As promised...

Last week, I mentioned the bridal shower I was throwing. We had so much fun!

It was a tea party, a proper tea party. We asked that everyone wear hats! I really was a load of fun, but I think what made it the most fun, was getting to see friends whom I hadn’t seen in over a year…

Ok, ok. Some of them were at my wedding, but I’m not completely sure I count that as getting to {seeeee} them. Ya Know? They stayed the night with my in my suite before the wedding, but I still didn’t get to {seeee} them. This time I did… three of us drove to San Antonio and crashed at a friend’s house there . That’s you know … a 5 hour drive in itself.

The next morning, we woke up at the crack of dawn. No. Wait. Before the crack of dawn. We were up at 3:30 to pick another friend up at the airport. Her flight was arriving at 4:15. We arrived there, and looked up her flight… it was running late… to the point of 5 am late.  So, we parked in a waiting lot and waited.

When we called her at 5 to let her know we were there… OH, her flight had been there since 4 am. Her flight was early. She had been sleeping on the floor at the airport… {seriously, she is the most intriguing, coolest person I know!}

We pick her up (took us two times around to get to the right place... oops.) And drove another 4.5 hours. Got dressed, had the shower, went back to sleep for a few hours. (Did I mention that we didn’t make it to San Antonio til about 11 pm.) We were WIPED!

That evening we watched When Harry Met Sally and had an ice cream smorgus board (5 different pints of blue bell ice cream… best dessert EVER!) We all stayed at one of the girl’s mom’s house.  It all seemed soo natural… you know being with my college girlfriends, hanging at a parent’s home…. When I realized… I’m a married woman, with my own home and a HUSBAND!

Growing up is weird.

Any ways, without further ado… a tea party invitation.

(I'm still figuring out this picture process.. )

{NOTICE the hanging tea tag! It's my favorite part! I hand strung them with a needle and thread.. you know just 63 invitations no big deal}

Choo Choo.. here comes lots of BLUE!

Seriously.

I love baby showers. I love hosting and helping.. and I LOOOVE making invitations. There is always so much room for creativity!

I did these recently for a friend’s 4^th baby. We’re still waiting for his appearance, but his party sure was fun!

Later this week I will show off the lovely bridal shower invites I did for a friend. They are absolutely precious! And I have already received lots of compliments! Get excited!

National

My mom called me the other day with an AH-mazing opportunity! One of her co-workers needed invitations... and my mom referred her to me! {My mom has so much faith in me!} So, I got to work on this 'preppy' 'little man' baby shower.

AND I fellin LOOOVE with the outcomes check them out! They would be great for a golf party, or any preppy themed party. And the colors are soo easily changeable that anyone could use them.

The options first.

{can you see the faint polka-dots in the back?? makes it a great baby invite}

{sorry for the wonky pics.. my computer is being weird.}

But we finally decided on this one!

I truly L.L.Loove these!

Babieees!

My sister is at the age when her friends are all having babies. That means.. she's throwing showers! And I looove to do baby shower invitations.. or just little kid invites. They're sometimes the most fun because you get get really creative without all the "What's So-and-So going to think?"

This first one was a couple's shower. They did not know the sex of the baby... so I was able to play with the colors.

This next one was a book shower. We asked all the guests to bring a favorite book from childhood instead of a card. It really was a sweet shower! And FUN to boot!

This one was so pretty. It was a pearlized paper and had rounded corners. I addressed them in a pastel green. At this shower, we also designed and made little onsies for the baby!

Lucky me, I have already seen a picture of her wearing the one I made!!

That is all for now! :)

I've been busy!

Soo, HusBen commented that I hadn't blogged in a long while.... and that's REALLY true! Not since last August.. obviously. But I've been supper busy.. what with getting married, going to Rome, Christmas, teaching.. but alas.. it's summer again and I have time to post abou my unspectular days.. :)

However, I have been doing some SPECTACULAR stationery stuff... I'm going to post pics. My wedding invitation suite... it was our special design that we (HusBen and I) worked on together. I LOVED it and STILL love it!

