I was inspired by New York City based real estate platform, Compass, recently about their project, Starter Stories!  If you are in the market for a NYC Apartment, I would suggest starting with them! They can connect you to the perfect place and the right neighborhood that fits your personality. It can definitely make home searching much easier and fun.

I am so excited about this chance to share our home a little more on my blog. I started to think about what area I wanted to share next and of course I was hoping to share our downstairs ½ bath and back hallway renovation but that is taking much longer than I hoped. It is about 60% finished right now but we haven't had the extra time to complete it. However, the one room that I have been able to complete is our guest bedroom!

We officially have our first house guests visiting us right now and I'm so excited to share the little space they can call home for the next few days. We love having the extra space for a guest room and we are so thankful for the chance to finally use it.

One of my favorite parts about this room is the colors. This bed was in my old room before I got married and I loved making it bright and colorful. A little flash back post to when I completed the headboard for my bright green room. When we came to see this house for the first time and I saw the color on these walls I knew that my bedding would be perfect!! It really is surreal how perfect they match. It helped make this house seem like home since everything just clicked. 

I love walking by this room and seeing the bright colors and the welcoming vibe that we have in this room. Now that we've had our first house guests, we are ready for more!! Come on family and friends, we welcome you!

Because I love him.

This wonderful man that I am blessed to call husband, he is a good one. He is my true better half and I love doing life with him. He spoils me and loves me in all the little ways and the big ways that a sweet hubby should and most importantly, he does it because God calls him to do it. Over the past year I have learned a lot about being a wife and he has learned a lot about being a husband. We have definitely NOT perfected this thing called marriage but we have had fun learning what it is all about. We are still learning and I know we will never stop. We stumble but we always pick each other back up. We talk things out. We listen to each other. We work hard.

Our trip to Boston was a perfect anniversary gift to each other but I felt like I wanted to do a little something extra for Peter. We share a deep love for a craft beer and he really loves some Oktoberfest celebrations, so when I heard that Asheville has an awesome festival, I jumped on it! Sunday just happened to be our Two Year Engagement Anniversary, also! Since I love celebrating every kind of anniversary, I thought it only made sense to celebrate in Asheville with a frosty beer in hand, right? Yea, I thought so too!!

Smelling the fresh hops!

^^ Peter in the stein holding competition. The stein's were plastic and they were filled with water, 

but surprisingly heavy. He didn't win... but it was fun to watch the final two below. 

 ^^ this guy was set up writing poetry on demand. I was dying for him to write something for us.
After passing by several times I finally stopped by and told him that we just celebrated our One Year
and he asked us if we had a dog or a cat, so I told him we had six chickens.
He smiled and wrote this below. I love it and I can't wait to frame it in our home!

 beautiful sunset while we were walking around downtown!

I'm also excited to mark #56 off of my 101 in 1001 list! 

Slowly but surely, this list is getting checked off!! 

Friend Package 01

I was pretty excited when I edited my 101 in 1001 list and changed my journal writing to gift giving. It is so much more fun to give gifts to those you love, right? I mean, journal writing just gives you hand cramps and I already do so much writing here that I just didn't have the desire to write more in a journal.

I'm really excited to share the gift packages after I send them because one of my love languages is most definitely gift giving. There is an art to gifts and I love to make my own little mark with the packaging and thought behind each little surprise. This is my first gift package that I've ever sent out and I'm glad that I decided to send my first to my sweet friend, Cassie!

One of my favorite things about getting married was finding all kinds of things with my new last name initial so I stocked up on a few B things for Cassie and her new last name. I also FINALLY sent her some of the burlap placemats from my wedding that I have been promising to send her ever since the wedding, only 10 months later! Oops, better late than never.

Both Cassie and I had been searching Etsy for the Long Distance Friend mugs after seeing one on Instagram and she found Tickled Teal Paperie. The mugs were perfect and exactly what we wanted but I didn't make much of a fuss over them so I could surprise her and put one in this package. 

And of course I bought one for myself too...

To purchase a mug of your own or for a long distance friend check out Tickled Teal Paperie

and use the code, SHOPTICKLEDTEAL for 10% off of anything in the shop!

It was a lot of fun to package everything up so she can have several surprises, even after opening the box!

I only wish I could have seen her face when she received it!!! 

In The Word // Psalms 145:18

I'm going to be completely honest with all of you.... my prayer life sucks. I simply do not talk to the Lord on purpose enough. I feel Him and I know He is always with me, but do I make a point every day to sit in His presence and talk to Him? No, I do not. 

I make excuses. I fill my time with all kinds of things (this blog being a BIG thing) and I simply don't make time for prayer. I hate this about my relationship with the Lord. It makes my connection with Him hard. Just like any relationship that doesn't have a strong type of communication, it will struggle. 

At the beginning of this month I came across this post and I felt God tugging on my heart. Asking me to take this challenge and work on our relationship. During the past week it hasn't been perfect, but it has been better. I am thinking about talking to the Lord more. I feel that I need it more. It has been a great challenge.

