our love story

Today I'm going to share our love story. Linking up with the gorgeous Becky {one of my very favorite bloggers} for this one!

 1. How long have you and your significant other been together?

We are getting exact here. 3 years 3 months and six days. We have been together every since the very day we met and haven't separated since then.

2. How did you meet? {What's your "love" story?}

You can see how we met here. However, to sum it up, I met him {unknowingly} at the ticket office at our college when I was picking up my football tickets for the season. I left wondering if I'd ever see him again. I then officially met him my sophomore year of college at a bar. And yes, I was sipping on some whiskey & cokes because we had just beat our rivals. It was fate at it's finest.

3. If married, how long have you been married? If not, is this the guy you hope to marry? {do tell}
Not married but getting married on August 11, 2012! Oh and to answer the question...ya I kind of hope to marry the guy ;)

4. If you are married, where did you get married at? Big or small wedding?  If not, where would you like to get married? And will it be big or small?
We are getting married in my home town {which is very small} but our wedding is going to be decent sized. For some reason when you live in a small town you know WAY more people. Plus, your teachers and coaches seem to even be apart of your family. Our guest list of families so far is about 180.

5. Do you have any nick-names that you call one another? Do share!
Well he usually calls me babe, baby, honey, Moll, and that's about it.
For him I usually just call him whatever I am feeling at the time. Most common are babe, Jeffy, Jeffro. Sounds way lame writing them out. haha. They are mostly used in text and babe in person.

6. Name 3 things you love most about your honey.
I guess these three things are kind of obvious but..

1.) He 100% has my back.
2.) He literally is my very best friend.  He loves me just for me, sweats and t-shirt included.
3.) He has the kindest and most full heart.

7. Tell us how he proposed? Or your ideal proposal?
You can check out the engagement weekend here! All I've got to say is Rockefeller Center Rooftop!

8. Is he a flowers and teddy bear kind of guy for v-day, or strawberries, champagne, and rose petals?
One thing that actually really attracted me to him since the beginning of our relationship was his creativity and making things meaningly, and not just "traditional, expected" things. He has always made Valentines Day, birthdays, and any holiday...special. He usually makes homemade cards with a gift and flowers to go with it. Last year was one of my favorites, you can read that here.
 
9. Are you a sunset dinner on the beach kind of girl, or pop a movie in and relax on the couch?
Well, I'm all about the beach but that just isn't quite possibly around these parts. I'm more like a dinner at the lake kind of girl I guess you could say. I also love just relaxing and watching a movie just enjoying each others company. Those are some of my favorite nights. However, popcorn needs to be included. Oh and maybe some skittles too. ;)

10. Tell us one thing you'd like to do with your significant one day. If you could do anything? Go anywhere?
One thing I'd like to do with my man is travel outside the country. Preferably to Italy or Ireland. Or anywhere for that matter. I also want to jump out of a plane with that man, we shall see if I ever get the "balls". We were thinking about actually doing that for our save the dates. Jumping out of a plane, that is. We were going to hold our wedding date in the air on signs and say something about "falling for each other". Straight cheesiness. Then we realized it would be physically impossible. Too bad.

11. Tell us what you plan on doing on this Valentine's Day.
That's a good question. Since we both work all week and live two hours apart, I'm not sure how it will work out. Mr. Fiance said he would try to take the next day off so we could spend at least Valentine's night together. Crossing my fingers on that one.

12. Are you asking for anything this Valentine's day?

Nope, never really have. I think it makes it more special when the gifts actually mean something. I really just hope to get a day with him. Since we live 2 hours apart and V-Day is on a Tuesday and we both work...it makes things a little more challenging.

13. Give us one piece of advice of keeping a relationship strong and full of love. 
Communication and being best of friends. If both are open and honest with their communication then there will never be any guesses or surprises. My advice? love with all you have.

14.  Show us a picture of what love means to you.

And that's how M + J became one...or well, almost one :)

Wedding Wednesday {Engaged Again & Story}

Engaged Again

No, I have not gotten engaged twice.

Remeber when I went to the beach and had a minor emergency?

The middle setting in my ring fell out while on vacation, and I haven't

been able to wear it since then. Looked a little bit...funny. What's a ring without a diamond?

After a month of no ring

and many people wondering why it wasn't there anymore.

The ring is back & shinier than ever.

I feel engaged again.

