Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Birthday!

I. Am. Old
There, I said it.
 At least I feel like I am. Sunday was my birthday and it was very low key. I tried to make it clear way back when, to my friends and family that I really just wanted to have a birthday :). All I wanted to do was turn 26..and well, that's what I did.

For dinner, I'd decided that it would be fun to try some where new. My mom warned me before hand that she didn't really care just so long as I didn't mind 'experimenting' on my birthday. So we tried Rioz and I was not feeling it. Like, at all and we debated for a solid 20 minutes all because I couldn't make up my mind haha. There was no wait, but the whole concept I was not really digging. But I knew everyone was hungry but it just seemed weird haha. Soo we ended up going next door, to Texas Road House just because it was so close and everyone was starving.

Other than our server asking us if Keith and I were brother and sister (huh?) it was great haha. 

So much food for such a small price annd I was able to get a little birthday song and brownie at the end :) 

 

After dinner we came home for cake and presents.  

 Unfortunately my beloved Publix messed up the cake :( but it was still delish! It was supposed to be a whole cake haha.






Ever since I can remember, with a few exceptions, my birthday was an elaborate celebration with ALL the bells and whistles. It took me forever to realize my birthday was right after Christmas because I never, ever got slighted. (You know, I never got one gift for both Christmas and my b-day). My mom would always get all of my friends together along with their mamas and such for a huge celebration with a ton of presents and sweets at the place of my choice. It was awesome!
Even in college, my friends would always make 'a deal' out of my birthday and I love them so much for that. Then last year, my mom decided to surprise me with a celebration with all of our friends and family. 
Read more about that here
I am so so thankful for my friends and family and for the blessings that each of them are. I feel super old but super thankful too! I can not wait to see what this year has in store :) And I can't wait to check off a few more items from my bucket list!
 
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Wednesday, January 13, 2016

2016 Goals

Oh hey there 2016! Let me tell you, you have some BIG shoes to fill just because 2015 was so amazing in just about every way. At the beginning of last year, I listed my goals for 2015 and well kinda sorta forgot about it! :) I did try to work on things from the list BUT it definitely was not deliberate.  So many of my goals for this year will be to attempt to work at a better me which, I realize, is a constant work in progress.My goals for this year are:

-To be more present-
I am starting to notice that the older I get, the more the days literally seem to melt away. I mean, I thought this summer went by fast, but this holiday season! Whew I almost blinked and now I feel like it is time for school to start back. Ahh too soon! So I want to make a conscious effort to be more present in my daily activities--no matter how big or how small.

-Pray-
This is a must. I pray every single day but I want to continue to develop my relationship with God. I said something very similar this time last year. It is so so easy to get caught up with the hustle and bustle of our daily lives that many times, I don't feel like I have enough time to sit and have a full devotion with God.  This gets me no where since I usually end up feeling way less than whole on these days. Thankfully, God knows even without us having to say anything, he knows. Even on my toughest, roughest days I could feel God's presence and for that I am so thankful.

-Time Management-
This got way harder as the year progressed and there were more things added into the mix. I feel like the pinnacle was this summer when I decided to take on not one but TWO new jobs while simultaneously house hunting and planning a vacation. I'm still unsure of what the heck I was thinking at the time but at the end of the summer I was exhausted and it was time to begin the fall semester at school! Though I am very thankful for the opportunities God has blessed me with, I will be the first to admit that I may have bit of a tad bid more than I could chew. This year, I hope to get back to my usual type-a planning self so I can actually get some stuff done!

-Eat Clean-
This is super cliche but I really fell of the health-nut band wagon this year! And during the holidays I am sure I've gained about 10 lbs. I have to do better and not to mention, we have a wedding to prep for! Eeek #shreadingforthewedding

-Be more organized-
This is a lifelong struggle but one that is so so important. As I've said before,  no matter how hard I try, stuff just seems to accumulate all around me. And I really hate stuff. I have the Lilly Pulitzer planner as well as my desk calendar that I use daily.

-Travel!-
This past summer when we took our summer vacay, we decided to take a plane for the first time ever. And the travel bug has been all over me ever since! I vowed that it would be a long long time before I want to drive anywhere else again haha. Ahh I can not wait for the next adventure.


I am really looking forward to this year and all it has to bring. I pray for many blessings and prosperity all around!

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Friday, January 1, 2016

2015 was EPIC

Wow. This 2015 was EPIC--I mean pure epic-ness. It was full of fun, joy, laughter, triumphs and so so many blessings.

It started out in January when my mom and Keith decided it would be fun to throw a surprise birthday get together for me at one of my favorite restaurants.  Way after the fact I found out they'd be corresponding for weeks prior to. Read more about that here.

In February, Keith and I went out to celebrate our 6th Valentine's day together. I now know that very soon after that, he asked my mom for her blessing!
Waiting for us at our table were these gorgeous flowers that Keith had delivered. Love!  

Our sweet Cubby turned 3 years old. #oldiebutgoodie

This summer was BUSY! 

We bought our first house this past summer. We prayed and prayed and looked and searched and prayed some more. After scowering the market we finally found 'the one' and knew it. It was love at first sight. We started packing early that morning and finished early afternoon. It was hard work but worth it FOR SURE.


I started 2 new jobs. One as a hostess at outback and another as an intern at another pharamacy. 
While hosting I learned a few things: 1) It takes a lot of patience to work in a restaurant 2)  You have to have a strong stomach 3) It takes a very very special type of person :) 
Read more about those here

Keith and I also went on vacay which included our first plane ride (ever) AND an engagement!!!
 
I am sure this sweet guy was hand crafted by God just for me and I am so so thankful to him for blessing our relationship. 


We celebrated my sweet grandma's birthday.
 
Love this lady so much! 

 And we went to a wedding to celebrate the unity of my god-brother Lee and his beautiful bride 
 
AND to top it off our Clemson Tigers are going to the ship! Ahh! I love my alma mater so much and we are so so proud of these boys

 Image result for clemson football

2015 was so full of many many blessings both good and bad. At some points, I was really unsure which way was up and on those days, I know it was only God who got me through them. I am so thankful for my family and friends both old and new. 2016 has big shoes to fill and so much to look forward too!

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