Summer Nights in Georgia

Have y'all been watching CMT's Next Superstar? Have you heard of Steven Clawson? Well, he's from our little GA town. So, last night we had this fun event:


We carried out chairs to the bricks downtown right outside of the courthouse and our church, and watched the finale on the big screen. It was SO MUCH FUN! Our Hawaii Snow (shaved ice) was out making sno cones, and by 9:00 there was a big crowd gathered to support their hometown star.






Do you see Matt and I? A friend took this from behind and posted on facebook, so I had to borrow! :)


As we were sitting on the bricks, under the oaks, moss, streetlights, and stars....just a quiet summer night in GA...a shooting star zoomed by overhead. DIRECTLY ABOVE US! It was so beautiful and amazing! It was so bright!

Steven sang one of his most well known songs around here. Remember he was in Troupe, and my friend had his old cd and pretty much wore it out in her classroom. So, I have always known and loved that song. Sadly, he didn't win the show. BUT, he made our town very proud. We know he'll go far!

Friday I'm in LoVe

I'm loving my new stack of books from the library. Many of which I've wanted to read for a long time. And I still have a bunch on hold!


This pretty pink nail polish, Ladies and Magenta-men. Did you know that Publix carries OPI now? I just don't think they have all the newest colors like my favorites, J. Marie and At Home.


I'm loving

Pinterest

. My friend, Carrie Beth, got me started and I've had so much fun creating boards and repinning pictures. I LOVE browsing through all the pictures. I've already gotten tons of great ideas through this. Check it out. Oh, and Happy Pinning!

(I got this picture off of google images as an example of what Pinterest is all about)

Lazy Summer Days

My brother came to visit yesterday! We ate Jenn's Ravioli-Lasagna for supper(wish I would have taken a picture of half spinach for me/half plain for him), then went to the park and played disc golf. Well, I pretty much just watched him play. Blakely and I enjoyed it though...it was a lot breezy and just a little buggy. :) And she only picked up his discs a few times...haha!






Then I was introduced to a Daidone family favorite past time. Watching Friday Night Lights. My mama, daddy, and brother are all hooked. So, I thought why not? My AWESOME brother hooked up Netflix to our Wii and now I can watch lots of awesome shows and movies! I am already on episode 5 of FNL!!! I LOVE it! The coaches wife is my favorite. *Don't judge the wires all hanging out!


We went on a little shopping adventure today. Billy was looking for a t-shirt jersey, and I just went along with him. Of course, we desperately needed soap in our house and I couldn't pass up the deal that the lady at Bath and Body offered me, soooooo.....all of our bathrooms/kitchen are now covered! The scent for my sink is Island Margarita...smells so good!!



I ate at Chipotle for the very first time. I liked it...just not as much as Bill, it is his all time favorite. Afterwards, we went to Target, my all time favorite. ;)

We got one of these to share for dessert.


My brother also gave me his iPod touch today and put all of my songs on it. I am so EXCITED! I am just "borrowing" it because he never uses it, but I am still so thankful to be able to listen to my music with my headphones. It also plays all of my Rachel Zoe episodes!! Oh DESERT SONG, how I've missed you blaring from my headphones!!!



Now, we're just hanging out watching more FNL episodes! Lovin' these lazy summer days!

Psalm 121:1-2
I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

This and That

1. We have decided to keep our cable (even basic channels) turned off, and I'm completely fine with it. I only miss it late at night when I can't sleep (HGTV) and when certain things are on TV (like the CMT awards, the French Open, and the finale of CMT's Next Superstar).

2. Target is my favorite store this summer. I seem to LOVE everything that they have.

3. I am in an organizing/moving furniture/changing around decorations mood ALL THE TIME! It drives Matt crazy, but it makes me happy!

4. I take my blood pressure most nights when I'm getting ready for bed. I love taking it. :) (We bought one to have at home when I was having horrible headaches and my BP was becoming elevated...thankfully its been normal ever since then)

5. I could eat a salad for every meal in the summer and never get tired of them.

6. Matt got the new Cinnabon creamer for his coffee, and it is THE BEST THING that I have ever smelled. I could drink it. I actually haven't even tasted it, because I have sort of stopped drinking coffee.

7. The shops in my downtown are the epitome of my style. From clothes to furniture. If you want to know my taste in things, just head on to Broad Street. I probably spend too much time down there.

8. Karen Kingsbury books WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE!! One of my friends stopped by my house yesterday and I glady passed on a few faves. I can't wait to hear that she's hooked!

9. A swim suit and cover-up are my summer essentials. There is nothing better than being that relaxed all day long. With nothing to do except swim, lay out, and read.

10. I have a summer Bible Study that I'm working on. But I'm in need of my church to start a group. Fall is just too long to wait.

Random and Productive

I love productive days!

We lunched at Panera, grocery shopped, got lots of important to-do lists finished, and made some phone calls...all while we got new tires put on the Tahoe.



Matt is loving the new tires. He had to wash the Tahoe as soon as we got home! I sat outside and listened to our high school band practicing. The music just drifts right over the trees. I love that sound!



Oh, and we got these too! Root beer Frosty's from Wendy's. They were so good! I think next time we'll probably just share though...they're big!


Is anyone else tired of this heat wave? It is just too hot to do much of anything outside during the day other than swim in a pool. I hear some thunder and I'm praying that we get some much needed rain here in GA! I have a new book (I'm almost through my first stack from the library) that I'm ready to start reading, and a few projects that would be perfect for a rainy Monday night.

Psalm 1:1-3
Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD,
and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.

First Day

Matt starts his new job today!



After 9 weeks off, he is definitely ready, refreshed, and excited. Although we always had a peace about everything that happened with his old job and moving on willingly after 6 years, it was hard. We were so thankful in some ways, but it was still tough. I know that probably doesn't makes sense, but it does to us. The words freedom, happiness, and fear of the unknown come to mind about the last two months. Sometimes even in the most difficult and unexpected situations...you know that it is happening for a reason (a good and perfect and wonderful one, thank you, Lord). And now looking back, we can see how God slammed one door closed and had another one already open for Matt! What more could we have asked for? God's timing is perfect!


I know Matt is used to me taking pictures ALL the time, but I'm sure he thought I was excessive this morning! Haha! :)

I am SO, SO proud of you Matthew Michael Whelan! And so is Blakely! :)


Ephesians 3:20
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.

Memories, A Wedding, and Bunting!

We were in LaGrange, GA yesterday for my friend, Meg's, wedding. I lived with Meg my last year in Valdosta. We lived with my other good friend, Bex, in a pretty stucco house in a cute little neighborhood on the edge of our beloved college town. We had the best time living together. We shared everything...especially jewelry, had many movie marathons/tv show marathons, layed out in our backyard all the time, ate a lot of meals together, and my favorite memories are when the three of us would stay up really late in the summer, lock the doors of our house, vow to not let anyone stop by, and have "roomie" time. We also did lots of normal college activities, like retreats and football games. Meg was the youngest in our house, so it is fitting that she is the final Wisteria Way (our street) roomie to get married. Here are some fun memories...











It was so good to see Bex, her hubby, and cute Lilly. As well as some other college friends, Abby and Lisa! I also loved seeing the beautiful bride and one of her great friends, Melinda (Melinda, I wish we lived closer so we could hang out more!). Matt and I had a great time!!!








And of course I've been in a patriotic mood lately since Summer is in full swing and it is SO hot in SGA! Matt put up some bunting on our front porch. I kind of want to add more. He thinks it is enough. If I had something else to return to Hobby Lobby I would def. pick up some more! That is my thing lately, exchanging things. Haha! :)