What I'm Loving Wednesday

Happy Wednesday y'all!

Here's what I'm loving today!

I'm loving that I got to spend Christmas with my wonderful family!

They mean so much to me.

I'm loving my best Christmas present EVER!!

What are you loving this week?

Hope everyone has a wonderful Wednesday!

Santa Came Early

Hey y'all!

It has been forever since I've blogged last.

For that I'm truly sorry.

But I'm happy to report that school is officially out for the holidays, and I couldn't be happier!

And I got two A's and two B's to show for it so I'm pretty pleased.

So I thought I'd get back into the swing of things and show you some pictures from around my house at Christmas time!

I may be a little obsessed with my garland ;)

Seriously, it's my favorite!

The tree.

The poinsettia arrangement I made last Christmas

I love making my ribbon bows!

And now let me show you what Santa brought me a little early....

A new puppy!!

Isn't he a little cutie?!

He's a long-haired chihuahua!

Name to come soon.

We all remember what a hard time I had deciding on a name for D'Artagnan :)

Hope everyone has a great Monday!

Black Friday

All that went Black Friday shopping raise your hands.

*slowly raises hand*

I admit it.

I was in a ridiculously long line at Target with my mom and sister at 11:45 p.m. on Thursday night.

But I didn't do it to fight other people over merchandise.

I did it for the bonding with my family.

However, I thought I'd share an article I found about the crazies that did!!

{via}

In Los Angeles, authorities said a woman shot pepper spray to keep shoppers from merchandise she wanted during a Black Friday sale, and 20 people suffered minor injuries.The incident occurred shortly after 10:20 p.m. Thursday in a crowded Walmart as shoppers hungry for deals were let inside the store.

Police said the suspect shot the pepper spray when the coverings over electronics items she wanted were removed.

"Somehow she was trying to use it to gain an upper hand," police Lt. Abel Parga told The Associated Press early today.

Parga said police were still looking for the woman. The store remained open and those not affected by the pepper spray continued shopping.

This is only one of the stories in the article, but I found this to be hilarious!

Luckily, I was not at that Walmart!

You can find the full article HERE.

Saying Goodbye

Yesterday I had to do one of the hardest things I've ever had to do.

I had to say goodbye to Youri.

It was so sudden.

One minute he was fine.

The next he wasn't.

I noticed on Tuesday night that he was having a hard time breathing.

Through Wednesday it started sounding worse.

Yesterday I took him to the vet.

When I went to bed Wednesday night,

I didn't realize that was the last night he'd sleep with me in my bed.

When I took him out of the house that morning,

I didn't know it was going to be the last time he was there.

I thought I'd be bringing him home.

A couple hours after dropping him off the vet called.

She said that his lips were turning purple because he wasn't getting enough oxygen.

She said that they had put him in an oxygen box, and that he was doing well in there.

But it was only temporary.

They tried giving him medicine to open his airways and an antibiotic to try to get any fluid out of his lungs.

But he didn't respond to them.

They told me the best thing I could do was to put him to sleep.

They said that if I didn't, he would end up suffocating to death.

So yesterday at 5:30 p.m. I did the only thing that I knew to do, and I let him go.

I can't help but to think that all the abuse he went through caused this.

He was only 9.

I just can't believe he's not here.

I can't believe it happened so fast.

I can't believe that when I get ready to go down to Charleston for drill this weekend,

there won't be a little dog running along side of me making sure I don't forget him.

I couldn't believe he wasn't there when I woke up this morning.

As I was telling him goodbye, I sang this song to him.

I used to sing this song to him often.

He was so misunderstood by so many people.

But I loved him despite it all.

And I miss him terribly.

Thankful Thursday: Thoughts on Thanksgiving

Happy Thursday y'all!

Today for Thankful Thursday I want to share some of my thoughts on Thanksgiving.

I hope it's not too controversial.

Around this year I hear a lot of comments like this:

"I can't believe they're playing Christmas music. It's not even Thanksgiving yet!!"

"They're putting out Christmas stuff before they've even taken down stuff from Halloween!"

"It seems like everyone just forgets about Thanksgiving these days and jumps straight to Christmas."

I love Thanksgiving.

I really do.

I love the time with family.

I love the message it sends.

I love the food!!

But is there a reason that Thanksgiving is any less Thanksgiving with Christmas music on the radio?

Or stores with Christmas decorations up?

I don't necessarily think these things should detract from Thanksgiving at all.

I just fail to see how these things should stand in anyone's way of being thankful and celebrating Thanksgiving.

Do these things really prevent anyone from sitting around the table on Thanksgiving and being thankful?

I can think of things a lot bigger that Christmas that might stand between people and being thankful.

But moreover, thankfulness should be something that happens every day of the year.

Not just at Thanksgiving.

I personally think the holiday should serve as a reminder of all the things that you have in your life to be thankful for year round.

So yes I have been thinking of what to give others for Christmas.

I have thought about Christmas cards and scanned lots of Christmas decorations at the store.

I have listened to Christmas music on Pandora already!

And I will still be thankful on Thanksgiving.

As I will be every day.

What are you thankful for today?

Link up and let us know!

It's A Love Story Baby Just Say Yes: Part 2

Surviving The Distance

If you missed part 1 of our love story, you can find it HERE.

Chris graduated from Winthrop in May of 2007.

I was just getting started with my degree.

In the Fall of 2007 I was starting my sophomore year.

Chris was still working at the restaurant he had been working at before he graduated, but was steady looking for other work.

During this time, I was very unhappy at school.

I didn't like what I was studying.

A degree in fitness/wellness.

I started asking myself, "What in the world am I ever going to do with a degree in fitness?"

"I could be a personal trainer."

"But I could do that without a degree."

I also wasn't getting along with my roommate.

I loved having Chris' house to go to as an escape to get away from it all.

College was the first time I had ever been away from home.

It was nice to have an actual house to go to and spend time at when school got overwhelming.

During that semester, Chris hit me with the news that he had been offered a job in Hilton Head, and that he wanted to take it.

Six hours away from where I went to school.

I was devastated.

There went my escape from school.

There went my best friend.

There went the last thing holding me at Winthrop.

When I came home for Christmas break, I told my parents that I didn't want to go back to school.

I begged them not to make me go.

Without Chris there, I didn't really have anything to be there for.

I hated my major.

I fought all the time with my roommate.

I was miserable.

It was really hard on my parents, but they let me make my own decision.

In January 2008, I came back home to live in Charleston with my parents,

and Chris started his new job in Hilton Head.

The distance was rough.

Chris worked during the day, when I was off of work.

I worked at night when Chris was off of work.

It was hard to communicate.

Chris worked a lot of weekends, as did I, and it was hard to find time to visit each other.

We fought, a lot.

All the time.

There were times when one of us or both of us wanted to give up.

Chris was struggling making enough money to live in Hilton Head, so he ended up moving back to Rock Hill within a year of leaving.

This move still put us at the same distance as if he was in Hilton Head.

When we visited each other,

everything would be great.

But then we'd go back home and fall into our same rut.

Arguing.

Fighting.

About every little thing you could possible imagine.

I told you in Part 1 that 3 months into our relationship, Chris had told me that he wanted to marry me.

When April of 2009 came and I still didn't have a ring

(almost 3 years later),

I decided I needed to find a way to take care of myself.

So I joined the Army.

I figured it was time to stop waiting on an engagement that might never happen,

and it was time to do something for myself.

This was a defining moment for our relationship.

As much distance as we had already survived,

this was the ultimate test.

I don't really have a lot of pictures of us from this time because we literally spent so little time together.

So I'll leave you with this one :)

This was taken on a weekend visit when we went down to the aquarium for the day.

Stay tuned for Part 3!

Thankful Thursday

Happy Thursday y'all!

Here's what I'm thankful for today!

I'm thankful to see my hard work pay off.

On Monday, I had a HUGE Chemistry test.

I thought I was without a doubt ready for it.

I studied.

I did the homework multiple times.

I went to my teacher for help.

I asked questions.

I felt good about the practice test my teacher put out.

And then I took the test.

And I thought I failed.

I went home that night upset.

I felt like,

"Why did I even bother to work so hard if none of it was going to pay off anyway?

I felt like the test wasn't a good judge of how well I knew the material.

Not to mention my grade really couldn't have afforded me to fail this test.

Well yesterday I got my test back.

