'Round Here

We are super excited for spring around here! My first winter in Alamosa a.k.a. THE COLDEST SPOT IN THE US! Taught me some valuable lessons one of them being

1.        I refuse to take any part of the summer months for granted & I also PROMISE to never complain about the heat this summer.

We have a very busy schedule coming up, that includes almost every weekend until June away from our little house here in the valley.

So I decided to get a head start on the “spring cleaning” only to have it covered with a new coat of dirt from the crazy wind we have been having. Secretly I think it still counts because I DID put in the effort to get it done!

April has flown by, & I will be the first to admit that I don’t actually mind!

The faster summer gets here the better!

So to play a little “catch-up”

 we spent Easter in Westcliffe with both of our families.

Jeb helped me dye hard-boiled eggs the week before and we spent the day shooting guns, eating yummy food & laughing.

It was such a great day to celebrate the Lord’s resurrection.

We also got to sneak in a little family time with my cousins. They had celebrated a special girl’s birthday Saturday morning and we got to see them before they headed back up to Greeley!

Trip has been to the Vet and decided he was not a fan. He had a body part or two removed, I was told that when Jeb went in to picked him up he ran past the vet-tech right over to Jeb peed, and then was ready to “hit the road Jack & we ain’t EVER comin back!”

I felt so bad for our little fella, but I am happy to report his is back to his normal crazy self!

                                         

Since it is warming up down here we have been leaving him in the pin next to our house while we are away at work! He seems to really like it & I think we will be investing in a plastic kiddie pool this summer for him to cool off in.

I can’t believe that this year I went home to beautify my youngest sister for her SENIOR PROM!

ANDDD

That the very same weekend, I helped my other sister celebrate her 21^st birthday!

I am so lucky and so blessed to call those two girls my best friends

I love that I am only a short drive away from them and can be around for special events.

Lately my heart has been aching, like every other American, and hoping that there is still some hope for humanity.

I know that we live in a broken world and what we all need is Jesus, so I will faithfully keep putting my trust in him.

And I will treasure what I have to be thankful for because I am truly lucky to live the life I live.

May, will bring numerous trips to Westcliffe and a few up to the northern part of Colorado for a special graduation tea, a play, 2 graduations and other fun events.

I am going to welcome all these special times with a whole new outlook and appreciation, because you honestly NEVER KNOW. But I refuse to be a hermit because of the evil that haunts this world.

I am going to live this life because God has chosen me to live it!

Tis the Season, almost!

At this time every year it takes all I have to leave all the Christmas stuff packed up and Pandora off of the Christmas stations.

I made a vow (to myself) to wait until we get home, the Monday after Thanksgiving to decorate in all things merry and bright

AND… (sigh) to keep the buzzing of Christmas carols only in my head, even though Dish Network has already added the holiday music channels to our lineup.

In all honesty I am happy to do it because I really do dislike that Thanksgiving gets trampled on by all the bru-haha that comes with “the most wonderful time of the year.”

Thanksgiving is usually by far my favorite holiday but I normally forget that fact until after Christmas.

And still this year I am clinging to the way things were all of my years living with my parents. I so badly wish we were headed over the mountain Wednesday and were able to stay til “classes resumed” Monday, but I know this is another part of growing up.

Right now at 7:00pm on the Sunday before Thanksgiving, we still don’t have a clue what our plans are. AHHH!

My inner control freak is going nuts!

But, I am trying trying trying to be the quiet, understanding wife, who doesn’t nag about making plans.

Which includes pinning all kinds of Christmas “to-dos” on my Pinterest boards and cleaning.

Cleaning because there might be a chance we are going to spend Christmas here in Alamosa with both our families, and there is this little voice inside my head that thinks getting a head start on preparations will make a difference.

But let me get realistic with you for a minute,

1.   we have a 4 month old puppy who LOVES to shred paper, thanks to me, at the end of the election I got real sick of all the ads in our mailbox and started handing them over to Trip as soon as I walked in the door. Now that we have a paper box to start fires filled with junk mail we also have shards of news print everywhere.

