Things I'm loving

1. That it is Friday. Does there really need to be a reason??
2. There are only 141 days until this good looking man is my HUSBAND

3. We are SO close to booking our honeymoon. I am about 99.9% sure we have finally decided on a place. Just thinking about it makes me SO excited!!
4. It is going to warm up a bit this weekend and next week!! So far there isn't any snow in the forecast...insert praise hand emoji here ;)
5. I'm going to Smoothie King today for their $5 smoothie...I'm just a tad bit excited. Matthew thinks I am crazy for being excited about it, but it was so good the other day!!
6. I FINALLY called and scheduled a hair appt. My hair has gotten pretty long again which it exactly what I wanted, but now I need to style it up a bit. I am thinking long layers, and maybe some hi lights, maybe. 

HAPPY WEEKEND!!

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Things I'm loving

Zumba + Smoothie King

Tuesday night we had our SOC girls night and it was so fun!!  My old roommate became a certified Zumba instructor over Christmas break and offered to instruct a class for us for a girls night. So Zumba class it was!
Surprisingly, this was my first Zumba class. I definitely feel like I got a workout and really enjoyed it!! Bri had great songs and moves and kept us going the whole class!!

After some of us went to Smoothie King. I had never been there either so I wanted to try it. It took me about 5 minutes to order because I had no idea what I wanted or what I would like. Here lately I have been on a pineapple kick so I went with the Pineapple Surf. Seriously one of the best drinks I have ever had. I saw they have 32oz for $5 on Fridays so I am going back tomorrow to grab one for lunch! 

Last night we walked out of church and the snow was coming down and everything was starting to turn white. We decided to still have our late night singing. Everyone headed over to the SOC house and we had yet another incredible singing. After the singing we all went outside and everything was completely white. Absolutely beautiful. There ended up being a snowball fight and of course pictures that needed to be taken ;)

This snow is definitely the kind of snow everyone wants. Perfect to build a snowman and snowballs, but you can still drive on it!

My drive to work this morning. 

As ready as I am for summer and warmer weather, you just can't help but realize how beautiful this is. I left early this morning in case the roads were bad but they were just slushy. I was able to take my time and not rush. It was a very peaceful drive with a pretty great view. 

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Zumba + Smoothie King

Wedding Wednesday: Asking my girls

I knew exactly how I wanted to ask my bridesmaids, even before we got engaged. It's all over Pinterest and I know a lot of people ask this way but I didn't care. I loved it and wanted to do it, so I did! A couple of weeks after we got engaged I went to Michael's to get the boxes and began working on them! It ended up taking longer that I thought, it could have something to do with the paint I picked out...I had to do about 4 coats to make sure it was dark enough, but that's okay I loved the way they turned out. I did try to speed up the process of making them and at first I wrote their name on the box with a navy marker (didn't get a picture of them like this) after I wrote all their names and looked at it I just didn't like it. So another 4+ coats of paint on the top and it was covered! I painted their names on top in black with a very fine brush. My dad helped me with the design under their names (he is so talented!)  It took awhile but I wanted these to look good for my girls. I want this to be something they can keep and use, if they want to! The lighting is awful in this picture but here they all are when I finished the names (I crossed the "t" in Kathleen's name before I gave it to her ;) )

They are a light pink, you can kinda tell in this picture.

This isn't a DIY post because there are a ton of those on Pinterest on these cute boxes, I just wanted to share with y'all how I asked them! I will share on what's inside of them though :)

What I put in the boxes:

I made three different little things to include in the boxes.

1.) A list of all the bridesmaids and their numbers. All of my girls have met at one point or another but not all of them have each other's numbers. So I definitely wanted to include that for them to have.

2.) The "asking them" sheet.

3.) A little design that I included at the top of their sheets, with our wedding date!

Other goodies in the boxes:

-Chocolate

-Lip gloss

-Pencils (and they matched our colors!)

-A note pad

-Note cards or a metal letter with burlap 

I wrapped them in white tulle 

and this is what they saw when they opened them

I wanted the "asking sheet" to be the first thing they saw because a couple of my girls didn't even know I was going to ask them. Their reaction was priceless and exactly what I was hoping for :) My sister and my MOH

My other bridesmaid, Carleigh, is in PA school in Memphis and hasn't been back home since her graduation back in December. I had to ask her over the phone to be a bridesmaid about a week or two after we got engaged to see if she would even be able to make it to our wedding since she doesn't really get a summer break from school. So it kinda ruined the surprise factor of asking her but that's completely okay, I'm just glad she'll be able to make it!! When she comes in for Easter or spring break I'll give her, her box!! So that's how I asked my girls! I absolutely loved asking them and had fun making their little gifts. I will formally introduce our bridal party to you soon! I can't wait!

