Married Life is Awesome!

That title was stolen entirely from my husband- my HUSBAND! That's JB! ;) And that's what he is now! It's just so fun to say!  But I have to say that I completely agree! Being married to your best friend is wonderful!!

Some of the ups!

1. Not having to go home! It's like one long sleep over with your bestie ;).. only he is a boy
2. Learning to cook- So far: green bean/ bacon bundles, fried chicken, and sweet potatoes
3. Wearing wedding bands!
4. Learning each other's quirks- amazingly we didn't know everything about each other! even after dating   for almost a decade! imagine that.
5. Deciding how to decorate/ arrange/ clean our apartment together!

Some of the downers...

1. We don't have a dish washer- but we take turns doing kitchen duty!
2. Our dinner plates from the registry don't fit in the microwave.. bummer.
3. Paying bills, which means we have to go to work everyday (but we are so thankful for our great jobs!)


We feel so blessed and completely "blissful" if you will, to be finally married. The wedding was wonderful and we were able to celebrate it with many people we love.  Now we are busy settling into the apartment, jobs, and living life together. And we are having a blast! :)

Me vs. Society

Tanning, teeth whitening, exercising, pedicures, manicures, makeup consultations, hair run-throughs, fussing over the wedding dress, practicing my walk in the wedding heels, learning to use hair spray with the hot rollers, practicing my gel eye liner, and researching the best lip gloss.... This has been my life lately!! And I feel so VAIN!!!  I think this is the way our society prepares for a wedding though. And I have fallen into the madness of it all. Well, I have decided to enjoy it as much as I can, and then never do many of these things again- Take that society ha!! (Except the occasional pedi- they are my fav... and I guess I should exercise too).  For some reason, I like being oppositional, even if they are things I would normally like doing occasionally. (Shout out to L.G.!) Just one of my many quirks I guess.

Seriously though, this past week has been such a blur.  Sweet family has come in town to visit and we are having a blast being busy together.  I can't believe this chapter of my life is almost over.  I am trying to enjoy every minute and not get stressed at the same time.  I am excited to sit back and soak it all in- hopefully I can get away for a little while between now and Saturday.  Because the reality is, this is a HUGE covenant. With my GOD, as well as JB. It is one of the biggest promises I will make in my lifetime.  Sometimes I feel like that movie- 13 going on 30. I feel like I'm still so young, just living in an older version of me's body.  Anyone feel like this too?

I can honestly say, however, that with my sweet Savior and loving husband-to-be, I am not afraid. I am conscious that times will be difficult, but I know with these two best friends, I will be able to keep my promise and be faithful to the Lord.  With HIM, I can live the "good" life, not according to society's definition, but according to God's.  And that, I am truly excited about! Serving with John is better than serving by myself any day.  Marriage- here I come!

Weird/Surreal/Exciting!!!

I have had weird moments throughout my day today. Moments when I had to remind myself that my wedding is only a week away! Here are some of the things that have dawned on me lately.

You know your wedding day is getting close when...

1. The big date is in the 7 day forecast.
2. The expiration date on the milk is after your wedding date.
3. You have to inform people your name will soon be changing and you will need to edit your profile/mailing info/personal info/ etc. in the near future.
4. You only have one more Friday/Saturday night as a "single" person.
5. When telling others when the wedding is, you simply say "Saturday" without having to specify the date! Because it's Saturday of THIS week!

AHHH! I am nervous and happy and excited and amazed that the day is getting near!!!

Christmas has arrived at our apartment!

Tonight I went over to the apartment to unload of few other things. My parents decided to go since they haven't seen the place unpacked.  So while my dad made himself comfortable on the couch and watched a hunting show, my mom and I took down all the tree decorations and started over! I am so surprised what a little garland, more lights, and glittery ornaments can do to a skinny little tree! 

A bow I made to go over our sink! I love this netting/garland!

Super easy wreath- I just wrapped the green garland around a twig wreath from Hobby Lobby ($5). I even added some pearls I found! 

Our tree!!! :) 

The kitchen/dining room.

Here is our antique rocking chair and sewing machine table.  Next goal is to purchase some curtains for the window and figure out a way to hide that ugly cord!! Ideas?

Our lovely stockings! Sorry Santa, we don't have a mantle. My little green chair will have to do!

Our living room so far! Hopefully it will be a little more decorated next time I take a picture of it :)

Now all we need is for John and I to move in after the wedding! We are so excited!

Life Lately

Whew! I have been so busy lately! Hence the lack of blogging. I have been able to put lots of checks in my Vera Bradley planner, however!!

I have taken a job teaching k-4 starting in January and just finished my five days of training! Looks like every day will be very eventful :) I am so thankful for a job, though, and good people to work with.