2.  My husband is a WONDERFUL cook, and after the time change, he either beats me home or is right on my tail when I hit the driveway. So, he has been making dinner about 50% of the time or at least cooking the meat. Even though his meals are always so so tasty, the kitchen is such a disaster and a pain in my rear to clean. I love you Jeb & your cooking is the BEST!

3.  We live on a dirt road surrounded by hay fields, that are all dry and prepped for the freezing winter season, and at the back of our casa, (where we both park and where the door we primarily use is) the ground is so soft and stirs up dust flurries every time we pull in to our house.

4.  Last but not least, I hate laundry. (enough said.)

So cleaning now doesn’t change the fact that I will be doing it all again twice more before our parents come for Christmas.

Jeb finally caved in and helped me put up outside Christmas lights on our deck today; I think I hooked him by suggesting that today might be the last free day we have that is actually going to be warm.

He did make me promise not to turn them on until after Thanksgiving.

Once again I am so eager to go home. I and hoping that this time there will be more than enough time to spend with everyone. Realistically I know it’s not the case but I’ll take every minute I can get! 

A little bit about MUAH

I haven’t blogged in a while for a few reasons.

UNO: my cowboy and I have different views about blogging, & info sharing in general, so I have “kindof” been thinking about deleting my blog.

And I for now have decided to keep it. I blog mostly for me and to inform people of what is going on in our little lives.

2: NOTHING EXCITING HAS BEEN HAPPENING!

Three: Lately I have been feeling a little used (professionally), insecure and negative, so to keep from whining I kept off my www.

And finally four:

I have been keeping myself busy reading other blogs. I currently have 3 new favorites, none of which I know personally. & I like that I have no idea who these ladies are in real life, it’s pretty refreshing.

The idea from this post comes from my MOST favorite blog right now Mama Laughlin.

http://www.mamalaughlin.com/

But, WARNING. She is a little crude and she calls it like it is 100 percent!

I absolutely LOVE her.

She has been my size heavy twice & found the motivation to lose it all to the size I would like to be.

If that isn’t motivation I don’t know what is…

A month ago she posted a blog called “If You Really Knew Me…”

I really liked the idea, here is my version.

If you really knew me you would know…

I follow recipes down to the 1/8 of a tsp

I prefer the actual CD instead of the online “download” version

I watch “The Real Housewives of…” EVERYWHERE and literally laugh out loud every episode

Sometimes, I feel like my skin is too thin to be a hair-dresser. My feelings get crushed when people take advantage of the skills I have achieved & when they gossip about the job I did instead of to my face.

I think the fact above is HUMAN and is allowed!

Although I have found different sources of inspiration to lose weight time & time again my tries are always short lived and I only become more discouraged.

I absolutely hate it when people try to give me “pep-talks” about my size and situation.

I want to own and manage my own salon one day.

After I have kids

I love big big dogs

I dislike any cold blooded living things. Spine shivering disgusting.

Lemonade that you can only get at fairs and festivals is my ALL TIME favorite drink.

I love the smell of cigarettes but can’t believe that people still smoke after the horrible commercials about what smoking can do to you.

I have 11 piercings all in my ears and only want one more. (In my right ear) then, I promise I am DONE

I bite the insides of both of my lips and both cheeks as well as the flesh around my nails, but have kicked my nail biting habit thanks to braces.

I’m not into lifestyle fads at all & prefer to do things the opposite of them to prove my point, if only to myself. I.e. I refuse to buy anything “organic” even when the sale price is cheaper than the not on sale non organic item.

I have been told on many occasions that I am “sexist” and have yet to be offended by it.

BUT find it disgusting when men, husbands, fathers, etc. etc. take advantage of women and when men think they are better than women.