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Wedding Wednesday: Asking my girls

State of emergency in pictures

I'm back! I didn't intend to take a week off from blogging but last week I was just in a funk! We got hit pretty hard with an ice/snow storm and it ended up putting me out of work most of the week. I was out of work and stuck at my apartment Monday-Thursday. Thursday I was off due to some Dr. appts and then finally went in to work on Friday and ended up having to stay in Cookeville until Saturday due to more bad weather. I always tell Matthew how I would just love a day or two to myself at my apartment to relax and catch up on stuff. Well I got my wish and to be honest I completely had an awful attitude about it. I was bored out of my mind. I watched SEVEN movies on Netflix on Monday and by Wednesday I was almost finished with season 1 of Parenthood. I didn't go to the store before the weather hit so I didn't have much and what I did have I was so tired of eating it by Wednesday. I didn't get to meet Matthew for our weekly dinner because it wasn't safe for either of us.  I whined to Matthew a lot, I complained about the food I had in my refrigerator, I complained about not being able to drive anywhere, about not being able to go to the gym, about not being able to see Matthew and even about not being able to go to work.  Early Monday morning is when the first round of weather came in. I got up and was determined that I was going to work, even with 1/4 of ice covering my car. I started my car 30 mins early to help melt it and continued getting ready for work. I packed a lunch because I knew we still had more ice/snow coming and that I probably wouldn't be able to leave and grab a salad at lunch. I went back out to my car to leave and tried to scrape the ice off. Nothing. It was going anywhere, even after the 30 minutes of defrost. I finally was able to break through some and make a hole big enough that I could see to drive. My apartment parking lot was a complete sheet of ice. I slid trying to get out of my apartment parking lot and made it two mins down the road and slid a lot already. I then realized it's not worth it and decided to turn around and drive back to my apartment and call in for the day. The roads were just a solid sheet of ice and it was STILL coming down. I made it back to my apartment and called it a day. I parked it on the couch for majority of the day. The weather continued ALL day and eventually turned into snow. Tuesday wasn't any better. Everything was still frozen solid. I cleaned and got together stuff that I need to sell/donate. Tuesday night we got 4 more inches of snow on top of all the ice from Monday. I was planning on going home on Wednesday afternoon as soon as I got off but that didn't happen. Everything was closing. The university ended up closing ALL week, that hasn't happened in over 100 years. Wal-Mart closed, Kroger closed, McDonald's closed, everything.  I went home Thursday mid day after it warmed up a few degrees. The roads were still a mess, even the main roads. The interstate was slushy and had multiple icy spots, but I made it to my Dr appts. I went home to see my family for a little bit before I headed back to Cookeville. I got back right before dark because I knew all the slushy stuff was going to freeze over again.  Friday the ice arrived around noon. It would snow and then turn to ice and then back to snow. When I got off my drive was awful. I can make it to work in 10 minutes and it took me almost 40 minutes to get home with the traffic and just having to take the main roads and driving extremely slow.  I woke up Saturday with no electricity and by time I left Saturday around 11 I still didn't have any. I was finally able to meet Matthew for lunch in Lebanon! He had a hair appt around 2 and I had a bridesmaid appt to pick out my girls dresses at 5 so that was all we got to see of each other on Saturday.  Even through all of that I didn't realize how lucky I was. I complained because I was bored, even though I had power and TV, I complained because I was eating the same thing for three days straight, I complained because I wanted to just get out of my apartment, I complained because I couldn't see Matthew. I didn't realize how lucky I was until I started seeing people on Facebook sharing pictures of what it was like at their house. And then it was like a slap in the face and I felt awful for complaining. I was sick to my stomach for these people. I found these pictures off of Putnam County E-911's facebook page

Tennessee was under a state of emergency after Tuesday, I think. Multiple crashes were happening EVERYWHERE. A tragic story of a mother and her son trying to help someone on the side of the interstate when a semi struck them and killed both, I think the total is up to 22 deaths due to weather related wrecks, and then the state of emergency was raised to a level two for the northern counties that were hit so hard (the above pictures). Thousands are still without power. They have opened churches and some schools for shelters because people can't stay in their homes without power and with it still being in the teens.