No single fingered Molly running around town anymore.

Yay!

Story

Just a little random fact about me, I love planners.

Love lists. And love to be organized...on paper.

If I don't write something down, I forget it even exists.

So yesterday I was filling in my planner and was putting

all of the KU football games in it.

I saw the 2012 schedule was online so I just

thought it'd be funny to check and see if there was a

football game on our wedding day.

There was.

Who? K-State.

Our rivals.

Okay..now the point of the story.

When Jeff & I met on November 1, 2008 we were at a bar.

As you know.

Jeff had gone out for Halloween the day before and drank a little...too much.

November 1st was the day of the KU vs. KSTATE game.

Biggest game of the year.

We won.

Jeff's friends wanted to go out to celebrate but Jeff didn't really feel like it.

Poor hungover Jeffy.

But he did.

And so did I.

We were both at the bar to celebrate a hell of a win by our favorite Jayhawks.

If it weren't for that game, I probably would have never met the love of my life.

So I thought it was quite fitting that our wedding will be on the same day.

Meant to be?

I think so.

Or maybe it's just funny & cute to me?

:)

{I'll probably have to get a big screen put in so the guys can watch the

game on wedding day. haha.}

Catch next week's Wedding Wednesday for our REHEARSAL dinner plans.

Exciting!

P.S. Thank you for all the sweet & encouraging comments on my New Adventure Post.
Y'all rock my socks off.

How I Met You, My Love

I have been debating whether or not to go into this topic.  As the days go by I slowly get sucked into each blog who actually has a story on how the couple met. I get intrigued actually. It seems like every single couple meet up is different and special in some sort of way. Everyone has a story. In many cases it took many bad stories to end up with their dream story. Mine is kind of funny, not so romantic. Perfect. Mostly funny. I don't want to ever forget it. It would be VERY difficult to forget such an event, but I want to make sure that even is my brain poops out on me that I'll have it in the books.......Shall we?

First of all, I know many of you may know this but I have been nannying for a family here in town ever since I was a freshman in college. Funny I mention this right now because just 20 minutes ago I was sitting here looking at pictures over the past three years of them crying at how much they have grown up. I don't get why babies have to grow. Lord help my heart when I have a child. Anyway, back to the story. One day in the fall of 2008 I was standing in line with my 3 yr. old  best friend waiting in line to get my football tickets. This line was LONG. I was debating waiting in it because it was hot and I didn't think Gray would be able to hang out that long. I asked him if he wanted to leave but he was busy making friends with the students in front of us while hiding behind my legs when they talked to him.  I finally got  to the front of the ticket line after 30 minutes of waiting. I see you, who asked me the usual "can I have your ID" blah blah blah I hear everytime. Then he made me laugh. I will never forget that laugh. I will never forget how I felt when I left that building. I wish I could remember what it was about but I know it was when I was signing my signature to get my tickets. I left their thinking, "I wonder if I'll ever see him again." Hmmm. I don't know how A.) I remember that. I SUCK at remembering ANYTHING. B.) I remember exactly how I looked as I laughed and signed that piece of paper. Still confused on all that. However,  I left knowing I'd probably never see whoever this mystery man was who gave me my football tickets. I left not knowing that some day you were going to be my fiance.

FFWD:

It all continued one evening on November 1, 2008. I was a sophomore in college and he was an old fogie of a senior (technically-he was doing an internship). Wanna know how I got his attention? I drank about 4 whiskey and cokes with my roommate. Doubles. Oh yes, my glory days. I was done for. A sheet in the wind if you must say. It was after a win against our biggest rivals KState, so I was rearing to go. We got to the bar around 7. That speaks for itself. Anyway, after a couple hours went by I saw some people from my hometown and went to say hello. They were with a group of boys from a town close by my hometown. Remember, I'm three sheets in the wind here so I am miss social butterfly..or hummingbird. I told everyone I knew the bartender and was going to get everyone free drinks. You are probably thinking correctly, no I had no idea who the bartender was. Too bad too, I'm sure I cost someone some money that night. I also was stealing  borrowing peoples drinks after they ordered them if they looked away. Remember, three sheets in the wind. I look over and see a familiar face. I have no idea why it is familiar but I recall the sentence, "I know you from somewhere. Where have I seen you? YOU ARE MY TICKET MAN!" That is where ticket man began. When I was least expecting it. At that point I was over men. I was over it all. Until "you" came into my arms. He began as I was killing brain cells and having the time of my life. The rest of the night was  a big blurr other than the dancing, laughs, I'm sure falling over, and getting on the phone with someones dad telling him to come party. I love how I met my ticket man. I love it because it is so fun. So college. So random. So......perfectly meant to be. I woke up the next day in a blurr. I saw that I called someone the night before and put his name in my phone as "Jeffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff" . I wondered if I put his number in my phone, or if he gave it to me. I wondered once again, if I'd ever see him again.

