a great weekend

it's been a great weekend :)

last night b and i went downtown to eat here.  we love their pizza, and it's a great place to go get good food and chill out with good conversation.  after that we walked to falls park and just sat on a bench enjoying the beautiful night.  it was the perfect night; absolutely gorgeous!  some pics to come soon.  i'm not sure why we don't do that more often, but we're going to from now on for sure.

we got up early this morning, got some breakfast here, and then went to the jockey lot.  got some new, cheap dvds and fresh picked strawberries right off the back of the truck.  now where else can you get those things in the same place?  after that we did some much needed grocery shopping here and then spent the afternoon doing some yard work.  i figured out one thing today...i hate weeding.  enough said.

helped some good friends move a fridge into their new house.  for some reason things are never as easy as they should be.  let's just say they had to take the fridge doors off to get it through the front door...  got to eat some burgers from the grill at the in-laws tonight.  good food and good company.

needless to say it's been a busy weekend.  looking forward to church in the morning.  brandon is leading at crossroads, and it's my sunday for kids zone.  i can't wait for the worship.  then it's relaxing until going to work at the hospital tomorrow night.  a really good weekend :)

it's friday!

sorry for the slow blogging week, but working 3 nights in a row doesn't leave time for anything but sleeping, eating, working...  that being said, i'm so happy to have today off.  i love days like this.  it's friday, kind of cloudy, nowhere to go, laundry, house cleaning, organizing, getting things done.  i feel productive.  i'm also looking forward to tonight.  brandon and i are going on a date.  maybe get something to eat somewhere nice downtown, see a movie, who knows.  it will be nice to just be together with nowhere we have to go and nothing we have to do.  ahh :)

sunday evening thoughts

some thoughts...

it is a seriously beautiful day here in the upstate.  i love it!

my hubby is in the other room napping in his recliner, somewhere he ends up quite often...ha

brandon and i got to spend the weekend in charlotte, courtesy of elevation church.

b did a great job leading this morning at elevation, and it was great to visit there.  they are doing things right for sure.

got to meet him and her this morning.  very cool.

just got done baking a homemade apple pie for a cook-out tonight.  seemed appropriate for memorial day.  what's more american than apple pie?

i am not much of a soda fan, but i have discovered i do love fresca - original citrus flavor.  holy cow.

i got to go to forever21 yesterday...yay!

i don't think i've ever seen so many racing fans in one place as i did this morning at our hotel.  the hotel workers even had on nascar clothing and a sign outside welcoming those who were headed to the coca cola 600 today...it was so funny.

well it's time to head to the in-laws for a cook-out and my dogs are whining to go potty...see ya.

it's warm

i laughed when i read cathy's blog post last night, because we are alike when it comes to many things, just not this.  you see, she hates hot weather.  i love it.  i always bring a jacket when i go to her house.  since she gave all the reasons one may not love the summer months, i'm going to give a few reasons one may.  namely me.

• it's warm
  
• i can leave windows open in my house and rolled down in my car
  
• i love the sound of ceiling fans blowing quiet breezes through my house
  
• i can go outside without a coat
  
• it's warm
  
• sandals, flip flops, and cute wedge heels
  
• dresses
  
• cook outs
  
• it's warm
  
• the beach and summer vacation
  
• everything is green and pretty
  
• i don't have to scrape my windshield (i don't have a garage)
  
• it's warm
  
• fresh fruit and veggies are in season
  
• my wedding anniversary and birthday
  
• it's not dark early in the morning or late at night when i go to work
  
• it's warm...:)
  

as you can see i've loved warm weather since i was a kid.  there's just something wonderful about it.

weekend plans

brandon and i are going to charlotte saturday.  we're super excited to get away for a little bit and even more excited, because b is playing at elevation church sunday morning.  we've been wanting to go there for a while just to see what they're all about, and now we're getting to go because he's playing there!  i have to admit i'm also excited, because i'll get to do a little shopping at forever21 :)

i can't wait to go.  i just have to get through these next 3 nights of work at the hospital first...

10 top 5s

okay, so i'm going to steal lauren's post again.  it's something different and fun...

