Wednesday Lovin'

Linking up today for What I'm Loving Wednesday!

#1. FREE pizza for dinner. It's been a long day and some Papa John's really does make it a little bit better!

#2. Summer time clothes! I'm ready to save up some money and go on a little shopping spree!

#3. The anticipation of sleeping in tomorrow! I've been working extra hours this week and when you aren't in the routine of waking up early... it's tough!! (I know I sound so lame!)

#4. Dreaming of decorating my own home at some point. I long to decorate a guest bedroom... or a baby room :)

#5. And everyday I learn to love this man even more.

{go link up}

Monday.

Last night too many thoughts kept me awake!

I was slightly upset with myself and my mind was just a thinkin' away. In my bible study with my girls from Sunday school we just started studying "The Me I Want to Be"

Since reading the first few chapters the Lord has been working on me. Last night He convicted me that too often I look outwardly about who I strive to be. My flesh desires to be someone I was not designed to be.

I began to think, it's not about who I want to be... it's about who I'm meant to be!

I was convicted that who I'm meant to be is a better version of my here and now... not becoming someone else. So, who am I... right now? I'm a Christian, a wife, a daughter (in-law), a sister (in-law), a teller, a blogger, a photographer, a crafter, a couponer, a fashionista, and a decorator.

Okay so I may have stretched the last few, but I strive to be those!

So in order to become who I'm meant to be I need to stop focusing on others around me and focus on improving in who I am.

Here's what I came up with to become better in each of these areas.

I am a Christian: Serve, Encourage, Love, Pray, Give, Meditate, Praise

I am a Wife: Honor, Respect, Love, Cook/Clean, Submit, Support, Serve, Give

I am a Daughter: Honor, Serve, Love

I am a Sister: Love, Share, Listen

I am a Teller: Work hard, Diligence, Listen, Patient, Happy

I am a Blogger: Honest, Share, Fun, Creative

I am a Photographer: Learn, Practice, Confident

I am a Crafter/Couponer/Fashionista/Decorator: Practice, Fun

Do you have any more to add? So instead of taking this as a get by free ticket... I'm taking it as a challenge to become what I'm meant to be. Join me?

So lastly, we got our prize pack from the "You Had me at War Eagle" contest through AuburnArt today! Lots of fun orange and blue stuff :)

War Eagle!

{go link up}

High 5 For Friday & Blog Award.

Linking up with From My Grey Desk again today :)

5. Auburn played a great game last weekend and beat Miss. State! They aren't very great so anytime we can squeeze in a W me and hubby are pumped!!

4. Last night I threw some fish together and stuck it in the oven. It was SO yum! I've been failing as of late on the cooking front so this was a needed uplift!!

3. Last weekend was GREAT! Surin on Friday night and catching up on some of our shows.

The Vow, Panera, and shopping on Saturday. And Mexican on Sunday. Blissful! Hubby is so good to me!

2. Monday night we went to go visit our friends Abbey and Lyle in the hospital to meet their sweet baby boy Parker!! Baby and Momma are doing great and he is as cute as can be :) It's so fun to have friends with babies! Hello baby feverrrrr....

1. GIC. This week at our church we are having our Global Impact Celebration. It's my first time ever to attend but I've always heard great things. Wednesday night was the kick-off and it was just as great as everyone had said. We all cheered as Pastor Danny introduced the missionaries and they ran down the isles! The kids/youth sang I Will Follow by Chris Tomlin. I've fallen in love with this song!

And now on to the blog award:

My sweet friend Kristen over at A Lovely Mist gave me my first blog award:

Here's how it works- upon receiving the award, you are to:

1. Link back to the person who awarded you

2. Answer all the award questions

3. Tell something about yourself that you haven't told anyone on your blog yet

4. Award as many bloggers that you think are worthy of this award and make them aware of it

Questions:

What is your go to make up brand?

The truth is... that I don't have a go to brand. I buy what's on sale or cheapest. Pitiful and not very good for my skin, I know! I do love my Neutrogena face powder though- it's pretty much a staple!

What was your favorite fashion trend of 2011?

I'm no where close to being even a semi-fashionista. But I did love all the lacey additions to an outfit. For awhile I thought lace was just meant for wedding dresses but now a days its so great for a dress or a skirt!

What is your favorite dessert?

I loveeee petit fours. But not just any petit fours... Peggy Ann's! They are the most delicious dessert EVER. They melt in your mouth and they are just the perfect size! I had them at my bridesmaids luncheon for my wedding. YUM!

What is your favorite color?

Green!

What is your middle name?

Before I was married, it was Lin.

The last song you listened to?

Adele- Someone Like You.

We just caught up with the rest of the world and downloaded our first Adele song. I'm obsessed.

Dogs or cats?

You know me... can I pick fish?! If I had to pick I would says dogs.

Something you haven't told anyone (on your blog) yet?

Ecckk, I don't know. I've had this blog too long to keep secrets.

Bloggers I award:

The Thaxton Life

Robyn's Reflections

{check 'em out}

I'm trying to encourage these girls to blog more so I can keep up with their lives! Maybe this will help :)

Savings.

This weekend turned out to be a good little savings weekend!

Me and Matthew hit up Publix on Saturday morning for their 50% Kellogg's Cereal sale!

