Happy "F"ing Birthday

As hard as it is for me to believe, on Sunday I turned 31. Which also means that my lil' blog turned 1! I mean seriously, where did those 365 days go?

I have thoroughly enjoyed my tiny writing hobby this past year, and I want to thank all of my followers for taking the time to read my words! Whether you've been around since the first post, or this is your first visit, I hope that my blog has been helpful, maybe even inspirational, and above all, entertaining.

In the past year, I've crossed 2 items off my "Thirty Things in Thirty Years" bucket list (see numbers 19 and 20 here). So it looks like I've got 29 years to accomplish the remaining 28 things - no sweat.

Now, it hasn't been a perfect year by any means. I didn't get a job I interviewed for, I didn't get in shape, and I didn't meet Justin Timberlake. But I'd rather focus on the GOOD stuff that happened this year...

Suffice it to say, it may not have been a perfect year, but it sure was wonderful. If I get to experience half the things I did this year by the time I'm 32, I will be happy. The "F" in 'Happy "F"ing Birthday' isn't meant to be negative; it stands for Family, Friends, and Fun - all the things this birthday, blog, and past year have been about. 

So. Blessed.

Here's to the next year, y'all!

Summer Part 3: The Final Installment

Ain't that the truth? Even though we had the longest summer due to no snow days for the first time in my 9 years of teaching, I still feel like it flew by! It was a productive, busy, and fun summer for sure. But in these last few weeks, I tried to slow down and savor my days ...doing absolutely nothing.

Okay well, not nothing. I would add one thing to that list: visit with my niece!

I swear if Micah and Kate would let me, I would move in! I am so so grateful to have had these past three weeks off work to spend with her.

I did manage to squeeze in some pool time as well as some dinners with  friends.

Angie & Eli keepin' it cool

Joey having some fun at Lynn's Paradise Cafe

Showing off the romance novels that held our checks at The Village Anchor

And in the spirit of the Olympics, my main man Anderson came over and showed off his couch-climbing skills.

I've spent the last two weeks back in my classroom. While I'd be lying if I said that I haven't felt the rush from newly laminated name tags and rainbow-licious packs of pens, as well as the excitement from being with my work peeps again, I am sad to see Summer go.

I'm already looking forward to next Summer when we can take Emerson to the zoo, the pool, baseball games, and the lake! In the meantime, I have 23 students to meet, a birthday party to plan, UofL football games to soon watch, and many McNugget firsts to witness.

Thank you, Summer. You were blazin' hot, but you were good to me!

1 Week

It's hard to believe, but 1 week ago today, my McNugget came into the world. 

In these past 7 days,  Miss Emerson has changed my life in ways I never realized possible. I thought I knew what love was...and then I met my niece.

What I believed love to be, was merely a drop in the bucket compared to the feelings I have for this little girl. 1 week later, and I still tear up every time I look at her. She is a miracle.

It has been a privilege to watch my brother become a father, my sister-in-law become a mother. They have naturally stepped into their new roles as parents and I thank God that Emerson has them.

I have loved seeing Mom & Dad become "Grandma & Grandpa."  

And I know that Jill shares the joy & awe that I feel to be Emerson's aunt.

My aunt Terry said to me this week, "Now you know how easy it was for me to love you like you were my own." 

Oh how right she is.

This week has gone by way too quickly, but what a wonderful week it has been.

I look forward to the many, many, many more weeks to come with my sweet niece.

Summer Part 2

I have been blessed this summer to spend every day so busy having fun! Here's the breakdown on what I like to call the 'productive party' I've been having:

My good friend Deanna just recently moved to Lexington, where another close friend of mine, Heather, has lived for years. So I hopped in the car and headed east to see them both.  First, I visited with Heather and her precious little boy Mason. 

The best thing about my time with Heath is that even though months have passed since the last time we were together, it feels like no time has passed at all. Don't you love friends like that?

Two words: College & Halloween

Next, I hung out with Deanna and Chad. They took me to Windy Corner Market and Restaurant for dinner, which I would totally recommend! Check out their website here: http://www.windycornermarket.com/.

Everything is funnier with D!

I hate that they don't live here anymore, but I'm grateful that I have Summer vacay to visit with 'em!

When I got back in town, it was time to celebrate Joey's b-day. We took a sunset cruise on the Belle of Louisville and had a blast rolling down the Ohio River! 

I heart my city, y'all.

For Joey's birthday I made him a photo book of our Indy trip (thank you, MacBook). My friend Courtney made one for me a few years ago, and I fell in love with it immediately! And I'm happy to say that the same was true for Joey. I seriously think a photo book is the best gift you can give or receive!

Speaking of gifts, the next day it was time for Kate's final baby shower! Given by her mother and sisters, the shower was a sweet and sophisticated reminder that we are so close to meeting little Miss EEM!

Best. Onesie. Ever.

Before I knew it, July was here and it was time for fun, food, and fireworks! Y'all already know I whipped up some patriotic cupcakes from my most recent blog post...

...but that's not all I've been cookin'. I'm digging the crock pot recipes I've recently tried. Here's one that was so easy and delicious:

To make Crockpot Italian Chicken all you need is:

4 chicken breasts

1 packet dry Zesty Italian dressing 

1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened
1 can cream of chicken soup (I used Campbell's Heathy Request)

So first I put the chicken in the crock pot and shook the Italian dressing over it. 

Then I mixed the cream cheese and cream of chicken soup in a small pot over low heat.

When that was ready I put it over the chicken in the crock pot, and set the timer for 4 hours on low.

With about 15 minutes to go on the timer, I cooked some bow tie pasta on the stove. I served one chicken breast over a cup of pasta and sprinkled some shredded parmesan cheese on top. It was DELICIOUS, people!

Amid the cooking, I've also been crossing things off my very long to-do list. I saw the idea on Pinterest to use a wine rack to hold towels in the bathroom. I found this little wine rack on Amazon and spray painted it black. 

I'm so happy with how it turned out - a cute compact way to store my towels!

I also crossed off an item from my Bucket List this Summer: my t-shirt quilt! I had originally thought that my mom and I could make it together. But when my friend Joey told me about Campus Quilt Company, I knew I had to go with them. They were awesome! As seen on the Rachael Ray Show and the Today Show, Campus Quilt was able to take my old shirts that I have been hoarding and turn them into this adorable keepsake:

I am obsessed with it! Don't be surprised if you see me walking around town with it. From my Jem t-shirt to my Bellarmine College (that's right, kids-I was there before it was named a University) sweatshirt, this quilt truly tells my life story.

But of course my life story would not be complete without all of my wonderful family and friends. I feel blessed not only to know them, but to also have the time in the Summer to spend with them.

I love my Summer lunches with my girls!

The pool brings my siblings and I together. It's moments like these that make Mom & Dad the proudest, I'm sure!

Joey makes me laugh like no other! He was thrilled to get his picture with the owner of Holiday World, Pat Koch. They're best friends, y'all. 

Jen, Ruthie, and I had way more fun than is probably legally allowed at IKEA!

If you've made it this far, congratulations and thank you! 

Here's hoping you are having a fun and productive summer yourself. 

I'm sad to say that the final 4 weeks of Summer break are upon us, but I'm ecstatic because that means my McNugget will be here any day now!

Stay tuned for Summer Part 3 - spoiler alert: my new niece will probably be the star!