5

I've been thinking a lot about the number 5 today.

Especially in regards to different stages of life.

If you think about it, a lot happens to kids between the time they're born and the time they reach 5-years-old.

In that span of time they lean how to talk, walk, eat normal food, ride bikes, run, jump and can go to school.

Then once they hit their teen years there's a whole other set of things that they learn.

How to manage their time, how to handle drama, how to work, and how to love...all while going through high school and (most likely) their first year of college.

There's a lot that can happen in those few years.

Today, I've been head-over-heels in love with the man I will soon call my husband for 5 years.

We started dating in 2007 and man, have we been through a lot.

College, moving out on our own, enlistment, deployment, drama, trips back and forth to see each other, hours on the phone, thousands of text messages, engagement, and wedding planning...just to name a few.

Through all the ups and downs, I wouldn't trade a thing and I'm more than excited to start our next chapter, our next 5 years of life, together. Who knows what's going to happen! 

Our first picture as a couple. One of my favorites.

And one of our engagement pictures.

Oh hey!

Sorry for the lack of blogging this past week.

I went to LA and didn't bring my computer. Oops!

I went to see three of my favorite women graduate from Cal State Northridge and Long Beach.

I loved being there for them and I loved being back in Long Beach.

Here's some photos I love!

 

maybe monday

Maybe I'm really not looking forward to driving 5+ hours tomorrow.

Maybe I am really excited about seeing some really amazing women graduate this week.

Maybe the place that fixes my car is awesome and gave us the "Mann Discount" today.

Maybe my family has the worst luck with cars.

Maybe I got really overwhelmed thinking about money.

Maybe I feel like I should have been working two or three jobs these past few months.

Maybe our friends in NC made me cry on Saturday night.

Maybe I really miss having friends around.

Maybe I can't believe that I graduated from college a year ago!?

Maybe I'm already ready to fall into bed at 7:30 p.m.

bro code, article 3

Bro Code:
3) If a bro gets a dog, it must be atleast as tall as his knee when full grown. Corollary to this states, naming a lap-dog after a pro-wrestler or a character from a Steve McLain movie does not absolve a bro from this article.

 Talkin about our dog tonight made me miss him. Then I found this. 

3 more months.

no such luck..

Tonight we were talking about jobs.  I've been hoping and praying that I'll be able to find a journalism job once I move to NC.  Tonight I decided to face the music and look to see if the local newspaper was hiring writers.

No such luck...at this point in time anyways.  I guess I could always drive around and deliver the newspapers that I so desperately want a byline in.

It's actually been weighing heavily on me the last couple days that I'm not working in the field that I studied so hard in.  In less than a week it will be the 1 year anniversary of my graduation.  Don't get me wrong, I have loved being a nanny over the last year.  I've made a lot of money and my life has been impacted greatly by these little babies.  I've also loved being able to plan my wedding without distractions.  I wouldn't trade any of it.  I'm just hoping that in this next stage of life I can have a different job.  Here's hoping!

letters for this friday

Dear Friday housecleaning, we have a love/hate relationship.  I hate to spend a few hours of my day cleaning, but I do love it when my room is tidy and neat.  This will be a tradition of my momma's that will be used in our new house for sure.  Dear invitations, man, there are a lot of you.  We got 100 of you assembled last night and hopefully will get the rest done tonight.  Dear Monterey, thank you for being so nice today.  It was nice walking around.  Dear Chipotle, you were as yummy as ever.  Dear August 18th, you're just 3 short months away! I'm so excited!  Dear almost-husband, we're so close! I can't wait to kiss your face again.

And now for a picture of me just because.  It was a hat kind of day.

Share your Friday letters with Ashley and the rest of us!

in regards to yesterday..

I said I was frustrated and I wanted to clear it up.

So yesterday I hit a car with my car.

It was really more of a love tap, as in their car was fine and my car didn't have a lot of damage.

Still, stuff like that shakes me up and my neck is killing me tonight.

 Even though it was no where near as bad, it made me think of the last time I was in an accident.

Standing on the side of the 405, right before the Sunset Blvd. exit, freezing my non-existent butt off, and looking at my poor Volvo, which I hated, but really couldn't get around without.

I think I've reached my quota for accidents recently.

The end.

little tid bits of happiness x3

1.  Blues Clues time with my favorite 2-year-old.

2.  Feeling like I was in an episode of Dance Moms.

3.  Babies playing with a box.

4.  Trey dancing to Taylor Swift.

5.  This print that made me giggle because it's so true.

Link up with Stephanie and Alycia and share the little things that have made you happy this week.

.....

Sums up my afternoon/night.

I really wish it wasn't dark outside so I could go for a run.

 

maybe

Maybe I haven't been running as long as I should.

Maybe I'm glad that I'm going to be busy the next couple mornings.

Maybe today hasn't been all that great, but it's almost over so I have hope.

Maybe I ate two baked potatoes for dinner.

Maybe I'm super excited to be heading down to LA next week.

Maybe I desperately need to clean my room.

Momma's Day

My mom is pretty amazing...and pretty...and awesome.

She is such a huge example of how I want to be when it comes to being a wife and a mother.

I like celebrating her and all the other moms in my life who have made an impact on me.

I love you momma!

A birthday.

Monday is my sister's boyfriend's birthday.

We kinda like him around this house. 

Today we went go kart racing up near San Francisco.

