Around the house: pity party

If you were to join me in a cup of jo this morning, I would most likely be less than mediocre company.

Excuse me for a second while I bemoan the life of a graduate student.

Sitting next to you on the couch, drinking coffee I would tell you that 

I am more easily stressed than previously thought

My husband has eaten cereal for more meals this week than I wish (and is ok with it)

I wish I was better at working in groups at school

A 4.0 is all I want 

I realize that school isn't the most important thing, but sometimes I feel like it is (even when I deal with life and death at work)

I hate when my professors think less of me

Working full time and studying is tiring, but totally doable

I realize people deal with much more tiring things daily

I would also tell you that I am truly grateful for this opportunity and want nothing more than to do really well

(there are a lot of "I's" in this post)

Some things that can cheer ya up

senior portraits

bodily contortions of canines

little doggies cutting their eyes

fires and full moons

pretty dresses borrowed from cousins

family photos on canvas

little Isaac man crawling!

 a hand on the hip

Thanks for coming to my pity party
it's over now
you don't have to go home, but you can't stay here
i'm moving on to another homework assignment

happy friday friends,
Kate

Around the house

Another week has quickly passed.

How come the weeks go by so much more quickly the better life gets?

I wanna yell, "everybody STOP, this is the good part"!

As I say often, we are blessed. 

Our schedules are overly busy, but we're doing what we love.

we had these again this week

or maybe it was last week? 

Either way...they were legit, once again (so was my dinner date)

a new flavor flave

the Volcano  has been my obsession/go-to scent for a while now, but Paris is a pleasant change 

still enjoying our built ins and displaying my dishes and what-nots

i'm already scheming about displaying our books some day

thanks, previous owner, for these lovely built ins

my ideas(via pinterest, obviously) for this space are endless

love looking at this cutie patootie on the window by my desk while i study.

those shorts! 

the rocking chair from Mamaw Lou in our living room for now

super coze

GTs been playing the git-r more and i am diggin' it

hoping you have a blessed weeks-end,

Kate

Around the house

It's a great Friday morning to be thankful and appreciate the little things around the house.

fresh new flowers in a mason jar

(typically i don't do pink or purple...but hey, we're quickly approaching the month for lovers)

eating good makes me feel good

why can't i remember that while digging into the Blue Bell?

on my way to all-natural eating 

this looked tasty...we'll see

little Trigger

he's a goodun', that little feller

Rifle Paper Co. calendar

a wonderful gift from my mom. isn't it lovely? 

an unmade bed and lights that are never coming down

an old framed mirror used in a new way to display lotions and fragrance

GT says i'm a Pistol Annie because I have rifle cartridges next to my perfume

Some days, it's all about the little things

Happy Friday folks,

Kate

a Friday loves list

It's been a while.

reminds me of a song. we won't go there. Staind reminds me of my early high school years and the youth group guys playing Nirvana in the basement of our church for hours and makes me remember why that growling/yelling band playing by bands like Nickelback, Tool, some Creed and others makes my skin crawl. 

I digress.

Where was I?

oh yeah, loving Friday and life. hello!

Here is a list of some things I love on this here Fridee:

1. my boo is home for a good solid 7 days. Can i get a whoopty whoop!

i think we might just kick it at home tomorrow.

that's gonna be perfect and rare.

can't wait!

2. i keep finding more goodies in our new/old barn.

like these random wooden things.

awesome, huh?

i stuck 'em in a big urn that we already had.

3. Sara Bareilles

I'm very aware that she's no new-comer.

I saw something, somewhere about her the other day, so i just started youtubing(verb?) her.

So now, she's one of my faves.

She's ridiculously gifted and her voice is effortless.

brilliant.

this song has been a fave of mine for a while.

both of their voices. their harmony. the song. their hats. Gasp.

4. seeing two deer this morning on a run with GT and Woodrow.

have i mentioned that i love our new house and new road?

(house makeover pics to come soon)

5.beautiful dresses

 

it's perfectly feminine, structured, elegant, dreamy and romantic

if we were to wed each other again, i might want to wear this.

of course, i saw this on pinterest

hope everyone had a great week and are gearing up to relax.huh?

anyway

happy Friday folks,

Kate

Things to love on Friday

1. Our group in Ghana.
Great people, but really fun too! Great combo.

2. Progress on the new old house. And a perfect place to display our dishes(they're so pretty and it'd be a shame to hide them in a cabinet)

3. My awesome man who packed the medicine trunks for us to take. He also painted every room in the new house, completely packed up and moved us out of our old house in LR while I was gone... Hello! Three aren't many men cut from the same cloth.

