Lately...

 Been feeding my man....

Driving a lot, swimming, name change, traffic.

Lake weekend with the girls.

 Boat rides and fetch with Goliath.

Jewelry making.

Best friends baby, H20, Baseball Crafting

Flags, Cobbler, Favorite Baseball game snacks.

I've been enjoying the last few weeks of summer as you can see. Taking a bit of a break here from the blog but don't want to leave you out on our adventures. 

We were going to have three joyous days off for the all star break Monday - Wednesday. Last week we found out Brandon was selected to represent the Memphis team so instead of heading south to chill for a few days we are headed to Buffalo, NY. Congratulations to my two time AAA All Star. Thanks again for another new adventure you're taking me on.

LD 

Better Than the Royal Wedding

As most of you may know, I'm obsessed with Instagram. If I was paid a nickel for each time I checked my beloved Instagram feed - I would be a rich rich woman. 

Anyways, through Instagram I have 'met' and made some wonderful friends. It is a crazy thing that you may not understand. I love it. It's awesome and I'm making friends all over the world.

You see I found this family, or maybe they found me. One day a special blog friend of mine featured something she bought from me on her page. A few of you are here because of her. Without that post I never would have met her. Her Stephanie. 

I always try to check out new followers who come here to visit or those who comment.  I kid you not, I thought she was barely older than me. I started to peruse her blog and when I read she was a grandma to three I about fell over. I was stumped. How in the world did she already have three grandkids at such a young age. 

Due to my above average stalking skills I decided to do a little Instagram re-con and I fell in love over time. Not just with her but her entire family. As I began to unfold their life and who they are (average Janes and Joes I promise they aren't celebrities except to me) I can't help but be totally captivated by their family. Even the Dad is an Instagramer. Now that is cool y'all. Ah the love that overflows from the Holdens.

In the last few months she...had her youngest daughter graduate (homeschooled by the way), helped move her oldest daughter, and prepared for the wedding of the year. She also runs an adorable shop called The Honey Pot. Besides being a rockstar Mom and Grandma Honey, it's clear that she is an excellent wife too. I look up to her in so many ways. I plan on meeting her soon. Here is one of my favorite posts of hers if you're interested. I know you are, go on check. it. out.

Anyways, today is Lydia's wedding!!! Well Lydia and the banjo picking Marcus. I've been anticipating this wedding more than I did the royal wedding in 2011. William and Kate who? I love a good handmade wedding. I love the wedding of an awesome couple. I love a wedding that is overflowing with love. Check. Check. Check. The Holdens have been on my mind all week and today I wanted to personally (via blog) congratulate the newlyweds and their families on this happy day. 

I stole some of your IG photos, don't be mad :)

Now I'm going to anxiously wait all day for updates.

LD

Last Things Thursday - III

Hello friends! It's been a while, like usual. You know I'm glad I have this online journal to help me keep track of where I am when and how I am feeling about it. Tonight....I'm coming to you from Memphis Tennessee. Yep - we're back! I honestly can't explain to you how it works, why,when, and who decides this. But I'll tell you that its not me and it's not my husband. We are just rolling with the punches best we can. If you're new and catching up with me maybe start waaay back here, here, or here. 


Today I'm linking up with Jenna like most Thursdays... who also just opened a new shop [Neon & Nude] check it out! 


The Last Thing I ...


ate - Mexican with my man. Last night was the first time I've seen him in TWO weeks. If you ask me, that's two weeks to long for these newlyweds. 

cried about - I was at my parents the last two weeks and our dog Rudy of 14 years is having some neck problems. He apparently had an episode of some sort and was not eating/drinking for a few days. I cried with him thinking about all the great times we've had together and that he was gonna be leaving us soon. I love this pup and am not looking forward to the day we have to say goodbye. Fortunately he is doing much better but he made me realize how much I love him. 

daydreamed - that Brandon and I went out on the lake fishing for the whole day. Hopefully we can do this when he has a few days off in July.


cooked - um, I seriously can't remember. I did pick up some cookie dough from the store so maybe I'll bake some cookies this week.


sewed - I have had a few orders for the new camera straps. Since I'm only visiting my guy until Monday - I didn't pack ANY crafting stuff. I  feel lost with out it to be honest but that's okay. I'll get over it. Plus I really feel like I have no clue which direction my shop is taking so it's better to have some time away to think/brainstorm/plan.


sang along to - Sunday, my sister, two brothers,two of their friends, and I went to the Brothers of the Sun Tour featuring Tim McDreamy McGraw and Kenny Chesney. I love country music and good looking cowboys. The only thing that could have made it better is if my cowboy was with me. Also Grace Potter opened for them and was awesome her album came out Tuesday - must buy! I love up and coming artists..it reminds me of my guy fighting to make his dream come true. Which also reminds me of Dave Owens and that you should go check him out here and his sweet amazing supportive wife here. 

laughed about - ecards. I love them and they are true, mostly. 