Last weekend I had a wonderful time with some of my bridesmaids at our bachelorette party! I absolutely LOVE these ladies and could not be more thankful for their friendship.   We sounded like a bunch of middle school girls giggling the night away, but we will definitely have some life-long memories from the weekend!

John and I started moving stuff into our apartment as well! All the big stuff at least- including our new couch! Which I am so excited about! It is officially the only piece of furniture in the entire apartment that is new, picked out by us, and impractical (due to it's light coloring, it's not very sensible, but I don't care! It's my favorite!).  We unpacked the kitchen and were astonished by how many wonderful utensils and gadgets we have received! So now my goal is to learn how to use them and be a wonderful cook!

And the best is last- we bought our first Christmas tree!!!!!!!!! And it's real! And smells wonderful! And we bought it from a Christmas tree lot where there were lights and a fire in a barrel! John calls me crazy, but I was so happy to have the "full experience".  So we picked the tree out at night, got it to the apartment with two of our very best friends, L and W, and decorated it with our genuine Wal-Mart ornaments.  John let me pick the colors (well, almost- he said no to pink) which were silver, lime green, and "snowflake" blue.  We realized, though, that we only had one strand of lights- and it was a mini strand, which means it wrapped around our skinny tree only 3 times, ha! And the ornaments are on the small size. And the tree has a rather large "hole" in it... Sooooo.. I'm going to see what I can do to spruce it up this weekend! I'll post pictures of the results!

Welcome December!

This morning I happily rolled out of bed, threw on my jeans and t-shirt, and thought to myself "Today is the perfect day to wear my University of Mobile Alumni sweatshirt".  So I threw it on and headed out the door to my closing seminar at UM, where we finalized paperwork and said goodbye to our sweet professors.  I can honestly say that I had a wonderful college experience there.  Transferring was one of the best decisions I ever made! And taking Bro. Craig's advice helped too :). He always said if made friends with/bothered the important people, they could find me scholarship money! 

So tonight I am sitting in front of a blazing fireplace with my family.  We just finished eating a special dinner my mom made in honor of my last official day. I even got to eat on our childhood blue plate.  This was a tradition when Brooke and I were growing up.  Any time we had a special day- it was our birthday, we did well on a test, received some sort of award, etc.- we got to eat our dinner off of the blue plate that night.  John thinks this is a hilarious family quirk, but I love it and plan to do it with my own kids someday.

Speaking of John, bless his heart, he has two, long, grueling weeks of school left.  Then he will be down to his final three engineering classes next semester that he is hoping won't be very difficult.  I am amazed that some of his teachers this semester have NO hearts, compassion, or understanding.  Throughout mine and John's college experiences, it has made me vow to be a good teacher.  Someone who is kind and loves her job.  I am determined to take pride in my work and do what's best for the whole classroom.  If I ever stop doing this, I will be quitting.  I don't ever want to turn into a teacher like John has this semester.  But on the bright side, in a few short months, we will both be graduates and have school behind us! Praise the good LORD.

Nice People+Vera+December= A Happy ME!!

I just want to say how much I enjoy community with other believers.  John and I got to see the newly engaged couple- Wesley and Lindsey, I was able to have a skype date with my lovely friend Stephanie, and my church family at CBC decorated the worship center for Christmas tonight!  All of this reminded of how much I need other people to encourage me! I think fellowship is an amazing gift from the Lord.  If we lived with that in mind every day, wouldn't we all be nicer to one another and as a result- have good days, every day?! I think so!

This is officially my first week as a college-finisher! (I won't be a graduate until I get my diploma at the May graduation ceremony!).  Vera, my Vera Bradley planner, says I have plenty to do this week, however. So no breaks are in my sight, but I am determined to be productive! In my future, I have... wedding things to confirm, Kholes cash to spend :), furniture to finish refinishing, move my things/ organize these things in the new apartment, do some sweet things for my fiance, train at my new job, and lots lots more! Ready or not, December, here I (and Vera) come!

Congrats to Lindsey and Wesley!!!!

Today I am sending out a great big CONGRATS to Lindsey and Wesley!  They are two very special people to John and I that are now engaged!!!! I am thrilled that they are happy and will soon be getting married! John and I have had so many fun memories with them- we are looking forward to more memories... as married people!! :) Love you guys!!! 

Some of our favorite times.. :)

The happy couple at Fort Conde.

John and I at Fort Conde too. Such a fun double day-date!

Lindsey and I on our way down the trail at Sipsey Wilderness! "How adventurous are you feeling...?"

Sipsey Wilderness- Wesley has mad snake killing abilities... and is proud of it!

At the Gulf State Fair riding bumper cars :). Aren't they too cute!?

Our trip to Dothan!

  
Carving pumpkins! -Lindsey's first time to make a jack-o-lantern, and light a match! What a big night! :)


Congratulations you guys!!! We love you!!!!

