let's get pinteresting

It's a pinteresting kind of day!

Linking up with the lovely Michelle @ The Vintage Apple for some pinning fun!

 Cheers to... the clothing I can't afford

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the baby I don't have

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 to the crafts I will probably never do

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 to the body I dream of having

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to the house that I want to live in

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 to the beach cruiser for my non existent beach house

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 to the sayings that inspire

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  and  to the wedding ideas that I can never stop looking at

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 Pinterest it's safe to say....I'm obsessed with you! click HERE if you want to follow mebut beware I have about 5 bazillion pins 

bling bling

Ring a bling bling! Today I'm linking up with the gorg C Mae for Bling Bling Show Your Ring. Fun...right!?

Well sadly I left all my important belongings back home and have no camera charger but we will work with it and throw it up iPhone style and old picture style. My apologizes for being super forgetful.

Here is da bling.

Yeah not the best of pictures but hey...what can ya do? My iphone pictures were straight junk so I didn't even try those out.

My ring is a Neil Lane {same as on the Bachelor-haha!} Bridal 1 3.4 Carat t.w. (whatever that means} Diamond. Aka one beautiful little piece of heaven.

I love everything about it. I especially love the circle diamond and skinny band that fits my finger per.fect.ly. Jeff totally rocked the socks off on this one. He said he had looked at a whole bunch of others and thought about getting one customized but this was the one.

The one.

A few questions you may be wondering....

Did you pick out the ring together?
Nope this was all Jeff, 500 percent. To be honest, I'd never even looked at a wedding ring until about 2 weeks prior when I was looking with my roommate. He did all of the shopping, looking, and deciding all by himself. I think that is what makes it most special to me. Even if I didn't like the ring {which, btw, I love} then I'd like it just in the same because he picked it out just for moi. He always showed me momma, which really made me smile as well.

Where do you put your ring when you take it off?
My aunt bought me an UH-mazing glass ring holder than I always, always, always place my ring on when I don't have it on. The only times I do take it off are when I clean or am cooking. Seriously, if you don't have one I would recommend it if you are like me and always forget where you put things!

How often do you clean your ring?
I try to every couple of months. I would do it more but a.) I don't have a ring cleaner and b.) the nearest Kay's is 45 minutes away. Therefore, I stop by whenever I can to get it inspected and cleaned. Nothing like a shiny clean diamond.

Happy TUESDAY! I am enjoying this nice {really} long break as much as I can.

feelin' it

You know what?

I'm really feeling this whole 2012 thing.

I love the feeling of a fresh start. Total clean slate. New beginnings.

I feel like all of the mistakes I made the year before, the things I may be unhappy with myself  about, or just want to improve on are given a second chance.

This year's resolutions are pretty simple, but dang important.

1.) Run a 5K.  {With my daddio}
2.) Be Healthier.
3.) Have more patience. {Oh ya. Big one.}
4.) Be a better friend.
5.) Go to church every single weekend. No excuses. {Most Important}

via

2012 is going to be good. It's going to be big time.

And I'm getting married, so it has to be good...right?

So cheer's to 2012, new beginnings, and happiness.

Shiz is gonna be GREAT!

2011

2011. Wow. You've been a crazy one. You have thrown me more loops than I ever expected, and sent me on a few emotional rollercoasters.

You have also given me some pretty amazing memories. As usual.

But I can't lie, I'm ready for 2012. Plus, 12 is my favorite number so I'm all for it.

A little break down of 2011 shall we?

JANUARY:

A Midwestern Touch was founded. So, so thankful for this.

FEBRUARY:

Mr. Fiance moved to Minnesota. Far, far away from Kansas.

MARCH:

Getaway to Kansas City.
Engagment Brunch.
Took my first trip to Minnesota.
St.Patty's Day

APRIL:

School of Education Pub Crawl

Easter

MAY:

I graduated college!

Went to a Royal's baseball game

My 22nd Birthday in Minnesota

JUNE:

Family Vacation to Myrtle Beach, SC

JULY:

I moved out of my college duplex. Sad day.
The 4th

AUGUST:

Jeff's 26th Birthday
Momma's {21st} Surprise Birthday Party
One year until our big day
I started student teaching

SEPTEMBER:

I said YES to the DRESS

OCTOBER:

I won 2 giveaways. Miracle!

NOVEMBER:

We took our engagment pictures.

Thanksgiving

DECEMBER:

Fiance moved back to Kansas.
Christmas
Gingerbread Contest

So thank you 2011. And hellllllllllllllllllllllllo 2012.

I cannot wait to see what it brings. But I do know there are going to be some pretty great happenings.

Holla for a Dolla to 2012!!!! I hope everyone has a safe & happy new year's eve :)

lake side wedding planning

Wedding? I'm having one of those? What?

Yes, I'm sure you had forgotten since I haven't written anything about in about 30 years. That is probably because my school load was literally kicking my ace. I couldn't even think about anything other than school and stress. I'm not the best multi-tasker ever.

So now that I've been on break, I've had some time to finally think about things, plan things, and actually get something done. Hallelujuah.

So my mom and aunt arranged a little getaway to my aunt's lake house to get some planning done. First off, I am obsessed with the lake. What could get better than waking up to that? Seriously. Other than a beach or mountain...nothing. Or maybe that's just me.

They made a fire and we got to work. My mom got me a wedding guide/planner when I first got engaged and we seperated all of the duties into each month so I wouldn't completely freak when I had to do them all. Now they are nicely organized into their own month so I can get it done in order from what needs to get done now, later, etc.

Not going to lie at first it was a little overwhelming, who knew there were 500 bazillion details that went into a wedding? Not I. haha. But then it felt good to organize what I needed to do and finally get a plan so I actually had a wedding to attend.

