I Thought I Loved You Then

June 28, 2011

Summer Life Lessons

Don't worry, I'm not getting all philosophical on ya. Just documenting a few of the realizations I've come to this summer so that I don't forget having these epiphanies!

Patience really is a virtue. Especially on the days I'm watching the 3 wee ones and I'm sick or tired. I have been really conscious of being patient with those sweet babies this summer and it takes a lot of effort and reminding!
The more your employees feel valued and appreciated, the more likely they'll be to work hard for you and will want to see your business succeed! This has been such a great learning experience for me, since eventually my husb will have his own Chiropractic office - I'm so thankful to have experienced this life lesson first-hand!
Joy is truly contagious. Sharing in other peoples' joy and celebrating with them is good for the soul! If you think about the last time you were really excited about something, it was probably the people who shared in your happiness that made it extra special!
I love my family. Like, I really really really love my family. My husb and my Bella just complete my days. And my life! This isn't a "summer life lesson" but just something I am extra aware of lately. But beyond my wittle family, I just really appreciate and love the rest of my fam. Our parents, and siblings, and aunts/uncles/cousins, and all of my grandparents. I realize the older I get how rare it is to be surrounded by so much family on a daily basis - even when we don't live close enough to visit. As our annual family vaca approaches, I'm just reminded of how blessed I am to be so close to my family, and the more people I encounter who think that its really special is just reinforces this!

These aren't earth-shattering realizations, I know. But I think its important to sometimes reflect on knowledge you've gleaned from time to time... and it doesn't hurt to write it all down (even if it is just on your blog!) so that you can be reminded again and again as you read through old posts!

I'm headed *H.O.M.E.* tomorrow night and cannot wait to squeeze my husband and kittyyy! I am soo looking forward to spending a few days in our home town before heading north (way north) for our annual vacation w/ my whole side of the fam! Funny how a yearly trip that you used to dread and take for granted in your whiny adolescent years suddenly becomes the week of the year you look forward to most just a short decade later, isn't it?? :)

Have you learned some valuable life lessons lately? Big or small, take a moment to reflect today - cheesy, but worth your time, I promise!

June 24, 2011

Friday Favorites

I have hardly spent any time on my computer this week! I have love/hate feelings about this.

The better part of my days were spent chasing around 3 cutie little kids (love), and my evenings were consumed with online class and work (hate). Thankfully {or not so thankfully, depending on who you ask...} I discovered the Pinterest iPhone app. And I'm hooked! If you haven't discovered Pinterest yet, you must check it out. But consider yourselves warned: it is addicting!

Here are some of the gems I came across in the webosphere this week that I "pinned" to my online memo boards! This week I have wedding fever. And in true bridesmaid fashion, I've been dutifully scouring the internet for ideas and inspiration for Sheila's big day... among other things!

This has got to be one of the best ideas I've ever seen. Ever. via

How cool is this reading nook? I'm a bookworm... and I need this! via

I have a weakness for lemon-flavored desserts. Lemon meringue cupcakes - YUM! via

Is this not the most beautiful summer appetizer? Caprese sticks... genius! via

American Flag cake ball cake. I will be making this next week! via

L.o.v.e. this idea for Sheila's rustic barn wedding theme! via


These colors are so soft, and feminine, and... bridal? I like! via

It's been a rainy, muggy week in Atlanta... so here's to hoping for a weekend filled with sunshine! On my agenda: catching up on work/school, a little pool time, and enjoying a massage courtesy of my sweet husb!

Happy Friday ~ wishing you all wonderful weekends!

June 23, 2011

Work + School + Visitors = No Blogging

Has it really been 10 days since I last blogged? Seems like its been like 12 hours, that's how fast my week flew by! The busyness of work and school and trying to have a summer finally caught up with me and I was knocked out by a nasty cold. Somehow colds are like a million times more miserable when its nice outside, right? I was a sneezing, watery-eyed, snotty mess.

Perfect timing for my only illness of the year... 2 days before my sister and her bf came to visit for the weekend! Not. I managed to suck it up (this is not my forte... I typically milk my sicknesses as long and as much as I can...) and we had such.a.FUN.weekend!!! Erika and Carter drove all the way from Cincinnati so they ended up staying Thursday-Monday to make the drive worthwhile ~ and we were sure to pack as much excitement into that long weekend as we possibly could! Here is a recap of their visit:

My sister is obsessed with aquariums. So we have to go to the Georgia Aquarium every. single. time. she comes to visit!

