Wedding Wednesday!

ONE MONTH. 

That's it. 

One little month is all that's left before I become a MRS.

Our engagement has gone by so.stinkin.fast. It's hard to believe that last October Jay got down on one knee and asked me to spend the rest of my life with him. Our engagement has not been super stressful either which I'm very thankful for. We got a lot of the big planning stuff done pretty early which has made the last few months pretty easy with smaller detaily type things. 

I still cannot believe this is happening. It feel so weird to tell people we are getting married in ONE month. I also CANNOT stop smiling. Every mention of the wedding or Jay or our honeymoon, and I turn into a huge pile of mush, start giggling like a little girl, and am all teeth. 

So yes, one more month... 4.5 weeks... 31 days... I will marry my best friend. 

Tuesday Topics: 1 life long dream

Wow, these last 10 weeks have gone by really fast! I've really enjoyed being a party of Tuesday Topics, I will definitely keep up with it! It's been great finding new blogs to read through this and having something different to write about once a week. 

So this week, one life long dream. One of my life long dreams is about to come true. I am about to marry the man of dreams in one tiny little months! (Ok one month from tomorrow but same difference, hehe). Ever since I was a little girl, I knew I wanted to get married and be a wife. Growing up I was so envious of older girls who had boyfriends, and even older girls who were married. I was not the most popular girl in high school and never really dated... at all. I "dated" a few guys in college but no one was ever the one.  My first "real relationship" was with a guy my senior year of college and trough grad school. We were together a few years but it never felt like how I thought true love was supposed to feel. We finally broke up and I was heartbroken. I went back to feeling like I wasn't good enough, pretty enough, funny enough, etc. I kinda gave up on everything.

One day I decided to give up my "hopelessness" and let God get back in control. I began reminding myself to "guard my heart" and trust myself. I tell you what, Letting Go and Letting God was the best decision I could have made. It was THEN that I finally found my true love, my one and only, my now almost husband. 

For all the worrying, criticizing, self-loathing, and sleepless nights, THIS man was SO worth it. He showed me that I was worth it. He made me feel like the most amazing girl in the world, like I was the only girl in the world. I don't know what I did to deserve him. All the broken roads I traveled led me straight to him and I wouldn't change a thing if would mean I wouldn't have met him. However, we both ask each other, "where have you been all me life!?" If I could change one thing, I would have met this great man a lot sooner. But I think the lonely and tough times that we BOTH went through make us appreacite what we have together a little more. 

So now, here we are. And in 4.5 weeks he will be my husband and I his wife. This is one of my biggest and most emotional life long dreams and I cannot believe it is coming true. 

I am such a lucky and blessed girl. 

Best Friend Surprises

My bachelorette party was this weekend and it could not have been any better! I had the BEST time! Here's how it all started... actually bachelorette party post coming later this week!

My best friend Katie was scheduled to come into town from Texas on Thursday... or so I thought.

On Wednesday, my friend Crystal asked me to meet her at Walmart to pick up a few things for the weekend. I thought nothing of it, sounded pretty legit to me. I told her I could meet her after the gym, that I couldn't skip another day. She said that was fine and she had to work late anyways to make sure things were finished since she was taking off Friday and Monday. Again, sounded legit to me. So I got to Walmart before Crystal and I went on inside to get a few things myself, new lipgloss, a new sports bra, and buckets (for groomsman gifts). Crystal comes in and find me dilly-dallying in the sports bra section and starts naming off things she needs to pick up for the upcoming weekend. We start heading over to the party supply section, and of course I get distracted by anything pretty an glittery. We go to turn down one of the isles and I stop dead in my tracks. There is this girl standing in front of me that looks just like my best friend. I stare at her for a second, then look back at Crystal, and look back at this girl. OMG my best friend came home a day early and they surprised me!! I hugged her and started tearing up... I did manage to not cry though. Katie and Crystal both said my face was priceless. I was so confused I didn't know what was going on. Apparently they had this planned out 4 MONTHS ago when Katie bought her plane ticket. They have been lying to me for 4 months... and they are darn good liars! Crystal having to work late Wednesday was all bologna, she was picking Katie up from the airport... the timing was perfect with me getting out of Zumba class and making it to Walmart before them. This the second best surprise I've ever had in my entire life, (the first obviously when Jay proposed). I have the best friends a girl could ever ask for. I am SO glad they are MY best friends! I love then both dearly and it was such an amazing way to kick off my bachelorette weekend!!

