This week has been an absolute struggle for me. It seems like stress hit me in all directions this week. However, my main struggle has been living so far away from some of my friends. Three out of my six bridesmaids now live out of state. Two of those dear friends had major life “experiences” this week. One had a very happy experience and the other one had a not so happy experience. One got engaged and the other has been preparing to say goodbye to a precious loved one. It has literally broken my heart to not physically be there for both of them. They have both been there for me during the good and the bad and it has hurt deeply not to be there for them. I know this is just part of life but it has honestly surprised me how consuming my heartbreak has been. I’ve always known I have some of the best friends in the world but this week has proven once again how much they mean to me. I don’t know if it comes from being an only child and knowing that these girls are the closest I will ever have to sisters. And they too know that as well because they are also only children. (Side note: not really sure what that says about us. Maybe we don’t play well with others still? Ha ha!) But I honestly don’t know if sisters love each other as much as I love my sweet friends. I hope that this heartache passes soon and that I will be able to physically be there for them in the future.
Please pray for my friend who is preparing to say goodbye to a family member.
Settling In
We've been in our new home two weeks now and have loved each minute of it. I am very proud to say that last Saturday we officially unpacked our last box and everything is in its place. We even have both cars in the garage. We could not have got so much done though if it wasn't for our awesome moving crew. Big thanks to Bill, Nancy, Keith, Terri and my dad. I don't know how we would have done it without you all. As far as decorating goes, I am almost finished. I am on the search for some new window treatments for some of the rooms. I am having a hard time finding ones that I just love. I did find some awesome roman shades for the kitchen from JcPenny.com. And of course my coupon cutting husband saved me some money on them as well. I can't wait to get them in. I will eventually like to paint some of the rooms but for the time being everything works and works well.
Now on my to-do list is plan for our housewarming party. I can't wait. If you have any ideas please shoot them my way.
Moving Week
I am so excited. It is officially moving week for the Painter family. We close on Wednesday afternoon and move in on Saturday. I cannot wait to get into our first home. We are very fortunate that this house is turnkey ready. I do want to paint the living room and two of the bedrooms sometime but thankfully all the colors in the house are neutral. I just want to make it my own. For all of you who follow me on pineterest I am sorry I am filling up your feed with all my for the home pins.
G and I have used this weekend to pack as much as we can possibly stand and go through things. I don’t normally think of myself or G as a pack rat (except for G and his clothes but that is another story) but I am afraid some people would consider us hoarders after some of the things we found. For example this is just a small portion of some of things we found that either went to the dumpster or goodwill: floppy disk, a syllabus from a political science course from sophomore year, a laptop that hasn’t worked in 4 years, every owner’s manual from everything we’ve ever owned, old textbooks, one million pony tail holders stashed away in almost every drawer of our townhouse, at least 10 coolers, old license plates, old drivers licenses, and about a million mugs. And sadly this is our second round of purging things. My parents came up last weekend and house sat and went through a lot of our items then. I am determined to make our house as clutter free as possible. If we haven’t used it yet more than likely we will never use it.
Can’t wait to share pictures of our first home.
G and I have used this weekend to pack as much as we can possibly stand and go through things. I don’t normally think of myself or G as a pack rat (except for G and his clothes but that is another story) but I am afraid some people would consider us hoarders after some of the things we found. For example this is just a small portion of some of things we found that either went to the dumpster or goodwill: floppy disk, a syllabus from a political science course from sophomore year, a laptop that hasn’t worked in 4 years, every owner’s manual from everything we’ve ever owned, old textbooks, one million pony tail holders stashed away in almost every drawer of our townhouse, at least 10 coolers, old license plates, old drivers licenses, and about a million mugs. And sadly this is our second round of purging things. My parents came up last weekend and house sat and went through a lot of our items then. I am determined to make our house as clutter free as possible. If we haven’t used it yet more than likely we will never use it.
Can’t wait to share pictures of our first home.
The Tradition Continues
I am very proud to say that these 2 lovely ladies and I have rang in the New Year the past 7 YEARS IN A ROW. We were determined not to let anything stop us from caring on the tradition this year. And I mean nothing. Not sickness in our families, the purchase of a new home or the 300+ miles that now is between us. I am beyond thankful for these two girls. They have been there through the thick and thin and know me better than I do myself at times.
Oh yeah, it was also the 7th year I have celebrated the New Year with this guy. Our second date was NYE.
Oh yeah, it was also the 7th year I have celebrated the New Year with this guy. Our second date was NYE.
Our Journey in 2011.... Looking Back
2011 proved to be a pretty great year. Here are just a few highlights.
· Celebrated many birthdays with family and friends, including my mom’s 50th
· Received a promotion at work
· Greyson’s new job at HCA
· A few of our friends were blessed with babies
· Traveled to St. Simmons for a wonderful family vacation
· My best friend got married
· Bought our first home
Below is a link for some pictures to go along with the highlights. At the first of 2011, I decided I wanted to document our lives by doing a scrapbook each year. I guess you could think of it as a family yearbook. I am very proud of myself that I kept up with it each month and now at the start of a new year I have a photo book to look back and reflect on 2011. I used Shutterfly to compose my book just because it is simple to use and they always have great sales. Hope you enjoy.
Happy New Year!
· Celebrated many birthdays with family and friends, including my mom’s 50th
· Received a promotion at work
· Greyson’s new job at HCA
· A few of our friends were blessed with babies
· Traveled to St. Simmons for a wonderful family vacation
· My best friend got married
· Bought our first home
Below is a link for some pictures to go along with the highlights. At the first of 2011, I decided I wanted to document our lives by doing a scrapbook each year. I guess you could think of it as a family yearbook. I am very proud of myself that I kept up with it each month and now at the start of a new year I have a photo book to look back and reflect on 2011. I used Shutterfly to compose my book just because it is simple to use and they always have great sales. Hope you enjoy.
Happy New Year!
Click here to view this photo book larger
Merry, Merry Christmas
On Wednesday night, Greyson and I put an offer on our first home and it was accepted!!! We are so excited and thankful for God's provision. We can't make this house our home. If all goes well we will close on January 11 and move in that weekend. Let the packing and purging begin. Prayers are appreciated for us first time home buyers. The experience has been pretty great so far. If you follow me on Pinterest I am sorry for all my “For the Home” pins. I just can’t wait to decorate. We are beyond thrilled with our first house.
Crockpot Comfort
Easy Hamburger Vegetable Soup
My next door neighbor growing up always made her hamburger vegetable soup for me every winter. It was one of my favorites. When I moved off to college I e-mailed her for the recipe. It is such an easy and hearty meal in the winter. But like all my recipes I have tweaked it and made it my own… although I am not sure if it is as good as Michele’s. This recipe just uses items I have on hand and I also make it in the Crockpot.
Ingredients
1 lb lean ground beef
3 beef bouillon cubes
2 packs (30 oz) of mixed frozen vegetables (I prefer Publix’s brand)
1 can of Italian Style Tomatoes (do not drain)
2 ½ cups of macaroni noodles
3 cups of water
Brown ground beef and drain. Boil macaroni noodles as directed on package. Heat frozen vegetables in microwave for 8 minutes. Combine all ingredients in Crockpot on high for 4 hours. It is oh so good!
Special tip: brown your ground beef and boil your macaroni noodles the night before and stick in the fridge, then mix together on your lunch break the day of
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