updates + announcement!!

These past couple of weeks have been hectic but I am loving every minute of it! All last week we were preparing for the semester to start back up and with the fall semester starting up comes welcome week. Thursday was Tech's great move in day. All the freshmen move into their dorm and there are a TON of activities going on. Last year I was able to be there and it was my first time to experience great move in day and I loved it!! Literally so much excitement all in one day. This year I had to work but thankfully we were slow enough and I was able to get off for the day at 10:00! I was SO excited and headed straight to the SOC house to help.   -We had our first event of the semester, Refuel, on the president's lawn.

Then headed back to the SOC house for singing and a short devo

 The SOC house on great move in day!

    -There were activities over the weekend but we went home for my sisters birthday! Can we just talk about how grown up she looks?!?!? She is 11 going on 18!

 

-Monday the SOC had a scavenger hunt across campus. I love scavenger hunts but it was SO hot.

Here is one of our tasks, take a picture in Sherlock park, there was a hashtag written in the sand, you just can't really see it lol. #struggling

Then we went back to the SOC house that night and had a huge game of volleyball

 

-I run the SOC Instagram and Twitter and love it. I think it's a great way for new students to see what we are all about through pictures and it helps keep them updates on upcoming events!

 

-Matthew hasn't been able to attend as many events as he would like to due to the fact that he has been studying non-stop. You know it's crunch time when he can't even leave the library for dinner. We had a lil 30 min date in a study room of the Tech's library :)

 

 

**I am also THRILLED to say that Matthew and I have been asked to be student coordinators for the SOC. We were asked back in May and have been working to get everything ready for this year and will continue working for the SOC. The SOC holds a special place in my heart, and I am beyond excited for this opportunity to help grow the SOC and bring people to Christ, along with Scott, our campus minister and the other student coordinators.

 SOC fall retreat- 2012

SOC fall retreat- 2013

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updates + announcement!!

sKa Kitchen: Pinterest Edition

 I am slowly but surely getting my apartment together. Here are some updates so far: Bathroom Makeover DIY Headboard Chalkboard Frame Cleaning Schedule Back Deck   and now on to the kitchen! Here is what I'm thinking, or would like to do!

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 {via}   Do you have any cute DIY projects you did for your kitchen?

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sKa Kitchen: Pinterest Edition

weekend trips

ARE MY FAVORITE. I absolutely love traveling and getting out of town for a little bit even if it's only for the weekend. There is so much to see and I love exploring a new town. Matthew's brother recently moved to Chattanooga and began working this past May and I was finally able to go down and see him and his new apartment. Matthew has been a few times this summer.   Matthew picked me up from work on Friday and we headed out as soon as I got off. We made it to Chattanooga around 6:00 their time, they are an hour ahead of us.

 

We got there and went to dinner and then made a quick stop by the store. We didn't do much Friday night, just rode around and took it pretty easy. We enjoyed this beautiful sunset as we drove around.

  Saturday we woke up and all made breakfast and then Matthew had to study for awhile. After he finished we watched tv for a little bit and then headed out. We drove all over Chattanooga looking at everything. Seriously, one of the prettiest places. Everywhere you look there are mountains, I can only imagine what it's going to look like in the fall.

  We came back to his apartment and had a late lunch. Andrew grilled chicken and made asparagus. Fun Fact: That was the first time I had ever tried asparagus and I actually liked it!! Matthew thought it was okay, so I am going to work with it some in the future to see if I can't get Matthew to like it even more ;)

Snapped a quick pic of my man ;)

  Saturday night we went to a Lookouts game! It started at 7:15 but we got there about an hour early since it was our first time going. They did an ALS ice bucket challenge, a couple of people got to get up and throw the first pitch and then a girl got up and threw a pitch and the catcher caught the ball and walked up to her and took his helmet off and proposed to her. It was very sweet and she looked very surprised!

 

My dinner, we won't even talk about how many calories I consumed from it.

 

The sunset was incredible!! And behind that scoreboard? More Beautiful mountains.

 

 

It was a really good game and very close!

 

Sunday we woke up and went to church at his new church and it was very nice! Everyone was really friendly and they had a good size class, even a few single girls around Andrew's age ;) After, we ate at a Chinese place they liked and then Matthew and I headed back to Cookeville.

 

We ran into some pretty nasty weather on the way back but we made it just fine! You can't really tell from this picture but you could see the rain off in the distance before we ran into it.

Weekend trips are the perfect getaway and always so fun! A huge thank you to Andrew for hosting us this weekend, we really enjoyed it and can't wait to go back!!!!

 

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weekend trips

Friday Favorites

1. This weather we have had lately. It got down to 57 the other night! It was actually a little chilly when I walked out of my apartment this morning to head to work. I'm not complaining though! I'm not ready for winter by any means but I am enjoying a little cool weather.   2. We are going to Chattanooga this weekend to visit Matthew's brother and I am so excited! I just love these views :)

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{via}   3. We had our last summer Refuel last night. Less than a week until all the students are back and all moved in for the fall semester and I am SO excited. This might just be one of my favorite times of the year. We have so many fun things planned and I can't wait to finally get everything started!!

  4. I am playing softball again for the city and it's really fun! I haven't played in years so I am definitely rusty but I'm warming up a bit!   5. I have been collecting antique plates for awhile now and one of my friends was selling some and a got one of the best deals of my life on them. To say I am obsessed would be an understatement.

I'll post more about them next week but I though I'd leave y'all with a lil sneak peak of them. Seriously they are perfect and y'all are probably thinking I am a crazy lady for obsessing over antique plates, but I don't care lol. 

