2013 In Review

It's amazing how much can change in a simple 365 days.

2013 has been a crazy insane year and reflecting on it reminds me that God's hand is in every situation through the good and the bad.

January

Discovered my love for watching impromptu... I know I'm such a hipster...

Photo bomb credit goes to our good friend Joe

February

Found out my Mom has breast cancer.
Such a twist in our year and mind set, she is the strongest woman I know and inspires me each and everyday!

Began my journey on crutches due to a Zumba incident... I don't want to talk about it...
 

March 

Continued my addiction to the TV show LOST 

 
Visited Silver Dollar City for the first time in my life, so much fun!

April 

Started blogging again,

and

Visited my brother David!

Finished my first year of college! And moved back home, which I missed very, very much!

May

Tried my hand at a few DIY ideas

No sew lace shorts

  
Dreamsicle Cake- yummmm 

I also babysat my two adorable cousins for the summer! 

June

Attempted to blog everyday in June #fail but it was fun!

Road tripped with my Mom to see my man!

Baby sat my brother and sister-in-laws dog Cali, I now have puppy fever and still want a dog.

July

Celebrated the 4th of July with my family!! It is simply our favorite holiday!

Finished all 6 seasons of LOST and was devastated at the ending. The result? Calling Chris at 3am crying..

Chris mailed me all of Luke Brian's current CD's making me a huge fan! 

August

Started my second year of college. 
My two favorite men moved me in! 

Fell in love with my beautiful new roomies

September

Chris proposed in Disney World! Seriously how can you top that!? 

October

Became addicted to taking Tea baths between studying sessions 

 

Bought my wedding dress over fall break 

November

One year and counting! 

Drove back home with the fiance for Thanksgiving, we love traveling together.

December

Study, clean, eat, and repeat. <<< Finals week in a nut shell for me.

My last Christmas with my family as a non married woman!

and
 
 My Mom's last Infusion Treatment! 

It's been quite the year! I am completely blessed and thankful for all God has done in 2013. I know next year will come with even more twists and turns and I'm excited to see what God has in store for Chris and I, our new home, and to see my Mom beat breast cancer and even more! 

Here's to 2014! 

-Stephanie

The Struggle Is Real...

Hello there my friends!

I hope your Christmas season is simply splendid, are you all done shopping? Have you found that perfect gift for that special someone yet? Don't worry I know you will!

I recently enjoyed a phone call from my fiance in which he was attempting to wrap presents for his first time since he was very little. The following is what happened during our phone call.

Chris *wrapping paper crunching loudly* "oh.... I got it.... wait...."

Me "You ok?"

Chris *louder wrapping paper noises* "almost.. got it.. and that's how it's done." *wrapping paper ripping* "...you're suppose to see the present after you wrap it right....?"

Me "Of course dear!"

Chris *wrapping noise continues* "...tried to use the extra wrapping paper for a bow... ya that didn't happen"

Chris *wrapping stops & cue music* "...it's the most wonderful time of the year..." *crunch, chrunch* "this is awful.... *sigh*....what time is it?"

Me "it's 10:12pm"

Chris "yup the rest are going in gift bags... 4 are hand wrapped that's all you get... I give up"

Me "I love you"

 

In his defense he didn't have any professional help.

And for the record I loved every gift he wrapped and didn't!

I hope you all have a very merry Christmas Eve and don't forget the reason for this joyous season of giving.

Merry Christmas!

 

-Stephanie

Three Down One To Go

It's over! Finals week is over, and yes I've made it out alive.

I can't believe it, my third semester of college is over (and if I do say so myself, I've gotten some pretty good grades.)

Now I simply cannot wait to fly into Chicago within a matter of 48hrs!

In preparation for leaving school I have been listening to the wonderful Alabama Christmas album *my favorite Christmas album of all time*

You haven't heard of it?! *gasp* Let me give you a little taste of Christmas magic for your ears!

 Besides listening to this wonderful Christmas album, I've been packing for my flight home.

I love packing...

You don't get it I love packing. I will pack and unpack my suit case at least a few times before flying, it's like a grown up tetris game.

Although while I am packing and getting ready for break my heart is still with those who have finals still a head of them...

Be strong my friends, be very strong.

-Stephanie

November Favorites

My character does this thing where I get hooked on things/items/songs or anything really.

So naturally I thought to myself "hey I should tell the blog world what I like this month"

And now, without further adieu, here are a few of my November favorites!

Counting Stars  by OneRepublic

My Razorback sweater 

(provided by the lovely fiance)

VS Perfume Tease 

The Whitney Blake Blog 

Baby Lips chapstick

My engagement ring

Carmel Apple Spice from Starbucks

Tea Baths

Graze snacks

Making homemade snowflakes 

Urban Decay eye shadow

(Pallet Naked 2)

Now trust me, I am in love with even more than this but I didn't want to overload your brain!

-Stephanie

The Beginning of A Home

I never thought picking paint colors would be so hard.

Call me crazy! 

I get all anxious and worried and tense.

It's pathetic really.

Why is that so hard? It's not like I could never repaint? It's most defiantly NOT the end of the world, but it feels like it sometimes..

My Fiance has been fixing up the house we are going to live in after the wedding, the house is an hour away from my school and it's killing me. I wish with all my heart I could be at the house working and cleaning and helping! Alas school comes first (lame).

We are going to be living in a little house on a plot of land in Arkansas and it's the cutest thing ever, while it currently needs a little TLC I can't wait to share before and after pictures with you!

Pinterest, I fear, is going to be my fiance's next nightmare. There are just so many grand ideas and DIY projects for home making, and trust me I have pined them all. I never planned my wedding before I was engaged, but I do have some lovely ideas on how to make a house a home.

Now that I realize this post is mainly me rambling I figured I will share a sneak peak of our soon to be homestead covered in the fresh snow fall.

Oh and don't you worry, I finished picking out paint colors!

-Stephanie

5 Ways To Make Your Man Feel Special

Every woman likes to feel special.

We crave that feeling, but how often do we make our man feel special? 

They deserve that feeling too! They deserve to be the center of attention!

If your poor like me, (can I get an amen?) you can't simply go out and buy your man a brand new four wheeler or Rolex. BUT we can go out of our way in some more creative ways.

1) Brag about him
Nothing makes someone feel better than being reaffirmed with words. Post a status about him, give him a shout out on Twitter, or post your new favorite picture of him on Instagram. Tell you girlfriends why he is simply the best! Believe it or not you can even brag about him while he's listening, it's completely ok!























2) Make him a book
Making something homemade is always one of my "go to" ideas. Creating personal little books of memories and inside jokes will always bring a smile. Some easy ideas you could use are an "ABC book of our love" or a "52 Reasons why I love you." Pintrest is full of simple and thoughtful DIY that your man will love!

3) Leave him little notes
They will keep these forever! It doesn't matter if your married, dating for two months, or engaged leaving a note for your man reminds him that you're thinking of him and they need to know that!

4) Kiss him on the forehead
It's innocent and sweet.

5) Surprise him
Ladies you know your man! Give him a surprise that's just for him! If that means YOU ask HIM on a date to the new hit action movie then do it, or you could simply rub his feet after a long day. Go out of your way and do something that he will not be expecting, it will make his day! 

As you can see it doesn't take hundreds of dollars to make your man feel special.

Now go get em' tiger!

-Stephanie