My cute house

So I have quite a love/hate relationship with my house. There are things about it that drive me INSANE, but also things about it that I ADORE. I thought today I would make a top ten list of things I love about my house to take my mind of off the things I hate about it. :) So here goes....
1. my front porch,
2. the fireplace,
3. all of the built-ins and woodwork,
4. my dining room chandelier,
5. the big windows that let in tons of light,
6. the hardwood floors,
7. our big master bathroom,
8. the cute original light fixture in my scrapbook room,
9. my pink bathroom,
10. the high ceilings

Lazy weekend...

We had such a lazy weekend and I loved every minute of it! Yesterday I got my hair cut and highlighted and we had dinner at Cracker Barrel...mmmm. :) Dan's Grandma is in town from Oklahoma so we got together with her and the rest of his family today for lunch. His great aunt Jodi always makes delicious meals so we always leave her house so full. We both came home and took a nap...LOL :) Dan has to work tonight which stinks but he only has one more full week of work until his 2 weeks of vacation...yeah for my hubby! He soooo deserves this break!

Our wedding anniversary is coming up on October 11th and I can't wait...can't believe it has been three years! We're going to see The Fray and Aqualung on the 13th...that will be a great way to celebrate. I wish I could take the whole 2 weeks off with him, but I'm at least taking 5 days of it off so that will be nice.

Here's a pic of me with my freshly done hair...I always feel so good after a cut and highlight. :)

And the winner is...

Shirley! Congrats...you are the winner of my POTD RAK! :)

Pea-mail me your address and I'll get it sent out to you!

Not much else going on with me today. Dan is at work for the night and I'm just occupying my time with TV and the internet. Getting ready to make a pot of coffee (like I need the caffeine at this hour!) Looks like it is going to be a rainy, chilly, dreary weekend but that's just more of an excuse to stay in the house and veg on the couch. :)

My day has finally come!!! :)

I'm POTD over at 2peas and I'm sooo excited!

For those who don't scrapbook, this may seem like a tiny thing, but to be recognized by your peers as a good designer is such a great confidence booster!

In honor of my big day, I'm giving away a fun RAK! Just leave me a comment and I'll pick a random winner! This is also my devious way of getting more people to read my blog....hahaha :)

{struggle}

The last few weeks have been a daily, hourly struggle for me with my anxiety. Stress at work and nearing the one year anniversary of my Grandpa's passing have taken their toll on me. When I was younger and had these anxiety attacks, I could escape by quitting a job or having Mom and Dad fix it for me. As an adult...there is no way to escape the anxiety. I have to face it head-on and deal with it. Right now I want to crawl in a hole and hide from the world (well, Dan could join me but he's the only one allowed). I don't want to deal with the conflict and uncomfortable relationship at work that causes me daily stress and makes me want to break out in tears. I don't want to work late tonight and miss spending the evening with Dan but I don't have a choice. Being an adult is a tough, scary thing sometimes. I hope that I'm able to find a resolution to the stress at work, and find a way to enjoy being there everyday. Feeling like this isn't fun and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. I did some scrapbooking this afternoon to try and take my mind off of things and this is what I came up with...cute, huh? :) My cats do provide a fun, if temporary relief from the pressure of life.

{nature}

Nature is truly one of God's blessings. Whenever I'm stressed, I sit on my porch swing and listen to the birds and feel the cool breeze. I take a walk in the park and admire the trees, squirrels and blue sky. When life seems to be too much for me to handle, God provides me with so many inspiring sights and they are all around me, whenever I want to take them in. I don't know what I would do without the simple things to remind me that life shouldn't be taken too seriously.

{loving it}

Made these two fall layouts over the past week...loving the colors of the season. Fall always gives me such a warm and cozy feeling. :)

{random thoughts}

It is a beautiful Saturday...watching the US Open right now. I love when tennis is on TV, it takes me back to my high school days. Go Federer and Henin-Hardenne!! :)

Read on Elsie's blog a few minutes ago about the negative comments she has been dealing with lately. It makes me sad that someone her age with sooo much talent and such a rising career has to deal with this kind of crap. I *heart* Elsie and wish her all the best!

Got some new fall work clothes this morning...I love fall clothes shopping! Still looking for some brown heels and black boots though. Hubby and I are getting ready to go shopping so maybe I'll have some luck. I desperately need to go through my clothes and take a ton of stuff to goodwill. Sadly I have a lot of things that don't fit me anymore, but I'm trying to embrace my new curves.

I've been dealing with a lot of anxiety lately with work. I'm trying to keep it out of my mind today and tomorrow and just enjoy a relaxing weekend. We're having Mom and Dad over for dinner tomorrow so that will be fun. Making stew for the first time since this past winter...my favorite fall meal.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

{trying}

The past few days have been very trying for me. It is an EXTREMELY busy time at work with a couple big projects going on at the same time. Today and tomorrow I have to work late doing some trainings for student workers and it has me so stressed out. Tonight's training was so unorganized and although I think they learned what they needed to know I feel like it came off as very haphazard and unprofessional. It is days like today that make me really wonder how and why I ended up in this job. Fundraising is the last thing I ever would have seen myself doing. I love where I work and I have a wonderful boss, but that can only count for so much when your actual job is so far from what you want to be doing. I want to use my creativity and be passionate about my job...wake up every morning with excitement at the thought of going to work. I know that a lot of people don't have that priviledge, but I want it...I want it so badly. I'm trying to be brave and strong and keep focused on the positive things. Hopefully tomorrow will bring a new perspective and a more positive attitude for me. If you could say a little prayer for me I would appreciate it...

{first signs of fall}

We went to my parents this weekend and had our first fire in the firepit...roasted hot dogs...so much fun. Fall is my favorite season so I try and milk it for all its worth! It is also my Dad's birthday on Thursday so we gave him his birthday present and had a little celebration. Dan practiced his photography skills and got some great photos so I thought I would share the best ones. The sunset on the way home was so beautiful so I thought I would share that one too.

I also put out some of my fall decorations over the weekend. I don't go overboard with it..just a wreath for the front door and a few miscellaneous pumpkins perched here and there. I've been really enjoying this cooler weather...time to break out the sweaters, jeans and boots...heaven!! :)

The US Open is on right now...another reason why I'm happy. I played tennis in high school so part of me still feels like an athlete...LOL :) I'm rooting for Federer and there are a few women I like...won't really mind who wins on that side.

Found out this weekend that Dan's cousin Pete and his wife Faith are expecting their first child...yay! I'll live vicariously through her until we 're ready for our own bun in the oven!!

Ben Harper ROCKS!!!

Dan and I saw our first Ben Harper concert last night and we are definitely hooked...he was awesome! As soon as he came out the screen drew me in...look at that awesome font!!! Of coures I automatically thought of how cool that picture will look on a LO. LOL :) It was our first concert together and the first of many more to come!