4. Heading to work the Texas trophy Hunters Extravaganza for Buck Commander. Apparently there's a rattlesnake pit... We'll see how that goes. Sounds like a terrible idea.

5. Still trying to decide my feelings about this guy. He was spotted in Accra, Ghana. I think I like him or at least whoever thought him up.


Happy Friday folks,
Kate

Camp Love

The last day of camp is bittersweet. You're so tired and hot and are pretty ready to lay down in the air conditioning and sleep for days. But, you don't want the best week of your life to end and tell all of your new friends goodbye.

I have yet to find another environment like Camp.

One week. 100ish kids. 9 cabins. Bible studies. Survivor day. Relay games. Pool time. Canoe races. Swings. Dodgeball. Card games. Singing. Skit night. Loud meal times. Campfire.

After 1 week, lifelong friendships are formed. I have so many awesome memories from my weeks at Ch-Yo-Ca. It's such a fun-packed week that you get to know people fast and learn all about them. It's an intense friendship-forming week and full of actives that challenge you physically, emotionally and spiritually.

So, after my first week of being the camp nurse and bible teaching... I must admit... It's still awesome.
I dot want it to end, but I must get out of the heat and the dirt and the sweat and the bugs. Also, I must pack for Ghana.
Afterall, I leave tomorrow!
Hooray and yikes at the same time!

Happy weeksend folks,
Kate

the return of Fridays list of loves

On this glorious and smokin' hot Friday i am LOVING...

...

1. this dude

he's my fave canine there ever wuz

2. having my brother-in-law here.

it's nice to be around "others" like yourself

 it is quite amazing that i have found another family that is as unique(the nicest word i could think of) as mine.

i just wish Ty's wifey could be here.

but, she's in Alaska. likely story, huh?

i love my seeesters

3. he's here b/c we're driving to Georgetown, TX today to see these awesome folks

we're excited to spend the weekend with GTs grandad and grandma.

They're pretty remarkable people and I just love spending time with them. They're full of good advice along with some competitive games of 42. I hope when i'm in my mid-80's i'm still whooping up on my grandkids in a friendly game of dominoes.

4. summertime music

(here we go again, right?)

since we'll be leaving around noon and heading to texas, i'll prob be blaring some road trip tunes

the killers.

.38 special

also, you can't head to texas without some texas country.
something about summer brings out more of my twang.

pat green

5. eating this last night for supper
mom did good.

from here

to.die.for
the perfect summer pasta.
we enjoyed our time around the dinner table
i speak for everyone.

happy weekend folks,
kate

what i'm lovin' friday and Touch a Life

i love today.

if you live in west money, just look outside. ain't it grand?

an absolutely perfect spring day. seriously the temp is great too!

today i am thankful and loving these things

1. spending the day at my highschools regional track meet yesterday

this was the 4x400m relay.

i love to hate that race. i ran it in my days at OCS and let me tell you... it's brutally awesome.

i had knots in my stomach before the race. and i don't even know these girls.

does anyone else know that feeling with an old sport?

i also got burnt to a crispy

2. the weather, duh

mom and dads yard

3. having my cousins walk over to our house anytime, then driving them to another cousins ballgame.
or being with them at all and in a split second because they live across the yard.

they are my faves.

here are a bunch of 'em on easter sunday. some are friends, too.


4. I get to see this dude in 1 week!!!!

he will also be 1 year old next Saturday...what? what?
how in the world has it been 1 year since he was born?
I love this little Beauman so, so, so much and can't wait to spend a whole week with him!


5. Big news
planning the trip to head to Ghana in July...
...to spend some time with these guys!

click on the picture above for more information about Touch a Life

We will be holding the first Health fair at the Village of Hope.
I am so thrilled to be working with those that organize this effort and can't wait to meet all of these kids!

watch this video. please! watch this video.
(you might recognize the guy behind the camera)
These are the children we will be working with. My heart is already so heavy for them, I can't wait to meet each of them individually.



so, i'm a happy gal on this great friday!
hope you are too.

kate

a Big Friday update

Here's a big update on the last week of our lives.

the days of our lives, if you will.

and if you won't...i completely understand. i couldn't help my self.

these updates will be in list format. this is because my brain needs an outline or nothing would ever get said or understood.

1. I'll start off with something that I haven't done in a while.

A Newlywed Lesson

Let your husband drive.

