Friday Favorites

     But first a confession…I’ve started typing two (which is kind of a big deal for me) posts since my last one (also coincidentally titled Friday Favorites), and haven’t finished either one.  That being said, I do have a baby update to post and a nursery reveal, and I’ve done some cooking lately.  If I were a good blogger, that would be about four posts.  We’ll see. 

On to my faves…

     Oh the mountains.  Keith and I took a little babymoon to Gatlinburg for the first part of my spring break, and as always, the mountains were just the most.  Surely you know by now that I love the beach, love.  Even still, the mountains are always just so incredible, love.  #mountainsaremylovelanguage #thebeachismylovelanguage #vacationismylovelanguage

Also the food.  I just love the food.  (From top left: breakfast at Puckett’s Grocery and Restaurant, blueberry pancakes at Pancake Pantry, and chicken parmesan at Crystelle Creek)

     Even though I feel like I’ve had the best pregnancy, it was still so nice to do some real relaxing before baby Davis gets here. 

     Speaking of baby Davis, his nursery is finished!  We need the tiniest details, but if he showed up tomorrow (although, please don’t), he would be set in his first little room.  I can’t do a full reveal, because I have some people to show it to in real, live person, but I can’t wait!

Just a sneak peek.

     And my most favorite favorite of all…

“It is finished,” Amen.

     I love Christmas.  You already know that…but I can’t even describe how thankful I am that the story didn’t end in Bethlehem.  In fact, it still isn’t over.  Easter always takes me back when I think that the world mourned His death over 2,000 years ago, but he reminded us in three days that He is coming back.  He came back to show victory over death, and He’ll be back again.
     A few days ago I was having a little moment and was telling myself that I was so overwhelmed.  Right then, He told me that I was not overwhelmed and I certainly didn’t need to be because we’re overcomers…because He already overcame.  We don’t have to be mired down by this world, because He’s already won.  I would be lying if I said I always had this attitude, but I should.  That’s what we can claim.  Not that we are strong, incredible people who live on our own strength, but that when ours runs out, His never does.  Where I fail (daily) He never does.  Where I’m overwhelmed, He has overcome.  How can I not be thankful?

     I hope y’all have such a great Easter and are reminded over and over about His love for us.  He’s coming back for you!  Enjoy your egg hunts.  Eat amazing food.  Love that time with your family, but let’s don’t forget His promise!  Happy Easter!

Eighteen Months Later

     …and eighteen months later…we’re married!  I know long stretches without posts have become something of a regularity around here, but I had a good excuse this time.  On Saturday Keith and I spent the most wonderful day with our families and friends celebrating our wedding.  We are so excited and definitely looking forward to our future together.  I absolutely cannot wait to share pictures with you and will be doing that just as soon as I get my hands on them.  Our photographer, Sarah Linnea Photography, was so much fun to work with and has already posted a few sneak peaks on her Facebook page!

via
(Please do not crop or edit these photos or remove the watermark.  Sarah deserves every single bit of credit for these amazing shots.)

     I am just about to go bonkers to see the rest of these pictures!  Thankfully, I was able to take my mind of the waiting game for a few days while we honeymooned in New Orleans.  Neither of us had ever been, and it was so fun to explore a new place together.  I will be posting about our trip just as soon as I can.  If you’ve never been…book  your trip now.
     I had planned to have a series of posts about the rehearsal dinner, wedding, details, honeymoon, etc., but as is my custom, I forgot to take a single picture of the rehearsal dinner (I had the cutest dress…I’ll get a picture sometime) and spent the wedding day drinking coke and eating a sandwich (we keep it classy) until it was time to walk down the aisle.  I guess all of my posts will be depending on actual wedding photos…oh well, just another excuse to share them!
     I’m going to get to work on the New Orleans post(s) right now…after I eat some cake and hang out with my husband.  For now, I’ll leave you with a little sneak peak:

     I have maybe five pictures of the newlyweds…and maybe a million and five of food and buildings…priorities? 

This Post is More Exciting Than the Title

     Instead of the blasé, gratuitous post vacation photo dump, I thought I would take you sweeties on a little timeline recap.  Let me start by saying that I love the beach probably more than anyone else in the whole world…I’m a vocabulary person, and I don’t even have enough words to tell you what a great time I had. 

Day 1

Mostly driving.  Eating some incredible peach cobbler on the way at Burris Farm Market.  Learning that Della loves sand…a lot. 

Day 2

Pictures (in sunglasses because it was way too bright for anything else).  Dinner at King Neptune…so eating way more than I care to admit here.  Just a little glimpse of what it was like – I had bacon-wrapped-crabmeat-stuffed-shrimp.  Yum.  Also, that shirt I’m wearing in the last picture is my new favorite thing!

Day 3


Snacks on the beach.  Let’s be honest, this was every day.  It was also the end of the snap pea crisps…

Day 4

Low. Country. Boil.  That’s really all that needs to be said.  (P.S. That’s alligator sausage…just learned that this year.)

