Fall Fun

Well fall is here in full force. It's been down right cold the past 2 days, but prior to that we have enjoyed some beautiful weather here in the mountains of East TN. I love fall so much and have actually found the time to enjoy it this year even in the midst of a lot of busyness and wrestling with what I want out of my life. Here's what I've been up to lately:

• Last weekend was absolutely gorgeous and I had a quiet call weekend so I drove out to Fender's Farm and the surrounding stands to get some fall produce. I stocked up on sweet potatoes, apples, and of course pumpkins! It was nice to enjoy the sunshine and fall colors. 
• I have discovered the wonderful world that is Pinterest, and I have to admit I am obsessed! It has so many wonderful things; from tasty treats to craft projects to funny quotes. I have spent way too much time surfing around checking out all the "pins". I have been inspired by some of the things I have seen and as a result have been quite crafty lately. 
• 
  The pumpkins acquired on my trip to the farmer's market combined with an idea I saw on Pinterest resulted in the following craft project. I got my big pumpkin for only $5 and the little ones for a $1 each! They made for some pretty inexpensive fall decorations.

• I've got some 5Ks coming up soon, so I've been running regularly lately and trying to get back in to shape. I was doing really well, and then I went to Mexico and got sick when I came home. That set me back a little bit, but I'm back on track now and training hard. In 2 weeks I'm running in Chattanooga at the Purple Strides Pancreatic Cancer Awareness 5K on Saturday. Then on Sunday I'm doing the Speedway in Lights Children's Charity 5k. And of course I'm signed up for the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning. Last weekend I also participated in the Susan G Komen Race for the Cure (just walked this one). This is me and my Specials girls wearing our PINK last Friday for National Wear Pink Day. 

• This weekend I made a fall wreath that was inspired by Pinterest. The original project called for styrofoam balls, but they are costly and I didn't want to end up spending a fortune on a craft project. So I brainstormed with some fellow crafty friends, did some looking around, and finally found some cheap plastic wiffle balls at Target in various sizes that made a great substitute. Here's the finished project:

And because no fall is complete without some pumpkin baking, this week I made Pumpkin Cupcakes with Pumpkin Spice Cream Cheese Frosting , and if I do say so myself, they are to die for. The best part is they are healthy! Guilt free fall goodness? Yes please!  

Hodge Podge

Before I head off to Mexico for 10 days, I thought I'd write a quick blog. (which I have not packed a single thing for and my flight leaves at 530 am! totally not like me) I have some random things I want to post and a few pictures too, but as individual topics, there's not enough material to warrant separate posts. So hence the various paragraphs I am about to write!

• I got a new end table from Crate and Barrel (the one that finally got put together after sitting in the dinning room for a couple of months) and as I don't want to leave rings on it, I decided I needed coasters. I looked on Etsy because I wanted fun coasters, but after seeing the cost, decided I could buy my own tiles and make them myself. I found slate tiles (9 for $4.89) and bought felt dots to put on the bottom. I think they turned out pretty well and they are protecting my table nicely. 
• I got my nails done the other day. I am developing an obsession with Shellac. I love it my nails look great and like they were just painted for 3 weeks! I'm currently sporting grey. 
• Inspired by my friend Carrie's recent blogs about reducing the clutter in her house and life, I finally gathered some of mine together and took it to the Goodwill. It is nice to have it out of my house and to know someone else can get some use out of it. I foresee several more trips in the near future. 

Catching Up-List Style

• Tomorrow makes 4 weeks since Adam passed away. Still doesn't feel real sometimes. 
• My little sister Elizabeth is officially the strongest person I have ever met. 
• I just started reading The Help. I can't put it down. I have promised myself I will finish the book before I watch the movie.
• I have been in a major throwing out mood lately and am trying to clear some of the clutter out of my house.
• AMNTM All-Star Season=best reality tv idea ever. My favorites are Allison, Laura, and Kayla. 
• I have a new favorite worst reality show ever-Dance Moms. Everyone needs to see it. Definitely a train wreck!
• It's starting to feel like fall! Which means 2 of my favorite things are back around: Football and Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Soy Lattes! 
• I'm running again. (Yes I know, you've heard this before) I've signed up for the Race for the Cure 5K at the end of October. I hope to better my time from my last race.
• I called the police on my neighbors last week. They keep deciding that 1am is a good time for a dance party on the front porch. It is not. 
• I'm going to start doing site visits for PA students from Trevecca. I am really excited about this. 
• I made a last minute decision to go to Mexico with the GYN surgery team. I leave 2 weeks from Saturday. Eek! 
• I've been getting lots of free samples lately. It makes me really happy. I look forward to getting the mail even more than I usually do! 
• I finally put together my end table from Crate and Barrel that has been sitting in the dinning room for a couple of months now. I am waiting on a table from Ikea to complete my new living room set up. 
• I chopped my hair off yesterday. 15 inches to be exact. I love it but it is taking a little getting use to. Hasn't been this short since I was a small child!