Epic, I know.

I'm the kind of wife that likes to think i'm awesome at directions and sometimes they don't work, but yet I continue to be adamant about our whereabouts. GT and I had a great "discussion" Sunday night in the car trying to get somewhere that I confidently knew how to get to. Confidence is not always good.

It's a long story that I won't bore you with. Mostly, because you might not think the same of me once I finished.

It all goes to say...sometimes you just need to shut your mouth and let your husband drive.

Somehow men, or at least my Man, has an innate sense of direction that almost never fails. almost.

love him for his patience. for sure.


2. Monday was my Mamaw Jo's 80th birthday.

80! I'll tell you one thing, 80 ain't what it used to be.

That's my Mamaw Lou with Mamaw Jo. She'll be 80 next month, too.

I've got good genes, huh?

She makes all of her 18 grandkids and 21(i think) great-grandkids feel like they are the favorite.

here are my Mamaw Jo and Papaw Shack on their wedding day.

I miss my Pap very, very much.

I am so blessed to have had an incredible example of love in a marriage and family.

Those two...i tell ya, they could love you til you couldn't take it anymore.

I could never say enough about my Mam. She is who I strive to be.
My aunt Chrys said it so well: visit here to read her blog about this awesome woman.


3. We had a blast in Sugar Land with Tommy and Brice last weekend!

the boys being really cool

Brice (b-dawg) and me after some fro-yo.

Do you have those friends who you can just sit and talk with for, like, ever?

We could've visited for days straight with these 2, but made the most of our short weekend. I love them and am so thankful for the time we got to spend...and the money at Target!

I absolutely love that GT and Tommy have been bff since birth so Brice and I can be so close. Luckily.

Love me some Waldrons.

I can't wait to see them again.

4. So, adults aren't so bad. I'm working in the adult ICU's and guess what? I'm survining and actually liking it.

Whoda thunk it?

I seriously thought that pediatrics is where my career as a nurse would be spent. But, that goes to show that I am completely naive regarding Gods plan for my life. I do love me some kiddos, but am finding a soft spot in my heart for those older than me...ha. It helps that the people I work with are very kind and helpful.

5. Meanwhile, back at the ranch. GT has spent his week helping in the filming for a new DVD thingy for Duck Commander. While I was working indoors, he was eating delicious crawfish-dishes at Kay and Phils while they filmed. I'm thinkin' he likes his job.

6. I miss these guys during my 12 hour work days

I think that'll do.

We're just living and living well.

hope you are too!

happy weekend folks,

kate

random friday loves

Happy friday peeps!

Today I am loving:

1.awesomely talented friends

(you need to click on this link to watch their video)

the black frames “leg bone”

buzz(laura busby) never ceases to amaze me. she currently has 2 blogs, found here and here.

patrick, who you all remember from our incredible wedding video, is the master mind behind awesome films.

and t-buzz(tommy busby, buzz' bro) is the lead singer/songwriter that makes these things happen.

they're also all in Dallas.

I can add them to my faves list in the big D

2. i started working this week in the icu.

the past 2 weeks have been full of classes/orientation.

this week was great! i love what i do. it's tiring, but who doesn't get tired working?

i'm thankful for helpful and kind nurses who help me find my way so i can do my job. hooray for money, too!

3. heading to houston today to see some great friends!!!!

gt's best man and wifey

3. it's finally warm again

yipee

my brain isn't wanting to type anymore.

do you ever feel that way? just all of a sudden, a blank wall appears and nothing is happening in there?

that's me right now

so i bid you a good-bye

kate

fridays home loves

It is strange not having a home to decorate.

Really, I do have a home...i just don't live in it.

(you can if you want to! it's for sale)

Many a day... when I'd have the day off... I'd spend time wandering through hobby lobby, tjmaxx, various home decor/furniture stores, target, etc.

Now, I'm just dreaming of a future home.

I'm thankful to have a roof over my head, but I am always dreaming about those walls.

So, here are some photos of dreamy spaces.

I don't have all of their sources. I think that's some sort of blogasphere major no-no.
My statement is this: I take no credit for any of these photos. There.
Most are via: here or here

such an effortlessly glamorous way to use space.

i'd just take the view, too

or that chair

chalkboard paint. genius.

and those floors

i've posted this before. no excuse needed

don't get me started

this sink...please?

i'd read forever.

pretty sure that i've posted this before, too.

i'm hyperventilating

wake me up.

when september ends(sorry, had to)

happy friday peeps,
kate