We just couldn't wait...

Christmas came a bit early for us this year. We are going home this friday to be with our families, so we decided to do our Christmas this week. Originally we planned for Thursday, but we were sitting around Tuesday night and just couldn't wait any longer. We had a great time, and really enjoyed surprising each other.

Before we got started. Yes Aladdin was on!

Loving all of my socks.

Got my scarf!

Unfortunately I got the wrong size.

Kev got an xbox game.

Well I was trying to show the wrapping before he ripped it open, but I was too late. I seriously enjoy wrapping too much; only to have it taken apart so quickly.

This shirt fits!

I was so excited to get a standing mixer!!!!! I've already made some cookies!

 My favorite thing is to open the stocking. It always has the perfect things.

He had these made for me. The smaller ones are for my nursing IDs. How sweet. I got a belt and some boot socks too.

He had a full stocking too. He got some golf balls, socks, and gum!

This year my family has decided to not exchange presents. We each were told to do something for someone else. My sister proposed this idea last year, and I think it makes a lot of sense. We celebrated our birthdays a bit bigger this year, and for Christmas we are celebrating the birth of Christ and what he has done for us, by doing/giving to others.  We are blessed, and so thankful for what we have. We can't thank God enough for how he has provided for us through our first year of marriage. I can't wait to be with both of our families for Christmas this weekend. It gets crazy going to 4 or 5 different places, but we wouldn't have it any other way.
 Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Christmas

Christmas has definitely come quick this time. I think as I get older, it comes faster and faster each year....
I finished all my shopping about a week and a half ago, and all the present are wrapped under our tree, for our first married Christmas together!

Out from our kitchen, there is a ledge that is currently serving as our makeshift mantle. Works just perfectly.

Since I have ample time over this break, my goal is for us to start eating a bit healthier, and to be a bit more savvy with when we are purchasing certain items at the grocery. I searched many hours online for websites and blogs to help me out with this. I came across one that allows you to choose which store you want to look at and it lets you know what items are best to buy at that specific time. I'm trying to make smart menus one week at a time, using leftovers or extra meat from the previous meal. I'm aiming to get into this routine to make it a bit easier when school starts back. I don't know about you guys, but it can seriously be one of the biggest pains sometimes when we are trying to figure out what to eat every night. I like variety, but Kev is totally cool with eating the same ole thing. I get frustrated when he doesn't have an opinion, but that's only because he could honestly eat whatever. For real, I need a solution... I've got to figure something out.

Here is are just a few websites that I'm trying out to help me get started:
I use this to give me ideas when I know the ingredients I want to use. Comes in handy when you are trying to use the extra meat from the night before.
This blogger is awesome. She is a christian women who aims to "equip, encourage, and empower good stewardship." She is the one who lists the grocery stores with information on them. She also posts weekly meal plans and coupons.
This blog is just another weekly planner.

A lot of the crazy blogging women have this down to a freaky science. I just hope I can figure out something that works...

It's been quite some time since I have been on here... I just finished my last Fall semester of college and couldn't be happier! I'm excited to get some down time over the entire month of January! Although I will be taking the hardest class (archery), it shouldn't be too strenuous right?

A couple of months ago, for fall break, Kev and I went to visit Southeastern Seminary and stayed with Shane and Alicia Shaddix. We had such a great time (thanks again ya'll). North Carolina is beautiful and the seminary was great. We stopped at an estate sale one day and we found a steal!  We got this chair, thinking to eventually reupholster it, but for now the green is not hurting anyone. It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I love the pop of color it adds to our little apartment. The best part about the chair is that it was only $10. We went back to the sale the next day to pay for it and pick it up, and everything was half off, so we ended up paying only $5 for this chair!

The arms and back are bordered with nailheads, which I love!

Kev and I are still praying about where the Lord wants us to be for the next few years. Within the next month or so we are hoping to go visit Southern in Kentucky. Kev has been there before, so I want to see the seminary and we want to get a feel of the city as well. It's a tough decision, but we aren't too worried about it. We are excited to see where we will end up more than anything.

I'm thankful for this break and the time to relax and be with friends and family before my last semester in nursing starts in full force!

Diary of a Nursing student

Obviously nursing school is crazy and I haven't been on here since this summer, but I thought I'd share a snapshot of my day today...
1. I was giving my elderly patient a bed bath and she began releasing a BM that she has not had for at least 4 days. Needless to say, she required a new diaper.
2. Saw a dead body thats foot was dangling off and the tibia and fibula were poking out of the bottom of his ankle. All from jumping off of a building. Crazy!