We had to work together for this end result. Mine was more tilted and crazy. He brought me balance. Which I think is what our relationship is really like. He balances my crazy, But somehow I ground his dreams. Does that even make sense???

We had soooo much fun reading all the replies!! We had pictures drawn, poems written, sweet words of congratulations and encouragment.... This was ABSOLUTELY one of my favorite parts, and I'm so glad we did our RSVP's this way!!

This {sliced in half obvs} was the back of our program!! We had little golf pencils in vases at the entrance to the {chapel} and each guest was given a program and pencil on their way in.

While they waited.. they filled these out and dropped them in baskets on the way out.. OMG!

When HusBen's parents picked us up after the Honeymoon, they brought these with them. The next morning while we sipped our coffee... we read these and sighed and laughed!!

I was soo glad I found this idea via Pinterest. I can't even take the credit for myself.

.....................

So, that was November.

I've done a few more invites since, and I'm excited to be working on some more now!

I'll post more later.

For now.. I'm off to do laundry!!!

Start times

First week of school... Done. almost. In like 6 hours, but thats ok. It's Friday.

So, my school starts at 7:10 am. Everyday. That means I get here at 6:30. Just to get things done. Which is fine.

But people have been mentioning to me about how its not a good thing to start so early.
And honestly, I remember reading research on this in college. But the thing is... we also learned that no matter what you're looking for you can always find 'research' to support it. So, can we assume that most research is slightly subjective?? Kinda?

So, this study:
http://www.cehd.umn.edu/research/highlights/Sleep/default.html

Says that teenagers have a later to sleep and later to rise time biologically. It says that the brain produces melatonin from 11pm to 8 am. So, that is why they are still so sleepy in the early classes.

Here's what I don't understand... How do your body know what time zone it is in?? When I go to Rome, will my body produce melatonin on its time zone or stay on mine?

OOOOOR, perhaps does our body start producing these chemicals a certain time after we've been awake, and therefore we can change this???

Not sure if this really makes sense, but I know what I mean. Do you?

Ah man...

So, school has unofficially started.

In other words, this week has been inservice week. The week when we teachers go back for training.

OR, a big waste of time.

Tomorrow is really gonna be... awesome.

I'm going to be on the news!!

I have to be at my school with the high school cheerleaders at 3:50 AM.

AND we're traveling to Dallas to be on the News 8 Daybreak.

yay.

It's not so much that I hate mornings. It's more that I hate waking up. Ever. I don't care what time it is.. and I guess really its not waking up so much as it is waking up to an alarm clock.

I like to wake up on my own. I wake up between 8 and 9 on saturdays and I'm happy.

Just sayin...

Um, Nevermind

I take it back! I do not want a project, or something to do.

I do not want to wake up at 7 am. I do not want to do cheer stuff at 8 am.

But I do. And I do Love it.

I walked into my classroom today. First time since May. And apparently its been taken over by band. Band chairs and music stands were all over the space. So, I can't do anything to the room yet. Good thing they pay us to be there next week. :) I'll do it again..

and just so, everyone knows, little kids really do make scary movies scarier. No question about it.

I also JUST realized I only have about 3 months to get this whole wedding shindig done. That's ok.. Next, on the list... Pick suits for the guys. Lets get it done!

WHAT?! its almost noon??

Seriously though. I wake up at 8 am, and I haven't done much. This last week of summer is kinda dragging on. I need a project. I need energy. I need motivation.

But I think I'll just go to the pool.

Work on my non-exsist tan.

But first, a quick anecdote... I got a washer and a dryer! Horrah! My brother and fiance lugged them up to my third floor apartment and put them in their prospective spots. I went to the store..

LOWES!! I bought the hoses and the dryer vent. Very proud of myself, if I must say so, and I DO! BUUUT, I forgot the drainage hose for the washer... apparently that's REALLY important. :/

So, Tuesday (after I drop my car at the body shop-completely other story that frankly I'm surprised I did not blog about-and pick up a lovely toy car rental) I head over to Lowes again and buy the drainage hose AND clamp... see I knew I needed that special little thing.

