Remember the time I got married...

Nine years ago, on a warm December day, much like today actually, Matt and I got married. Looking back there are so many things I would change if I had to do over. I would have picked different bridesmaid dresses, sorry girls... I would have had simpler LIGHTER flower bouquets. I would have spent more money on a photographer with more experience. I would have had a bigger reception that everyone stayed at to dance the night away.

But I was so young. And really didn't want to spend a lot on one day. I think even then I knew the wedding wasn't the main event. It was just a fun formality. These nine years have proven that point. It was a great day. But it hasn't even come close to my favorite day with Matt Washburn. 

Thank you to all the family and friends who were there to support us and who continue to play a huge part in our marriage. And thanks Matt, here's to 99 more.

 Here 9 things I remember looking back. 

• My dress didn't fit. I had to tug all day because it kept sliding down. The bridal shop talked me into ordering a size up because they swore they ran small. But of course I dieted and exercised like crazy for my wedding day and by December 4th it was THREE sizes too big and we didn't have time or money to alter it. So in all the pictures it's sinking in instead of fitted. '

• I was oblivious to what anyone else was doing all day. Apparently the flowers were wilted and someone fixed them, a bridesmaid forgot her ribbon sash and went to Hobby Lobby and bought/improvised another, my 3-year old brother in law got lost in a giant pile of leaves minutes before picture time. A cell phone rang during the ceremony.  There was a tacky Christmas tree contest on the lawn in front of the chapel that day, I never noticed until this picture was developed. And someone, maybe a groomsmen, listened to the SEC championship game during the service on a head set.

• Someone, that was not an actual lady of the night, wore a sexy Mrs. Claus outfit to my wedding, including fishnet stockings and thigh high black boots.

• My mom's friend told me it wasn't too late to run while I was waiting to go down the aisle, and Matt's sister (also a bridesmaid) assured me it was indeed too late.

• I forgot to put my veil over my face to walk down the aisle, after I had specifically bought a veil to do that with.

• I shook and bounced up and down so much during the service during one of the prayers my pastor had to tell me to be still.

• I got the giggles when that happened and couldn't stop laughing during the unity candle song.

• Matt blew a snot bubble when he hugged my Mom at the end of the ceremony

• We were both exhausted by the end of the ceremony and just wanted to lay down and watch Saturday Night Live. Which is what we did.

 What a great day, as a matter of fact, I wouldn't change a thing.

Wordless Wednesday::My Brother Got Married!

Bandwidth Error:: Looking for Grace

Lately my brain has been giving me the error symbol. You know the spinny wheel that just goes and goes and then the program your running has to force quit. Sometimes it's a bug, but sometimes it's a memory problem. It's not that your computer can't remember, it's that it is so busy remembering everything else you can't start anything new, even if you really want to. You have to go in and close out other programs, empty your trash, and clean up your desktop before you can move forward.

That's me right now. In this phase of my life, my bandwidth is full. Every moment of my day is not full, but my mind is and I can't quite keep up with everything I'm suppose to anymore.

But here's the thing, I love it! It's a great phase.

My husband and I are best friends and we want time together to talk and laugh everyday.

I have a fun 5 year old (WHAT FIVE!) and she does fun things all day long that I want to be a part of.

I have a cool job, where are teach kids the joy of music and help them discover their own talents.

 I have an amazing church that I get to call my home, where I am reminded of the gospel and challenged to live it. I get to help lead our children's ministry with amazing volunteers and leaders.

I have a shameful amount of genuine, close friendships that others can only dream of, people I truly want to spend time with daily.

I love to craft and sew and make.

And I have a beautiful home that we have been in the process of reorganizing and redecorating.

Before

After

Oh and I want to run 13.1 miles on December 7th so I have to make time for training!

So right now this post sounds like bragging, but I'm just trying to be honest. When we rush around and talk about how stressed we are, how busy we are, how overloaded.....when we go in and try to figure out which "programs" should be closed to free up space and memory.....what do we mean?  I'm asking myself. Because lately when people ask me to do something my first response is "I don't have time" 'I'm too stressed." But I'm not too stressed.  I choose all the things I'm doing because I want to do them. Even if they run me ragged.