I have been watching the news non-stop and reading people's updates on facebook and it's just gut-wrenching. 

So today I am thankful. 

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State of emergency in pictures

Happy 5 & Friday!

1. This week has seemed a little longer than usual. It never fails I would look up at the clock at work and it seems like every single day this week when I would check it would only be 12:45...so weird!! So to say I'm so glad Friday is here is an understatement (not like it's different any other week lol)
2. I might also be a little more eager for this weekend than usual because I am (finally) going to look at dresses!!!!! I am so excited! I have put it off for as long as I can, hoping to drop a couple of pounds before I went and tried them on. I'm 8lbs down so I'll take it!! I honestly have been a little worried because when I have told people I wasn't going to look at dresses until mid to late February (I have an appt next Saturday with David's Bridal, too) they thought I was crazy for waiting so long.  I mentioned before but my aunt's mom owns and runs the dress shop we are going to this Sunday. They are open Monday-Saturdays and so she is coming in on Sunday to open the shop up just for us. I still can't believe it, we are so lucky, and I am incredibly thankful for their kindness!! I am just going with family this Sunday and next weekend Matthew's mom and some of my bridal party will go. I'm really excited and grateful that BOTH of my grandmothers are going this Sunday! I just know this will be a special day.  I decided not to let my dad go with us Sunday. Which was a little tough for me, I'm a daddy's girl through and through. I would love for my dad to be there but Matthew and I have decided not to do a first look, so I am doing a first look with my dad on our wedding day instead.  I tear up every single time I think about it. 
3. Valentine's Day is almost here! Although I completely agree that you should love on your spouse/significant other everyday, as well as show appreciation and respect, I'm not all anti celebrating Valentine's Day. We still enjoy celebrating it, but don't get too crazy. A dinner out somewhere where we don't have to make reservations is what we usually do, low key is best for us to avoid large crowds. I have always made dessert for us and I am making it again this year! In the past I have made a no bake cheesecake and Oreo balls, this year I am going to make a cookie/brownie thing and we'll pick up some ice cream at Kroger to go with it!
4. In order to save a little money we decided to just exchange cards this year! I got really excited to pick out Matthew's card and was also a little proud of myself for picking it up earlier this week instead of waiting until the day before like I did last year. I was the only one in the card aisle at Walgreens so I was able to take my time and not move around people, best thing ever! I started reading some and goodness gracious I don't know what is wrong with me but I got SO emotional. As in tearing up at almost every card. Then I saw the "husband" cards and realized that next Valentine's Day I will get to buy a husband card...had to walk out of the aisle to collect myself.  I don't know who I am anymore lol.
5. Since #4 turned into a little cry fest here are some funny things from Pinterest this week!

YES

Have a great weekend!! 

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Happy 5 & Friday!

We got the keys!

This past weekend we got our keys to our apartment!

See that welcome mat? Matthew picked it out himself and I LOVE it!! I didn't get a picture of just the mat to show y'all so I will have to snap one this weekend when I go visit! It has one of his favorite verses on it, Joshua 24:15. He picked it out online about two weeks ago and we finally were able to go pick it up. He found it online at Hobby Lobby and we crossed our fingers that they had them in stock...and they did, AND 50% off (woo hoo!).  We had pizza for our first meal in the apt...

It has kind of become our thing. When I got the key to my apartment in Cookeville Matthew stopped and got a pizza and we sat in the floor and ate on paper plates out of the box, just like we did this past weekend! We love it. 

Saturday morning I made it to my sisters' last basketball game. They went the whole season undefeated and played great!

We spent most of the weekend putting furniture together. We had a ton of help from Matthew's parents and brothers, as well as my dad! There would have been no way it would have all been finished in the time that it was without their help! It was so much fun getting everything set up. I had to keep reminding myself that this is my apartment too, and not just Matthew's. When we were arranging the living room furniture Matthew kept having to ask if that's the way I like it because I kept asking him if that's how he wanted it. I've only ever known "Matthew's apartment" and then "My own apartment" so it still hasn't really sunk in yet that this is "Our apartment" and we get to decide together on everything. Matthew keeps getting so cracked up at me about this lol. Does that make sense at all? 

