Baby, I'm back..

Hi, remember me?

I thought I'd throw my face out there since I've officially sucked as a blogger and was almost classified MIA.  I blame it on vacation.  The week before I was busy trying to get things done before I left, then I was gone, and then I come home to another list of things to get done after the fact.  So, yes, I blame it on vacation.   

But just to clear up the air here- I still want to be on vacation.  The end.

Let's get back on topic, shall we?

I am just a few days over 100 from my wedding day.  That means it's CRUNCH time in my book. I have a ton of things left to do/buy/make so I see the next couple months being a wedding fiasco on the weekends.  I can't say that I won't be glad when it's over.  It has literally taken over two bedrooms of my house.  I'm OCD.  I don't like things "taking over" my space.  It needs to be used and GONE.  Who wants to buy some wedding stuff after October 12? LOL.

Really though, the day is quickly approaching and I'm trying to do little things around the house to prepare for Brian moving in on "my space".  HA!  It will be a huge adjustment to me to have all of his stuff.. not him.  I'm good with him moving in, but I haven't really ever shared a closet, or bathroom, or anything like that.  So that part.. well I see some future blog posts on this topic! :)

He is such a sweetie though, and I wake up each day grateful to have him in my life and a part of my future.  He will be an amazing husband and a fantastic father one day.  

This week I promise to be a better blogger, and spend more time on Facebook and Twitter, and actually comment on some blogs.  Like I said, I'm so behind that when I got back from vacation I literally just marked the 371 unread blogs as read.  I know, I suck.  But this week I'm getting back in the swing of things.  I'm going to give an update on Reagan, show off my vacation pictures, and tell some upcoming wedding projects.  So come back.  I promise to not go MIA again.. :)

In the meantime, don't forget to find me on Facebook/Twitter/Instagram! 

Re-coop.

I really stink as a blogger this week.  I keep looking at my "To Do" list and it keeps getting longer!  I"m trying to get back in the swing of reality, and it's not going so well!

I've got some posts coming up soon (soon as I can get them written!) so bare with me! :)

What you DON'T want to hear on vacation.

Why is it when you are hours away from home, everything seems to fall apart?

Well, this year that was my story.  We left for vacation on June 15 (Saturday) and everything was fine at my house when I left.  I kissed the dogs goodbye and told them both to behave.

Well, by the 17th (that Monday), Reagan wasn't walking.  At first we all thought he was depressed.  Just being honest, the dog loves me and has a history of becoming depressed when I'm gone from home a few days.  So when my parents' called and told me I didn't really think much of it.  I just knew that was his problem and it was going to be a long week for him.

Then they called back on Tuesday and said every time they tried to stand him, his back half of his body would go limp and he was dragging himself when he tried to move anywhere.  This is when panic set in for me.  Reagan is a dachshund.  That breed is prone to having back problems, so I knew this was always a possibility.  However, after age two Reagan has been the calmest dog EVER.  He doesn't like to jump on things or be very active at all.  So I didn't think this would apply to him as much.  I was wrong.

I waited one more day before calling the vet's office.  We all thought he might have just hung a toenail (happens a lot with him) and his feet were sore.  But after he still wouldn't do anything Wednesday morning, I was freaking out.  My dad felt all of his toes, legs, stomach, and back and he said Reagan never flinched at all.  I knew then something was really wrong.

The vet said to bring him in, so my dad took him.  After I felt like they had enough time at the appointment, I called to see what the diagnosis was and what I ended up hearing sent me into a tailspin of tears.  They thought he had slipped a disc in his back and needed surgery, ASAP.  And that surgery was going to cost over $3,000.00.  The emotions I felt were so heart-wrenching.  I felt helpless.  I was sitting there on a balcony looking out into the most beautiful thing in the world, and hours back at home my baby was facing a possibility of surgery WITHOUT me there.