My, Katie, Crystal in Walmart after the surprised me :)

Tuesday Topics: 2 places you've traveled

I haven't really traveled very many places. I like to travel but I'm also a homebody. I have had some really great vacations though. These are 2 places I really loved and I can't wait to go back.

1. Austin, Texas

My best friend Katie moved to Texas when we went off to college. She went to Southwestern University. Huge sad face. We were pitiful when we had to separate but the distance did nothing to our friendship. I think we are just as close now as we were in high school. Not a day goes by that we don't talk to each other, even if it's just one text a day... we still always talk. And I love it. So during college my junior and senior years I went to visit Katie in Texas. We had A BALL!! Some things we did will remain secret ;)  Katie gave me the good 'ol tourist tour of Austin and we hit up some pretty fun bars and eat delicious BBQ. One day during the week we went to San Antonio, down to the Alamo and spend the afternoon on the Riverwalk. It was gorgeous. Both years while I was down in Texas was the South By Southwest Music Festival. We had the time of our lives each year I was there. I cannot wait to go back down for a visit!!

2. The Caribbean

After I graduated high school my whole family went a cruise. It was awesome. I would love to do a cruise again one day but not necessarily anytime soon. On that particular cruise we went to the Caribbean and made 4 stops - Belize, Cozumel, Costa Maya, and the Grand Cayman. (I don't remember the specific order of the stops). The water was incredibly blue and so pretty. We went snorkeling, shopping, laid on the beaches, got our hair braided, ate so much food, and had the best time. It was one of the best vacations we have taken as a family and I would love to be able to do it again. 

I am super excited to take Jay down that way for our honeymoon to St. Lucia! 

We Bought a HOUSE!!

Well we haven't technically bought it yet... 

We signed the contract on a house last week and made an offer. The sellers countered, of course. So we countered back. And then did again... and this went on 3 more times. Finally this morning we got an email from our realtor congratulating us on our new house!! I was so thrilled!! I had just gotten into my office at work and ran into my supervisor's office and busted out crying. Yes I'm an emotional fool. (Good thing I wore waterproof mascara today!) I have been SO stressed out with this house thing... it wasn't even fun anymore. We are getting married in 6 weeks and now I can finally take a breath knowing we will have a house to come home to after our honeymoon. We are really tight on time but I think we can make it work. We have been talking our our mortgage lady and she is really trying to help us so we can close the week before our wedding... yes, the week before our wedding! Can you believe it?! I sure can't. 

I've never owned a home before so this is a big deal for me. Jay has had a house before so the fun and new-ness isn't there for him. And of course this isn't our dream house... who can afford their dream right from the start? We can't. And it does make me sad that I can't get the perfect house for Jay. But, this is OUR first home TOGETHER. I am excited beyond words. One more huge step in starting our lives together has finally happened. 

Now cross your fingers and say a prayer that everything goes well from here and we and close before we say "I Do."

{This is my happy face, right after I found out the sellers accepted our offer... and after I cried}

{OUR "almost" HOME}

say a prayer it all works out for us!

Tuesday Topics: 3 favorite quotes

I've missed out on a few Tuesday Topics, I just can't seem to find the time some days! By the time I sit down to blog I'm falling asleep... and I usually choose sleep over blogging. Eeek! 

Anyhoo, here are 3 of my favorite quotes!

1. This first quote, one of my all-time favorites, is actually what inspired my blog and is also the name of my blog. It's a quote by Nicholas Sparks from his book The Lucky One. 

(Such a good book by the way!)

