Wedding, Part 1

My sister's wedding in St. Augustine, FL at The River House couldn't have been more of what I needed. And at the same time exactly what I didn't need. Hello, homesick much!?! Geez - I don't know if anything can make you miss your family and closest friends more than 4-day wedding celebration.

Purely for my own enjoyment a few photos that sum up the wedding pretty nicely. Sorry for the pic overload. Soak it all in cause this ain't happenin' again on this blog ever again.

   

               

Katherine you were exactly what I picture the perfect bride to look and act like. You were glowing and sooo calm, even through the LITERAL storm (oh yeah, it rained. Moved the wedding inside.)  I was so proud to be your maid of honor through this entire process and couldn't have asked for a better sister or best friend. I don't think there are enough days in a lifetime to say how happy I am for you and Casey. What a freaking awesome brother I just inherited.

It's getting closer!

Time has been flying and I can't even believe I'm leaving TODAY to go to Florida for my sister's wedding!! Faces coming soon but for now, I just can't wait to see my family and friends in T-12 hours! Sorry bout the short update but happy humpday all! Too much on my mind! In a good way!

Not even teenagers.

When I was their age, I don't even know if I could tie my shoes. These little girls are so talented, it's amazing. Not to mention stylish to boot! Also, how is it that it's taken until just now for me to find out about these girls? Looks like they've  been on the YouTube circuit for a few years now {thanks a lot friends for keeping me in the looop ;)}.

Don't mind if I watch this again for the 400th time! I'm just making up for lost time!

What a World

That -- right there. Right up there. That is my dream. I just don't think it gets any better than that, I don't. Here's one interesting thing about me:  I don't float. Not that I don't, but rather, I just can't. I've tried for maaaaaany years and the only explanation I can come up with is that I'm bottom-heavy. My head stays up but the booty goes downdowndown to the ground without fail. Whatever, I have no shame. 

It has always been my dream to pack my bags, hop on a plane, fly over to the Dead Sea and float in it for hours. But that was before I pinned this beauty! why would I go to THAT when something as beautiful as THIS exists?! {As a side note, I still want to go to the Dead Sea.}

So all I have to say is thank you, Senegal, for creating something so naturally beautiful as Lake Retba ("Lac Rose") and a body of water described, no less, as something "pinker than any milkshake." Just awesome!

Have a happy weekend everyone! While I will be daydreaming about all this stuff above, my heart and mind will be with all the families and loved ones whose lives were affected by the horrible Aurora, CO shooting. I was truly shocked this morning when I heard the news. Such a tragedy.  

How I'm Feeling Lately

Loving this quote right now from my favorite Transcendentalist, Emerson (seriously, check him out, it's good stuff). I don't know if I've got the summertime blues -- or the fact that I missed my family's annual beach week this year because I couldn't take the time off of work -- but this makes me feel so nostalgic. In a good way!  And it's a perfect time to feel this way because I am soo looking forward to seeing my family and friends in 2 weeks for my sister's upcoming nup'tials!...Yo salty Florida beaches!! I'm ready for ya, come to mama!

Night Swimming

 

Margs after work can sometimes lead to midnight swim parties. And that's a good thing :)

The Things that Bog me Down

Serious decisions are to be made today and I need your help, PLEASSSEE!!

Do I want the ever-so-classy, probably over-priced Michael Kors wristlet for my new iphone and as my newiphone case

or do we prefer the "I'm-trendy-and-Miley-Cyrus-owns-me" wildflower iphone case?

AHhhhh I'm so indecisive!!

Season Opener

My friends Stephanie and John were married in Dade City two weekends ago in one of the most beautiful, intimate, and romantic ceremonies I've ever been to.  This is the wedding that kind of "kicked off" wedding season for me - I have 4 more to follow this year - and it really set the bar high, to say the least.  I love this couple to death, and the best part is that they'll be moving their cute Newlywed tooshey's here to Nashville {just down the street} in August!  Life doesn't get any sweeter than that!  

Some of my favorite pictures are below.  To check out even more pictures from this beautiful wedding, check out Tamara's facebook page!  She was amazinggg!

the reception was held at The Lange Farm - stunning!

killin me with that face, John! {waiting for his bride}

1. Catch the bouquet            2. Find the boy!

Cheers!! 