And I don't know how I did it,

but I got a 90!!

So thankful!!


What are you thankful for today?

Link up and let us know!!

No pictures. No fluff. Just writing.

I just thought that I would check in and let y'all know that, yes, I am still alive.

Shocker right?!

I've been super busy.

School is literally kicking my butt this semester.

I think I took one too many sciences.

I don't have time to do anything but study.

Most nights when I go to bed I feel like I haven't even seen Chris.

When he gets home and has some down time, I have to be in the other room preparing for my upcoming assignments and tests.

My week this week this week looks like this:

Monday:

-Physiology Lecture quiz

-Physiology Lab quiz

-Chemistry Lecture Exam

Tuesday:

-Zoology Lecture Exam

Wednesday:

-Physiology Lecture Exam

Then maybe I can breathe.

For like, a minute.

I keep telling myself that it will be worth it in the end.

That if I can just make it for 4 more weeks, I'll be done for the semester.

I hope so.

Oh, and did I mention that I've given up on everything else besides school?

Like my house?

Yea...I gave up on cleaning the house.

It just gets dirty again.

And I will try and wear every last thing I own before I do a load of laundry.

I don't have to worry about cooking.

Because I don't have time to eat.

And if it comes down between eating and sleeping,

I'm choosing the sleep.

Because that's something that I don't get to do often anymore either.

And I've lost an insane amount of weight from simply forgetting/choosing sleep over/not having time to eat.

**Disclaimer: I would be totally kidding y'all and myself if I didn't give credit to how amazing Chris has been at helping me with all those things like cleaning, cooking, ect.**

Anyway, I just thought I would let y'all know how much I miss y'all!

And thank you for the sweet emails checking on me :)

My blog family truly is the best!!

Thankful Thursday

Happy Thursday y'all!

It's time for Thankful Thursday!

Just some words to live by on being thankful:

What are you thankful for today?

Link up and let us know!

What I'm Loving Wednesday

Happy Wednesday y'all!

Here's what I'm loving today!

I'm loving the beautiful Fall weather we've been having!

I'm loving how extra cooperative my hair has been since the weather has cooled down some!

Why can't my hair always behave this well?!

I'm loving that I'm seeing some results from all my late night studying. Yesterday I got back a 104 on a Chemistry quiz and a 91 on my Zoology exam.

You may remember that Chemistry isn't my best subject so I'm extra proud of that one :)

I'm loving burning my Fall Yankee Candles!

They're my favorite :)

{via}

What are you loving this week?

Thankful Thursday

Happy Thursday y'all!

Here's what I'm thankful for this week.

I'm thankful for my sister Michelle.

It's her 20th birthday today!!

My sister is my best friend.

We've been through a lot together.

A lot of fights.

A lot of makeups.

A few broken hearts.

Lots of tears.

Lots of laughs.

She knows more about me than just about anyone.

She knows what I'm good at.

What I suck at.

What my favorite food is.

What I'm scared of.

And she loves me through it all.

She's the person I can tell anything to.

Who is always there to listen.

Who always offers her advice.

Who would do anything for me.

And who I would do all those things for in return.

I couldn't have been given a greater blessing in this life

than that of my sister.

And for that, I'm thankful.

Happy Birthday Michelle!! I love you!!

What are you thankful for today?

Link up and let us know!

What I'm Loving Wednesday

Happy Wednesday y'all!

It feels sooo good to blog again!

And that's just one of the things I'm loving this week :)

I'm loving that I got some much needed rest over Fall break! I think schools must seriously know when we're all about to lose our minds because I don't think I could have done it for one more day!!

I'm loving that my mom and my sister got to come visit me for a couple of days. It has been awhile since we've all been able to get together at the same time.

I'm loving Youri's Halloween pajamas! He looks so cute in them, and I got them really cheap at Target :)

I'm loving that I won the super, awesome giveaway for the stuffed pumpkins from PidgApeg Cottage! They're so cute, and I can't wait to add them to my Fall decor!

I'm loving my cute new boots! And right in time for it to cool down this week :)

{via}

What are you loving this week?

Hope everyone has a wonderful Wednesday!

Thankful Thursday

Happy Thursday y'all!

This week I'm especially thankful for sleep!

Sleep is something I've definitely taken for granted.

