happy anniversary!

The great thing about being newlyweds is that we can celebrate anniversaries month to month :)

That being said...today is mine and J's 4 month anniversary!

Last month he surprised me with some of my favorite things :)

Tonight we're celebrating by making lasagna and one of these...

If you like Caesar salad then this is definitely one to try! Everything comes in the bag in little packages and you just have to mix it up :) It's ah-mazing!

On another note...

I caved in and bought some fall decor! I just bought a few things at Hobby Lobby since I didn't want to go overboard (and definitely could have at HL!). Everything was 50% off so that's a good thing :)

This cute little pumpkin sits on our kitchen table :)

garlands and pumpkin candles on the mantle

(along with J's video games :) )

I thought this wooden pumpkin for our front door was just presh!

Now I just want to get some pumpkins or Funkins along with some yellow, orange, or red mums to put on the front porch.

A funny little story...while I was at Hobby Lobby yesterday, I ran into a lady who had a whole buggy full of fun fall decor. She turned to me and said, "My husband is going to think I've gone crazy getting all of this!" :) But what can I say...girls just love decorating!

One on other note, I was googling something and found these adorable scarecrow cookies.

Okay...now I'm really done with all these random things!

Hope everyone is having a wonderful Wednesday!

terrific tuesday!

No call again to sub today :) but my internal clock always wakes me up at 6:30 expecting a call so I had trouble falling back asleep until about 8:00.

Then little Daisy and I woke up about 10:15 to a super hot bedroom. I got up and noticed the ceiling fan wasn't on and I tried to flip some more switches...but nothing! So I immediately called J and told him that the power was off. He called Georgia Power and they said they were working on it. Don't know why it went out but whatev. While the power was being worked on, Daisy and I were able to enjoy the b-e-a-utiful morning and rock in our rocking chairs for a bit and then come inside and open up the windows until the power came back on.

I did just get a call to come sub tomorrow in a 2nd grade class that I've been in before. They are such a cute and fun bunch of kids. Now I can wake up tomorrow morning and actually have something to do rather than waiting around expecting a phone call.

On a different note...J made a delish Cuban supper (yellow rice, black beans, and jerk chicken) last night that reminded me of when we went to the Keys on our honeymoon. We spent all day in Key West towards the end of our honeymoon and ate dinner at this place called El Mason de Pepe.

They bring out bread and these yummy Cuban dipping sauces before the meal.

While we ate, we got to listen to these guys...

...and watch this little guy walk around!

Our food finally arrived...J and I got the same thing expect he got plantains and I got these potato things.

J's meal

my meal.

Now after all this food talk, I'm hungry! Off to raid the fridge and pantry or may just go into town to get something!

Hope everyone has a terrific Tuesday!

you make me smile.

Today was such a great day!

For the first time in three weeks I didn't get a call to go in and sub! I got to sleep in with little Daisy which was great :)

I was able to do some cleaning around the house, vacuumed, and boxed up some things in our guest room. I ran some errands and had Chic-fil-a for lunch. :)

I took Daisy for a walk around the neighborhood and now I'm watching 90210...the one where Janet and Steve got married. Such a sweet episode.

J should be home in just a few minutes then we'll cook supper and watch Dancing with the Stars (J actually likes watching it!).

I'm sure I'll be getting calls to sub this week so I'm glad I had all day to get some things done!

On the ride home yesterday, J and I heard the song "Smile" by Uncle Kracker. If you haven't heard this song, check it out. It is such a sweet song :)

I don't know how to post a video but here's the link!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lB1UJsutvkc&feature=fvw

fantastic friday!

Friday is finally here! Yay!

After I leave from subbing, I'm going home to pack, run a couple of errands, and then me, J, and little Daisy are on to wonderful southwest Georgia!

It was my brother's 21st birthday on Tuesday so we are going to visit the fam as well as go to a high school friend's wedding on Saturday. She and the groom have been dating for 8 years!

Then on Sunday we'll come back to the 'Boro, do whatev, then watch Desperate Housewives! Can't wait for the season to start!

Well, I gotta run so I can pick up these kiddos from P. E. The day is finally almost over...these kids wear me out!