Seriously, sums up the weekend pretty perfectly :)

A Good Excuse

Has it really been more than a month since my last blog?  How in the world did I let that happen. Sorry about that, really.  It's as if I've been busy with a....I don't know...a JOB or something. OH WAIT I AM :)

Hehe, I am truly on cloud 9 right now with living in Nashville and landing this job.  It was the first company I reached out to {true story, I called them when I got home after dropping my parents off at the airport} and it has been a great experience ever since {tomorrow, June 21, I'll have been there exactly one month}.  I don't want to get braggy-braggy or anything, but I really did get lucky.  Did I mention I have business cards?  Still,  none of this is a good excuse for getting behind on my blogging...but you can't blame a chick for trying!

A few other things happened, too.  But all I remember is eating the burgers.

Sk(r)illexz

I said I was in the process of decorating my bedroom and that, of coursles I would show you the final product.  And girl doesn't let anyone down!  {Blah blah -- so what if it took me longer than a week to get this up.  Patience is a great skill and you will thank me now that you have mastered the skill} {I also might have Jedi-mind tricked you into thanking me? I'm not sure how that totally works}

MMmm MMmmm

No question, breakfast is my favorite meal of the day.  I could eat a bowl of cereal for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack....you name it.  Well, lucky me, breakfast just got waaaay cooler when I realized this creation above (which is cottage cheese, honey, berries, and walnuts) tastes exactly like my favorite treat at Sweet Ceces.  Yep, I wouldn't have believed it either but I swear cottage cheese & Honey tastes just like fro-yo!  Consider this your Freebie Friday Fact anddd you're welcome! Have a good weekend!!!  GO STEEPLE CHASE!

Decorations

Originally, I hoped that when I moved to Nashville it would take me just one weekend to have my room all put together.  To no surprise at all, that did not happen.  That's right -- it's been one month (over, now) that I've been living here and there is still nothing to show.  Well, get excited folks!! Because I have plans to finish the look of my room in the next few days/weeks/definitely by the end of the month.  And, the photo above is a teaser of what it's going to look like.  I know, right, you're excited...

One Month

Yesterday marked my one-month anniversary since moving to Nashville.  Is that not the crayyyyyyest thing you've ever heard?!?   I don't know where the time went but excuse me for a moment while I pinch, pinch, pinch myself cause I still just can't believe all this.

Every day here has welcomed new discoveries, friends, food, happy hours, adventures, a fair share of coffee shops ;) and now I even have an amazing internship where I'm learning a lot in my field and surrounded by good southern, sweet Na$hvillians!!  Nashville, I love you!  Now will you please just bring my friends and family here and then I'd be one SURRiously lucky girl! But really, that'd be nice.  I'm starting to miss them and it ain't cool. 

Gone Country

Hi guys! It's me - just checking in.  Happy honky tonkin to ya!  I'm just hanging here with my new glitter awesome slash talented slash supa funnay roommate! I'm just loving this city so far!!

Nashville, I can't wait to see you again

Todays the day!!! I'm packing up the uhaul this morning and driving to Nashville, TN*
I don't think ya'll realize just how long the drive is though.  So let me spell it out for ya

NINE AND A HALF HOURS!!!!

nine and a half hours, are you kidding me??? I could barely make it to Orlando without getting stir-crazy (only 2 hours) and that was when I wasn't sitting in a Uhaul bucket...Seriously, this is going to be one #wildandcrazy day and me saying I AM SO FRIGGIN EXCITED is the understatement of the year (except for when I said drinking gasonline can't be good for you - that was also the understatement of the year)
 
So if you're wondering why I have been so lackadaisical with keeping up with postings, it's because I have been lifting mattresses, dressers, tv's, and closets for days. 



*my parents are obviously coming with me!

A Little Sunday for You

Well hey there!  DOn't you look dashing today :)  This past weekend I was feeling a little overshwelmed with the moving to Nashville thing.  I'm still looking for a job (things are looking up!) and the idea of decorating a new place from scratch terrrrrrrrrifies me.  On pinterest I might be an interior decorator, but IRW I couldn't even fake it.  That's why it was such a relief/surprise/gift/pleasure when this past Sunday a interior-decorator-friend promised to help me and my roomies turn this blah blah blah living room...

into something with a bit more va va va

Vwabam folks what do ya think?  I'd be fine just fine with any of these ;) 

Attention Attention!

