A Week in Photos

This week has been absolutely crazy! I can’t wait to do a post on my photography adventures with my dear friend Carly in Georgetown, D.C. Oh- and about my new gig as an ASSISTANT WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER! Remember this post where I said my dream is to become a wedding photographer? Well, as my coworker would tell me- “You on your way.” Gah! I’m so excited- I can’t wait to fill all of you in!

As I said, this week has been crazy- so I’m going to cut this post short and show you a quick glance at random things I encountered throughout the week.

1 and 2. Sneak peak at my adventure in Georgetown with Ms. Carly.

3. I painted my nails a really fun blue color. 4. I got sick of the really fun blue color and went with a brown color. I usually never do browns- but I really like it.

1. I was eating lunch outside at work on the balcony and this is what was peaking out at me from inside my  office. Ha! I have the same bear.

2. We had a JMU Lacrosse alumni get together this past weekend at school. We even did it old school and went out with the current team. A freshman asked me how old I was. I replied “23.” He replied, “EW! So you have like babies and stuff now?” I replied, “You have a lot to learn, Kid, you have a lot to learn.”

3. My new Patagonia backpack. Cute!

4.Carly wanted to test out taking pictures with a certain lighting tool. So she used me as a prop. I didn’t complain. (Don’t ask me what I’m doing with my lips…)

1. And lastly- this made me laugh out loud. This was David’s hippo during our Draw Something game. I really don’t know how I guessed it. Cute David. 

*Linking up with Andi*

Have a great weekend people!

DIY Pottery Barn Mantel

This past year, I fell in love with this gorgeous pottery barn mantel:



It also happened to be REALLY expensive. My boyfriend’s parents and I happened to be feeling crafty and were up for the challenge to make our own. I’m so mad I didn’t take pictures of the process while we were doing it (it was pre-blog), but we also winged it. Regardless, I thought I would share pictures of the finished product and what materials we used so you can get started! A lot of it is personal preference, so I’m not sure how much step by step instructions would have helped anyways.

This picture of the final product hanging is also kind of lame, since I took it before I put picture frames, vases, and candles on it. Gah! If only I could go back in time. Oh well. Here is my hanging mantel. I chose not to make the finish vintagey like the pottery barn one, but if I made another one I would go that route.



We went to Home Depot and picked out my favorite crown molding. Then we got 5 boards for the sides, top, and bottom. You can really use anything here. We didn’t want to use real wood because it would make it really heavy, and you also don’t see it in the end. So we got the next sturdiest and light option we could find. We made a box-looking shape and then assembled to the box. We had to sand some, saw some, paint some, nail some, and wa-la! All done!








Sorry again that this isn’t super detailed, but I did some googling and found this blog post on making a similar mantel if you want to check it out!

Oh, How Pinteresting: Engagement and Neon Craze

 I found myself on an engagement photography and neon craze this week. Mainly because I wish I was a engagement photographer (or dare I say, the one in the pictures?!), and because I love the 80’s and I feel that neon colors and the 80’s go hand and hand. Like peanut butter and jelly, frosting and a cupcake, toddlers and tiaras…you picking up what I’m putting down?

Here are my favorite pins from this week, all things engagement and neon.

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And this guy, because I LOVE Up.

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Do you have a post or pictures about your engagement shoot? I would love to see them/swoon over them. Link up here so I can take a look!

Dear Monday

{Dear Monday}
You feel like Fall today. Last week, you felt like Summer. And I Iiked Summer-Monday better. I would appreciate it if you encouraged your friends, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday..., if they would feel like Summer.

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{Dear Pink Pants}
I would like to own you.

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{Dear College Friends}

It was so good to see you all this weekend. It felt like we were right back in college again. I love the real world, but this further reminded me how much I miss being able to walk to all of my best friends house and all-you can eat dining halls. For the past two years I have been pining around about how much I wish I could go back... but I think I had some type of realization this weekend. I realized that no matter how sad I get about not being in college, I'm not going to be able to go back. It is not worth being sad about- I need to simply enjoy the memories that I have had with all of you and count the blessings that God gave me. When I graduated I remember asking my friend's mom if life was all down hill after college. She said she felt the same way when she graduated- but the best years after college when she started a family. This gives me hope and reminds me that God has great plans for me in the future, and I can't wait to see what they are.