I'm not sure what made me love this quote so much, maybe because I had just read the book right before I started my fiance. He's a simple country boy and I love every minute I spend with him. From doing the most random piddly little things, to the more fancy and extravagant, everything I do with him makes for SUCH a great time. I think that's how you really know you are meant to be with someone. When mundane daily tasks are turned into a silly adventure, being with special people doing ordinary things, makes life so much more fun... and extraordinary! 

2.  Does a Bible verse count as a quote? I think it does. This is one of my most favorite Bible verses and it really helped me when I was going through a rough patch in my life. I had this verse written everywhere so I would never forget to guard my heart. I even had it taped to my computer screen at work, where I spent the majority of my time every week and would constantly see it. 

3.  Audrey Hepburn - she was such a beautiful woman and there are several quotes from her that I absolutely love... this one being my favorite. I agree with every piece of it and I think every girl should know it! 

The Color Run

A few weeks ago I ran The Color Run with some friends. This was the 2nd color race we have done together... back in October we did the Color Me Rad. It is so.much.fun. If either of the races come to town again we will probably run those too. There is something about running for fun, no times and no pressure... not to mention to color bombs and paint! This time around we stayed away from the big color bomb blasts at the every end, we already had done it once a few months ago and we just didn't feel like getting dirtier than we already were... and we were pretty colorful just from the run! 

{before - all clean and white}

{color me maybe?! and the RUNICORN!}

{my foot starting hurting so Kate carried me a few seconds, haha}

{such a blast with my friends - Tiffany, Kate, me}

{water and granola bars & Tiffany all colorful!}

{so happy and fun}

4th of July

This year the weather was pretty sucky... so rainy and gross we didn't even get to see fireworks! Huge sad face! :( Since I started dating Jay, the 4th of July weekend has been pretty special. The first year we were together, it's when Jay first told me he loved me... under the fireworks at the Buchanan Carnival. It was pretty amazing. Cheesy but so perfect. Obviously I said I loved him back, and I also cried because I have never felt so loved. Last year on this same weekend was the huge Derecho storm. It was terrible! Jay and I were at the Buchanan Carnival with the fire department raising money for one of their guys who was battling cancer. All of a sudden the biggest storm hit, out of no where! It was the worst storm I've ever experienced. Jay put me in the truck and told me not to move. I remember sitting there watching all the rides topple to the ground, the food stands being torn apart, and all these people running trying to find a safe place. Since we were with the fire department I ended running calls with Jay. It made for a longgg night but it was pretty neat to see Jay doing something he loves. Needless to say we weren't able to go back to the carnival for fireworks a couple days later... we went to a friends house instead and watched them over the mountain. This year I was hoping would be great like our first 4th together... and it was great... except for the huge monsoon! We made it to the Buchanan Carnival again and ate so.much.food. Vinegar fries, chili cheeseburgers, petros, and raspberry ice cream. Yum! We love celebrating the 4th of July together and I'm super excited for next year when we will be married! I have this whole idea in my head of hosting an awesome party with all our friends coming over and playing games, listening to music, grilling out... and decorating! 

I want a kayak!

A few weekends ago when Jay was off and the weather was sunny and hot, we finallyyy made it out to the river. That is my most favorite place to be, especially with Jay... and with some of out best friends, Crystal and Ryan. The each just got new kayaks; Crystal got one for Ryan for his birthday and she got herself one as well. Jay has an one that he's had for years. Who does that leave without a kayak? That would be me. Boo! Luckily Crystal's little brother has a small one that I fit right into to. It's a sit-on-top which is what I like. This was my first "kayaking trip" and it was so much fun. The river was moving pretty fast and strong so what should have been a 4-5 hour float took us about 2. My kayak was lighter than everyone else so I kept getting ahead which was not so fun... the current was too strong I could not paddle back up stream no matter how hard I tried. Oh well, I just floated on down. Now I cannot wait to get myself my very own kayak... and get Jay a new one that's easier for him to fish in. I think we might get them for each other as our wedding presents. But for right now I will keep using the little one which does just fine. I can't wait to go back on the river and float more! I love summer on the river!