(This week, I hope to show you some things that put an extra spring in my step. I will let you in on a few pleasures in my life...I give you):

The Week of Simple Loves

*Monday Love* Flats

Have I ever truly expressed my love of flats on here? I adore them. Give me a comfy flat over a 3" heel any day. I think that I will always have a deep affection for these shoes in my heart, especially since they: are comfortable enough to wear during long hours at my job, don't leave me begging Chad to give my feet a rub after I wear them (I never really have to beg, it's more of a "I'll scratch your back if you scratch my back" kind of exchange), and are the perfect accessory to any outfit in my closet whether it be my favorite Old Navy perfect tee and jeans or my little black dress (this dress is not my LBD, but it is similar to the one that I have hanging up in my closet). Here's why I love them and have come to the conclusion that flats are the greatest shoes in the world-






You can get every color of the rainbow:red (patent, even), orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet.





And, you can also find flats in neutrals: nude, dark brown, black and gray (both from dear golden vintage).


And, if you're having a wedding on May 15th and your colors are pink and orange, you could wear bright pink flats.

School is a-comin'

Fall begins for me on Monday. It's the beginning of the fall semester (you know I'm in college when I say 'semester' instead of 'year') and it's the last year that I will be at the school that I'm currently at. That's right folks, this May I'm graduating. But not really. I'm graduating with a two-year degree in early childhood education, but I'm still going to school at a 4-year college in order to get my teaching degree. The start of school for me is the start of-
*writing in my planner (that fits nicely in every purse I have)
*teaching at a day-care center in the area
*working a regular achedule (finally)
*wearing long-sleeves (I do lots of layering when I'm in school
*drinking coffee (I find myself drinking more coffee when school starts-maybe I just feel that it's what I'm supposed to do since I'm a college student)


And don't you forget it.

(p.s. the mug is made from 100% biodegradable corn plastic-shout out to planet earth!)

taking another trip

Recently, Chad's family has talked about taking a trip at the end of next February. They are looking into a resort right on the beach in Key West. I am totally on board since winter always seems to drag on at the end of February and spring hasn't arrived yet. It seems like the perfect time to go because it's right before spring break (when the beaches will be full) and we can have our own 'spring break' right before our wedding day. These beach images get me more and more eager to go:






top image from it's pretty good
middle image by htatephoto
last image by bomobob

sneak peek

I have so many pictures from our California trip (over 400), but I'll definitely put up the link when I'm done editing them. Here's a little sneak peek (I'm especially fond of the first one).

Wedded Bliss: Checking things off the list

I'm pleased to announce that we have even more wedding to-do's that we've checked off the list in the last couple weeks. Before I left for California I was feeling not very thrilled about how much I had to get done and that I didn't really want to have to plan our wedding. Don't get me wrong, I love the fact that I will be getting married to Chad; it's something that I've been looking forward to for a long time. I was just feeling overwhelmed with the amount of work that had to be done. On the trip, I felt renewed and refreshed and am now looking forward to planning the day that Chad and I begin our marriage. I want the day to reflect our love and our faith in Christ and still be a celebration of all our family and friends who are sharing the day with us.

We have our photographer! It was hard for us to decide on who we were going to have take the pictures, but we eventually made the decision to work with Jeff (view his website here.) He is my friend Jenny's older brother and actually did all their pictures for their wedding. I went to high school with Jeff and his wife, Jess, and I've always loved the work that he's done. (Man, were there enough links in that paragraph for you?!)

Not only will he be photographing our wedding, but we are going to have him doing our engagement session as well sometime this fall. I really want to have the session in fall because not only is it beautiful, but that way we'll have plenty of time to incorporate the pictures on our wedding day. Needless to say, we are beyond thrilled to be working with him and that we have something so big taken care of already.

