Versatile Blogger Award

I would like to say thank you to my friend LB at A Step In the Journey for giving me the Versatile Blogger Award!

What you need to know about the Versatile Blogger Award:

1. Thank the person that gave you the award & link back to them in your post.

2. Share 7 things about yourself.

3. Pass this award to a few other recently discovered bloggers.

A few things about me:

1.  I studied abroad in Italy for a semester.  Not only did I get the experience of a lifetime, but I gained seven of the best girlfriends a girl could ask for.
2. I'm afraid of heights!  Big time, just thinking about it makes me queasy.  My interview for my current job took place on the 50th floor.  I was nauseous just getting off the elevator!  I was really glad our office moved down to 17!
3. I knew from the moment I met my husband (in high school) I would marry him. 
4. I always thought I would have children at a young age, now I'm not sure when I will have kids.  I'm just fine with it being the two of us (plus the pup!)
5. I try to recycle or buy organic, but sometimes it's really hard.  Especially when our apartment complex doesn't recycle aluminum or plastic! In other words, sometimes I'm just lazy.
6. I've started watching Big Rich Texas on the Style Network.  I'm not usually a reality tv fan, but there is something so ridiculous about this show, I'm hooked!  It's embarrasing!
7. I hate coming up with things about me!  This is really hard!

And now for a few of my recent blog discoveries!
Gus and Lula
A Simple Nest
The Preston Experiment
The View From Five Two
The Linenger Line
Our Extra Ordinary Life
Tale of a GRITS

Countdown to football

It's no secret that I am a HUGE Auburn fan!  And my husband is an even BIGGER Mississippi State fan.  In our house, football is not just something that comes on tv on Saturday and Sunday, it's a way of life.  My husband has been inundating me with football for the last few weeks.  Let's just say I have learned to tune out some of it ;) With football season fast approaching, one of the most important things to a good football season is tailgating.  Pinterest has been keeping me busy and I can not wait to try some of these wonderful recipes out!

 Via

Via 

Via

How cute would this look at a tailgate!

Via

And what would a tailgate be without a cute orange and blue outfit!?

Via

How cute would this be with an orange belt!

Via

Photography Challenge: Week #5

It is now week #5 of the photography challenge.  I have had a lot of fun learning more about my camera, plus it's a reason for me to blog.  I really do intend to blog more often, but I have found life has been too busy or just not interetesting enough to blog about. 

Week #5's challenge: Shoot from a high angle

Well what better than to take a few shots while at work.  I work in the third tallest building in Atlanta and thought the 50th floor of the building would make for some pretty high angles.  Here is what I came up with.

Buckhead

High Museum of Art

1180 Peachtree

View of the park at our building, unfortunately the shade of the building didn't make for a great picutre.

Photography Challenge: Week 4

I know, I know I'm late to the party again!  It's been somewhat of a crazy week.  So without further ado, my pictures for the Photography Challenge Week 4: Dinner.

Like I said, it was a crazy week, so I never made it to the grocery store.  So for our dinner, we headed out to KFC.

And since it was my sister's birthday this week, I thought I would throw in a picture of her cake.  My dad is an excellent cake baker!

Photography Challenge : Week 3 (a few days late)

Thursday morning my mom and I flew up to Chicago to spend a few days with my grandmother.  My grandmother has been in and out of the hospital lately recovering from a broken hip and a few other things that come from old age.  For the last month she has been staying in a facility that is helping her get stronger everyday so she can come back home to my aunt's house.  I haven't been up here since thanksgiving last year and a visit was long overdue.

So unfortunately, my photography entry is a few days late.  However, my grandmother and our time together has left me with some great pictures.  I have never, ever seen my grandmother with her nails painted.  She has never been that interested in things like that so to my surprise her fingernails were bright pink.  Unfortunately she thought the nurse painted them, but in reality my aunt gave her a manicure to pass the time while she stays at the rehab facility.  I thought her bright pink nails and green root beer float would be the perfect subject.

These hands have raised five children, seventeen grandchildren, and nine great grandchildren.

 I thought I would throw in a few more pictures of my mom and I spending the day outside with her.

 

 

Candles for Caden

My friend from high school, Becca just gave birth to her second child, a little boy named Caden, just over a week ago. Just after he was born they found some severe heart defects and had to perform open heart surgery when he was just a few days old. You can read more about their journey here.

It amazes me how many people have reached out to love, support and pray for this family from all over the country and really the world. People who don't know them are praying for this precious little boy. God had a big plan for this little boy and he is changing hearts everyday.  There is a Facebook page Candles for Caden that has kept everyone up to date on his prognosis and has even started some fundraising for this family. See Becca and Adam have started a nonprofit for inner city children in Atlanta and only live on support they raise. So with a child in the ICU bills are quickly pilling up I'm sure. So in an effort to help them any way I can, I have also set up a fundraiser in their name through my Scentsy website. All of the proceeds from this month's sales are being donated to the Stanley's.  Every little bit helps and hopefully we can make a small impact on this family whose little boy us having a big impact on hearts and minds across the globe.

To find ways to support them visit:

Scenty - Candles For Caden

Facebook - Candles for Caden

Give Forward

Becca and Adam's Ministry

If you can, please help me support them the only way I know how, through prayers and fundraising.  I know prayers have sustained them this far and I know God will provide for them what they need, but they have a long road ahead.

Photography Challenge Week #2

Week #2 of our photography challenge is What Makes You Smile? 

Since last week Miles seemed to take front and center of my self portrait, I decided I needed to find something else to photograph.  While there are several things that make me smile, husband, family, friends, I thought those would be too easy.  So I thought all day about it yesterday and on my home from work I heard the new Rascal Flatts song on the radio.  A light bulb went off!  I LOVE Rascal Flatts.  I can remember the first time I heard Praying for Daylight, I was a sophomore in high school and had just gotten my drivers license (this does age me) and I've been in love ever since!

So this week's photo is of my Rascal Flatts Cd's (this is by no means my entire collection :)) 

Ryan and I went to CMA Fest in June and got to see Rascal Flatts, very fun!!

On a side note, a friend of mine from high school had a sweet baby boy yesterday.  Right after he was delivered they found some severe heart defects and had to rush him to the children's hospital.  You can read more about it here.   It makes my heart smile how many people have wrapped them in love and prayers already, but they could really use your prayers.