sprucing up

Thank you to this lady for jazzing up my header!

As time allows, I'll be continuing to "spruce up" this space!

I have gifts from Russia...I'm supposed to get them tonight. I'll be sure to take pictures and show them off. I can't imagine what they must be!

Highlights for the upcoming week include:

1. A tasty new dinner
2. Possibly going to the Ohio State Fair...which apparently means lots of fried food (like chocolate covered bacon) and good people watching, I'm sure!

welcome home!

After two weeks of traveling...this guy is coming home today! I can't wait to see him!

What to do with this space

Ok...so I need some decorating help here! When I originally moved in my apartment I had my TV in front of the windows...but now it is moved and I need some help deciding what do with this space. It doesn't look like there is much space, but there is enough that is feels empty.

I definitely need more seating as I only have a sofa. I can't decide whether I should get something like a chaise lounge, or maybe two chair with a table in between. Or just rearrange all together? Who has ideas??

living the single life...

So...who wants to tell me how to add pictures to my header? I haven't figured that out yet!

I have been living the single life since last Friday evening. The boyfriend is in Canada on a family fishing trip. He'll be back Saturday evening, only to turn around and leave for Russia (yes, Russia) on Sunday. J spent two years in Russia after college working with college students. He is going back for a week to visit friends who are still serving there. He hasn't been in two years and is SO excited about going. He just lights up when he talks about his time there, so I am happy that he will be able to reconnect with people there.

I haven't been up to much the past couple of weeks. Last weekend I took some time to myself to recharge a little. I made the mistake of going to Babies R Us last Saturday. Word to the wise: NEVER go there on a Saturday...especially if you are unmarried and not with child. You will be surrounded by pregnant women, crying children and basically utter chaos. Luckily, I got the gift I was looking for and hightailed it outta there!

This weekend I will be going to a baby shower and attending Columbus' Jazz and Rib Festival. I have had MAJOR barbecue cravings since moving to Columbus...so maybe I can satisfy that craving this weekend! This vendor sounds right up my alley!

84 things

After seeing this...I decided to make my own list.

1. I don't like being the center of attention.
2. I am learning to use my voice.
3. I love to learn new things.
4. I am quickly becoming an apple geek (thanks to the boyfriend).
5. One year ago, I packed up all my things and moved 9 hours away from everyone I knew.
6. I have fewer friends the older I get, but I adore the ones I have.
7. I long to go to Romania and New Zealand.
8. I will never get tired of short jokes (I'm 4'10'').
9. I usually try to read too many books at one time.
10. I am TERRIBLE at math.
11. I am enjoying learning to cook. I like to think that I'm good at it.
12. I am learning to like wine.
13. I love to check things off a to-do list.
14. I am in the process of becoming free from the struggles and burdens of my past (not an easy task).
15. I love to take pictures, but I don't do it enough.
16. I grew up in church, but every day I am learning more and more what it means to be. dependent on God and to have a relationship with Him.
17. I love farmer's markets.
18. I want a dog something fierce.
19. My life is busy and ever changing, but I wouldn't have it any other way.
20. I get extremely nervous around new people.
21. It fascinates me that men can quote whole movies, even if they've only seen them once.
22. I went to college in what I think is the most beautiful place in Alabama.
23. I love reality TV (sick, I know!)
24. I have an irrational fear of car washes.
25. The grocery store is one of my favorite places (Publix....I miss you!)
26. Dark chocolate is my vice.
27. Ummm...pizza too!
28. The beach is my happy place.
29. I love to sing, but do so horribly!
30. I would like to start running again.
31. but this will have to do for now.
32. I LOVE school supplies.
33. I have finally found what I've been looking for in a church.
34. I am very independent.
35. I like to try things myself first and am hesitant to ask for help (little man syndrome).
36. I am not so great with directions (thank goodness for GPS!).
37. I now know how to drive in snow and ice.
38. I constantly fight the "am I good enough" battle.
39. I quit a job after 2 months when I first moved to Columbus.
40. I love being able to work with children with disabilities.
41. I love laughing.
42. Couponing can be really exciting...and time consuming.
43. I hate shoe shopping because my feet are so small.
44. I want to be domestic as well as this lady does it!
45. It's not a good idea to go to Babies R Us on a Saturday!
46. This place is also a vice.
47. Whenever I try get my haircut differently, it always looks the same as before.
48. A year ago, I would have told you that I would never get married.
49. I get more and more comfortable with the idea of marriage every day now.
50. I wear my heart on my sleeve.
51. Sometimes I wonder if this whole Ph.D thing is for me.
52. Southern accents and sweet demeanors are especially handy outside the South.
53. I cry. A lot. At everything, even TV commercials.
54. I am selfish.
55. I am a worrier.
56. I am a planner.
57. Moving away taught me that I can truly take care of myself.
58. Moving away also taught me to appreciate my family more.
59. Sometimes I don't finish a task before moving on to another (see #9).
60. I want like to personally revive the written letter.
61. I always try to tell people how much I appreciate them.
62. To me, there are few things worse than a bad hair day.
63. This movie changed the way I think about what I eat.
64. Sometimes I say inappropriate things at inappropriate times.
65. Although I love working with children, sometimes I wish I still work with adults with TBIs.
66. I am thankful that my gives me the opportunity to make a difference in people's lives.
67. Sometimes I think I'm still in college and stay up entirely too late.
68. Ruth and Esther are my favorite women in the Bible.
69. I have learned a lot about myself thanks to this lady.
70. My initial thoughts about Ohio were that it was more "country" than Alabama ever thought about being! (I still think that quite often)
71. I fall up the stairs a lot.
72. I love to look at interior decorating blogs.
73. I am a coffee snob.
74. I am on a diet coke hiatus.
75. I am very much a rules follower.
76. I can be funny.
77. I can be extremely air headed at times.
78. My least favorite chore is cleaning the bathroom.
79. I wish I were crafty, but there is not a single crafty bone in my body.
80. Sometimes, I have road rage.
81. Sometimes, I have a hard time distinguishing between my wants and needs.
82. I have way too many clothes.
83. Fall is my favorite season.
84. Nothing is more peaceful to me than the sound of ocean waves.
85. 
    

Wordless Wednesday

Meet Wendy!

No she's not mine...she's J's roommates....and I think she's precious!

weekend in the country

J and I headed out to his parents place on Saturday morning. J hosts an annual 4th of July party for family and friends, complete with a fireworks show. I made buffalo chicken dip and everyone loved it! The weekend was filled with family, friends, corn hole, bocce ball, burgers, hot dogs and corn on the grill and fireworks. J lives near the lake, and you can see the fireworks from his parents' house, so we gathered outside to watch those and then the show continued with J's personal firework show. His were so good that people even stopped along the road to watch!

Sunday was J's dad's birthday, and we had a big celebration at his grandmother's house. Unfortunately, I didn't take my camera to the party, but there was PLENTY of yummy food. I definitely ate too much. Overall, it was a beautiful weekend in the country!

Hot air balloon!

The boys playing a little corn hole

Mini the Newfoundland...who is not so mini!

Fire-ing up the grill!

Anna Mae (J's neice) and grandpa on the tractor