We're ENGAGED!!

I still can't believe we are engaged! It all happened so fast and was completely unexpected. Of course we had talked about when we would get engaged and he completely had me convinced it would be sometime late spring or early summer. So I definitely wasn't expecting it anytime soon.

Last Sunday night I came back to Cookeville by myself because I had to work Monday and Tuesday. I had planned on going straight home Tuesday when I got off of work. My best friend was supposed to come up Sunday with me and spend the night but she backed out last minute. I was a little upset about it but didn't let it get me down too much. I slept in Monday as long as I could, waking up in time to put some concealer under my eyes and my hair in a low messy bun. I sit in a cubicle all day so I'm not too worried about my appearance at work. I had talked to Matthew throughout the day and he told me about how he had been cleaning out the garage at home getting stuff ready for a garage sale.   I got off around 3:30 and decided I was going to get Blue Coast for dinner and stop and get gas before I headed back to my apartment for the night. I got back to my apartment and opened the door and found Matthew sitting on my couch playing his PS3. I was in complete shock. He had hid his car behind a big work truck on the other end of my apartment parking lot. I was asking him all these questions of why he was there and why he was dressed up. He got up and said he felt bad Sarah couldn't come up and didn't want me to be by myself so he thought he would surprise me and take me to dinner. Most people have asked how I didn't see it coming then but that is not out of the ordinary. We always dress up to go on dates and he is just a thoughtful man! I even asked him if I should change and put a nicer dress on and fix up a little bit and his exact words "nahh, you look good and no one is going to see us anyways" We went to one restaurant that we both like but they were closed on Mondays and we didn't know so we decided on a local Mexican restaurant we both like.   Matthew was acting completely normal the whole time. I thought whenever he did propose I'd be able to see it coming from a mile away.   After dinner I mentioned I needed to stop at Kroger to pick up my cousin a gift card for Christmas but then said I could just get it later because it looked really crowded. Matthew insisted we go on and stop because we were already by it and he really had to use the bathroom. I thought it was really weird he couldn't hold it until we got back to my apartment, but didn't put too much thought into it.   We left Kroger and thought we were headed back to my apartment. We drove by campus and he asked if I wanted to walk around campus. It was mid 50's and had been raining all day but stopped and still felt pretty good outside for a couple of days before Christmas. I absolutely LOVE walking around campus at night and often ask if we can, so AGAIN didn't think anything about it when he suggested it. We parked and as we are getting out I notice Matthew putting on his big peacoat. I had forgotten my coat and thought it was very strange of him not to offer me his coat. I didn't say anything of course, I just thought he was cold and didn't realize I had forgotten my coat.   We walked all around the quad and then he point to the middle where we had played ball with the SOC and so we walked over there and sat down on some bricks. He started talking about how he can't imagine not being on campus anymore and how he can't imagine not going to intramural games, etc. I am getting a little emotional because I'm not ready for him to move back home just yet. Then out of no where he says "You know what else I can't imagine? You not being in my life" I snap back to reality and think to myself "OH MY GOSH" at this point he is going on and saying really sweet things and as he is talking I could tell he is getting REALLY nervous. At this point all I can think about is "OH MY GOSH IT"S HAPPENING" He then told me to stand up and so I did and he did too and then he got down on one knee and is still saying all this sweet stuff and for the life of me I can't remember all if it. I am tearing up and asking him a million times "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" like it wasn't obvious lol.

Obviously I had no idea what was coming that night or I would have painted those nails, but I am completely okay with it. If he would have told me to paint my nails I would have known, so it was perfect.

  He asked and I said YES and he puts the ring on my finger, stands up and hugs me and gives me a kiss while I am still asking a million questions. We walked back to the car and I'm asking who all knew and he told me my parents and his parents. I said something about send them a picture after I called my mom and he said we're going to see them tonight. Again, cue the million questions. I asked if they were in Cookeville and he said no we are going home to see them and I said "Oh I have to be at work at 7:00 in the morning" and he grinned really big and said "No you don't, you're off tomorrow, I called your boss and asked her if you could have tomorrow off" And that's when the ugly crying began. He joked that I was more excited about being off of work than being engaged but I assured him that wasn't the case at ALL. It was just starting to hit me that it was all REAL and finally happening.

