The Olympics and Back to School

I have been staying up entirely too late every night watching the Olympics. I'm definitely enjoying our nightly tradition.

Matty and I had a little back to school run to Target and Home Depot last night. On the way a Christy Nockels song actually came on the radio. I was so excited! Matt said, "It's such a treat when we get to hear her on the radio." Now that is a man after my own heart! I took a picture in the sweetness of the moment.

We were going to try a new restuarant for dinner, but instead stuck with the Red Elephant!

I went back to work today and just feel so blessed. Only kindergarten teachers were working today...we were learning how to assess on our iPads. Almost all 15 of us went out to lunch together, including my principal and assistant principal. I love working with all women and feel that what we have is special. Sometimes I want to pinch myself...I can't believe that I'm grown up and working with such amazing women and teachers. I've been playing with my silhouette again....can you tell?

My life planner came in the mail today and I am completely happy! It came just in time!

Although I was so tired this morning when I woke up, I have to admit that I was glad to be back in my early morning routine of Praise and Worship music. And I love getting these quick verses e-mailed to me from Passion City Church. What an encouraging reminder.

I am claiming this verse as I start the new school year.
1 Peter 1:15
As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God's life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, "I am holy; you be holy."

Country girl gone Civil Wars

I've always loved country music. CMT would be blasting on my TV at all times. I knew everything about all my favorite country artists. Always, and still very much do.

However, if you get in my car or look on my iPhone you will most likely be listening to Christy Nockels, Watermark, Selah, Hillsong, Audrey Assad, Kristian Stanfill, Meredith Andrews, Passion stuff by Chris Tomlin, or Casting Crowns. I can't help it. This music fills my soul! And the words to these songs are always coming out of my mouth! I fell in love with Worship music in college and haven't looked back.

This brings me to my newest craze in music. The Civil Wars. Do y'all like them? The Civil Wars Pandora station is our favorite right now. They also play a lot of Mumford and Sons which we like a whole lot too. And every now and then you'll hear a hymn.I just realized that the female voice in The Civil Wars is Joy Williams (she was one of my favorite Christian singers in 2006...her cd played on replay in my house). How cool!!!

Even though I think of myself as Christian/Country music fan, I've always liked a litle bit of the alternative sound. Alternative music is Matt's all time favorite. At dance practice growing up, I always loved when we would warm up to Alanis Morrisette. Dave Matthews Band was my all time favorite in high school and the beginning of college. Then came all the crazy Grey's Anatomy music near the end of college. I LOVED it!

I just had to share my new to me music find. It is very chill and I find that I can get a lot done listening to it. It has pretty much been our organizing music all summer.

Appointment week in pictures!

I really don't want Summer to end. It has been such a good week.

I went and got a pedicure. I had a gift certificate from two of my cuties that I was saving for back to school. I was uncertain of the salon at first, but it ended up being long, and great.

I actually worked some this week. I screened students all morning, then helped with orientation at night. In between I got my hair cut, and took Abby and Anna to get theirs cut. It started storming horribly and I went out of my way to get a much needed Sonic diet vanilla coke. After I ordered they informed me that their card machine was out. I switched my order from a large to a small and tried to scrounge up the change. I was a penny short. When I went to tell them, they were already bringing me a drink out for FREE. They said it wasn't my fault that the card machine was out and to have a great day. Wasn't that so nice? And it was a big fat large!

I got some goodies in the mail.

I drove to a much anticipated doctors appointment on Friday morning, as I passed through downtown I could smell the usually mouth watering smell of the bread baking at Flowers. Well, lets just say that my nerves before my appointment and the smell of the bread didn't mix. I have never felt so sick! My appointment was WONDERFUL! I am blessed to have the best OBGYN in America. She is seriously amazing, which I find to be more true each time I'm around her. She is a gift and I am grateful for a doctor that I can trust, and one that truly cares and has gotten to know me. She noticed that the nurse had my chart wrong before my appointment and saved my sanity. No, I am not 23 weeks pregnant. :) We discussed everything from jewelery to Private Practice during my appointment...and a WHOLE lot more. That can't be normal. Unbelievably THANKFUL!

Matty and I lunched at Moonspin. So fun! We never get to go out to lunch together because he is always doing lunches at doctors offices. I cherished our little day date.

I worked in my classroom and finally feel like it's coming together. Well, starting to come together. :)

We have had lots of afternoon thunderstorms. We were caught in a downpour while leaving Lowes a few days ago. Matt's "rainsuit" was hilarious.

We went to pick up pinestraw at a local nursery this morning and instead came back with a magnolia tree and hydrangeas. We've wanted to plant both for awhile and just couldn't resist today. Seeing these beauties around my house make me feel giddy.

And the Olympics are on. The Summer Olympics are my favorite and always will be. My favorite things to watch are womens soccer, gymnastics, swimming, diving, and volleyball. I watch all the rest too. I think I have every game of the 1996 and 2000 womens soccer games on tape. I also have lots of swimming on tape too. Soccer and swimming were my life in high school. Just ask my family. :) I even have a book signed by all the 1996 female gymnasts. I loved that team a lot! USA!!!!