It was a blast and we had all a lot of fun. 

On our fun laps I came in 5th...out of 6, but who really cares right?

Hope everyone's having a great weekend!

friday letters

 

Dear almost-husband, we're out of the triple digits! 99 more days to go love! Dear Avengers, you were even great the second time. Thanks for the laughs on a Friday night.  Dear family, I like hanging out with you.  Dear 8th graders I interviewed, all of you impressed me today. I was glad I was asked to help out.  Dear nap, you were so glorious.  Dear after-nap-hair, for some reason I like you better than my morning hair.  Dear fiance (you get two cause you're special), thank you for our 15 minute phone call this afternoon.  I needed a good laugh and lighthearted conversation.  Dear momma, I'm excited to celebrate you this weekend. You're one amazing lady.

Share your little letters with Ashley!

little (tid) bits of hapiness (2)

These vintage sheets that a girlfriend found for some of my wedding decorations.

Baby hipster...this kid lights up my week.

My sister's new little baby.  Meet Siren.

New running shoes that will hopefully help me get back on track!

Funny thrift store finds.

Link up with Stephanie and/or Alycia share the little bits of life that made you happy this week!

a Tuesday tune

This weekend we, my siblings and I, spent a lot of time talking about dreams.

Becca dreams about marrying Justin Beiber or Hunter Hayes.  Cassie dreams about marrying a country singer.  Candace dreams about being a country singer herself.

 I dream a lot about using my degree and writing for a newspaper or writing a novel.

Since yesterday this song has been stuck in my head.  I found it appropriate after all our talk.

"Keep on dreamin', even if it breaks your heart."

"not all who wander are lost"

So this video and the other ones on this family's youtube channel make me want to live my life like this someday.

Watch Chapters 1, 2, and 3 for more.

How amazing does that look?

work in progress...

I can't get this blog to look even remotely how I want it to.

Finally figured out how to make a button...finally.

I'm frustrated and it's making me want to go back to school and take a html and photoshop class.

Anyways, sorry if it looks a mess.  Night lovelies!

yes we are..

via

We are going to be the couple who has corn hole at their wedding.

We are also going to be the couple that has a fire pit and s'mores.

And we'll be drinking out of these (handmade by my amazing aunt).

Redneck? Maybe.

Country? Definitely.

103 days!

as of right now..

I saw this idea on Bright Wishes and Brooke got the idea from Sometimes Sweet.

Loving... Lazy Sunday afternoons, sans parents, with my siblings.  We came home and ate lunch after church, napped on the floor, watched "The Incredible Hulk" and "Iron Man," snacked, laughed, and played guitar.  I love you Candace, Becca, Matthew, Cassie and Colin.

Anticipating... August. Duh. 104 days left till I get to skip down the aisle and marry my best friend and end our 5 year long distance relationship and move to my favorite state in the world with him.

I.  Cannot.  Wait.

Listening to... Since the Hunter Hayes concert the other night we've been on a constant country music kick.  His CD has been on repeat since Thursday.

Watching...  The Avengers.  Have y'all seen it yet?? Go quickly to your nearest theater and see it if you haven't.  I honestly wasn't expecting it to be that good and wasn't expecting to love it as much as I did.  

Hope everyone had a good weekend!

derby day!

Happy Cinco de Mayo everyone!

Some of you  might just know today as that...but there's a lot of people that know it as derby day.

By derby, we mean the Kentucky Derby.  Today was the 138th derby ran at Churchill Downs.

A race like today's used to be my dream.  I was a big horse lover as a kid and teenager...and well shoot, I'm still one as an adult too.

I wanted to be a jockey and then I got too tall.  

I always like rooting for the underdog, but I was not expecting I'll Have Another to win it.  I was "betting" on Bodemeister.  It was a great race...now go celebrate with a mint julep!

Letters on May the 4th

May the 4th be with you!

Dear Hunter Hayes, thank you for putting on such a great show last night.  You really blew me away with your talent and were great live, which is always a huge plus at a concert.  Dear leather jacket, where are you? I went to wear you last night and realized that you're gone and I can't find you anywhere. Come back soon.  Dear Avengers, I really hope you're going to be worth the price of a movie ticket or more.  I know the brothers are excited to see you and I'm going along for the sake of getting out of the house on a Friday night, so be entertaining please!  Dear parents, I'm jealous you get a free trip to Tahoe this weekend.  I hope you guys have fun! You deserve a weekend away now and then.  Dear wedding invitations, the UPS tracker says you were put on a truck in Salinas this morning. I can't wait for you to be delivered!  Dear Cinco de Mayo, I'm excited to celebrate you by having a margarita!

And just a few pictures from last night (with better quality ones to follow when I get them off the camera).

Link up with your letters at Adventures of Newlyweds! 

little bits of happiness

Four posts in two days? Probably shouldn't get used to it friends, I'm just in a writing mood!

I've enjoyed Stephanie's Little Bits of Happiness posts she's been doing lately and decided to link up tonight.

1. This quote by F. Scott Fitzgerald I found on Pinterest.

2.  Stripes and sunshine.

3.  Workin' on my flip-flop tan.

3.  Two-year-old lovin'.

4.  Celebrating National Truffle Day with good girlfriends, food, and wine.

5.  Finding/booking our photographer.

She's amazing and I'm so excited to see what she comes up with for our day.

If you have some little bits of happiness from your week go link up with Stephanie!