The End!

One of my first few posts was about making a chain for all the days left until I graduate. Today being my last  first day of class, here it is... 270 days!

I wish you could see how many coffee filters are stacked on top of each other... Ridiculous! Can't wait to be done! May 19 I long for you!

save your rolls....

....Save your paper towel and toilet paper rolls that is. I found this idea on a blog and I figured I would try it due to the cost being totally FREE FRee free! Over several weeks my little craft shelf in the closet was overflowing with carboard tubes. Eventually I got enough to make the wreath I was wanting to make. I first folded the tubes flat, then marked off one inch markings, cut accordingly along the marks, and finally glued it all together!

I also made some more pillows that are just in time for my favorite season, FALL! I took a stab at hand embroidering our initials on the bottom of one, and I'm pretty satisfied with how it turned out I think!

Shane and Shane

Shane and Shane are one of my favorites by far! This is one of their new songs on their new album, which might I say is absolutely fantastic! I just had to share.....

Warning: Tears may sporadically fall.

Kev

About a month or so ago Kevin was interviewed for a magazine called Delivered. They asked him all about his tornado story in order to post it to their website as a feature piece. What we have heard though, is that they chose to actually put it the magazine with some picture. We hope to see it sometime if that's true, but for now here is the online piece... Kevin's story..... The article says we are going to Southern Seminary next year but we are currently deciding between that AND Southeastern in North Carolina. We are excited to see what the future holds for sure!

Needless to say I'm so thankful for my husband and very proud of him. I love my best friend!

I think I can I think I can

So less than a month is left of summer break, and I just can't believe it. It has gone by so fast and I'm dreading going back to school and studying until I go crazy. We still have a trip to Chicago so I'm hanging onto that! There are lots of things that I wanted to get done this summer so I have been trying to keep busy in getting them done.

I tried my hand at making an apron. I thought this would be easy and fun to make. Mmmm reading patterns is not my thing, and it was not always fun. I did finally finish though, and I'm pretty happy about it.



It's bigger than I wanted. I even tried making it smaller than it told me.

The sides where the neck/ back ties slide through are pesky lil things!

Believe it or not, I am still working on the trunk. I shamefully took a break from it for a few weeks because it's just so hot outside. The paint and stain stripper are taking a lot longer than I thought. The wheels are horrible and just will not let go of the bright red paint. I will finish this though! It has to get done before school starts. It will! It will!


This is with the paint remover gunk

Yes even the inside of the wheels are this fantastic red......Ugh!

 Kev and I went home a few weeks ago and look at this precious thing my grandmother gave me! This is a quilt that my great grandmother made. I think we said it had to at least be 40 or 50 years old.


My grandmother stitched "Great Grandmother Jewel Bevill Curlin"

Here is a small section of it. So cute!

Oh ya and from two posts ago, I found the perfect spot for my little shadow box!

There are a few more sewing things I want to do but I'm waiting for JoAnn's to open on Friday! I can't wait. You can call me strange...

Little Mommy and Pops

I was debating on whether or not I was going to write about this because I just do not have a way with words. I'm not sure if I could ever get across what I feel, but I thought I would just try :)

As many know, my mom had a right brain stroke in March. It's still strange to even type that. I guess at times there is still some disbelief about the whole situation. My mom has been so strong through this all and has taught me a lot by dealing with the many many changes that have come her way over the past four months. I have learned how much my mom did for all of us and appreciate her even more. I will never ever forget the night Kev and I went to Memphis to see her in the hospital... (I am in Nursing School and I had clinicals every week at the hospital taking care of cardiac patients and meeting their familes, but never really connecting with them on a deep level. After leaving their room, most times I would never think twice about how each person's life in there was being affected and just how surreal health issues can be. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't mean to them nor did I neglect talking to them, getting to know them, or serving them but it was just different...)

In the hospital that night after walking down the longest hallway in the world and while being told what was actually going on, I peeked past the curtain in the ER. I look at my mom, and I was overwhelmed. I remember going into Kevin's arms and then wanting to sit on the floor and cry. I hate crying. I hate crying in public. I hate when I start the ugly cry in public. I hate when I start the ugly cry in public accompanied with sounds. All of which happened. My grandmothers came and hugged me, and my Mimi told me that I had to be strong for her and to go in and see her. So I gathered myself and walked in to talk to her. From then on was a whirl wind. Three or four more trips to the hospital due to another stroke and multiple seizures. Never did I think that I would walk into a hospital and someone in my family be the patient. Our family was just fine. We were healthy, two in school, one married, one engaged, working, and happy. Nothing bad or horrific happens to us. At least not now, not yet... But God had different plans and they certainly weren't what I expected. Every doctor says it is amazing how well she is doing and just how lucky she is to be alive. She always responds with how gracious God is and how much mercy He has. She is still faced with certain things, but she is taking it one day at a time and all I can say is that I'm so proud of my mom! She is truly a God fearing woman who loves the Lord. I love "My Little Mommy" as I always call her.

