25.

Tomorrow.... I will be one quarter of a century.

25.

One Pumpkin, Two Pumpkin, Three Pumpkin.... FALL!

(Even though it got up to around 90 degrees this weekend.... boo hiss boo.... Fall has been in the air lately.... especially in the evenings)

I have been SO excited for Fall this year, as I am sure most of us on the Gulf Coast have been due to the CrAzY temperatures that we reached this summer, and it just couldn't get here soon enough. We have been getting little tastes of fall here and there, and regardless of what the temperature decides to do over the next couple of weeks, Brenton and I brought Fall to our house.

We went shopping for PUMPKINS!!! It was a very tedious and exciting experience last night at Fresh Market.

There were so many to choose from....

Like every good pumpkin shoppers we were not simply content to graze the top.... we (mostly Brenton) had to dig.

See that one with all of that potential in the middle WAY down there.... we were going for that one....

SUCCESS!!!

Next came the really hard part.... eliminations.... we bought the 3 for $10.... but we had picked out 6....

and out of those six.... the winners....

Aren't they CUTE! We did good I think.... excellent canvases for craving creations (to be documented later..... we don't want them to rot!).

So, after a very busy, full weekend we enjoyed a yummy dinner with a little touch of Fall (some yellow squash that Brenton actually ate.... and apple cider).

It sure is great to have you back Fall.... you have been missed!

Happy Happy HAPPY PANTS!!!

I can not.... absolutely not.... it is positively impossible for me to explain to you how happy I am. My uncontrollable smile has returned in full force.... and it is no joke!

Brenton went on a much needed and much deserved trip to Maine and Boston (most of his family lives up there). I was so happy for him to go see family that he literally hadn't seen in years.... I could hear the happiness and excitement in his voice with every little conversation filled with quick little tid bits of his trip! All of the excitement for Brenton in the world could not let me forget how much I missed him.

Here's a sample of how my day would go.... Alarm. I miss him. Take out Dempsey. I miss him. Brush my teeth. Get ready for work.... read the note he left me on the mirror. I MISS HIM. Get settled at work. Send e-mails. Make calls. I miss him. Stay busy.... stay busy.... stay busy.... but I still miss him. Finish up the work day.... head home.... no Brenton.... I miss him. Take out Dempsey. Play Fetch with Dempsey (can tell Dempsey wishes I could throw like Brenton). I miss him. Make dinner.... eat dinner.... stay busy.... stay busy.... tv on so I don't hear things that creep in the night (haha I am a HUGE. HUGE. HUGE. baby about being alone at night.... I'm not proud of this). I miss him. Get ready for bed. Talk to Brenton. MISS HIM EVEN MORE!!!

It was just another reminder that just when I think I couldn't possibly squeeze in any more love for him..... it grows.... and grows. I am so lucky to miss someone SO much, and have someone missing me SO much. I truly have the most amazing friend in him.

Before I knew it, Brenton had an AmAzInG trip, and there he was waiting for me outside our apartment. The uncontrollable smile plastered on my face.... no hug has EVER felt so good!

I LOVE YOU BRENTON, AND I AM SO HAPPY YOU ARE HOME!

Somebody I LOVE lives in Nashville...

Well, Tansey left me for the BIG city back at the beginning of July.... remember. It was very sad and I have missed her so, SO much.... and just about the only redeeming factor is that I am so happy and proud of her that I could POP when I think about it!

So, what's a girl to do when one of her very best friends moves to Nashville? She's going to Tennessee, and that's exactly what I did. Last weekend was SO much fun.... I just loved every little bit of it.

First, on Friday, we were HUGE girls and we shopped literally ALL. DAY. It was great. Here are some of the things we found.... really wished we could have.... but couldn't bring ourselves to do it...... even if they were TOTALLY AMAZING!!!

These were some that Tansey had been wanting to show me.... they look good on her don't they.

Quick little note: I am NOT usually a 'I'M REALLY OBCESSED WITH THESE SHOES' kinda girl..... but oh man.... I really wanted these..... I wore them around the whole store. I just did not want to take them off. Sadly, I had to leave them behind. However, my sadness did not stop us from running around the Nashville DSW like a couple of kids in a candy store. I don't even know how many we tried on.... I lost track.