Here ye, here ye...today was a day like no other.  It was a day for crafting! When I saw one of my favorite blogging ladies {blogging lady > cat lady} wearing this adorb necklace I had to find out a way to get my hands on one of my own.  And behold, an hour later - voila - here it is!  Here's the template that I used but now my mind can't stop racing about all the variations that can be made of this oh-so-cute bib necklace.  Hey, bib, I think you might be my new favorite and super quick DIY ever!

Remember that time I was Domesticated?

Over the weekend, I made what was possibly my most sophisticated meal creation to date.  Since I was babysitting a teenage girl all week long, I felt obligated that the meals provide nutritional value.  And our last supper was a hit - grains, dairy, protein, and veggies on the side!  I just kind of whipped together items that we already had in the fridge and came up with this.  Seriously, no recipe!  I kept texting my mom, "Can you believe I'm making this!?" "Can you believe I made this!" She really couldn't.

Anywho, this picture is taken from my phone (Read: not IPHONE) so not the best looking but the two of us were really pleased with the outcome.  The best part is, you can't really mess this one up so feel free to duplicate this really simple recipe and let me know if ya like it or not!

Here's what I used….

8 Lasagna noodles

Ground hamburger meat (maybe ½ lb)

Cottage cheese (1 cup) **as a ricotta cheese alternative**

Parmesan cheese (1/2 cup)

Pasta sauce (1-2 cups)

Basil (to taste)

Milk (1/2 cup)

While lasagna noodles and hamburger (or turkey) meat are cooking on the stove, in a side bowl combine cottage cheese, parmesan cheese, basil, and milk.  When meat is cooked, mix this in too.  Lay the lasagna noodles flat in a row and let them cool for a few minutes.  Pour some of the pasta sauce in a 9x13 baking dish.  Evenly spread the cheese mixture on top of the noodles and one-by-one place the "coil" in the baking dish.  Pour the rest of the pasta sauce on top of the noodles and top with a pinch of basil.  Bake in oven on 350 for 30 minutes. Pretty simp!

happy valentine's day, loverss

What I loved About Today:

                            1. Sleeping in

                            2. My sister's 27th birthday {DATE NIGHT!}

                            3. No lines at Target or JoAnn's {when does this ever happen! 

                            Answer: NEVER!!!!!!}

                            4. Good excuse to indulge in chocolate

                            5. Sunshine in February

                            6. It's all about LOVE {and single awareness}

Remembering a Legend

"My mother taught me beauty really lives in places like a smile.”

 – Whitney Houston

When my family couldn’t agree on what music to listen to, Whitney was always the answer.  Her music was loved by all, and especially by my family.  It was her music that played through our house and stereos for hundreds of parties and road trips.  It was her music that I attempted and always failed to sing for dozens of karaoke sessions. Her voice brought so much joy to my family, life, and home.

To say her death was a tragic loss to the music industry is the understatement of the year.  Her voice had so much power and was beyond incredible.  I hope she finds in Heaven the peace that she seemed to be missing here on Earth.   

Lauren Presents....

Word on the streeet is that these detoxing smoothies are ridiculously good for you.  Celebs like Hilary D., Drew B., Gwyneth., and Olivia W. are all big fans and if they can guzzle down 16oz, why can't I!?  And the answer is, my friends, I can I really can.  Now I wouldn't say it's my favorite smoothie I've ever tasted {putting it in a wine glass definitely helped this}. But if drinking it every once in a while means healthier skin, hair, and more energy I'm in 100% kids.

Here's the recipe I tried.  I suggest using more fruits than it asks, at least until you get used to the taste!  Also, seriously, depending on the size of your blender I suggest halving the recipe.    

Glowing Green Smoothie

* 6 cups chopped spinach

* 5 cups chopped romaine

* 2 stalks celery

* 1.5 - 2 cups COLD water

* 1 banana

* 1 pear (I used blueberries)

* 1 apple

* 1/2 cup cilantro

* 1/2 cup parsley

* lots of ice

The Pats lost but we Still have this

These videos have been cracking me up all week long. So, naturally, when I found out my sister's fiance was coming to town with Brewer we had to do our own.

