This Week's Happenings...

This week has been super, super busy and full of all kinds of fun things but my Friday is now bogged down with catching up on work and doing loads upon loads of laundry. But I had to sit for a second and blog because I have been ignoring it for far too long and I need to get back into some sort of blogging routine! 

Anyways...

Our week started off by trying out a new church Sunday morning and we absolutely loved it! There are a few others here in town that we've enjoyed but this one had a different feeling... it just felt right. I'm really looking forward to going again this weekend. The rest of the day I helped my hubby with his Fantasy Football... and I'm kind of hooked and I've decided that I'm totally doing it next year! The football fun was a little much for Carson to handle. I looked over and he had his monkey tucked under him taking a nap, haha. That pup is always doing funny things! He entertains me every day! 

Monday was an early morning. B and I got a little baby practice and babysat his cousin's son... he is seriously the cutest, happiest baby I have ever been around! We had a blast and got a little taste of what a day in the life of having a baby will be like... thanks for the practice Christian and Becca ;) 

Tuesday night I went to cheer on my hubby and his softball team. He joined with his cousins and uncle and it's pretty fun to go watch. The wives have matching t-shirts and I think the guys are just having fun with all of it. We're 0-2 but hey... no biggie! I'm feeling a win next week! 

Wednesday night we all went to dinner to Cheesecake Factory (yum!) and B and I came home to this little friend on our back porch window. We named him Fred. He hung out all night and caught pesky bugs but our buddy was gone in the morning. The wildlife that hangs in our neighborhood is crazy... no snake sightings yet so I'm totally fine with it! 

B and I also found this awesome table for our entryway. Thank you HomeGoods! Our house is finally starting to come together and we are so, so happy! 

But the highlight of my week was our doctor appointment yesterday morning. We got to see Baby H and he/she is healthy and growing right along. The doctor was pretty impressed with how long and skinny our baby is... if it's girl, I'm already envisioning leotards, tutu's, and dance shoes ;) I'm 14 weeks tomorrow and time is flying by and we're loving every second of this pregnancy! I'm pretty certain that next month we get to find out boy or girl... we honestly have no preference... we just want a healthy and happy baby! 

Hope y'all had a fantastic week and have an even better weekend!

Happy Friday!

xoxo

What I've Been Up To Lately...

I have been out of the bloggy world for the last several days. Between unpacking, getting to know our new town, and trying to get in some sort of "routine" my blogging has fallen to the wayside. I will try to do better! 

Here's what I've been up to:

Enjoying the Florida life! So far, we're loving this sunshine and warm weather. And having this as our backyard view isn't too shabby either...

Settling into our new home. There's still boxes laying around and we have furniture we still need to purchase but we're really enjoying our new place and we're finally starting to feel at home. I love these bright flowers that I picked up last week...

Getting to know the wildlife has been interesting! One of our first nights here there was a frog in our garage (not a fan!), I've learned to steer clear of fire ants, and I've found some new friends on my nightly walks...

These birds are huge! I'm not sure that this pic does them justice... they come up to may waist!

Between sneaking in some work here and there I've also become a total Olympic junkie... seriously... between the hours of 8:00pm and midnight just assume my television is on and I'm completely zoned out. Love cheering on the USA! 

Have a Happy Monday!

xoxo

Ivy League Shenanigans and Other Random Life Happenings

Hey gals! I have been out of the bloggy world for far, far, far too long. The past couple of weeks have been crazy busy and it's not slowing down anytime soon. In exactly 3 weeks B and I start our road trip to our new home in:

{via}

FLORIDA!!!!

I can not believe that we are moving so soon. In a little over 2 weeks the movers come to pack and load up our apartment so we've just been going through clothes, shoes, books, etc,... to figure out what needs to go with us and what can be donated. We spent the better of this past week cleaning and organizing but Friday night was an exception...

B had his graduation dinner and he is officially finished with his neuroradiology fellowship! It was so, so, so exciting to see him get his certificate and to see all the residents and fellows enjoy a night together. It was at country club here in Connecticut and the weather was absolutely beautiful. There were probably 200 guests... (I had no idea that the department was this huge!) and we enjoyed great wine and yummy food.

B and I had a great time together and with our pals. It is hard to believe that an entire year has already gone by and it's time to pack up and move on. Our group of friends are spreading out all over the country and are headed to some pretty awesome places... New York, Boston, Phoenix, and even Hawaii. We've got some great places to go visit ;) It was a fun night was fun friends but we had to head home early... B was on call the next day. Boo :( Here's just a couple of pics from Friday night. I have some more but will have to dig them up later:

Hope y'all had a great weekend! Happy Monday!

xoxo

It's All About Me...

