I couldn't ask for a better life and people to spend it with....

It is a beautiful thing

to be perfectly content with life.

I have been having soooo much fun.

I've been loving and living with the people I love the most.

It's been absolutely AMAZEBALLS!!!

Camping with the boy's family last weekend was fun!

COLD...

but fun!!

It's been beautiful most of the summer

and the one weekend we go camping...

it was like 58 degrees.

CHILLY!!!!! =)

Luckily -- your days of camping involve LOTS of campfires!

Since then - I have had Acupuncture.

Let me tell you folks.
It was the STRANGEST experience I've ever had.

Initially, I went to get treated for my back pain.

When I got there though, I was informed that acupuncture

can treat a lot of things.

SO... I got treated for the following:

Allergies, anxiety/stress, weight loss, and back pain.

WHAT? How is poking me with needles curing all of this?

Anywho - so they stuck all these needles all over my body

and then she heated up a glass ball

and cupped it over my belly button.

Then they leave you in a room for 25 minutes.

Come in - take the needles out - and you leave.

End result: Nothing.

I am going to try a couple more treatments and I'll keep you posted.

I've had A LOT of people swear by it.

So I don't want to give up on it quite yet.

Ready for some acupuncture!

Other activities: Fair, Wedding, and Irish Fest!

The fair has involved combine derby and people racing old trucks!

AMAZEBALLS!

Small town Iowa!

WOOT WOOT!
HOLLA!

The wedding was beautiful and a ton of fun.

We went through 6 kegs.

Drinking problem, what?

I'm SO proud of my Irish heritage.

I will make it to Ireland before I die.

I now have a kilt to wear when I go =)

It was an expensive weekend...

that WILL be repeated -- EVERY YEAR!

YIPPEE!!

Prepare for a photo dump...

Mom doing a boot at Irish Fest! (yes, I know a boot is German - still fun!)

I HEART MY FAMILY (you can't see our kilts)

GNOME!!!!

Wedding! Isn't he handsome???

Fair with my nephews!!

They are so grown up! =) LOVE THEM!

Life IS Beautiful - Count your blessings!!!!

Five On Friday Link-Up

It's FINALLY FRIDAY!!!

HOLLA!!!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE ME SOME FRIDAYS!

and WEEKENDS, of course.

This Friday, I decided to join the Five on Friday Link-up

and I have SOOO much to be excited for!

Life IS beautiful - Count your blessings!



Some paths are long and hard - but they lead you to the most beautiful views

IT'S OFFICIAL FOLKS!!

I'M MOVING BACK HOME!!!!

BACK to where my life is

BACK to be with the people I love the most

BACK to where I'm the most happy.

and I.could.not.be.more.

EXCITED!

In December, I moved 2 1/2 - 3 hours away for my job

Granted - that's not ALL too far away

however

it was far enough for me

I liked the area but it was missing the most important things

my family

my friends

my love

My job can be insanely stressful and

I put in a lot of hours

so it's easy to get down

but getting my personal life back

makes me UBER giddy

NOW

I get the best of both worlds

I will have the same position for my job

but be with the people who mean the most to me.

THANK YOU, LORD!

Being away for 9 months has really given me

a brand new perspective on my life

I'm VERY happy with where I am right now

Life IS beautiful - Count your blessings

I KNOW I AM! =)

Girl's Weekend = Success

Ok... so I officially SUCK at posting in a timely fashion..

and you are going to hear this excuse again...

BUT...

I'VE BEEN SOOO INSANELY BUSY!

However; my parent's anniversary party is now over and it was an amazing success

POST TO COME SOON!

WITH LOTS OF PICTURES!!!!

I PROMISE!

I am truly blessed to have such an amazing family

to make this event so beautiful and special for my parents.

My mom cries happy tears everytime she talks about it. :)

and that my friends... is PRICELESS

So back tracking to LAST weekend.

Girl's weekend was also an amazing success

The weekend was filled with sunshine, food, drinks, and most important

FRIENDS!!