I've also seen the girls in the pink Barbie jeep a lot this week. It is the precious little things that make me smile!

Soaking it up!

This is my last week of summer and what I have been calling "appointment week". I really have an appointment every single day. Even though I'm a little bit busy, I am soaking this week up!

I went to school for 1 hour today...and I planned to stay all afternoon. 1 hour. Haha! Maybe I'll do better tomorrow?

I got to lunch with one of my sweet former students and her incredible mom. So fun! Last year we met at Chick fil a. Lilly chose Beef O'Brady's this year and already knew that she wanted to order blackened fish days ago. Isn't that the cutest thing?

She brought me Mayhaw jelly. Precious!!!

We met for an early lunch because she had dance camp this afternoon. She asked to skip camp and come home with me. Be still my heart! I am brimming with joy from my little lunch date! Thank you Lord, for letting me touch people and show them love in my job.

I am excited about adding patterned pillows to my red couch upstairs. I started with some black and white chevron ones! I'm in love.

I need a lamp and a fun accessory for my new desk....but this is how it looks now!

Two new chalkboards were added to our collection yesterday. Again, using things found around the house. If you bring something near me, chances are it might get sprayed with chalkboard paint.

A few weeks ago we painted an old end table that has been sitting in our garage for a few years. I think the curves of it compliment the scalloped bedding. I moved our Happy Everything plate into the room and I love the little pops of color that it adds to all the cream and white.

How adorable is this golden?

I have been listening to Still by Watermark all summer long. Then all of a sudden the lyrics at the end of the song became my exact prayer. How did I miss them the first million times I listened to the song? They are beautiful and Christy and Nathan took the words right out of mouth. I feel like the Lord is bringing closure to my summer of rest, because I have surrendered everything to Him and been faithful!!!! Finally!

Nashville

So, I'm always drawn towards strong female characters in tv shows. I don't really have a favorite actress, but I do have favorite characters. And when I like a character, I want her to stay in that role forever. I also usually think that what I'm watching is real life. It makes me sort of sad that it's not. Ha!

Hands down, my most favorite is Tami Taylor from Friday Night Lights. I LOVE her. Especially as a school counselor. Why did this show ever end?

Next is Dr. Addison Montgomery from Private Practice. I think she is the best surgeon/OBGYN and reminds me a lot of my real doctor in some ways.

Summer Van Horne from Make it or Break it. I love that she is a Christian on the show and such a positive role model for the gymnasts. Her character reflects who she is in real life as well.

Julia Houston from Smash. I love her style.

Bree Van de Kamp from Desperate Housewives. She was my favorite housewife from day one and I stuck with her. Maybe her pearls won me over. :)

Juliette Burke from Lost. I cried when she died. She was a wonderful infertility specialist.

I think I may like Ella Montgomery best on Pretty Little Liars. Maybe because she is a teacher? Not sure.

And these are just my recent shows. I really don't think I have a defined favorite on Parenthood yet, and I love that show. I also like Revenge, but everybody is mean on that show. Is anybody else as crazy as me?

That leads me to what I think might become my new favorite show. Nashville. I LOVE Tami Taylor...or wait, she isn't Tami anymore, it's Rayna James. I'm pretty sure I will like her new character a lot. I also love country music and the south. I. can't. wait.

Food, Shopping, Crafting, and a Birthday!!!

My mama and future sister in law came to visit Thursday through Sunday, and we had the best time!

There was a whole lot of eating going on. I made an easy lemon ice box pie and it was amazing. We ate the last two slices right out of the pan.

Mama ordered the best thing at Moonspin. A salad pizza. Yum!!

And we had to order fried green tomatoes at Jonah's for Mama's birthday lunch.

Are you hungry yet? :)

My favorite day was our Tallahassee shopping day. We shopped in lots of fun stores on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. I was happiest with my finds at TJ Maxx. Surprisingly, we really didn't buy much anywhere. It was still fun though! I also got a Jellybean rug that was majorly on sale for my classroom. Score!

Oh, and I got a table/desk for my bedroom. Matt pointed it out after lunch on Saturday at our favorite store downtown. He loves furniture just as much as I do (wood-trees-plantations...if you know him). We were shocked by the price and got an extra 25% off, so yep...now I have a new desk and I LOVE it! Pictures coming soon...

We crafted all weekend long. My parents ordered me a Silhouette Cameo (it is for both my Mom and I, but she wants to keep it at my house and I'm not complaining). We are going to use it for lots of wedding projects. We started out with only one color of vinyl to practice with, so we made what we could. I need to download a few more fonts and get some transfer paper and I'll be good to go.

Mama sewed me a new pillow for my classroom using some of her leftover fabric from her room. Our colors coordinate. She also repaired another pillow that was falling apaprt. I'm excited!

We celebrated my Mom's 59th birthday with breakfast because she didn't want a cake and she was leaving to go home early in the day. I laid everything out the night before and we had a lazy morning, spent in our pj's, watching Pretty Little Liars. My mom is now hooked...ha!

We missed my Dad and brother, but had a fun girls weekend. Matty is used to being around lots of girls. I'm so thankful for my family! :)