Q&A – Year Long Blogging Challenge Style

Posted on June 19, 2013 by bethp146

Well, what had happened was… I got behind on the Year Long Blogging Challenge. At the end of these 52 weeks, I’d love to look back and read all my answers. That’s not going to happen if I keep missing weeks, so today I thought I’d go back and play catch up.

1. {From Week 3} What would you stock up on if the apocalypse was upon us?

Notebooks. Fountain pen ink. Diet Mountain Dew. Fabric. You know, the important stuff.

2. {From Week 6} Are you a city mouse or a country mouse?

Can I be a small town mouse? If not, I think I’m both a city and a country mouse. I have always lived within the city limits, but I spent so much time in the country at my grandparents’ house growing up. I love the quietness, simplicity, and beauty of country life. I also like being close to shops and places to eat in town. I wouldn’t make it in the crowds and fast paced lifestyle of a large city, though. I’m much happier living in a small town!

3. {From Week 9} If you could remove one thing from your daily schedule, what would it be?

Driving to and from work! I wish I could just push a button and teleport instantly to my office. No traffic, expensive stops at the gas station, annoying Kia dealership commercials on the radio, or road work required.

4. {From Week 10} What is your favorite childhood memory?

My favorite memories from my childhood involve simply playing in the backyard with my sister. We made up many of our own games and could spend the whole outside just having fun.

5. {From Week 11} Describe a product that needs to be invented.

The perfect planner and notebook combination. It would have everything I need in one place with plenty of room to write anything and everything. Yet, somehow it would magically be thin, lightweight and easy to throw in a tote bag. The paper would work well with any kind of pen in the world. It would also have pretty leather covers that you could inexpensively change depending on what color you wanted to carry that day. Sigh

6. {From Week 12} What is your favorite restaurant in Huntsville?

Five Guys. I’m sort of serious. We don’t have one in my hometown, and I do love it. My favorite nicer restaurant in Huntsville is Connor’s, though!

Now that I’m all caught up, I would love to read your answers to these same questions.

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Friday Five!

Posted on June 14, 2013 by bethp146

Because I haven’t posted all week, I thought the best way to break my blogging silence was by linking up with Joy for her Friday Five link up.

1. I’ve had a terrible outlook lately. I’ve failed at following Philippians 4:3-7 and Proverbs 3:5. This week in particular I was caught up in anxiety and worry. I’ve resolved to turn it around, and I’m thankful for a Heavenly Father full of grace, love, and mercy. I’m also thankful for much prayer, guidance from M, and talks with friends. I’m going to do better! I am in a much better mood this beautiful Friday morning.

2. M was quite spoiled for his birthday this year. A weekend trip to Nashville, a couples massage for us thanks to his awesome coworkers, dinner at Connors thanks to friends, and a cookout at my parents’ house…I think it’s safe to say he had a good year! I’m glad we got to do all these special things for him because he truly deserves it. He’s so thoughtful of others all the time!

3. I love these watermelon candies, but I haven’t been able to find them anywhere lately. Cracker Barrel finally had some last night!

4. Even in the midst of worry and negativity, I realize how blessed I am. I have a hard time finding a balance on this blog between being real about struggles and complaining, so I try to stay away from talking about negative things. I have my struggles though, and not mentioning them doesn’t feel right either. The bottom line is I’m so, so blessed!

5. My plans for the weekend include a whole lot of cleaning out and organizing, some quilting, church, and Fathers’ Day at the river. What about you?

Have a great weekend!

It’s M’s Birthday!

Posted on June 4, 2013 by bethp146

We celebrated in Nashville over the weekend, and we will have cake with family probably sometime this weekend, but I couldn’t let the actual birthday of this cute guy go unacknowledged. Happy birthday, M! I love you muches and muches!

Enjoying Every Moment

Posted on June 3, 2013 by bethp146

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

Within 11 months, I got engaged, graduated from college, started my first real world/big girl job, built a house, planned a wedding, and became a wife. Almost every major life change happened in less than a year. Those 11 months were CRAZY and INTENSE but also so much fun. I’ll always look back on that exciting time of my life with fondness.

When you’re growing up, there are all these big things to look forward to. This is the time of year for graduations and weddings. Every time I see a Facebook status from a happy grad or an Instagram shot of white dresses, flowers, and smiles, I can’t help but remember those 11 months of anticipation and change.

It’s so easy to focus on “what’s next” and concentrate on getting to the next phase in life. Y’all know how much of a planner I am. Trusting in His timing is something I have to work on every day. Sometimes focusing on what’s next leaves me frustrated, and I’m ashamed to admit I forget to celebrate right now.

Lately, I’ve made an effort to sit back and appreciate where we are. Our life is so good and so full of blessings. When I stop to truly soak everything in, I realize that there is joy in every moment.

