Keep Holding On!

Hello blogging world! Long time no see. Really, really long time! I promise, I am still alive and kicking. I want to eventually do a "what you've been missing" post, but there is just too much on my plate right now to give these past six months any justice. Obviously, if you couldn't tell, my semester started right after my last post and there has been no stopping since! I'll give the rundown later with pictures galore, but between working at Anthro, full time grad student, picking up running again, and of course hanging out with my man :)--I was a bit busy this Spring semester. Funny thing is, that seems like nothing now.

This summer, I'm taking two classes, working about 18 hours a week on site at my practicum, working a shift or two a week at Anthro still, training for the Peachtree, spending time with friends, family, and as much time as Brian and I can fit in, studying for my exit exams coming up this fall, and oh yeah planning my wedding!!!!! Eeeeee! I really wish that I could do this blog justice to talk about the in's and out's of wedding planning (I have quite a few thoughts haha), not to mention telling our engagement story, but that will have to wait. Life is happening too quick while I'm sitting in front of this computer screen and as much as I miss the therapeutic and connection piece with friends from far with my blog, it will have to wait until life taps the brakes a little bit!

I haven't forgotten about you and trust me, an update will come! It might not be until August when this semester is over, but better (really) late than never!

Top Ten of 2012

This has been one of my favorite traditions in keeping this blog. It's still fun for me to go back and look at each year that I have blogged to see my highs and lows of each year. These may be one or two particular memories, but mostly it's a chance for me to blog about what I'll remember most about the year 2012. So this year, better late than never, here it is boys and girls!

10. Working hard for the money Working at Anthropologie is the first time I've had a job consistently while in school. I have had to learn how to manage my time and money so much better because commuting to school as often as I do costs time and money. Although I can't give myself more time, I can learn to manage my time better so I can fit in work, school, friendships, family, running, and who knows what else I fill my time with! I have loved the friendships from working at Anthro....and I'm not complaining about how great my wardrobe is now either. :)

9. Friendships, both near and far This year, living at home has definitely had it's perks when it comes to friendships. I've:

reconnected with FB and guard friends from high school

 

made a few trips to Athens

and Chattanooga of course

And I can't forget Charleston :)

8. Hitting the Pavement I have never considered myself a "runner"...until this year. I started doing My Fitness Pal and I quickly learned if I want to eat more, I need to work out more. Enter running. Couch 2 5K is what sparked my consistency in running, but having races to train for really helped me stay on track. I've done two 10K's and a 5K (and even ran the whole time for the Thanksgiving 10K!) in one year and hope to keep up the pattern. 

7. Showering my (now wedded) friends Y'all. I went to a lot of wedding stuff in 2012 and with weddings comes the "before" stuff like showers and Bachelorette parties. Talk about the girly-est of girly events--and I love it. And even better that a group of friends get to get together to celebrate a friend's upcoming wedding vows to the love of her life. 

6. Ohhhh How I love the Alpha Gams! Something I did not see coming was my being put back into sorority life. On a whim this past August, I decided to help out with Recruitment while I had a break from classes and some flexibility in my work schedule. Lo and behold, a few months later I am now the Operations Advisor. I really have unexpectedly loved being back in the sorority world--especially since I have Brittany and Kathleen coming alongside to most of the Alpha Gam functions. It's been so wonderful to see how my sorority friendships have impacted my past college and I love being able to give back to an organization that has given so much to me.

5. Being an in state Aunty Living at home really allowed for some great niece/Aunt Kristin bonding this past year and those sweet moments cannot be traded for anything. Between the day to day with Charlotte to the much more frequent visits I can have now with Felicity when Kirby would stop by or I could hop over and have a slumber party at the Cleland's.

4. I now declare thee, Husband and Wife. This past year has been a year of weddings to say the least! I had several close friends get married and I love it! I think my favorite part was that I was able to be apart of, but not necessarily be in the weddings. Being able to cook for and help out with last minute details is definitely my love language, so I felt like it was blessing enough to be a part of my friend's special day! Seeing my friend's relationships celebrated on their wedding days is such a special event to be apart of and I loved every chance to do so!

 

3. So there's this boy... I haven't explicitly mentioned Brian on this blog, but it's a long time overdue. I met Brian in November at Anna and Wayne's Wedding and as they say "the rest is history". He stood me up for our first date (he was supposedly volunteering at the high school football game, but you'll have to ask him about that story), but two weeks after we met when we did go on our first date--I made him pick me up from work/be bombarded by my work friends, if that doesn't make him a trooper, I don't know what does--but I have been so happy since then. He makes me laugh, puts up with my crazy, I can talk to him about anything, and all in all, I think he's pretty great. 