I go home, and darnit I'm going to do this myself! I had already asked the fiance to help me, but he didn't want to go to Lowes.. blah blah blah. So, being the hard headed, independent, do-it-myself kinda girl that I am, I hopped behind the washer, got my flat head screwdriver and put the hose and clamp on.

I was very proud of myself! Obviously..But then it wouldn't turn on. I looked at the breaker box, nothing... OH the water.. I have to turn the water on.. BUT I can't. It was turned off really tightly, so I relinquish and wait.

Brother and Fiance both come over that night. Fiance turns on the water. Viola! it works... but its making a God awful noise.. Brother goes to check it out finally... and well THERE'S WATER FRIGGIN EVERYWHERE!!!!!!!!!!

Fiance quickly pulls out the washer and we see the water gushing out my not so tightly clamped clamp. My Bad.

To make matter worse.. I was washing a load of towels. So, most of my towels are already wet... I grab the towels that didn't fit and we start trying to soak up the water.. and ITS HOOOOOOT water!!! why is it hot?!?! I put it on cold.. it BURNS! My bad again. I hooked them to the wrong wall faucets...

So, now we're grabbing the towels out of the washer, because even though they're kinda wet, the floor is way more wet! And fiance says "I think I made a mistake I took the hose off completely and now its coming out really fast." HIS BAD!

Then, we have a bright idea! cups! We'll use cups like we're bailing out a sinking row boat (which obviously this situation feels like). Now, we have an assembly line, and only three large cups.

Finace squatting behind the washer catching the water in a cup handing it to me. I hand him and empty cup and hand the full cup to Brother. Brother empties it and hands it back to me.. and well youget the idea.. except since we waited so long.. the floor took up most of the water, and we only filled up like 4 cups..

So much for quick thinking in a crisis.. :)

Anyways, as soon as the water stopped, Fiance put the hose on and the clamp on and tightened it really well with the twisty bolt wrench thing, and then it worked perfectly!

Now, we know for next time.

OH! PS. You can win a pair of custom painted TOMS at www.holyturf.com. I think I will get some Timberview Wolves ones for football season.. Won't I be the coolest teacher/coach this year?? Maybe even start a trend at the school!

what?what?

Lists...

So, earlier this week, I was in an accident, and now I have to get my car fixed.

Sooo, Ben and I are sharing a car.. it's nice having that possiblity. :)

I like him.

But still, I took him to work at 6:45 this morning.. Sooo, I'm up!

I have stuff to do, but I really don't want to.

What makes me move though, is lists!

I love lists... they can be kinda a kick in the butt, which we all need sometimes...

I make lists when I pack, when I shop, when I teach, when I clean, when I travel, when I plan (duh). and so on and on and on...

But my new computer has this handy little stickynote thing.. and its AMAZING!! I have so many stickynotes all over my computer! Any time I think of something I list it!

Yep. Now, I'm gonna go get list happy... on REAL sticky notes!

Hugs and Kisses

4 more weeks

I only have 4 weeks of summer left. My first year of teaching was.. Awesome to start with, and by the end of the school year, I completely understood the importance of Summer. Being cooped up in those small rooms, TRYING to teach those children became a burden and not a blessing anymore. But as the return to school looms quietly in the future, I am alreayd beginning to want to go back. OF COURSE I would rather be a teacher on summer all the time, because come on, I'm getting paid to catch up on my tv and to work out and work on my tan (which I have not done well at all.. I'm pasty!) But seriously, I'm ready for this next year's challenge. I've already started planning, in the most general form of planning (ie: making lists of what I think I want to teach and about how long it will take to teach no specifics as of yet.)

But today, I was reading my proverbs and 22:1 says a good name is more desireable than riches. And I think that by the end of the year, I didn't care anymore. My 'good' name may have been no more. I was merely going through the actions. The kids didn't want to be there and because that made my job 'sooo hard' I didn't want to be there. My GOAL for this year is to not give up. My GOAL is to keep on keepin' on throughout the entirety of the year. I CAN! I mean yes this year will be different, goodness I'm getting married in NOVEMBER! WHAT am I thinking? its the middle of the semester practically, but at least I will still be in the disillusionment part of the year. I will still be loving it even if I am a little stressed and scattered :)

BUT then I will be married! I think that will be a good thing, because like I was jsut telling Ben. He's my best friend, and I will then be getting to spend as much time as I want with him. Sure, I don't get to see my sister as much, but that's actually ok. I miss her, but like someone said, it will be good for both of our marriages.

