Weekend bliss!

This weekend was seriously a blast(if you don't count the embarrassing loss to the Cleveland Browns today), BUT we won't get into that. Any who... Caleb and I took a mini road trip to a town called Mount Vernon (where Caleb and I both went to college) for a friends wedding on Saturday. It was too much fun. One of the things I love most about weddings, besides all the love you can feel, and the exciting feeling now that I know I am "next"... is seeing all your old friends!

The groom, Bryan, was one of Caleb' college roommates and good friends. His gorgeous wife Lydia and I got to know each other through all of these boys. We were kind of always the ONLY ladies around their apartment, so we had to learn to "be one of the boys". It was a hilarious blast all the time, never a dull moment in their big apartment. We had a lot of fun! 

Allen, myself, Caleb and Rich!

Rich, pictured on the right.. decided to get seventeen kinds of snap happy with my camera... and Caleb and I have officially decided we're the worst picture takers on Earth. I'll let you see for yourself..

Oh finally... a "normal" picture.. :)

...and that little girl is DOWNING her pepsi back there. Thanks, chick. Now check out this little cutie, rockin the bowtie.

Looking over these pictures again, makes me miss college. Caleb even said it as we pulled into our old campus' driveway.. "I kind of actually miss this place" ... something he never thought he'd say ;) Let me be clear.. I don't miss the classes, but I do miss the relationships I formed on that wonderful campus. Excited to get in touch with some of them again this week. :) 

Happy Sunday all, hope your weekends were phenomenal!

they day I stapled my pants

Lets start out by me saying, this just hasn't been my day. First of all, its the Cincinnati Reds LAST CHANCE to pull through, its Game 5 of the Division Series, the Giants came back from our 2-0 lead, and this is the game to make or break our future of this post-season. So needless to say, being stuck at work, seeing friends on Facebook buying $5 tickets to the Reds game........

I am not a happy camper.

Especially when I had a chance to leave work and thought to myself, "nah, I really should stay at work. There's not enough time to go home, change...AND go all the way downtown before the game. Besides, I'd want Caleb with me." **cue Caleb's text not more than 47 seconds later:

"hey babe! Guess what? My dad got tickets to the game

 from work and we're heading down, love you!"

(jaw dropped).

So you can imagine the sheer joy when I sit down this morning in my chair after talking with a co-worker, and BAM.

My pants rip. I mean, we're talking... RIPPED. Not just a piece of string came loose, no... like a good 7-8 inches of my upper INNER thigh was exposed! For the first time in my life, I truly felt like a busted can of biscuts. I mean, who else would this happen to?! Besides me!! On this day!

Truly, I am a person that can laugh at myself, so instead of freaking out. I just let loose and began to crack up. I mean, beat-red-in-the-face crack up. Luckily no one was around when it happened. So, I grabbed the tape dispenser and stapler, took them in the restroom (despite the weird looks), and went to town doing my best to stitch my poor pants back together. Now is a time when I really wish I knew how to sew!

So, here we are... many laughs and staples later...
I will NOT, however apoligize for not providing a picture. Its not a pretty site over here.

Happy Thursday, friends. Hope you are able to laugh at yourselves over something ridiculous today :)

Simple reminders

Ladies, I'm sure this has happened to you plenty of times. Closet full of clothes, and nothing to wear.

Caleb and I are getting our engagement pictures done on the 22nd of this month, and I am having a wardrobe MELTDOWN. Happens to me almost daily. But this time, its serious. I (think) I need a good new pair of boots, a cute chunky sweater and some big statement jewelry. I want to look cute, but I'm having such a hard time feeling it!

My goal for the wedding was just to "tone up" so I can rock my bikini on my amazing honeymoon.

.....I've since learned its a bit harder than that, even though we've been running like beasts/eating right/etc. Its hard to do. One night, I was feeling extra stressed about not being able to get the results I really want, and just like that, a friend posted an article online that was about "Engagement Myths" and one of them stated:

"Your fiance asked you to spend your life with him looking exactly how you do today. Don't buy into the myth that you need to lose ANY weight to be 'you' on your wedding day. You are perfectly beautiful how you are, and your future husband thinks so too".

I was so happy. Its like God knew I needed a little encouragement. Isn't it funny how right when we need something the most, He puts something right infront of us... and makes you say "Duh. I knew that all along, thanks for the reminder, big guy." At least, thats how I feel.