2. Home again, Home again Jiggity Jig When I look back at 2012, I will definitely remember this as a time of living in a very full house. But I also will remember the reason I'm at home is for grad school and that is worth it for me. I have loved my program, being back in school, and honestly, living at home. There are some ups and downs to living at home and commuting to and from school, but it has been more than worth it. I know that I am pursuing what I want to do in my future career and sharing a house full of family is part of that journey. And hey, I kind of like living out my (not so closet) nerdiness and have loved sharing that with my grad school friends too. 

1. Precious Joni Sadly, my number one spot this year isn't necessarily a happy thought, but instead a very dear one to me that beyond a shadow of a doubt marks this year for me. Starting off 2012 knowing I was going to be an aunt for a third time was so exciting, but shortly after sharing that, I shared that Joni was taken from us before we even got to meet her face to face. Seeing how God has used this year of experiencing heartbreak, loss, and family to share these ups and downs with has been forever marked on my heart and that is something I could never, and would never, want to overlook. I am beyond grateful that God orchestrated it for me to be living in Marietta so close to family this past year and that is a blessing to say the least. Joni will always be a special memory to me and I cannot wait until I can see her precious face in Heaven one day.  

Trendy and (one day) Professional

The other day I wore one of my favorite dresses from Anthro. It's a classic little black dress in a not so classic cut, which is what I love about it. It's the perfect nice wedding dress. Case and point:

But for work, I need a few layers for warmth (it is always freezing in the store!!) and just a little bit of outfitting to spruce it up. So this was the outcome of my attempts of layering.

I felt like this was totally blog post worthy because our personal stylist at the store even complimented my outfitting so that put some extra pep in my step after that! 

Dress: Cutout Collar Dress; Anthropologie

This is so my "go to" belt from Anthro...and I loved that it was brown enough to toe the line with brown and black, but not an obvious clashing. 

Sweater: Merona Ruffle Cardigan; Target. Belt: Anthropologie

 So I had to lean over and take a selfy of my legs for this one...so 1) I have lumpy knees 2) not the most flattering angle, but you do what you gotta do for the sake of a blog post, right? 

Tights: Sheer Polka Dot Tights; Antrhopologie. Boots: Wedge Boot with Buckles; Cathy Jean 

 Earrings: Pave Posts; Anthropologie

Tah-dah!! One of these days when I have for real job as a counselor, I totally plan on wearing this outfit to the office sometime. Trendy and (one of these days) professional. 

Anna Pants becomes Mrs. Pants

 I know I have some of the absolutely most ridiculous post titles...but they make me laugh and I say that counts for something. Side note: We always called Anna "Anna Pants" and "Pants" for short...so that's where the title comes from. Don't judge me.

So I'm trying to get back on track-ish rather than weeks behind, so I think after this post, I can get back on a normal schedule. Whew. I know everyone just breathed a sigh of relief! Well, my type A personality just did at least.

So last week, November 3rd, my dear sweet high school friend Anna got married. It was a fairly small wedding and honestly, the only people I knew going into the wedding was the bride, the groom whom I'd met once, Alexa (who was a bridesmaid), Rachel (another bridesmaid), the parents of the bride and Alexa's parents. Since everyone else was a little busy during the ceremony, I sat with Alexa's parents, which only made more people think that Alexa and I are sisters and her parents are mine too. Typical.

Walking into the church, bagpipes were playing which totally set the mood. Come to find out, the bag pipe player was their dental hygienist! haha The ceremony was sweet and so personalized. I love that the minister talked specifically about what she had heard the bride and groom say about what they loved so much about the other. Hearing what Wayne said about Anna is what I know that I love about Anna--her heart for adventure and making everything adventurous--and that is the heart of who Anna is.

After the ceremony was finished, I hung around with Alexa's parents to see the professional photographers work their magic before we all headed over to the reception that was literally a walk across the street. It was a beautiful, quant house in downtown Marietta. It reminded me so much of the Alpha Gam house--just the detail in the crown modeling, the chandeliers, and even the overly busy dark carpet. There was a bar set up outside with appetizers and childhood pictures scattered throughout the foyer and gentleman's parlor. 

The rest of the reception was so much fun, just spending time with friends, dancing, drinking, and celebrating Wayne and Anna! 

And of course Alexa caught the bouquet. Her tally is up to 7 now. 

The reception was over at 10 or so, so a group of us headed down the street to McCrackin's in the Marietta Square and the fun continued!

I am so so glad that I was able to be a part of Anna and Wayne's special day! I can't believe Anna Pants is married now!