Alyssa ... I'm talking to you.

needed - was the weekend away with my family. Thursday I met with two of my close friends from college for dinner and to catch up. Then Friday - Monday I was in Kansas City. We went to the pool, caught a movie, rocked out at the concert, and then did some shopping.  I really enjoyed a weekend away from the crazy baseball life. Mostly I enjoyed the pool. I love the pool.

thought about social media - is that it's AWESOME. I seriously have been counting down for a wedding of someone I've gotten to know through Instagram. I know normally this would be creepy but it's not and I will totally meet them someday even if it's when I crash the wedding on the 23rd. If I haven't told you before I LOVE Instagram [larnlevydickson] and the Holden family. 

did spur of the moment - pulled off the road on my four hour drive to watch the sunset. This photo has a filter, but it doesn't matter this is how gorgeous it looked to me! I love that sometimes I stop to enjoy things like this. 

don't want to think about - leaving my man. Two weeks away was way too long not seeing each other. I can't even think that we are going to do this again from June 18 - July 4. Must get in lots of hugs and kisses now! But it does give us the opportunity for texts like this. It also reminds me of the beginning days of our relationship which is kinda cool. Not cool enough to make me forget I have to go to bed and wake up alone. Oh well - thankful for technology. 

did that made myself laugh - I'm silly what can I say. This is truly how I feel. Do you agree?

YOU did to make me happy - was to stop by my blog. Thank you and if no one has told you today you are awesome and can do whatever you put your mind to! Fight for you dreams and never stop.

Last Things Thursday - Round II

The last thing I...

cooked: tater tot casserole

baked: chocolate chip cookies for my man to take on his road trip

bought: fabric

sewed: newwww headbands

received in the mail: belated bday gifts from my sister - I love Gap Fit and she knows it!


sent in the mail: a birthday package for a special friend

did that was stupid: burnt my finger with the hot glue gun

cried about: surprisingly not the glue gun injury but our roommates moving out (story on that coming soon) & my husband leaving for ten long days.


downloaded: Carrie Underwood's version of How Great Thou Art - 

tweeted/instagramed: #yellow is happy - #shine

did for someone else: I'm working on become a partner shop with The Shine Project.

tried different in my beauty routine: lipstick - NYX matte lipstick in tea rose

used to encourage others: Dr Suess qoute - Oh the places you'll go..

Now go check out some other great last things thursday posts here.

Thursday Things

Hello darlings! How has your week been going? First I apologize for my last post. It was such a cop out. I decided I was slacking on my photo taking and have some new probably meaningless things in my life to share with ya. Here we go.

Last weekend was dog day at the park and they have puppies there for adoption. Brandon text me that morning, knowing I was still running a {puppy} fever and told me it'd be best for me not to come. I didn't listen and fell in love with this cute face and yummy puppy smell, not the pee kind, the good kind.  Ends up one of the guys that works at the field adopted him and he is in the hospital with a disease. Thank God I walked away cause I would not want to be dealing with that heartache and an 80lb dog in a few months. And so the fever is gone. Gone gone. I want to be able to give my pup full undivided attention from the beginning. October is when we are getting a puppy! A small dog. It's so fun thinking that this is the puppy our kids will grow up knowing. 

We had an early game this week and headed to see The Five Year Engagement. It was very funny. Then I thought, as I was waiting for the mister to pump gas, that this leftover popcorn  bag would actually make a really cute clutch. It'd had to be the right material and fabric but I think it could be kinda fun. 

I made some deliveries this week. I said it before but I'll say it again. This is my favorite part of making and selling my craft - the happy people on the receiving end. So thank you for all the recent orders and I hope you're happy on the other end. 

Ironically I ran into all these jelly rolls at Tuesday Morning for super cheap but I walked away. I'm starting to have a little bit of will power. Ok fine I bought them, only two, and on the way home I passed another location and returned them knowing I wouldn't be using them.

New favorite meal French Fried Onion Spaghetti Bake. You can find the recipe here.

It.is.ahhhhmazing!

I'm sponsoring Sew Caroline the blog this month. She is incredibly adorable and I feel like she can teach me to sew through the internet. I know we will meet some day hopefully sooner rather than later. We can drink coffee and sew, all the live long day! I've been inspired to try sewing some new things, clothes mostly, including this 10 min maxi skirt. It was a success but I need a slip to wear under because its kinda see through and leaves the color of my undies to no one's imagination. Oops. 

If you missed last nights Insta - giveaway... I'm sorry. I may only do this the first Wednesday of each month but we'll see. I made this new headwrap yesterday. Maybe you will see some of these in the shop at some point, maybe. Not only am I trying to get OUT of the yoga pants everyday, I'm trying to make an effort to wear some fun accessories. I'd say I'm getting better day by day. Although it is fun to run errands in gym shorts and T-shirt, looking nice has been more fun. I think I'll keep trying. 

