Invest in those you love.

Last night I had the chance to get together with two of my closest friends. It had been way too long since we'd been able to get together. It stinks when life just happens and we just continue to get older and our schedules get busier and sometimes - our friendships seem to get pushed to the back of the line. Sure technology is great, being able to call/text/Skype at a moments notice...but being able to sit across the table from some of your best friends over some yummy pizza and sweet tea? There's just something special about that. True connections. Yes, we've grown up and don't speak daily...but I know these girls would drop everything for me if I ever needed them to.

...and yes, that's precious little Norah in the bottom. She just turned 2 months (or as you mommas would call it, 8 weeks)!! She seriously is the best little baby. Didn't make a peep all evening, just sat there, slept and looked around. She pretty much stole my heart. I can't go another 6 weeks without seeing her!

Anyway, this fun little dinner date with my friends just got me thinking about growing up. Sometimes I wish life could be as easy as it used to be. Isn't it funny how things work out? We spent our entire childhood wishing we could be older...and now that I'm here, some days? I'd give anything to have little to no responsibilities. Of course, I wouldn't trade my life for the world...but you get my point. I'm very blessed to have quite a few amazing friends...and I want to be sure I appreciate them and let them know HOW much they mean to me. That goes for my family, too. I'm happy that I have some girls nights in the works where I can invest in each unique relationship I have with them.

The point of this post? Invest in those you love. Whether that's your husband, your best friend, your sister, your aunt, your mom, etc... just SHOW them what they mean to you. Send a card in the mail (am I the only one who has a dance party when I see a hand written note in my kitchen when I get home?!), send flowers for no reason, buy their lunch, spend an entire weekend together...whatever you do, just make the time to do it! :) happy Wednesday, friends.

Friday {and what I loved this week}

Happy Friday, friends! I hope you've all had a great week. We're shooting our first wedding of the year tomorrow and couldn't be more excited about it. I've had some serious "cabin fever" during this off-season. While Caleb and I have DEFINITELY enjoyed the free time on the weekends, we've been itching to create beautiful images....so I'm pretty excited for tomorrow! The forecast is calling for some rain, so we're keeping our fingers crossed that it'll hold off for a while! Ohio had some seriously beautiful weather (for the most part) this week...and I definitely took advantage.

-I had the most amazing lunch in my car while the rain drops fell one afternoon. So, so healthy and refreshing.

-I was able to get my first outside run of the year done last night. 4 miles in the bag!! I slept like a rock last night, thanks to this!

-We got new cubicles at work! The promotion I got months ago (along with quite a few other co workers) is finally coming together, and they've redone a whole section of the building to fit our new needs. I'm so excited!!

-Spending 3 hours in a grocery store because we felt like looking at everything...even if we had no intentions of buying it. Plus, its Jungle Jim's. You HAVE to look at everything!

-First time I rolled the windows down while driving this week!! Heeeyyy 60 degree weather!

-If this isn't the cutest thing you've ever seen then I don't know what is??! Nora and her baby sister, Charlotte! As my mom said "holy pink hats Batman! They are beautiful!!" :)

- I had a very successful consult this week with an amazing couple...so I came home with a Starbucks treat...because we had a gift card and because we can... :)

-Today is one of my favorite people's birthdays! My girl, Angie!! I don't know what I'd do without her and her goofiness in my life. She and I were freshman roommates back in college and I wouldn't have had it any other way. She made my time at college one I'll never forget. Ang, I hope today is as amazing as you are!! LOVE YOU! (yes, that's us in 2009-2010...babies!)

I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend ahead of them! I'm very much looking forward to a relaxing Sunday, after our busy-filled day Saturday! Also, looking forward to some new recipes I've got in the works {also thanks to my momma for helping}. Enjoy, friends!

A New Years Eve Wedding!

Ahhh its good to be back. A fresh slate always makes me feel awesome!

Last Tuesday morning I picked Caleb up from work and we hit the road for Celina, OH for our friends' NYE wedding! We checked into the hotel, and I headed to the reception hall to help decorate. We all went our separate ways and then met back up that night for the rehearsal & dinner! It was so fun having all the gals back together again! Lynds and I are so stinking excited to meet the first baby of our friend group come August!!!

Other than Caleb's undercooked (correction; not cooked) chicken at dinner, the night was absolutely amazing. Angie gifted the bridesmaids the most adorable monogrammed crew neck sweaters, and I've hardly worn anything else since!! The rehearsal was smooth and there was a good amount of down time so we all obviously had a mini photo shoot ;)

Us ladies had a sleepover (8 of the 9 of us slept in the same house!) and we woke up Wednesday morning with so much excitement!!! NYE was finally here and Ang was going to be married by the nights end!!! We all packed up and headed for the salon to get dolled up!

