was so happy with the ones I picked out.

I am definitely keeping this envelope as well!

Reasons I am not a Grown Up #3

2011-02-27T20:22:00.000-05:00

Last night at dinner, I pulled out one of the two kids meals toys from my purse. This toy was actually a game, so Tim and I played it while we were waiting for our food.

It was actually a fun game (thank you Chick-fil-a).

I think the other people in the restaurant were giving us weird looks.

But we had fun anyways.

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P.S. Tim and I have entered to win $100,000 Ultimate Wedding. We need you to vote for us so that we can win!

Vote here.

Thanks!

DIY: Bridesmaid Cards

2011-02-26T14:19:00.002-05:00

All of my bridesmaid have finally received their cards, so I can share them with you!

We are definitely on a budget with this wedding, so I made them myself.

I made four cards, one for my matron of honor, junior maid of honor, and two bridesmaids.

Materials:

- Cardstock

- Extra scrapbook paper

- Scissors

-Glue

- Pen/Pencil/Marker

- Stamp (optional)

I found a clip art image of a dress that I liked. I printed it out and then traced it on the back of my scrapbook pages. Then cut out your dress! To make the card I took card stock and folded it in half. Then glue your dress to the front of the card and write a note on the inside.

Here is a picture of my cards.

Then I placed my cards in these really pink envelopes and mailed them off.
I put a special delivery stamp on the front. It was really cute.

I had a lot of fun making them!

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P.S. Tim and I have entered to win $100,000 Ultimate Wedding.

We need you to vote for us so that we can win!

Vote here Thanks!

Wedding Filled Weekend

2011-02-20T17:59:00.000-05:00

Warning: Mushy gushy post filled with wedding stuff, love, and happiness.

This weekend was beyond wonderful.

I got to spend the majority of it with my future husband doing various wedding activities.

On Saturday we had our engagement pictures taken by his wonderful and talented sister.

She has not edited all of them yet but has put a few on her website.

This one is my favorite so far.

I just love him so much.

We also were able to see the outdoor venue for our wedding ceremony.

It is so perfect and beautiful.

I cannot wait to stand there and marry my best friend.

This morning, Tim and I went to a wedding party at Crate and Barrel.

They opened the store only for couples registering and gave us the royal treatment.

They even had a photo booth!!

We had so much fun picking out items for our future home (now we just need to find somewhere to live).

Since we registered with Crate & Barrel, we were eligible to enter to win a $100,000 Ultimate Wedding.

Of course, I entered us! Now, I need your help.

Please, please vote for us!

And please ask all your friends to vote for us as well!

A huge thank you in advance!!!

Happy List

2011-02-17T16:12:00.000-05:00

Finding the Tootsie Roll Pop wrapper with the guy shooting a star!

When I was younger, I always thought this wrapper was something spectacular.

Starting to organize my life! Yay!

Episodes of The Big Bang Theory on DVD.

Chocolate

These plates I got for $.89 that remind me of something Busy Bee Lauren would have in her home.
Finally getting to wear my new outfit for my engagement pictures on Saturday!
The last thing on my happy list is that I found out I passed the Praxis II exam! This made me super extra happy.

What is on your happy list this week?

New Project

2011-02-15T18:41:00.000-05:00

I have had this memory board up since high school.

It is full of pictures, postcards, cards, movie tickets, quotes, and key chains.

I am looking forward to having a free day so I can update it.

Whenever I found a picture I didn't like I would just cover it up with a new picture.

Plus I think the top is just a little dusty.

Do you have something you are looking forward to working on?

Happy Valentine's Day!

2011-02-14T22:36:00.000-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day!

I hope you all had an amazing day full of love and laughter!

My first graders definitely made it interesting day!

They are so sweet.

Look at the sweet treats I received!

I haven't had Fun Dip in a very long time. I hope I don't make a mess when I eat it. haha.

Tim and I went out Sunday night because trying to go out on a weeknight is nearly impossible.

We went out for Italian (my favorite) and it was delicious!

I can't wait until next year when can celebrate as a married couple. :)

p.s. Don't you love my DIY gift bag?

Calling All Crafters!

2011-02-07T20:32:00.000-05:00

I need the help of all you crafters!

One of our local Blockbusters is going out of business, so of course Tim and I decided to raid it and see if we could find any good deals. We found some decent movies for $4 and a some new releases for $10.

We also found these small movie posters. They were 25 for $1. How could we say no to that?

Now we have no idea what to do with them. They are awesome and we view them as wonderful pieces of art, but we need a crafty and creative way to display them, that doesn't take up a whole lot of space.

This is where I need your help!

Do you have any wonderful ideas? How would you display them?

Reasons I am not a Grown Up #2

2011-02-06T22:46:00.000-05:00

I get very very excited about school supplies.

I ordered a new lunch box and it came yesterday. I heard the doorbell and pretty much flew down two flights of stairs because I was so excited to get my lunch box!

Can you blame me?

Isn't it super cute?

A Silly Thing Like Sleep

2011-02-02T21:53:00.000-05:00

{image}

It is amazing how a silly thing like a sleep schedule is so important in everyday life.

I have been on college schedule for the past three years.

And now having to get up around 6 am is difficult.

Especially since I can't fall asleep until after 11 pm.

I get a burst of energy between 8 and 9 pm. I work like crazy and then lose track of time. It throws my whole sleeping pattern off. Sigh. I guess I just need to try harder to stick to a routine.

How is your sleep schedule? What do you do to maintain it?