I called back and talked to my dad about what to do.  We both decided that since he wasn't hurting to pressure being put on him, that we were going to try steroids instead of jumping into surgery immediately.  It was probably one of the hardest things to do.  I was chancing my dog's ability to walk ever again by a decision left in my hands, hours away from him, without seeing him myself.  But I did it.  I called and let them know that I was going to try the steroids.  They said okay, and Reagan was scheduled to stay at the vet for two nights for observation.  That alone just sent me into another fit of crying.  Reagan is very much a "homebody" dog.  He doesn't like car rides and he's NEVER spent a night not at home before.  I was hurting probably as much as him.

While he was at the vet, they did some X-rays, laser treatments, and constant baths (since he couldn't even get up to use the bathroom without doing it on himself). I called every day for a new update on my baby.  The vet was seriously a life saver.  He took time out of his (I'm sure) busy day to call and let me know exactly what was happening with Reagan since he knew I was on vacation and feeling very helpless.

On Friday, my parents' picked him up from the vet.  Dad said he was so happy to see them, and so happy to see Roxie.  However, his lifestyle had to be different.  Instead of being able to walk freely in the house, Reagan has to be confined to a small area.  Instead of using a crate, we have him confined in my small spare bathroom.  Luckily, he is a lazy dog and doesn't want to get up much more than he has to anyway, so he is pretty much staying where ever you place him.  We have moved his food and watering bowls to right next to his bed so it's easier on him.  The vet instructed that he doesn't need to walk anymore than a few steps at all. He needs to stay still, get plenty of rest, and continue his meds. He also said that he needs to lay on flat surfaces.  A pillow can cause them to get out of posture and worsen the problem.  It makes a lot of sense when you think about it, but I've ALWAYS given him pillows for comfort.  So I think he is a little mad at me over taking his pillow away, ha!

I got home Saturday night and was SO ready to see Reagan.  Since then, he has been getting up and using the bathroom on his pads and not himself.  He is eating normal, drinking plenty of fluids, and taking his meds like a pro.  We went back for his first follow-up laser treatment yesterday.  He likes to stand and walk a few steps, but then I make him get back in his bed.  I am SOOO happy to see him getting back to "normal", but I know we are so far away from being healed.

I have had a GREAT group of family/friends who have checked on him just as if he is a real little boy. Those are the true friends that understand that this dog is more than a dog to me,  he is a part of the family.

So, please keep my baby in your puppy prayers, and if you are a dog owner of this breed PLEASE be aware of what all activities your dog is doing and what could cause this to happen. I think we lucked out and didn't get a full blown case, but we aren't out of the water yet.  Just be mindful of your dog jumping on things, and making habits that might one day be a very painful moment for them.  This has made me realize that I have to start enforcing better rules with Roxie and her jumping habits.  Just not worth the risk to me.

Sunday Social

1. What is your favorite store to shop at?

Um... I don't shop very much.  But when I do, I really like Target or Old Navy.

2. If you could afford anything and everything, which designer brand would you covet?

Michael Kors would populate my closet. :)

3. What is your must have closet staple?

Black dress pants.  I wear them 3-4 times a week, so they are a must for me!

4. What is your favorite kind of shoes? (brand or type)

I love flip flops.  And more specifically, I love Rainbows and Yellow Box. :)

5. What is the best clothing deal you've ever gotten? (sale or amazing find)

I am a CHEAP-O.  So I've scored a lot of good deals. I can't think of the best one ever off the top of my head though!

6. What is a style you'd love to try?

I would love to try more headbands.  I love how they look on girls, but when it comes to me- I feel like I look like an idiot!

P.S.- Beach Vacation recap coming up this week! :)

Happies in life!

Hey there, new friends! Y'all probably know this already, but our dear sweet Kayla is away on vacation right now - and today is my turn to fill in for her. So Hi, Hello, Aloha! I'm Halie and I blog at Penguins, Pasta & Polka Dots. In a nutshell, I'm a wife-to-be planning my wedding for this upcoming October. I write about my silly adventures, bike rides, food, crafts, nail art, losing weight and getting healthy, and all sorts of random things. It's quite fun, if I do say so myself. :)

I'm typically a very positive and upbeat kinda gal. I love having fun and laughing, and I love finding new things that make me happy. Of course it changes all the time, sometimes almost daily it feels like, but today I just want to share with you 5 quick things that are currently making me super happy!