My dad has been the most gracious and selfless person through this. He has taught us so much even in mine and Kevin's own marriage. He is the hardest worker and the busiest person. If he's not at the church working, then he is fixing someone's air conditioner, taking necessities to families in Galloway, or off on a mission trip. I'm sure there are even more unmentioned things that no one even knows that he does. He has been so strong and keeps us laughing through it all! (Even when the cost is busting on the hardwood floors when he slides all the way across the kitchen).  I love my dad and couldn't be more proud to call him my pops!

I have learned so much through this all and I'm still learning so much. I'm learning to take this into my marriage, my friendships, and my clinicals. I'm thankful for the life I have been given. I'm not promised tomorrow but through God's mercy I am promised an eternity in heaven with my Savior.

These are two verses that I have really come to appreciate these past few weeks for many reasons:

Psalm 90:12 - "So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom."

Psalm 90:14 - "Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days."

Congrats to our friends!

What a great 4th we had! We went to a surprise engagement party. This was our first one since we got engaged last year. It was so exciting...Three cheers for the Kaspars to be. Congrats Kevin and Chloe!



I should have got a pic of the rock on her finger. Spectacular!



The other day I was just pacing the house thinking of what I could do. I found a picture frame/shadow box that we have never used and decided to do something with it. So I got out my trusty burlap and found some flowers that I made on the sewing machine last month. This was the perfect project because I finally got to use my staple gun that I got for my happy day (birthday). This was the final product:



Now I just need to find the perfect place for it....

Tea Party.... Just not the Boston Kind

This weekend Kev and I went to Memphis to see the fams! We had a good time, and it was great to see everyone. While we were there, we went to the mall. We were just walking the mall and this girl roped us in to try some tea at Teavana. My answer was a hardy yes! I will take any free food or drink. So we decided to take a look in the store. After about 45 minutes and 6 taste testings, we left Teavana with a tea steeper, three different teas (strawberry lemonade, blueberry, and a type of chai), and rock sugar!

Kev already drinks tea and I do occasionally, but we decided to make a habit of drinking tea and reading together in the evenings. We could not wait to try our new teas. We got home Sunday night and we have already had two cups! You can drink them hot, cold, and you can even mix them......I'm only 21. Are we weird?

This morning along with our cups of tea we tried a new recipe. It turned out tasting a lot like monkey bread.



Getting it out of the muffin pan didn't help its physical appearance but it was TASTY!

Not sure how appropriate/inappropriate/coincidental it is that my post is about tea as today is July fourth, but anyhow Happy Independence day!

La Cocina!

It's been too long since I have last posted...
For just a second I want to say thanks to the hubs for such a great week and a half! He first surprised me with a City Pass for our trip to Chicago. This means we get to do and see all kinds of fun things when we go. Kev also surprised me with perfume and some brown wedges that I have been wanting! This past Friday, we went on a date and went to the movies for only the second time since we have been together. We're just not the movie theatre type...We were at Kroger a few days before and I saw a bunch of candy for a dollar (the good kind too...in the jumbo boxes!) And I was explaining how my friends and I in high school would get a bunch of candy when the store was having a two for one deal and then we would go see a cheap movie together. We even got chips and dip from El Porton into the theatre one time! (Yes that was probably the extent of our rebellion, but we had great Friday nights!) Anyways, Kev remembered my reminiscing episode and after dinner on Friday, he said we needed to go to Kroger and told me to pick out any candy I wanted. I just knew a trip to the movies was next! We saw Midnight in Paris. It was actually pretty cute and witty... Ok so that was longer than a few seconds, but he is just the bees knees. Love him!

As far as my crafting goes, it has been a bit on the slower side. Our apartment can only take so much. It's a great size for us but my creative noodle cries for more space. So in some of my spare time, I dream and add pictures to my very dear folder called "Our House To Be!"

I'll start with La Cocina!! I love kitchens, and I'm just not sure if everything I want could ever work in one kitchen. I'll start with this magnificent picture (And you have to click on the pics to see just how fabulous they are). Get a good look at that arch. Yes please! I love the ceiling in this one too.

