Simple & Lovely

>I graduated on a beautiful Saturday morning, May 9, 2009 exactly. I curled my hair, wore a summery seersucker dress, put on my new high heels, and finally got to wear my cap and gown. I remember being so giddy that day. I was graduating college. It was a dream. I couldn’t believe my 4 years of college had flown by with a blink of an eye. I remember feeling that this is the day that I become an adult. This is the day where I get to chose my future. What will my life hold for me. Where will I be. I had so many unanswered questions, but the world was at my fingertips. Tuscaloosa, Alabama was my home. My home for 4 amazing years of my life. I get to stand tall and be proud and say that I attended the University of Alabama. I graduated from this not just amazing school, but it is a part of my family. Every last one of the students, faculty, volunteers, football players, baseball players, groundskeeper, fan for life, and everyone else who is a part of UA we are all family. We live and breathe for the University of Alabama, not just because of football, but because it is a part of who we are. My brother was supposed to graduate on May 7. supposed to graduate. Because of the horrific tornado he won’t get to walk across the stage wearing his cap and gown. I thank the Lord that Taylor, and everyone else that I personally know are ok. But he doesn’t get to walk across stage. He doesn’t get to hear Taylor Graham Hastings graduating with a Degree in…. He doesn’t get to throw his cap up. He doesn’t get to take his picture with all of his friends, that have also worked so hard to become a graduate. Instead they are volunteering. Rebuilding. Working so hard to help the City of Tuscaloosa. The graduates of 2011 are going to be there to rebuild, and make sure that more generations get to experience Tuscaloosa. They aren’t sulking at home because the one time in their life that they get to graduate college has been cancelled. They are helping neighbors. Letting others stay at their house. Doing whatever it takes. I am proud to call all of them my family. I am praying for every last person who has been affected by this terrible disaster. 

>

I watched this last night because I had been hearing so much about it. and wow. It is truly amazing. If you haven’t watched please do.

love it.

>thank.god.its.friday. FINALLY. Not that this week has been incredibly long, but I am just really ready to kick back and relax this weekend. 

I’m with the big winner! 

>I thought someone hacked into my email. This is why I have been MIA since Monday! Thank goodness I got the problem resolved and I am back in business!

Lets see… for Wedding Wednesday I wanted to talk about BACHELORETTE!!

Top 5 moments {that I am willing to share} from Bachelorette weekend!

1. Laying out by Lakeway pool and feeling like a rich and famous person. Poolside service, Cabana… the works!
{not so fun is the hardcore sunburn I got.}

2. Doing 2 tequila shots in a row. {hate shots, and I took those down like a champ!}

3. Doing the splits in the middle of a bar. Why did I think this was a good idea? Tequila told me so.

4. Falling after trying to do a high kick in the bar. Why did I think this was a good idea? Again tequila told me so.

5. Dance party in the stretch hummer limo on the way home from Austin.

I had so much fun with all of my girls and we made some serious memories that will last a lifetime!

…took some cute pictures… here are the ones I can share!

>Stuart and I get married in 100 days. Wow. Time flew by, we have been engaged for 8 months already! Woah doggie. 


Anyways, we have 100 days to go and nowhere to live. yep. we will be homeless unless we find something soon. Good things is I think I might have found us something! 


Its 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, big yard, new roof, new A/C unit, new plumbing… 


BUT…. 


It is a total fixer upper I mean, gross, nasty kitchen, gross carpet {that has hardwood floors under them…this I don’t understand! WHY do that to beautiful wood floors?} I know the bedrooms must be bad. And the bathrooms must be worse, but I can make it our home. Make is the way we want it. 


So, I’m thinking for the outside… 

>Yes. It has officially started. Wedding diet time. I felt that since the WEDDING DAY IS 102 days away! {WOOHOO} I needed to actually do something to look good!

