XL

I haven't been a very good blogger lately. These past few weeks have flown- I've been taking extra jobs whenever I can before summer starts & rands has been busy working on a website project. And for the first time I have an evening to myself. So on a Saturday night I am doing things that I may be judged for since I am sans husband (he's photographing a friends wedding- such a versatile man). This evening includes: Country Strong, pretzel M&Ms, and vegetarian chicken. Sue me.

Anyways, instead of writing long boring things about what our weeks have been filled with, I'm just going to post some pictures and make this an Xtra Large random post with minimal captions if I can.

I have been taking advantage of the promo classes at barre54, which are now over, so I need to figure out what I can do before I hit the workout wall again. I would highly suggest this studio if you're looking for a new way to workout/have the $$$ to do so.

Mothers Day was great, we grilled out and had some fresh veges from my Dad's garden and had a dinner picnic on the dock.

We've been using our juicer with all these fresh fruits & veges we've been getting, and love it. It's the one way we can both eat almost 6 large carrots in one sitting. I feel so accomplished. 

I have started a girls bible study with some friends that has been so awesome and fulfilling for me. Great girls and this great study by Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

My amazingly talented Randycands has been working diligently on finishing a website, which I hope to post it on here real soon so you can take a look for yourself if you're into that. He's also had some really great opportunities to use his photography and recording skillz. So I'm happy for him and excited to see which route God wants for him/us.

He also decided that with new projects he needs a new hairstyle, I suppose. Maybe it's the almost one-year-marriage-change? Either way, he surprised me with this when I came home from work this week. I feel like I have a new man. I think I'm getting used to it. And even like it.

My mom and I had a delish scone & muffin (and some great coffee) breakfast at Bluebird Bake Shop.

We also continued her birthday celebration with special guests, The Dixon gang, on park avenue with yum french pastries from croissant gourmet. Obviously had pastry overload this week, which isn't really a bad thing. OliverKate was primarily concerned with the balloons staying grounded.

Finally, I have to express how excited I am about this up and coming week. It feels like Christmas. I was telling my sister that the excitement from last years week-before-wedding-prep is filling my soul again. Remembering how much I thought about him, our wedding day, honey moon, the unknown, while having my amazing girl friends and family around us supporting and loving us. And they've continued to do that. Even though we aren't getting married again next week, I love nothing more than to celebrate this first marriage anniversary with my best and truest friend ever. I'm also excited to try and be creative and plan something for him. I just have to tell the blog world how much I love him and am blessed- I can't believe how we have both changed & I believe grown in a year, and pray it continues as we try our best to follow God. My husband is amazing and he is such a gift to me.

(I promise I will only be mushy when it comes to him, my family and my future children. And maybe just a few others).

We are also off to Austin next week for my cousins wedding. Can't wait! If you are reading this and have any tips on restaurants, coffee shops, short activities to do there, don't hold back.

My Mom♥

Here is a small photo tribute to my babe of a Mom. She is the best & loveliest person I know and these are just a few trips down memory lane of motherly love to prove it. Happy Mothers Day Mom, I love you!

Gifts & Love

With Easter being later, May was sneaky. And it's already Mothers Day. Oh life & time- so fast. This weekend was great, relaxing, time off and the beautiful wedding of some sweet friends. Rands was off doing bachelor boy stuff, so I had some time to work and hang with some gurlz & myself which was pleasant. We watched the Royal Wed when it wasn't as cool anymore, but I still thought it was quite enjoyable. I was also gifted with a few things, but these things make me feel like it's Christmas time & I feel spoiled.

My dear friend Christie had a rummage sale for Habitat for Humanity, and managed to find/snag this awesome vase for me before the masses came. She knows me- what a gem. I've already put some of my wedding flowers that are still going strong in it, and I love it. Thanks gurl! 

Another fave, as mentioned in previous blogz, is my Dad's garden. He doesn't use pesticides and it's fresh & -free. I have been waiting, and finally got the first pick of the crop this morning. It's one of the perks of coming from a city family who pretends they're in the country.









Another great freebie, was an exercise class I was invited to, which was an infusion of pilates, yoga and ballet. It was one of the best workouts I've done yet (I don't have a lot to compare it to as of late- kinda slacking), and I guess it's starting to make it's way from the West Coast & Nashville to Florida. They're about to have their grand opening, which you can read about on their website. Very interesting technique (comical for me at times), but a total body workout- maybe I should work for them. Anyways, if you're interested their website is here.

Lastly, I got that great groupon for the BOGO movie ticket. Since gas is taking majority of our pay checks, going to the movies is never a thought these days- so we had to jump on it. It was perfect timing, because this is almost out: Something Borrowed. If you are a girl (which I'm sure 99.9% of you 2 readers are), you first need to quickly read the book, which will probably still be better than the movie, of course. If not, read the books by Emily Giffin for a mindless & funny gurlie read. You may lose brain cells, but you'll laugh which is all that matters sometimes. You may if you are a dude as well. They're quite enjoyable. So this better live up a little to the book, I'll let you know. 