This week in school has been especially tough.

It's the week before Fall break, so all the teachers are getting their tests in this week.

This week I had 2 quizzes, 3 tests, and I still have one more test to go today.

Yesterday I had 2 tests; one in each of my hardest subjects.

I was literally up ALL night!

So at 6:00 a.m. I had already been up for 24 hours, and my day didn't end until 5:00 p.m.!

This is what my all-nighter looked like:

Complete craziness!

So today I'm thankful that my first class isn't until 2:00 p.m. today so I have some much needed down time.

And I'm thankful that last night I got sleep!!

What are you thankful for today?

Link up and let us know!

It's A Love Story Baby Just Say Yes: Part 1

So awhile ago I was writing a 50 things post, and I asked y'all what are some things y'all wanted to know about me.

And I got an overwhelming response for people wanting to know about Chris and me!
I thought it was perfect timing since Chris and I just celebrated 5 years together!
We haven't been married for 5 years we've just been together for 5 years :)

Chris and I first met in September of 2006 at Winthrop University.
It was really by chance!
Chris had stayed a semester longer at college, and I had decided to go to Winthrop at the last minute!
I had made some new friends my first month at school, and one Wednesday evening we walked across campus to meet some friends of theirs to hang out at their house for a little while.

And that was the first time I saw him.
My friends and I were all sitting on the front porch of the house visiting, and he was on the other side of the porch reading the newspaper.
He didn't really say a lot, and the whole time I was with my friends I couldn't help staring!
He was sooo cute!! :)

So that evening came and went without so much as a word spoken between us except that we were introduced to each other.
He was introduced to me as "Garrison" which was a nickname that was given to him by his friends since there were so many Chris's around.

The next evening my friends and I went to a get together at a friend's house.
I didn't realize it then, but Chris was there too.
My friends left me alone for a minute to go to the bathroom, and that's when Chris came up to me.
We ended up talking the whole night!
(Later I would find out how shy Chris really is, and how out of character it was for him to make the first move and approach me making it even more by chance!)

That night no numbers were exchanged or anything, so I figured it was a pretty slim chance that we'd bump into each other anymore.
Not to mention that I was going home for the weekend.
Campus really cleared out over the weekends, so if we were going to bump into each other, that would have been our best bet.
Not to mention I thought that he'd probably forget all about the little ol' Freshman that he'd met on Thursday by the time the weekend was over ;)

So I went home that weekend.
The weekend came and went, and of course, I didn't hear from him.
I got back to campus Sunday night, and when I was unpacking my things I got a phone call from a friend of mine. I didn't know it, but he also knew Chris.
He had been hanging out with Chris that night, and they got to talking and my friend realized that Chris was talking about me.
As it turns out, Chris had been trying unsuccessfully to get my information all weekend!
My friend gave Chris the phone, and we exchanged our numbers and Facebook information so we would know how to get in contact with each other.

After that night, there wasn't a day that went by that I didn't talk to or see Chris.
We started seeing each other, but we decided that we would just see how it went.
We didn't want to label ourselves as together too quickly since we didn't really know each other.
We gave each other the freedom to see other people if we wanted to, but neither one of us did :)

After about 3 weeks of seeing each other, lots of late night phone calls, dinner and movie dates, and spending time together, we finally made it official :)

This is the first picture we ever took together!
We weren't even dating yet here :)

After we had been dating for a few months, Chris asked me to go with him to his fraternity's formal.

Of course, as a Freshman, this was a HUGE deal to go to formal with my super cute Senior boyfriend ;)

It was the first big thing that I had gone with to him, and I was a little nervous to be introduced to all of his friends! I just felt so young being right out of high school.

Although I thought it was definitely a good sign that he was proud enough of me to take me to a big event and show me off :)

Our relationship got serious faster than most I would say.

We had only been dating a couple of months before he told me that he knew that I was the person he was going to marry.

In fact, he even told my parents!

Not sure how they felt about that at the time :)

Here are some pictures from the beginning of our relationship!

Side note:

How about how I'd forgotten that I was at one time skinny!

What happened?!

And how can I go back??!!

Anyway...

That's the story of our happy beginnings!

Be on the lookout for part 2 where I'll talk about when our relationship became long distance, and the struggles that came with it!