2012, thanks for all the memories

in a couple of days we are saying farewell to yet another year. as i reflect on this past year, i am pleased to write that it was a good one. i definitely feel wiser, like i am growing up and becoming more of an adult (which i find very scary). this past year has brought me a lifetime of love through my engagement and the arrival of my nephew James. while 2012 has had it's ups and downs, i've survived and i welcome this new year. twenty-thirteen, bring it on!

sweet baby James

"what you lookin' at Willis?"

snuggling with James

LOVE babysitting this sweet boy

doesn't get any more precious than this

my heart melts every time i am around this sweet baby.

and here's what's been going on this past month...

Baily & Dooley snuggling

DIY burlap bubble wreaths

this Christmas i decided to make a couple of the gifts. thanks to Julianne over at J. Kelly, i ended up making two burlap bubble wreaths.

wrapped burlap bubble wreath



good morning

 yes, this is what i wake up to every morning & yes, she believes she is a person

the house

my future house! i was so excited to come home to find T had put the lights up & while we never got a tree this year, our house looked pretty festive from the outside

Farnell Christmas Card 2012

sleeping beauty

i'm going to end on this picture. she will forever be my baby and i hate to see her grow older with another year. Dooley is about to receive a big surprise and i'm nervous about how she is going to respond. i'm excited though, we have a new year to enjoy and make many more memories.

xoxo 2012, you will be missed.

please, let me know how your 2012 was spent?

merry christmas y'all



Merry Christmas y'all! i hope everyone has a wonder day & doesn't wake up to any coal under the tree ;)

p.s. i have a surprise that i can't wait to tell everyone about after the holidays are over

what's new...

yes, i haven't blogged in quite some time and i'm not going to beat around the bush about why. T has decided that i should not post my blog to Facebook...go figure (if that saying even makes sense inserted there). why do i say go figure? because i feel that my dreams have been crushed! in my mind i dream about making it big on the blog scene, and how will i be able to do that without making my blog public?!? i guess i need to reconsider what the future of my blog holds...

i will definitley continue to post on here and those of you who checked the blog without having to be reminded by facebook, i hope you continue to read and follow along! who knows, maybe (one day) this little blog of mine will make it in the big league, but until then i will write memories that only my (future) children will read...

here's a video i found at Geekologie. this website was rated as one of the top blogs from 2012 by Time. check it out, it is filled with random quirky articles!

Giant Fish Tornado

"dog" gone tired

the past few days i have felt as if i am coming down with a cold. yesterday was an on/off misty & chilly day so i decided to made a taco soup crock pot recipe that was insanely good. to make matters even better, T made me a fire in the fireplace. i decided to bring Dooley's bed out so she could enjoy the fire as well. for now on i think Dooley will be requesting a fire every night...i was sent a text message later that night with a picture of Dooley passed out with the caption "can't attach the snoring." 

{Dooley & the fire}

Crock Pot Taco Soup

1 (16 oz) can kidney beans

1 (16 oz) can garbanzo beans 

1 (11 ounce) can corn

2 (11 ounce) cans Rotel tomatoes & chilies

1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes

1 (4 ounce) can diced green chilies

1 package frozen chopped okra 

1 envelope taco seasoning mix

1 envelope Hidden Valley ranch dressing mix

1 lb shredded chicken, ground beef or 1 lb any meat

Cook meat and drain. Shred if needed.

Add all ingredients to crock pot.

DO NOT DRAIN CANS!

Stir.

Cook on high for 2 hours or low for 4 hours.

Keep on low until serving to keep hot.

Garnish with sour cream, shredded cheese, chopped green onions, or tortilla chips.

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housewife in training (needs help!)

the days are flying by and before i know it i will be saying "i do" and taking on all the responsibilities of being a wife. T and i are very traditional, which is not the case for many couples these days. don't get me wrong, i will still be working after we get married, but i will also take on many other roles like making dinner, keeping the house clean and laundry. yesterday i decided to begin practice. we are both trying to save money right now, so i decided instead of having all T's dress shirts dry cleaned i would wash and iron them myself...