Wait... no it's not!

Have you ever had a relationship with someone who constantly turns things back around to make it all about them? Or brags about all the "new" things they just bought? Or about how wonderful they are? Or name drop?

It's just constant "me, me,me"!

Now, I think we can all admit that at times we can be guilty of doing this but there are some people who do it ALL THE TIME. B and I are currently dealing with a person like this. I won't lie... this type of behavior was annoying at first but I've decided to turn it around and take it as a lesson for myself. I'm learning how I don't want to be and trying to be an influence on this "said person". It is difficult and frustrating but I'm really hoping and praying that mine and B's beliefs, values, and actions will rub off.

We can all be selfish, we can all be boastful, but I truly feel that B and I are grateful, faithful, and try to always make others feel welcome and loved.

I'm not sure if any of this is making sense.

The Lord teaches us to love one another and forgive sins and this lesson is being taught to me right now! I'm working on letting things go and staying patient and trying to use myself as an example to teach others. I honestly hope I never come across as a "me, me, me" person because, at the end of the day, it's not all about me!

This verse really spoke to me when I read it:

Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

~Philippians 2:3~

My prayers recently have revolved around wanting God to keep B and I in check about making sure the decisions we make, the words that we choose, and the things we do are all "motive free" and selfless.

Easier said than done ;)

Have a Happy Monday ladies!

xoxo

Sometimes, Change is Good

This past week has been a whirlwind. B and I are really starting to get excited about what lies ahead for us. We knew that we were coming to Connecticut for B's one year fellowship and everything after would take shape with God's timing.

Well... things are starting to take shape! It's an interesting time full of excitement, joy, wonder, and anxiety. I'm a planner. I'm the type of person that has a huge calendar that is color coded with mine and my hubby's schedules and appointments, due dates for bills, and important celebrations. I have a weekly planner that is just as colorful as well as a daily "to do" that is always clipped inside. Obsessed much?!?! Yes.. yes, I am. I like the sense of accomplishment that I get when I mark something off my list. Sometimes I'll do a chore that wasn't on the list and I'll add it anyways and then put a check mark next to it! Sad but true and I know I can't be the only strange person that does this ;)

Anyways... B is starting to get interviews lined up and job offers are in the beginning stages. I'm so proud of my husband and all of his hard work. He is so dedicated and I have not met someone who is so passionate about his job. He truly wants to help others and make a difference. Any hospital or practice would be so blessed to have him.

Throughout this process of talking about places we would like to live, we have discussed our "5 year plan". I always laugh when I say this because let's get real, we can make a plan but we have no idea where life is going to lead us or what God has in store for us. Two years ago, I never would have thought that we would be in Connecticut and that B would be studying and working with some of the best physicians in the country. It's amazing how God works and I'm glad that He is in charge because who knows where we would be if it was left up to me and B! We know that we'd like the next move to be a semi-permanent. We'd like to settle down in the next 5 years. We'd like to start talking about starting a family in 5 years. We want to travel. During the next 5 years, we'd like to buy a house. We want to be debt free. We want to build our savings. There's a lot we want to accomplish.

It's overwhelming how quickly time flies by and how quickly the next 5 years will speed by us. It has made me think back and reflect on the last 5 years of my life. So much has changed. At this time, 5 years ago, I was 21. That seems so long ago but yet not that long at all. Does that even make sense?!?! I've lost friends and made new ones. I've dated and been single. I've had different jobs. My family has been through up's and down's. I've lost my favorite grandmother. I've met Brian. I've gotten married. I've had disappointments and I've repaired broken relationships. I taught others and others have taught me.

Point is... my life has changed. I've changed. The only thing that has been a constant in my life is God. I have not always made the best choices. I've made mistakes. Who am I kidding??? I make mistakes everyday. I am guilty of gossiping or getting too caught up in material things or spending too much time making my own plans instead of following to what God has planned for me. But I've changed. In the last 5 years I have grown more confident as a Christian and more confident as a young woman. I have changed from a college girl to a married woman with new priorities and new goals. I handle situations differently today than I did a few years ago. I have changed and I'm still changing.

B and I are constantly changing within our marriage. We have a stronger bond and friendship now than we did when we were married 2 1/2 years ago. We have a more Christ centered relationship than we did the day we were married. And this is all good. To me, that is what marriage is. Growing and learning. We certainly have our differences. I can be uptight and stubborn and sometimes he doesn't listen but at the end of that day we're best friends and we're in this together.

I've learned over the past 5 years to go with the flow and to trust God. He knows what's best. I'm constantly trying to learn more and work on being a better wife, daughter, sister, friend, and person.

I've changed. I've embraced it. I feel so overwhelmed with this beautiful life that the Lord has blessed us with. And I'm so looking forward to the changes that the Lord has in store for me and B.