We went straight back to my apartment so that I could change and put on some make up and look halfway decent to see family and friends when we got home while Matthew helped me pack to go home for Christmas!! We stopped at the SOC house before we headed home to see his brother and some friends and went back to campus with Nathan and Jenny so they could make a picture of us where we got engaged. We then headed home to his parents house. We got to visit with them and share the excitement and then headed to my house and my two best friends were there also. It was a crazy night and all happened SO fast. After I posted it on social media our phones were BLOWING up. It was all so exciting.   He had asked my dad that morning and of course my dad was happy for us. Like I said I still can't believe it happened. He played it off so well all day Monday. I had told him a long time I ago I wanted it to be just us, no cameras, no audience, not in public, just us and that is exactly how it was, a complete surprise! There wasn't a soul on the quad at that time (it's Christmas break so everyone is home), it had stopped raining and was decent out for late December, and we got to see our families and friends. Honestly the most perfect night.  We never went ring shopping together, he always had said he wanted to pick it out himself. and he did SO good!

  We are so excited and ready to begin this next chapter of our lives together. Now that the holidays are almost over we can start wedding planning!! Still can't believe I just typed those words. :) We haven't picked a date yet, but we do have an idea of when we want to we just have to wait and see with Matthew's new job fixing to start up when would be best. I will definitely share when we have an official date set though!  

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We're ENGAGED!!

Apartment tour...Christmas edition

I don't think I have given a full apartment tour yet but I did snap some pictures of all my Christmas decorations that I wanted to share. It's not much since  1. I don't like spending full price on decorations (the best time to buy them is after the holiday and I forgot last year...) 2. Even if I had remembered, I have a one bedroom so it's not like I have tons of space...but I like that, so it's okay! I really only decorated my living room and some of kitchen.   Living room

You'll just have to excuse that workout machine, I didn't want to knock my tree over trying to move it out of the picture lol.

 

I found those cute small Christmas pillows in Targets dollar section last year!

 

One year I made an ornament wreath with cheap plastic ornaments from dollar tree but it got all bent out of shape when I packed it up and some of the ornaments broke so I took them off and just put them in a cute Christmas box my mom had left over as a centerpiece for my coffee.

 

My Christmas tree! It's kinda plain but it'll do! I wanted to make a bow to put at the top but just didn't ever get around to it.

 

 

I found these cute metal presents at Hobby Lobby on major sale and just couldn't pass them up!! I think they would look so darn cute in front of a fire place but for now under the tree works, too!

 

These blankets from Old Navy are the BEST. I got one last year when they went on sale for $5 and I found this one this year and loved it!! They are so soft and have the cutest Christmas designs. So I draped them over my couches to add a little more color in there. Those pillows don't match it at all lol

 

My mom had an extra frame laying around so I found a cute print and hung it up over one of my end-tables.

 

Kitchen

 My new placemats! I think I shared these pictures a couple of weeks ago but
I just love them!

 

I made this plate a couple of years ago and put it in place of my little chalkboard for Christmas time.

 

 My mom got me this adorable apron last year for Christmas, I think it makes a cute decoration when it's not being used...which is always. I'll take it home to use while we are cooking for Christmas dinner ;)

I hung up a few canvases I made a couple of years ago just to add a little more to my kitchen!

 

Outside my apartment

My dad made this ADORABLE sign to stick out there and I absolutely LOVE it! He did such a good job. I bought some cute poinsettias to set out there with it! That is my Christmas wreath I made last year. I was never a big fan of it but it was cheap to make so it worked. Some of the mesh was still smashed from being packed up. My mom made me a new one and it's MUCH better! I just forgot to take a new picture.

 

And that's it!! I love it!!!!

I feel like I haven't had my decorations up long at all and I don't want to take them down anytime soon, but I will probably take them down before I go home for Christmas so I don't have to worry about that when I get back.

I don't know if I have mentioned it before but I LOVE CHRISTMAS! 