The 31 days of prayer:

July 1st: Spouse (current or future)

July 2nd: Parents

July 3rd: Neighbor (Literal)

July 4th: Neighbors around you (community you live in)

July 5th: Co-worker (specific person)

July 6th: Boss

July 7th: Friend (specific)

July 8th: Group of friends

July 9th: Distant/Lost friend

July 10th: A new baby

July 11th: Siblings

July 12th: A member of your extended family

July 13th: Church friend or family

July 14th: Your pastor

July 15th: An ex

July 16th: An old teacher

July 17th: An online friend (yay blogosphere!)

July 18th: A homeless person

July 19th: A refugee

July 20th: Military member

July 21st: Your President/Country's Leader

July 22nd: Your Country's Decision Makers

July 23rd: A new Christian

July 24th: A lost friend (spiritually)

July 25th: A grandparent

July 26th: A broken family

July 27th: Current or future children

July 28th: Current or past roommate

July 29th:  Other believers

July 30th: Yourself presently

July 31st: Your future self + family

Some other things that I have done to help in the past few days are....
1// Try my best to set aside time every day to do this. Add it in my schedule so it won't be a last minute, because I have to do it, kind of thing.
2// Start a prayer journal. I've been meaning to do this ever since I made my 101 in 1001 list back in November but once again, I made excuses. I knew that I wouldn't fill the pages and take the time to write down my prayers. his way.
3// Writing down your prayers will also help you stay focused. My mind doesn't wander as easily when I'm using pen and paper.

I'm trying my best to be thankful and persistent to thank Him for all the things that fill my day. Knowing that all my blessings come from Him makes that easier.

How is He working in your heart?

Share it with us anytime this week, we would love to hear from you!

 

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In The Word // Titus 2:3-5

This study through Titus is wrecking my heart in the best way possible. It is pointing out answers to prayers I've been praying for weeks. It is bringing up questions that I have been ignoring. It is touching all areas of my life right now. I know all of these things are from the Lord, and that makes me feel so much happiness in my heart.

One of the goals on my 101 in 1001 project that I have been putting off has been brought to the surface thanks to this study through Titus. Finding a mentor. Just saying that makes me nervous. When I typed out #14 on that list for the first time many months ago, I had a picture of that woman in my head. A woman that is strong, kind, patient, loving, honest and challenging. My heart has been pulling toward one particular woman for a long time now. From the moment I met her I knew she could be a wonderful person to DO LIFE with. I honestly think that is the best part of having a mentor. Doing life together, learning from their past and going to them with your future. Making a bond that is founded on the Lord and wanting to become closer through Him. That is what I’m yearning for.

Now the hard part happens…. Ask her. Taking the effort to make that first step. I’m not going to lie, I’m very nervous about it. I wonder what her response will be. If she feels like she will have the time to do this or even the drive to do it, but I keep going back to that intuition I have in my heart about it. I truly feel that the Lord is pointing her out for a reason and I don’t want to ignore that anymore. No more excuses. It’s time & I pray for His strength to complete the task and take the first step. This step could potentially be one of the best decisions I've ever made and that is so thrilling.

Do you have a mentor? How did you go about asking them??
Or are you a mentor for someone?

Share with us what you have in your heart right now.
Link up today, or tomorrow, or the day after.
Cassie & I will have the link up open for a week so join us!!

 

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3.5 x 2 Inches of Happy.

I'm so happy to say that I feel like a legit blogger right now!! I've been wanting to have some custom business cards made for my blog for a while. There are so many times when I'm talking to someone and my blog comes up somehow. When that happens I normally just jot down the web address on a napkin, corner of a piece of paper or even text them the link but I always thought it would be really neat to have a card to give out instead. Something that has all of my information listed... my email, facebook page, Instagram page and this little website. I honestly look at this space as a part time job for me. No, I don't get paid to do it but I do really love it, and it takes up a lot of time. Part of blogging is all about the marketing and I believe business cards will help. Now, thanks to the wonderful company, tinyprints, I have these beautiful cards! 

this product is c/o Tinyprints

all opinions are honest & my own

The website is very user friendly and I'm so happy with the final product!

Thank you, tinyprints, for the perfect cards. I love them and I can't wait to hand them out!!

+ I can now check this off my 101 in 1001 list.

101 in 1001 // Edited

I don't really know if this is allowed. It may be cheating but honestly I don't really care. This is my list and my little blog so I'm going to do it! There are several things on my list that I've realized are not going to happen for some sort of reason so instead of leaving them on the list I prefer to replace them with something that I know I want to accomplish now.

45. Finish Insanity together

Reason to Replace: it is physically impossible for me to do Insanity with my back and knee problems. Peter can do it, I can not. So this is something that I know will never be completed.

Replacement: Finish T25 together.

