Rainbows

Happy Saturday, everyone! If you read my last post, you know that this week was pretty much a nightmare schedule-wise for me between teaching, tutoring, grad class, AND working at Loft! Add in a final research project and a school-wide function last night and I was pretty much ready to throw in the towel before the week even began! But, I had some pretty unexpected "rainbows" this week to remind me to always look for the good in every situation, smile through the tiredness, and enjoy the present...even if the near future (aka Summer Break) seems SO much more desireable!

Driving to work one day this week, I was mesmerized by the sky. Dark, stormy clouds with a layer of the brightest sunlight peaking through...light rain, and not one, but TWO rainbows! It was just what I needed to see because I always feel like rainbows are God's little way of reminding us that everything's going to be OK. And I felt like He threw in a little something extra, just for me that day! Just to remind me to keep plugging through the week!

I tried my best to capture a picture, but when you're in the car that's kind of hard! (Don't worry, Mom-- I only snapped the photos at stoplights!). This was the best I could do, and it does absolutely no justice for the incredible beauty of those 2 rainbows...especially because you can only see one of them!

I finally got to read a few blogs this morning, and it seems like "busy-ness" and "stress" are consistent themes right now.

So, here's to unexpected rainbows!

I Immediately Regret This Decision...

Anchorman, anyone!? I find myself muttering the 5 words from my title (in a hilarious Ron Burgundy accent, might I add) at least 10 times a day! But this time, I seriously mean it! I got a wild hair over Spring Break that I should try to get a summer job since I'll be off of teaching for 2 months. Mind you, I thought of this over Spring Break...while I was nice and relaxed and loving life! So, I looked online at our local mall's website and saw that Loft was hiring. I don't know if I've ever mentioned, but I worked at Loft over the summers while I was in college and really loved it! To make a long story short, I interviewed on a Thursday, got a job offer that Saturday, and was asked to start work that Sunday. I was trying to be a team player and agreed but was not expecting to start working right away or to work this much right away! I worked both Saturday and Sunday this past weekend (6..5-7 hours each day) and work again Wednesday and Thursday nights and then again on Saturday. Whew! It's going to be a long week, especially since I have my last week of grad classes and a huge research project due next Tuesday.

Wish me luck, y'all! And you know what I'll be up to instead of blogging this week! Hopefully I'll be able to sneak in a post or two!

Happy Monday!

Fill in the Blank Friday!

Welp, it's that time again! Friday is here, and as I've mentioned plenty of times, my creative juices are done-zo, so I'm linking up with Lauren for Fill in the Blank Friday!

1.  Today is a great day because, we had a field trip (which means no planning!), and Kyle and I are having a progressive dinner/game party tonight with two couple friends! Different meal course and game at each house! Too fun!

2.   Tomorrow I will   be working at Loft ALL day long...I thought I was signing up for a summer job...I must have been wrong!

3.  My favorite time of day is   any time that I get home for the day    because   I can finally relax and cuddle up w/ my hubby!.

4. Sometimes you just have to   treat yourself to a little shopping spree...a new top or pair of shoes has an miraculously way of making me feel great!

5. A song that I just can't get enough of lately is "Call me Maybe" by Carly Rae Jepsen...yes that officially makes me a 12-year old girl, but I just love it!

6. My favorite accessory is  a fun scarf! I have too many to count!

7.  My favorite thing about this week was   celebrating our 2 year anniversary on Tuesday!

Happy Friday, friends!

2 Years ago today...

I married my best friend and my one great love!

And I'm sure you can understand why I'm choosing to spend tonight with him instead of writing a longer blog!

Happy Tuesday, everyone!

Too Close for Comfort

So, Kyle and I had just finished dinner and were in the middle of watching Mad Men when I check Facebook and see the status of one of my friend's older brother's asking people to pray for his family's neighborhood because a wildfire was spreading into it and people were being evacuated. My heart immediately started racing because that's my parent's neighborhood too and I figured if they knew about the fire they would have called me.

I call my parents and get ahold of my mom, who is at dinner with a friend and really didn't know what was going on and had to get off the phone quickly because my grandparents were calling in, and we knew it was for the same reason. At this point, we didn't know if they were even going to be able to get back in the house because all we were hearing was about the evacuation.

Which really got me thinking...

You know how people always ask the question, if your house was on fire, what would you grab? Well, not that I can totally relate because a) it wasn't my permanent home with all of my current stuff at risk and b) I wasn't having to run out of house that was really on fire, but I did beg my mom to make sure my baby pictures were OK...you know, since I was born and grew up before we had all these fancy dancy cameras that can have their photos uploaded to a computer!