About two months ago, Lyndsie, Becca and I decided to go in on a gift together for Angie. Recently, they lost her grandmother and it's been really hard for her and her family. So, we had her sister snag a birthday card that Angie still had with her grandmothers hand writing on it, and got it engraved on a small charm that she could wrap around her bouquet with her. It reads "Love you Darling, Grandma". We were all in tears when we gave it to her, and her grandpa happened to be right by her side as she opened it. I'm tearing up just thinking about it. There's nothing like the love of your family!

We all had a blast hanging out together though, and once our make up was done...it was time to head out for photos! Of course it was the COLDEST day of the year up there, but we embraced it and had a blast anyway.

After their super sweet ceremony, it was party time!!!

The reception was pretty long but we obviously wanted to stay until midnight as it was NYE! We had a blast, and of course our feet were SO sore from all that crazy dancing.

Angie seriously was SO stunning. She handled herself with such grace that entire day, and I know she'll make an amazing wife. She's one of the weirdest/silliest people I know, and I mean that in the sweetest way!! I'm so honored that she chose me to be one of the gals to stand by her as she promised her entire life to the man of her dreams. It's been so cool to witness every aspect of their relationship from beginning until now, the biggest day of their lives. They are in Punta Cana this week, and I'm insanely jealous!! I hope you all had an amazing, and SAFE New Year!! 

Sweet tea and good friends.

Ah, Monday. It was so hard to get out of bed this morning...as usual. BUT! My heart was so full this weekend (other than the ugly loss to the Steelers which I refuse to talk about). I honestly don't have many words for it as it was pretty low key...but I'll give you a quick peek at what we got ourselves into!

Friday we spent the evening with one of my sweetest friends, her fiancé and their ADORABLE new puppy, Kora. It seriously gave me puppy fever and now I'm crying every night that we don't have a sweet little pup. Then I remember I don't have to worry about anyone chewing up our couch or peeing on my bed, and I'm happy again :) it was so great seeing Angie and being our usual, weird selves.

Saturday we woke up extremely late, and I didn't care one bit. We spent nearly the entire day shopping, then we got home, (I had a splitting headache that put me out for a couple hours) and wrapped presents all night before the OSU game came on. I can't believe we're almost completely done with our shopping, we're NEVER this prepared and I'm so excited!! My sweet momma and brother came by and when I requested sweet tea, momma came to the rescue.

Then OSU won (woo!!!) and after church Sunday we found out that they made it into the Top 4 and we got so excited! I'm not very invested in college football but if I had to choose a team to root for, you bet its OSU everyday! We relaxed all day Sunday (remember, I won't talk about the Bengals loss...) then and a fun evening of games with the youth group.

I honestly could get used to these free weekends! The rest of December is pretty much filled up, but with fun plans...so I won't take these free weekends for granted. How was yours?

Being intentional with friends.

I know I mentioned it yesterday, but I got to spend a LOT of time with those I love most over the weekend. Literally every day, we spent it with our best friends or family (or both), and I can't explain the happiness that my heart felt. My girl Lyndsie, who resides in TN, was in town and it was so fun seeing her. We got to talk about life, our issues, and just enjoy being weird together. Sunday morning though, I got to take some quick, fun family pictures for their Christmas card and can we talk about their precious dog!?!? Friends, say hello to Casper....

Lyndsie's mom, Lori, always buys goofy props for the back side of their Christmas card photo and she never fails to crack me up with them. Lyndsie's Dad's sweater literally said "Meowy Christmas".... they are the best.

It just got me thinking how thankful I am for the few GOOD friendships I have. Those few girls who carve out time in their crazy schedules to meet up for coffee (or preferably, hot cider), or a quick phone call just to say hello for no other reason than just that. I will be forever grateful that I have a few great friends like that. I've said it before, but I don't have a "big group" of friends I hang out with, just a few close friends that I've met in different stages of life, and I love that they will always be there. Their friendships aren't something I'll take for granted.

One of those girlfriends of mine, Angie, lives kinda far away, and it sucks that I feel so apart from her right now (she's engaged!!), but I'm so so thankful that this Friday, Caleb and I get to see her and her fiancé, Tyler. Their wedding is on New Years Eve and we absolutely can't wait to be a part of it!! Last night we booked our hotel, for a surprisingly cheap rate for 2 nights, my bridesmaid dress is getting altered tonight and I can't wait for it to fit just right, and I'm on the hunt for a pair of plain black matte heels. I'm really excited for the last week of this year...Christmas and an amazing friend getting hitched?! Woohoo! For just those couple nights, me and a few friends will all be reunited and I can't wait for that hot happen.

In other news, I'm hoping to order our Christmas cards tonight. Anyone else being a procrastinator like me? ;)

Too much fun not to share!

Yeah, I didn't post yesterday. It kind of felt good though. So, now I'm back today!