Sometimes, change is good :)

Had to Jump Ship... again!

I'm so thankful for another day filled with lots & lots of sunshine!

I had to jump ship this morning and leave our apartment... again... because of this:

I reported the problem yesterday morning and the only thing that happened was someone came to look at it and they took a picture to show their boss. They left a note saying this but no one ever got back in touch with me to say when they were coming back or what the plan was to resolve this. I'm hoping when I check back in, this afternoon, it's fixed!

I would stick around but our place isn't that big so I figured it was best to just let them to do their thing and for me to stay out of the way. The maintenance people are great, where we live and I trust them but I was kind of hoping that they would have this fixed already. I just don't want any other problems to arise from this leak so I'm hoping waiting 24 hours hasn't damaged anything else. We shall see!

But, like I said... at least it's a gorgeous day to be outside... could be worse!

Oh... and I have to share something I found:

Isn't this just perfect for my blog?!?! I found it very fitting!

Have a great Tuesday ladies.

xoxo

Oh Irene!

Happy Monday ladies!

I am so thankful that we have such beautiful weather today... I decided to grab my laptop, a good book, and head up to Yale's campus to spend the afternoon outside. This is not at all what I had planned today but... you just gotta go with the flow ;)

I'm sure most of you all heard about this crazy lady Irene and all her drama she brought with her this past weekend... well she brought it but it wasn't too bad up here in New England. B and I kept an eye on the news and weather starting Thursday night. I hadn't really paid much attention to the "hurricane" but when we saw that it really was headed our direction, we figured we should start paying attention! Saturday morning we made a quick trip to the grocery to get some things to hold us through in the event we lost power. Number 1 on our list: Doritos and Diet Pepsi... I'm so not joking! haha :) We had candles and other important items ready to go but really... as long as I have Diet Pepsi, I'm good to go!

Well we waited and waited for Irene to hit us on Saturday. It was gloomy most of the day but by night time that lady still wasn't here soooo... B and I met up with a couple of friends a few blocks away and had a hurricane party. Why stay cooped up?!?! Mom... I'm sorry... we just had to get out!! We were fine ;)

By the time we headed back to the apartment it was raining... and it was raining hard! 5:00 am Sunday morning B and I woke up to LOTS of rain and LOTS of wind. But that's all we got. We were very, very, very, blessed to have kept our power and not have any major damages in the city. Some tree branches and some neighborhoods were w/o power but things were fixed quickly. Oh Irene... you thought you could get us!

Well... here's what we woke up to this morning:

We're assuming that it's just from all the rain and somehow it leaked through from the floor above us. No biggie though... maintenance was called and hopefully they're fixing this minor setback now. That's why today has turned into a day outside of the apartment... and I'm ok with that ;)

Since we were locked up most of the day Sunday, B and I spent time watching lots of DVD's and I found myself on Pinterest more than I would like to admit!

Here's some fun things that I found:

What a fun idea this is for a centerpiece. Smart and practical. Use what you have!

I wish I could pull off this outfit... love the touch of country!

Flowers always bring a smile to my face and brighten up a room!

Why didn't I think of this?!?! The bottom of the glass is dipped in chalkboard and then names painted on... LOVE!

This is just so, so, so true! Best way to live!

Have a great Monday y'all and for those of you who had a run-in with Irene... I hope and pray you're safe and sound :)

xoxo

10 Things I've Learned About Connecticut

Well... we've been here for a lil' over a month and I thought I would share some things that I have learned about my new home:

1. The cost of living in the New England area is A LOT more expensive than what we're used to. Everything is more... rent, gas, taxes, milk. Yes, milk goes for about $4-$5 a gallon. It has taken us a little getting used to but I think we are coping alright so far, haha! I'm looking at this as a lesson that God is teaching us about the value of a dollar. It has definitely made us appreciate our money and helped us maker better decisions in how we spend it. I'm also cooking in a lot more these days ;)

2. The people drive like maniacs here! No joke... I sometimes fear for my life when I'm out driving. They swerve in out and out of traffic like they don't care if they wreck and it makes me SO nervous. I tend to stay in the slow lane and let the others fend for themselves. This fact will also probably explain why our car insurance skyrocketed when we informed our company that we were moving!

3. In order to get anywhere, it is mandatory that you take the interstate. Traffic isn't always bad but there are times when it is bumper to bumper. I'm still getting used to always hopping on the highway to go to the grocery or run a simple errand. It makes me realize that New Circle Road wasn't always that bad!

