100th Post Giveaway!!!

Well, I'm almost caught up on my Reader.  I began reading this afternoon with over a thousand posts and I'm now down to just over 100 (I skimmed a lot! ;), I've posted over 10 posts here, written several emails, talked with my mom - twice!, worked on Sunday and Tuesday's church bulletins, cleaned the kitchen and living room and now I'm about to sit down to balance our check book, pay bills and write out menu plans for the next couple of weeks.  Woo.  I'm tired.  :P  But it's been a great day!

There is some part of me that have always loved Mondays.  I know, I know.  I'm weird.  I love the fact that after a lazy non-scheduled weekend that I can get back into a routine.  I love to be organized.  I love planning things out and knowing what I'm doing on what days.  And I dislike having anything interrupt my schedule!  But...at the same time, I'm a spur of the moment person as well.  I adjust well when the unexpected comes our way.  In fact, I may thrive on the unexpected and the challenges it brings to our life.   Bah.  After reading that, I think I'm weird.  ;) lol  But ya'll know what I'm talking about, right?  Right!  

Life is good!!!

No, life isn't perfect. 

We've had several of the unexpected moments lately.

But we know that even when we aren't expecting these moments

that God knew those moments were coming our way

and we've known all along that He is our constant Companion and Guide

He never leaves our side

because...

God is good!

Since this is my 100th post, I've decided it's about high time I held a giveaway!  I'm really excited about this! ;) I'm giving away a few of my absolute favorite things...

Beauty Rush

Juiced Berry body double mist

+

Pink and  White Beaded Bracelets

+

 

Decorating Dreams on a Budget

by Emilie Barnes & Yoli Brogger

Now that you've seen the goodies...here are the details!  :)

How To Enter:

1 - Follow Southern Pathways

2 - Leave a comment telling us what your current favorite body mist scent is

3 - Follow me on Twitter

4 -  Write a blog post about this Giveaway

5 - Add one of my buttons to your sidebar

All-in-all you can have up to five entries!!! 

Deadline: September 7th @ 11:59 pm

Head on over here to check out my other giveaway!

Menu Plan Mondays...

Monday - Spaghetti, home made bread
Tuesday - Chicken Alfredo, veggies
Wednesday - Breakfast for dinner
Thursday - Tacos, chips and dip
Friday - Cheesy Enchiladas
Saturday - Chicken Tenders
Sunday - Church Potluck ~ Left Overs


Andrew's family came and spent the day with us Saturday.  We ate until we about popped, played baseball (this girl showed up the men in her family by hitting better than them ;) and just enjoyed being able to spend the day together.  This was the first time his family has been able to visit since we moved in... we so enjoyed having them over!

This week we are taking it easy since the past couple of weeks we've about killed ourselves unpacking and trying to clean the house for his families visit.  I'm looking forward to sleeping in, watching a few movies and enjoying the beautiful weather we've been blessed with lately! 


Happy Monday!

Almost There...

I blogged sporadically for years before settling down this past April and really becoming addicted to blogging. Before this past year, I never knew what the world of blogging held. There are so many great blogs out there to read and I wake up eager to see what is happening in the lives of my bloggie friends. What new adventures I can explore through their blogs.

I never thought I would get into blogging like I have, but it's true. I'm addicted. I've only gotten back into blogging these past four and a half months and I never would have thought I'd reach 100 posts in that short amount of time. =)

I love the outlet that my blog provides for me... even if no one else is reading it. I love being able to go back weeks and months in the past and see where I was, what I was doing, and who I was with. I love it. Pure and Simple.

That said... keep your eyes peeled because I will be hosting my very first blog giveaway on my 100th post! {squeal} I'm so, so excited I can barely wait!

But I do have just a few more posts before then. ;)

Beautiful Blue Skies...

Saturday Andrew and I decided that it was way past time for us to spend some quality time together. So, we decided to check out one of our State Parks about 45 minutes away from our house. We headed out Saturday afternoon with subway sandwiches and Sonic drinks in tow!



The temperature was {perfect} and there were gorgeous {blue} skies filled with playful clouds


Andrew let me shoot him {grin}


The flowers were {pretty}


We decided to hike to one of the Fort sites 1.5 miles away
The path was incredibly hilly and steep




We made it!

I just had to ask... 'this is it?!'

