Full Bloom

Summer has always been my favorite. And this one is no exception!

Our succulents are doing so well this year. I am so thankful for the rain.  It has made for cooler temperatures and growing plants.

And even though we have been terrible gardeners, our snap peas are going crazy. Thanks again to the rain! They taste oh so delish! I have been trying to incorporate them into as many meals as possible.

The baristas at our favorite coffee shop know how to brighten my morning.

My birthday chair is fitting in so well! Now I need to work on some curtains to bring some pazzaz!

I have done some experimental baking the last few weeks. The first attempt was to make Chocolate Avocado Cupcakes. I saw that Ruby from Cakies made them and decided to take a chance! They won’t be my go to recipe, but they were so much better than I expected!

The second sweet treat was to make Kate’s Rhubarb Pie. (Kate is the wife of our friend and wedding photographer- Lang. They met for the first time during our wedding weekend. And the rest is history!) I had never tried rhubarb anything so I didn’t really have high expectations. But we are major fans now! Ryan said this might be his favorite pie! If you haven’t given rhubarb a chance, now is the time!   Last Friday, I went exploring with a friend for a collaboration project we hope to do and found this gorgeous home in the middle of a small town:

Isn’t it magical? We also ran into a 400 mile yard sale and got these goodies:We have been enjoying the outdoors by attending Hot Rods games, Monday Burger night on the square, lots of porch sittin’, card nights to the tune of Justin Timberlake, softball matches and good laughs with our friends. Bowling Green is the perfect place to enjoy summer and I am grateful that we have the chance.

Birthday Beach Trip – part 2

It was so fun to take a disposable camera on this trip. It brought back memories from middle school. So many selfies!

 

This is my grandmother’s house! Isn’t it adorable!?!

Birthday Beach Trip – part 1

Last weekend, Ryan and I went to the beach to celebrate my birthday. We had plans to go to Holmes’ graduation in Birmingham and since we would be halfway to the beach, we decided it was a must.

Soon after we made that plan, my grandmother bought a beach house. Then everything else just fell into place!

We didn’t even realize how refreshing this trip would be! We bought a disposable camera so we could “unplug” from our phones and social media. I will post those tomorrow, but in the meantime here are a few of our favorite iPhone pics:

24 is off to a great start!

The last few months have been a whirlwind. Here is a look:

There was some crazy hail one Sunday afternoon.

I mastered homemade pesto. More to come on that!The Talisman portrait team travelled all over campus and the state to take photos, including one of our favorite student- Big Red.

Ryan took a tumble on a long board.

Spring came and we celebrated!

We went to Churchill Downs for some horse racing!

We decided that our house looks best when the grass is green and the sky is blue.

The school year has come to a close and we are working on wrapping up the Talisman. This team did an amazing job this year and am so proud of them!

Ryan and I are hitting the road tomorrow to celebrate Holmes’ graduation from Samford. Then we are scooting down to the beach for a few days- the best way to celebrate #24!

The Big Apple

During Spring Break, I went to New York for a College Media Convention. Holmes had been in New York for an internship since the beginning of January so when I found out about the trip, I was so excited that he would be there during my visit, BUT I found out he was leaving a few hours before I was supposed to fly in. I rearranged my plans so I could go a day early and be there for Holmes’ last night in NYC.

Right before we met, he was offered a job after he finishes school! The rest of the night we celebrated!!! I was so happy to be there for such a happy day. We went to dinner at a swanky place called the Stanton Social. It is owned by one of the judges from a favorite show, Chopped. I highly recommend it.
Since I was there a day earlier than the conference, I got the explore with my aunt Jen. We had brunch at Hundred Acres, shopped in SoHo, and walked all over the island. It was such a beautiful day!

I also got to meet up with Kaycee that day. Somehow NYC turned into a small town full of people I love!

The last night before we left Sam (the Talisman Photo Editor) and I went out with Matt (a WKU/Talisman alum) to see some more sights.

I really enjoyed seeing so much of this city this visit. If you are in New York, make sure you see the 9/11 Memorial. It was really incredible and moving to see.

Succulent Jackpot

Last weekend, my parents came in town for a little visit. We didn’t have set plans, but the gorgeous weather made it impossible to stay inside. We originally went to Home Depot to get bushes, but there was a whole succulent display that distracted us. My mom and I are really big fans, so we went a little crazy. The bushes were a success too, but this post is dedicated to these amazing little plants: They also have really funny names. This one is called Baby Toes. Split Rock: Key Lime Pie: Thanks to my dad and his snazzy new camera for the photos!

 

There is something about a rainy day that evokes reflection. And I realize I have neglected this space again. So here is a lot that doesn’t mesh….

I am wrapping up a big project at work that I am really excited about. One of the last things on the list was to go to the top of Pearce Ford Tower (a 27 story dorm) to take a photo.

The Upholstery for Beginners Class was very interesting. I realized that I am even a step below beginner. This is an interesting trade with so many tools. Each piece is different and you have to be really patient.

Although Ryan and I have always had similar interests, we differ in a big way when it comes to celebrities. Most days I can’t remember which guy is Brad Pitt and which is Tom Cruise. Ryan is pro. He knows every movie an actor has ever been in, who they were/are married to and what they are working on at the current time. One thing I have started to get into with him is award shows. We have created a new tradition for the Grammy’s and then continued it for the Oscar’s: Breakfast for dinner. This little mini-stack was so delish.

For Valentie’s Day, my grandmother, Pidgeon, mailed us some old photos. I love this one of me and Pops.

Last week, we got great news that our house appraised for even more than we were hoping for!! We will be able to refinance and save a huge amount over time! Yipee!! Now we can relax and enjoy all the progress we have made. I plan on doing a whole post on the porch when spring decides to come to BG to stay, but here is a look and the amazing work of Matt and Ryan. We had no idea how terrible it was structurally because it was all pretty well hidden, but this thing was not in good shape. Now it is well supported and so beautiful! The guys even kept the panels between the posts! I love the character this little porch adds to our house. And I am really loving the new color scheme. The front door color was trial and error, but I love the finished product!

Last weekend, we celebrated Ryan’s 25th birthday. This photo from Halloween 2008 cracks me up. We were just friends at the time and I remember making a big deal about how silly he looked.  We also got to celebrate Ryan’s birthday with my family in Nashville. It was a last minute plan and only about a 4 hour visit, but we loved it! My fam was there to cheer on the ECS Eagles in the State Championship so we went with them to the game and then to a quick dinner before heading back to BG for cake with our friends. 

I am headed to NYC this weekend for a College Media Convention. I also get to squeeze in a visit with Holmes, my aunt and a few friends.