I’d drive a diesel over a little smart car any day

It is a daily battle in my head to keep my hair long or cut it short.

I have a short temper easily defused by my husband’s comedic attempts.

I prefer to do my hair and make-up Indian style in front of a mirror where ever the best natural lighting is at that point of the day.

Stars are my favorite thing to decorate with.

Camouflage is my favorite color, although I have never been hunting.

I like frosting more than cake

I like a little bit of coffee to warm up my creamer

I feel most beautiful in tight pants and a loose shirt

I recently jumped on the extension train & looking into buying permanent extensions for myself for the first time ever!

I use Pinterest for ideas for my make-up and hair daily

And for recipes and decorations and Christmas gifts

I love giving especially to the ones I feel closest too

I believe in God & have a personal relationship with my savoir.

This weekend we are headed to Pueblo for a horse show. ALL of our family will be there as well! I am so so so excited to see everyone for the first time since our wedding!

County Road 12 South

This

is our casa!

The place we reside

Where we call home

Our living room, if you look to the left when you come in our front door.

This is the entry way from the kitchen

Our living room

Sorry its such a bad picture.

Zee Kitchen

our dinning room, with our Fiesta ware (which we LOVE!)

Dinning room wall and hall way to the guest bathroom & 2 guest rooms

 

This bathroom might be my favorite room of the whole house, our land-lords told us we could re-paint if we hated the color but, I thought it was perfect for the shower curtain I got on CLEARANCE!!! at Target a year ago (just cuz I liked it so much!)

These are the two guest rooms, Jeb dubbed the smaller one on the west side of the house my "craft room" so it has all of my junk but needs a bed if anyone has one to get rid of!

This room gets so much sunlight & has a direct view to the best neighbors, (More on them later,) But ALSO needs a bed! (wink wink!)

Our bedroom is on the south side of the house, through the door next to the TV

We got to pick the colors for our room & I love it! Jeb does too, but I seriously love turning on the lamps by our bed every evening & really like how cozy if feels in there!

Our moms' found the comforter and pillow set on sale in PA last summer, & my dad made us the night stands as part of our wedding present! The dresser below was the third piece. Jeb started it in High School wood shop & my dad finished it for us!

our bathroom and WONDERFUL closet is on the south west side of the house

Our bathroom is the only room in the house that isn't remodeled, so we hope if we stay here long enough our land-lords will let us tackle the project!

AND the best biggest closet I have ever had! 

Now, meet our neighbors!

I refer to them as "the girls" 

These two are my favorite! They are so friendly.

One last thing, I need to introduce you to "the beast"!

This was our wedding gift from Jeb's parents and we LOVE it! Grilling is our favorite way to prepare meals!

Here are a few more pictures from our place

 

 And lastly, my favorite part of Jeb's job

A Week From Today....

 A week from today, I will get up earlier than I normally would to shower, shave my legs & drowned my skin in some sort of moisture rich substance.

I will spend breakfast with 60 of our closest friends and family at a local restaurant

I will kiss my cowboy on his lips one last time as his fiancé.

My nails and toes will be painted & looking very fresh.

Two of my favorite girls from Cosmo School will be on their way to our little home town to make my girls and I look beautiful.

At this exact time, 10:00 am, I’ll be spending time with my girls.

Around noon, we will be pinning curlers in our hair, painting our faces with all kinds of rich colors.

My mom and Jeb’s mom will be scurrying around finishing last minute details.

I can only imagine what the BOYS will do with a day together, after a much to long absence from each other’s company.

My cousin will drive to a neighboring town to pick up flower s to be pinned on numerous “cowboy” shirts & dresses. She’ll also pick up the flowers my two best friends & sisters will carry as they walk down the aisle.

And, she will pick up my bouquet. The one I will hold until it is replaced with my cowboy’s hands.  

I’ll slip into the dress my dear grandma spent hours and hours making just for me, and I’ll love it.

My girls will put their “grandma made” dresses too.