This workout routine is a lot less stress on my body and they have someone doing a modified version the entire time so I can easily look to see what they are doing.

51. Cook dinner for our Moms at least once a month
Reason to Replace: we have missed so many months already because all of our schedules are so crazy! However, we have not missed one week of seeing both of our Moms so that is why I am replacing it.
Replacement: Make sure we see our Mom's at least once a week. I think this is so important for the relationships within our family. I'm so lucky to have a Mom and a Mom-in-Law that I love dearly!


69. Travel to Germany for Oktoberfest
Reason to Replace: after discussing this with Peter multiple times I've realized this is not going to happen for many reasons. The plane tickets are crazy expensive for this time of year in Germany. Most of the time at Oktoberfest is technically just a HUGE Drunkfest, and that is not something we really want to do. We can travel to Germany another time during the year and have a better experiece without so many people.
Replacement: Travel to Germany. Plain and simple, I just want to go!


79. Go skydiving
Reason to Replace: again, after discussing this with Peter multiple times I've realized this is not going to happen for ONE reason. Peter has been skydiving three different times and all three times were "Pre-Cassie" so when I put this on my list I thought he would be excited to do it with me. Nope, I was wrong. He said "We have way too much ahead of us in our life together to go and jump out of a plane." which I thought was sweet and very true. He also pointed out that he was single everytime he did jump out of a plane which made a big difference. So I will be removing it, because he is right!
Replacement: Go Scuba Diving. Because that isn't dangerous and we can see pretty fish!


87. Go to the 6:15AM hot yoga class and make it a habit
Reason to Replace: I'm not a morning person and this is NOT going to happen. period.
Replacement: Join the gym at work and make it a habit to workout at least three days a week.
(this may be cheating since I've already joined the gym here in my office but I have absolutely loved it and I'm working hard to workout at least three days a week now!)


93. Read every Jane Austen novel. (0/6)
Reason to Replace: I've realized that I can't read these books because I don't feel a deep passion to finish it. I start a book and I have every intention to complete it but I simply don't want to. So I tried to think of a series that I really do want to read and I think will better my outlook on life and instantly a series popped in my head!
Replacement: Read the Chronicles of Narnia series (0/7)


96. Finish Couch to 5K
Reason to Replace: Again, because of my knees this is just not possible. Running is not my friend.
Replacement: Work my way up to 40 minutes on the stairmill at Level 10. (this does not hurt my knees at all!)


101. Write in a journal once a month
Reason to Replace: I just do not have time to sit down and journal. This is my journal.... right here on this blog.
Replacement: Send 10 care packages to 10 different friends! Because that is a lot more fun, right??

Hands On Greenville.

Over the weekend we got to participate in HOG day with our church! When we were talking about the options as a group and traveling to Powdersville (about a 25 minute drive) came up I was interested since that is where I grew up. I didn’t move to Greenville until my sophomore year of High School so my "growing up years" was spent in Powdersville. Then I found out that we would actually be working at my elementary school! I squealed. It was exciting!! 

Once we arrived to the school to start work I had such a warm, fuzzy feeling inside. I have so many memories of this place. They may be really small and distant memories but they are still special memories. This is where I became a little girl. Where I made friends for the first time. Where I learned responsibility.

I also didn't expect to be so emotional about working at the school with Peter. I just kept thinking about little, baby Cassie and all the dreams she had when she walked the halls every day. I thought about my first crush and how I would think about meeting my Prince Charming one day. It was a little full circle kind of moment for me. It sounds cheesy and silly but it was so gratifying to return to my school after such a long time with the man that I love. The person who I will create a family with. It was fun day!

Plus, it is nice to check off my #1 task on my 101 in 1001 list! 

Easter 2014.

My favorite holiday most definitely Easter! I love that the reason for this holiday is solely on Jesus and what He did to save us all. From the moment we got married I called dibs on this day. I told everyone that we would be spending Easter at our house and we would make lunch. I wanted to celebrate Jesus and serve others with my husband in our home. 

Peter and his family typically have lamb for Easter and I gladly adopted that tradition. We were in charge of the meat and asparagus, my mom brought her delicious horseradish mashed potatoes and carrots, then Peter's mom brought my favorite Arabic meal, Kibbeh Labanieh and her amazing rice pudding. We were so stuffed and happy. Exactly the way you should be on a holiday! 

I was also super excited to use all of my china for the first time. It was such a special day and I'm so happy we could spend the afternoon together and celebrate a risen Messiah. I hope you all had a wonderful Easter surrounded by people you love.

ps. Tomorrow is the first day that Cassie and I will be hosting our In The Word Tuesday link-up!
Tomorrow, I will be talking more about what I've been reading and studying lately in His Word during this special time of year. Come back and share your heart with us. No rules, restrictions, or prompts; we just want to hear what Christ has put in your heart! We are excited about this project and hope that it will give us all an opportunity to connect. So, grab the button below and connect!

 

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