the ocean is the residence of flipper.

I just wish there was proof that it's now Autumn.
How strange it has been to go outside and still have it be hot, humid, with bugs everywhere. No leaves changing, no crisp smells, no pumpkin patches... only love bugs.
That's right. Love bugs. These little critters are getting on my last nerve. They were created for, well, nothing. They were suppose to be created to kill mosquitoes but some scientists messed up and now they are all stuck together and fly around and fly into my windshield while I'm driving down the road. They also like to mate in my hair when I'm outside. It's just lovely.

What weird things they are.

David and I just got done watching a movie together and enjoyed a night to relax. Tonight we were also able to get together with our friends Rachel and Jose. They are getting married in December and I loved talking with them. Weddings are so exciting for me. I would love to be a wedding planner/coordinator. It's something I'm really considering and praying about. I love to help, to plan, to listen, I'm good with color, and I love family.

Last week we had our good friend Aaron stay with us.
When people ask how we've met, they are surprised to find out we actually met him at a "club." Ha ha... this kid. At a club??



Okay, maybe it wasn't a club. It was more like an outdoor restaurant with booming music and wild teens. It was 2009 in Miami on Spring Break. We met through a mutual friend and both David and I clicked with him right away. He and David kept the laughs going all week long.

We even had a night where we enjoyed great company with Aaron, Katherine, and Daniel.
We were able to Skype my best friend Bethany from her "castle" in Germany.
I experimented with a recipe I found that called for substituting cauliflower for potatoes to make mashed potatoes. It was yummy, and I think everyone loved it!


my husband pigging out


thank you, katherine, for snapping away :)





And we of course played the best game in the world:



We had a blast with you, Aaron!


The recipe I found for my Apple Crisp (it's really simple, and I'm sure yummy):

Apple Crisp

8-10 McIntosh Apples, pared and sliced
1 cup flour
1 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1 stick butter
Cinnamon, to taste (I use alot because we love cinnamon)

Pare and slice apples and scatter in a pie plate. In another bowl mix all other ingredients. Sprinkle this mixture over apples, making sure all the apples are covered. Cook in a 400 degree oven for 40 minutes. Cool and enjoy! May be served with vanilla ice cream.


I resisted. Look, I know I only live once, and that's exactly why I wanted to stay away.
For too long I have been putting things in my body that aren't good for me - sugar, processed foods, etc. I want to treat my body well. I don't want to look back 40 years from now and regret the choices I made.
I'm doing the 30 Day Shred and feel like I'm going to die. How is that for being honest?
Jillian Michael's sure knows how to kick my butt.

Bath and Body Works
This is just a very random post, but I love working at Bath and Body Works because:
1. I get free things, just 'cause.
2. I smell fanastic every night I leave from there.
3. I know all the deals, promos, etc.

Right now we are selling mini lotions of our brand new fragrance SECRET WONDERLAND for $1.00.
We are also selling the body sprays of that fragrance for $2.00.
The fragrance is sweet, flirty, but also a good winter fragrance.


GIVEAWAY: From October 1st through November 30th any comment you leave on my blog will qualify you for a drawing. The drawing will be for a Bath & Body Works body spray (a $10.50 value). All you have to do is follow my blog in October/November and make sure to comment.
Some of my favorite bloggers do giveaways. I think they are a blast. :-)

Have a great week!

a series of fortunate events.

Woo... what a week.
I'm serious, I'm only 20 years old and already feel like I don't have time to juggle everything in my life from my 3 jobs to being at the church around 10 hours a week, to spending time with David. I'm wondering how parents survive! One day we will be there, but we are enjoying the time that we do have with one another.

On Wednesday David had the awesome privilege to work alongside Doug Bailey. Doug was his old popshop teacher when he was younger and mentored him a lot in the performing arts. What the popshop does is really cool. They sing while dancing and are very talented kids! David came as a featured alumni for their performance at Hard Rock live (at City Walk Universal Studios).





We met up with our friends Jose and Rachel, who are basically our only young married couple friends. They are our age, and though they live clear across town, when we actually DO get to see them it's fun had by all. They are great people with a heart for Christ and people.


When David came out singing "Viva la Vida" by Coldplay I was so proud. He is really a natural at performing, and I hadn't seen him in that element much before because when he is leading worship it is a whole other ballpark. He looked so cute up there; I couldn't help but to grin and snap a million pictures and think to myself, "That's MY husband!"



(David walking the Red Carpet with Jose and Rachel)


My in-laws met us there (also beaming for their son) and the 6 of us went to Margaritaville. It was my first time. When the heaping pile of nachos came out I only took a few bites, I swear! See? I am learning self-control. And so far I've lost 4 pounds in 2 weeks. Any weight loss is an accomplishment in my eyes. 4 pounds may not seem like a lot but times it by 5 and that is 20 pounds. It all adds up to something big, and I am patient with the slow weight loss because I know it is the healthy way to go.



On Friday I took Brandy and Chandler to a park by their house with this water fountain. They loved it and though I had to keep reminding them "Don't run!" and "Be careful," I was surprised to find out they never hurt themselves!! Score.



(How cute are they?)


(This is the face he makes when you say "bye." I said it for this picture. He likes to blow kisses).

(On the way out of the park, we saw a lot of these Florida birds. "I want to pet the chicken," Brandy said. I told her they definitely weren't chickens.)





This is what David and I had for dinner that night.


(Yummy Q'doba)

Later after a long worship practice David and I headed to New Smyrna Beach. My in-laws recently bought a condo there right on the beach. It's bigger than our condo with it's three rooms, 2 bathrooms, spacious living room, and big kitchen. It was nice to get away from the city and come closer to a serene location where God's beauty & majesty is ever present.


It also came fully furnished with nautical decorations.



And look who was lounging and enjoying her day off... ;-)



The beach bum life is a good life.

new discovery

This has been a good weekend, for several reasons.

It could have been the Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin left burning on our living room table.
Or the fact that we bought that candle and Cranberry Woods for the price of one...


The sun is starting to adjust its brightness and heat, the air is less muggy, and the other day while driving to work gong 60 mph, the trees surrounding me were dumping piles and piles of leaves on top of my Kia. And right then I knew it was God sending His love my way. In the moments where I feel so not at home, He sends me a quick reminder that beauty may not be in the big things, but the smaller things. Everyday is a new realization of this for me.

On Saturday, David took me to Historic Sanford. It's only a short drive from our house and I was surprised I had never been before. We went antique shopping and bargain shopping. The area of town is very artsy and definitely has a creative streak I haven't seen in the Orlando area before. It was like fresh inspiration for me when I walked in to each shop with beautiful, custom, one-of-a-kind paintings.
Each work of art is so unique, so well-thought, and each artist took time tediously putting the details together to make a work of out.
The paint on the buildings also had a way of standing out with bold and bright hues. Each building has been there for over a hundred years! It is definitely a place I would recommend to photographers.

(I fell in love with this)




We were told to go eat at "Two Shrimps and a Blonde." And when I heard the words SHRIMP BURGER, I was all in. They packed shrimp together and fried it and topped citrus celery on top with tomato and lettuce. It was so good. :-)
The restaurant was adorable with a cozy "nook" area in the window.





Oh, and look at this little guy that we found when we left the restaurant:



There is a spiral staircase that has been there since the late 1800's. It was aged and rustic, and behind the staircase you could see plants growing up the wall. We were told this staircase has been used for many photoshoots. We had to go there.






I love new discoveries and finding new destinations.








Especially with my husband.
And guess what today is?
2 months until our 1st anniversary.
I can't wait to see what the future holds.