I didn't get pictures after the furniture was put together because there were a ton of furniture boxes and packaging around until we took it off Saturday night and I didn't go down there Sunday. I will have to get some this weekend! I did, however, get some pictures before some of the furniture was delivered!

Love our light fixture in the dining area

The windows seriously make me so happy. The amount of natural light that pours in is incredible.

Also, the weather this past weekend was such a blessing! It felt great outside and we kept the windows opened all day. Perfect moving weather if you ask me!

The fireplace makes me so happy. 

We ended up going back to the furniture store and bought a 6ft tall bookcase with about 5 shelves. It is by the fireplace. It's the perfect size to fill up that awkward space by the fireplace and the perfect place to put out router, modem, and of course, Matthew's Xbox ;)

My dad is going to put in a shelf for us over the sink to put the microwave on so that it doesn't take up counter space. He measured this past weekend and is going to try and match the shelf to the rest of our cabinets!

The kitchen and bathroom

Also, our comforter set same in the mail and we LOVE it!

If you can't tell it's navy and white.

When we did our walk through of our actual apartment a couple of weeks ago we had a couple things that we were concerned about, and Matthew emailed the leasing manager and asked if we could have them fixed. When we got the keys and walked in everything was fixed!! We were so excited and relieved. Everything looks great and I am dying to get to decorating haha! We probably won't do any decorating until I move in or closer time to me moving in.

Also, if you are following me on Instagram then you already saw, but I asked two of my bridesmaids and my MOH to be in our wedding! I'll share more of that later though. I have three more girls to ask. I'm so excited!!

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We got the keys!

February Goals

I didn't make January goals so we'll just go straight into February goals! I have quite a few so I am going to break them up in categories. Health and Fitness Goals 1. Continue working out 4-5 days a week. 2. Cut out bread (unless it's apart of my cheat meal ;) )...this will be hard 3. Drink 64oz of water a day 4. Lose 8lbs this month!! (2lbs a week) 5. Add more weights during my workouts Wedding Planning Goals
1. Ask my bridesmaids...I have taken way too long on this!! 2. Finalize guest list (a final count and addresses) 3. Finish designing our invitations  4. Order invitations...might wait until March to do this. 5. DRESS SHOPPING! I have an appt on February 15th and 21st! 6. Look into getting our passports.... ;) 7. Plan when to do our engagement pictures with our photographer. 8. Find someone in Cookeville to do my hair & makeup for our wedding day. Personal Goals 1. Work on addressing TWO of my friends wedding invites in calligraphy, so excited! 2. Declutter my apartment. Sell stuff, donate stuff, throw away stuff. 3. Continue documenting our engagement in my journal  4. Really enjoy these last few months in Cookeville  

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February Goals

Healthier Lifestyle - Part 3

If you missed part one or part two go read them really quick!
I knew I couldn't just eat healthy and lose the weight in this short time frame that I have (165 days until the wedding, y'all!) and I knew Haley worked out five days a week. So I knew I would need to eat healthy AND workout to help shed some pounds and tone up. 
Haley sent me this about a week before we started to workout and honestly I got really nervous lol.

We have been going some what by this, we've added a few things and taken away a couple of things. 
Like yesterday we did arms, abs, cardio and the sauna! I had never been in a sauna until last week and I love it! We try to sit in it for at least 15-20 minutes, it is usually anywhere between 175-185 degrees.  I feel SO good after a good workout and the sauna. 
Last week was the first week we worked out and I was sore ALL last week. My arms were the worst, it hurt to lift them. I bet I looked really funny trying to fix my hair, ha! So I was a little worried about doing arms again yesterday but I am feeling good today! I'm a little sore and I'm sure I'll be even more tomorrow, but it'll be worth it!
Also, last week she wanted me to try and do a pull up...LOL didn't happen, not even close. So she had me try the assisted pull up machine...still couldn't even do one.  Well, yesterday I did THREE sets of SIX assisted pull ups!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Shocked Haley and myself big time, and you better believe that's what I'm feeling today ;)

Our workouts are usually done in about an hour and fifteen/twenty. 45 minutes of working out (arms one day, legs one day, abs) 15 minutes of cardio (sprints, stair master) 15-20 minutes in the sauna


Also as of this morning I have lost another 2lbs!! Woo hoo 7lbs down total since January 1st!!

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Healthier Lifestyle - Part 3