pinterest obsession.

Confession: I am a Pinterest Addict.

Seriously, I look at pins so often! There are so many awesome ideas!

Here are my top 3 DIY projects that I want to make right away!

How simple! Turn boring old vases and jars in to detailed, white "pottery."
Found here

Super cute and easy dog food container
made from an old popcorn tin!
found here

I love this idea! I think it would be a perfect way to plan meals and incorporate new meals in!
Found here

Here are a few ideas that I have found for the wedding!

A whole collage of perfect baseball party ideas! So cute!
Found here

I love this photo! :)
Unknown Source

I finally found a guest book option that I LOVE! Yay!
Now to see if Chris likes it and then find the perfect calendar!
Found here

Here are a few recipes that look "good enough to eat!"

Apple Nachos! Wow! Yum!
Found here

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Truffles! Hello Fall!
Found here

Frozen Hot Chocolate. Sounds delightful!
Found here

photo op.

I love taking pictures of the things that God has given us. Flowers, streams, baby birds, etc. I usually do a bit more of that during the summer but haven't really had the opportunity to much lately. Although, this week I have no desire to be out in the heat taking pictures. But here are a few of my favorite photos I've taken of God's beautiful creations! 

quick post.

I'm waiting for my boss to get back from a meeting so here I am :)

seeing: the sunshine through the windows.

hearing: the music in the hallway playing. It's SO nice to work in a place with so many encouraging people

tasting: fresh brewed coffee, yes, please.

feeling: a bit overwhelmed, it is August 1st, ya know?

reading: not enough.

loving: the ample amount of time I've had with Chris lately

anticipating: the first day at my new job, two weeks.

making: lists of things that MUST be done soon

wishing: it wasn't quite so hot so I enjoyed long walks with Dakota a bit more.

August 1.

Today is the first day of August. This is significant to me for a few reasons.

First and foremost, that means I am getting married in two months! Yep, it true. Two months from today, I marry my best friend. Ah!

Secondly, that also means summer is almost gone. When did that happen and where did it go? I have really had a great summer. But... there were SO many things I wanted to do this summer. Even though I haven't felt busy I guess I have stayed fairly busy. My summer has been filled with working at Ridgecrest, visiting family, playing with our sweet puppy, and enjoying so much time just hanging out with Chris. Yep, that all does make for a great summer but if I would have made a list of things to do this summer it would have included:

• horseback riding
• weekend away with Kat (plus lots of other times with her too!)
• a lot of crafting
• refinishing projects for our future (soon!!) home
• working on wedding details galore

August 1 also means that two weeks from today I start my new job. I don't think I've ever been quite so nervous for a new job. I know it will be a great learning experience but I still feel like there are a lot of unknowns with it. Two weeks from today I will be in our classroom though. 

This summer really has been good and it will continue to be. But now I have to go and get ready for work! I am so thankful for my job this summer! :)

Dakota.

These pictures are long overdue but I'd like you to meet our sweet little pup, Dakota. We've had her almost two months now and I adore her. She's growing like crazy and I just love cuddling her!

She'll be filling this kennel quickly!

This was the day we got her.

Worn out on a walk!

Went out for ice cream with us.

Hanging out at Millie's house.

Terrified of Millie! ;)

Millie is my sweet cousin Lesley's dog.

ice cream cake.

Last night I made dinner for Chris and bought stuff to make a dessert too. Neither of us really wanted ice cream by the time dinner and the Cardinals game was over so we didn't eat it. Although, it was a delicious breakfast! :)

So here is the simple, delicious recipe! 

(I found a similar recipe on a blog not to long ago but I don't remember where it was!)

What you will need:

Ice cream sandwhichs (enough to cover the bottom or the dish you are using)

One container or CoolWhip

Chocolate Syrup

Caramel Syrup

King Size Candy bar of your choice

Yummy ingredients right?

Line the bottom of your dish with the ice cream sandwiches, I found some that were half chocolate and half vanilla (mm!). Then crumble half of the candy bar and sprinkle it over the ice cream. Drizzle both types of syrups. Add a layer of CoolWhip and then add another layer of the syrups and the candy bar crumbles. Freeze for a couple of hours and enjoy! 

This was the easiest dessert and quite possible the yummiest too!

Sorry for my absence from blog world. I am planning on returning now. :)

marriage excitement.

I just posted a random, somewhat quirky post about my excitement for our wedding but even more than the excitement of the wedding I am excited for our marriage. I get to marry this handsome, funny, strong, and brilliant man and spend the rest of my life with him. "The rest of my life." Ah! I'm getting married! :) 

Lately, I have been thinking so much about what kind of wife I will be. When I think about our marriage I want to be the wife from old tv shows. I want to clean house, have dinner ready when Chris gets home, have a fresh baked pie on the table (I've never made a pie), and be ready to sit at dinner and talk about our days. OK... Don't worry, this makes me laugh by even writing it but I'm really fairly serious with it all. I want to be that wife.

But MUCH more importantly, I want to be a Godly wife. I want Chris and I to be totally and completely focused on God, individually and together.

I found a really interesting blog. The author's husband is a minister and she wrote about being a Godly wife. I enjoyed the whole post but I enjoyed this quote especially. (Head over here to check out her blog, its definitely one I will be reading more often!)

Women were CREATED for their husband. God carefully chose us as gifts to them and them to us. We are called to be a helper to our man. This was God’s plan for us from the beginning.

Please pray for me as I continue to dive in to scripture and some other books to learn more about what a Godly wife is. I would love to hear what you think or if you have suggestions on books or passages to read as well.