Friday I got to spend the most fabulous night in with my Erin and we got to relax, eat whatever we wanted, watch too many movies, and chat until we couldn't keep our eyelids open! It was exactly what I'd been needing! The next morning we got snowed in so I didn't even get home until nearly 2PM. I barely got to kiss my husband before I had to hit the road and head up to the most adorable intimate bridal shower I was able to help throw for our friend Becca, who is getting married this weekend! I can't believe how fast it got here!!

Becca was lucky to get a lot of beautiful things, and I'm so happy I was able to be a part of it!!

After her shower was over, it was getting late, but I wanted to hang with my girl Angie still! I don't get to see her often enough and when she invited me to hang at her apartment, of course I said yes. Little did I know she had a surprise for me!

She handed me this adorable mini postage holder with a note asking...

Will you be my Bridesmaid?

!!!!!! I was so beyond excited!! I squeezed the crap out of her and said yes, obviously!

She is my friend who got engaged on New Years Eve...and guess what? They are now planning their new years eve for THIS YEAR! I am beyond happy for her and her man, Tyler, and know they will have an amazing, Christ centered marriage.

Hope your weekend was as good as mine!

How would you like your steak?

I work for a great company that puts on such a wonderful Christmas party every year and I'm so blessed to be a part of it! It's a fun, free night out for my man and I, and an excuse to get a little dressed up! The hardest decision I had to make this weekend was how I wanted my filet cooked.

I could get used to that.

Of course my silly husband asked for a "glass of milk" to go with his carrot cake upon dessert...only he would do that at some swanky little restaurant...but I have to say, its a funny little quirk that I love about him. The party was just great, I got to hang out with my favorite co workers, and enjoy one of the best meals of my year.

Earlier that morning, Caleb and I drove to Dayton to celebrate in one of my best friends graduating college!! I am so proud of her! I met Angie my freshman year of college, we were roommates our second semester and the first night we met, felt like we'd known each other for years. We're seriously the weirdest people when we're around each other, and I wouldn't have it any other way. We also have the funniest stories. To Angie being a germ-a-phobe (and spraying Lysol on her feet before bed), to the times we worked at a sketchy Indian restaurant waiting tables together for free food in college, we could write a stinkin book.

Words cannot describe how thankful I am for her friendship, she's a one in a million friend and I am so happy she's one of my best friends!

We love you, Ang!

Happy Thursday!

My ladies: Part 2.

Happy new year, friends! Hope everyone was safe and had way too much fun! Caleb texted me the morning of New Years Eve and said "I'm so excited to enter into our wedding year tonight!!" & if I'm being honest, so was I. Take a wild guess of what I'm most excited about this year? ;)

{speaking of my wedding....}

So, you've already met the first two ladies who will be standing closest to me on my big day here... now its time to move on to the next 2 ladies :)

My second bridesmaid: Angie

Angie was my first college roommate ever. We hit it off instantly, with our weird personalities and awesome dance moves. Both of our "better halves" say that when we are together, we're straight up weirdos... probably because we talk in odd voices and say things no one else would really understand at inappropriate times. She is always  either laughing, smiling, or having a great time... oh and she could dye her hair green and still look super gorgeous. Its not even fair. This girl would drop anything for me and I love her for that. Although we only spent 1.5 years at college together, our friendship has remained constant and I am THRILLED to have her up there with me as I marry my best friend.

_________________________________________________________________________________

My third bridesmaid: Marie

Marie means so much to me, for so many reasons. I think she deserves a full post on this another time, because she played a huge role in my life as I became a Christian a few years ago. I looked to her at first as a mentor, and now as one of my best friends. She and her husband, Josh, are two people Caleb and I look up to in so many ways. They also get bonus points for having the most precious daughter in the world. Caleb and Josh hate it when we do our best Kristin Wiig or Amy Pohler impressions together, but they are used to it by now ;) ...  Marie and I get along so well, and will crack up at just about anything. She is such an encouraging voice in hard times, and I don't know where I'd be without her. I am so thankful she will be one of the few ladies standing beside me on my big day!!


I hope everyone is enjoying their morning, and remember those resolutions you made! I am excited and more determined than ever to achieve my goals. Know why? I made them realistic, and have great accountability! Here they are:

1. Run in another race (& just run more in general. A sweet new blog friend, Anna, sent me her amazing work out calendar to fill in and I am SO pumped to begin using it. I'd like to run either a 5K, 10K, or maybe more if I'm feeling crazy!)
2. Finish the entire Bible by Dec 31st (I started a devotional from the Bible app on my kindle)
3. Treat my body right (tons of water, more exercise, fewer sweets)
4. Learn to cook. ( more than just french toast and waffles...goodness gracious, I'm going to be a wife soon. I gotta brush up on the ole skills!)
5. Send snail mail at LEAST once a month (lets be honest, who doesn't love a sweet hand written letter or package for absolutely no reason? This also goes along with my overall goal to be more intentional with my relationships!)

So go ahead and tell me what some of YOUR realistic goals are. I can't wait to get to know each of you even more in this new year!