Welcome, October
I started last year's October post with the same title. I'm so original.
As of today, I have officially worn sweats, drank hot chocolate, burned Fall candles, and purchased a gourd. It's safe to say that Fall has landed in our corner of town.
I thoroughly enjoy this time of year now that I don't have school. I never understood why everybody loved Fall so passionately, but now I do. It's fabulous.
Also, hazelnut chai's are my jam right now. Not so great for your health, but sometimes that's a sacrifice I'm willing to take.
Late night ramblings
Let it be known that Jeff and I spent 30 minutes in the candy aisle deciding between sour gummy worms vs starburst for me, and sour watermelons vs every other sour candy for Jeff. Two young [scantily clad] 13 year old girls came walking up the aisle and showed us up, darting straight for the sour air head minis in less than 30 seconds. We were shocked at their quick decision, and even more shocked their parents let them leave the house. We don't buy candy often, like maybe 3x a year, so this was a big decision for us ;)
Also, Jeff learned how to fishtail braid my hair...sort of.
And there's a picture of Redding. There isn't a lot in Redding, but there was a pretty wedding that we were invited to DJ for so we gladly accepted. No, I'm not a wedding photographer and a DJ...it was an iPod clicking, makes an actual DJ cringe because you didn't hire a real DJ kind of a gig. We were with friends and it was fun. However, now that Jeff and I have taken on this great feet [is that the correct spelling in this case? let's go with it] we're considering the DJ meets Photographer, duo-team: Nicole Dianne and DJ Mute. DJ Mute, because Jeff is quiet.......see what we did there?
Three Years
Three years ago I remember walking out of Starbucks and getting a phone call from Jeff. I freaked out because of the whole "don't talk/see/touch each other the day of your wedding before your ceremony" thing. But I answered, and it was Jeff asking if he needed to bring anything to the wedding. I assured him that I had everything taken care of and all he needed to do was show up in his tuxedo, ready for pictures by "xyz" time. He said something along the lines of feeling like there was more he was supposed to be doing but that he couldn't remember what it was...I once again assured him everything was taken care of and that we should probably stop talking before we destroyed some magical notion of talking to each other before the ceremony :) With a quick "love you, marry ya later!" he was off the phone.
Today, Jeff and I celebrated 3 years of marriage. I'm laying in bed, at the end of our anniversary today feeling so happy, and blessed to do life with him, even though he just rolled over and sleepily asked why the heck I'm blogging so late :) I've blogged our anniversaries every year, and this space is a place for me to reminisce and look back on in years to come, so tonight, I blog.
I'm not usually a "play-by-play" kind of blogger, but tonight there's no rules and I'm just going to type! This will probably bore everyone except my mom, but here was our anniversary numba three play by play. This was the first year Jeff and I actually got to spend our whole anniversary together. Year one, he was in Iraq and year two he had school all day long followed by drill the next morning, so it wasn't super awesome, until the following week when we could actually celebrate. Well this year WAS awesome.
We woke up this morning and had breakfast together followed by a trip to a local nursery with a super cute restaurant [that of course I didn't get pictures of...except koi fish, that's all I took pictures of today...koi fish from the nursery pond, I don't even know]. We had a nice lunch outside after we looked around at all the plants that I
We came back to the apartment and caught up on some Big Bang Theory, because what's an anniversary with out a little mid-day relaxation together? Then we picked ourselves up and went to Starbucks, where we looked up recipes for our new [to-come] juicer!!
[source]
That's a whole story in, and of itself. Let's just say there are really awesome people in the world, and I can't wait to have the means to return that sort of kindness in the future.
Anyway, we did some juicer shopping at Trader Joes which was actually really fun. I love that things like going to the grocery store, and Costco have become fun for the two of us. We're a little married couple now and these types of things still make us happy...I hope that never changes. We came home and made our selves a caprese pizza together, drank a little champaign and watched GATSBY for the first time. I've never read the book, so I kinda did things out of order, but I thought it was a really good movie. I have mixed feelings over the ending, but I won't spoil that here in case you're like me and waiting until now to catch up with the rest of the world ;)
Today was great though, I'm just so happy to be where we're at. We're both moving forward with careers and life decisions and I love that we're doing it together. It's so much fun to hang out with your best friend every day and honestly figure out how to do life together. It takes a lot of work, and I know we're still young and probably naive to some things...but that's okay with me, I like naive sometimes. We're learning, growing, and making a pretty awesome little life for our family one step at a time. I love that.
Here's to year four bringing a lot of awesome our way.
Stream of Consciousness
Starting blog posts has never been my strong point, I feel like the intros are always a bit awkward and clumsily put together, so I'll dive in.
These last couple of months have been a fair competition of bad and good, exhaustion followed by reward and stressful situations squashed down by moments of humble understanding. I've felt God speak clearly to the notion that He>I time and time again. It's a wonderful realization when you understand there is One greater than you and I who sets the world in order. I tried controlling a lot of circumstances this Summer, and I'm still finding my place in that battle with God. But I rest in knowing His plans out-do mine 100% of the time.
I'm usually a Summer kind of gal, I thrive on the sunny days, cool nights and BBQs with friends. But I'm also big on "new seasons, new months, new years" and the idea that a fresh slate accompanies each. I need that new slate right now, I want to throw control in God's hands from the start and thrive because I've done it His way and not mine. The approaching slate? Pumpkin spice lattes, homey scented candles, big sweaters, and the promise of the Holidays. Fall, I covet your grand appearance.
So, Summer...
There have been a lot of happy things among the crazy so far.
Things like greenery in my home, and blue skies every day.