Here are just a couple shots from the lovely union previously mentioned. Iphone photos limit detail, but I work with what I got.
Happy May! 

easter in the atlantaz

This post is pretty much filled with my niece & nephew. So if that for some terrible reason bores you, you probably won't want to read much further. However, if you like things that are the cutest in the world, funny, precious and perfect, continue reading. Oh and here is a video if the pictures aren't enough. Try and ignore the annoying adult commentating and take notes from OK on dying eggs (what to do/not to do).

Oh man, kids. So obviously Easter was great. It's always fun to start it with a car ride with 2 boys, 7 hours, a weird light coming on in the car 2 hours into it which made us pull over, and arriving at 2:00am. But we made it! And here is what we did.

Spent some quality time in gas stations picking out quality purchases (or wish-we-had-purchased)

Good Friday Service @ Passion City Church

Ate way too much candy-shocking. But with encouraging reminders  like this, it made me feel more ok about that decision.

                                                                                    
These are baby chicks. I have had an obsession with anything small/baby since I was probably 1 day old, and thought it would be a great idea to find them during this time of the year (and convenient since the Dixon Fam pretty much lives on a farm). Plus I told Oliverkate we would take her, so I had to find them and def could not let her down. Sister Michelle and I took the kids, and while I stepped into my dreamland she was educated on how to raise them, for possible chicken ownership for fresh egg purposes in the future. I can't wait to visit the Dixon Egg Farm.   

Uncle Zack let off some sweet gas-station-bomb-fire works (we don't tell him that it's the wrong holiday for that so shh), and the kids admired his skill to light them, then throw them right before they blew his hand off. There were a couple close calls and I believe some singed hair, but of course totally worth it. And totally cooler uncle now. 

We dyed eggs. (This is the more boring version of what happened above). 

(Me & Ran's first marriaged eggs, yin&yang)

And finally, a little Easter Sunday Photo Shoot:

easter time

It's Easter! Almost. I am extra excited to be spending this first marriaged Easter in ATL with my favorites (i.e. OliverKate, Truett & Co.). To kick off the Easter week, we had a Palm Sunday picnic/adult egg hunt seen below. It was probably the most perfect weather day ever.

  Rands bff. Until he dropped her on her head- I'm scared for our future children.



If any of those egg prizes look tempting, I'm pretty sure Baldwin park probably has some un-found eggs in trees, moss, Tim's beard, trash cans or fountains.

I also found this in someones trash pile. It sounds gross but it really makes me feel like I won something. Randy doesn't quite understand the need for all of these chairs I keep finding, but I kindly remind him that one of those chairs is currently holding 5 giant boxes of recording gear. 







Finally, here are some easterly links if you're looking for some fun/different egg dying ideas. Enjoy. And if you need a church to attend Sunday and live in Orlando, I highly suggest you go to Summit Church. Then let me know how it is since I won't be able to make it this year.  

• DesignMom-Eggs
• NotMartha-Eggs
• NotMartha- Eggs
• OnceWed- Dove template (I thought these were pretty/meaningful/nice/different decor).
• DesignSponge- Eggs

John 11:25-26
"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die."

weekend&pictures

It was a refreshing weekend, filled with bike rides, pool time, reading time, friends, church time, etc. We are currently on a money restriction (along with all of America obviously) in hopes to have a little extra for an anniversary trip next month (almost a year, time is weird). So we worked on the whole budget thing/creative ways to spend our free time.

Sunset walks have been lovely!

Working on our wall collage finally. Perfect timing since our condo lease will be up soon, but at least we won't have to stare at a blank wall anymore. 

  

   In attempt to save money, since I'm not an extreme coupon-er, we attempted a Sam's trip. It's a little comical buying things like the above for only 2 people, but I'm learning living with a male/Randy, how much protein is consumed in a day. So we'll see if our extreme quantities pay off.   

 My friend Laura and I had a little spontaneous Saturday. We started at an annual neighborhood garage sale and ended up with a little photo shoot for her job. She inspires me with her creativity and I'm looking forward to some photography lessons. She's also a blogger which she humbly recently told me, and you can find her work and fun stuff here.

home made hair clips

This is a very simple sewing project, even though I managed to make it 20x more difficult. So, I naturally had to call in reinforcements because I thought the sewing machine blew up. My mom just told me I was missing the presser foot(duh). One day I'll learn to do this on my own. 


Anyways, I found these awhile ago and thought they were so cute. It's probably weird that I like making things for kids when I don't even have any, but for some reason I find it enjoyable. Especially things for girls because they are more fun (just a life fact). I found the cute felt at Hobby Lobby of course, and if you want to make them yourself the link is here. Have fun & watch out for that presser foot: