Mismatched Peacock

Mismatched Peacock by wlv001 featuring platform heels

Silk chiffon dress / Jenny Packham ball gown / Rare London spaghetti strap dress, $78 / One shoulder cocktail dress / Zipper dress, $80 / VILA empire dress, $29 / Faith sequin shoes, $45 / Alexandre Birman platform heels, $665 / Karen Millen leather sandals / Giuseppe Zanotti peep toe pumps, $485 / Ballerina shoes / Platform shoes / ALDO platform sandals / Peacock feather hair accessory / Dress / Background Tattered Lace 12X12 Doilies Curio Collection Paper by...

BLESSED

Do you ever have those perfect moments?

You know - those unexpected...out of the blue..gives you goosebumps...makes you tear up...big goofy smile on your face...
Thank the Lord Moments.

I love those moments.  I can't get enough of them.  And then I usually just sit down and smile and cry because I'm so thankful that I'm blessed to even have those moments.

I usually feel like this when I'm running, particularly a longer run.  And it generally happens when I'm having a good run.  It seems like my whole world stops - it's just me running effortlessly.  I like to close my eyes and just take it all in - my footsteps, the hills, the fresh air, the trees and leaves rustling, the sun beating down on me, the outdoor smell.  In that moment, I thank God -- thank Him that I'm able to run...thank Him for my legs...thank Him for strong lungs and a strong heart...thank Him for the beautiful weather....thank Him for all of His creation.  That's when the goosebumps come.  Then the tears.  Then the smile and the feeling of eternal love.  It's one of those things you can't even come close to describing.  But you know it when you feel it.  And it's amazing.

I had another moment this week while I was driving.  I started thinking about our wedding...about all the people that are going to be a part of it.  I was instantly thankful that we have so many people that we love, that we just had to have them all in our wedding.  We feel so blessed to have the friends and family that we have.  And then I started thinking about the boy...and how lucky I am to have found the one that I belong with.  I've got to spend nearly 10 years with my best friend, and that's only the beginning.

I just want everyone to be able to have these special moments.  And appreciate them.  Know that the Lord loves you and will always love you.  We each have so much to be thankful for.  We are all different, and we are all going to hope for different things.  The important thing is to appreciate what you do have, and never take it for granted.  There are some people that would give anything to have what you have.  Please take some time today to say your thank you's.   

What if you woke up tomorrow with only the things you thanked God for today?

Here's to hoping you are blessed with one of those perfect moments today!

Better Late Than Never

Okay, well I guess we'll start with blogging once a month. 

Lots of stuff going on this weekend.  This was the first weekend we stayed in town for a long time, so we wanted to relax and just hang out with the pup.   We got some relaxing in, but we did get a few things accomplished too.  On Saturday morning I got up and drove to Minnesota to watch Keeg play in a junior league football game.  I might be a little biased, but the kid is pretty good.  He's a tough little running back!  He scored a few touchdowns, but unfortunately they got called back due to holding.  Finally with about a minute left, he scored his first TD of the game.  So proud of that boy!  Can't believe he is 10 years old.  I remember him being a teeny tiny baby and living at my house.  I'm so thankful I got to spend those first few months with him.

 Keegan Scores!!!

On Sunday we took Cashy boy to the park to run around.  It was a gorgeous day and we wanted to get him out of the house for a bit.  My plan was for us to *attempt* to take a family picture using my trusty tripod.  Let me cut to the chase - that didn't happen.  Cash was too busy checking everything out and we just couldn't get it done.  We did get a few good ones of each of us with him, though.  Can't have it all, right?

My "Other" Boy

I finished up my Sunday with a perfect 6 mile run.  It was gorgeous out and took me about an hour to finish.  I'm trying to ignore the fact that it was getting dark at about 7:30 though.  I love boots, scarves, and sweatshirts...just hate the darkness and the really cold weather.  I'll take 60-70 degrees all year long :)

This week's agenda includes:

• Selling more stuff on eBay!  We are going to Vegas in November for a half marathon so any extra cash will definitely be useful!
• Going to Plato's Closet - selling my old jeans....and maybe buying a few new cardigans?? I mean, I have to replace what I took out, right??
• Finally cleaning up the rest of the apartment.  It looks like we live with a dog or something!
• Eric Church concert on Friday!  Can't wait - we are going with some friends that love to have a good time!

Definitely going to write more.
Will post more often.
Might write this week.
Maybe I'll get around to it.
Will try <--- this is probably the most accurate statement.

Changes

Hi Friends!
I guess I took a tiny hiatus from writing...you'll understand why when I tell you what's been going on in my life!  I'll give the condensed version...for your sake and mine :)

FIRST: In July, the boyfriend was offered a job with a construction equipment company in Sioux Falls, SD.  He decided to take the job.  I left my job that I had been at for 4 years.  It was scary but so exciting.  We had always stayed in Sioux City because it was comfortable...we had gone to school there, we both had jobs there, and we knew people there.  But it never felt like home.  I gave my two week notice and I was disappointed to be leaving.  More than anything, I was sad to leave one of my very good "coworker turned friend".  TJ was like a second mom to me, and she was such an amazing friend.  We both felt like we helped each other feel a void that we had.  She was my second mom while I was living 2 hours away from my mom.  And I was the daughter she never had.  Needless to say, there were a few tears shed over my leaving.  I am incredibly thankful that she was, and will continue to be, a very important part of my life.
Okay...sorry...getting sidetracked (and sappy) -- get used to it :)

THEN: we went to Sioux Falls and found a place to live.  It was completely overwhelming.  We were starting completely from scratch.  Luckily, we found a place to rent that we love.  It immediately felt like home to us.

