Ready for new beginings

It's been awhile since I've blogged; however, life has been so busy lately, I just haven't found the time. Between college, showers, and wedding related appointments, I've harly had time to catch a breath let alone put something into words. Now that I've had some time to actually breath, I realize I'm way behind on this blog. (I'm sure my oh so avid readers are so diappointed, lol!)

I must say I can't wait for this blog to have it's conclusion so I can begin "The Newlywed Blog" I'm so ready to start this "wedded bliss" I've heard so much about...here's hoping it's just as "blissful" as they say it is. In reality, I don't think that much will change, besides my last name. We'll still be Haley and Andrew, we'll still love each other the same way, and we'll still argue about pretty much everything.

In ways I'm scared about all of the excitement being over and settling into "normal" life. To be honest, I'm not really sure what to do with myself once I'm no longer the Bride-to-Be...I've been that for two years now and I've gotten used to everyone I talk to asking, "So, when's the big day?" I guess the new question will be, "so, when are ya'll going to have a baby?" (Now, that's a scary question!)

For now, I'll just have to be content making a home and finishing up with school. As for a baby...her name is Ella Dior and she weighs in at 2 pounds 4 ounces!

Inspiration and Oregano Chicken

A couple of days ago I was bored, as usual, and was reading through Jaryn's blog. I went to her sister-in-law's blog on a whim started reading. One post caught my attention. Autumn was talking about meal planning and how it saves their family time and money. At first I thought that there was no way I'd have time between school and work to prepare a home cooked meal almost every night of the week, but then I was inspired. Autumn has a busy husband and a full time job as a stay at home mom and somehow she finds the time to what's best for her family...this thought lead to my latest endeavor. I talked it over with Andrew and he agreed that meal planning would be a great idea (for his wallet as well as his stomach). Thus, we began scouring cookbooks yesterday afternoon. This is what we came up with for our first week in our new home, whenever that may be.

Monday

He's on his own since I don't get out of class until 10:00pm

Tuesday

Oregano Chicken and Pasta with Garlic bread and White Wine

Wednesday

Pimiento and Grilled Cheese Sandwiches with Tomato Basil Soup

Thursday

Salmon Croquettes with Grilled Asparagus

Friday

Leftovers

Saturday

Whatever my Daddy is cooking, lol

Sunday
Granny's Baked Chicken with Sour Cream Rice

I'm quite pleased with our selections! I think it will save us money and will certainly be healthier than cheese toquitos and pizza rolls. I'll post and let you know how this all turns out when the week finally comes!

Design Progress

As we get closer to having our very own home, I thought I'd update everyone on my design progress so far. The bedroom will be all for now, since everything else is currently packed in boxes in my room. Please do not let the current color scheme influence your opinion of my taste...it will not look like this when I'm done! BTW: the color of blue my room looks in this photo is not true to life.

The lovely bedframe and nightstands from Ikea...I love them!

I couldn't love this fabulous red dresser/tv stand more!! So Pottery Barn!

This is the bedspread we will be using...see it's coming together!

Churchill Hotel Wheat-The color that we're using for the paint.

And the finished product..minus a few final touches.

I'll definately be posting before and after pics once we actually get started,

so be on the lookout!

Wedding Suicide

So, the concept of eloping is starting to sound better and better. I've actually had to take an entire day of work due to my wedding planning procrastination to make calls to the bridal salon, wedding planner, stationary vendor, photographer, and so on and so forth. When you’re a little girl dreaming of this big fabulous wedding, the very important factor that you don't think about is that YOU actually have to plan it!!! I emphasize the "you" because your groom to be seems to be conveniently M.I.A. every time something has to be decided. I don't think it's asking too much for him to call his stepmother and have the uncomfortable conversation about how there are only ten spots left on the guest list because it has grown to a point of ridiculousness. I don't care if he cares about flowers and cakes but geez; it's his dad and stepmother! Ok, done venting. The point is, this goes out to my friends who haven't yet begun planning their big day....when your dad offers you $20,000 to have a small wedding, maybe you should consider it. I'm sure on the day of all the planning and worrying will be well worth it, but right now it's killing me! I've come to a point where my brain sends the gag reflex to my throat at the mere mention on the word wedding, seriously I'm now hoping we have all boys so I don't have to go through this again...because if my daughter is anything like me, I'll be paying a small fortune for my raising. BTW- For anyone who was keeping count, which I'm sure no one was, the guest list has now had to be moved up to 225, and will probably be up to 250 before it's all said and done. I seriously don't know how unorganized people plan a wedding that doesn't turn into a catastrophe; maybe I’m just too anal.



P.S. Does anyone know where to find rustic bowls, urns, and platters that don't cost a fortune?

P.S.S. If anyone is bored, wanna come help me make wedding favors and address save-the-date cards?