;)



This Fort was used during the Civil War




The Union Army controlled it during most of the war



It was really {awesome}

I have never seen a fort like this before

They dug trenches

and had moats

and the wall was a simple line of board planks
with mounds of dirt piled up in front of it

it was amazing to see this fort and
to stand in a place where such a major part in our history took place



Meg + Andrew = pure happiness





On the opposite side of the Fort Wall

the whole the cannons fired through





Driving over a dam the soldiers built during the war




A friend we met on the way home...


{grin}


Happy Tuesday!





P.S. Remember when I told you here & here about that great E.L.F Cosmetics deal...?
Well, I finally got my package in the mail the other day.
You can go HERE to see all of my goodies! :)

It's the Little Things...

I have an amazing husband.

I really do.

He calls me every day on his way home from work just to let me know he's on his way back to me. He also asks me if I need him to pick up anything from the store.
Since I have started menu planning before grocery shopping, my answers is no most of the time. Well, yesterday wasn't one of those times.

I forgot something on my list when shopping earlier during the week and I was glad I had when I saw that there was a sale on this particular item at our local grocery store this week.

So, when he called and ask if I needed anything, I sent him on to the store. He came home not only with every single item I asked for (okay, so he called once to ask what he was forgetting ;), but he also bought me a package of fireballs!

And, for those of you who know me, you know I LOVE fireballs. It's my all time favorite treat!

I love the fact that he thought of me when he saw them.

and I seriously love that he doesn't mind feeding my addiction.

Ahhh

<3

;)

It's the little things in life

Update...

Thank you all so much for your comments and prayers. I really appreciate it.

My Dad and brother are doing well. They're extremely sore which is to be expected, but their alive and whole. :)

I had three different sources telling me what happened yesterday, but when I talked with my father last night he told me that they were going head on for a tree, but their truck ended up spinning around and the rear of the truck is what ended up hitting the tree. It totaled his truck.

You know, it's times like this when God provides such awesome protection for my family that I am humbled the most. I live my life like I am meant for this world, and I'm not. I live life like there will always be a tomorrow...there won't.

Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow.
You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and than vanishes away. {James 4:14}

Don't take life for granted. It's a gift. Treasure it and those you love because you never know what tomorrow will bring.

We are so thankful for God's protection of our family.
God obviously isn't finished with my Dad and Andrew yet.
I look forward to seeing how He uses this to His glory.

Please pray...

I haven't talked a whole lot about my faith on my blog. I've talked about it some. Probably enough for you all to know that I have a personal relationship with Christ and enough to know that I believe in the power of prayer. I don't know how many of you agree with me that praying is one of the most powerful things that we can possibly do. That said...

My family needs prayer. I just got off the phone with my Mom -- My dad and brother, Andrew (20), were in an automobile accident this morning. It's so rainy and nasty outside here in the South. The car in front of them lost control and hit a tree. My Dad tried to avoid colliding with the other car and ended up losing control himself and hit a tree head on.

Please pray for my Dad and Andrew. My mother is on her way to pick them up and take them to the ER. Andrew is hurting pretty bad already -- and he had someone side-swipe him in March (on my wedding day!) as well and ended up with a lot of back problems then.

Right now we're waiting to see whether or not we'll be headed back to our home state tonight or not. Depends on the results from the doctor. So prayer for my family is needed all around. Thank you.

Wordless Wednesday...

Eating Habits...

Andrew and I had Taco Salad for dinner last night. It was the first time since we've been married that I made this particular dish. I've always loved Taco Salad...without the salad.

You see, Taco Salad for me means that I get yummy taco meat to mix along with the oh-so-irresistible Fritos chips and, my ever constant companion at the dinner table, Ketchup. I know I may be totally grossing some of you out at the thought of mixing these three things together, but it's really yummy! :D I've eaten it like this for years and obviously still enjoy it today!

I've had other strange eating habits -- like mixing my mashed potatoes with my meat loaf, and mixing my ice cream and cake, among other things. Thankfully, I've outgrown some of these habits but there are still a few I carry on to this day.

So, what are some of your strange eating habits?

Giveaway!

A fellow newlywed is hosting a giveaway!

HHF is having a post-honeymoon giveaway for a stamper of your choice. This is the one I fell in love with when selecting a choice from THIS site.






Now head on over to Simple Pleasures for your chance to win!

Menu Plan Mondays...

These past couple of weeks I haven't done much menu planning since I've been out of town, and last week I was soo busy trying to unpack things. We actually went shopping with no menu plan in mind this weekend. {gasp} But we can finally see our living room floor again! ;) So I thought I'd go ahead and make out a menu for this week from what we purchased and hopefully I'll be able to sit down and make better menu plans in the future.

