one year

So much can happen in 365 days. Just that many days ago, I made a decision that changed the rest of my days. I said yes to a question I'd waited my whole life to hear. I never could have imagined that it would have come from the mouth of the man it did, but I am so thankful that it was him. So much has happened in the last year that it's hard to imagine that it really was just that long ago. I have moved twice, got engaged, my brother got married, I got married, friends had babies, and that's just what first comes to mind. Its truly incredible how quickly time flies. I say this often, but I would have never imaged that my life would be where it is right now.

Not to mention the fact that I grew up a whole year. Since my birthday is on a Sunday, I am claiming both this week and next week as birthday weeks. So, it's my birthday week. Awesome and scary all combined into one. I will be 26 on Sunday. 2...6...I realize it's still young, but I was just getting used to being 25 and now all of a sudden I'm getting ready to turn 26. And to think, just 365 days ago, I was 24 and dating and on Sunday I will be 26 and married.

Whew.

As much as I get afraid of turning another year older, I do think it's true that each year has been better than the year before. 25 was good to me and I am going to be sad to see it go. However, I look forward to a great 26 and lots of new possibilities and adventures. I look forward to a year of traveling and visiting friends with my husband, learning what it means to be married, making a home and starting new traditions. I dare to say it will be the best year yet. So here is to another 365 days.

feels like home

Have I told you yet that we moved? Well, we moved before the wedding. The week before actually. Talk about chaos. But we're finally settled into our new home and loving it. To be honest, it's not the location that we thought we would be in but it still has been good to us. I finally feel like we have a home. It looks like a real home and I love being bombarded at the door by my puppy and husband when I walk through it. It's the best.

We have yet to really hang much on the walls. I am desperately looking forward to the day when I know we're going to be settled for awhile and I can paint and decorate. Pure white walls are not necessarily the most cozy. And of course, thanks to Pinterest,  you can constantly find new ways to decorate, organize and feel greatly insignificant in your ability to be like Martha Stewart. However, I still sit and gaze at ideas and love it. I'm always open for new ideas and tips so if you have any good secrets please do share.

We even have bedroom furniture! That's what made me feel like a grown up. I now have bedroom furniture. I have draws to put clothes in. Say good bye to those plastic drawers used in college. I love walking in it at night and climbing into it. It's probably the most comfortable bed I've ever slept it, which is probably why I have an even harder time getting out of it in the morning. Usually, its the Winnie kisses (more like slobbers) that get me moving. Winnie even has her own room where gets to sleep, still in a crate, but at least she's not in the mud room anymore. (I promise we're good pet parents)

I've even been trying hard to stay up on cleaning. I'm really good at keeping everything picked up and orderly, but actual cleaning and scrubbing is a different story. I don't mind vacuuming and dusting but it's those bathrooms. Ugg. I hate cleaning them but I also hate thinking about what might be living there. I do have some stellar cleaning products that my mom bought for me which make cleaning easier. As my mom always says, "Let your chemicals do the work for you." But I've been trying some homemade remedies, as well.

Anyway, life is pretty cozy in our new little townhouse. We're pretty content and my heart is full of thankfulness. I will soon bring you some more pictures of the whole house but for now here is a sneak peak.

sweaters & boots

Not sure what the weather is like where your at, but here in Indiana, it is definitely feeling like fall. The temperature has been a bit chilly the past week. It's time to put away the tank tops and shorts and pull out the sweaters, pants and, my personal favorite, BOOTS. (I may or may not have a minor obsession with boots). Just the other day I was wasting time in the best possible way I know how, shopping. Although, being the good budget minded wife that I am, I refrained from purchasing anything, which is so hard right now because they've just pulled out all their new fall lines and they're super cute. So instead of  buyings a new closet, I decided to pretend and create some new fall outfits on Polyvore.

Fall time clothes are some of my favorite because there is a lot of versatility. You can still pull off an off the shoulder sweater and not be freezing...most days. I really love a lot of the color combinations that you are see now. The beautiful jewel tones are right up my alley. Not that I didn't love all the neon that was out this summer (sarcasm). And I also hate to admits this but I do love leggings. There I said it. I admit it. They really are comfortable. Phew.

Another thing I'm loving is colored jeans. I have a pair of mint and really would love some olive green ones, too. And leaves. I love leaf necklaces.

See, you could even pull off colored pants at work. At least I would try. Maybe if I wish hard enough, this outfit will be in my closet when I get home.

This is what you will typically see me wearing. I like to think I represent a more classic look or at least thats my goal.

Happy Fall Shopping!

a new month

Hello, October! Today is the first day of my favorite month. I love everything that comes along with it. I love fall. I love the smell of the trees. I love the briskness of the air. I love the endless display of color. I love football season. I love sweatshirts and jeans. I love boots. I love the endless supply of pumpkin flavored treats. Although, I do not love pumpkin spice lattes. I love bonfires and pumpkin carving. I just love it all. It doesn't hurt that it's my birthday month, as well.