Another thing that I really want is a breakfast nook with built in benches. Just adorable!

Oh and an island with barstool chairs! These are rather fabulous ones at that!

Isn't this so clever, adding in color by painting the back of the cabinets. Whoa! Loving the white subway tile too.

 I'm not sure if I would ever choose robin's egg blue cabinets, but I must say that these colors are fantastic together!

My choice of cabinetry would definitely be white ones. I like the hardwood floors too. Oh and check out that blue subway tile and the ceilings!

I have an obvious obsession with whites, blues, clean, open, and happy kitchens! I also love the modern/vintage/anthropologie look. (I know, I'm all over the place!) I have many more pictures in my folder and I could babble on forever but I'll spare you the pain for now...

Happy Monday

Happy Monday to all!

So I just ran across some pictures of a craft I did a couple months ago. I thought it was a good use of those neat candle jars that I just hate to throw away sometimes. I taped out a square appropriate to the size of chalkboard/writing space that I wanted.

 Then I sprayed it down four or five times with chalkboard spray paint!

 Then I peeled the tape to reveal a perfect rectangle!

 These candles came with adorable handles, so I popped the handles back on and wrapped some hemp around the top. These are now sitting on our desk and I just love them!



I have also spent some time sewing. I made the easiest slip cover the other day. We had some ugly pillows stuffed in the closet that came with the couch so I took it upon myself to pretty them up. Really, these envelope slip covers are mindless and I can't wait to make more!!

This is the back of the pillow. Shows how you just shove the pillow in!

Kev and I went to Chili's on Friday night and little did we know (as we ate our delicious triple dippers) that we would be watching a wedding as well. Indeed, a couple got married in a section of Chili's! Here is the proof: Wedding Bliss. Everyone including the workers were all watching and taking pics. They said their vows, kissed, and went to the bar with a few people that were with them and had dinner! Classy! Why didn't we think of that? We love absolutely love Chili's, and it was actually one of our first dates we went on. It would have been the epitome of our love for one another and just plain memorable. Don't ya think?

 Kev got something really great in the mail a couple of days ago which confirms our small trip that we are planning for August:

That's right, Chicago it is! We are excited for our little trip and can't wait to get away and visit this city. I've been to Chicago once but Kev's been there many times. He already has a list of places he wants to take me, and I'm excited as it seems like I may have my own personal tour guide!

Oh vacation hurry up!!

A Much Needed Weekend.

This weekend was fabulous. Saturday, we went to a wedding in Memphis that was absolutely precious. It was very very hot. Matter of fact I think it was record temperatures for early June. I was melting away and reminded of why January was not such a bad idea for our wedding after all. I often say, "I don't look cute nor do I act cute in the heat." I'm just miserable when I'm hot and sticky. After the wedding, we got to spend much needed time with friends that we haven't seen since our wedding. We love hanging out with other couples, and it is just good to be around people that are in the same walk of life as you!

Sunday, we got a lot done around the house. We got our collage up in our bedroom finally. We got three frames from Goodwill for almost $0.75 a piece. I sanded one completely down, sanded the edges of one to give it an aged look, and painted the last one with a crackle finish!

Kev worked hard on getting that pesky bulletin board up along some of the frames that didn't even have picture hangers on the back of them. It is exactly like I pre-planned (great trick: we cut newspaper out to the shape of each frame so you can move them around and not have your wall look like a cheese grater), but it is still growing on me and I may have to make some changes. I'm just glad that frames aren't lying all over the room anymore. I bet Kev is thinking "Are you kidding me??" We also did some more sanding on the trunk, and we tried that paint and stain stripper. Not really sure it made much of a difference. My dad informed me that I may not paint the trunk!! So I will persevere and just keep sanding till my hands fall off.

Today, I took it upon myself to start couponing a bit more than the few that we already do collect. Now I'm not going to be a psycho mom and spend an ungodly amount of time clipping coupons and dumpster diving, but I have started writing companies in hopes of some freebies! I also got on product websites and found coupons just sitting there! I had no idea after getting on the General Mills website that we eat quite a few of their products. On that link there are pretty good coupons and they change every month. So I'll be waiting these next few days to see if any of the companies send me any goodies. I'll let ya know if it works out or not ;)

Kels and Jen came to visit me, and Jen came bearing bright blue cup cakes.

Absolutely delish! I loved seeing them. We first attempted to try out two antique stores that I found out about in downtown Jackson, but they were both closed. Strange. So I just took them to ole faithful....Yep, Yarboro's Antiques!

Still keeping the graduation chain dare on my mind. I need some savvy crafty ideas......