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{Dear Wisdom Teeth}
I will enjoy this last week I have with you. After this weekend, you will no longer be a part of my mouth. I hope all of the wisdom that I have doesn't leave with you.

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{Dear David}

I miss doing little normal things with you. Like eating ice cream straight from the ice cream tub, watching TV, snuggling (I know, you can't get enough of that), and playing Just Dance 3 with you. Good luck at your last week of Spring training and continue to be a leader for Christ.

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{Dear Messy Room}
Please clean yourself.

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*Linking up with Megan*

High Five for Friday

Oh Friday, I thought you would never come. Usually, I’m not counting down the days until Friday. I happen to like the week. I love where I work, I love the lacrosse team I coach, and I look forward to Wednesdays for my small group. However, this was one of the weeks where I thought it was Thursday on Tuesday. It wasn’t a painful week…I was just all sorts of confused.

Linking up with Lauren for High Five for Friday!

  

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I work somewhere awesome. My company is a young with a laid back culture. I love going to work every day wearing flip flops. Here are some pictures from around the office this week. Office, while I love you. I’m so glad I get a two day break from you every week.

1. Inker Gallery- where a new “Inker’s” art is highlighted each month. LOVE this month’s art- I have a thing for bikes, and color.

2. We just hit our millionth customer, so we ran a promotion to ship free shirts to hundreds of customers. Usually we don’t print and ship at our office (we’re just the headquarters) but it was such a big project we all chipped in and helped pack and ship. Cute boxes, huh?

3. Just some art that's painted on the wall.

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David got to play in a AAA game this week…AND he hit a triple! For those of you who are not familiar with the minor league system (which was me about a year ago), you work your way up to the majors. It starts with rookie ball, then low-A, high-A, AA, AAA, then the majors. He was in rookie ball last year, which is where they usually put you when you first get drafted, then go up from there. But yesterday he got to the field and they told him he would be playing in the AAA game. Uh, YEAH! AAA as in one step below the big show! This doesn’t mean that he will play here this season, I think he was just giving some of the older guys a break, but it was such a blessing for him to get to experience that. And THANK YOU JESUS that he hit a triple! Proud of him :) 

I would wear this- but I guess girlfriends are not actually supposed to wear their gear. It’s not cool. So they say. I have to practice playing it cool.

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My college lacrosse team is having alumni appreciation day this Sat. Can’t wait to get back to the ‘burg. If it was up to me- that’s where I would live. Out in the country, away from all of the traffic. The air just seems fresher out there. I’m in love with JMU. 

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This made me laugh this week. 

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I’ve enjoyed my real friends this week. Life is too short to let yourself be brought down by people who don’t lift you up. The time we spend here on Earth is a shorter than a blink of an eye, and to spend that time worrying about people who don’t help you in your overall purpose of life, don’t deserve a spot in yours. I’ve enjoyed my time with God this week and letting Him show me this.

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Have a great weekend!

Oh, How Pinteresting: Dream Bedroom

Growing up, I was definitely a tom-boy. My dad wanted to have a boy so bad that he pretty much raised me like one. Instead of painting my room pink, he hung Dallas Cowboys posters up all over the room and decorated it all-things football. I remember running football patterns with him in the backyard. I always wore my hair in a pony tail, NEVER wore pink, and NEVER played with dolls. My parents said that my grandma used to bring me dolls to play with, and she was always confused when I would just ignore them.

So, 20 years later- I'm finally hitting my "I can't get enough pink" stage. I also am in a stage where I feel the need to redecorate my bedroom every six months. Maybe it's because I just haven't found the right one yet. Here are some of my pins from thsi week of what I would want my dream bedroom to look like and fun things I would put in it.

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And here are my other two favorite pins this week, having nothing to do with dream bedrooms.

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HOW. STINKIN. CUTE! Someone remind me to do this when I have a baby..some day :)

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Hahaha, this just made me laugh. I laugh at stupid things like this.

Which style bedroom should I go with next? I think I’m feeling a splash of spring all over my room.

Linking up with Michelle over at The Vintage Apple