It turned out to be much harder than it looks.....times a million so I applaud anyone on YouTube that has successfully fed their dog with human hands. My heroes///!

Back from doing the Hollywood thing

Hi ladies (are there gents who frequent here? I'd like to know if there are!)  As you can see, I'm back from Los Angeles and had the best time feeling like a could-uv-been celebrity.  Kind of made me jealous of my bff's that are moving out there soon.  Just kidding, I still couldn't be more thrilled about my March move!!  But seriously, time could not be ticking any slower.  It feels like I still have forever to wait.

On the bright side, with all my friends moving to LA soon, this means I have a lot of beds/couches that need to be crashed on :) It's all about me...and those bright red lips.

3 things

Ohh hey guys! I sincerely hope everyone had a great weekend :)  Make that two great weekends since it's been a while.

Do I have news for you or WHATTT.

Since I haven’t been blogging for a while now (got into a bad habit and couldn’t think of interesting blogging posts) I decided to make this one epic post about what I’ve been up to and to share some exciting news!

1.     1.) Bought my bridesmaid dress for my sister's wedding (big step in moving forward with the August wedding).  I know all the brides say this - but as the maid of honor this should really mean something - I really think it's a dress that I could wear again!! I'm so excited about it.

2.     2.) I'll be visiting California on Wednesday with my good friend Julia.  We’ve been going the past 2 years for the Director’s Guild Awards (do we have connections or do we have connections?).  This year we’re staying a bit longer to really take in all of El Lay’s beautiful sites and touristy spots.  The first year we went we met Cory Monteith from Glee:

And the next year we got our picture taken with the boy from the Facebook movie:

Both guys were so nice!! And I can't wait to see who we might run into this year! 

And this last one, #3, is huge…I’m not sure if you’re ready for this. You need to sit down cause you’re going to faint. This is the most exciting news I could ever share with anyone. I’M MOVING TO....drum roll please….

Yes, me, small town girl moving to music city of the world! I can’t wait to start blogging from there.  But I still have a while so I’ll try my hardest to live in the present. ‘Til then, will definitely try my darndest to start taking more pics and putting them up.  This blog is still a work in progress and I’m trying to figure out why exactly I started it….but, yes, definitely will be trying to snap more pictures.

So anyways, just wanted to say Happy Monday

we laughed, we cried, we DIYed

I'm not kidding when I say this weekend was one of the best!  I am loving 2012 so far.  Despite spending most of the weekend hours driving in the car with my mom and sis, the weekend of Jan. 5-8 will go down in books as one of the most entertaining.  So many times the three of us had to just keel over from uncontrollable laughter.  And tears, there were lots of laughing tears!    

And speaking of shirts.... my mom "re-fashioned" this number from GWill and please just excuse me if I start to wear it every day.  It took her a whole maybe 30 minutes (and that's pushing it) to put it all together she just zipped right through it.  I'm off now to find some more things for her.      

Fascinating Reflections

It’s three days into the new year now and I’m finally getting a chance to actually sit down and reflect on the past year.  While the last few days since I posted have been busy, wonderful, celebratory, and terrifying (might be posting about that later/probably not); 2011 was a year for me to grow and learn.  I treasure all of my 2011 moments.

Since I only started this blog a few months ago here’s a really quick recap of my year:

•  I moved out of my parents house
•  Started my Master's program
•  Made some of the most amazing friends
•  Roadtripped across the East Coast with my I-don't-know-how-she's-not-my-sister best friend who I talk about all the time on this blog
•  Went on dates
•  Engagement parties
•  Graduated with my Master's
•  Experience the worst kind of pain when my grandmother died in April

Like all years 2011 had its ups and downs.  For me personally it seemed like the ups were EXTREMELY up and the downs were EXTREMELY down.  But as I sit and think about how different I was a year ago today, I am happy with where my life is going.  Two-thousands-twelve is here and there’s no slowing down!  I know this year will bring challenges, WEDDINGS!!!! (lots!), a relocation, and I think maybe even a new puppy J  Will keep ya'll posted on that last one!