So there you have it, that's my answer...If I were running out of a burning house, I'd want my photos (and would for sure want my letters from Kyle, my parents, and grandparents). Another great reason for having this here bloggy...just in case this fire business ever returns!

Luckily, it sounds like the fire has mostly been contained, and only a few houses were damaged (so far no injuries reported), but it was a pretty scary little hour for me as I watched the news online and saw all of the images that are literally within walking distance of my home. My parents were on the  "optional" evacuation and are choosing to stick it out, so let's just pray nothing drastic changes and that the winds continue to die down so this thing doesn't spread any further!

Just a few images...these are the woods that surround our neighborhood where the wildfire was spreading.

Weekend Round-Up

Boooo for the weekend being almost over :(

At least it was a good one! We had some gorgeous weather this weekend, and I am so pumped that it seems like Spring is here to stay!

My weekend can be summed up in just a few pics...

Friday

Kyle was a happy camper on Friday because he got to split a pitcher of beer with our friend, Matt, on our double date on Friday!

I was a happy camper because I got to eat my favorite burger & fries at Bull City Burger!

We continued our evening at Full Steam Brewery, which has an awesome atmosphere, where you can just sit, bring in your own food or buy from the food trucks outside, grab a beer, play games, or just chat! We battled Anna and Matt in a game of Spades!

Saturday

This was my set-up on Saturday at Port City Java...computer, phone, planner, and delicious food and drink! Kyle met some friends a few blocks away at the local Beer Festival (I'm not a beer drinker and didn't feel like paying $40 to not drink!), and I so kindly offered to drive him home when it was over! I have a TON of grad school work to knock out, and I was very productive in my 3 hours there!

Sunday

I have the sweetest hubby! I started my first day back to working at Loft today, and after my shift I got to my car and found this sweet note in my seat! Love him to pieces!

I hope everyone else's weekend was all things fabulous!

Fill in the Blank Friday!

WoooHoo for Friday...my favorite day of the week!  I'm linking up with Lauren for Fill in the Blank Friday! I

1.  Today is a good day because   Kyle and I are double dating with friends tonight, and we're eating at Bull City Burger! If you've never had Duck Fries, then you are SO missing out! Nom, nom, nom!

2.   The best thing I did all week was  have an awesome "the week's almost over" dinner with Kyle at Nana Tacos last night! It was bright and sunny, we were in great moods, and it was fun to get to spend some time together after being in grad class 2 nights this week! .

3.  The current weather is   sunny and 70 degrees    and it makes me feel   busting out my rainbows and reading outside!

4. The best thing about spring is    the automatic mood boosting effects that it brings! Something about sun and warm weather just makes me smile! Oh and, let's not forget that it's the beginning of wedding season!

5. A fashion trend that I'm dying to try out for spring is  pops of neon yellow! Nothing can spice up an outfit like a neon yellow belt, flat, or scarf with hints of it! So adorable!

6. A person who made me smile this week was   my principal! We had our end of the year meeting, and she told me she felt really lucky to have a teacher like me and that she really felt like I was born to do this! It made me feel SO great, especially because I look up to her in so many ways!

7.  The most delicious thing I ate all week was  chocolate chess pie from 411 West! I treated myself on Monday night since we had to come back from Spring Break on Tuesday...it is just too darn good!

Hello, Gigi's!

One of my favorite thing that I look forward to is my monthly dinner date with 2 of my best friends from high school, Jan and Ally!  I don't live in the same city as them, so we meet in the middle at Brixx and catch up over delicious pizza. So tonight, we did the usual, but then got a wild hair and decided to try Gigi's Cupcakes! We're all 3 teachers, so we definitely deserved a treat! And let me tell you, these cupcakes are ah-mazing! 

White Midnight Magic, Merry Margarita, & Midnight Magic! Nom, nom!

A chocolate lover's dream!

Ally did NOT want to be photographed!

Jan modeling her cupcake!

And, I of course being around my friends from high school had to act like I was still IN high school! Let's blame it on the fact that I spend my days with twenty 9-year-olds!

They even had a "My-Size" cupcake!

Tea Party Bridal Shower

So, I told y'all that I'd post about the Bridal Shower Tea Party that the bridemaids hosted for my college bestie, Beebs, two weekends ago, and I'm going to make good on that promise!

Beautiful Beebs and her bridesmaids!

I always love getting ideas for bridal showers because, let's face it, I'm at the peak time in my life for these kinds of events...I know that my mom and I are helping host at least one more shower this year! My bloggy friends have given me some great ideas, and I thought I'd return the favor!

If you're ever needing to host a Bridal Tea, here's a looksie at Beebs'...

Gorgeous Tea Pots acted as flower vases for the table centerpieces

Tables were arranged in the sun room and were set for Tea Time!


