Hey y’all!

 

In about 78 days, a big group of bloggers will be gathered in Dallas for Blissdom 2013. I am beyond ready to spend a long weekend with some of my favorite girls! I bought my Blissdom ticket last week, and I am just EXCITED, so excited that I shared a picture of my confirmation ticket here, on the twit, instagram, and facebook!

Just in case you missed it :)

 

It’s kind of amazing how one experience can completely change you. Last year before Blissdom, I was excited and nervous, but I think mostly nervous. New adventures are always a little scary, and with everything going on in my life this time last year, I was nervous about something new.

 

Blissdom was amazing. It changed my opinion of the blogging community. It made me more confident in what I do here. It’s hard to describe how uplifting it was to be surrounded by my friends and a huge group of people just like me, who do what I do, and who understand what I do. After all of that, it was hard to go back to real life.

 

I think we started planning this year’s Blissdom before we even left last year! There are so many things I loved about last year’s conference and so many things I’m looking forward to this year. Here are a few things I can’t wait for!

 

I had such a great time with these girls last year! (Natalie & Molly, why didn’t we get pics together??) I had already spent lots of time with Neely, Meghan, Amber, and Kiley, and I loved getting to spend so many days in a row with them. I loved getting to finally meet Jenn, Rachel, Natalie, and Molly in person. Seriously y’all, there is nothing like getting to finally spend time in person with people you’ve only talked with online. There was so much screaming, hugging, and jumping up and down! Not all of these girls are able to go to Blissdom this year, and they will for sure be missed!

 

Heather and I met through a blog swap, and Neely and Tiffany were twit friends, and I loved getting to meet them. Because of the Facebook group for Blissdom newcomers, I was able to connect with other first time attendees like Jen and Carrie. I also got to meet some “big bloggers” that I’ve been following for awhile like Maggie, aka Gussy Sews!

 

Jon Acuff, Jeannette Kaplun, Erin Loechner, and Blissdom founder Alli Worthington were just a few of the inspirational speakers we heard. I learned some really great things from them that made me think a little differently about blogging and life. Their words pushed me to really take pride in my place in blog land, and because of that, when I came home I shared my blog on Facebook for the first time. You can read some of the things I learned from them here. I can’t wait to see the list of this year’s speakers!

 

As a huge music fan, I loved getting to see performances by Rascal Flatts, Chris Mann, and Joe Jonas! So fun!

 

This year’s conference is going to be in Dallas. For the last three years it’s been in Nashville, but this year they decided to make a change. Nashville is one of my favorite cities ever, so I was a little bummed when I saw the announcement, but the more I think about it, I’m REALLY glad it’s in Dallas instead. Here’s why:

 

*I don’t have to use extra vacation days at work for travel.

 

*I don’t have to be crammed in the back seat of Amber’s car for 12+ hours with a bunch of suitcases and a Neely.

I love love LOVE these girls, but I wasn’t sure our friendships were going to survive that car ride home.

 

*I don’t have to endure the loooooong drive through Arkansas. No offense to my Arkansas friends, but it is almost painful driving allll the way across the state.

 

I already know that Blissdom is going to be another wonderful experience. If you still haven’t decided if you’re going, I would definitely encourage you to go. You definitely won’t regret it. One of the beautiful things about Blissdom is that no matter how big or small your blog is, it doesn’t matter. We are all just bloggers gathering together because we love what we do.

 

If you have any questions about Blissdom, please don’t hesitate to email, comment, or tweet me! I’d love to help!

 

Hope to see y’all there!

My little blog turned 2!

 

I took a job with The Vintage Pearl!

 

I gave headband advice in vlog form :)

 

I turned 26 and had the flu all on the same day. Boo.

 

I attended BlissDom for the first time and had my life changed! I hung out with my favorite girls and met some of my favorite girls in person! We met Rascal Flatts and Chris Mann! Oh, and I had a moment with Joe Jonas :)

I officially started my job at TVP.

 

I met Jackie!