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Friday Favorites

Kendra Scott giveaway

Simply Clarke / Alicia Tenise / Casual Claire / Living in the Moment / hellorigby! / Rad Maverix / Health, Love & Fire / Sky Envy / Lot 48 / Southern Beauty Guide / Sweet Catastrophe / Stay Crafty My Friends / Amber Nicole Blogs / That Southern Mama

I love Kendra Scott! & this month, I have teamed up with 13 other bloggers to bring you a $150 Kendra Scott Giveaway. I seriously can't get enough of the fun colors and designs. I am currently really wanting the sparkly studs above and the gold/silver statement earrings. What do you love the most? 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

         

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Kendra Scott giveaway

Thankful

Yesterday started out really good and then around lunch I started getting a headache. I do believe it was a caffeine headache but I took Advil just in case to help but it didn't seem to get any better only worse. It got so bad I had to turn the volume down on my phone and brightness down on my computer at work. I was to the point where I thought I was going to be sick. By time I got off it was a little better but still very much there. I called Matthew and told him I was going to go back to my apartment and just take a nap and see if that helps any.   Long story short as soon as I fell asleep I was out.  I slept for two hours and woke up and Matthew had already gotten there and fixed dinner and had it ready.   Y'all he is just the sweetest. He knew how bad I felt and just let me sleep while he cooked dinner (it was #tacotuesday lol.) He had studied all day and was probably exhausted himself but still helped and I never heard any complaints from him about studying all day. He has worked so hard this summer and I am so proud of him.     Yesterday and everyday I am so thankful for this man.

 

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Thankful

Poppy Seed Chicken

Matthew has talked about his momma's poppy seed chicken before and when we had our cooking day a couple of weeks ago she made some for us. I didn't realize how simple it was to make! We had some this past Sunday and it was SO good!   Here's the recipe from Matthew's mom!   Poppy Seed Chicken -3 cups chopped cooked chicken
-1 (10 3/4-oz.) can cream of chicken soup, undiluted
-1 (16-oz.) container sour cream
-3 teaspoons poppy seeds
-31 round buttery crackers, crushed (we used a sleeve of Ritz Crackers)
-1/4 cup butter, melted   Combine first 4 ingredients. Spoon mixture into lightly greased 11- x 7-inch baking dish.
Stir together cracker crumbs and melted butter; sprinkle evenly over casserole.
Bake at 350° for 35 to 40 minutes or until hot and bubbly.


After she made them we put them in these tin pans and just put them in the freezer for whenever we wanted them. You can either fix it right then or freeze it for later, either way it is SO simple to make!  

 

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Poppy Seed Chicken

A cleaning weekend

This past weekend was good. So good. Friday night Matthew had to study so we grabbed a pizza at Marcos and then he went back to his apartment to study. I went to my apartment and started laundry and watching Friday Night Lights. I picked up a little around the apartment and then six hours later I was almost finished with season three of Friday Night Lights and I had started and almost finished three new paintings. Yes, I watched six hours of Friday Night Lights and it was great. I love having some alone time every now and then and this was the first weekend we have been able to stay in Cookeville in over a month so it was just great.

 

Saturday I woke up in a cleaning mood which was good because it was cleaning day at the SOC house. We didn't have to be there until 10 to start cleaning, so I took advantage of that free time Saturday morning and deep cleaned my apartment and organized a little bit more.

 

We cleaned the SOC house for a good four hours and it looks A LOT better! We had a lot of help which was great and had everything ready for our cookout that afternoon. It was a cookout for returning students and new incoming students. The rain kept us inside, unfortunately but we still had a good time playing games and watching football. I am SO excited for school year to start back and for everyone to be back from summer break. We have a lot of fun things planned for the SOC and I am excited! Also, my two old roommates were back in Cookeville for the cookout and it was the first time we had all been together since May.

 

It was so good to have everyone back together again for a little bit!!

Sunday after church we went back to my apartment and had poppy seed chicken for lunch and it was delicious! Matthew went back to his apartment to study and I went grocery shopping and then last night we went to hear one of our friends preach and he did great!

 

As always this weekend went by way too quickly but it was a good one!! 

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A cleaning weekend

Attitude changer

Have you ever just made a list of things you love or things that make you smile? If you are having a bad day try this! It will definitely lighten up your mood a little :)   Here is my list I came up with yesterday after I had just gotten chewed out by three different customers in one phone call while working on two previous calls :)     Clocking out of work for the day on a Friday...seriously the best   Realizing yesterday morning that Matthew packed my lunch for me the night before while I was at girls night.   Getting a shirt off the clearance rack and then it ringing up even cheaper than the clearance price   Taking a car nap on my lunch break...best idea ever   Getting new antique plates to add to my collection for a steal of a deal!!

  A stranger holding the door for you when your hands are full.   Fuzzy socks in the dollar section of Target   Grocery shopping with Matthew...I don't know about y'all but I love grocery shopping with my man!   Girls craft night   Knowing that fall is right around the corner   And then all the holidays that follow!!!!   Watching a little girl at church imitate the song leader as he is leading a song..cutest thing ever   Matthew's softball season starting up. Love watching that boy do work on the field!   Making these bad boys for my pantry to keep the ants o-u-t.

 

Coupons/discount codes/Retail Me Not app

 

My new schedule at work...getting off at 3:30 everyday...a dream I tell ya ;)

 

Finding gift cards you thought you had already used...HELLO $25 to Target

 

Seeing old friends from high school getting engaged to the love of their life. So sweet!

 

A good chicken salad sandwich from my favorite BBQ place here, Stroud's :)

 

Chalk art...I'm obsessed

 

Getting THE funniest snapchats from friends

 

This perfect makeup. My go to every.single.day.

 

Make a list of things that make you happy and see how your mood changes!

It makes you remember that you are SO blessed that's for sure!! 

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Attitude changer