1. Summer time. I love the sunshine and the beach and swimming and working on my tan. Seriously - it's one of my favorite things about living in Florida.

2. Wedding planning! We're at a pretty fun part of the process, and I definitely have what a fellow blogger-friend of mine described as "bride brain." It's all I can think about sometimes!

3. That my future step-sons are here visiting us for a few weeks. My fiance Jeff has twin almost-7-year-old's who live about 9 hours from us. But they are here to hang out for six weeks (2 sets of 3) this summer! And they're so stinking cute :)

4. My new blog design. My awesome blog friend and designer just made me my second new design since January, and I'm kind of obsessed with this one. Love it!

5. Fresh fruits. Specifically mango! Soo good and so summery. I could eat one every night as dessert.

Simple list, but each of these things brings me so much enjoyment and happiness. I think y'all should also try to list at just five little things that make you happy. I think it makes us stop and appreciate those things so much more when we take time to actually recognize them! So think about it, and then make sure you take advantage of those things.

If it's a person - tell them.
If it's a place - go for a quick visit.
If it's an activity - get out and do it!
If it's food - definitely eat it.

Whatever it is, just make sure you take time to enjoy whatever it is that makes YOU happy!

I'm glad Kayla had me around her cute bloggy-blog today, so that I could also take the time to think about these things. But I'm also glad because it gives me a chance to make some new blog friends! I'd love for y'all to hop on over to my little space and say hello. Seriously, I love it when I get comments and emails. (I know we all do, I'm just admitting I like it a whole super lot...) Hope to hear from  y'all soon, and meet some new friends!

Also, you can find me all over the social media world, but my favorite is definitely Instagram, then Vine!

Instagram // Vine // Twitter // Pinterest // BlogLovin // MyFitnessPal

****
Thanks, Halie, for joining in with me today to share this!  Isn't she so sweet everyone?!  Now, what are you waiting for?  Go see her blog... NOW! :)

Are you a FRIEND?

A friend is a gift, one gives itself.

Today I want to share with you one of my best blogging friends.  I just love this girl so much!  

Fun fact: She got married where I was proposed to! :)  Small world!

This girl has always been a friend to me and helped me with many things/questions.  She's never once made me feel beneath her.  In fact, the opposite.  It's hard to find such sweet, honest, caring girl like this today.  I cherish finding her!

And can I mention she has THE most adorable little boy??!?! 

Now, I'll stop blabbing and let you meet my FRIEND!

Hi everyone! My name is Samantha and I blog over at Hooah and Hiccups. Today, I'm here to tell you why I'm an addict... Addicted to FRIENDS! Duh! Seriously, does this show ever get old? It's on everyday from 3:30-5:00 pm EST and although I'm not always able to watch it, it's on in the background. Bubba loves it too, so don't think I'm neglecting my child.  And in case I miss it, I own all 10 seasons on DVD...

{via}

So today I want to tell you why I encompass every single character in at least one way.   Joey: I'm a goofball. I'm an intelligent person, don't get me wrong, but sometimes I say really stupid things; word vomit if you will. Like the time I laughed at my sister-in-law for thinking Mt. Everest was in Maine and continued to tell her it was in Colorado. Total Joey move.  Chandler: Sarcasm. Chandler is ridiculously sarcastic and most of the time, so am I. I'm always cracking jokes, and sometimes at inappropriate times. I hope my bloggy friends can tell that over the internet because otherwise, I may just come off as a weirdo.  Ross: He's awkward. I'm not always awkward but I can definitely be awkward given the right, or wrong, situation. Ross is my favorite character on the show though, so I must love awkward people.  Rachel: DUH, fashion. I'm obsessed with fashion and being trendy and Rachel totally has the best job ever. Plus, she's gorgeous and I want to be her. But I guess I really want to be Jennifer Aniston, not Rachel Green. Anyways...  Phoebe: My musical talent. I joke with Z all the time that I'm not using my "real" voice when I sing, because I don't want him to judge me. But I will rock out to some karaoke or get down to the radio in the car. Smelly cat, smelly cat... Monica: I love to cook. Okay so I've never been head chef at a restaurant or anything, but I accidentally discovered I'm a pretty decent cook. I also looked like high school Monica when I was pregnant... does that count as a similarity? (Big Fat Goalie anyone?!) Hope you'll come by and say hi! And a big thanks to Kayla for having me!  Hopefully, she'll have me back again :) 

Thanks doll!  I am so glad to have you in my little world!  Now, ladies, you can see how great she is so head on over to her blog and start following her! :)  You won't be sorry!