We had a very successful shopping day needless to say, and I got to have my first NASHVILLE YOGURT EXPERIENCE!!! I have been dying to try one of these awesome little places that Tansey had been telling me about.... and when I say I was dying to try one I really was SO excited! I mean who wouldn't be excited about a place where not only do you get to pick your flavor or flavors and choose from a vast array of toppings you get to do it yourself!!!

Being a first timer to this yogurt experience, the fact that I got to do it myself, and that they had red velvet that day ( i. love. red velvet.) I got enough yogurt and toppings that if it all was consumed I am certain I would have died! It was SO good though, and I just really wish I had my very own personal Sweet Ce Ce's to fufill my every yogurt whim.

So yummy.

Friday and Saturday nights were incredibly FUN nights filled with interesting people, moments, major dancing, Corey the amazing Nashville bar tour guide, bands that did not know JOY TO THE WORLD (I couldn't believe it), Irish men named Shameus, more dancing, T-bone, and red roosters! I had a BLAST!!!

Tansey and I at the Irish Pub.... I could have danced here the whole night.... I love that place!

Here's the band that didn't know Joy to the World!!! They were like the Christmas Carol (all confused) and I was like no.... like as in Jerimiah was a Bullfrog. Obviously this is still bothering me!

Tans and I on Saturday night! :)

Here's our awesome tour guide, Corey (one of Brenton's friends through a Maxim business trip). Thank you for being SO great Corey!!! We had so much fun!

Oh the BIG, red rooster.... how we loved him.

I had SO much fun on my first trip to Nashville, and I can't wait to go back!!!

Tansey,

You are doing SO great, and really I could not be more proud of you! You are doing it!!! You live in Nashville. I loved getting to see you living your dreams.... it made me so happy! I'm so excited for you about everything that you have going in Nashville, like your cute as a button apartment, and all of the endless exciting possibilities in your future! You deserve every little bit of wonderful in your life, and I love you dearly! I will be back soon!!!! xoxo scof

It Snowed Down South.... in September?!?!

I know it sounds crazy...... doesn't it?!?!?!?!?! Everyone knows that the odds of snow in Mobile, AL in the dead of winter is RARE... but the chances of it happening in September NOT. A. CHANCE.

However, it happened.

It was just your average Tuesday afternoon.... nothing special.... until I saw this....

Hmmmmm.... and then....

and....

Not to mention I caught the culprit of this "snow" in action....

Yep.... if you are keeping score that would be Dempsey: 1 Pillow/ it's insides: 0. So, I did what any concerned puppy parent would do.... we had a pow wow. It went something like this: Me asking Dempsey if he really thought that this was the best use of his time yad yad, and this was the answer I got....

This face looks pretty sorry doesn't it (you can see it in the eyes)?!?!!? I though so.... plus I figured it was like a puppy right of passage/ milestone.... they have to rip the stuffing out of something.... and like any head over heals puppy parent I documented the whole little event. Needless to say Dempsey is not quite ready to handle big boy freedom.... yet.

What can I say I love my Demps!!!

HaPpY OnE YeAr!!!

To my dear Blog,

Thank you so much for one wonderful year.... you have been so good at archiving memories, thoughts I've had, and you have been so fun to look back on. As if it is not repetitive enough in my blog.... I CANNOT believe that it has already been a year since I started! Alot has happened in a year... there has been BIG change in our time together, blog. Be ready though.... there is is change like we have never seen and exciting and new adventures in our future! I'm so glad I have you because I know you are helping me do something that I will appreciate even more than I know.... I am so grateful that I have had a place to capture this part of my life... and all of the wonderful people and moments in it!

Love Always... Me

ISLE. OF. PALMS.

Do you have a place in your mind, in your memories that exudes happiness. One those places for me is Charleston, SC and Isle of Palms. It had been seven years between me and my last visit to Charleston, and I was so excited to be there. There's something about the city, and the wonderful little island connected to it by a bridge... I LOVE IT! It has an energy and is beautiful, historic, and absolute southern perfection.

This particular time in Charleston was everything I had wanted... precious time with my family... just the four of us (and I truly appreciate just how rare that is), AMAZING food, pralines, grits, seafood, shopping through the historic open air markets, salty ocean air, sand on my toes, real waves, key lime pie, screened in porch watching the waves rise and fall with a perfect margarita. It really was everything wonderful!

