As the summer comes to a close and the chill begins to set in the air, I must reflect on my incredibly wonderful, life changing, awesome summer. 

It started with a Memorial Day weekend spent at home...nothing too exciting and very ordinary. Nothing indicative of what was to come. I searched for apartments and at the end of June a new home was found for me. July was spent moving and unpacking for sure.

I have mostly settled in..just adjusting to bills and budgets which are not fun at all. It feels so nice to have my own place to call my home. To be able to decorate and have friends and family over and to just be in someplace that is new. Friends and family came over to check out the new place and I was more than happy to share it.

Then of course August brought the most life changing experience...the big engagement. I'm getting married!! still love to say that hehe But it will not be for a little bit due to us saving for the wedding and preparing for our life together. 

I am so excited for this next chapter of our lives to begin!

The past almost month has been simply amazing to say the least. Us being able to celebrate our engagement all week in Disney was amazing and all the love and support we have gotten from family and friends. The dinners, cards and gifts were more than expected but loved. The phone calls and texts allowing me to relive that moment were the best and I am very thankful for all the love we received.

The summer also included multiple engagements in our circle of friends, one in May and another in July. A wedding in August and more to come the next year! Wine nights, dinners and family/friend gatherings all included in this summer and the very few beach trips. And as we said au revoir to summer the last two days were spent surrounded by family, friends and fiance 

Although this has been an amazing summer it has also been bittersweet. As I said two large life experience happened within the past two months and the abscence of my mom did not go unnoticed. The move was the first large experience my mom hasn't been here for. My graduation I was still grieving so it was more numb. But this time I was aware. Aware that she should have been here bossing me around and sharing in the moving process and see how I have blossomed. 

She should have been my first call after the engagement to share in my exciting news and the first person I would see after the engagement to show off the ring. All little girls dream of their wedding and their mom helping them tie their dress and crying when it's put on and just being there for the whole experience and I won't have it. Losing your mom is a neverending grieving process. At every stage of my life I feel/will feel my mom's abscence. But I know she is here with me..helping me and sharing in my joy.

Ready to end the year with many more memories!

Mix it up

I want to make this more fun. 

I take a lot of pictures so I want to start documenting life in pictures and posting on here everything I do. Maybe it might be boring but I do feel I will enjoy that. And you can listen to me ramble about everyday happenings. But your life is what you make it. And even if I'm doing something boring but I make it exciting, it is exciting.

Correct? Correct.

Anyway, I am currently watching a segment called "From plane to fabulous" on the Today Show. It's about looking glamorous on a plane. Here are my thoughts. 

I haven't been on a long plane ride in awhile. However, I do recall how uncomfortable those seats can be. Hence the sweatpants or yoga pants I always choose to wear on a plane ride. The point they are making is that you can still glam these up. Wrap a scarf around your neck, wear a tighter, bright colored shirt and nice cover up. 

This I can do. I get it, just because you are wearing the comfy pants doesn't mean you have to look drab. Easy way to brighten your day by dressing up. Or if you are on this particular airline they are showing, Virgin America, you can curl your hair right on the flight. That's right. They apparently have outlets right at the seat to blow dry and style your hair. Get on the plane with one hairstyle and come off with a totally different one. Now that's convenient.

Next time, there will pictures. Hopefully.

-Humor is the great thing, the saving thing. The minute it crops up, all our irritation and resentments slip away, and a sunny spirit takes their place.-Mark Twain

CARRIE. UNDERWOOD.

It started 5 years ago when she made her way into a room with Simon Cowell on American Idol. I voted for her every week. literally. Loved her singing and voice and just her.

Then she won American Idol and oh man. I seriously love her. I have wanted to see her since that very moment. I watch her on every American Idol finale, every awards show and any other place she might be. She has always has a down to earth attitude and her voice is amazing. Oh and she is absolutely gorgeousssss.

This past birthday my boyfriend made my dream come true. He got me tickets to her concert. omgosh omgosh omgoshhhh. yup that was my similar reaction

The concert was this past weekend and I can't believe I have waited until now to share my obsession.AMAZINGAMAZINGAMAZINGAMAZINGAMAZINGAMAZINGAMAZINGAMAZINGAMAZINGAMAZINGAMAZING

And that doesn't even do it justice. She had amazing backdrops for every single song. Which there were 23 that she performed by the way. Carrie flew over the crowd in a blue pick up truck singing "Country Roads Take Me Home," the Grand Ole Opry was there that included a recording of Randy Travis. She had about 10 costume changes and looked wonderful in each one. And I can't forget there was a light up dress. That's right her dress was a screen that played during her song "Change."



I was seriously like a little kid. Just...wow.

She is one of the artists where majority of her songs remind me of a time in my life because they describes everything that a person goes through.

One of her newer songs, "Mama's Song," really does make me emotional. At the concert she had pictures of her and her mom in the background and it definitely reminds me of me and my mom and the special bond we had.

All in all Carrie Underwood is my all time favorite. No question about it and saturday night was a dream come true.

Oh and I even got a pretty sweet shirt 


-The only blocks to success are in your mind, everything around u is an opportunity to grow, express and learn!-