Ticket Man thought it would be a good idea to creep on me on facebook and add me a day or two after our meet up (hehe).  I couldn't figure out if this was cute or creepy. Ticket Man texted me the next day.  He swept Miss Whiskey loving, I love bad boys who treat me like poo poo off of her feet. He took me to dinner, made me salads that had carrots made into hearts, slipped notes under my pillows,  and would surprise me with flowers. If there is a man in this world with a bigger heart than Ticket Man (okay maybe my dad and brothers) than I would like to see him. I fell in love with that boy's heart the day I met him and continue to each day. He has never been anything but supportive, kind, genuine, and real with me throughout these 2.5 years together. I can't wait to tell my kids that story of how we met. : /

I love you from the bottom of my heart T.M. Thanks for saving me on November 1, 2008. Thank you for showing me love, real true beautiful love. I'm glad to call you mine.

The Most Important Kind of Love

I thought this post was appropriate the day

after I came back from home.

Being at home reminds me of why love is important, how strong

it can be, and that it conquers all.

My parents have shown me that true love lasts.

True love can defeat all things.

True love never fails.

They are the happiest couple I have ever seen in my life.

So thank you mom and dad for showing me what love is all about.

"No one ever said it was easy, they just said it'd be worth it."

I got this in an e-mail about three years ago and it really hit home with me.

True love is when then the small things matter the most.

Check this out.

A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds, 'What does love mean?'

The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined.
See what you think: .........

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'When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore.
So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love.'

Rebecca- age 8

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'When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different.
You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.'

Billy - age 4

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'Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other.'

Karl - age 5

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'Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs.'

Chrissy - age 6

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'Love is what makes you smile when you're tired.'

Terri - age 4

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'Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK.'

Danny - age 7

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'Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more.
My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss'

Emily - age 8

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'Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.'

Bobby - age 7 (Wow!)

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'If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate,'

Nikka - age 6
(we need a few million more Nikka's on this planet)

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'Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday.'

Noelle - age 7

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'Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.'

Tommy - age 6

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'During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling.

He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore.'

Cindy - age 8

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'My mommy loves me more than anybody
You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night.'

Clare - age 6

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'Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken.'

Elaine-age 5

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'Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford.'

Chris - age 7

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'Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day.'

Mary Ann - age 4

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'I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones.'

Lauren - age 4

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'When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you.' (what an image)

Karen - age 7

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'Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross.'

Mark - age 6

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'You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget.'

Jessica - age 8

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And the final one -- Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge.

The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child.

The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife.

Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there.

When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said,

'Nothing, I just helped him cry'

                                    For some reason, this just hits my heart right where it hurts.

                                                                 Happy Monday.

                                                                  LOVE today.

The 922

You wanna know the only good thing about your fiance leaving you for two weeks at a time?

The moment you see him when he comes back.
 It makes a persons heart smile like it somehow forgets to do.
The good thing about being apart,
 is it makes it so much better when you are together.
Life is just better when your best friend is around.

We decided to meet in Kansas City this weekend instead of Lawrence.

 Jeff booked a hotel and we got to enjoy a nice weekend together at Power & Light.
Room 922 is where all the fun is at.
 We enjoyed a weekend a champagne, basketball, food,
plaza shopping, Power & Light, buffet's, and cowboy boots.

It was perfect.
The first night we enjoyed a bottle of champagne, a walk in the city,
and a few brews and buffalo chicken tenders.
My love for buffalo returned.
 Minus the fact it was so hot it literally made my throat burn.
 Maybe it was to get us to buy more beers? Tricksters.
 I asked for a water and he looked at me crazy.
I thought he was going to bust out "Hell NO H20" at the bar.

As you can see, Jeff loved the champagne.
The second day we woke up to watch the KU game,
whooped Missouri's butt, and enjoy us a few drinks along with barbeque chicken pizza.
We thought we'd take a nice little gander on to the plaza and walk, shop, and talk
our day away.
I found so many cute little boutiques I had no idea ever exsisted.
My wallet was scared but it turned out okay when I only walked away with one shirt,
 and one that Jeff bought for me.
 It may need to be scared next time I go. Muhahaha.
We finished off with a dinner at Jack Stack with my favorite peple.
This restaurant is by far my favorite in KC. BBQ-R-US. Love.

Today, we returned back to Jayhawk Country to attend
a brunch a friend of mine put on for "us engaged folks".
The buffet made me want to put on my stretchy pants.
I am thakful I cannot have this amount of food on a daily basis.
My body would pobably start rejecting me.
(Mostly) my whole class attended to celebrate this fabulous time in our lives.
School of Education friends are really the best.
I am happy to know my kids will be in good hands
if any of them are their teachers. =)
After the brunch we visited Jeff's brother, mom, niece, and nephew.
Not gonna lie, I think Jeff and I enjoyed playing the sandbox
more then the kids.

Jeff left. My perfect weekend has ended.
I have distraced myself from my homework long enough.
I have gotten inspired. And I cannot wait to share with you soon
on the beginning of my journey to change lives and create smiles.
Stay Tuned In.

P.S. How do you like the new layout?
Yes?No?Too much? Not enough? Confusing lines? Lemme know :)

P.S.S. Want to see some tasty treats? Katie (who is absolutely adorable, the nicest person ever, and as far as my opinion goes the best baker in Southeast Kansas) is doing a giveaway. Support her, her blog, and get a chance to win a wonderful giveaway. Whatcha waitin for? Go go go. HERE Cliff bars and sugar and creamer set is involved.

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Day 17 - A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently.

This handsome guy leaving me for 9.5 months.

Huge is kind of intense. But it has made an impact.

It has made me appeciate the time we do have together.

Good thing we are both busy bees.

Or else two weeks would feel like ten years.

Love that ol' boy.

XOXO

"I Love You"

Can I say something  really quick? Well, I guess you can't answer me so I will anyway. Last night, I had my night with the kiddos. My little lovies. The happiness of my Tuesdays. I cannot let go of something that happened last night. It made me warm, full of love, and so so happy. My baby girl Jillian was sitting on the couch eating her favorite combo of cinnamon goldfish and milk, turned and looked at me and said, "I love you, Mawy". Out of nowhere. Not only did she say it, she stared into my eyes as she said it. Then smiled. Lord help my heart because it melted into five hundred million  pieces. Pray for me when I have children. I don't know if I will be able to hold myself together.

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I don't know what to do. I really don't. I woke up EARLY today. Not at the last minute, but EARLY and what do you know? I was still late. This does not make me happy. I even told my alarm I would get up because I was going to be just as tired in five minutes. Grr.

Since I did wake up early (like five minutes early) I made myself a little breakfast.

My bananas were proud of my effort.

The rest of the day consisted of a very long day with the 4th graders. I got to see the life in the day of a 4th grader, which consisted of lots of laughs, recess, lunch, math, social, science, and reading. I got it all. It's a blast getting to know them. I'm  hoping I won't die over of a heart attacke teaching a lesson by myself if I keep getting close to the kiddos. Please pray this does not happen. My anxiety is rocket high when it comes to being the center of attention. I crawl in a hole. A large one.

I do have good news though. I got to eat buffalo sauce tonight. This translates to this was a great day and now I can live happy. Wanna know something else? I had it with spinach. Weird.

See. Spinach. Greenness. I am started to really become fond of green. I have become so fond I wanted a green zip up adidas jacket and green sports bra. Maybe it's lust.

Let me tell you....wow it's kind of indescribable. It was terrifical (yes, it is a word...don't worry). Really, I love buffalo sauce by itself, but with chicken, spinach, cheese, hummus, holy mama. I fell in love. Not lust. Don't get them confused. It was LOVE. I wanted another. I sat on the couch and pouted because it was over. I ate veggies instead. Boring. I am trying to be a good girl though.

Dang, I need a good camera. Maybe someday I will be responsible enough not to break mine. Who am I kidding.

American Idol time!

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Day 06 - A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day

Who wouldn't?