5 things under $5 i can't live without:

1. a daily cup of coffee...or two
2. hand sanitizer and alcohol swabs
3. twerps (it's a type of candy you can get at walgreen's)
4. mascara
5. toothpaste 

5 favorite movies:

1. pride and prejudice (the old one) 
2. anne of green gables
3. beauty and the beast
4. ps i love you
5. dumb and dumber (i'm sorry, but i do..it always makes me laugh)

5 baby names i love:

1. issac
2. ava
3. graham
4. rebekah
5. levi

5 songs i could listen to over and over again:

1. new day - robbie seay band
2. good day - luce
3. country road - james taylor
4. colors - amos lee
5. more than anything - gavin degraw 

5 people who have influenced me in a positive way:

1. brandon
2. my mom and dad
3. my high school publications teacher
4. my patients 
5. my first preceptor in nursing school (she inspired me to go into oncology)

5 things that are always in my purse:

1. burt's bees chapstick
2. planner
3. hand sanitizer and alcohol swabs
4. my cell phone
5. my wallet

5 moments that have changed my life forever:

1. becoming a believer
2. when b proposed to me and my wedding day
3. traveling to africa
4. meeting my bff rachel in the 3rd grade (we still are bff today) a true friend is priceless
5. passing nclex to become a registered nurse

5 obsessions i have right now:

1. remodeling/decorating our 1950s house
2. target
3. becoming a better cook
4. starbucks' pike place roast coffee
5. my hubby, duh...:)

5 places i want to go:

1. england
2. california
3. grand canyon (again)
4. hawaii
5. australia 

5 appliances/kitchen tools i cannot live without:

1. a strainer
2. my kitchen aid stand mixer
3. a whisk
4. my dishwasher
5. pampered chef tongs 

andrew's prom

last night i went up to nc to see my little brother andrew before his senior prom.  it's so weird to think he's a senior in high school.  he and his girlfriend, gini, wore georgia bulldog attire (because they're awesome ya know) and looked great.  do you remember your senior prom?

home

"home is the most wonderful place in the world"

for me that's my crazy awesome hubby, brandon, and my wonderful family.  home is not a place to me, it's people.  what is home to you?

craziness

i watch tlc all the time and have found a show that i really love.  john and kate plus 8.  who knew watching a couple's everyday life with 8 kids could be so entertaining.  it is crazy.  seriously, can you imagine?

a quote worth pondering

something i read today.  made me think for sure.

true prayer is only another name for the love of God.  it's excellence does not consist in the multitude of our words; for our Father knows what things we have need of before we ask Him.  the true prayer is that of the heart, and the heart prays only for what it desires.  to pray, then, is to desire - but to desire what God would have us desire.  he who asks what he does not from the bottom of his heart desire is mistaken in thinking that he prays.  let him spend days in reciting prayers, in meditation or in inciting himself to pious exercises; he prays not once truly if he really desires not the things he pretends to ask.  

o!  how few there are who pray!  for how few are they who desire what is truly good!  crosses, external and internal humiliation, renouncement of our own wills, the death of self and the establishment of God's throne upon the ruins of self love, these are indeed good; not to desire these is not to pray; to desire them seriously, soberly, constantly and with reference to all the details of life, this is true prayer; not to desire them, and yet to suppose we pray, is an illusion like that of the wretched who dream themselves happy.  alas! how many souls full of self, and of the imaginary desire for perfection in the midst of hosts of voluntary imperfections, have never yet uttered this true prayer of heart!...

on the other hand, that heart in which the true love of God and true desire exist, never ceases to pray.

-francois fenelon (1651-1715)

do you give blood?

working on an oncology floor, i give patients with low blood counts blood products all the time.  packed red blood cells, platelets, fresh frozen plasma.  usually though, i only have one patient getting something each night.  for some reason, last night was different.  we were giving 15 units of packed red blood cells, platelets, fresh frozen plasma...15!  giving one unit usually takes about 2-3 hrs, and you have to constantly monitor the patient.  it was a busy night to say the least.  it kind of made me remember how vital it is to give blood products.  they don't just sit in some blood bank somewhere expiring, we really do use them. a lot.  so go give blood.  it's a great way to give of yourself (literally) to someone who really needs it.  and it really doesn't hurt :)

friendships

friendships change.  i guess it's inevitable as you grow up, move away, change...but that still doesn't make it fun or easy.  i've experienced this first hand over the past 10 months since i've married and moved away from my hometown.  it was not a good day when i realized the only time i talk to my old friends is when i call them, with the exception of one.  yeah.  i did however get over this and began making new friends.  easy?  not really.  worth it?  for sure.  you see, God has been teaching me a lot lately, one thing in particular is letting go of bitterness.  my feelings were hurt, yes, but that doesn't give me a free pass to hold onto bitterness.  that only hurts me.  so...all that to say, i am happier than ever now, and i know i am in the place God has for me.  and that's a wonderful place to be if i don't say so myself.

