Reflection: Memorial Day

 

 

Our local ballpark did a neat memorial day celebration of sorts which touched my heart and got me thinking. There was a moment of silence, and then they had a group of Patriot Riders come out on the field including a WWII vet, which was so neat. I love the Patriot Riders and the service they provide out of their sense of duty and the kindness of their hearts to fallen soldiers and their families. They honored active and retired servicemen and women, and asked active servicemen to stand up so we could honor them and show our appreciation.

My sweet husband stood up, and I had to blink back tears. I couldn't be more proud of him and his sense of honor and duty. This is my first Memorial day as the wife of a soldier, one who will be deployed by the end of the year no less. The 'holiday' took on a completely new meaning for me, this weekend used to be a lake weekend or the weekend that the neighborhood pool opened up for the first time. But now it's different, I understand, my heart goes out to all those who have lost their spouses, siblings parents, and friends in the line of duty. My heart breaks with you. And my anxious heart worries selfishly for my own serviceman, it worries about what future Memorial Days will mean to me. But then I remember that is not a road I need to let my heart and mind go down. There is no sense in worrying about what I cannot control. I have to have faith, and enjoy every second I have with my soldier over the next six months.

top image.

 

Memorial Weekend

 

(He humors me)

 

 

We had the best Memorial weekend we could've asked for. My boss gave me a four day weekend and it was just glorious. We drove up to my friend's lake house for the night and part of the day, which was so fun. There is nothing quite like being at the lake,  its just so beautiful, and we got to spend time with friends which was the best part. The rest of the weeked was spent visiting my parents and helping them get their house ready to sell! AH! It's crazy to think that they will be selling the house that I spent the longest portion of my childhood in. But I know its the right decision for them, and I am proud of them.

Husband worked really hard moving stuff with my dad while I tackled my old bedroom and all the old clothes. My mom and I are very similar, however when it comes to sorting through things we couldn't be more different. I am not very sentimental about old items, which makes me the perfect person to help you sort and pitch, whereas my mother is sentimental about nearly everything she, my father, or I have ever owned.

 

 

 

Mom made our favorite meals (salmon and flank steak anyone? mmmm), we went to see our town's baseball team play, played lots of cards, and saw the new movie about Jackie Robinson. '42' was so well done in my opinion!  (my Dad who sleeps in nearly every movie didn't even drop off once!) 

High Five for Friday

This is my third week linking up with Lauren for High Five for Friday and I am really enjoying it! It is a great oppurtunity to look back on the week and find joy and a spirit of thankfulness in the moments and experiences you have been blessed with in the last week.

1. Coffee. Sometimes it is what gets you through in the mornings, and over the crest of tired grumpiness.

2. Packages on your doorstep from J.Crew that are the results of moments of weakness.

3. Egg and avocado on good toast, is THE best! I willl eat it here, there and everywhere.

4. Getting my nails done on Monday with a friend. Oh the LUXURY! Wish we could do that every week, I keep staring happily at my perfect blush nails.

5. Getting away to my friend's lake house for the night on Tuesday, was PERFECT! Made the work week that much more managable. There was wine, pizza, thunderstorms, and friends... beautiful.

Livin' for the weekends.

(via Real Simple)

Right now I am living for the weekends. My job isn't exactly fulfilling and can definitely be stressful. Lets just say the girl before me had to be put on anti-anxiety meds just to cope and I am certainly not looking to do that! But at the same time I am so thankful for a full-time position, which can be so hard to come by these days!

 

This weekend definitely didn't let me down, but I hate to see it go! Sunday nights are always so sad, where Saturdays are so hopeful and brimming with plans and possibilities for the weekend. This weekend we got to see some of our college friends that have since then moved to other places.  We laughed, ate good food at favorite restaurants, played pool, and tried the new creamery in town!

Both couples are engaged and we loved catching up and hearing about grad school and their wedding plans. Its so hard to believe that this time last year we were in the throws of pulling together our own July wedding!

 

 

High Five for Friday

1. My husband is done with classes for a while which also mean he doesn't have get a lot of shifts at work, since they don't run as many buses during the summer... which mean LOTS more time together in the evening. Its been so nice cooking and eating dinner together and watching movies (no cable).

2. Last weekend was spent with the in-laws and it was such a great get-away. A wonderful Mother's Day weekend for sure, even if I missed my own momma.

3. One of my best friend's got engaged this week! So very excited for her and her new fiance!

4. Women's Health Magazines. LOVE. I got a subscription for my birthday and everytime I see one of those babies sitting in my mailbox my day is made!