The best part was getting to spend the time with my mom and aunt though. Sitting together, planning Jeff & I's big day, and just talking. You know how I love my family time!

A few table arrangements were also put together from the things my aunt brought to try, and I think we had a good start to what they will look like. So so so so refreshing to get that {mostly} figured out. Still have no idea about the flowers on the tables and colors of that but hey...it was a very, very good start.

So thank you Mom & Aunt Diana for all of your help this past week. You have made my life about 500 times easier and I cannot thank you both for all you have done in getting things together to make our day perfect for us.

I truly, truly.....could not do this without my aunts, mom, and her friends. Truth.

One step closer to our "game day" in August!!!

Yippee!

christmas eve

On to Christmas Eve!

Christmas Eve was our fake Christmas this year so we could all be together and open presents while everyone was here.

Presents there were. My my  the tree was packed full.


Momma's tree when it was first put up. Didn't take a picture Christmas Eve...whoops!

 So we spent the morning opening presents but the most fun present to watch being given was to Baby {Toddler} Kate, my niece. My dad made her a push and pull little car and it was the coolest thing ever. My dad is a handy man, and it was perfect.I told him I'd take one too :) Plus, how special is that to have something homemade by Grandpa. Seriously, stuff like that just tugs at my heart strings.

The best part was her face as he walked down the stairs with it. Surprised galore. And she ran straight to it convinced she was going to take it on a stroll. Her little legs couldn't reach the peddles yet but she figured out she could sit on it, put her necklaces on it, eat graham crackers, and watch TV all in the comfort of her car.

Perfect. That, to me, is the beauty of Christmas. That look. The memories. The hard, hard work my dad put into making such a special gift. Nothing like it.

Santa must have been looking the other way when I wasn't all good this year because I was treated very nicely this Christmas!

 Two of my favorite gifts were my KitchenAid from Santa {thanks Mom & Dad} and my iPad from the Mister. I also received a very thoughtful gift from two of my aunts that were a cake cutter and cake knife from Kate Spade. Beautiful. Beautiful. Beautiful. Can't wait to use them!

New gear! Love!

After all the opening we went to my mom's side of the family Christmas. This year we didn't do our gift exchange but started our first annual scrapbook contest. There were so many categories and we had to fulfill them and make some sort of scrapbook from the year 2011. I LOVED it and it was so cool to look at everyone's year. Cannot wait to keep this tradition! P.S. We tied for FIRST. I finally win something, YESSSSS.

After my family's Christmas we ventured off to Jeff's side of the family's Christmas. It was nice to spend time with Jeff's mom and the rest of his familiy eating { a lot } opening presents, and just spending time together. I must say I am very lucky to have such a kind, and wonderful future Mother-In-Law. We were supposed to spend Christmas Day at her house again but sadly....the flu arrived in our household and we were glued to couches, beds, and chairs all day long.

I love my ipad & robe...whoop whoop.

However, we did get to return the next day and shared presents and relaxed after two crazy busy days of sickness and Christmas fun. His mom's gifts are always great and useful. I got the best cookbook and robe that I am practically going to live in, among other thoughtful and great gifts.

The novel is over, but I don't want to forget what went down this year at Christmas. A lot of special memories that can't be forgotten :) I know it may bore y'all but I love to look back and read things I would normally forget. Little moments that I treasured.

I guess that's why I'm here in the first place.

Now for New Year's Resolutions and MORE. Yeehaw!

P.S. Will be back for some WEDDING UPDATES. It's been awhile huh?!

gingerbread casa contest

Since I didn't want to write a 500 page long post about my entire Christmas weekend, I thought I'd break it up into a couple of days. Plus, I probably couldn't concentrate long enough to type it all out.

It all started with a gingerbread house idea. Every year we do a cookie decorating contest. A contest that consists of me always losing, but the cookies looking like superstars. It's a tradition that has went on since I can remember, and it's just not the same without it.

However, this year we threw a curve ball. We still cut out the cookies, but never really got around to icing them because we started the big bad gingerbread house contest. Legit, is all I can say. Jeff thought of the idea early on and wanted to have a gingerbread contest this Christmas. And contest is what it was.

Before the contest began my dad had some awards of his own to give out. Have I mentioned my parents freaking rock the world? Yup, they win. Well he handed out hammers to the guys and rolling pins to the girls. He gave a speech to each one of us saying why he was proud of us in 2011 and for the guys to "Keep Hammering On" and the girls to "Keeping Rolling". It was pretty wonderful. I loved every stinking second of it and will keep the rolling pin verrrrrry safe and try not to throw it on the ground when I mess up recipes.

Anywho.

The Teams:

Jacob + Ashley
Patrick + Dad
Me + Jeff

And let me tell you my family likes a good old fashion competition. Of any sort. So mom bought some candy, graham crackers, and chocolate bark. Then we went crazy.

All I have to say is they were houses that I had never ever seen before in pictures or on websites. We went big time.

In the end, my dad and little brother ended up winning the big bad trophy which was a travenling nut cracker. They killed the competition with a homemade wreath, snowman, fire, and smoke coming out of the chimney. Coming in close second was my brother and his wife which are engineers, btw, and they created a monstrous house that even included supports inside. And of course, once again, me last. So sad. I was the house "painter" and Jeff was the creator. We definitely win the award for most candy used though. FACT.

P to the S: All photo credit goes to Daddy Jac, Momma Jac, Ashley Jac, and maybe Jacob Jac.

I loved the new contest and can't wait to think of some new ideas for next year. Maybe I will have more patience by then :) I mean, we can only hope for the new year...right?

Hope everyone had a fabulous CHRISTMAS & get ready to make those New Year resolutions!!!!