With ALL that being said, I'm out. ITS FRIDAY! (I know I don't work right now but Fridays are STILL exciting!!)

hugs and kisses

Excited!

I'm so excited!

ALL the weddings are over, and NOW it's my turn!

It's all about me! lol

But really, I've been on a wedding super trip! But seriously.. I'm excited! Have I said that yet?

I've designed the stationary suite we'll be using.. and we've found out colors!

They changed.. last weekend. But I'M SOOO excited about the change!

I spoke with my florist and We're going to come up with some new and neat ideas.. This is going to be amazing! I've been a little blah about everything, but Now I just CANT wait!

In 4 months I will be married!

And going to ROME!

ANd getting to spend everyday with my best friend.

But I miss my sister.. I call her, but I feel bad because she's married and I don't want to take away from her 'married life' now. Whatever that means. Not that thats what she's said, its just what I think.

Anyways! I just can't wait.

AND I've started my work out regime.. here comes hulkbride! what what! actually no... thats not my goal at all, but well yeah.. its just kind of a funny image..

Ok I looked for a picture, but none of them were what I imagined, so I don't want to mess up your vision either..

That's all for today!

Wedding # 1 done..

My best friend from high school got married last weekend! It was a beautiful wedding and lots of fun! Now, I'm gearing up for my sister's wedding this weekend.

My whole family is in town for the wedding, and I brought the kids to my one bedroom apartment. Lee and D may only be two kids, but they take up a lot of room.

We had a real slumber party!! There was pizza and ice cream. We all snuggled down in blankets and pillows and watched Jurassic Park.

I'm so glad they all got to be here for the Fourth of July! IT's my 2nd favorite holiday!! I really, really, REALLY love fireworks!

We all went out to a lake, and watched two different shows and several 'private shows' as well. People were setting of fireworks all over the place. It reminded me of the old times, when everyone would come out to the house and set off fireworks! Great, great, GREAT times!!

hugs and kisses!

Been doing neat things...

I made these on Friday! It was fun!

All you need are some badly faded old shoes.. some material, scissors, modpodge and a paint brush! woohoo!!!!
photos of the wedding next!

I think they're actually really cute!!

3 Weeks

Two of best friends are getting married... and my Big sister!!!
I will be in all three of the weddings.. and I'm soooo ready to through this month... ha. I'm very excited about the weddings, and I'm sure I will tear up in all of them.. I just hope I don't trip.

But I'm done being a Bridesmaid in three weeks! woohoo!

But really the girls haven't been bad. They are all type A teachers.. and they want to do everything themselves. And as I have been stalking wedding blogs, the biggest advice I can find is: Delegate things to be done because even though it seems important now.. it won't matter the day of.. and it will most likely be done better than you could do if you are doing Everything!

.................................................................................................................................................................

I've been creating different invitations for Ben's and mine's wedding.. I suppose I should ask him what he thinks about the invitations... Its just sometimes hard to get his honest opinion.. He's a boy... That's kind of why I like him, though. You know that whole being a boy thing. ;)

The next three weekends are going to be full of tears, cheers, heels, and tulle.

Lady of Leisure

As Ben's mom likes to put it... I'm very good at being a " Lady of Leisure."
I'm very good at filling up my days with things to do, that really aren't that important. It's kid of a special talent. I mean everything I do has a purpose, but its not actually important. Except now.. I have planned out my summer days.. they'll go a little something like this everyday.. well these are things that will be in my everyday.. not necessarily in any order at any time.. because I can..
*coffee
*read Bible
*write
*work out
*pool time
*wedding planning
*anything else I want to do
sounds good to me.

:)

Excitement!

I JUST had internet installed at home! I'm so excited for what this means for me... ok for my wedding! I am going to write more this summer. I must! I have all the time in the world now, (I mean sort of.. what amid all the weddings and wedding parties I have..) to dedicate myself to what I truly want to do.