A trip to Tahoe with my sweet family
to include: a family reunion, daily beach trips, a dinner on the lake, lots of games, hiking Eagle Rock with my love, great food, a fancy night spent by an outdoor fire pit and delicious drinks, and a walk through the cutest local nursery. Because it's not a trip until I've satisfied the 60 year old lady in me by perusing the aisles of perennials.
Summer AAA baseball games at our local team's stadium.
My brother works for the local team and often gives our family tickets to go see them play. I've grown up going to these games but it amps up the fun when I see my little brother running around on the field. I've yet to catch a free t-shirt from the "t-shirt launch gun" he shoots out at the audience. Hmmph ;)
A night at the State Fair with one of my best friends.
I was invited by a friend to join her at the state fair last week and it was so great. The best part? All she wanted to do was look at animals and go to exhibits just like me. Rides are fun at permanent parks, not 14 day pop-up fairs...I'm not trying to sign my life away for 30 seconds of "spin you upside-down, jerk you in circles until you throw-up" fun. Oh, and her sister worked in the animal nursery with all the little babies so that was super fun to see as well!
A ton of photography work and also new succulents.
Photography has picked up SO much these last couple of months, it's incredible to see God pouring out His blessings on this business He allowed me to have. I've worked harder on this than anything in my life and I'm finally seeing the fruits of my labor. However, I don't want to get caught up in myself and thinking I'm awesome so I'll just throw it out there again that God is the awesome one who gave me the coolest stinking job ever, and I'm forever grateful.
Also, succulents...they are cool. I love them and I will never have enough.
A couple images from my first ever styled session!
My wedding season begins on August 17th...I'm nervous, excited, and feeling oh so very blessed.
Jeff watches the Bachelorette (v.1)
Every Monday night my friend Nicole and I have a girl's night and watch the Bachelor/Bachelorette. Be it that his friends are busy, or just pure unlucky-ness...every now and again Jeff will get stuck watching it with us.
The comments made during last night's episode of Bachelorette were just TOO good not to document. So I give you the first installment of "Jeff Watches the Bachelorette."
The comments made during last night's episode of Bachelorette were just TOO good not to document. So I give you the first installment of "Jeff Watches the Bachelorette."
Me: Did you see Arie's tweet last night about the awkward two-on-one?
One of the guys hanging out with Des
Nicole: No I can't wait though
Jeff: Arie's on this sea....crap.
Me and Nicole: What?
Jeff: I know who Arie is, and that sucks.
One of the guys hanging out with Des
me: I like him! He's goofy!
Jeff: why? He's Guido
Group Date
Nicole L: They all have sweatshirts from Target...WHY are they all wearing sweatshirts from Target?
Des said it was her first time in Europe and she was so excited about it
Jeff: First time in Europe? LIAR! She just went there with Sean last season!
When Chris finds out he gets the one-on-one and gets super excited about it
Jeff: He's such a girl!
Me: I think it's cute he's so excited to have a date with Des
Jeff: You don't like menly men do you Des? He won't take care of your family and chop down a tree to make a fire and keep you warm! He'll probably bake you a loaf of bread and butter it and you'll have to make the fire to cook it on yourself!
Bryden watching Des and Chris Dance around
Jeff: Creeper. WHY is he so creepy?
Bryden watching Des and Chris Dance around
Jeff: Creeper. WHY is he so creepy?
Des takes a picture by a little clown
Jeff: Oh, he's a midget!
Des walks out in a sparkly dress
Me and Nicole: she looks so gorgeous in that dress! I love the sparkles
Jeff: I hate it. There's way too many sparkles.
Nicole: But don't you think she looks pretty in it?
Jeff: Only if she didn't touch me, I don't want sparkles all over me!
[She gives Chris a hug]
Jeff: Sparkles, all over him.
Jeff: This show is what's wrong with men.
Des going up the gondola in foggy mountains
Des: It's like we're in a cloud!
Jeff: Well, you ARE in a cloud...
Zak waiting for one-on-one time with Des behind her and James
Jeff: WHY why are they all so creepy.
Zak waiting for one-on-one time with Des behind her and James
Jeff: WHY why are they all so creepy.
Each of the guys is singing with a yodeler
Des: I just love how these guys are so open to trying new things!
Jeff: NO they're forced
Jeff fasts forward through commercials "There's still an HOUR left?" ten minutes later he's asleep on the ground.
+ Love that silly boy of mine :)
choosing joy and lemonade
Sometimes life throws you lemons and you want to forget the whole making lemonade shenanigan and throw them right back to the lemon tree who decided it would be fun to launch hard, bright yellow things at you. Not nice lemon tree, I don't really want your sour lemons.
All that to say, these last two weeks have been a little brutal, and by a little...I mean a lot brutal and really lemon-y. But I've come to a place of acceptance because life could be worse and at the end of it all, the important things in life still exist. Like, succulents still make me happy, my dog still thinks I'm the greatest thing on Earth, I learned a really cool way to propagate succulents here, and Pretty Little Liars has 3 seasons on Netflix. So basically all is right in the world and I'm camping out in the land of "choosing joy," and maybe drinking a glass of lemonade or two.
:)
Please tell me happy things from your life!
Lake Tahoe
Pretty much every year my family takes a trip to either Lake Tahoe or Santa Cruz. I'm more of a beach person so Santa Cruz is my haven...but we have a pretty amazing family cabin in Tahoe that I can't complain about so I'm just as happy going there. We're going there SOON and I can hardly stand it. Time off from work and life is exactly what the doc ordered. And by doc, I mean me ;)
That's a picture of our private beach that we get to hang out on, there's also a community pool area with ping pong and lots of other outdoor games...I seriously can't wait. To see pics from our vaca here last year check out these posts!
>>>
Just for fun, here's some pictures from past family vacations we've enjoyed.
[Squaw Valley 2012]
[Mexico 09]
[Mexico 09]
[Santa Cruz 08]
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