THEN: On July 4, Wade asked me to marry him!!!!  I guess he figured if we were making all these changes, we might as well just throw an engagement into it as well!  We have been dating for over 8 years, so it was so exciting...and well worth the wait :)  I can't wait to marry my best friend.  We are tying the knot in October 2013.

NEXT: I applied for a job in advertising in Sioux Falls and (thankfully) I got it.  I forgot how stressful interviews could be!  It reminded me of what it was like right after college.  You search the employer websites all night every night.  You spend all your free time tweaking your resume and cover letter.  And then you just pray that you even get a call back.  This was my first interview since college, so it was a little nerve wracking.  Fortunately, the interview wasn't too bad at all.  I immediately felt comfortable and I knew that I would fit in.  I really enjoy what I am doing, and I love the people that I work with. 

FINALLY, last week we got a dog!!  Like I said - we've made a few changes!!  We have always wanted a dog together, but we were unable to have one at our old apartment.  We wanted to wait a little while before we got one, but an opportunity came up and we couldn't pass the (not so) little guy up!  He is a 5 month old yellow lab puppy whose name is Cash.  He is absolutely adorable.  He has come to us after being in 3 other temporary homes.  We are so excited to give him his forever home.  We instantly fell in love with him and now we can't imagine life without him.  I can't wait to teach him how to be my running buddy :)

So there you have it!  Obviously, we made some pretty big changes, but they've turned out amazing so far.  We are still getting used to our new city, new home, and new family.  But we are absolutely thrilled to see what the future holds for us.  I can honestly say I've loved every bit of this whole process...it's just a breath of fresh air, and it's so exciting.

My plan now is to keep blogging - hopefully daily, but I'd like to start with at least a couple times a week.  I'm still crafting, but I've had to put it on the back burner while we moved.  I'm itching to get back to doing something, though. 

So look for new stuff from me coming soon & often!  I can't wait to share everything...I promise my life won't be boring!

December to Remember

Ok so I know I've been really bad downright horrible about writing.  But I've got a lot of cool things going.  You'll be excited about it :)
First thing....boyfriend and I have decided to do a "December to Remember".   We looked at the calendar last month and saw that we were spending entirely too much money.  So this December we are cutting back spending for everything.  I mean everything.  No more online shopping, no more stopping on my way home to pick up a few craft supplies, no more eating out.  YIKESERS.
Let me explain...I'm not the type of person to go out and spend $300 shopping at the mall.  But I will stop at Target on the way home and spend $20, then go to the Dollar Tree and spend $15, and maybe stop at Gordmans quick and drop another $50.  And I love the search for a unique item at thrift stores - I check all the thrift stores out weekly. It doesn't feel like I'm spending a lot, but then all of a sudden I'm in single digits in the available cash column.  Oopsies.
We checked out our cupboards and we have a ton of food.  Granted, a lot of it is cooking supplies (soups, pastas, sauces, etc) but we have packed cupboards.  I analyzed the cupboards and wrote down as many meals as I could think of with what we had on hand.  I came up with almost 35 meals.  That's ridiculous - we've had some of this stuff since we moved in here.  And so "December to Remember" begins.
We are limiting ourselves to spending money on bills and fuel.  We're both eating breakfast every day and making lunch to bring to work every day.  So we are allowing ourselves $20 a week for milk, bread, lunchmeat, cheese, and fresh produce.  It's only been a couple of days and it's difficult - but it will definitely help our checkbook.  It's a challenge but I think it puts our spending patterns into perspective a little bit.  I hope we'll have a good experience and it will encourage us to budget better in 2012.  Feel free to join me if you like.  I'd love to hear how your "December to Remember" is going :)  Have a fabulous Sunday evening!!

Getting Used to This

Ok friends, I'm trying to get used to this whole blog thing.  Sometimes I just kinda forget about it and then realize that I haven't written in a week - oops.  I will try not to neglect my blogger friends :)
I'm also trying to get used to crafting for public - taking before and after pics.  This is actually a project that I did before I created this blog, but I love it.  I apologize for the lack of the before picture on this one - you can use your imagination to visualize a yucky unattractive little storage ottoman.  It was a dirty brown color and was really just falling apart.  I picked it up at a secondhand store for $5, but I knew I could do something with it. I've had it sitting in my bedroom for a while now, just sitting there all gross and brown and blahhhh.

And now....

I LOVE IT!!!  Isn't it so cute?!  Please disregard the thick layer of dust making a home on my jewelry stand...like I said - I wasn't crafting for public :)

So I took a couple pieces of scrap fabric and reupholstered the top cushion.  The patterned fabric is pulled flat across the cushion.  The mustard colored fabric was stapled and then gathered and tied using a small elastic band.  I finished it off with a cute red and black clip on earring in the center.  Right now I'm storing winter gloves, hats, scarfs, etc in it....hopefully they all stay there for a long time.  I'd like it if I never had to wear that junk this winter.

Anyway, I have lots more projects to load...the last few have been just some simple little guys.  Keep watching for some fun big projects...until then, happy crafting!!

I love you because...

"If tomorrow never comes, will they know how much you love them?"
I made a little sign to try to encourage loving words daily.  It was such a simple craft, but still fun.

This is just a basic 8x10 frame that I had.  I used scraps of paper for the back design.  Then I added a few buttons and some cute stickers.  Now we can write on the frame with a dry erase marker and just wipe it off when we want to write something new.  No example yet because I am lacking a marker (of all the things I have in my craft supplies, a dry erase marker is not one of them...ugh). 

Thinking of Thanksgiving -- you could also do this as "I'm thankful for..."   It'd be a great way to incorporate that into kids' lives this holiday season!  Hope everyone had a fab weekend!!