The big two-five is coming up this Saturday and I treated myself to a little gift. You can check out some of her other pieces here if the cross isn't your thing. I'm loving it and it only just came in the mail today! 

Hope your having a wonderful week. 

New Looks & Random

First, tomorrow morning I'm packing up again and moving to Memphis. For real this time. Since we won't have internet hooked up until Tuesday I thought I'd leave you with a wee ol meaningless post to hold you over. I've been staying in MO with my parents while BD was out of town on their first long road trip. No sense me being lonely when I can be home with my crazy family. Which brings me to this. My new look. Not really, I don't need glasses. I thought glasses were the new fad. Apparently these aren't the new stylish ones. 

Don't I look adorable? Actually I look almost exactly like my brother Jake. Freaky I know. It gets goofy around here when my family is home. All six of us were together over Easter weekend, no +1s and we had a good time. 

Normally Easter week is for coloring eggs. This year I decided to color something different.

This girl has NEVER, not once in my whole 24 years and 11 months of life have I ever put any color on my hair. I was scared but I did it anyway. Ombre much? I'm thrilled with my BOLD decision. But it's just hair and I can color it back if I change my mind.

Today I may have stooped to a new low in spoiling my husband. I've been driving his truck and I'm either super paranoid that it's going to get dirty or I really love him and treat it exactly like he does. I'm a little on the messier side. I don't mind a car that looks lived in. He on the other hand has it empty at the end of everyday. So today I headed to the car wash, with a step stool. I'm 5'6 so not that short but I can't reach the top of that bad boy. Silly? No. Genius I tell you. Plus it made him happy to know I cared so much about getting the top clean too.

And finally to top off most of the nothingness that is this blog post. I started this thing that has just caught on. This is the third week of Winstagram Wednesday. I find something usually at random from my craft box that is already made that hasn't been sold or given away and I then give it away. It's usually and hour to two hour window late Wednesday night. All you have to do is comment to enter. Since there aren't too many entries, I write them all down and pull a name from a bowl. Yes please picture it just like hunger games! I've really enjoyed giving something I've made away each week and I think I'll continue to do it. Hope you'll join me next week...from Memphis!!

Another IG Dump

Wello friends. Thats like well and hello put together - get me? I'm kinda feeling like the dorky kid right now cause its Friday and I'm blogging. I'll never forget a famous quote my younger brother said one time..it sticks with me.

"You're lame. Not only are you making Turtles, you're blogging about making Turtles." 

True story. My man crashes early these days what am I supposed to do besides blog and rack up points on Draw Something ( fyi username laurenD65 play me I'm funny at drawing).  Enough about me.

How've you been all week? Ok enough about you - back to me. #selfcenteredmuch I've been staying off the internet because, um, well, uh, yeah.. I don't have good reason. Basically I'm lazy and don't have unlimited internet on my phone. I hardly ever go days with instagramming so if you CAN'T live without me, which I'm sure you can't, then check me out there.

BD's family got into town tonight - YAY- and my family will be getting here starting Wednesday! I'm pretty much beside myself I haven't seen them since.... January and for me thats TOO long. Company at dinner is nice.

I was going to have a normal post with photos NOT from my phone, but my awesome photographer - BD - decided to have a man-date and I wasn't ready before then for the photo shoot.

I had a terrible morning and tried to post this in order to help myself. #fail. Unfortunately it didn't work. I did not choose to be happy. Blah. I want to erase today and start over. I didn't treat my husband very nicely at all. #badwife I will take full responsibility even though I'd like to blame it on the deathly cramps that took over my body. PMS = pretty much sucked.  Too (is it to or too) much info yes but you need to know that I have bad days too. Also I don't usually talk about things like this on the blog. Periods won't be a frequent topic. Anyway.. I haven't had many bad days lately but today was a bad one. They are not all hunky dory filtered instagram pics. Truth. That's another reason I'm writing, it makes me feel better. 

I was productive this week making myself TWO things. Both which I'll get you better photos of soon. A skirt of this crazy print using a pattern. Now I've learned and can do the next one without a pattern. I honestly don't know how often I'll wear it but at least if I'll my other clothes burn I won't be nakey. Can't wait to tell you about the great skirt debacle of 2012. 

The other is my new messenger bag. I love it!

In fact these are the first two things that I've made for me!! Everything else has been for others.

Thursday I did our signature home cooked meal here at the apartment. Ever in a jam these are go-to. Just add water. Even dum dums can do it. 

I've discovered I love these alone or dumped in with some cake batter frozen yogurt. Mini yummy bears.

I have puppy fever again. Like right now, I'd love to cuddle up with said puppy and just watch some TV since my husband has been sleeping since 9:45. But not gonna happen for a while. Although we did make a deal to throughly discuss it as an option if we start the season in STL. Instead I cuddle up with my iPhone searching #puppies and #dogs on IG. 

But all in all I know that...

P.S. The neighbor has her slider door open so I got to blog from the couch. Yip Yip Yippe. No time out stairs for this girl!