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Apartment tour...Christmas edition

Christmas Cards

My goal this year was to have my Christmas cards mailed off by December 1st....I missed that by about 15 days lol but they are out! I did purchase them before December 1st this year so that's somewhat better than last year, right?   I didn't want to spend a lot of money on them and TJ Maxx came to the rescue! I found some that were plain so I could do my calligraphy on the front and write my own message on the inside. Fun!     The front

 

 The envelopes

Better late than never, right?! ;)

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Christmas Cards

It consumes our lives

Last night at church we heard a great lesson. It came from a man who has been through a lot this past year and a half or so. His son was diagnosed with neuroblastoma the fall of 2013. He and his wife have spent multiple days and even weeks in the hospital with him since then. He said one of the things he just can't get over is, sitting in the waiting room and seeing people on their phones. Married couples sitting right beside each other on their phones and not saying a word to each other for over an hour, all because they were too involved with something on their phone. He said when he and his family go out to dinner it's something they notice other families/couples doing at the dinner table as well.   And that's when it hit me.   Matthew and I have made it a rule that we don't have our phones out when we eat dinner but other than that we usually have our phones right by our side or even worse, in our hands. I thought about it all night after his devo and it kinda makes me sick. Don't get me wrong, I love social media and I am very thankful for how far technology has come. I can FaceTime my family whenever I want if I am feeling homesick, my cute little sisters can send me "mirror selfies" of their outfit they are wearing for picture day from my moms phone, I can get coupons in seconds while I am standing in the checkout at Old Navy and save money, but how much is too much? I am so thankful I made it all the way through elementary school, middle school and high school before I got a smart phone. It breaks my heart to know my sisters and future children won't.   He asked us last night, "What is it that draws us in so much?" Is it being nosey? Trying to stay up to date? Boredom? Yes. Yes. and Yes. I'll be the first to admit it, I like seeing how other people live. I love when they post pictures of what their night is consisting, what they wore that day, or what craft they are making next. Does that make me weird? Maybe, but I'm almost positive YOU are the same way. Am I trying to stay up to date? Yes. That new blanket scarf that is so popular this winter? Better believe it has crossed my mind to buy it (until I saw the price) Is it cute? Yes, it's cute but I'm not completely sure if I wanted it because it was cute or because I thought I needed it because it's all over my Instagram feed. Do I get bored? Yes, I do, but isn't there more I could be doing instead of being on my phone when I'm bored? Of course!   He asked us, "Why can't we look at the person sitting across the table when we are talking to them...without our phones in our hands?" or "Why can't we sit in a waiting room with our loved ones, waiting on good news or bad news, and comfort each other instead of being on our phones?"   If you are like me you probably check your phone when you wake up, when you are at a red light or sitting in a long line of traffic, when you are waiting in line at the store, when you are doing your thing in the bathroom, when you are in the car with your significant other, when you are waiting at the doctor's office, when you are on the couch after work, when you are hanging out with friends and right before you go to sleep. It's embarrassing writing all that out, but it's true. We have let it consume our lives.   He gave us this verse to think about, and it hit me all over again.   Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:8   He emphasized on the word "think" at the end of that verse. Are we really filling our minds with everything that verse is saying?   I'm not saying I'm going to go and delete all my social media accounts and never look back, but I am going to limit myself. I am going to try and not look at Instagram and Facebook every 15 minutes. When I am hanging out with family/friends I want to be all there. When Matthew and I are riding in the car somewhere I want to be all there. Not half way paying attention and scrolling on my phone.   I don't want set rules, I just want to break my habit of refreshing my social media accounts.   I know this is a lengthy post but it's been on my mind every since last night and I wanted to share. And because I don't like posting without any pictures... In honor of my favorite guy graduating in TWO days a little #tbt to last years graduation picture!