 

I spent a fabulous weekend with Regina and Amanda!

 

I took a quick trip home to finally celebrate my birthday.

 

I loved on my Sweet P!

 

I hung out with Pioneer Woman again!

 

My shop opened!

 

I met Kara-Kae for the first time!

 

I had brunch with E while she was passing through town!

Lori and I met for breakfast and to get Carrie Underwood’s new CD!

 

 I got a wonderful surprise visit from Amy and B!

 

The bro turned 23.

 

The OKC Thunder made it to the NBA Finals! So proud of our boys!

 

The Sunday Social with Ashley and Neely debuted!

 

I went with Kara-Kae to an OKC Blogger Meet-up!

 

Teddie announce her pregnancy! Can’t wait for my little nephew to get here!

 

I met Meghan when she was passing through OKC!

 

I spent 4th of July with Wade, Joyce, and the Littles.

My blog got a fun makeover!

 

I had a lovely bloggy date with Rebekah.

 

I took a super quick trip home to celebrate Momma and Daddy’s birthdays.

 

I attended Women of Faith with my best friend.

 

We met Angie Smith. It was one of the most incredible moments of my life.

 

We also met Selah.

 

I made a new blog friend! Cortney and I met in line to meet Angie.

 

I spent a fabulous weekend in Dallas with Neely.

 

We had dinner with Kiley, Caitrin, Collin, and Chad.

 

We had crab mac & jack :)

 

We went to visit Laura and met her precious family!

 

We had a Brad Paisley concert rained out, so we opted for pizza in pajamas!

 

We met Caitrin and Ally for brunch!

 

My twins turned 16 :(

 

We said goodbye to Sarah for the semester by spending an evening in Bricktown.

 

I tried online dating for the first time. It’s been…interesting.

 

We met the fam halfway for lunch one afternoon.

 

We had a major TVP sale, so we spent the day with some wonderful Tulsa TVP peeps.

 

I went to see Jonna and Mahya peform at Freshman Fanfare.

 

We sent Becky on a little scavenger hunt.

 

Sarah came home for a visit.

 

Grammy and I saw Les Miserables.

 

Sweet P turned a year old!

 

I got my hair did :)

 

Lori and I saw Carrie Underwood and Hunter Hayes.

TVP cohosted an OKC blogger meet-up.

I worked my first Black Friday. I didn’t hurt anyone, so I consider it a huge success :)

Hey y’all!

 

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! Mine was nice, but it didn’t really go according to plan at all. We had to cut our trip home short because of a snowstorm that didn’t happen, so we were all pretty bummed. Thee only thing making it ok is that Momma and Daddy will be here sometime next week to celebrate Christmas with our family here!

 

Here are a few pictures from the weekend!

 

Our pretty Christmas tree

My cute parents

Momma & me

The bro & the momma

The boys both got Duck Dynasty books

I got Still Lolo by Lauren Scruggs! I have been following Lauren’s story since her plane accident, and she has been such an inspiration! I’ve been dying to get her book, and I can’t wait to read it!

 

We got Daddy tickets to see Bon Jovi!

Colby and I are so excited to get to go with him!

Momma got an iPad!!

Momma and Daddy surprised me with a TV! I had no idea it was coming!

LOVING having a big TV! I’ve still been using the tiny one I got when I was a senior in high school!

 

After opening gifts together, we went out to my grandparents’ house to do Christmas with them.

My wonderful grandparents

All of the grandkids

Cousins!

Ok, back on one of my Sunday Social posts, I mentioned that my favorite Christmas dessert was cookie-press cookies. Mom-mom hadn’t made them in several years because it hurts her hands to make them. When she read on my blog that they were my favorites, she decided to make them for me! I was so surprised! I know it had to be hard for her to make them, and I can’t begin to say how much that meant to me! Thanks again, Mom-mom! You’re the best!

K and me

Me and my fabulous momma

Toooooooo many Christmas tree cookies!