Here's our breakdown:

1 box Kellogg's Corn Pops @ 2.35

1 box Kellogg's Rice Krispies @ 2.17

1 box Kellogg's Raisin Bran @ 1.90

1 box Kellogg's Fruit Loops @ 2.14

1 box Kellogg's Frosted Wheat @ 2.20

-Used $5/off 5 boxes coupon

Total spent: $5.76

2 boxes Green Giant Frozen Vegetables @ BOGO 1.99

-Used .50/ off 2 boxes coupon

Total spent: $1

1 bottle Wishbone dressing @ BOGO 2.85

-Used .70/ off 1 bottle coupon

Total spent: $.73

AND, we had one splurge (atleast it was on BOGO)

1 bag Ruffles Chips @ BOGO 4.29

Total spent: 2.15

Total paid: $11.09

Saving of $23.00 (coupon savings: $6.70)

CVS was really my pride and joy this week though.

All of this for $3.23 out of pocket.

This makes me feel some serious satisfaction :)

Lastly we hit up Target for some free yogurt. We got 2 4 packs for FREE. And picked up some can drinks on sale to take to SS. We used our last Target gift card from our wedding. Whew, it was a sad moment!! (We almost stretched it a year!)

Love to save me some money!! Heading to Target again tomorrow on my day off for a few more freebies!!

High Five for Friday.

1. All things Valentines. Including my wonderful Valentine:

{even though he is a goob}

2. Making our bed cozy and welcoming like this:

{here}

3. Laughing. I made 4 big ole mistakes this week in my cooking. Which resulted in one meal that wasn't edible. :) Glad hubby will laugh with me and then order us a pizza!

4. Baking successes. It's only right to say something I did right after sharing the negative details! Made some delicious cupcakes and blondie brownies. YUM!

5. Winning 2nd runner up in the "You Had Me at War Eagle" contest through AuburnArt :) We will see what our prize is once we get it in the mail. Ohhh, the anticipation!

Have a happy weekend, soak up the weather today.

{link up}

Valentine's recap.

If reading blogs does one thing to a girl it is this: Obsession with all things Valentines- hearts, pink, red, goodies, flowers, decor. Sadly, my husband can agree that I have fallen for it.

SO true.

I started Monday night:

I got completely sucked in to making cute little tasty treats:

Decorating all around the house:

And of course hubby did a great job. Brought me a card and twizzlers Valentine's morning and lovely roses when he got home from work :)

I made sure hubby was completely sugared up. I snuck in the bathroom the night before and decorated the mirror with markers and gel hearts! Powdered donuts for breakfast. Card and snickers when he got home. And then we cooked a delicious steak dinner! YUM.

Valentine's is such a fun day. I love showing and telling my loved ones how much I love them!

Auburn love.

I entered me and Matthew in this contest for auburnart.com

SOOO, help us out.. Go to facebook and like their page and find the post about us and LIKE it :) Thank ya, thank ya!

War Eagle!!!

High Five For Friday.

Linking up with From My Grey Desk today for my five this week. This will be my replacement for my Friday's Favorite Five! It's more fun to link up :)

#5. Countdown!

It's only four short days till the big day. Everyone have their plans finalized?! Maybe some early celebration this weekend, or waiting till next weekend- we hate Valentine's Day crowds!

#4. Bible Study with the sunday school girls! We didn't get much "studying" done but definitely needed to soak up some girl time!

#3. Chinese FOOD!

Typically we strive to not eat out more than once a week. This week was an exception because Matthew was out of town on Tuesday night! I got to fulfill my craving for some Chinese food! YUM! :) As an added bonus I got to slack off quite a bit this week with cooking!

#2. 9 months.

Enjoying a fun night at home with the hubs. 9 months is quite the accomplishment right?! :)

#1. Family time.

The fam come in town yesterday for an Elizabeth exchange! We went to Genghis Grill- so delish!!

What I Wore: Wedding Edition

My first time linking up!

I couldn't miss an opportunity to share what I wore on my wedding day! I bought my dress at the same little shop in Auburn that my mom bought her dress years back. I thought that made it all the more special.I knew I would wear some cute little colored ballet flats in my wedding. My bridesmaids wore green dresses so I just got all matched up with them!My earrings were my "something old." My sister in law, Meaghan, had given me these when I was a bridesmaid in her wedding. They were exactly what I imagined for my big day. Dainty, little pearls with a little bling.I could not bring myself to spend "the big bucks" on a veil. Right after getting engaged I won a $100 gift card to an online wedding retailer from The Perfect Palette. I found this one with scattered little pearls sewn on it. Perfect.I also wore a pearl bracelet borrowed from my other sister in law, Katherine. And it is a fact that my attire would not have been complete without my orange and blue Auburn garter!May 7th was a wonderful day :){photo credit- pictures 1-4: Regan Bradford}

Ff5.

{Friday's Favorite Five}

#5. Cheap Valentine's decor!

I got this for less than $2!

#4. Lounge time

I don't have as much chill time at night now, I feel like we're going all the time! So it has been wonderful to have some down time in the afternoons!

#3. Bible study

We meet every other week with the girls from sunday school! We just love getting together and chatting it up- and going through our study!

#2. Kisses From Katie

I'm borrowing this book from my MIL and it is amazing! I'm only 5 chapters in and I can honestly say it's a must read!

#1. Date night

With my wonderful hubby! I love anytime we get to spend together!

Good, good week!