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It consumes our lives

December goals

Because I'm always late about posting my goals... ;)     November goals   - Start blogging more  I think I did pretty well until last week ;) -Work on Christmas shopping  I have almost everything finished, just need to grab a couple of things online! -Continue working hard on something that I have coming up! YES I can't wait to share with y'all what I have been up to! -DOLLYWOOD  We went. We conquered. I didn't throw up ;) We had a lot of fun! You can read about it here -SOC formal   Formal was a lot of fun. Getting dressed up, Christmas decorations, best friends and good food. Couldn't ask for a better night! You can read about it here! -Enjoy the moment  We have been just going with the flow. We usually don't have plans we just hang out with friends each night at the SOC house. It's a joy to be with your best friends all the time.     December goals   Celebrate Matthew It's graduation week...he graduates in FOUR days! He picked up his cap and gown a few weeks ago and it came with that pretty hood ;) He took his last final yesterday and has 2 more papers and then he is DONE (for this semester). He actually has to take one online class next semester but they are letting him walk in the December graduation since he is starting work next month. Which is great because his twin brother, Nathan, is graduating this Saturday as well. I am so glad they get to walk together one last time! We are going to dinner Friday night and maybe a movie, to celebrate just the two of us. Saturday after graduation we will celebrate with our families!   Completely finish Christmas shopping and wrap everything I have a couple of things I need to order online and then I am completely finished! Now I just need to wrap everything. I found some wrapping paper and boxes that I bought last year that I had forgotten about...score!   Take pictures of my apartment decorated for Christmas and share I blog a lot for myself, selfish? Maybe. but I want to be able to come back here and remember the small things that I blogged about. Even now I go back and look at some of my first posts and love it. I mean a lot has happened since I started blogging. I also blog for friends and family that don't live close. It's a great way to share what's going on. And we ALL know how much I love my little apartment so of course I want to share it with you, especially now that it's decorated for Christmas :)   Purge I promised myself when I moved out of my old apartment that I wouldn't keep as much stuff and sale/donate throughout the year, so that when it comes time to move again I don't spend DAYS packing stuff that I don't even need. Well, I need to sale/donate some stuff now lol. I honestly don't know how I end up with all this stuff but it has got to go! I love my little one bedroom apartment but I can't wait to have more storage space one day. Seriously, I have extra dishes up under my bed because I don't have a lot of  cabinet space lol working with what I have!   Enjoy this time of the year It's so easy to get caught up in the busy day to day activities with this time of the year but I want to slow down and enjoy it. Everyone is leaving throughout this week to go home for Christmas break and won't be back until the middle of January so that means all SOC activities are basically over after this week until we start getting ready for next semester. We already have the schedule for next semester planned and it's just as full as this semester. So I am wanting to really take advantage of some down time. Watch all the Christmas movies that we can, drive around and look at Christmas lights and just enjoy the last few weeks Matthew has here in Cookeville. We made a Cookeville bucket list at the beginning of this semester and we haven't been able to cross much of it off so maybe we can work on that lol.   Share what I have been working on I shared last month that I have been working on something for awhile now and this month I get to share it with y'all! I am so excited I just can't stand it!!     Since it's so late to share monthly goals I have already read most of y'all's lol. Happy Tuesday!   4 days until Matthew's graduation 16 days until Christmas Day 23 days until the New Year!

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December goals

Catching up // a week of lasts

I'm alive ;) I took an unexpected week off from blogging. I still read all of yours, I just didn't blog myself. Thanksgiving was good! I am very lucky the company that I work for is off Thursday and Friday. As soon as 3:30 rolled around on Wednesday afternoon I was homeward bound. I packed my car that morning so I could head straight home.   Matthew's family does lunch for Thanksgiving and my family (on my moms side) does dinner so it works out perfect. My dad's side of the family does Thanksgiving on Friday afternoon. We had three Thanksgivings and it was great! My sister and I went shopping on Black Friday. We left our house around 5:00 and went straight to Old Navy. We didn't have to search for a place to park or wait in line to checkout, which was a HUGE surprise. Since stores open on Thanksgiving night now everyone had already been through. They still had plenty to look through. I ended up with a new pair of boots and a cute dress and comfy shoes! After we eat dinner at my mema's on Friday we all load up and go shopping to see if we can find anymore deals, without the crowds. This year we went to Mt. Juliet to shop...and that's where I was introduced to Home Goods. I don't know how I have never been there before but it was wonderful.  

This week is a week of lasts. Matthew graduates THIS Saturday! He is going to be back and forth between Cookeville and home until he starts his job in early January, but everyone else will be going home for Christmas break throughout this week. When they come back in January he will be living back at home and working. Sure he'll come up on the weekends some but it won't be the same. So we are going to try and make the most of it. We usually spend every afternoon/night with everyone at the SOC house and we usually find something to do. This past year and a half up here in Cookeville with Matthew has been so much fun. I only wish I had moved up here sooner. As much as I don't want him to go, I know it's what's best and the next phase in life. It just came so soon. We had our last tacky Christmas sweater party with the SOC last Thursday. It was a lot of fun and there was good food!