Have a fantastic weekend!

thankful thursday.

I have so many things to be thankful for in my life:


I'm thankful:

• that I woke up today with J by my side.
• that I had the patience to deal with a classroom full of 21 second graders today.
• to hear my little Daisy make that whimpering noise while she's dreaming.
• for having wonderful friends and family in my life.
• to be healthy.
• for God's love.

If this story doesn't touch your heart I don't know what will.

J told me about this little girl, Gracyn DenBesten, who had never been sick (beyond the common cold/flu) was diagnosed with viral myocarditis after going to the hospital on Christmas Eve. She finally received the Berlin heart (an artificial heart) in April and is still going strong :) It's amazing what God has done in her life.


She shows her love for God by using her beautiful voice to spread His word. She wrote a beautiful song called "I Love You More." I teared up and got chills when she sang her song.


To listen to this song please go to http://www.shinevision.com/ and play the first video to hear Gracyn sing her beautiful song!

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever.

Psalm 136:1

wonderful wednesday.

I'm glad Wednesday has come and is almost gone...2 more days until a fun-filled weekend!

As I mentioned last week, I am glued to my television at night for all of the fall season premieres.

I've been watching Dancing with the Stars this week and there are so many good contestants! My faves are Kelly Osbourne, Aaron Carter, Natalie Coughlin and Mark Decascos.

Right now they are premiering the video for Miley Cyrus' "Party in the USA." This song is just so catchy I can't help but sing along :)

After DWTS I'm watching my next guilty pleasure, Glee. It's such a cute show!

Tomorrow I'll be having to DVR or flip between the 2 hour season premiere of Grey's Anatomy and Project Runway. I can't wait for Grey's to come on...I've been having withdrawals! The season finale was so good (even though I was bawling my eyes out) and can't wait to see what happens this season. I've been watching both of these shows since they first premiered and are two of my must watch shows!

Then on Sunday I'll be tuning in for Desperate Housewives. I've been watching DH since my freshman year in college and just love it!

So I may be a TV-aholic but what can I say...I have lots of favorite shows!

it's finally fall y'all!

I'm so excited that today is officially the first day of fall! I love everything that fall brings...leaves changing colors, cooler weather, wearing cute scarves and jackets, and the start of all the holidays to come!

Just looking at our engagement pics from last year captures all of the reasons I love fall!

On the bench where J proposed :)

In front of the Christmas shop were J bought the ornament.

We have this one on a canvas in our bedroom :)

We had this one blown up and framed to put in our new house :)

So I may have gone a little overboard on the engagement pics but I just love them and we had the best time taking them! Our photographers were the best...they drove all the way to our mountain house in north Georgia in Rabun County to take them and then we drove the 15 minutes up to Highlands, NC where we got engaged to take some too! It was so much fun to go back to where J proposed to recapture some wonderful moments!

I'd also like to wish my crazy little brother (not so little anymore though!) a happy 21st birthday! We're going back home this weekend to visit him and the rest of the fam and to also go to a high school friends wedding.

I don't have many pics of us on this computer but here are a couple :)

on the boat on the 4th of July a couple of years ago.

Sam and J on our wedding day.

Happy birthday Sam! We love you!

finally friday!

I'm super glad that the weekend is finally here!

I have subbed every day this week (2nd grade, special ed, kindergarten for 2 days, and the libray). Whew...it's been a long week!

We have one of J's childhood friends/fraternity brother/groomsman staying over for the weekend. They are playing golf right now, then we're going to Mellow Mushroom tonight with my old roomies and other friends, tailgating tomorrow for this game which is tomorrow night (while praying it doesn't rain!), and relaxing on Sunday.

As of right now I only have to sub Thursday and Friday of next week but I'm sure I'll be getting some early morning phone calls to come in on the other days!

Hope everyone has a wonderful and safe weekend!

pine bark.

I just wanted to take a quick second to tell you about what I've been snacking on for the past couple of days...pine bark. No, not pine bark from a tree :) but this...

Okay so it may not look very good but o.m.g. it is delicious! My mama used to make it a lot when I was growing up so of course I learned how to make it :) It's a very simple and quick recipe and is so addicting for chocoholics like me!