The next thing that we've discussed is bridesmaid dresses. My side will be wearing gray and I wanted to find a dress that they love, especially since I'm not the one who will be buying them. These are their dresses, and I want them to be comfortable and happy with what they are wearing. We've narrowed it down to the following choices:
This one (I can't get a picture of it, but it would be the one in stone)
This one from jasmine bridal:

And, this silk chiffon dress from jcrew:


We've also got in contact with our host and hostess, and the coordinator from our reception venue. We still have so much to do,
but it's becoming so much easier to plan now that I've been blessed by the good-attitude fairy:)

Up next: Reception Decor and Cake decisions

meditate

As you not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother's womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things. Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let your hands not be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well. - Ecclesiastes 11:5-6

I've been thinking about this section of the Bible for a while. Here are my thoughts:

Lord please help me remember that You are so great and mighty and I can't even begin to understand what You do. My heart tries so hard to understand Your power and bring You down to human reasoning and thinking. I don't know what You have planned for my future and all I can ask is for Your grace and love which I know through the Holy Spirit You pour on me abundantly. Please help me to not get caught up in my own imagination and instead simply "sow my seed in the morning" and in the evening to not "let [my] hands be idle". Please remind me that I was created to serve You and to show Your love through my actions every day. I am a miserable, sinful creature and You alone saved me-I need help remembering that every day, Lord. I need You, especially since I "do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother's womb".

far away friend

My beautiful amazing friend Dani just gave birth to her daughter Zoey Joy on Thursday. I so badly want to go down to Nebraska and see her and her new love. I haven't see Dani since her wedding day and I hope that the next time I see her will be before my wedding day. I miss her so much and if I didn't have to work this weekend, I would've been going with her family to visit. Are there any friends of yours that you are achin' to see?


{Dani and I on her wedding day...}

We had the honor of going to Jenny's wedding this past Saturday which I absolutely loved. It rained the whole day which made the outdoor reception hall a little wet, but that didn't dampen the spirits of the lovely couple. It's so nice to go to weddings when you are engaged because then you get so many neat idea (not like I wasn't doing that before getting engaged.) Here are some of my shots:


Jenny's colors were yellow, brown and red and the flower boxes held yellow as well as red flowers.



We all received these glass canning jars that served as both our drinking glasses and our favors. I will definitely be using the one that I got in my wedding.


Love and I. C-in 277 days, it'll be ours.


I loved the tent that they had the party in. Jenny really took the time to consider all the details in her wedding to Luke and it just felt so full of love. All the stresses of the wedding that she had been going through earlier didn't even matter on the big day. Jenny and Luke, I pray that you have a long and happy marriage reflecting Christ's love.

Cali-four-neeh-ah

We are going to be in California tomorrow! Try not to miss us too much, but while we are gone you'll get to enjoy some scheduled posts of mine {hopefully}. For right now, though, please feel free to enjoy the images above.

{Some more CA inspiration:}
*I'm definitely going to read "how to take better travel photographs".

*Sooo inspired by her. Especially her San Francisco category.

*Maybe when I come back, I'll be so inspired, I'll have to create a painting likethis.

*Something like this would be perfect for the car rides with baby U.

It's spelled G-R-O-W-N.

We took this picture when we stopped for a smoothie at the living room.

{there are no words.}

hey readers?

Chad and I have recently started on our wedding registry. It's kind of daunting work thinking about all the items you think you want for the rest of your life. I have never lived away from home before, and while Chad has for about 5 years, we still need certain things. Most of the area that we need the most help in is the kitchen. So I wanted to ask-

Past Brides:
Is there anything you didn't register for that you absolutely love now?
Did you do anything besides registering for gifts (especially at the mecca of all department stores, Target?
Do you have any other registry advice?

People who have ever used any item ever:
What item can you absolutely not live without?

You guys rock.

rain.

A couple weeks ago, we went to Chad's house and it was raining. Here's what I captured...

Birthday

Birthday Cupcake
Originally uploaded by LazyPhotographer


Birthday Cupcakes
Originally uploaded by Carissa Marie


HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOLO
Originally uploaded by [ ĸ ο ο ĸ ]

Today is my birthday.

My only demand is that you eat a cupcake.

Be back tomorrow. I love you, blogworld...

Wedded Bliss: Color-ation

As you can guess by this post, our wedding colors will be gray, pink and orange. When people ask me what shade of the colors we're going with, it's kinda hard for me to explain. I thought I'd show you instead:


Gray bridesmaids dresses. *La Garconne *isadora clothing





Pink flowers and other accents. *all from the knot







Orange flowers and accents throughout. *martha stewart weddings *the knot *elegantly bound


Now can you see how well everything goes together? It's pretty, right?

More inspiration: {here. here.}