Then, we’ll all put on our cowboy boots!

Shalee will place my veil in my hair and spray everything one last time.

I’ll tell my mom how much I love her & we’ll wait for the photographer to tell us it’s time to take numerous pictures.

As our guests arrive I’ll wait upstairs of the beautiful Beckwith house & maybe sneak a peek or two.

The music will bellow from the speakers as my cowboy makes his way to the front with our pastor.

I’ll watch my girls’ link arms with each boy and walk down the aisle.

And I’ll look at my dad and try not to cry.

I’ll tell him how much I love him and take his arm.

I’m going to stare straight ahead at my cowboy.

Because, if I look anywhere else and see tears, streams will make their way to my chin.

When my dad and I get to the front, I’m going to hug him so tight and tell him “thank you”

And let a few tears slip.

Then I’m going to hand my sister my flowers and take Jeb’s hands.

Forever.

At the end of the day, after everyone had eaten their fill & then some,

 After the cake is cut and gone,

after the DJ has played his set,

& the photographer has had his fill of pictures.

It will just me be me and my cowboy.

We will finally, finally be married.

Blogity Blog Blog

I know it has been absolutely way to long since I wrote last, BUT! I have a few Instagram photos to share that should make up for it!

And, may I just say that um, HELLO Instagram is by far the coolest phone app you can ever have! I feel like a real life photographer most days I get the chance to use it!

Oh, and something else, WHERE DID APRIL GO?!? Don’t get me wrong I absolutely love that time is just FLYING BY but seriously?!? Wasn’t it just St. Patrick’s day?

Tomorrow marks 75 days until my wedding.. I have been making myself stay away from my i-tunes account and blank CDs to hopefully not drive everyone crazy with all the oldies that have to do with wedding bells, chapels, & “I will follow him, follow him wherever he may go…”

My Pandora on the other hand… is about Wedding-ed out!

Country wedding

Oldies Wedding

Wedding songs

Love songs

BLAHH you would think I am a sappy lovey dovey person or something, in all honesty I totally am.

I’m such a sucker for romance!

 Alright so things that have been happening for real:

Still loving my waitressing job

Invitations are waiting to be addressed and stuffed into envelopes but other than that are completely done!

I have done more hair in the last two weeks than I ever remember doing  since out of school (AND LOVE IT!!!) I totally miss doing hair every day all day.

Jeb and his boss, Blue, have been working on finding us a place to live in and have almost 100% got something figured out! It’s a 3 bedroom 2 bath house close to an older couple’s home whom we would be renting from. I haven’t had the chance to go down and look at it yet, but Jeb did a great job filling me in on all the details. Here’s what that conversation sounded like:

Me: “So what did you think of it?”

Jeb: “It’s really nice! They have been working on re-doing all the inside, I think you really will like the kitchen.”

Me: “Really?!? (Sheer excitement) what does it look like?

Jeb: “Well they have all pretty new appliances and dark brown cabinets; you know that silver look that looks so clean... That’s what the oven dishwasher and fridge is like”

“Oh! And the guest bathroom is painted green, like the green you like! Not dark green or forest green and not neon either just like you like!”

That’s just a taste but I won’t bore you with the rest J

One of the best parts is that they are willing to drop their rent per month if we agree to do some work once a month.

It’s almost like a dream come true, I CAN NOT WAIT to start projects and Jeb is just as excited he keeps talking to both of our very handy dads about things that we could do and things that the woman we will be renting from has asked him if we could do

.

Now we just hope they let us have a dog. And if not I will put my dreams of naming our bull mastiff Skynard on hold for a few years.

Now for my many DIY projects I finished this month:

These are obviously not a project, these are my wedding boots!

the beautiful "S" my Dad carved 

"Red-neck Wine Glasses"

Bridesmaid bags

Tags on bags

insides include:
A button down shirt to wear the day  of
necklace and bracelet
pearl bobby pins