I also found myself realizing over and over how special this all was.... and how FAST time is flying by... I was 17 the last time I was there and now suddenly I was back at 24... and I feel like I only blinked an eye! It was another moment in life where I was very aware of change and it's presence in my life, and that trips like these are so rare... just the four of us... in a place we LOVE. It won't be long I know before everything will different... and I am so excited about all that is to come... and so grateful for this time I had to enjoy my family as we are now. I know I probably don't make very much sense... unless you are wearing my shoes too... but I love it here... I'm just very reflective right now.

Change aside... more warm memories were made... and some much needed beach bumming time was taken. I. LOVE. THE. BEACH.

Libby and I beach bumming :)

We had an absolutely delicious dinner here... SO good that I ate until I literally had to loosen my belt when we left... not kidding. I had shellfish over grits... the BEST grits I have EVER had mind you... in this lobster tomato sauce that made you want to kiss the chef!

This was in Cypress... and yes that is a three... yes THREE story wine cellar! I just had to share... how crazy is that... wouldn't you LOVE to have that to cater to your every wine wish!

Silliness... but it has to happen! haha

My family... this was our last night eating at the Boathouse... one of our favorites that we have been going to for years... we had some yummy seafood and a great view!

Nothing better.

Charleston... I can't wait to see you again soon... until next time

bah bye!

Ok...ok... you want to know?!

Yesterday was a major "Contra los lunes" kinda day, and in which case the blogging I wanted to do just couldn't happen, and even though it is ONLY Tuesday (and I sooooooooo wish it was Friday) blogging is a go. So, are you done wondering, pondering, and racking your brain for what my exciting news could possibly be?! I figured!

First of all let me explain why I was torturing you... I was surprising my Spain adventuring little sister... because she was gone when this momentous occasion occurred... and I have a slight obsession with *SURPRISES*... and so I began the rather difficult process of not declaring my happy news on anything that she had access to... i.e. facebook, blog, etc... it WASN'T EASY... but it was worth it!

So, going home this past weekend was even more exciting than usual... alright I know... ENOUGH WITH THE BUILD UP!

WE GOT NOT JUST A SWEET BUT THE SWEETEST PUPPY EVER!!!

I have been absolutely head over heels in LOVE with this little guy ever since the day we (July 10th) adopted him from ARF. It is hands down one of the BEST semi-spontaneous decisions we have ever made. He is special. There is something about him... you look at him... with those incredible little puppy eyes and you just simply MELT... just take a peek... DISCLAIMER: be careful you will probably fall in love... you will want to take him home but you CAN'T... he is mine.

LOVE.

So, my BIG announcement is my sweet, licking, cuddling,part boxer, huggable, part german sheppard, kiss-inducing, cute-as-can-be, playful, silly, blissful, part lab, heart warming, absolute warm fuzzy of a puppy. His name is Dempsey.

(We named him Dempsey... after much debate... for several reasons: 1. His birthday is St. Patrick's Day and Dempsey means proud in gaelic 2. There was a fameous boxer (he has boxer in him), so I'm told, named Dempsey 3. and since we got him around the world cup (Brenton was really... REALLY into the world cup this year) one of the US player's name was Dempsey)

Life with Dempsey in it is so exciting, and I am just so grateful that he was rescued by a wonderful woman named Lynne and ARF.

This is Lynne... she is one of the sweetest people you could meet!

Last night (this blog is going from a Tuesday to a Wednesday by the way) I laid down in bed, very tired from a long day, and really I thought I was going to explode with warm fuzzies because sweet Dempsey snuggled just as close as he could be. So, that is definitely up in my list of the BEST ways to fall asleep! He makes me so HAPPY.

I. LOVE. HIM.

Let the Drum Roll Begin....

I have a very exciting announcement... but I'm going to be that person because... I'm not going to tell you yet! (and NO I'm not engaged, moving, having babies or anything like that... but that's enough with the hints)

Well, thanks for letting me be... yes... slightly annoying, irritating, and frustrating... because I know that everyone must be waiting with baited breath for what this announcement could possibly be. If it helps I'm getting an usual amount of joy out of this... but hey it's Monday... and I will take all of the little bits of joy I can get! So, start the drum roll... and get...

EXCITED!

