28 Years of Will

Today is the National Holiday known to folks around here as Will's birthday.  Today, my favorite guy turns 28 years old.  There's so much I can say about you, John William, but words don't do you justice.

The first thing that anyone who meets you will notice is your infectious smile, laughter, and goofy sense of humor.  You love to tell jokes, and can entertain a room for hours.  You certainly know how to work a crowd, Bubbaloo.  

You're so sensitive and caring.  I think you got that from our grandfather.  It's a trait found in a lot of his kids. Your mother certainly had a big part in that too, don't get me wrong.  We really lucked out when it comes to parents.  Don't ever forget that.

The most impressive trait about you, Will, is your capacity for unconditional love.  You have an open heart, and are free and willing to share it with anyone that comes your way.  I honestly can say that I don't think I've ever heard the word hate cross your lips.  It's a concept so foreign to you, that you don't need it in your vocabulary.  You have taught me so much about loving and accepting people for what they are.  You truly have a gift in that respect.

Your unconditional heart and friendly nature makes it so hard to not be overprotective of you.  You are the one person I cannot stand to see upset.  It slays me.  You don't understand why people hurt each other, and that is a wonderful anomaly. We could all stand to trust and love each other a little more.

Will, you are my brother first, and I am always on your side.  The doors you have opened for our family to put some good out into the world have all been in your honor.  You are the reason that we campaign for the things we do.   You challenge us to use our God given talents to do the best we can while we're here. 

I can't ever forget that June 5th is your birthday, we start planning the day after Christmas.  You really love to celebrate!  And as always, I won't forget that I am an old lady.  You definitely won't let me forget that one, much to my dismay.

I remember before you were born, I was so excited for your arrival that I named my goldfish after you.  You certainly did not disappoint in continuing that excitement.  Everyday with you is an adventure and you certainly keep us on our toes.  My favorite conversations with Mom revolve around recounting your antics.  My favorite is the time you hid in the ice cooler at Kroger with a gorilla mask and jumped out and scared people when they opened the door. 

You were named after both you grandfathers, and man, you have lived up to that legacy!  They were two great men, and you continue to embody their spirits. You are a humanitarian, deep thinker, and have an extremely adventurous spirit.  They would be so proud of who you are today.  

Bubbaloo, I don't think I could love you anymore than I do, but I'm sure show me how.  Happy birthday, eat some dessert, and make Dad take you wherever you want in Florida today! 

Love you so much!!!

Random Rambling Post, or I have nothing exciting to report...

So, here's some insight into the weirdness that is me.  I'm going to share some of my most bizarre and annoying quirks.  Forgive me if they are repeats...

1.  Things left on counters makes me bat shit crazy.

{This is a Google image.  Let me tell you, some weird stuff come up when I searched this...}

2. Water rings.  When I was in college, my nickname was Coaster Nazi.  You can't make this shit up.

Has anyone tried this mayo trick from Pinterest?  Let me know, because mayonnaise grosses me out and I don't want to have to look at it if I don't have to.

3. My favorite thing to do on a Sunday afternoon is to organize closets and the basement.  It actually makes me sad that the basement is pretty much finished.  

For some reason my closets never turn out like this pin.  Maybe because my house is about 60 years old and is in desperate need of a remodel to the master suite.  One day...

4. I love cooking beef tenderloin.  Seriously, my favorite dish in the world to make.  This wouldn't be weird if I actually ate beef.  But I do not.  I hate it.  Love cooking it though...because I am strange.

That's all I can think of right now.  I'm sure my friends could make a much longer list...  Happy Hump Day!

Vagabonding Ways

Someone once told me that the best way to live positively and remain focused is to concentrate on working towards the goal of a really awesome vacation.  I've been dreaming of Europe for months now, and I absolutely cannot stand to not take any action anymore. 

I've decided that next spring or summer, I'm heading back to Europe.  I spent a month there after college visiting over 15 different cities and eating all the fromage et pain c'est possible.  My French sucks, FYI.  

It took me a few years to get over the homesickness that I experienced while I was there, but I've always wanted to go back and see some other places that I didn't get to.

My list of travel stops is ever growing, and I think it's time to get it together and start seeing some of them!  Plus, one of my dearest and oldest friends lives in Paris, so I'm dying to see the city with a local guide (and a much better camera!)

Now, where else to go?  Here are my first choices:

Fira, Santori

Kefalonia Island, Assos

Pamukkale, Turkey

Neuscwanstein Castle, Bavaria

Prague, Czech Republic

Salzburg, Austria

 Vienna, Austria

Obviously, if I'm in Europe for two weeks, I'm not going to be able to hit all of these places.  Any recommendations on which to narrow it down to?  I think Prague is going to be a definite, so maybe Austria too?  We'll see.  For now, it's time to seriously save some money.  So no more shoes for awhile.  Bummer.

What's on your travel bucket list?

The Great Outdoors

Memorial Day weekend I had a wave of panic because MOSQUITOES.  Y'all the mosquitoes here are atrocious.  They will make your magical backyard BBQ or an evening sipping wine a total flop.  So my quest to Lowe's and about a dozen other herb selling vendors began early Saturday morning.