I ask simply for grace from family and friends. If I forget to call, or email, or blog, or I can't come to your get together that weekend. I'm not too stressed. I'm not to busy for you, in particular. I'm just living. I'm making room for as many programs as I can. Cause life is fun, and I want to magically do it all at 100%. But there are {cliche} only so many hours in a day.

So, I may be stretching my memory card, but that's not going to change any time soon.

How do you fit it all in? 

What helps you prioritize? 

What tools keep you on track to not forget anything?

Our {Fake} Campout

Fall weather means it's time to spend as much of your life outside as you can! But being the technology junkies we are it means, moving things you love like Alabama football games and The Wizard of Oz outside with you.

Enter homemade drive in movie theater.

 

Here's how we did it, not rocket science. And it cost $0, because everything we needed we found around the house.

1 piece of plywood, laying in the attic. 1 white bed sheet, stuffed in a box in the attic. And a staple gun. That was our "screen"

Then I found hooks and metal rings in the basement that attached to the porch decking to hang the screen up.

Then we hooked up our projector to our laptop and voila!

And now that we have the set up, we are looking for every opportunity to get outside in nature and watch TV.

Like a kid's first "Wizard of Oz" experience!

 But this time I ramped up the outdoorsy experience. I added a fire pit, hotdogs on a stick and marshmallows for roasting! That's downright camping y'all. I mean, as long as you define camping as having a bed, blankets, access to a fridge, bathroom and wireless internet, right?

I think I earned a merit badge on this one, for reals.

It's Fall Y'all

It is finally October again. I love Fall, along with everyone else on the internet. The heat finally breaks, everyone gets outside, and you get to eat and drink every thing in pumpkin flavor.

But before we start instagramming our pumpkin beers and pumpkin lattes check out what the Kid President is trying to do this October...or should I say "Socktober!"

I know I know, get over Kid president already...but I dare you to watch this and not feel inspired and not have a grin on your face when the 4 minutes are up.

If you can watch this and you are annoyed when it is over, we can't be friends. I said it.

Happy Fall Y'all!

DIY:: Home Decorating

We are slowly but surely updating the decor in our home. You know how you just need a fresh look every once an awhile?!?!

So here's what we've done so far, some rooms are close to done, some rooms only have one step.

Bedroom:

Our bedroom got a fresh look using old ideas. We purchased a mid century modern bedroom set from an antique store and it made the room SOOO much better! Turns out giant furniture from the 21st century just doesn't fit a tiny room built in 1922. The lower profile furniture looks so much cleaner and the room looks more spacious!

So of course I don't have any before pictures cause I'm a great blogger like that. But here is our updated (vintage) bedroom:

Chest of Drawers

Side table ( I spy little lambs....)

Console Dresser

Still looking far a few wall accents for this room. But other than that it's done for now!

Next two rooms is just a sneak peak. The official revel will be by the end of September.

Here are some hints from what's happening in the dining room.

It may be a new color

New chairs are involved...

And some great new lamps

Up close

And a brand new, antique, china cabinet ( I spy missing French Doors)

This is what is so hard about decorating for me....it is a process. Unless you have A LOT of disposable income and you can just open a West Elm catalog and buy every piece in the room, it comes together pretty slowly. We have learned from some very gracious friends (hm hm Lara and Aaron) that it takes patience and "just trying it out" to find out what really fits in a room and what should be returned. Even if you have to return 18 curtain panels and an 8 x 10 rug.

So last set of sneak peak pics are of our guest bedroom, that may or may not contain our future Mid Century Modern buffet ( if my massive Art Deco monster ever sells on Craigslist, I'll move it to it's rightful place in the dining room). 

New bed and new bedspread

I spy a rug that needs returning!

So thats my horrible post about our decorating journey, that is far from finished. But we are beginning to see the end....