my little word for 2013

This year instead of making a new year's resolution (which I have never ever ever ever ever really accomplished) I decided to choose a word to live by for 2013.

I am pretty sure this is the first year I haven't said my goal was to work out and eat healthy. Well that obviously doesn't turn out too well for me so I will just skip it and hope I acquire that skill when I realize I have to get into a bikini in a couple months for our trip to Hawaii.

Moving on...

My word is GIVE.

This is in more than the category of material things. Way more. However, I do want to give little gifts to people to show them appreciation, love, thankfulness, etc. I am really good at thinking of nice things to do but really bad at actually doing them. Truth. I'm what you like to call a...procrastinator. A really awesome one in fact.

What I really want to give more of is my time to the right places and to the right people.

So many times I find myself focusing my time on things that are just not worth focusing on. I am definitely not talking about pinterest. Now that, is worth it. Just maybe not hours upon hours of it. I need to focus on my husband and not always worry about seeing the newest instagram photo or tweet.

Guilty as charged on that one.

I also want to give time for myself. To make myself mentally and physically happy and healthy. Let's all hope this means getting my lazy bum into the gym and sweating it out. Oh gee I hoooope. If not, well I guess all the work out clothes I got for Christmas will make me feel like I am.

Most importantly I want to give to the one who made me. The one who knows me best. And the one who I give the least time to.  As sad as that is to admit. I am going to make it a priority to read that pretty little aqua Bible of mine and listen. Learn. And grow. I really don't want the most important book in the world to be the only one I never read. What excuse could I ever give for that? Yikes.

I want to give a little more to this here little space. I have been so caught up in all the changes going on over here that at night I am either grading 500 million papers or passed out. I never feel like I have the energy or the passion for it when my eyes are drifting off and stacks of papers are calling my name. I miss writing. I miss you people. And I miss sharing my story.

So here goes nothing on my little ol' 2013 word.

I'm going to GIVE it all I've got.

over and out friends

2012 I will miss you... a lot

2012 was one for the books.

Best year to date. The most changes to date. And held the most emotions to date.

It was one I will always, always remember. It was spent with a lot of family time, and a lot of memories planning for the biggest day of my life thus far.

A few memorable things in 2012:

On August 4, 2012 I got married to the man of my dreams. My one and only.

August 2012 I got my first teaching job as a 3rd grade teacher.

August 2012 I moved to a brand spankin' new town.

May 2012 we bought our first house.

November 2012 we gained our first little member of the family.

December 2012 was our first married Christmas.

There are obviously many more things in 2012 that I adored but these are definitely some of the most memorable.

A few more little memories....

Our Honeymoon - August 2012

Roaring River - June 2012

Little brother graduated from HS - May 2012

Parents 30th Anniversary - June 2012

Bachelorette Party - July 2012

Many MANY KU games - Fall 2012

Wedding Planning 

One thing I realized about what I missed the most about planning for our wedding was getting to spend a lot of time with many members of my family. And now I'm crying thinking about it. Looking at the pictures. Remembering the memories.

Holy cow I love my family. More than anything in this universe. I am a lucky gal. And you bet I thank God for each one of them daily. Usually more than once. For an amazing husband and the best family anyone could seriously ever ask for. Damnit tears.

I'm going to miss 2012. I just wish it could stay forever. Plus, it's my favorite number. (12, that is) And guess what my least favorite number is? Yup, 13. Makes me shiver.

So 2012...thank you for being the best. ever. Thank you for the beautiful memories. I loved you. And always will.

Over and OUT good buddies.

gingerbread contest 2012

Traditions are one thing I really, really love about the holidays. It's something special you get to share with your family. The ones you look back and always remember. You share those traditions with your children and then it really becomes something really special.

Ever since I can remember we made cookies with my grandma. It was always one of my best memories of Christmas. She was always one of my best memories of Christmas.

The smell of cookies in the oven. Watching grandma whip up baked goodies. Watching the timer to make sure grandma didn't burn a spatula or something else nearby. Laughing. Listening to music. Sweet, sweet memories.

We always cut out and decorated cookies as a family. The cousins and my brothers were usually the contestants. Somehow over the years it turned into a competition. And somehow I always lost. Other than the year I sucked up to the judge (my uncle) and made a birthday cake cookie for his birthday.

This year my niece was the cookie decorator and it was precious to see her and my mom doing the same exact thing we did with my grandma for years. Those memories she will always hold just like us. I don't give a poo what anyone says, Christmas IS magical. For real.

Anyway. This year was our second year to add in a gingerbread contest. Last year got a little wild and people were adding wrap around porches, camp fires, and real fire. But of course this year didn't disappoint. And we didn't get last. Cheers to THAT.

I have got to say I am way better at the quick cookies. Somehow Jeff ended up making our entire house and I just worked on the back yard. Let's see if you can tell which one is ours. I'll just say it's mighty....sugary.

merry little christmas

Oh Christmas. How I love you. How I love the spirit you bring and the lit up nights you fill.

The smiles. The laughter. The memories.

Oh how you rock my little new blue jayhawk socks off.