How I Failed at Online Dating But Still Managed to Get the Ring!

Dating.  Internet dating.  We've all known someone whose tried it, and we all know there are just as many success stories as failures.  Today I've got one of my good friends here to let you know what she thinks about the topic.  

Everyone, welcome Ginny to my part of the blogosphere. She's just as fun and pretty as she looks!

        

When I got to writing about my online dating woes, I realized that I just couldn't stop typing. I have so much to say.  This post is so long that I will be breaking it down into a 3 part series. I have a lot of crazy stories to share and personal advice to give.    

  

It humbles me very much to know that I am through with dating!  Finished! Next May I will be walking down the aisle and marrying my prince charming.  I'm a very lucky girl...Matthew truly is EVERYTHING I have ever wanted in a husband.

I'm just another statistic. Another girl about to walk down the aisle. And to all of the singletons out there, I'm probably just another reminder of where you aren't and where you would probably like to be. And if you are single, please don't grab the tissues just yet....

I will be the first to tell you that it took a lot of WORK to get where I am today! A lot of patience, trust, sadness, heartbreak, energy, tubs of ice-cream, chick-flicks, and even gut instinct. It is pretty exhausting looking back...and I didn't even meet my fiance through this process. Go figure! Matthew pretty much just fell right out of the sky, but before he came into my life, I was a busy bee in the dating world... on and off for a good couple of years. I took breaks while I was busy with nursing school and other life happenings but I was always looking. The stories I could tell are endless but I will do my best to highlight everything I want you to know so that you can be successful finding Mr. Right, online!

Match.com

Let me preface this by saying, I hear people all the time (including people I went on dates with through Match.com) reluctantly admit to online dating.  They often use phrases like: "Oh, I'm just on here to meet friendly people around town" ...or my favorite... "I'm not really looking to date anyone right now. I don't want to get too serious."  I'm not sure why this is.  Maybe it's the truth or maybe they are just too embarrassed to admit they are going that next step and looking for love on the internet.  Whatever the case may be, it's 2013.  Online dating isn't as creepy as the chat rooms of the 90's, but it still has it's creepers. Promise! Don't worry about what others think of you. Be confident!

I never uttered those phrases because I was looking for my life partner!  I was 25 and very ready to settle down with someone special.  A kind and caring man of marriage quality who was also looking for the same things in life. No sugar coating it here.  I wasn't putting myself out there on Match.com to just "meet friendly people around town."  I made this very clear with the people I went on dates with and I would suggest that you do the same if you are considering online dating. There are men of all ages on social dating websites who just want a "booty-call" or a quick hook-up here and there and are not afraid to show it.  Be prepared for those crazies.  Make it clear to potential dates that you are looking for a long-term commitment and go with your gut.  If he is acting shady then chances are he isn't someone you would want to bring home to Daddy. Move on.

I didn't have money to spend on an expensive online dating service, nor did I want to. I chose Match.com because it was free, popular, and people I worked with were having a lot of success with it. My manager at the time was getting married to a gal he had met on Match so it definitely sparked my curiosity. I was told not to do E-Harmony because the sign-up is extremely difficult and time consuming and the final matching process is very strange.  I was very motivated, excited, and apprehensive once I made the decision to start online dating.  As far as setting up my account and creating a detailed profile, Match.com was pretty easy breezy!

Profiling for Dates

In the first couple of days after registering, my inbox was OVERFLOWING with emails and messages from potential dates.  I had to turn my blackberry on silent, because I was getting an email every .5 seconds. This is just a normal alert telling everyone in your area that you are new to the scene. So of course, the "desparados" come out in full force thinking you are gullible and clueless. I deleted most, if not all, of those and began my own search.

The opportunities to meet people are endless and it can become VERY overwhelming at times, even addicting, especially in the beginning when everything is new and exciting. In a nutshell, there are a lot of decent looking guys on Match.com. From far away thumbnails they seem okay, but once you get to looking at their profile, they are a mess.  Bathroom picture selfies, spelling and grammatical errors that third graders don't even miss, photos with other WOMEN (seriously!), and just overt cockiness is not all too sparse.  But that is expected, right?

I learned one funny thing about men through online dating that I never knew before. Did you know that 90% of all the males on Match.com are adventure travelers!?!?!?!Wow, who would have thought that so many guys were adventurous, fly by the seat of your pants, let's go climb Mount Kilimanjaro types? They boast about always going para-sailing, sky-diving, white-water rafting, hiking the Ozarks, zip-lining, mountain climbing, rock climbing, etc. You name it, they are doing it. And they want a girl that is equally adventurous, as well as smart, funny, beautiful, family oriented, single, beautiful, child-less, college educated, not divorced, beautiful, christian, outgoing, not too shy but confident, a good cook, witty, not too tall, skinny and athletic, likes movies, enjoys going out to dinner, can be "just one of the guys" in certain situations, likes to clean, and loves sports.  Wow, talk about Superwoman not even being able to fulfill those requirements. Let's face it, it's quite the opposite. Most guys are not adventure travelers. You know it and I know it.  It costs a LOT of money to do these things. And MOST of the guys I have come across on dating websites, are not doctors or lawyers. They promote themselves as average middle class guys, with mediocre jobs just looking for love.  My advice is to take a lot of what you read on profiles with a grain of salt because things are not always what they appear to be, especially behind a computer screen. 

As far as my list, you can read more about the qualities that I was looking for here as they have stayed very much the same since then.  I was pretty open to meeting anyone as long as they were kind, genuine, and had a good heart.  I didn't really have any expectations on my dates, just that their profile matched up to who they were in person.

Part 2 will continue with Making Contact and The First Date

Part 3 will end with a Facebook fiasco and the end of my Online Dating experience.

Thanks, Ginny, for letting us into your life to hear your experiences.  I'm sure there are lots of other women who can agree with you on these points!

Now, ladies, if you haven't already checked out Ginny's blog, go on over and say hi! :)

Thank You Notes.

Hey lovers!

I'm Jenna from Life Is Sweet. 

Since Kayla has decided to take a vacation without any of us I thought I'd go ahead 

and my write thank you notes. 

Is that ok?

Dear Sam's Club, 

Thank you for always feeding me on the weekends with your samples. My dogs also love the 50 lb bag of dog food for only $25.

Dear Candy Crushers,

This love affair is over! Ask for tickets & move lives from someone other than me please!

xoxo- Annoyed with your notifications

Dear 4 inch memory foam mattress, 

Thank you for allowing me to sink into you at night.

Dear work,

I know its getting hot but please don't let all the crazy customer start showing their butts!

Dear Gluten Free foods,

My stomach loves you even if I do sneak a McDouble every once in a while.

Dear ATM fees,

Thank you for allowing me to buy my own money.

Dear Kayla,

Thank you for allowing me to take over your blog today even if I didn't get to go on vacation with you to the beach!

Thanks love-bugg for stopping in today.  I want to add to your post.. I want to thank YOU for being one of the best possible friends!  OOooh, and you get vacation every day to me based on where you live. :P

Dear Dad..

Daddy,

Today is a day to celebrate you, but we both know that I celebrate you more than just one day of the year.  You've always been the rock for me and taught me right from wrong.  You've shown me how to defend myself, and listen to others reactions.

I love you with my whole heart and can't wait to see you one day show my kids the love you've shown me.  Plenty of people say they have the best dad, but they just haven't met you.  You are the best there is.

I have loved you from the beginning and I'll love you always.

And no matter how many years pass, I'll always be daddy's little girl.                                  

Let's talk make-up [A great deal!]

That title made you want to click, didn't it?!  Well, I've got a treat for you today.  One of my sweet readers contacted me telling me about this little deal she is offering.  I was so excited about it that I'm sharing it with YOU, my readers.  This is just one of the many things I love about this blogging community.  We share tips, tricks, and DEALS! :)

I'll let miss Victoria from Felicitous Fruition tell you all about it! :)  Here she is:

Technically I'm self employed but I figure it doesn't really matter because I'm still SHARING MY DISCOUNT WITH YOU!

Mark. Makeup has been one of my secret love affairs for over two years now. I've been and Independent Mark. Consultant for just about a year. Earlier this week I posted my 10 Secrets to Perfect Red Lips in which I feature my favorite Lipclick Full Colour Lipstick in Cha-Cha. The post was so popular I figured I'd give you guys a little piece of the action, and an opportunity to own some of my very favorite Mark. products!

Because of my "Employee Discount" I'm able to offer you ladies this amazing deal now until July 6th, 2013!

For $35 (+$5 shipping and handling) you will get 3 of the above items of your choice!

Want more than three of them? Each additional item is $10 without any added shipping and handling fees; so really the more you buy, the more you save!

Order here & send payment to victoriaglasel@gmail.com via Paypal!

Looking to earn some money or free product? Or get an EXTRA DISCOUNT on your order? Promote this sale via your blog or social media and earn for promoting this sale! E-mail me at victoriaglasel@gmail.com for more details.

Have a question? Are you looking for a specific mark. Product? Shoot me an email at victoriaglasel@gmail.com I would love to help you!

As a consultant and Makeup Artist I am more than happy to answer your questions!

Weekend Times

How does Monday come around so fast?

Well, by having a wonderful week- that's how! This was a productive weekend for me.  And if you know me at all, you know that I thrive on having those kind of weekends!

Friday night, my entire family went out to eat.  This isn't something that happens very often because there are so many of us, with conflicting schedules.  It was really nice to get out and have a good time with the whole family! We went to one of Brian's favorite places, Catfish Country.  I have to admit, the food was probably the best I've ever had since we've been going there.  Or maybe I was just starving! ;)

There are some snapshots I took while we were waiting on own table.  I seriously can't believe Kaleb & Kamo are that big!  They should both still be babies!  And my man.. not enough sweet words to describe him! :)

Saturday morning, I got up and went to work.  WOW! That sounds weird.  But since the bank has been in it's location, there hasn't been a serious cleaning.  So a group of us got together and got a lot accomplished.  I just hope it continues to stay that way!

After that, I had lunch with my man and then came home, and cleaned out my shed.  What can I say? I think the cleaning/throw it out bug had caught ahold of me! Either way, the shed looks nice now too! And needless to say, Brian and I had a "down" night Saturday night.  I was wore out!

Sunday was a girls fun day! Mom, Jenna, and myself took a day and went to Tupelo for some shopping!  I stopped and picked up one of my bridesmaid' dresses since I was in town, and then we shopped around town.  Mom ended up finding her dress for my wedding and I found my dress for rehearsal!  That is a huge relief to cross those things off my "list."

We, of course, made time for carousel and playing! 

I love weekends like this one.  I get to spend time with those who matter most and are there when times get tough.  I get to see my loved ones smiling and making memories.  I get to cherish time with the people who made/make me who I am.  

What did you do this weekend?

Sunday Social

1.  How did you come up with your blog name? 
- I had a really hard time with this one when I first started my blog.  And I honestly can't remember what my first name was, but eventually I landed on Keeping Up With Kayla and went with it.  Oh, and yes, I stole it from the Kardashians.

BUT, a little hint- Come October and this little blog of mine is probably going through some changes! ;)

2. What is your favorite thing about blogging? 
-My favorite thing is by far getting to know other women who I otherwise wouldn't have the chance to meet.  I've found some of my best friends through this blogging community.

3. What is one thing you have discovered because of blogging and now can't live without?
belVita breakfast biscuits.  LOVE THOSE THINGS!!