My favorite picture from Christmas! I had a nasty cold all weekend, and Grandaddy was teasing me about carrying around a roll of tissue paper with me because my nose was running so much!

 

I did Christmas with Jessica and the kiddos, but things were so crazy that we didn’t take any pictures :( She got my this beautiful Jessica Simpson bag! I LOVE it!

 

When Jessica’s K was little bitty, I started a tradition of buying books for him for Christmas, and as Jessica has had more kids, I have kept the tradition going. K is always so excited to see what books he’s going to get! Before I came home from OKC, I picked out new books for all of them. When we got home from church Sunday morning, I found this:

K’s book! She pulled the book from under the tree and shredded it! I don’t know what got into her, but I was so mad!

 

Monday, Momma and I were wrapping gifts in her room, and when we came out, we found this:

Right away, I knew Sandy had done it, but if there had been any doubt, the evidence was right in her mouth!

She tried to act so innocent! We know from now on not to leave the gifts under the tree if we aren’t there!

 

Jack-Jack got a present too! I got him some of his favorite mouse toys!

He was so proud!

He didn’t know which one to play with first, so he threw all of them around!

Worn out from all the fun! He’s such a precious boy!

 

Yesterday was C’s birthday, so we went to Gatti Town to celebrate!

Wade & C playing a hunting game

Little Man insisted on playing skee ball, so Colby helped him!

 

After the party, we went back to Wade and Joyce’s house to do Christmas with them.

Part of my gift! I am always complaining about being cold, so Joyce knew this would be perfect for me! It is soooooo soft and soooooo warm that I may never take it off :)

 

Even though things didn’t go like we planned, it was great to be able to go home for a couple of days and see my family. I feel like I’ve barely seen them this year, so it was nice to just be with them. I can’t wait for Momma and Daddy to come up to OKC so we can have a little more time together.

 

My 2012 recap will be up on Monday! I’m excited to get a chance to look back over the last year! So much has happened!

 

Have a great weekend, y’all!



 

I love the crazy Target lady! Too many to choose just one!

 

 

Your turn! Answer the questions, grab our button, and link up with Neely and me!

 

 

1. What is the best New Years Eve you’ve ever had?

2. Are you doing anything for NYE this year and if so what?

3. Name a book we should all read come January?

4. What are your new years resolutions?

 

I hope you all have a great Sunday and a wonderful Christmas!

Hey y’all!

 

Tuesday, my girls and I headed to Tulsa for our company-wide Christmas party! It was wonderful to see so many of the girls I spent time with while I was in Tulsa, and it was wonderful for my team to get to see everyone! We had a fun night, and I’m so glad we were able to be a part of the fun!

 

My fabulous team (minus Cathy & Haley, who couldn’t be with us)!

 

*My dress came from Taylor’s online boutique Hazel and Olive! I loooooove it so much!

 

Have a great Thursday!



 

Please join me in prayer for the community of Newtown, Connecticut, while they are dealing with this horrible tragedy.

 

Hey y’all!

 

Today I’m linking up with Sar to share my fun weekend!

 

This weekend I went to a birthday party for my favorite twins! They are going to be two this month!

Tracy had the cutest Curious George decorations!

Tracy made the cake and cupcakes! So cute, right?!

The most precious twin babies ever!!

 

This weekend I watched my big twin babies go to their first winter formal!

The girls!

The boys!

W and me! She looked so beautiful!

Joycie and me!

 

This weekend I got my new planner from Maybooks!

I seriously love it!

 

This weekend I helped Joyce decorate 21 snowmen ornaments for her kids at school.

I painted scarves on allllllll of the little snowment. I STILL have paint on my fingers!

 

This weekend I gave in and watched Ashley & JP’s wedding.

I wasn’t going to because I didn’t really like her, but I love watching weddings! :)

 

This weekend I decided that I really want to change my blog name. I’m just feeling like I need to revamp a little, and I think a name change will be good. I don’t know what I want to change it to, so if you have ideas, send them my way :)

 

What did you do this weekend?