It’s little tests and trials that make our marriage stronger. It’s him reaching over to hold my hand during prayers at worship service. It’s two sweet doxies wagging their tail when I get home from work. It’s a cup of coffee on the back porch in the mornings. It’s a last minute decision to go to Nashville for the weekend and having good friends to come with us. It’s popcorn for supper and shows to watch on Netflix. It’s fishing poles and a blooming flower bed to water. It’s laughter and love.

(From this weekend’s Nashville trip.)

It’s not a big life change, but it’s so, so good. I’m enjoying every moment

A Day in Moorseville and Belle Mina, Alabama

Posted on May 29, 2013 by bethp146

Moorseville is a tiny town that packs in almost 200 years of history. The town was incorporated in 1818, making it older than the state Alabama. Every year, the 53 residents of Moorseville coordinate a two day event to help raise money to preserve its historic buildings. Ever since I first heard about the Moorseville Walking Tours, I’ve wanted to go. This year I finally got the chance. That Saturday, along with my parents and M, I spent an enjoyable day walking through one of Alabama’s oldest towns.

The event is a self-guided tour, and we took our time leisurely strolling through the streets. It was only my second visit to Moorseville and the first where I actually got out to walk around. There were artisans set up displaying their crafts and some of the residents of the town were also out and about, making visitors feel welcome. From the friendly people to the shady streets lined with trees to the beautiful historic homes, I loved everything about the town!

Moorseville, Alabama is a wonderful place to visit!

On the way home, we stopped back by Belle Mina. Belle Mina is literally a “blink and you’ll miss it” place.

I’ve always enjoyed going to Piddles antique store. On my first visit there a few years ago, I found a flour sack that Mama made into one of the table runners we used in our wedding.

Belle Mina Station is a new store that just opened a few weeks ago. This is the cutest little store! Vintage finds, antiques, and modern goods are all offered here. Unlike many antique stores, everything is spaced out and displayed more like a trendy boutique. Yet, it’s still full of unique items that have a story and a past.

My find of the day was someone’s notebook from the 1960s. Of course I had to snatch it up! It’s full of notes from an education class at the University of Alabama and now has a new home on my desk.

It was a lovely southern Saturday visiting two essential Alabama places! I can’t wait for my next visit to Moorseville and Belle Mina.

Memorial Day Weekend

Posted on May 28, 2013 by bethp146

Not to be too sappy, but this afternoon I realized that I missed M. There’s something about the first day back at work after a long weekend. Life gets busy and days off give me a renewed appreciation of my blessings. Of course I always enjoy spending time with my husband, but we had a particularly good holiday weekend!

Friday night, we attended a benefit dinner for the Little Light of Mine Foundation. The foundation was set up in memory of M’s boss who was a phenomenal man who did so much for so many people. A lot of our friends were there, and I love all the generous, selfless people in our life. It was a great dinner!

On Saturday I roped M into helping me finish the back porch makeover I’ve been envisioning since we built the house 3 years ago. I know M would have much rather gone to see a movie like we were thinking about doing, but he was a good sport for the most part. I’m glad it’s finally finished! I’ll share photos in another post!

On Monday we went to the river for Memorial Day with my family.

It was a gorgeous day with great weather, not too hot or cold.

Delicious food was eaten.

Snakes were found (shiver).

Water balloons were launched.

Fish were caught.

It really was a good weekend! The day off was just what I needed. In the back of my mind was the reason for the holiday. We are so thankful for those who gave everything so we can have freedom!

How was your Memorial Day weekend?

3 Things Thursday + 2 More

Posted on May 23, 2013 by bethp146

1. It’s been 3 days since an EF-5 tornado struck Moore, Oklahoma. My heart just hurts for everyone who was affected and especially those who lost loved ones. It’s just awful. They will need prayers and help not just this week but in the months to come, too.

Oklahoma Women Bloggers has a list of ways you can help. For local friends, a survivor of April 27, 2011 here will be collecting gift cards for victims on Saturday. Toomer’s for Tuscaloosa, established after April 27, 2011, is also setting up drop spot locations around Alabama for donations.

2. I decided to answer this week’s YLBC prompt in this post. My answer is short and simple, and I wasn’t sure how to turn it in to its own post. The question is “what staple foods stay stocked in your fridge?” Our fridge usually has Diet Mountain Dew (for me), Hershey’s syrup (I love chocolate milk), eggs, butter, baby red potatoes, drinks for M (gateraid, orange soda, Sun Drop, cream soda, or Capri Sun), baby carrots, and some type of fresh fruit. Pretty basic .

3. I am SO looking forward to having Monday off and spending Memorial Day with my family!

4. I don’t remember ever having this many problems with my ears and allergies before. Now I just feel so sad for babies who are crying with earaches. I’m hitting the antihistamines hard this Spring.