4. Facebook or Twitter? and why? 
Twitter.  I still have Facebook, but I am way over it.  I like Twitter because it's easier, less "cluttered" in my opinion, and it's mainly my blogging friends. :)

5. If one celeb read your blog who would you want it to be? 
I highly doubt this would ever happen.  Besides, I don't blog for popularity.  I blog for me! :)

6. What is something you want people to know about your blog?
-My blog is a way for me to keep track of some of the most important days of my life.  I have found the love of my life, got engaged, and been planning a wedding.  I can't wait to see it evolve into a marriage and kiddos! :)

My blog will be a lot about me daily life, with some crafts, recipes, and random moments mixed in.  :)

Back in balance.

I've never been the type of person who immedietly thinks to take a medication when I have a medical issue.  Maybe it's because I have so many, the pain/suffering is nothing "new" to me.  Maybe that's a good, or maybe that's a bad thing.  Either way- I'm stubborn.

But lately, I've had to change that part of me.  If you remember, I wrote this post on feeling like I was on overload, and I also wrote about my lack of control.  I was really feeling like I was down in the dumps and life was just spinning out of control.

For anyone who knows me IRL or knows me well enough through this blog, knows that I like to be in control.  No, I NEED to be in control of myself and my emotions.  Yes, I'm very tender-hearted but I don't show that to just anyone.  I will keep a straight face, lie to someone that "I'm fine" and come home and cry before I let my emotions show too much.

But that's the thing.  I had gotten to the point where I cried over silly things.  If I saw a sad commercial, if I felt like I was rude to someone, or if I just had no reason at all.  I wasn't acting like me.  I felt angry.  I felt like the world was out to get me.  I just felt "off."  I think we all know our own bodies and our reactions to things.  And I knew mine was gone.

I struggled with it.  I knew (or felt like) the new birth control I was taking was causing much of these problems, but with the wedding coming so soon I didn't want to change that again.  So, I talked with my doctor and we started me on Celexa.

My mood swings are gone (except for my normal ones, ha!), my fiance is back happy with me, my family probably loves me more, and I'm sure my coworkers and customers are thankful.  I noticed a huge difference within a week of taking it, but was told my body would need a couple weeks for it to fully take effect.  However, they said you can experience an immediate "high" from it if you aren't used to such medications, which I wasn't.  I was scared the "good" would go away, but it hasn't.

I asked Brian the other day if he could tell a difference in me, and he said he really could.  That was the answer I wanted to hear.

I am back.  Back to being ME.

Sometimes taking a medication is a good thing.  Even for control freaks like me. :)

WILW

       
It's been awhile since my last WILW!

Today, I'm loving...

-a clean house!

-that I had an eye appointment and now have fresh new contacts!  (And some allergy drops for these pesky eyes!)

-Monistat chafing gel.  Weird?!
Put it on your face as a primer and you'll thank me! ;)

-that vacation is less than two weeks away! Yipppiee!


-my family for all the love and support they show Brian and I!

-my blog ladies.  Ya'll rock!

-and certainly not least- My sweetheart. :)

Tuesday Topics. Eight.

I'm joining again for Tuesday Topics!  This week we are talking about eight goals for this month.

1. Have a wonderful vacation with B!  (We leave in a little over a week and I cannot wait to be a beach bum!)

2. Get both the dogs bathed.  Yes, this is a real goal.  It's WORK to get those rascals smelling fresh! LOL  OH, and get Roxie to the vet!

3. Clean up the extra bedroom in my house.  There are currently clothes PILED on the bed.  It has to go.  My OCD is kicking in high gear.

4. Get back on a regular scheduled blogging routine.

5. Finish some wedding crafts (and blog them!)

6. Finalize the wedding guest list.  This HAS to go out soon.

7. Clean out my closet, and DONATE!

8. Order engagement prints!

When times get tough..

...family pulls together.

This weekend after the trip, Brian and I got home to find that his truck wouldn't crank.  He was already running late for church, so I threw him my keys and he was on his way.  After church, and after another failed attempt at it cranking, Brian was in a panic.