No Words

Sometimes words just aren't enough. Sometimes there aren't the right words. Sometimes tears are all you've got.

Yesterday the decision was made to send Adam home on hospice care. He was discharged today. The exact prognosis is not known, however it is likely a couple of weeks to a month at most. There are no words to describe how this news has shaken up my life and the life of my family. I have known deep down that this was coming, but I had hoped it would be much farther in the future. Please pray for Adam and Elizabeth as they face the difficult days to come.

Catching Up

 So yeah, it's August. When did that happen? I feel like the last half of July just kind of flew by. I guess that was because out in Arizona for most of it. YoungLives camp was amazing. I had a great team to work with and took care of some very sweet little ones. I fell in love with a brother and sister and it was hard to say goodbyes at the end of the week.

Savannah

Eli

 

Purple Pod

29 did not start out as the best year for me. I was sick with the sinus crud (miserably so). I was on call. I had one of the worst on call weeks ever. I didn't get much sleep. I was late for my own birthday dinner with my family thanks to being on call. I got a speeding ticket. A friend betrayed my trust. I couldn't even taste my birthday cake. I cried at work. My brother in-law was in the hospital all week. Being sick kept me from running with means no 5K next weekend. 

There were some bright spots. I got to spend my actual birthday evening with my very best friend. We went out to dinner and saw Harry Potter Deathly Hallows Part 2. It was wonderful. That was however followed up by a 1a call from the hospital and having to go in. My parent's got me a stand alone freezer, which I was really excited about. I've wanted one for a while, but have never gotten around to buying myself one. My Specials girls did lunch and cupcakes for me. They also got me flowers that I have managed to keep alive so far. 

All in all I guess I just have to take the good with the bad. Here's hoping 29 keeps improving. I could use a good year.

A Little of This and a Little of That

• I love summer. But not for the reasons most people would think. I love summer because of reality TV. I mean seriously the best TV moments happen during the summer months and I am present on my couch to watch them all. Some of my current favorites are Toddlers and Tiaras (don't judge until you watch, because you too will become hooked), The Challenge Rivals (hey gotta relive my college Real World obsession somehow), Teen Mom (the one with the original Teen Mom girls-Farrah, Maci, Amber, and Catilynn), Big Brother (the ultimate summer reality show), and So You Think You Can Dance (another summer classic).  The one summer reality show I'm not particularly fond of- America's Got Talent. I mean I've got to have some standards. I do admit to occasionally watching it if absolutely nothing else is on. There are a few good acts but most of it is crap! 
• My birthday is this month. I like birthdays. They are important to me. I will be 29. Earlier this year I was kind of freaked out about this and it seemed really old. But now it doesn't seem to really matter so much. I am thankful for each year I get to celebrate as I realize not everyone gets the chance to get old.  
• I can't wait for the final Harry Potter movie to come out. I also really want to go to the theme park at Universal Studios. There I said it. Judge me if you want. Seriously some of the best books I have ever read. If the second part of the movie is as good as the first, it's going to be awesome. Anyone want to go see it with me?
• Other great books I have read recently: The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mocking Jay. I was drawn into the story from page 1. I plan to read them again soon. They were that could. I am also rereading the Twilight books and the last Harry Potter book. Yes, I know my tastes are all over the place. 
• I finally watched the original Transformers movie this weekend. I was surprised at how much I liked it. I'm thinking about buying it, which says a lot because I don't buy many movies. If you haven't seen it, you should. Even if you think comic book/action hero movies aren't your thing.

