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.  

wedding excitement!

So, last time I wrote about the wedding my excitement was increasing but I was still a tad bit stressed about it all. But... the full fledged excitement has returned and I'm ready to get going on the planning! I am slowly checking off things on my to-do list.


Checks:

• Start guest list
• Get jewelry!! :)
• Design invitations! I am in LOVE with these!

Ok.. so maybe I haven't been super productive but the ideas are flowing and I'm ready to actually start checking things off! 

I have been really focused on the reception decor lately. I have a could ideas for centerpieces and some other little things so now I just need to make a commitment and start the buying so I can do whatever I can ahead of time! I also need to finish making the bridesmaid bouquets and the boutonnieres and corsages.. "Momma!!" 

How about the ceremony decor? I have no clue! I am not a huge fan of the traditional candle abra but.. other ideas I have aren't really coming together in my head either. Except for one idea thats kinda floating around.. more to come on that, I'm sure! 

I also have some ideas for the guestbook table and entrance. The ideas have potential to be something super cute! ;)

Have ya heard about our themed reception? Baseball! Ok, to clear this up.. No, I'm not an avid baseball fan but I love the theme and I'm super excited about it! Chris is a HUGE Cardinals fan and I think he's pretty pleased with the theme! I'm moving in just 3 days and I'll be living about 20 minutes from him and so not only am I excited to be close to him just in general, I'm excited to work on wedding stuff together, as a cute couple, because I think we are pretty dang cute! 

I've been working on our website off and on. It's exciting to think about all of the people who will be coming to celebrate with us as we start our lives together! Ok, theres a not-so-quick-update on the wedding planning. Hopefully I can start really checking things off the "list" soon!


125 Days! Woohoo!

DIY Projects!

My summer DIY look! ;)

Summer has officially begun! Friday was our last day at school. Totally bittersweet because I truly did love my job and my students but I am excited for the things that are coming up this summer as well! This weekend has been a great one! Friday evening, I met Chris to take him his EMT pants so he would have them when he went to volunteer in Joplin. My heart is still so broken for the people in Joplin and thankful to all of those who have helped in any way! Saturday we did a little bit of house work, hit up some garage sales (no luck!), went to a flea market (bought an ugly mirror!), and joined some great friends for a BBQ! 

So.. about that ugly mirror! I had actually been looking for a bedside table to refinish or even some other furniture for my apartment this summer and Chris and my future home (I'm gonna have to write a whole other post talking about the excitement about that!). But all I found was this ugly mirror for $8.00.


{click on any picture to see it larger!}

In progress...

The finished product...  :)

Stay tuned to see more DIYing with this old dresser!

 Plus its always nice to have a little helper on these projects! :)

planning for the "big" day!

When I first started blogging I had it in my mind that it would be so fun to blog when I was engaged to talk wedding stuff all the time. Obviously, that has not happened. I would like to say I've been so busy doing meaningful things but unfortunately I can't say that I have. Although, I don't feel like I have had much free time. 


You see, after the initial shock and excitement of getting to marry my sweet man the planning took a quick halt! I don't like making decisions. I definitely don't like struggled with everyone looking at me and saying "it's your wedding, it's whatever YOU want!" But I suppose I've got over that and I'm getting busy with this planning!


The stuff that only pertains to me has been EASY! My dress, shoes, jewelry, and possible veil were all quick and easy decisions! I bought the first dress I tried on and still am in absolutely love! I haven't put it back on yet but I'm just waiting for my jewelry to come in. These decisions were easy because I didn't feel like they really effected anyone else, those are the kind I don't mind making!


But in the last few weeks I have picked the bridesmaid dresses and purchased the sweet flower girl dresses! I can't wait to see our precious flower girls in the little dresses! I also purchased flowers for my bouquet and the bridesmaids! I worked on my bouquet, its not perfect but I am loving it! Sorry for the poor picture quality, you'd think I'd use my awesome Nikon but the iPhone was more convenient to snap a quick pic of this. 

So, I've got my attire and bouquet {close to} done. I'm ready to get married! :) 


We've also "booked" our officiant, checked out tuxes (I can't wait to see Chris all dressed up and looking snazzy!), started purchasing/collecting things for centerpieces, and I'm beginning to work on the invitations  Woohoo! Here are a couple little things I've worked on to put on tables or something... Can you guess what our reception theme will be?

I am so excited for all of the ideas to come together and see the final product! 137 days 'til we say "I do!"


Ok, I'm also excited cause I just got off the phone for a second interview for a Para job for the Fall! :) 


Hopefully, I'll get back to blogging, I really do enjoy it so much!! :)


Oh! I almost forgot... check out our wedding website! Heres the link! Make sure to sign the guestbook too!

long weekend.

Woohoo!! I have several reasons to shout with excitement right now!!

• I just completed my final (HUGE) project for my Administration Class! I will present it tomorrow and basically be done with the course! Praise the Lord!
• Tomorrow is our last day for the school week! Bring on Easter break!
• I get to see my fiance tomorrow night. We get to spend basically three days together (minus the time he's at work and class)! Wow! It may be the longest yet! :)
• Future hubby and I are taking engagement pictures with my great friend Danielle on Thursday! Eek! I'm excited, for the pictures and to see my beautiful friend!!
• I'm hoping to see my beautiful cousin Lesley (check out her blog, she's fantastic and inspires me!) and hopefully my good friends Jamie and Jamie! 
• My sister is going to be home when I get back from Springfield! Ah!! Then I'll have a few days with her! And she's bringing home our dear Sarah! YAY!
• Easter! 

 "When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.” And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid." Mark 16:1-8 ESV

Ok, this a short and simple post jam packed with lots of excitement but I have a lot to do still! I continue to pray for anyone that comes across this simple little blog, I hope it has been a blessing to you and that God continues to bless you in many ways! 


More wedding talk to come soon! You can count on that!