Thanksgiving Thoughts

What a year it has been! During the mass amounts of carbs, sweets, and meat, our family rehashed the blessings the Lord has given us over the last 12 months.  I am reminded of how many special people God has put in my life! I have so much to be thankful for!

My wonderful fiance is my very best friend. I am so thankful he will be my husband in 3 weeks!

I love my family. I am so grateful for their love and support.  I wouldn't be the person I am without them!!  

(Some of the fam- Nana, Mama, and Aunt Jan. Sorry the men in the family didn't make any of these pics!)  

My awesome little sis- Brookie :).

I LOVE these girls! They are some of the best friends that I have ever had. John and I have such wonderful friends, I couldn't even think about posting pictures of them all.

(In the pictures- Kylie, Natalie, Megan, and I in Pennsylvania!)

Lindsey and I on our camping trip!!














I am also reminded today how much I love my church families- Moffett Road and Celebration! And most of all, I'm thankful for my salvation. Only a Savior could love a sinner like myself.  For that, I am most thankful.

Project #1~ Lace Mason Jar Lantern

This is a beautiful craft this is ridiculously easy! I'll go ahead and tell how I made it since it isn't a Christmas present ;).  John and I are using these at our wedding and reception next month, but I think they would be gorgeous anywhere- garden parties, patios, even your mantle.

Here is what you need-
Mason jars, tape or hot glue, scissors, tea lights, and wide lace.

PS I bought a whole role of flat, cheap lace in Daphne at their fabric/lace warehouse.  I won't ever buy lace anywhere else again! They are the best.

There really aren't many steps in this craft. I trimmed the edges off my lace.  Some spools of lace come pre-cut, which is awesome, but mine didn't.  After trimming, cut the lace big enough to go all the way around the jar.  I used tape to attach it to the jar, but I'm sure you could use hot glue as well.  I just had tape handy.

And you're done! Light the tea candle and drop it to the bottom.  Now you have a beautiful, vintage inspired lantern that gives off a romantic glow! The picture doesn't do it justice (sorry- my phone camera isn't all that hot).  The darker the place, the better it looks!

To do something different, you could use other colors of lace, embellish with ribbons, or spray the jar with glitter adhesive then stick on the lace (this is the one I am dying to try!).  Hope you are inspired!

I Grew Up Today!

Today was such an important day! It was my last day student teaching at Allentown Elementary.  I had the opportunity to work with the sweetest kindergardeners during this last semester of my college career. And all of a sudden- POOF! It's over. I have a bachelor's degree (just without the diploma yet). I won't ever have to think about classes again!... Well, if I don't go to grad school ;).


Here are a few of my lovely 5 year olds decked out as "authentic" Indians. Precious!

After completing my bachelor's degree in elementary and early childhood education, John and I went to get our marriage license this afternoon! And may I say that there are some very rude people who work for the government in those fancy buildings downtown. We managed to salvage our good moods by killing them with kindness, however (just like mama taught us). We are thrilled to be on our way down the isle!!


Here we are right after we filled out our pages and pages of information on anything and everything "they" could possibly need to know.  Also after we raised out right hands and promised all of this information was true.  And after the lady wished us good luck with our lives.  Note our happiness please :).  

Whew! What a memorable day! I have been unwinding by making crafts. I wish I could disclose pictures of this part of my day very badly. However, I cannot quite yet ;). Some of the crafts are going to be Christmas presents!! BUT I plan to post pictures and mini tutorials after I deliver them. So check back and get your purse ready for Hobby Lobby! Super cute things indeed :)

So this is blogging!

Hi blog world! My name is Emily and wonderful fiance's name is John (hence the blog URL).  So here we are, with our own blog.  Except the fact that John doesn't know. Or rightly care. So I shall tell about life for him too!

At the moment, I feel like time is flying, I am smiling every minute of the day, and life is changing too quickly for me to catch up.  John and I are getting married on December 18, 2010.  We started dating in high school our sophomore year.  Yep, we were those two saps who everyone said "Oh, aren't they just precious. Such serious high school sweethearts".  But inside they were thinking "Ha! No one ends up with their first love, especially not their high school romance!".  Well, look-y here all of you nay-sayers (I say that in the most kind hearted, jovial way possible), we are making it! And we are so in love, it even makes ME a little sick at times.

This weekend was a huge blessing from the amazing God I serve.  Our friends threw us a surprise shower!! It was an entertainment/date shower to help John and I plan fun things once we get married and become broke due to bills and other adult stuff we are learning about.  We ate and played the newly wed game (which I have to say, John is much better than I am), and received so many wonderful gift cards to ensure that we will still get dressed up fancy and take nights out on the town!  Many thanks to our lovely friends.  They truly are some of my favorite blessings.  On top of all that Saturday, tonight we finalized things for our soon-to-be home sweet home! We will start moving our things in shortly and move ourselves in after the wedding! Woo hoo!!