roaring river

This past weekend we ventured 5 hours to the place I adore most in life.

Roaring River.

If you haven't gone, you are sure missing out in life. It is the exact definition of relaxation. After a rough, long week it was just the medicine the doctor ordered.

It is full of camping, eating, fishing, and gorgeous gorgeous views. Add in some family and really nothing can beat it. Plus, I've been going there since I was about negative years old so it really does feel like home.

I didn't snatch many pictures though because a.) I turned my phone off for the weekend -  no service there and b.) I was enjoying my company. However, I got a few. Since there  hasn't been much rain these pictures don't even give this heavenly place justice.

I've got to say it was pretty magical. All that was missing was little P.

Have I ever mentioned how much I love camping? And my family?

Perfection.

My homegirl. Seriously precious.

The best.

Rocking the no shower no make up look.

the wedding dress trial and error

Holy cow I ALMOST forgot I never posted the wedding dress trial and errors.

I was scared half to death the entire time Jeff would see my dress(es) and know what I looked and then not be surprised and yadda yadda...you know the rest.

I totally just found a few (not all-just of the first place we went) in my pictures and thought I'd post some of the contestants and well....not.

Speaking of my wedding dress...I was terrified about it. I questioned that it wouldn't fit perfect, look perfect, or be perfect. I thought somehow I'd lose weight and it'd fall off. Or it just wouldn't fit the same and look stupid. Paranoid I was.

On our wedding day? It couldn't have been more perfect. I straight up fell head over heels in love with it on our wedding day. Not that I didn't love it before, but that day. Woweee we had a thang.

I'm 110% glad I got the one I did. Geez this is making me really want to go try it on. And even more dresses for that matter. Which I could in fact, because mine is still hanging up at my parents house.

Anyway.

Here are the ones from the very very first place I tried them on. Emotional emotional emotional is what that visit was. Thank goodness for my momma being there with me through it all. And I mean ALL. God bless that woman!

compared to the actually dress I wore.........

what it feels like to have a big girl job

Hey hey heeeeey.

How's everybody doing?! Hope your week is rocking your little white socks off!

Just wanted to pop in and update y'all on this crazy ol' thing called a "big girl job" I've been rocking for the past six weeks.

If you don't already know, this is my first year as a teacher. 3rd grade to be exact. I also happen to teach at a Catholic school.

So the verdict of teaching? Love it. BUT I have got to be honest, it is WAAAAY harder than I EVER in a million years imagined. And most nights I am up there hours after school ends and up there about 45 before it begins. So really I just should pay rent to them.

As much work as it is, it is totally worth it. Many times last year and even at the beginning of the year I questioned myself if this was for me. If I was even supposed to do this profession. Questioned my passion, my dedication, and my ability. I honestly thought I had screwed up in college and maybe I wasn't good enough to do this.

As the weeks have gone by, I've figured out at least a few things it has changed my opinion. Some days are better than others, but overall I'm gonna be rocking this for a while. Will I do this forever? Who knows. I don't really decide my plan for myself. I do know I love it for now and will keep doing it until this love has gone away. So if I'm 80 and still loving it? Well, most likely you will see my hoblin' self in a school somewhere.

The things that keep me sane are coffee, cute school supplies, and having fun with the kids.

I do wonder where the hello does all the time go? I swear there is no way to fit everything in a day. Not no way, not no how. I swear I'm on fwd mode everyday all day. Is this normal? Or am I just crazy?

Anyone have any advice for a new teacher? Bring it on :)

and the homeownership roles begin

As this was the second weekend being home since we've been married, I must say it was glorious. It was glorious to get to give the house some TLC and conquer some projects we've been anxious to start.

The weather was perfect. Fall began. And my husband got a new lover. All in one weekend. Wowzers.

His lover? A traeger. Seriously, lover is really the appropriate word. He is so giddy over using it and gets so excited every time he smells it, looks at it, and even thinks about it. I wish I were kidding.

So I have got to say it was money well spent and he has worked his tootsy off for that thing. And I was beginning to get tired of hearing him talk about it for the past year. Either way, it is in his possession and the heavens are singing.

We also started some seeding. Got the floors for my "office". And had the joys of plucking the little biatch weeds.

On Friday we had a little date night and went out to dinner, joined the mug club like cool kids do, went to a hs football game, and met up with a friend for dranks. Pretty much a bottle of awesomsauce all in one night.

We finished off the weekend with some brisket smoking, church, and a little fall craft project. Not going to lie being home for a weekend felt amazing. I love traveling on the weekends and having a ball of fun, but sometimes it's just nice to be home.

Thank you LORD for these blessings.

True dat.

Over and Out.

p to the s...yes I realize there are zero pictures of me and 500 bazillion of husband. that's what happens when I get stalker camera happy. :)

living with the husband

More than a post in a week? Miracles do happen.

So I realized I haven't really said one thing yet what it's like to be married, to live with the husband, or anything relating to the change of my last name (other than the honeymoon). 

Part of it is because I was waiting on our wedding pictures to come back so I could have some pictures to add to the post. Since that hasn't happened yet, I will just talk about how it really is to live with a person of the opposite sex. 

Like I've said many of times before, change is really really difficult for me. I get attached. I get set in my ways. Change is a good thing for me, but I'm just flat out not good at accepting it.

So when I knew that I was about to have my world rocked (in a good way) and move out of the comfort of my parents home to a foreign town I barely knew with the man I love. It was hard. Hard because the real world was about to smack me in the face and of course I'd miss my familia.

The easy part? I knew even though I was leaving everything I loved and was comfortable with, I was also beyond pumped to be living with the now husband. Long distance has been against us for far too long and living together....well I can just say it's been a huge blessing that I am so thankful to have.

I love living with him. I love being close. I love NOT being two hours away. It's crazy how much our relationship has grown and I've fallen more in love with the guy since we have been able to really be with each other. Not through a stupid earpiece. 

It's funny because before we were married for some reason I thought it would just feel different.  The only thing different I feel is more love for my husband. And I still think the word husband sounds weird. haha. Somehow I always put "older" with "husband and wife". Changed my  mind real fast on that one.

I do have to say I can't thank my lucky stars enough for him choosing my to be his wife. I know not everyday is easy living with me, but he is always by my side trying to make life easier and better for us. Plus he works his little tail off for his little family and I appreciate this handsome man more than he'll ever know.

Anyway, that's the skinny so far.

Over and out good buddies :)