But in the meantime, we were invited by my parents to go eat at Pickwick Inn.  I'm always in when it comes to Pickwick.  I just love an opportunity to get near the water.  Pisces baby at her finest here!

After dinner, the family went down by the water and took a few pictures.  We love pictures, duh!

Guess we can see who the star of the pictures really is.  Miss Jenna.  That's right.

I'll admit, she IS pretty cute! :)  Love being this beauty's aunt! :)

So, back to the story.  Once we got through eating and drove back home, we realized the truck was still not going to crank.  After Brian and my dad fiddled with things, we called in help.  My oldest brother is a mechanic so we were in luck!  He came over, figured out the problem, and got Brian's truck back up and running!  However, in the meantime, my dad had done made arrangements and got their extra vehicle up and available for Brian in case he needed it.

I love my family.  This is who we are, and what we stand for.  We are there for each other when one needs help.  We lend a hand with no expectation of a payment.  We love you on your good days AND your bad days.  We go out of our way to make you comfortable if it eases your stress.  We love to help fix.  We love to see each other smile.  That's who we are.

I think my sweetheart got a big taste of my family's love for him this weekend.  And it comes as no shock that it MELTS my heart to know Brian and I have such a strong support team behind us.

We truly are BLESSED.

And just got kicks, take a look at the cute picture I got of these four!

Like I said, BLESSED!

This Weekend I...

WAS BUSY!

But I have to admit, it was one of the best weekends I've had in awhile.  Don't get me wrong, I love to hang out at home and enjoy a low-key weekend like anyone else.  But there's a side of me that enjoys the adventure of being on the go!  And this weekend was definitely screaming GO!

Thursday night, Brian and I packed our bags and got ready for the weekend ahead!  We were headed back to Oxford, MS.  I was on the edge of my seat with excitement.  In case you don't know this about me, I went to Ole Miss back a few years ago.  And I haven't gotten the chance to get back to Oxford since I moved back home.  When Brian mentioned the trip to me, I was immediately excited to go back to my old stomping grounds.

Friday rolled around and we both left work an hour early to give us time to get on the road and settled before it was too late.

Brian and Ben were making sure the trailer was hooked and ready for the big trip! They didn't even know I snapped this picture.  I'm sneaky! :)

As soon as we were in Oxford city limits, I was pumped!

We made a few runs around town, and then headed to Old Venice to eat dinner!  Unfortunately, the service was horrible but the food was still just as delicious as I remember.  And let's be honest, I was REALLY excited about the food this weekend.  (Paying for it now..)

After dinner, the three of us hung out and had a really great time!  I loved spending time with those two brothers.  There is such a contagious laugh that comes from hearing them get to laugh with each other.  I called this weekend "White Weekend" :)

After a long, VERY fun Friday night, we went to bed and slept in a tad on Saturday morning.  We had lots of work ahead of us, but before we could get started on that, Brian and I jumped on Ben in the bed and woke him up in style! Luckily, he didn't wake up swinging a fist or anything! HA!

After a great breakfast at IHOP, we spent the better half of the day moving Ben's things from one apartment to another in Oxford.  I really, really, really realized just how much I miss that town and the feel of the place.  Oxford gets in your blood.

I even got to visit my old apartment! Funny story, the apartment that Ben was in was directly under the one I lived in when I was there several years ago!  Funny how life works out like that!

After all the moving and settling Ben in, we showered and headed to Tupelo for Brian's promised Red Lobster birthday dinner.  Ben and Lindsey joined us there! :)

This was such a fun weekend for me and Brian.  We got to get away from Corinth and hang out with Ben.  We got to do something we don't normally get to do.  And we got to bond more, I believe.

I love getting to go and do things with this man.  And I feel blessed to know every weekend of my life is our opportunities for more love and laughter than we've ever known.

****
In other news, I'm currently the Blogger of the Month for June on the Mississippi Women Bloggers network.  In case you missed my post about this, feel free to catch up.  We are still trying to get our feet wet, but so far the response has been fantastic and we are very excited to have all the lovely MS women we can find!  Sign up is free!  Come and join in!  And don't forget to visit me on there today and read what I've got to say about myself!