Saturday Sweets

So I skipped a week. Already. Oops. Please forgive me. It's been a weirdo week.

Y'all. It was my birthday. If you know me, you know I l.o.v.e. love birthdays. I had a whole thing planned out this year how my birthday was going to be called "CElection Day" because my birthday was on election day! I mean, it's been on an election day before, but I think the presidential election day (let's be honest, the real one) only once (the day I was born - the first George W. I believe). Well, I'd been talking about it forever, since Sarah's birthday actually, but it wasn't until late October our friend Tim gently informed that my bday was not a presidential election day this year. Bumm-er. Seriously. I was so sad. I didn't know what I was going to do (because again, I lovey love birthdays), but I did know Justin was taking me on a surprise date. He does that a lot, so it wasn't super fishy, but y'all I had another surprise party! 3rd one in my life and the second year in a row! Wowie. My friends/fam/hursband are so good to me! Y'all. I was so blessed by it. Check out this video if you haven't yet.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=980898749087

Look how decorated our after-party apartment was!

And, here is my surprise party from last year. Awesome right?!

Pretty mail is another one of my faves this week.

 Technically, this wasn't mail. John brought it back from India for my birthday from Chelsea, but I count it as mail. They're already on the desk....that will hopefully have a top soon, so I can show you!

Mail from Chels and my grandma. I got 2 other mails from Sara and Sarah. They both also involved pink. One was a preshy/weird birthday card, and the other was the cutest little birth announcement I've ever seen.

Another super big fave this week is traveling not in the rain. Y'all. Justin and I drove to Cabot from here in a storm, from Cabot to Hot Spring in a storm, and from Hot Springs to Fayetteville in a storm. We're so thankful to drive in normal weather.

Another fun thing this week is that I got to deliver pies for work. Y'all, who doesn't want to be the bearer of a pie? Who's going to be unhappy about getting a pie? No one, that's who. I lovey love my job y'all. Praise the Lord. I almost took (well, did a second interview) with a degree-related, child-centered job, and every single day I am so thankful I didn't. I'm so glad God is bigger than me.

We had family Thanksgiving today, and that was super. I love Thanksgiving and Christmas food. I love the holidays.

Happy Satur-almost-Sunday! 

Saturday Sweets

Y'all.....all 26 of you.....sorry I'm a blog failure. Not that I think you're spending all your waking moments waiting on me to blog, I just feel like I should be better at it simply because the few dear ones to me that do read it do genuinely care about what's going on in my life. (And, I especially care about those that are dear to me, but not so near. I can't tell them *ahem-Chelsea* to blog more if I don't.) Anyways, I've been thinking a lot about why I blog. It seems sort of vain and prideful doesn't it? I mean I'm generally talking about me and my life and what I do, and really, it's not that exciting. But, while thinking about that, I also thought about my (Lord-willing) future children. Y'all. I would love love love love to be able to read what my parents did before they even knew I'd be their daughter. So maybe so sweet 22 year old girl (or boy, or hopefully girlS and boyS!) will love  at least get a laugh at reading these very sporadic, random ramblings one day.

So, I've decided I will write something at least once a week by posting a few fun/random/favorite things on Saturday. I shall call it Saturday Sweets...because I love alliteration...and sweets (and obviously ellipses). And also that I can also do it on Sunday and it still be alliterated. :)

Here ya go! Volume 1 Issue 1 of Saturday Sweets. (PS, this whole idea is sort of a mishmash idea that I stole from Sara's  instafriday posts and Lauren's (yes, we're on a first name basis) Friday Favorites posts.

1. I just found out Justin is off Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Christmas Eve. Woo-hoo. Y'all, he works at a hospital. That is not common.

2. I got to Skype with Chelsea, and that is always one of my favorites.

3. My birthday is this week! I LOVE love love love love birthdays. Not just mine. Everyone's. I still need to plan something, but I love an excuse for everyone to get together (and on my birthday that means not playing games I hate playing at other parties.)

4. Y'all this video makes me sad, but the last kids on it are SOOOOO funny. They make all the whiney kids before worth it. Let's be real, that's totally what I would've done.

5. This recipe I got off of Pinterest. Y'all. I luuuuurrrrrvvvvveeee Pinterest (like everyone else in the world) and this soup. (They call it chili). It's so easy and so tasty. I'm making it for our Community Group tomorrow.

 6. Halloween's over. Thank goodness. I'm not such a fan of that holiday, but I do love Thanksgiving and Christmas. Did I tell you our tree was up? It is. :)

Happy Saturday, lovies!

Blog fail

Y'all. I am a blog failure. So sorry. We've been pretty busy the last couple weeks. I've what feels like a billion weddings/showers. Who knew fall was wedding season?! Not me. I think after the next wedding we are officially half way through our weddings for the season. Whew. And I have 2 baby showers in the next two weeks...not for me, like, I'm going to them. When did I become so grown up?

Anways, Justin ran a half marathon last weekend with Sara's husband (whom he uh-dores). In Kansas City. He got 91st in his division (age 25-29 I think) and 699th overall (there were like 7,000 people there). He finished in an hour and 49 minutes.

 The guys pre-race...very early in the morning. 

 Soooo many people got up sooooo early in the cold to run. Crazies. 

 There they are, about 2 miles in.

 This sweet boy looked up when I said, "This is for Miss Chelsea." So, Miss Chelsea, this is for you. Sara, I'm obsessed with your kiddos.

I didn't get a picture of the guys crossing the finish line, but this is what it looked like. 

Sara and her mother-in-law are a pro at these, so I was happy to have someone tell me when I needed to be where all weekend and play with some of my faves. 

Subject change: We bought a Christmas tree yesterday!!!! And it's already up. Don't judge me. Don't you dare judge me (that's for you Sarah Allen). Anyways, we live in an apartment. Without an attic. Or much storage at all. So, it was just easier to put it up. It's not decorated or anything, but it's up.

Guess what else? We got a new couch a few weeks ago for $40 on craigslist. Y'all. I love craigslist. I could look at it forever. Plus, we sold a ton of stuff on it, and that's how we paid for a lot of our honeymoon. Anyways, the couch isn't fancy, but she's clean and comfy. I am so thankful for it.

My job's going great (that's what people typically ask me about these days). I love it. Really. It's so fun to just be a little helper all day. My bosses seem super grateful, so that's encouraging too. Most of what I do (since people usually ask that as well) is schedule, call, email, social media (yep, part of my job is facebook and twitter), and a whole bunch of other random stuff. Currently, I'm trying to find Dallas area style blogs. Cool? I think so. Not everything is that fun, but I do get to google/research a lot of stuff and that's neat. And, I'm learning a TON. That's always good...especially for non-school learners like myself.

No one likes to read a novel (well, on a blog that is), so hopefully I'll keep you posted better in the next few weeks. Here's a preshy picture of my husband as a baby to make you smile. Y'all. A sailor. So great.

Oops

Sorry y'all. I've sort of unintentionally been on a blogging hiatus. Ya know who hasn't though? Mrs. Yocum, my cheer coach/photographer. Take a look!

Justin and Celeste Engagement

I know, we've been married for 4 months, but it's on her blog now!

Lovey

Grown up job

Wanna know what I did at work yesterday? A lot of stuff, but here's one thing my boss showed me. (please note the emphasis on boss, I'm not YouTubing things at work.)

Isn't this incredible?! This was actually filmed at these people's wedding. I. Love. It.

Yes, my job is so draining. Ha. Kidding. I love it!

Happy Saturday, y'all!

Book Review

Yep. Well sort of a book review. More of my thoughts on books. BUT it's not required for a class for the first time in forever. I used to love to read, but then I think late high school and college sort of ruined it for me. Between class and different Bible/book studies, who wanted to read a book just for funsies? Not this girl. Now though, Justin has been reading the Hunger Games books, and after being urged by him and my friend, Ashley, I started them too. (Don't judge the books by the website. It looks way goofy. Or do. Whatever.) Y'all. I read the first 2 books in like 5 days. They're 300something pages each. Now, I'm waiting on Justin to finish the 3rd, so I can. It has been so long since I've gotten caught up in a book, but I love it. It feels more productive than Pinteresting things all the time, but really it probably isn't. At least I use the stuff I pin. I'm writing this to tell you that if you're a reader, or if you're not, read the Hunger Games. I cried 3 times in the first book (I'm an emotional reader.) Let me tell you why I love/hate these books: they are tragic and scary and lovey and unable-to-be-put-downy. What's so catching about them is that they could, to a certain extent, be real. Reading them is horrifying because people are killed intentionally where others can see to make a point, and this is a part of our history. It's not as if this hasn't happened in the past and is still happening other places in the world, and that is chilling and infuriating. It also makes me thankful that by the grace of God I don't live in an era where that is normal. How blessed are we to be in America in the 2000s?

Reading these books now has made me think of all the books I loved in the past; Are You There, God It's Me Margaret by Judy Blume, all the Boxcar Children books, The Babysitters Club, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Y'all, kids books are so fun. Is there anything you've read or are reading that I should check out? I'm determined to become a reader again and not stop once I finish this series. I hear there's a book called Justin Morgan had a Horse...might have to check that one out just for kicks. :)

Happy Labor Day, y'all! 

My New Smarty-pants Phone

Well y'all, it is done. I now have a big girl phone. An HTC Inspire to be exact. I like her. I'm still getting used to her, and currently I'm typing this with only my right index finger. Efficient I know. Justin says I need to start using my thumbs, and I don't really know why I don't. That's how I texted on my old phone. Pointer Finger just seems like the best choice right now. It's pretty neato that I can blog on here though. She doesn't have a name yet, buy I'd like to shoutout to my old phone Zena- You were a trooper and made it through 2 years of drops, babysitting, being dropped in vom while babysitting (not joking), being run under water, being caked in hairspray and face oil, and of course much calling and texting. You're my backup now, but it's time for you to rest. Live strong Zena.
You're touched, I know.