• I have a new favorite baby. I got to spend last weekend with this precious little guy and of course his wonderful momma too. I am completely smitten. I even love his open mouth slobbery kisses. I would have brought him home with me if I thought I could have gotten away with it. :) 
• We finally have a Menchies in JC!!!! If you haven't been there or don't know what it is, you need to check it out. It is heaven on earth. Especially for this lactose intolerant girl who can eat this frozen yogurt thanks to live cultures!!! I first discovered this amazing place in Nashville thanks to my friend Tasha. I could eat at this place everyday but refrain so I don't weigh 400 pounds. 
• I'm running again. Even managing to keep it up in this heat. I've signed up for another 5K in August. It's Nashville so if any of my Nashvegas friends want to join me I'd love to have a running buddy. Unless of course you run fast and then, well I'll just have to meet you at the finish line. I'm actually really enjoying running (words I thought would never come out of my mouth). 
• This weekend I head to Arizona for Young Lives camp. It will be my 3rd year. This is one of my favorite weeks of the summer. I get to hold babies all week. If you know me and my love for little ones, this is pretty much my dream come true. Yes it's tiring, but I love it.  I am especially excited about my direct flight from Nashville to Phoenix that I managed to snag on Southwest (which also means no blasted baggage fees!). 
• I'm going to cut my hair and donate it again soon. It's gotten pretty long again and with the summer heat, it's time. I'll post pictures when I do. It's going to be pretty short. And I mean real short, not just short for me. 

Ok, that's all I've got for now folks. Thanks for tuning in for another edition of all the random stuff that bounces around in my head. 

Happy Birthday America!

I can't believe it's July already, but here it is the 4th, which means only 24 days until my birthday! I have a wonderful and much needed relaxing weekend hanging out in Richmond with my college roomie. It's amazing how a little quality time with a good friend and some loving from the sweetest baby every can really boost one's mood.
This month is going to be a busy and it was nice to start it off with a few days of just having fun and enjoying life. In 2 weeks I head to Arizona for Young Lives camp again and I'm looking forward. I hope to sneak in some time with my Nashville friends at the beginning or end of that trip. I'm training for another 5K the middle of August and so far so good. There's that birthday and a few cookouts with friends and maybe a drive-in movie or two. I think that's plenty for the month!
Well, I hope everyone has a wonderful 4th. I'm on call and keeping my fingers crossed that the phone stays quiet so I can enjoy it too!

Dear Life,

You know that talk we had about calming down and cutting down on the amount of crappy stuff that keeps coming my way? Were you listening? I don't think you were. Sure you may have been nodding your head like you heard my pleas to chill out a little, but it clearly did not sink in. So let's try this again. Boring that's what I want. No throwing me for a loop. No surprises around the next curve. No let's see how well Rachel can handle juggling one more ball. Let's keep it nice and easy for a while. I could really use a break.

Thanks,

me 

Wedding Photo Op

Ok, I know I promised more photos from my stint as a bridesmaid, and there are a few, but most of these are from the other weddings I have been involved in recently. Life has been stressful lately. I have lots of words in my head that will at some point probably make it into blog form, but for now it's pictures.

My life as a Bridesmaid

Last week I was in Nashville for a week of celebrating that concluded with L getting married last Sunday. It was a busy week and I had so much fun spending with new and old friends. The wedding was beautiful despite the cold and mist and I was honored to be apart of my friend's happy day. Highlights from the week included a bridesmaid dinner at Germantown Cafe, a bachelorette shower, a spray tan, the rehersal dinner, a bridal brunch, mani and pedis, and of course the main event. Seriously one of the best weeks of my life. I got to stock up on time with my besties, get pampered, and see 2 best friends join their lives. I was a slacker and didn't bring my camera so I'm relying on my fellow bridesmaids for photos. Here's a few for now with more to follow of the wedding.

Germantown Cafe

shots at the bachlorette party

Bride to Be

FOBs

Bridal Brunch

Mani's and Pedi's

Morning of the Wedding

V and L

Great Strides 2011

Here are a few pictures from my 5K run and walk. My run went well and I plan to do it again next year. It was a beautiful day and it was great to see friends and remember Nathan together. Thanks to all of you who supported Team Nathan and Cystic Fibrosis research.

Getting ready to Start

Half Way

Finish Line! 

Team Nathan

Shirts by Jen

 

 

Friends

T and I with Nathan's Parents