My Valentine's Date

It was full of pink and red fuzzies.

As you know, I am an Elementary Education major. We are kinda weird. We act like children. That's just what we do. So, every year on Valentine's Day we are cool and have a big Valentine's Day party. One person makes bags and the rest of us bring treats and cards. It's like we are in school. It's awesome. What's even better is I get to have Valentine's Day treats for the rest of my career. Heck yes. You would be glad to know, I was a good girl at this party. Everyone else ordered pizza and I depressingly sat in my seat with some yogurt, granola, and an apple. Who am I? I really don't even know.

All day I was thinking of what Jeff & I would be doing for the evening. Every year has been quite different, but it always involved FOOD. Instead of going out this year though, Jeff decided to be the chef. You can imagine how pumped I was when I got this text in class. This was after I stared at the people eating the heavenly  pizzas next to me. I was doing my happy dance.

Jeff made me be at his apartment at exactly 7:05 (changed from 7:00). What do you know, I got there about 7:07. When I arrived I saw Jeff standing outside the door swinging it open and shut. I was a tad concerned. He was literally, smokin. (It was only the steaks, don't worry) When I got to his door he put his hands over my eyes and told me to come in. Only the TV and lamp got in my way. He sat me on the couch and told me to open my eyes. That's when I saw this.

I was overjoyed. How freaking awesome. He's so creative. The food smelled AMMMMMMMAZING. It tasted even better. I'm talkin' lick my plate until there isn't even a crumb kind of good. I have never had steak wrapped in bacon, and now I am never going back to the horrid days when I didn't know what heaven tasted like. It was that good. What's in the basket you ask? He added his leftover scrapbook stuff he used for my card, The Pioneer Woman cookbook, new scarpbooking paper, and some totally sweet awesome beautiful amazing comfy perfect running shoes. Holy Hannah. How did I not faint? He put my scapbook of our New York trip and brownie cupcakes to shame.

We then enjoyed ourselves some wine and KU basketball. The game started to get rough, we started to lose, we got sad, so we switched to vodka. We then just enjoyed the rest of the night hanging out and doing what we do best, watching Criminal Minds. I might have to say that this was probably my favorite Valentine's Day yet. I loved staying in and having a more personal Valentine's Day. It was perfect. Company, food, wine, basketball, cupcakes, and criminal minds. I'm in love.

Valentine's Day #3 was a complete success.

Hope ya'll had a nice Valentine's Day with someone you care about =)

The Day of Love

The hallmark holiday has arrived.

Happy Valentines Day!

I've always thought Valentines Day was kind of silly. I always wondered "why wouldn't you tell someone you love them on every other day?" , "shouldn't you always show the ones you love how you feel?". Then I got to thinking. I do this a lot you know. Many of us take such great love for granted. Even myself. Sometimes we forget to say "you  mean the world to me", "you make me happy", "thank you for being you", etc. No matter who it is to whether it be your dog, hopefully not your cat, mother, father, brothers, sisters, boyfriends, husbands, fiances,  friends etc. It isn't just about couples. My single people HATE Valentine's Day. I did. But it's not about who you are dating or who you are not dating. It's about reminding us that we have some really special people in our lives that we need to cherish each day. We need to tell them how much we love them and appreciate them. It is not only healthy, but extremly important. We wouldn't be the people we are without the being that fill us with love.

So please, don't spend today stressing over what gift to buy, what food to make, or how to impress someone. Spend today knowing that you have someone to love, no matter who it is, and you are very blessed. Spend today thanking the Lord for those beautiful gifts, others are not as fortunate. Enjoy this day, simply enjoy it because you deserve it. You deserve to be loved and to be loved back. We all do.

For the ones I love:

The words could never begin to describe how thankful I am for each and every one of you. You all have given me such joy and happiness that I couldn't be more blessed to have. I get through each day knowing I have people like you to talk to, come home to, call, and spend time with. Life isn't always easy, but it's always easier with you. I truly love you guys. I wish there were words. I could never tell you how much you guys mean to me. Just know you hold a special place in my heart. If you leave that place I will have to hurt you =) kidding. You guys just need to know how appreciative and happy I am to have you in my life,and I wouldn't change what I have for the world. So thank you family, friends, fiance, and of course doggy's for making me the luckiest girl on the Earth filled with a whole lotta love.

Happy Monday.
Make it a good one :)