5. I haven’t uploaded and edited the photos from making cheese straws yet, so that post will be coming next week instead of this week.

I guess this has turned into 5 Things Thursday. Have a great day! Please join me in continuing to pray for Oklahoma.

Lunch Break Check-In

Posted on May 17, 2013 by bethp146

Hey y’all! I am posting this from the Kroger parking lot while on my lunch break. I had to run in and grab a few things, and now I need to pick up something for lunch and take it back to work. Since I didn’t get a real post written for Thursday or today, I just wanted to pop in and say hi. It’s been one of those blah, discouraging weeks, and I just haven’t felt like myself. Our house has been a mess with dishes piled high in the sink and dog food spilled all over our bathroom thanks to two doxies I know. I finally got caught up on my cleaning last night, and I’m ready to put this week behind me and enjoy the weekend! Some weeks are just like this, I guess, and that’s okay. It makes me appreciate the sunny, happy, glorious days!

One of the passages in my daily reading plan yesterday was Psalm 136.
Psalm 136:1
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.”

God is good all the time! Through sunny weeks and blah weeks. Through messy houses and sleepless nights and days when you’ve got your act together. I’m so thankful for His love!

Next week I have some posts planned that I’m really excited about – cheese straws, managing your crazy expectations of yourself, a small historical town, and more! Until then, I hope you have a fantastic weekend! – Beth

Some Things I’ve Learned

Posted on May 15, 2013 by bethp146

This week’s Year Long Blogging Challenge topic from Rocket City Bloggers is about the most important life lesson learned to date.

There’s a lot I don’t know, but I am learning all the time. I couldn’t pinpoint some large, profound defining life lesson to discuss. Instead, here are several life lessons I’ve learned. They are things I’ve been taught by family, friends, teachers, and my own experiences. Some are silly and some are serious. That’s life!

Work on one thing at a time and see it through to completion.

The little things you are stressed about right now will probably not matter in a month.

Wear sunscreen. Reapply.

Always say “I love you.”

Don’t dump a ton of flour in the stand mixer at once while it’s running.

Be positive. Don’t complain.

Don’t touch your lips or eyes after slicing a fresh jalapeño.

“Read your Bible and pray everyday and you’ll grow, grow, grow.”

Soak up as much family time as you can.

Take long walks.

Remember who you are.

Stand up straight.

Throw away your gum before English class.

Set goals.

Don’t leave the bait on the hook when you put away your pole.

Fold laundry as soon as you take it out of the dryer. Don’t keep letting it pile up.

Don’t turn left out of Sonic.

What are your life lessons?

Flipping Through My Camera Roll

Posted on May 14, 2013 by bethp146

Photography is definitely not my thing. I admire and am in awe of those who can take beautiful photos! That’s my disclaimer I felt I needed to throw out there before I posted this tonight.

Because I need to do a better job at documenting some of our normal days and special days, I started flipping through my camera roll on my phone tonight. I was surprised at some of the moments I’ve already forgotten about from this Spring. For my own memory’s sake, here are some (not so spectacular) phone photos from our life lately.

Several weeks ago, I went with Papa, Ree, Laura, and Mama up to Sir’s Fabrics in Fayetteville, TN. It’s one of my favorite places to go, and I have so many memories of going up there with my grandparents. We went because Laura was looking for curtain fabric for her dining room, but I managed to find some fabric I may use to recover a rocking chair. I took the photo of the calico quilting fabric just because I thought they were so pretty on that table. It was a great morning!

That same Saturday, I read a little on the porch while M grilled for the first time this spring.

Another Saturday, Laura came with M and I to Lowes & Home Depot. The back of my car was quickly filled up with our purchases, so the ferns had to ride in the backseat with Laura.

I have a thing for Gerbera daisies.

My girls.

We went down to Mountain Brook for the wedding of one of M’s college roommates. It was a beautiful wedding! I’m just drinking Sun Drop

Laura and I had our Planner Party we have every other month.

My parents are the cutest! This was taken at my cousin Rachel’s graduation Friday night. I’m so proud of you, Rachel!

This past Saturday, we went up to Springfield, TN to see M’s grandparents. AND his mom and brother James were also in town for the weekend. It was SO exciting to get to see them!

I love the yellow finches that gather outside their window.

On Sunday, we went to the river for Mother’s Day. Laura gave mama and me gel manicures while we were there. Now I want gel nails all the time.

I feel like we have been going non-stop lately. We’ve also been to two softball games, to a fish fry at the river, on a date night, and to see Iron Man 3. I’m grateful for a chance to sit down and document some of these memories!

Love You Muches

documenting this lovely southern life

Category Archives: Life