5. Getting to stop at this old country store near my work whenever I am out running errands. Dr. Pepper in a glass bottle is just the best.

Linking up with Lauren again this Friday!

Four Favorites

J.Crew Factory is having a really great sale with 30% off your total purchase using the code SALE30! So naturally I wandered over and picked out a few for today's four favorites, which I also ended up adding to my closet as well. Cannot wait for them to arrive! They are going to be some great staples for both work and our vacations coming up this summer. Speaking of which I am so stinking excited for our California trip in June, it is definitely what is getting me through each work week. I can't wait to spend time with all of my sweet family and see my cousin and her fiance finally tie the knot!

(I also seem to have a little unintentional patriotic theme happening here)

 

Linking up with    Let it Be Beautiful for today's Four Favorites Post!

 

Lusting After...

Camera Accessories!

 To go with my fancy new camera which I am just over the moon about. Cannot believe I finally am the proud owner of a Nikon 3200! I purchased one last christmas and returned it that same day because I just couldn't handle having spent that much money on one item. I have commitment problems with purchases over $50, but I guess I am working on that! Here are a few camerastraps that I just can't get over. I am hoping to buy one before all our trips this summer!

I love this leather strap from the etsy store, which has so many beautiful straps that look to be reallygreat quality as well as being cute!

Or this strap cover which is so cute, from this  store!

 The other one is more my price range, and this one is even better at $14 at this etsy store

And just when I thought I had my decision made, I saw this  one and totally fell in love.. with a camera strap I know. But look at it, can you blame me?

All these patterns are kind of reminding me of the patterns I've been looking to decorate our new apartment with. I might have a problem here, whoops!

Oh happy day!

Sunday was a very happy day for me, I bought a DSLR after years of wanting one. Phil and I had just decided to buy one this summer, and I thought that while I was in the city this last weekend I would see what costco had. And.. I walked out with a beautiful camera of my very own. It truly was a great deal and I couldn't be happier with it! I fully plan on spending every moment this week learning all about my new baby! Yay for better quality pictures!

High Five for Friday

Linking up with Lauren again this week for High Five for Friday! Here are five of my favorite things from this week.

1. Getting to finally visit my old roomie and close friend Erika in Charleston!

2. My order from Asos arrived, and while not everything worked there are definitely a few keepers!

3. I got to see my sweet sister-in-law a bunch this week.

4. Coming home from a weekend away from my husband. While I showered away the travel grime, he went and picked up Japanese and we caught up and enjoyed the low key evening. With our busy and often conflicting schedules nights like that are few and far between.

5. Finding an awesome little smoothie place right near my work!

Lunch Break Links

Here are a few links I have been perusing on my lunch break, and I thought I'd share them with you all.  Since its just no fun keeping them all to yourself!

     (via the Glitter Guide)

1.) My drink of choice is always a good margarita, and this margarita from Glitter Guide looks perfect for Cinco de Mayo celebrations!

2.) Avocados are one of my favorite foods, and i just love all the creative ways people cook with them. I can't wait to try this recipe from Joy the Baker that she adapted from an awesome new cookbook, Absolutely Avocados by Gaby Dalkins, which I can't wait to get my hands on!

3.) If I won a shopping spree I'd probably want it to be at J.Crew , and while there is no shopping spree in the works for me they are having a 25% off sale! Use code SPRINGBEST. Or HELLOMAY if you are shopping at J.Crew Factory.

4.) What is right age to have a baby? Babble interviews real moms about what they think.

5.) How cute is this video? My husband showed it to me last night, and that little girls laugh is just so infectious!

6.) I recently happened upon this awesome online boutique via The Small Things Blog blog. Everything in their inventory is under $25, and all they pieces are gorgeous!

A Weekend in Charleston.

All semester I have been trying to make it down to visit one of my sweet friends who is spending her last semester of Grad school in Charleston for an externship. And I finally I made it down to see her and we had the best weekend! I really needed the break, and my wanderlust really needed feeding. 

We helped her tie up some of the loose ends of her bucket list for her time in Charleston. We went to the Farmer's Market at Marion Square, shopped at the market and in king street. My poor wallet, I did NOT come home empty handed! Oops! We had lunch at Verve, a great salad place, and witnessed a seven year old killing it on the violin on King St. Saturday night w went to the swanky roof top bar at the market Pavilion hotel, and ate nestle toll house pie at kinskies. And Sunday we ate at Homing Grill, a favorite for locals and tourists a like. I got their huevos rancheros and it was just delicious. We also saw the famously ancient Angel Oak tree, and walked the old bridge in Mount Pleasant! We had so much fun visiting with Erika, definitely worth the driving time.