Oh September.... keep me coming back for more

September.

The first month of what I call F A L L.  I can feel the cool crisp air in the mornings during my daily walk with the pups.  I know it's coming.  It's SO CLOSE.

I fall over fall.  It's my favorite.  It's what makes me happy.

Football.  Family.  Boots.  Sweaters.  Chunky, big sweaters.  Pumpkins.  Apples.  Coffee.  Blankets.  Snuggles.  Fall.

I'm a sucker over it.  Today makes me happy because it's the first step to turning the corner into fall.

When it comes to seasons-- what is your favorite?

XO,

Fall Themed Bridal Shower

This past Saturday (November 8, 2014), my sister and mother (along with some of my bridesmaids) threw me a big Bridal Shower.  I LOVEEE Fall (and if you follow me, you will know this, HA).

The shower was full of friends, family, soup, salad, apples, and sweets and treats.  I was showered with love and gifts by everyone and I am so thankful.

I actually got a BIT nervous before this shower, because everything is falling into place and actually feeling REAL for the first time.  Josh and I have been engaged over a year already, and now we're getting down to the wire and our big day is about to be here!! EEEK

Here are some pictures from the shower!  The weather was perfect.  The company was perfect.  The shower was perfect.

Thank you, Sissy (Ashley) for pulling this all off.  The shower wouldn't be possible without you and your vision!

This was a "SNEAK PEAK" the night before the shower!

 My friend Lindsey, me, and Ashley (one of my maids) 

 Posing with a new bamboo cutting board Josh and I got!

My Sweet Grandmother came from NC to my shower!

The Hostess with the Mostest!  My sister is better than yours! ;)

Kasey and Me (my Best Friend since College)

Family Picture (Cooper, Ashley, Mom, and Me)

Julia (my soon to be sister-in-law and maid), Me, and Ashley

I love y'all! Thank you so much for the love and gifts!

Fall in the Air

I want to take a moment to STOP and breathe in the fresh air.  It feels so much like FALL, I can almost taste it.

Yes, we are experiencing HOT weather.  Yes, we are getting afternoon thunderstorms.

But, that's not stopping me from dreaming and wishing and hoping for FALL weather, soon!

You see, Fall is my FAVORITE time of the year.  It's something about the crisp, cool air.  It's something about the leaves changing from bright greens to orange, red, and brown.  It's the pumpkins.  It's the football.  It's the apple pie. 

Fall makes me feel like HOME.  It makes me feel comforted.  It makes me feel COMPLETE.

It's also the start of a beautiful, magical holiday season.  Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's.  All within a couple of months we get to experience some of the BEST holiday's.  These are holidays spent with loved ones.  It's a time of celebrating, rejoicing, and having a great time.

Fall is the start of it all.

This year will be extra special.  Fall is the start of the season to which I will get married.  I'll be getting married January 24th (in the winter) but I'll be able to soak in all of the final wedding details and being showered by loved ones. 

Fall is RIGHT around the corner.  It's a beautiful thing!

XO,

Blonde Blues

Y'all.  I have a confession.  I MISS my blonde hair.  Like, seriously really MISS my blonde!  I had decided MONTHS ago that I wanted my hair brown.  I wanted it back to my natural color.  I was tired of getting color put on it so often and was READY for the change.  Y'all.  I was wrong!  I WANT my blonde hair back NOW.

I'm going today to my hair stylist and she is going to trim my ends.  This brought up the thoughts of wanting my hair blonde again.  NOW!  I do have another appointment scheduled for November, right before Thanksgiving.  I'll hold off and wait until then to change my hair again.

Pinterest boards have not helped me AT ALL in getting over my desire to go back to my blonde roots.  After all, I've been a blonde forEVER!  I thought I needed to be brown headed to fit in with the rest of my family.  But, I like being the wild child and being different.  Blonde suits me.

Do you prefer me with brown or blonde hair?


Here's some blonde inspiration.  I die over it.  I want this again NOW! ;)

 

XO,

Wedding Reception Venue Search & Fall Decorating

Today has been an AMAZING day!  I had planned on taking 1/2 day off from work so that Josh and I could go check out a few potential Wedding Reception Venues.  In between appointments, we had time to go to Sugar, Lowe's Home Improvement, and to St. Mark United Methodist Church (to pick out a pumpkin!).

Josh bought me some new IT skinnies and I'm so excited about them.  THEY FIT! The skinny jeans I have from the past couple of years have turned into non-skinnies and more saggy/baggy/falling off of me jeans.  Although I was thankful for the weight I've lost, I was even more thankful for getting a new, GOOD pair of jeans for this fall/winter!

We also headed to Lowe's to check out everything.  I believe we have been in that store over 10 times within the past couple of months!  I don't see how anyone could get tired of looking at things.  They have literally EVERYTHING!  We picked up some miscellaneous items and we also bought more fall decorations, including: a mum, a couple of hay bells and some pumpkins.

St. Mark UMC has for as long as I can remember a "pumpkin patch" on their front lawn every Fall. This was the second year Josh and I went together to pick out a pumpkin.  Since the prices are a little more than Lowe's, we only purchased 1 pumpkin.  We haven't decided if we are going to leave them be or if we will carve one.  We will decide what to do later!

Josh decided to snap some pictures of me at the Pumpkin Patch. I was being just a little silly!

 We found the one!

Fall decorations at our front entrance

We looked at 3 different potential Reception Venues and I think we found the most PERFECT location.  I don't want to spill the beans yet and get my hopes up because it's not finalized.  But, I will be sure to let you know as soon as we make a decision.  We have narrowed it down to 2 different places and we need to do a little more digging to see which spot is financially and physically the best fit!  Wedding planning has proven to be stressful and I've only begun.  If I can get the reception venue that I LOVE, I know my stress levels will subside.  Cross your fingers for Josh and me. 

XO,

It's Fall, y'all!



Last Sunday was the official start of Fall.  I absolutely LOVE fall and everything that comes with it.  I love the crisp, cool air in the mornings.  I love the warm, breezy air in the afternoons.  I love the pumpkins.  I love football.  I love candy corn.  I love pumpkin spice lattes from Starbucks.  I love pumpkin bread.  I love pumpkin pie.  I love pumpkin cheesecake.  I love apple pie.  I love Halloween.  I love CANDY.

Okay, okay.  Do you get the gist of how much I love Fall?  Along with the things I love, I always seem to find myself CRAVING the bad things (most of what's mentioned above and MORE!). 

When you think of getting healthy and losing weight, most people either jump on the bandwagon after the Holidays (January 1st to be specific) and around April or May, since bikini season is right around the corner.

I started my fitness journey last April, much like many of you.  I want to continue through my journey even during Fall season and the Holidays.  I KNOW how hard and tempting it is to say NO to the cake and fudge (see, I LOVE all kinds of sweets!).  For me, I am not dedicated enough to completely say NO to all of it.  I do eat it and I try to limit my portions and not eat 1/2 cake in one sitting!  Don't judge me. 

But, the biggest thing I want to do is to keep myself on track.  I know I will have slip ups.  I know I am not perfect.  Having others surrounding me who are positive, inspirational, and who will hold me accountable to my actions will help me survive the upcoming Holiday Season.

If you need some help and accountability, let me know.  I have an online fitness group starting October 14th! This is a 60 day group for WOMEN only looking to lose 10+ lbs.  You must have a beachbody workout program, Shakeology, and your GAME FACE!  This group is for serious people, only!  Please reach out to me and let me know if you are interested.  I only have TWO (2!) spots left!