I live for the holidays and extra time I get to spend with family. I love everything little thing about it. And this year happened to be even more special being our first "married" Christmas.

So from the very bottom of my heart I hope all of you had as magical as a Christmas as I did. Filled with family, laughter, and special memories.

And I'm kind of jealous of all of you that had a White Christmas.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

tragedy and blessings

Over the past few days I have been on a roller coaster of emotions.

What happened on Friday rocked me to the core. It was a big and ugly rude awakening I wasn't prepared to handle or come to face with. There is so much evil in this world it is scary. Sad. And just upsetting.

I don't want to talk much on my feelings on the matter but I for some reason felt like posting. Maybe I'll delete it, I'm not sure.

One thing I know about the entire tragedy is that it is brought me closer to the Lord. It has made me call out to him. Pray to him. Question why. Ask for peace and hope in this crazy place. Beg for him to save us. It has taught me that He is who we need.

The other thing that it is taught me is patience with my kids at school. It is getting close to Christmas and they are....well, wild as you can imagine waiting for Santa to appear at their homes. It has made me step a huge step back and just be thankful for them, for their differences, for their laughter, and for their pure innocence and love.

I keep praying for those affected on Friday. I just hope that all of the nations prayers somehow help their hearts heal. Somehow let them know that everything someday will be okay. And I hope they have peace in knowing their babies are in the best hands they could ever imagine.

It just makes me sick to my stomach. It makes me sad. It mostly makes me angry. I hope this has opened our eyes. Made us thank the Lord for our blessings we may take advantage of. And to teach us to just hold on to each other. Tight.

I hope we all turn this tragedy into a time to count our blessings and pray for those who have lost a loved one. And pray they someday, somehow can have a normal life again. And until then....I am going to be thankful for my "normal" life, "normal" problems, and "normal" schedule. Because they may never have that again.

a day of silence and prayer

blue bird bride

Anyone feeling some gorgeous jewlery tonight?! I AM! 

Let me introduce you to Blue Bird Bride. A cute little etsy shop that sells adorable jewelry and the oh so famous bubble necklace. There are a TON of colors to choose from and quite frankly I wanted them all. Obsessed.

I love love love the yellow and gold. Maybe because I'm obsessed with yellow but it fit in the perfect spot and was ready to rock and roll all night long! 

I'm a little sad that I already had a wedding because the turquoise when have been so perfect with our navy dresses. 

Lucky for one of you $20 to Blue Bird Bride is up for grabs tonight!

There are also several SHIP NOW items that will arrive in time for Christmas with standard shipping if ordered by Wed. and Prioirty by Thursday.

BONUS: You can also put the coupon code BLOG20 and enter it during checkout to get 20% off!!

Enter using the tool below. GOOD LUCK! :)



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Silence and Support for Sandy Hook

To the Blog World and Anyone Else who Wants to Help,

On Friday, Tragedy struck so many of us in ways we did not foresee. An elementary school and small town in Connecticut was shattered by a mass shooting. We knew we wanted to help and we came up with this:


<img src="https://sites.google.com/site/megoblogdesign/files/sandyhooksupport.png" />
On Tuesday, December 18th, there will be a blogger day of silence. We will post the button and that's it. Please try to not post anything else that day if possible.

 We are also raising money that will go to an organization in the memory of this tragedy. The organization is called The Newtown Family Youth and Family Services. Here is the official description of the support service we are donating to:

"Newtown Youth and Family Services, Inc. is a licensed, non-profit, mental health clinic and youth services bureau dedicated to helping children and families achieve their highest potential. NYFS provides programs, services, activities, counseling, support groups and education throughout the Greater Newtown area.

ANY DONATIONS MADE TO NEWTOWN YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES WILL BE DONATED DIRECTLY TO THOSE EFFECTED BY THE SANDY HOOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SHOOTING."

Please visit THIS PAGE to make your donation.

 We can't imagine how they must be feeling, especially this close to the holidays. We would love for you to spread the word on your own blog, Facebook, Twitter, etc. Let's make a difference and use blogging in a positive way. Thank you in advance for participating.

 Love,
The Blog World

p.s. If you would like to, copy-paste and repost any part of this, please do. Share on.

our wedding {rehearsal}

On August 3, 2012 I was starting to feel the nerves. Not bad nerves. Just very real nerves of thoughts that this was all really....real. Walking down the isle with my dad, meeting Jeff at the end, the wedding party standing next to us, cameras going off. It was all so surreal.

And that was just the rehearsal.

It's crazy how you plan for so long for a day to come and then when it actually comes, it is the fastest few days in the entire world. A blur of good times and emotions.

The rehearsal dinner was at my aunt and uncle's house, hosted by Jeff's mamcita. We did a "tailgate" theme and had KU decorations and tailgate food. There were lawn games and lots of drinks to be drank. It was a blast to see all of our closest family and friends. 

It was a perfect little night though and thankfully it wasn't the 500 degrees we expected (unlike our wedding day). I just remember feeling so content and happy that night. It was the craziest feeling going to sleep knowing I'd be married the very next day....