The food was set up in a different room

Yummy desserts...strawberry short-cake trifle, cupcakes from  Charm City Cakes, and chocolate covered strawberries!

Chicken Salad Tea Sandwiches, fresh fruit and veggies, salad with strawberries/pine nuts/fried goat cheese!

Scones, muffins, and chocolate chip tea cookies!

I made the chocolate chip tea cookies using this recipe from Pinterest! They were a big hit and super easy to make!

Pink Lemonade & Cranberry Punch

Champagne w/ blackberries and blue berries!

Of course there was plenty of tea! Each seat had a unique tea cup, and everyone got to take home their tea cup as a favor!  

Everyone jotted down a date idea so that Beebs and Brian will have plenty of go-to's !

While I Wasn't Blogging This Week...

Happy Easter, everyone! Whereas I love celebrating this special day and it's significance, I can't help but be a teeny bit sad that Easter Sunday always marks the end of my Spring Break! I hate to admit it, but I haven't thought about teaching since I busted out the doors of school 2 Fridays ago! I do technically have tomorrow off, but I have SO much to do to get ready for the week that it will hardly be a play day!

But, I obviously have been too busy having fun this past week to blog, so I'll give you a little play by play of my Spring Break via photos!

While I wasn't blogging this week, I was...

Going on dates and spending some QT with this handsome fella'...

Polishing off dessert at 411 West

Bout' to head to Flaming Amy's for lunch!

Cuddle time on the couch!

Indulging in delicious meals...

Mom and I split this deliciousness at Fosters

We also ate at Jester's in downtown Wilmington

Goofin' off with my family...

Silly Daddy

Kyle and his brother can't keep their hands off each other!

3 generations!

Cousin Kathleen and her hubby Eric were down for the weekend!

The brother, his girlfriend, Kelly, and their baby, Cruiser!

Kat & Eric's sweet girl, Addison...she couldn't get enough of Cruiser!

Runnin' up the credit card bills with this crazy lady...

It's blurry, but I love my Mom in this pic!

We heart each other!

Yikes, bikes! Too much shopping!

And celebrating the engagement of this beautiful couple...

Our Wilmington friends, Jannell and Brian, had an engagement party at the Seaside Club of Wrightsville Beach!

Kyle & I had to take a pic...even though it was FRIGID!

Man oh man, it has been a fabulous week! Let's hope that I've recharged my batteries enough to get me through the last 2 months of teaching and 1 month of grad school!

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday!

Spring Break, Where Have You Been All My Life!?

I'm tellin' ya, if every day could be a day that I'm on Spring Break, I'd be the happiest person alive! Probably not the most productive person, but definitely the best possible version of myself mood-wise!
I slept in this morning (which, fyi for me is 8:15am, but I'll take it!), lounged around, met my friend, Feixy, for lunch, went shopping, and had dinner outside with Kyle at Tyler's! Happy Sigh!!!

Kyle and I snuck off to Baltimore for the weekend so that we could finally kick off the wedding festivities for my college bestie, Beeb's!

But, we couldn't go to Baltimore without making a pit-stop at my cousins' house in Virginia, so Kyle and I broke up the trip and stayed with them on Friday night! We laughed over pizza with my Aunt Clair and cousin Sarah, and watched some ridiculous show called My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding once my other cousin, Anna, got home for the night! Always a good time when the cousins get together!

We woke up bright and early so that we could have breakfast together before Anna hit the road for the beach and we hit the road for B-more! It was too short of a visit with the fam, but at least we get to see them for a wedding in May and for Anna's graduation (which we would never ever in our wildest dreams not be at ... right, Anna!?).

The Bridesmaids were hosting a shower for Beebs, and the theme was a "tea party"! It was SO cute, and so much fun, but you'll have to wait for another post just about it with lots of fun pictures to come! Beebs got showered with lots of love and presents, there was amazing food, and great company!

While we were playing tea party, Kyle and Brian, Beebs' fiance, were out eating burgers and drinking beers in Baltimore! They joined us later in the day after the shower, and we lounged around and continued to snack on the leftover yummies, although I can't possibly imagine how we had any room in our bellies! We got to tour Beebs' dad's house, where her reception is going to be, and it just got me more excited for the wedding!

Not that we needed another big feast, but Sunday morning we just couldn't resist! Beebs and another bridesmaid, Paige, went to town in the kitchen, making a quiche, pancakes, muffins, fruit salad, bacon, etc! I helped mixed the pancake batter because y'all know cooking is not my forte!

It was so yummy, and was the perfect way to end our time together! Not to mention, the meal held Kyle and I over for our 5 hour drive back home! We didn't have to stop once for food!

It was definitely a great kick off to Spring Break!