She loves to pet the sting rays...

Erika and Carter before the storm rolled in!

Sisters outside the aquarium :)

After the aquarium we hit up Vortex for arguably the highest calorie burger in Atlanta, and waited for the storm to (fingers crossed) blow over so we could get over to the Braves game! Thankfully, the weather cooperated and we were able to see our game (aka: we were able to get our Dippin' Dots and funnel cake and a couple of beers...) and the Friday night fireworks! They lost - boo. But the fireworks - and food - were great! Yay!

At Turner Field

Saturday we ventured over to Sweetwater Brewery for a tour and tasting... 6 samples for $8?! Yes please! So fun. If you live in ATL and haven't gone, I highly recommend it the next time you want to do something different on a summer afternoon.

The men in our life ;)

Sistas

w/ the husb

I was doing so good with picture-taking, I should have known I was due to mess it up! Insert screw up: I brought my camera-less case with us to dinner Saturday night, and the rest is history. Not one more pic was taken the entire weekend! My sis managed to snap a few, so I'll have to steal from her later! The rest of the visit was pretty uneventful ~ lots of laughing, lounging by the pool, a little vino drinking and reminiscing, and more eating. Sooo much eating! So much that I actually hit the treadmill for a 4 mile run the day after they left. For those of you who know me, this is a serious sign of a fat girl weekend!

Monday I was back to work. Back to class. Back to trying to get my house in order. Catching up on laundry. You know the post-visitor drill... then add to that trying to pack husb and Bella for their week in Ohio and I was just one busy chick! I can breathe a little easier the next 5 or so days before a little trek of my own back to Ohio :)

Hope you all have had a fun-packed week, too!

Whole gang at Sweetwater!

June 13, 2011

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!

Have you ever had a moment where you are so excited for someone that you feel like you are just going to explode with happiness?!?!

I had this happen on Saturday... when my bff got ENGAGED!!!

Its a weird feeling to be giddy with excitement for someone else! Its the same excitement I felt when my cousins each told me they were getting married. And then that they were expecting little babes! Its a different kind of excitement than when something really great happens to you personally...... hard to explain, but so great!

My heart was so swollen with happiness for these two love birds on Saturday that I couldn't help but let out a few shrieks! My poor husb even had to pause our movie a couple times to let me get out my bursts of excitement (and a few dozen texts)!

He captured the proposal! So sweet!

Sheila was my first real friend in Atlanta. One that I know will be a part of my life forever and ever and ever! She is my first close friend to get engaged and I am thrilled to death for her and so honored that I get to be one of her bridesmaids!!! Check out this bling. A ring that's as pretty as she is ~ nice job, Daniel!

Eiffel Tower setting... sooo perf for Sheila!

But after {almost} 2 years of marriage - while I'm no expert on the subject by any means! - I have come to learn that there is much more to a successful, happy marriage than a nice ring and a cute proposal. Lucky for these guys, they've got everything it takes for a lifetime of happiness!

They love each other unconditionally. Even when they are stubborn and grouchy, they are respectful and considerate of each other.
They value the time they spend together like no other couple I know. Being apart while D travels for work has made them really appreciate the quality time they have together!
They strive every single day to make each other happy. They're always surprising each other with fun dates and little presents.
They put their family and their faith first in their lives. Nearly everything they do revolves around their families and church.
They work hard at making each other feel loved. Daniel brings Sheila a dozen flowers every Wednesday!
They have scarily similar likes and interests! They joke that they were both born into the wrong generation... and they are so thankful that they found each other!

This engagement was a long time comin' but it was worth the wait! I can't wait to start all of my bridesmaid duties and am sooo looking forward to showering my bestie with gifts and love and attention over the next 9+ months :)

Marrying my best friend has been the best decision I've made in my whole life and I am excited beyond words that Sheila will soon be joining the wives club! Sheila ~ cherish this time because it goes way.too.fast. I savored every moment of love and excitement during my engagement and I'm anxious to pay it forward!