Day 5

The day Della and I went “boating.”  The day my brother-in-law flipped over the boat (with me in it) and we all laughed.

Day 6

This is by far my favorite restaurant.  They have live music (who play us “Rocky Top” every year) every weekend.  Della was obsessed with the girl playing the bass fiddle…I kind of was too.  How cool is that?

Day 7

With the exception of the last one, these pictures are too sad to enlarge.  After a week of beautiful weather, a freak storm blew through and totally destroyed our canopies (tent city).  We left them in a mangled heap at the end of the driveway.  On the plus side, Della is clearly a future blogger, and we had great weather for the rest of the day to make up for not having shade.

     Sorry if it took thirty minutes for this page to load!  I couldn’t pare it down anymore, and I love all of these pictures.  Other notes about the week:
          - We saw so many dolphins!  I even saw a cute, little baby one jump all the way out of the water!
          - This was the year of the sand bar.  Every afternoon there were these huge sand bars all up and down the beach that went out really far with water barely up to our ankles.  It was beautiful.
          - It was also the year of the seashell.  I filled up the rest of my shell jar and got seven giant shells!
          - I finally had a chance to wear my neon orange flip flops!  I’m going to have to show them to you very, very soon.

     Now that summer is officially over, I have got to get into school mode quick.  I start student teaching orientation tomorrow!  I’m definitely going to miss summer, but I am so ready for fall (and everything that follows).  Student teaching > graduation > job (hopefully) > wedding planning > WEDDING! 

Can’t Convey

     It’s been a long time coming, folks.  Some days I wasn’t sure if I’d make it.  It’s been a whirlwind summer.  Now…work is over, the bags are packed, my nails are done, my hair is cut, Keith is here.  We are leaving for the beach tomorrow!
     There is no way to convey through typed out words on a screen how excited I am.  As you may have guessed from my week of talking about pretty much nothing but the beach…this is what I live for (not really…but it’s right up there). 
     In addition to sand, sun, salt water, and incredible food, I am so excited to spend time with my family and just be away.  As you probably already know, I don’t have a fancy phone, so there are no Internet temptations to deal with there.  I love all you sweet bloggy friends, but I am going unplugged for the week.  No email, no posting (from me), no nothing.  Just toes in the sand hanging out.  I can’t wait!

 

I hope y’all will still check back next week I have some incredible guest posts lined up for you!  Seriously…amazing.

Monday
Wednesday
Friday
Aren’t you excited?!

This is the Final Countdown

     I’m back from a weekend with Keith…with no pictures yet again.  I have got to do better.  Oh well.  You’ll just have to take it on faith that we had a wonderful weekend.  I can now say that I’ve been to a duck blind drawing (which I think makes me pretty good hunting-wife material). 
     In other news, it’s beach countdown week!  I am off work all week, and I will be doing non-stop beach preparations.  Eeeeeee! I am so excited.
     To totally switch gears, I’m linking up with Neely and Ashley for Sunday Social.  I’ve never done this link up before, but this week’s questions were all about fall.  How could I resist?  I know I’ve been talking typing y’all’s ears off about the beach, but I love love love fall!

 

     Let me be clear.  I am NOT wishing away my vacation, but watching all my daycare kids start school has really made me start thinking about fall and everything I’ve got coming up.  So…here we go.

What is your favorite fall activity?

Where to begin?  School (I know…), Halloween, leaves, Thanksgiving, cute clothes, delicious cool weather food, not sweating constantly because of the oppressive heat, decorating for all of the end of the year holidays, GRADUATING, fall crafting (I have some big plans), using quilts, our city’s gigantic thrift sale, etc.

Do you follow a football team?  If so, which one and why?

I would never dream of supporting any other teams but the UT Vols and the Titans.  I’m not going to lie and say I watch every single game, but there is something so nostalgic about watching the team run through the big T.  I am just dying for Keith to take me to a Vols game.  Also, I saw the cutest UT scarf at the store the other day.  It wasn’t overdone and tacky…I may have to go back and snatch it up!

What is something fun about fall in your area?

The Service League in my town holds a huge thrift sale every year.  My mother, sister, grandmother, and aunt all wake up early, and go wait in line to be there.  Last year I found a pair of practically brand new Under Armour tennis shoes for $2!  It was definitely the find of the year.

Fave fall outfit staples?

Blue jeans, blue jeans, blue jeans!  Also…I have like eight sweatshirts (and pairs of sweatpants) – obviously I love those too.

Thing you are most looking forward to about this coming fall season?

I already said the thrift sale, but if you notice in my first answer…I’m graduating DECEMBER 15 (technically still fall)!  I am so ready.

Favorite fall holiday? Traditions?

I loooooove Thanksgiving!  The day after (instead of Black Friday nonsensing), my mother, sister, and I decorate our whole house for Christmas…which is a pretty big ordeal.

Technically this was taken in the summer (on vacation two years ago), but we’re at the Christmas Place in Gatlinburg – so it’s applicable.  Vacation. Summer. Looking forward to fall/decorations.  Check, check, and check.

Have a great week!