Here's what I planted in my back yard pots:

Sage

Lemon Thyme

Creeping Thyme

Mosquito Plant (very original naming, dicovering botanist guy)

Basil

Rosemary

Mint

Cilantro

Lavendar

I arranged the various herbs according to sunlight specifications and whatnot.  Here's the finished products, which Riley promptly knocked over that evening.

 

Black pots courtesy of Garden Ridge, my least favorite place on Earth.  Seriously, that place makes me cringe.  Anyway, moving on.

At some point that day I decided I needed new patio furniture.  We like to eat dinner outside and the tiny bar top style table I had just doesn't cut it for more than two people.  I found a great table on sale at World Market, but alas the benches and chairs weren't on sale.  So I got two benches and chairs from a different set that WERE on sale.  I know that doesn't seem like rocket science, but I get kinda crazy about stuff being matchey-matchey.  Don't get me started on how the two different couches in the family room are making me nuts.  Soooo, I felt like kind of a rock star for saving some serious money on new patio furniture.

I had previously replaced the cushions earlier in the season, so all I needed were cushions for the benches.  Found those bad boys at Garden Ridge.  About $150 less than the ones at World Market, and matched my existing stuff better anyway.

So here's the finished product!  I'm pretty pleased with myself, and can't wait until there's a fence and a deck.  That's a next year project, though.  Along with a concrete driveway.  I cannot explain how much it kills me to have an asphalt driveway when my family owns a concrete company. 

Anyway, so that's the back yard.  Soon I'll get the front yard makeover posted.  It's super cute!  Have a great week, y'all!

Five on Friday!

It's Friday! It's Friday!  It's Friday!  For some reason this day could not get here soon enough.  I just have been looking forward to this weekend more so than usual.  Nothing exciting planned, just glad to be home for a couple days.

Without further ado, I'm joining Natasha, Christina, April, and Darci for another week of my favorite five things!

1.  Replacing my bedroom furniture!  My aunt turned me on to this lacquer spray paint to turn old furniture into new looking furniture.  I can't wait to try it on this piece!  I think this one will be navy.  We'll see!

2. No plans this weekend except celebrating the birth of my favorite guy!

3.  I'm one week away from my best friend's baby shower, and I can't wait to show you guys how it turns out!  And of course to celebrate her and the infamous Button!

4.  I found a playlist on Spotify last night that includes all my old Motown favorites.  I am a sucker for some Four Tops and Marvin Gaye.  I rocked that playlist the entire commute home and the entire commute to work this morning!

5.  This book.  I read this book in it's entirety on Wednesday day night and have been exhausted ever since.  But it was a great read!  So entertaining with a great ending.  I just couldn't put it down!

Hope everyone, myself included, has a great and restful weekend!  See ya on Monday!

A Memorable Memorial Day Weekend

I am loving that it is Tuesday!!!  I could get used to the whole four day work week thing!  How about you?  This weekend went by in a flash, but man was it a good one!

Here are the highlights!

{Boating with the Captain on Sunday}

{Boating again on Monday}

{Our new butterfly friend!}

{Second dinner at the new table!}

New patio furniture and pots!  Woo hoo!  I'll go more into this one day.

I hope everyone had a great three day weekend!  Thank you to those that gave up everything so that I could enjoy my freedom.  Hug your babies and family often.  Love y'all!

Five on Friday!

It's been another busy week, but I feel like I've gotten quite a bit done.  I'm really excited I've finally had time to take care of some home maintenance stuff this week.  So without further ado, I'm linking up with Natasha, Darci, Christina, and April for my five favorite things this week!

1.  Glass block windows being installed in my basement.  Since we moved in last year, the basement has been leaking around the tilt-in windows during every hard rain.  I've been meaning to get the windows replaced since about last September, but things get in the way.  Like Game of Thrones.  Or wine.  

Anyway, I've finally gotten some estimates and cannot wait to get those bad boys installed!  Thank goodness my basement isn't finished.  Yet.

2.  Wallpaper in the master bath!!!  I have had the wallpaper for my master bathroom sitting in my office since December and haven't even thought about hanging until about a week ago.  I'm finally getting it put up soon and the master bath will be complete!  Here's the wallpaper:

{Crappy internet photo...ugh.  Super cute in person.}

3.  Memorial Day Weekend!!!  I don't have a lot of plans until Sunday when one of my best girls and her fiancee come to visit.  We'll be boating and imbibing fun cocktails on the water for those two days!

Might have to make one of these to drink, too!

{Strawberry Lime Spritzer via Peas and Crayons blog}

4.  Boat/Patriotic/Navy Clothes!  It has been brought to my attention that I dress like I'm always getting ready to go yachting.  I don't disagree.  It comes in handy for weekends like this one, though.  I'm thinking I need some of these.  Especially the earrings.

And I definitely need those Kate Spade shoes.  Like a hole in the head.  Ha.

5.  This is an oldie, but a goody.  It still breaks me out into a fit of uncontrollable giggles.

I'm laughing out loud at my desk right now.  People are staring.  Anyway...

Hope everyone has an awesome holiday weekend and takes a moment to remember and honor those that this holiday celebrates!  Thank you to our fallen soldiers and their families, for all you have given up.

And also, go 'merica!!!