Paint Samples

So Andrew and I ventured out to LOWES yesterday to look at paint samples. When we got in the store, he abandoned me for the grill section and, of course, found one that he decided he just couldn't live without. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it wasn't the most expensive one on display...quite the opposite, it was a great deal! $179.00 for a stainless steel charcoal grill that was just the right size for our deck. At this point my inner shopper came out and I was intrigued, so I asked the an employee to tell us a little more about it. After going through everything there was to know about the grill, I was sold...however, Andrew said he wanted to think about it. We walked around the store and got the paint samples we had come for (btw: the little cans you can buy now for $2.97 to test out the paint are, in my opinion, the best thing since sliced bread!) After we got the samples we went back over to look at the grill again...at this point Andrew decides he doesn't want it!!! Now I'm trying to convince him that it's just what we need and we won't find it at a better price. In the end, we walked out of Lowes with only the paint samples in hand...It just goes to show how different men and women are. I've been known to buy thinks I don't even have a place for just because they're on sale, and he won't take the deal on something we actually need...typical!

**I'm thinking about going back and buying the grill as a housewarming present...I just can't pass up the sale!!

Bored...waiting for Andrew to wake up from his nap!

I'm bored and found this on LBMM's blog...

RANDOM FAVORITES




Clothing brand: Anything from anthropologie

Thing to do: relax, redecorate, repeat...

Name: Lilly

Trait of yours: Eyes, or metabolism (now..not in high school, lol!)

Family member: My Daddy

Grade you were/are in: Ummmmm...now!!

Memory: When Andrew proposed

Thing about the opposite sex: how safe you feel when wraped in a hug

Electronics brand: umm..idk!

Gift you got from someone: Kitchen Aid Mixer

Program on your computer: Internet

Phrase: "Everything happens for a reason."

School Subject: English

Age you were/are: 21...only 2 1/2 weeks!!
Teacher: Mrs. Bowling

Number: really? 8

Fruit: pineapple

Store: Pottery Barn

Person: Andrew or my Daddy

Holiday: Day After Thanksgiving!!! (I know it's technically not a "real" holiday...but it so should be!!)

Day of the week: Saturday

Season: Fall!

Place: Home!



ENTERTAINMENT FAVORITES

Movie: Sweet Home Alabama

T.V. Show: Too many to name!

Channel: TLC, WEtv, Oxygen, TruTV

Book: Gone with the Wind or Little Women

Actor: Owen Wilson

Actress: Kate Hudson...she's so cute!

Talk Show: Oprah...if she's not being political

Sport: Cheerleading...yes it is a freaking sport!

Magazine: Country Living...I know, I'm like a 37 year old, lol

Board Game: Monopoly

Instant Messenger: None



FOOD & DRINK FAVORITES

Food: Guacamole!!

Drink: Dr. Pepper

Restuarant: Blue Mesa

Non-Alcoholic Drink: Dr. Pepper

Type of Food: Mexican!!

Meal: Mexican Food, damn!

Person you know that cooks: My Daddy

Alcoholic Drink: Cold Coors Light or Margaritas!

Soda: Dr. Pepper



MUSIC FAVORITES

Music Genre: Country

Band: I can't choose!

Solo Artist: Garth Brooks or George Strait

Song: Too many!

Disney Channel singer: NONE!!! I'm sooo Sick of the freakin Disney Craze!!! Most Hated: Miley!!!

Things I've Come To Realize...

I must say that on all obvious accounts this has been an uninteresting summer. We didn't do much, we didn't have very many "crazy nights" (although we did had a few) and we didn't make any many major contributions to anything very productive. While I wouldn't call this a summer that will go down as one of the best in my memories...I will call it a summer of epiphanies. I came to realize many things this summer, the word "family" is the first that comes to mind. People you call "friends" are a dime a dozen, I don't say this to be mean or hateful, it's just the major truth that I've realized. It's the friends that you consider family that are a real rarity. Even the friends that you thought would always be there, and would never let you down sometimes do, and people who you thought you could depend on will disappear when you need them most. I think you finally realize who your true friends are when the bonds you share start being pulled in different directions, the ones that snap will surprise you...and the ones that don't may come as a surprise as well. But it's the bonds that are left that are the most important; these are the friendships that will stand up to heartache, loss, disagreements and life's changes. I consider myself blessed to have people in my life who I know I can count on...I know this because they are the ones that never let me down. The people who aren't in my life anymore...well, maybe they were never meant to be there in the first place. I've realized that true friendship/ family is a lot like 1 Corinthians 13: 1-13...true friends are not envious, but share in your joy, they are not boastful, and they are not selfish. True friends don't take a small joy in your pain and they are not vindictive. I know I have not been the perfect friend to everyone at all times, no one is, but I do try to be the best friend that I can be to the people that really matter to me. I've lost a few friends this summer and over the past two years, but the ones that remain are the best friends...no make that family, that I could ever ask for.