    Matthew got his new car! His brother works at Volkswagen so he is able to lease it through him. He put his car on Craigslist and other various websites to sell to locals and had talked with a lot of people. It blew my mind how many people tried to drop the price so low...as in almost $1000 less than he was asking for. He finally had someone look at it the Saturday after Thanksgiving and they bought it. He called the following Monday and his car was ready. What a blessing that was! So proud of him, he deserves his new car and he looks good in it too ;)   This weekend was very calm and relaxed. Matthew had to work a little bit of the TSSAA football tournament that was held here in Cookeville, just for a little bit for his econ class. We hung out at the SOC house most of Friday night. Saturday I wanted to clean my apartment and finish any Christmas decorations. I slept in until 9:00 which is SO unusual for me and then laid around until 10:00, I don't even know who I am anymore. I got up and started cleaning finally and then I heard a knock on my door. Matthew was standing there with a pizza and my favorite drink from Starbucks. He is so thoughtful and sweet!

We ate lunch and started Prison Break...oh my goodness we are hooked. We watched 4 episodes. He left to go to the SOC house and I finished cleaning and then headed over to the SOC house.   I finally hung up the clock Matthew got me a little bit ago. We found it at Essex's for $20! I found a similar one at Hobby Lobby for $80. So we were more than happy with the $20. I also picked up some Christmas placemats!

 

 

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Catching up // a week of lasts

Christ like love

After reading all of the crazy stories from the past few days from people stranded on the interstate to kids having to stay the night at school , I just can't believe it. Many southern states are under a state of emergency, there is snow in Florida, snow on beaches in NC a lady giving birth on the side of the interstate, the lists goes on and on. I have been reading news stories non stop and watching the news like no other. The pictures are absolutely crazy and look like a scene from The Walking Dead. anyways you get my point, it's pure craziness!!!!

I have been in constant prayer for everyone that has been effected and just can't seem to get it off my mind knowing people are literally spending their nights out in the cold while I am warm in my bed. I can't complain about this weather anymore, I am so blessed.

 

I was reading yet another news article about all of this and I came across this one and just had to share it. I read it at work yesterday and seriously had some of the biggest ole tears in my cubicle at work. Embarrassing I know.

 

Read it HERE and tell me that did not just warm your heart and make you smile.

Not only were these Chick-fil-A workers so selfless they showed love like Christ.

  

 

If nothing good comes from all of this I am almost positive every single person that was given something to eat or stayed the night there will remember that moment or time for the rest of their lives. Another reason why I absolutely LOVE Chick-fil-a and as long as they stand strong in their faith I will be a customer.

Happy Thursday friends!! Make today a good one :)

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Christ like love

5 on Friday (an early surprise)

{ONE}  it.is.freezing.  and I am done with winter!!!! It breaks my heart knowing there are people without homes and a warm bed to sleep in. I am so ready for spring to get here! Here are some pictures from this past week This is what it looked like when I got off on Tuesday...I spent about 15 minutes scraping ice and snow off my car.

Tuesday night on campus!

{TWO} I am doing the hour photo challenge today, it's pretty exciting and I can't wait to share with y'all next week when I link up with Stephanie and Meg !!! You have until next Thursday so pick a day that you want to and do it too!     {THREE} Tonight the SOC is having an all nighter...I'm not sure how long I will be able to stay up but I'm pretty excited about it since I wasn't able to make it last year. They had planned to do an amazing race on campus but since it's going to be in the single digits and a chance of snow they decided to do something inside...thank goodness.   {FOUR} I have been dying to make some Valentine's Day crafts. There is so much on Pinterest that I want to try to make but so little time, ha! Here are some things I am thinking about making... This banner is ADORABLE and I would love to hang it somewhere in our apt!

 

 I have about 2 dozen mason jars just sitting under our sink that I pull out for different occasions but this would be so cute to do and fill with candy!

  {FIVE} I saved my favorite for last. Matthew surprised me with a new Bible with my name engraved on it last night.

It is absolutely BEAUTIFUL and I was so surprised.

Oh and this is my Valentine's Day Present...but you'll get the FULL story on Monday about that!

 

 

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5 on Friday (an early surprise)