{ironing & watching TV}

while watching TV and ironing, i was able to get four shirts pressed in two hours. needless to say, i think i will have to start a dry cleaning saving fund. i think i did a rather fine job, but time-wise just isn't going to cut it!

{T's (four) ironed shirts}

does anyone know of a good dry cleaner located in the Jacksonville (Westside/Ortega) area that is not too expensive!?! any help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated :)

happy (late) thanksgiving

{via}

i'm a day late, but better late than never. i hope everyone had a day full of family/friend gatherings, lots of turkey with all the fixin's, lots to be thankful for & a happy Thanksgiving. i spent part of yesterday with my fiancé's family and the other half with my family. after a day full of eating i relaxed with T and Dooley the rest of the evening. how was everyone else's Thanksgiving?

...tomorrow T, a friend & I will be headed over to Tallahasse, FL to watch the Gators play the Seminoles in Doak Campbell Stadium...please, please, please, if there's a football god out there be with my Noles!

{florida/florida state 2012}

wedding: dress shopping

wedding planning had been put on hold for a while and i'm anxious to do something to remind me that i am actually planning a wedding (yes, the ring is a constant reminder, but the planning is what makes me excited). i have been eyeing a manila envelope that is filled with wedding invitation samples and everyday i ask my Mom, "Is it time to get the invitations ordered?", everyday i get the same answer, "too early!"

so yesterday was a very exciting day. i got to go...drumroll...WEDDING DRESS SHOPPING! i think my heart just skipped a beat ("♥"). i have been waiting for this day for as long as i can remember (other than getting engaged). ever since i got engaged i have been on the prowl, looking at wedding dresses and wondering which one will be the dress.

yesterday i left The Bridal Shop at the Avenues with the dress ordered! i am so overjoyed and excited that i found the dress of my dreams. i am now counting the days until i can try it on again and walk down the asile (ahh!).

{via}

{love the top, not the skirt - via}

{via}

 

{via}

 



**the dresses above are all from my Pinterest. they are nothing like what i actually picked out, but definitly inspired my final choice.

georgia/florida

tailgating during the GA/FL game

Dooley munching on a pig leg

90 lb. pig (kinda gross, but tasted so good)

T & me

Erin & me at the tailgate (taken with Erin's iPhone)

T & me (he had been up all night cooking the pig)

T, being silly and not cooperating for the picture

Dooley & Hattie (yes, this is how they play)

i am a little behind on posting; these pictures are from the georgia/florida game on november 27, 2012. georgia/florida is a big deal in jacksonville. i mean who wouldn't enjoy the largest outdoor cocktail party the U.S. has to offer... i am happy to write that UGA pulled through and WON (second year in a row)! many of the boys attending spent the night at the warehouse and smoked a 90 lb. pig...whole! i wasn't able to get to the tailgate until 4 pm that day & i forgot my digital camera :( i ended up having to take grainy iPhone pictures. needless to say, by the end of the day everyone was worn out from all the festivities.



mountain trip: part 2

{our view from the porch}

{bears at Grandfather Mounatin}

{Grandfather Mountain}

{Grandfather Mountain}

{elevation 5,000 ft.}

{VW advertisment ;)}

{driving thru the clouds}

{above the clouds}

{T & Dooley}

{Dooley & me}

{T, Dooley & me}

{one mile high} 

{family photo}

{Mile High Bridge}

{Dooley & me}

{Grandfather Mt. Mile High Bridge}

{view from Grandfather Mt.}

{Dooley & me on the Mile High Bridge}

{my ring...again :))}

{T & Dooley on the massive hill}

{mountain house}

{turkeys crossing the road}

{my family}

{view from back porch}

{our view at lunch}

{me}

{owl}

{T, Dooley & me}

{Dooley & T}

{Dooley & me at the water tower}

{last sunrise at Sugar Mt.}