4. The state of CT, and especially the city of New Haven, is very eco-friendly. I love this... makes me more environmentally aware. If B and I want to run an errand and it's downtown, we walk. Why take the car? Our entire apartment building is eco-friendly too. Our electric bills are ridiculously cheap ( that's about the only thing!!) It's amazing and very refreshing to live in this sort of environment.

5. The people here are NICE!! I was so excited to move here but there was a small part of me that really wondered if I would ever fit in. You know... the whole Yankee/ Southern thing. Not the case!! B and I have met some of the nicest, most helpful people and they have all made us feel very welcome. We have found some great conversations with complete strangers who have lived here for years and I'm always so interested to hear about their life here in New England. Of course... they all love my "accent" and immediately want to know where I'm from, haha! I'm proud to tell them that I'm a KY girl ;)

6. It's illegal to talk and drive. That's right... no phone while driving. No texting, no calling,... I wasn't aware of this until I saw a billboard on the highway... while I was on the phone. Oops!

7. There are some GREAT restaurants! We've had the best pizza from Frank Pepe's ( I can see why it is a legend!!), the best seafood, the best fresh fruit, the best cheesecake, I could keep going but now I'm just making myself hungry.

8. There is always something to do. I was out walking last Wednesday and I stumbled upon a sidewalk Farmer's Market with a live band playing across from them. Friday nights, in the green across from our building, they have a free movie night. There are several beaches and state parks close by. You can go antiquing, to an aquarium, wine tasting, see a play, listen to music at a coffee house, read at the library,... the list goes on and on. I'm thankful we are in a vibrant city with lots to offer.

9. Here in New Haven... Yale reigns supreme. Store windows are full of anything and everything to do with Yale. There is a sense of pride here and B and I are proud to join in. You already see signs up around campus for the elite and heavily rivaled Yale/ Harvard football game. People are already talking about it... it is a lot of fun to be a part of! I love walking around campus with B and admiring the outstanding architecture of the campus and the sense of history that is brought to life here. I'm beyond thankful that God brought here so that B gets this incredible training and so that we are exposed to this amazing area.

10. I love it here! B loves it here! We knew we would probably like it but we were surprised at how quickly we settled in and called this home. The summers are gorgeous and I'm secretly awaiting the fall time. And yes... I'm looking forward to the winter days here. The snow, the cold, a blizzard or two... I don't care! The winter's may be harsh but it so worth it to turn around and see spring and summer in CT. What a beautiful cycle of seasons... I'm happy to be here and to be able to go through this experience. I'm not sure what God has in store for us after B's fellowship comes to a close but I have a feeling we would be just fine sticking around here for a lil' while longer ;)

Lots of love ladies... I'm going to go enjoy this Connecticut sunshine!

xoxo

Weekend Update

I don't know about y'all but... this weekend went by WAY too fast!

The hubby and I had a great time though.

Our weekend started off late Friday night (B had to stay at the hospital for several procedures that had been bumped to the end of the day... boo) with appetizers and cocktails at a local bar/ restaurant. We haven't really explored a lot of restaurants and nightlife so it was fun to get dressed up and head out for a relaxed evening together. There was live music and I was so happy to have a date night with B :)

Saturday morning came too early. B had to work that day (again... boo!) but we were able to meet for lunch and I spent the afternoon walking around downtown and seeing some cute, fun shops that line our streets. Then we had takeout Chinese and some Frasier on DVD for dinner haha

Sunday was an amazing day! We were going to try out a new church but we accidentally missed the time... my poor time management... next week we WILL make it! haha ;) We grabbed breakfast at our fav spot, Panera and headed out to Cheshire for some fresh berry picking. We picked blueberries and fresh peaches... yum! It was absolutely beautiful and we had so much fun. After a run to the grocery and a yummy homemade meal, we set out for a hike to the top of East Rock Park. It was so nice to get out and enjoy one of Connecticut's many gorgeous parks. I had no idea how lovely this state was and I fall in love with it even more each day.

Here's some pics from yesterday's adventures:

Happy Monday ladies!

xoxo

Lots to Do!

Happy Monday!

I hope everyone had an awesome weekend... I know I did :) My weekend was filled with lots of work, family time, and packing. Only 9 more days until we pack up and move. I can NOT believe it. I know I've said it a thousand times but time really has flown by and I know these next few days will be a blur.

I feel like my "to do" list just keeps growing by the minute!

Today is a rainy day here in the Bluegrass so I'm hoping to get a few things done around the house and sort through some odds and ends that are still laying around here. A good book may be on the agenda too... the absolute best way to spend a rainy afternoon!

I guess I should do a lil' bit of this as well...

I'm literally just staring at the massive piles of clothes staring at me right now... lots to do!

I have a love/hate relationship with laundry ;)

Have a great Monday ladies...

xoxo