Pine Bark
1 cup brown sugar
2 sticks butter
1 (12 oz.) bag semi-sweet chocolate chips or morsels

Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil, sides and bottom. Completely cover bottom with one layer of saltines (salty side up). Melt butter in a saucepan, add brown sugar and boil for 3 minutes. Pour sugar mixture over crackers -- spread well to cover all surfaces. Bake at 400 degrees for 7 minutes.

Remove from oven and immediately spread on the chocolate chips. Spread evenly with spoon or knife (will melt). Refrigerate for an hour or until chocolate is firm. Peel off foil and break into pieces. Pine bark freezes well.

So if you're craving something chocolatey (like I usually am) this is the perfect recipe!

could-a, should-a, would-a.

I saw this on a blogger friend's post the other day I figured what the heck...I'll do my own!

I can't...

• go a day without shaving my legs...I have to do it every night before I go to bed!
• stand leaving my little Daisy by herself during the day.
• wait for cooler weather so I can break out my scarves :)
• believe we've been married for almost 4 months.

I can...

• make the perfect pitcher of sweet tea.
• spend hours walking around TJ Maxx, Target, and Hobby Lobby.
• watch HGTV all day long.
• eat chocolate every day.

I won't...

• be getting on a plane any time soon...they scare me!
• go to bed without the ceiling fan on.
• go one night without wearing my retainers (yes...i still wear them!)
• eat corn on the cob...Ialways cut off the corn before I eat it.

I will...

• start going to church more.
• one day move back to my home town even though right now I love where we are.
• be glued to our tv next week for all of the fall season premieres!
• get a Simple Diary soon :)

I shouldn't...

• worry about the future.
• complain about getting up early to go to sub.
• eat my weight in the pine bark I made the other day!
• try to fill up my closet with as many cardigans as I can find but I can't help it...I'm a sucker for a cute cardi :)

I should...

• drink more water.
• start working out again...even if it's on the Wii Fit.
• print off our wedding pictures to put in my scrapbook.
• live my life to the fullest every day.

terrific tuesday.

Hope everyone is having a terrific Tuesday! I'm subbing again today and the day has gone pretty good so far :) It's lunch time so I'm just sitting here at the computer waiting for the students to come back in about 10 minutes.

I can't wait until 2:30 though so I can go here since I forgot my lunch today...

...maybe here to pick up some fun fall things for our house...

...and to go home to see this adorable little girl!

Hope everyone has a great rest of the day!

finally friday!

Why is it that the shorter work week always seem the longest?! I feel as though this week has drug by even though Monday was Labor Day. So I'm super excited it's the weekend!

Since I unfortunately could not find a permanent teaching job I am currently substituting. I have been subbing for the past year while getting my Master's and now that I'm done I'm still subbing at the same wonderful school. I'm actually subbing today :) and have been all week. The school keeps me pretty busy! Even though this is not what I was planning on doing after finishing 5 years of school, I hope and pray that I will find a teaching job sooner rather than later :)

As soon as I leave school today, I'm going home to clean up the kitchen, fold some laundry, and make our bed so that when my daddy comes to visit the house will look halfway decent! He's coming to visit (and er, work) this weekend to help us finish painting our 2nd bedroom and hang some pictures and curtains. Both my parents are so handy and creative but since mama couldn't come this weeknd, daddy will have the pleasure of helping :)

Before my dad arrives, I'm going to a jewelry party that my future sister-in-law is hosting. When I leave there me, J, and daddy will probably go to our fave Mexican restaurant for supper.

Saturday, J has to work :( so me and a couple of friends are going to our local Habitat for Humanity to browse around at some of the things that have been dropped off. Sometimes you can find some interesting things there! My old roomie found this beautiful yellow velvet-type chair that we are actually using in our bedroom.

Sunday, I'm sure will be spent finishing painting and hanging things around the house.

Then back to subbing on Monday! At least I have some kind of job :)

Hope everyone has a fabulous weekend!

failblog.

J showed me this website earlier tonight and it's pretty hilarious!

Failblog kind of reminds of when Jay Leno would do his headlines on The Tonight Show.

Check out the site for some laughs :)