I've been drinking a crap ton of water throughout the day, trying to run at least 2 miles four times a week with Caleb, and we are on the right track. This is teaching me a lot, but most of all, I'm learning how to be patient. Results won't come right away, but if I don't give up, I'll get there eventually.

God is right; I am beautiful, and so are you.

Happy Tuesdays, ladies.

Fall overload!

If you like fall, pumpkins, pictures, cider or hayrides.. you'll really like this post. I haven't used my camera like I did this weekend in a while. & man it felt great!!

I was browsing online one day and got an e-mail, a BOGO for Blooms and Berries Farm in Loveland! This place was a ton of fun, and none of us even have kids! We got to do the hayride, corn maze, and sunflower patch with our package. The hayride was a hilarious adventure, it was a muddy mess. When I wasn't hanging onto Caleb for dear life (so I wouldn't fall off) we were cuddling and cracking up with Erin and Jared (his brother/sister-in-law...some of our best friends).

After that adventure, we went into the corn maze.. for about an hour! It was tough ;)

Like I said, we are kids at heart :) I kind of love this girl.

we like each other ;)

Erin, Jared, Caleb and I :) some of my favorite people

Hope everyone had a happy and beautiful fall weekend. Mine certainly is not quite over, I am currently watching the Bengal's PRAYING they can pull it together and take this win! 

Do anything fun this weekend?

my proud moment

I wouldn't expect you to know, but I've had to sort of be a motherly figure to my brother for a while. I was at work and he called me to ask if I'd come watch him play drums at halftime for the Homecoming football game. So, my grandma and I decided we would go and cheer him on like the embarrassing women that we are :)

**she obviously didn't get the "Sarcastic smile" memo...

and this, my friends, is my brother... who is 14 by the way. and completely taller than me. I still love him :)

His little heart was beating out of his chest, he was so nervous and excited for halftime to show off his skills. He even threw in a little tossing of the stick during a solo... and call me ridiculous, but I was so incredibly happy for him in that moment. Its the coolest feeling to do something you love, and to be good enough to show it off? Brandon- you owned that performance :) So incredibly proud of you.

Today, Caleb and I are off with his brother and sister-in-law (my-almost "may as well already be"-family), to a formal Welcome Home Party for their cousin, Dillan.. who returned from Afghanistan recently (read a couple posts down to see his SURPRISE welcome home), then off to a pumpkin patch, hayride extravaganza. Once dinner time comes, we are heading over to some other cousins house for an "all things fall" dinner night.. and yes, we will be drinking cider galore. I must say, I do love pumpkin spice, but so many people forget about APPLE CIDER! It kind of pales in comparison to pumpkin anything this time of year. Hmm, I'll have to change that. Maybe find a fun apple farm? Too bad my favorite one from childhood shut down. I'll find somewhere :) 

I love adventures. What are you doing this gorgeous weekend?

YAY!

Caleb and I finally have ONE MORE THING checked off of our "Wedding To-Do List" and man it feels good. Thats right, we found the church we are going to get married in! I mean, thats a pretty big deal-- right?!?

 Don't mind me, while I do my happy dance over here...

Can you tell I'm pumped?! So pumped really.. that Caleb and I felt like running a few more miles tonight. Gotta be in great shape for our wedding ;) we've been running for about the past 3 weeks, trying to build up a nice steady pace... and we can run almost 3 miles now straight. I mean, this is a HUGE accomplishment for me.

We ran our first 5K together this past May... well, I guess we didn't even run near each other, but hey- we started together. and he waited for me at the finish line :) yay! Hoping to sign up for another run shortly. Maybe the Jingle Bell Run in Cincinnati this year??

Anyone have any fun 5K's they like to do annually? Let me know!

A welcome home

Caleb's cousin (may as well call him a brother) Dillan came home from Afghanistan and on his way home from the airport yesterday, his entire street was lined with random strangers, neighbors, friends and family.. hands full of balloons, signs, flags and more. It was such a beautiful and overwhelming site. I really can't explain how incredible it is when you have that many people full of so much love around you. If you are from Cincinnati, you probably know how strongly active the Yellow Ribbon Support Center is, and them, along with our County Commissioner, Bob Proud, rallied up some people to welcome our great friend home. I will leave you with some pictures to see how amazing the turnout was.

These photos make me want to cry all over again, but praise God for keeping our Dillan safe!! I thank Him so often for watching over him. Dillan was awarded a purple heart while on his tour overseas, for helping some fellow soldiers rush to safety during multiple attacks. He truly is our hero :)

Happy Sunday all, what are you thankful for?