Monday - Salad w/left overs

Tuesday - Grilled Chicken Salad

Wednesday - Spaghetti with twice baked potatoes

Thursday - Tater Tot Casserole

Friday - home made chicken pot pie

Saturday - Hamburgers & home made french fries

Sunday - Left overs

Don't worry...

...I'm still living. ha! This past week has been sooo crazy. I told ya'll Monday that hubby and I finished moving the rest of our junk stuff down from our home state. Well, we're still going through boxes. We have very few places to store things in our current house so we're sorting and getting rid of things that we can do without, trash or give away.

I've also been going through and categorizing all of my books. We have a grand total of one bookshelf (although, we'll have more by this time tomorrow. yay! uh, does that make me a complete nerd for being so excited about a bookshelf?! ;).


I know I'm almost a week late, but I wanted to share a few details & pictures from my trip home with ya'll. If ya don't mind. ;)

My visit home was planned around Caleb's birthday.


About a week before my trip home, I called an old co-worker to see if she would like to have lunch the Monday that I was at home. She said that day wouldn't work, and would you please work for me? ;) I jumped at the chance, and spent Monday working in my old office. {sigh} I miss working there. I had the most amazing boss and best co-workers anyone could ever ask for. After work though, Lauren and I met up with some friends for a girls night out!




My friend, Ann, loves animals.


Isn't he beautiful?!
Ann rescued him when his mother ran off and left him when he was injured.


Jonathan enjoyed petting him. =)


Tuesday was Caleb's 6th Birthday. I spent the day making his specially requested cake and then our family went out to dinner.


Caleb and I at the Cracker Barrel

I was soooo surprise when I arrived home to see that KK had lost two of his bottom teeth and no one TOLD me!!!! Isn't he just adorable with his missing teeth?! ;)


A picture of the cake Caleb requested...


My version of the cake...It turned out quite nicely, if I do say so myself ;)


The Birthday Boy!


Thursday afternoon the boys had piano so we decided to make a day trip complete with bowling and ice cream! :D


I think they were tired of all the pictures I was taking... lol



I love this picture. It's so sweet and shows what a great relationship my brothers have. :)


Aren't my brothers simply adorable? ;)I may be somewhat bias though.

All in all, I had a marvelous time visiting my family and getting to see my friends. But I cannot tell you how wonderful it was to see my hubby driving up my parents driveway to pick me up, or how cozy it felt to be back in our own home. There's no place like home ;) took on a new meaning for me.

I'm off now. I have a roast that needs to go into the crock pot for lunch tomorrow, and hash browns that need to be thawed for our hash brown casserole for dinner tonight.

And.....we're going to try and finish unpacking boxes and going through our stuff this weekend. Just to give you a glimpse into what I'm talking about here's a picture of my living room floor and my books:


told ya it was bad! ;)

E.L.F. Cosmetics...

I know I've already posted once today (actually, it was scheduled and I didn't remember it was scheduled for today so the post I wrote today will post tomorrow and this post is just a free for all ;), but I just found an AWESOME deal on E.L.F Cosmetics!

I purchased 19 items totaling at $81.00 and only paid $17.21!! Woot! I love me a good deal!

Wanna know how I did this? Go HERE to see how and purchase your own!

The Date...

On our first date, I met Andrew at a local coffee shop after work. I was so nervous I drove around the block before going in. ;)

We talked for a bit and then headed out to dinner. We ate at the Cracker Barrel. Looking back now, it's laughable how nervous we both were. We both knew how we each felt about the other, but the other had no clue. We spend the time talking and gradually relaxing in each others company over dinner...then we went to Wal-Mart. Yeah. ;) Then he drove me home.

After that first night, being together was as natural as breathing. We spent everyone moment we could together.




We went for nighttime strolls along the River on this bridge.




We toured beautiful gardens.

We talked for hours upon hours.



We went book shopping. I'm so thankful he shares my love of books! ;)


We went on a lot of double dates with this couple.




We spent our first Valentine's Day together traveling, hiking and driving hours to visit the closest Braum's for ice cream. ;)

I never knew I could hold so much love within my heart for someone else. There are still days when this love I hold for Andrew leaves me speechless.

I love being married. I still love holding his hand. My heart still beats triple time when he pulls into the drive every evening. I love it that his face is the first thing I see when I wake up and the last thing I see every night.

{sigh}

<3

I have never been so content in my life.