I have to admit though....

you can tell we are all getting older.

When we first started doing girl's weekend...

it was hurry to get off the boat, shower, and head to the bars until 2 AM.

Now.. it's "ahhh... I'll shower later... let's just sit by the bonfire... and then bed at 10:30!"

BUT STILL A GREAT TIME!

Next year, we will be getting shirts made for the weekend!

Woot woot!

I have the prettiest friends!

Life IS beautiful -- count your blessings!

Friends uplift the soul

Girls night and girl's weekend

ALL IN THE SAME WEEK??

Get out!!!

Ah-MAZING!

I love me some girl time.

I don't get a lot of it but when I do....

It's ALWAYS good for the soul!

I don't know if I've ever said...

but on top of having the most amazing family and boyfriend

I also have some ROCKIN, BEAUTIFUL, SMART, CARING, GENUINE

GIRL FRIENDS!

I HEART YOU ALL! =)

It's funny... the older you get.. the more you realize how having a few close friends

who would do anything for you,

be there for you in a heart beat,

give honest and truthful advise,

and make you laugh harder than you should be laughing

is FAR better than having a bunch of halfway decent friends!!

Well... this week I'm getting LOTS of much needed girl time!

Wednesday night, I met with 3 really good friends for supper.

We had drinks, food, and LOTS of laughter.

You know that quote?

"You know when people are best friends....

because they are having way more fun then they should be having"

Yup... that's us!

This weekend is going to be even better.

Every year, a bunch of us girls get together at the river.

Boating, Booze, and Besties!!!

Doesn't get much better than that, right???

The weather is supposed to be

B-E-A-U-TIFUL!

Mid-80's and Sunny!!!

This was from Girl's Weekend 2012!

Life IS beautiful - Count your blessings!

Let freedom ring!

Happy belated 4th of July!!!

I'm still alive, folks!

My apologies for my lack of presence.

My days have been so full between working,

catching up with friends and family that have been around,

summer festivities,

and preparing for my parents anniverary party.

Only 2 more weeks..... my sister and I are freaking out!

It's going to be here before we know it.

It's such a special thing to celebrate and it's amazing that we are able to -

AND I'm uber excited for it to be here.... and over with! =)

So since it's been so long since I've updated you on life -- here are a few highlights.

1. My friend Kelly's wedding

It was a BLAST of a wedding.

It was some close high school friends and the boy

We may or may not have been "THAT" table

but we had a

DAMN.GOOD.TIME

2. Catching up with John's cousin Amanda

back from HAWAII

3. Buck's Baseball Game

I'm not a big sports fan

and by that I mean... not really at all

I go for the booze =)

4. Last but definitely NOT least -- celebrating July 4th at my favorite place to be.

THE RIVER!!!!!

Spending time with my family and friends and John.

AH-MAZ-ING!

Feeling VERY blessed!

Life is beautiful - count your blessings!



Happy 2 Year Anniversary!!

Just wanted to do a quick shout out post to my best friend, my LOVE

Happy 2 Year Anniversary, John Boy !

I'm actually a day late in posting this .... but it's because we were out celebrating our anniversary last night

So....

WORTH IT!!!

We ended up just going out to eat at Applebee's

and hitting up a few bars for some drinks...

YUP.

I drank during the week.

BUT... It was my anniversary! I felt it was worth the celebrating. =)

We had planned to go to this nice little restaurant in town,

but of course with my luck...

It's closed on MONDAYS!

WHOMP WHOMP

I was really craving their cocunut shrimp too.

Oh well - ALL the more reason to go back sometime later this week! Riiight?

It's been a crazy two years filled with LOTS of adventures -

some exciting, some challenging

but there truly is NO ONE else I would have wanted to have by my side

to be along for the ride

(NO... I did not mean to make that rhyme..

but I guess I'm a poet and didn't even know it...

and yes.... that just happened)

I LOVE YOU, JOHN!

Here's to MANY more years! =)

This is us holding our one year anniversary picture!

Life IS beautiful - count your blessings!