I had a friend call me up today out of the blue... I swear I have some of the most interesting friends. I think I'm drawn to them because they get to live the lives that I only dream of living. For instance, one friend lived abroad in Costa Rica for a year. Now she lives in D.C., this summer she is going to live in San Francisco... She's also one of the kindest, most sincere and truly loveable people that I know. Another friend is pursuing her dream of becoming a doctor, and still traveling. The other day she was in Yosimite, this weekend she is in Seattle.

The friend I spoke with today is on the verge of opening her own boutique. Of personal lable clothes. She's dreamed up some edgey name, and already bought her first round of clothes, and is talking to someone about a place today. She once broke up with her boyfriend and drove to Panama City in the dead of night. I mean who does these things?

My friends are living lives out of novels, and I'm living a life from "The Rules." Which isn't bad. I'm in love and get to spend the rest of my life with someone who loves me back. And he sees the passion and fire in me. He prods me to do the things I dream of doing.. and I lie by the pool.. happy.

I guess all I'm saying is I think I'm kindling a fire to do more with myself. I've been described as dogged before. But I'm also practical and usually my fierce determination goes towards practical things.. like getting a job, saving money, paying loans.. blah blah blah.. I need something to be passionate about..

and while I'm on the subject of passion... I get to REALLY start planning my wedding! I want to meet with this lady and talk about what we can do to transform my wedding space.. I also want to make these http://http://ruffledblog.com/diy-string-wedding-chandelier/. They're pretty much AMAZING! Maye I'll post my own how to with pictures!

Maybe this is my passion.. :)

I wonder

how I put up pictures of my invites.

I wonder why I'm still at work.

I wonder what it would be like to never have to clean again?

(That's why I'm here. I don't want to go home and clean.)

I wonder why we have to work out? Why can't our bodies just naturally be right?

I wonder if I will ever really finish writing that book.

I wonder if I will actually work out tonight. (Will I use working out to procrastinate cleaning or cleaning to procrastinate working out?)

I wonder if anyone really reads these.

I wonder what my wedding will turn out to be like.

I fear that it will flop.

I think I will cry on Wednesday. I'm reading obituaries for the every 15 minutes program.

You know where the kids are "killed" by a drunk driver. They're pulled from class. And me and a counselor read what their parents have written for them to the class.

I wonder if this really makes a difference.

I wonder if I will throw up that chocolate I just ate. I think I ate too much too fast.

Isn't that the worst? Too much of a good thing I guess...

sometimes I really hate when cliches are true. It rubs my bubble the wrong way without bursting it. You know what I mean?

Have you ever just let your mind wander? I find it kind of trippy where it ends up.

But still.. I wonder...

A New Idea...

I've been creating invitations.. It's been busy, but I love it! Next project: Amanda's wedding invitations! I'm going to take pictures of these and post them later, but I have to get them all together, first.

I love having a way to create something! It's nice to work with my hands and my mind. To see how the two work together (or sometimes don't.. lol) is just another testiment to God's goodness and the grace and beauty that He created us for.

I have been thinking about adding a "what's for dinner?" to my blog.

It's an idea I had over spring break. Me and two of my friends were staying at one of their grandma's house. Everything she made for us to eat was so Good! Sure it's not the healthiest options, but those recipes and ideas need to be put down somehow.

I plan on either using a Grandma's recipe or my own family recipe. Sometimes I'll make them (probably only on Thursdays and weekends) and post pictures. Sometimes they'll just be really good things to try. Hopefully, other people will try them, too!

This is will probably be better this summer, since I will have internet at home then. :)

I feel excited on the inside...

I'm so excited! I get to start designing invitations again!!

I will some day be just designing... I hope. Or just a side business...

I really love it. I really miss it.

P.S.

I've seen people doing these "20 day challenges.." what is this??

Oh! And I realize this Blog design is incredibly lacking.. I just don't know how to change that.. someone computer savvy, please help me! I can design a MEAN invitation, but this computer stuff is so tricky. :)