happy mother's day mom

i just wanted to take a minute to say happy mother's day to my mom.  i cannot say it enough, but i honestly have the best mom in the world.  she's just wonderful.  

so mom, happy mothers day!  i hope when i have children one day, i can be half as good of a mom as you are.  i love you.

real

b and i sort of had a revelation this past weekend on our trip to cincinnati, ohio.  he says it better on his blog here, so go check it out.  basically, we just want to be real, genuine people.  not try to be something we're not.  hopefully that's what people see when they meet us.  those are the kind of people we met there.  it was a great trip.

hap-pee cleaning

yes, i know the blog title is a little cheesy, but i couldn't resist.  the above pic was taken on my trip to africa.  after last night, i may need to do something similar in my home.  let me explain.

brandon and i were watching a movie, well brandon fell asleep, but i was watching a movie.  i had already gotten ready for bed, brushed my teeth, all that good stuff.  i was ready to drift off to sleep as soon as the movie ended.  it ended around 11:30.  when it was over, i headed to the bed and b went to brush his teeth.  a strange smell lingered...a bit like pee...

my dog maya had peed on our bed!  she's never done anything like this before, and it must have been a while, because the comforter was already dry, although the sheets, mattress pad, and mattress were anything but.

i was livid to say the least.  b and i spend a good hour soaking up the pee, cleaning the mattress with hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, scrubbing it with soapy water, and leaving it standing up to dry overnight.  

i slept on the couch, b on the floor in a sleeping bag.  not my idea of a good night's rest, but as my sweet and calm hubby reminded me, things like this happen in life and in the grand sceme of things, it's one of the least bad things that we could be having to deal with.  my type-A personality needed to hear that.  sweet dreams...:)

monday thoughts

• i am super excited i don't have to work tonight; yay!
• i've spent most of the day unpacking from ohio and trying to clean up my house...it needed it.
• we had a blast in cinncinatti this past weekend.  paul and farrah are such great hosts.  we ate at amazing places, got to meet some very genuine people, and best of all we were out of town!  it was so nice to just get away from the everyday bla.  great weekend.
• oh, and check out paul's new church here.  rccc rocks.
• i need to work out so bad, but other things just keep on keepin' me busy...ugh.
• i'm cooking something new tonight.  herb crusted pork tenderloin.  hope it's good.
• i have one more final (thank god!!); on wednesday.  20 century american history.  it's a tough class that i most likely will make a b in, but i've learned so much.  can you believe i didn't even know exactly what led up to and caused the stock market crash?  sad, i know.
• so i guess i really need to study tonight...
• i'm drinking a skinny vanilla latte right now.  it's really, really, really good.
• i hope to pick some strawberries this week with her and her.  it will be a good time i'm sure.
• our two dogs, max and maya, did wonderful boarding while we were gone.  the ladies said they got along just fine and were very pleasant to have.  they make mommy and daddy proud :)
• mother's day is sunday (head's up!), and i've got a great gift for my mom...who's awesome by the way...:)
• and so is my dad.
• i have another long "to-do" list tomorrow.  i love getting things done!
• happy monday!

some pics from this weekend.

ikea

b and i are in ohio for several days, and today paul and farrah took us to ikea.  now if you've never been, this is an experience indeed.  it is huge!  i have seen their things online and have been wanting to go for quite some time.  they even have a place your kids can stay while you shop and a huge restaurant.  the only bad thing about it is the massive amounts of people who shop there (of course we were there on a saturday afternoon).  i have to say this is one of my new favorite stores.  needless to say we did buy a few things.  if you ever get to visit one, do it.  thanks paul and farrah!

road trip

b and i are in cincinnati, OH for the weekend.  can you say road trip?  it's good to just get away for a little while.  it should be fun spending some time with paul and farrah hanging out and seeing the city.  more to come...have a great weekend!