I have started working out with 2 {!} trainers twice a week. My trainer on Mondays focuses on weights and lifting, and my trainer on Wednesdays is bootcamp style! I am hoping that this will kick my body into wedding dress material… but we shall see!! This diet is mostly protein. I eat a huge, huge breakfast. A good size lunch, and a small dinner. I have 2 snacks and days I workout with trainers I have a protein shake after. Woah nellie! On my food schedule she made for me at the top in big letters it says “NO BREAD” 😦

Anyways I wanted to share a sample day of dieting with you.

Breakfast:
3-4 Egg Whites
1/2 cup Oatmeals with berries

Snack:
2-3 Hard-boiled eggs with a small side of spinach

Lunch:
Chicken/Fish, sweet potato or brown rice or quinoa, green beans/spinach/broccoli

Snack:
1 small apple
1 tsp. Sunbutter

Dinner:
Chicken/Fish/Lean Turkey/Pork Tenderloin, small sweet potato {this is for M/W}

Spinach Salad, cucumbers, small tomatoes, broccoli, black beans {T/TH}

Water: 4-6 bottles of water a DAY {90 ounces}

Protein Shake: {only on M/W} Whey protein, water, and 1/2 banana

lots of protein.

no more yummy carbs. 

>Hi Lovies. This is going to be quick, as I am a busy girl tonight!

Confession #1

I have a birthday dinner tonight, and we are going to dinner with a couple of our friends. Of course I will only eat at the Cyclones dinner and not the birthday dinner, because who in their right mind passes up Cyclone Anayas? {for non-houstonians, it is an a-mah-zing Mexican food restaurant!}

SO, onto the confession. I get home and I have to take a shower since my hair is scary and I have had 16, 5 year olds crawling over me all day and what do I do you ask? I definitely showered with a glass of prosecco. Don’t judge me, kthanks!

>Yes. It is usually Wedding Wednesday. BUT…..

.. well I was 1 of 2 runners up and I get to choose a bathing suit and a beach tote bag! YES! even more motivation to get in the gym and kick my butt in workouts!

I was told to only wear bandeau tops {since the wedding dress is strapless} so I’m thinking this top.. I am going to get the string bikini bottoms just FYI.. I just cant get the dang picture to upload. arg. 

the tote I think I am going to get..kind of want to get my new initials monogrammed on it 🙂 

Someone {ahem Amber @ Sweet Pea} requested that I give a preview of my save the date

So without further adieu…

{oh how I love him!}

{sorry for the crappy cell phone pic. our scanner isn’t working. boo.}

This was an unusual picture choice, I know this. I chose this picture because Stuart and I are not perfect, we don’t have perfect hair, or teeth, we don’t have the perfect relationship, we are who we are, we laugh a lot , we cry {not too often!}, we hug, we get mad, get our feelings hurt, love each other more than anything on this earth, this picture said everything about us, the so not perfect couple who feels that they need to choose the picture that makes us look like the perfect couple. I saw it and immediately felt love. It is so hard to describe the way that we felt in that moment and I really felt that this picture showed off so much emotion. so much happiness, knowing that I get to spend the rest of my life with the person that means the most to me in the world, . My favorite part {other than the picture} is the word Kindly. My Mom thought to use it {I love Moms and how they always know how to add that special touch to things.} and I fell in love with it. It sounds so sweet and simple, like you are asking your best friends and family in the most pleasant way to come enjoy and celebrate this most wonderful time in your life. kindly. six little letters, that really changed the way I thought about my wedding. 

I have gotten more compliments on my Save the Date than I ever imagined. I really feel that it is because I chose something original. It wasn’t the norm. and people loved it. So the next time you have a chance. be yourself. do what you want to do. 

love you girls!

I want to know what you do to be original..Is it your blog? a hobby you have? what you wear? talk to me ladies! 

xoxo 

>I’m sorry friends.

I have been a terrible, terrible blogger. Please forgive me.

Top 3 reasons I haven’t blogged in over a week. Ready. Go…

1. I have been sick for a week now. BLAH. I hate going to the doctor {although I have always secretly wanted to be a doctor or at least a PA.. I still hate waiting rooms..ew.} so I have just been suffering with this cold, but it seems to be going away now. whew.