wedding shoe help

Whoever said the wedding dress was hard to pick out, must not have tried looking for wedding shoes yet!

Goodness I have had (before the last two days) the hardest time finding something in my budget that I love and would work for our big day.

I wanted something that was fun, and most important "me". So what better shoe to get than a RED high heel. I mean, seriously. And I should be paying all of my twitter friends because y'all have helped out so much in the picking out of "the" shoe. Even so much that now I can't decide!

I am just wearing the heels to the wedding and for pictures, so I wanted them to be smokin'. However, I don't really want to knock my dad over walking down the isle so...I'm not sure how these will work.

These are the two I've narrowed it down to (thus far) that I could afford, are cute, have my size, and are red. I just can't get the Kansas out of me. 

Now it's your turn. I cannot choose between the two below. I like them both, but not sure which would fit more of the wedding style. Or if it even matters? So if you could help me out (and thank you to all of you who already have) that would be just fantastic. I will pay you in wine later.

A

or.......

B

another one bites the dust

Well this weekend definitely made me feel all sorts of old.

My little brother graduated from high school, and I must say I am the proudest sister in the world. Even though I'm a little mad he showed me up with being in the top 10%, won the citizenship award, lettered all four years, and graduated with honors...I won't hurt him too bad.

I could talk about how awesome my little brother is all day but mostly I love him for his sweet little soul and his will to go above and beyond for others. I look up to him (literally, with my short self) and I couldn't be happier to call him my brother. My parents should pat themselves on the back.

And of course so should the rest of the supporters we all have had growing up. I know we sure wouldn't be the same without them and so thankful for them all every day. And I know my grandma is looking down on her baby boy with the biggest smile on her face, and tears of happiness in her eyes.  She always knew you were special, and boy you sure are (even when your teenage hormones flare up-ha!).

Now it's time for him to join the JAYHAWK club, and rock chalk in my favorite town in the world. I know it will treat him as well  (or even better) as it did me. And probably kill more braincells, take more money, and show him the real meaning of fun.

Rock Chalk, Baby! Another one bites the dust.

So proud of you little brother. So, so proud.

friday letter

Dear KU football team, Are you ready to rumble?! I am so pumped to have season tickets to watch you. Don't let me down...don't let me down. (But I'll still love you if you do...per usual). Dear Job, You are making me make really hard decisions that I'm not good at. Let's just meet in the middle, cool? Dear Patty (Patrick), You graduate this Sunday and it's making me feel old and all sorts of sad. I don't think you should grow up, just stay little...alright? I am ready for you to be in the best city ever though and wish I were joining you! So proud of you. So so proud. Dear Bloggistas, I adore y'all so much. More than you know. And all those comments on my last post? Can I just give you all a big virtual hug. Thank you for the support and sweet words! Dear Jeffy, Goodness, thanks for putting up with me this week. And can I tell you how excited I am for the things coming up? Excited like whooooooooa.

Happy WEEKEND y'all!

my decision to not live with my fiance before getting married

You may call me old school, but I have made the decision to not live with Jeff until we are married.

I know that in many cases people live together before they are married. I think that is great. I think there are different strokes for different folks. And honestly? I really don't think there is anything wrong with it. If you are planning to get married, that is. If not, I feel like that is just a recipe for a disaster and heartache. Only because I've seen it go that way I guess.

But for me, my choice was to keep that gift until we got married.  And he agreed. As a Catholic, that is something I have firmly believed in, well...forever. I may not agree with everything, but that is one thing I definitely  do.  I wanted the first time I moved in with Jeff to be as his wife, sharing his last name. Funny that my initials will soon be MRS. BUT it really is something that I'm excited about and looking forward to. I know it's not for everyone, but it makes sense to me and my values (and ours).

It's crazy to believe that in less than three months our lives will totally change. I will be moving out of my parents house, and in with my husband. Whoa. Husband. That's just crazy! I can't lie, I have loved every second of living at home so far, but I know living with Jeff will be just as great. And of course we will always make time for our families, who we love more than life. They will always be a big part of us and our lives.

So anyway, what I really wanted to get across was that it is okay to wait, if that is your "thang".  I just know many people don't accept the whole waiting game and think that you should try it out before getting married. Or the circumstances just work out better that way.  And that is great! I know SO many people SO happy doing so (and I'm so dang happy for them). But it is also okay to wait. And we keep it old school around here, and have chosen that option.

(Once again this is our opinions and our life....not "the right way", just what we have chosen to do)

Mommacita

First off, can I just tell you how amazingly beautiful it was today? Simply perfect.

I'll let myself believe it was created for all the mommas and their pure awesomeness. Because let me tell ya, they (you) deserve it!

Mostly I want to say to you mom, how thankful I am for you. For everything you do. For everything you are. And for everything you've made me. It's crazy how you and dad have made my life so beautiful in so many ways, especially knowing and seeing what it means to really love. Real love. True love. Selfless love.

I can tell you time and time again how I'm blessed beyond belief to have you as a role model. So thank you, for being you and kicking major booty in life. I love you more than life itself.

Happy Mother's Day to YOU! The most gorgeous woman I know.

Mayonnaise and Coffee

A college friend posted this story on facebook and I couldn't help but share it. And it simply began with a Mayo jar. Stories like this just make me smile. There are no pictures, but the story (to me) is worth it.

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The Mayonnaise Jar and Two Cups of Coffee

When things in your lives seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous "yes."

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

"Now," said the professor as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things--your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions--and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car.

The sand is everything else--the small stuff. "If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

"Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first--the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked.

It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."

shout out to ze fiance

Well now that I can breathe the biggest sigh of relief after finding out today that I PASSED my Performance Teaching Portfolio, thought I'd stop in! Wish y'all could come join me in a drink (or ten) to celebrate!

Today I actually was just stopping in to give a shout out to my favorite partner in crime, my other half, my love muffin, none other than ze fiance himself.

I am so utterly proud of him that I just thought he deserved a whole blog post dedication. He has been working his little arse off at his new job and totally balling out of control at it. If he does anything, he does it with his whole heart, which is one of the reasons why I love that man so darn much. He puts in 110% effort and always does what he feels is right to help others and to succeed. Always putting others before himself.

It's nice to see how hard work, faith, and dedication really DO pay off. And God sure has blessed him with some pretty unbelievable talents. I never doubted for a second that he wouldn't do well in this new little adventure, but he has gone above and beyond to work hard for his familia. Really, he's the man.

He always inspires me to work hard, do what's right, and have faith and the right things will fall into place. And I know God is smiling down and that beautiful creation of his. I know I sure am.

Keep ballin' baby. You deserve it.