Yep, I will be 26 in 27 days on the 28th of October. How fun is that?!?

Although to be honest, I am really not looking forward to leaving 25 behind. I have loved 25. It's been good to me. I feel like its such a great age. Your old enough to be considered an adult but your young enough that people still tell you, "Your so young!" It's the perfect combination of the two. But I'm sure 26 will have it's greatness too.

On the topic of greatness, let's talk about the weekend shall we? I have loved not having to travel these past few weeks. Although, we did trek over to Ohio for a couples bridal shower. We returned home each night. We didn't have to pack a bag or drive home after a weekend away. Pure greatness. We also had our first guests at our lovely home. Jake's parents, sister and two dogs stayed with us Saturday night. The dogs create sheer chaos running and playing, but it was so great to have guests come to our home. We loved having them there and sharing in our day to day life.

Also, today marks the one month mark. Last month on this day, I was getting ready to walk down the aisle. It seems so long ago but also not long enough. But it definitely was the best day of my life so far. Oh, and I cut my hair off. Since the wedding is over, I decided to start a fresh new bob for this fresh new season.

Here's to you, October!

saturday mornings

When I was little, Saturday's were my favorite because everyone was home. My parents didn't have to be at work. The kids didn't have to go to school. And on really good Saturdays, my dad would make pancakes. We had no where to be and could hang around in our pj's if we wanted. It was the best.

 

You see, that type of morning hasn't happened for a very long time. Where we had nothing planned or trying to steal out attention. We didn't have to put together wedding programs or run to Hobby Lobby. We just had to sit and be present.

 

This past Saturday morning involved drinking coffee out of a mug while sitting on my couch in my house eating breakfast that I made. That has been a rarity in the past few months. But it was so welcome this weekend. I woke up on Saturday at 7:30 a.m., which can be a struggle most days. After a miserable attempt to fall back asleep, I decided to pull myself out of bed. I made coffee. I read. I did laundry. I picked up the house. All while being in my pajamas, still sipping my delightful coffee.

 

My mister rolled himself out of bed around 10:30 a.m., which again never happens because he is typically the early riser, but it may or may not have been because he stayed up until three the night before finishing the Harry Potty marathon we had been having that week. I, on the other hand, still have to figure out what happens in the last 45 minutes of each movie. Regardless, we drank some more coffee and ate some pancakes, and were happy as two clams.

 

As much as I love weddings and have loved being a bride, I am truly enjoying being a wife so much more. There is a simplistic beauty that comes with it. No fancy dress, no pearls. Just me and my husband. These are my new favorite Saturday mornings.



hello, again

I'm baaack and with a new last name. woah, a lot has happened since I last visited the blog. Got married, traveled to a foreign country, moved into a new house and then returned to work. I will spare you the details of the wedding for now, at least until I get the pictures back, but to sum it up:  it was perfect. I couldn't have asked for a better day, filled with the best people with the perfect ending. We are truly blessed. The honeymoon was pretty similar: it was also pretty perfect. Yes, a little sunburn and too much food, but most of our toughest decisions were whether we wanted to go to the beach or the pool and where to eat for dinner. Not to shabby for this girl. It was a great way to reconnect with my love after a few busy and semi-stressful months.

Since we returned from the honeymoon, we've spent most of our time trying to assemble a semi-decent looking home. It was a disaster area when we left and we have very slowly been turning it into our cozy, little home. It's been so fun to finally use our new dinnerware and drink out of our new red wine glasses. It's been a dream for so long to set up a home with my husband and now I actually am getting to do it. Although, I know we won't live here forever, but this is our first home as husband and wife.

And everyone keeps asking me if I feel different and I feel bad when I say, no not really. I'm not sure if people expect that your whole life changes instantly after your wedding. And even though it does change everything, it doesn't feel much different, yet. We're still the same goofy couple that we were a month ago and we still have the same types of conversations and laughs. Although, it is great to know that every day I get to come home to the same man and that we are just beginning the first steps of this new journey. But then again, it's only been a little over two weeks and I'm just trying to figure out what to make my husband for dinner tonight. To be continued...

here are a few images from the last few weeks.

 

 

 

1. the first dinner i made as a wife

2. winnie's new favorite place to sleep

3. front door

4. our first grown up purchase

single digits

If a man does not exercise his arm, he develops no bicep muscles, and if a man does not exercise his soul, he acquires no muscle in his soul...nor beauty of spiritual growth. Love is not a thing of enthusiastic emotion. It is a rich, strong, manly, vigorous express of the whole round Christian character-- the Christ --like nature in its fullest development.

~ Henry Drummond

today marks the first day of single digits. In just 9 days, I will pass off my old self and become joined with my love as husband and wife. It's a surreal thought but one of great anticipation. Even though I've failed at blogging recently, today I am officially stating that I will not be posting for the next two and a half weeks.

so the next time we meet, I will be a mrs.

ps - I want to give a quick shout out to sweet baby Olly who came into the world this week. congrats to one of my dearest friend, kristyn, you will be a beautiful momma.