Bittersweet Fourth of July

People say bittersweet all of the time... I've said it before... I'm sure I have really felt it a time or two before... this past fourth of july weekend was absolutely bittersweet. In the matter of a day I woke up living with my roommate/best friend and going to bed that night living with a BOY (whom I love very much)!

I knew this day was coming for awhile... I had imagined what it would feel like... I had evenblogged about it a few months ago. Really though, as anyone who has ever been in a situation like this before will tell you, there is no preparing. Days go by one after another... you look up and all of the sudden that BIG day is here... and then gone... and in some ways it almost feels like it just passed you by without you even in it. This was one of those days.

I knew Tansey was leaving... everything was going according to schedule... we got up and went to Starbucks for a little packing pick me up... and as we were driving there and back it just felt like any other Saturday (minus that it was 8 a.m. and we were awake and moving). We put her things in piece by piece and before I knew it we were taking pictures out in the front of "our" old apartment....

I remember catching myself thinking how did the time go so fast? A few hugs later... she was in her car and driving away. She was heading to Nashville. Watching one of your best friends drive away... bitter. Watching her begin the next chapter in her life, and being so ExCiTeD for her... so sweet.

So, Tansey was gone, and as I had planned it (in an effort to not get incredibly sad) I had ALOT to do. Organizing two year's worth of my stuff since college + Brenton's two year's worth of stuff = alot of work. Brenton went to get trash bags, and I laid on the floor in Tansey's empty room contemplating what had just happened and our plan of attack on the two years of double clutter. Having to clean two years of junk and not really having a weekend... bitter. Having a new beginning with somebody you love... sweet. All things summed up from this past fourth of July weekend: I'm going to MISS Tansey so much (I keep having to remind myself that she isn't just on vacation) and I couldn't be more happy for her... I'm a very proud best friend (love you Tans)! The other is that I am so excited for me and Brenton... this is HUGE! WE LIVE TOGETHER! This is a step that I feel so lucky to be able to take.... it is very exciting!

So, here's to all of our (in Nashville, Mobile, and beyond) adventures... and may we go through them together!

Leaving on a Jet Plane...

Yesterday was a BIG day... a BIG BUSINESS kind of day... Brenton left for his first business trip!

I feel like he was SUITING UP just the other day.... so much has changed since then.

Brenton,

During the time that you have been at your job you have been amazing. I already knew that you were such a hard worker, a not gonna quit until its done, and done well at that worker... but you are even more than that. It's amazing how far you have come... you are always looking for a new way to better yourself, seeking new challenges, and over coming obstacles... and it goes without saying that I am so proud of you. I'm smiling, as I am typing this blog, thinking of the incredibly bright future you have ahead. I hope your first trip goes so great!!!

On another cheesy note (sorry this post is very sentimental)... Brenton and I just recently celebrated our three year anniversary. This was very exciting in a "yeah go team" kinda way, but also in an "I got the new Giada pots and pans I wanted" kinda way (haha just kidding... although I really do LOVE the pots and pans... BEST PRESENT EVER). It's just very exciting because Brenton and I have been through so much to get here, and I really am just elated about everything that's waiting for us in the future. I say with a huge smile on my face that....

I. AM. SO. LUCKY.

I have been thinking about this time in mine and Brenton's life alot lately, and what has been popping in my head is the song "Free" by the Zac Brown Band (whom I LOVE, but that is neither here nor there)... my roommate Tansey brought up the other day how this song made her think of us... it makes me think of us too.

So we live out in our old van

Travel all across this land

Me and you

We'll end up hand in hand

Somewhere down on the sand

Just me and you

Just as free

Free as we'll ever be

Just as free

Free as we'll ever be

Drive until the city lights

Dissolve into a country sky

Just me and you

Lay underneath the harvest moon

Do all the things that lovers do

Just me and you

Just as free

Free as we'll ever be

Just as free

Free as we'll ever be

and ever be

No we don't have a lot of money

No we don't have a lot of money

No we don't have a lot of money

All we need is love

We're free as we'll ever be

Just as free

Free as we'll ever be

So we live in our old van

Travel all across this land

Me and you

I think this song sums up exactly how I feel right now, and I hope that I will always be able to relate to this song in some ways.... because to me it's a beautiful way to go through life with your best friend. I LOVE YOU BUNCHES BUD!