I'm a Hoarder

I tend to be a bit of a hoarder. Not in the creepy disgusting kind of way that get's you your own episode on the tv show. More in the way that I hate throwing old papers and things from school away. I have tubs upon tubs of school assignments, paperwork, newspaper clippings, ticket stubs, receipts and other such junk organized away in closets and the attic over our garage. 

I think I hang on to it all because it's sort of like my life's history. It tells the story of who I am, what I did and how it turned out. Honestly, I don't think I even keep these things for me. I love looking back at my mom's old stuff like report cards and school papers. It helps me to know who she was and is besides just being my mother. I think in some sort of unconscious, or maybe conscious, way I think my future kids will think that's kinda cool to see my stuff too.

However, I don't think they will think it's so cool when they see how much of it there is. Especially if I die and they are left to go through it all. I should probably try to go through it all again and narrow down what's the most important. I gotta get over the fact that I feel like I'm throwing my history away because I know I'm not.

Plus, I just want to clear the clutter. 

Just one of many closets.

Help! Okay, it doesn't really look like this anymore but there's still a lot of paper!

Anybody else have this problem? Any good ways to clear it all out?! I'm desperate....

7 Quick Takes {11}

Zippety-do-da it's F-F-F-Friday again!

Which means, you can find me linking up over at Jens. 

1. I always get so ridiculously excited for Friday's and I don't even care. It's also August which just happens to mean it's my Birthday month!! Hopefully I don't get too annoying because my Birthday isn't until the 31st so I get to drag it out for the whole month. Seth just loves it when I do that:)

2.You know what else this lovely little month happens to bring? A vacation! And boy do I need it. Seriously, it has been way too long. I'm considering trying to talk Seth into moving to Europe so we can get 6 weeks of vacay like they do over there. Somehow I don't think this will be quite as easy as the DVR was. Anyway, one week in the beautiful Caribbean should tide me over for a couple months. 

3. I'm making pickles this weekend! Canning them that is. I've been stockpiling all of my little pickling cucumbers for the past week and I'm hoping they turn out okay. Canning just makes me feel like a little Betty Crocker. 

4. I have what I like to call a Love-Hate relationship with paying bills. I hate paying bills like water and electric because I know they are never going to go away. Ever. I do love that they are relatively small bills though in the grand scheme of things. I hate paying bills like my car payment, Seth's student loans and the house payment because these are much larger bills to pay. However, I do love knowing that someday these bills will be paid off and we won't have to pay them again. Plus what's not to love about transportation, education and home sweet home? #AmericanDream

5. Every year, since graduating, I can't help but suppress the smothering feeling of wanting to go back to school every time the back to school supplies hits the shelves. I seriously love and always loved school. Those beautifully sharpened pencils, stark white notebook pages and un-chewed pen caps get me Every. Single. Time. Maybe someday I'll go back for a teaching degree so I can stay in school the rest of my life while bringing home a paycheck. Enjoy it while you can kids. Before you know it you will be wishing for nap times and dreaming of the day when your biggest decision was the slide or swing-set. 

Stay in school, you fool.

6. I think I've previously mentioned that my mom is a nanny for a little one year old girl named Charlotte. She is pretty much adorable as can be and my mom texts me a photo just about every day of Charlotte's OOTD. Let's just say this girl has some seriously cute clothes. Since she's not mine I don't want to post photos of her but trust me. Anyways... here's part of the text convo from my mom that makes me smile:)

7. I stopped by my Grandma's yesterday during lunch. Her garden tomatoes haven't turned red yet so I dropped off some of mine for her with some additional produce. Conveniently enough she had just finished baking bread and gave me a loaf. Warm-out-of-the-oven to-die-for homemade bread. I guarantee Grandma has given out thousands of loaves of bread in her life and I have had many of them. However, a lot of them are frozen (cause it freezes beautifully) and I have to wait for them to thaw. I forgot how amazing it is straight out of the oven though. Grandmas are the best!

Some of my haul for the week.

Carb gold!

7 Quick Takes {9}

Alright people, let's do this!

Linking up with Jen at Conversion Diary.

1. I'm finally doing a garage sale this weekend! I'm joining up with one of my aunts and cousins at their house so it should be lots of fun. If you don't hear from me next week it's because I made millions selling my junk and I have moved to an island in the Caribbean. I think I've made 7 bucks so far so there's a good chance I'll be living by the ocean come Monday.

2. While I'm slaving away at the sweaty garage sale my husband is gone for the weekend at Lake of the Ozarks for a bachelor party. I must say I'm a little jealous he gets to hang out on the water. Good thing our cruise is booked so I have something to look forward too.

3. Since Seth was actually home last night I made dinner (where's my award?). Aka: nachos. I must say that they were freakin' amazing and I love being able to use some of the produce from our own garden. I like to think that makes my nachos "healthy."

See, healthy!

4. I have approximately 12 different future blog posts that I have started and saved in my "save as draft" email folder at work. Whenever I have downtime with nothing to do but wait on other people, I write stuff down so I don't forget. My memory isn't the best. I'm pretty sure my life now revolves around the thought, "oh, I can so blog about this!"

5. I'm pretty sure nine out of ten people I know are either getting married or having a baby sometime in the next year. It's like an epidemic. I'm just over here like, "Hey I'm married, I never see my husband, so it's hard to make babies, but have you met my dog, or seen this really cool craft project I made?" 

6. My refrigerator is so embarrassing right now. I have always sworn I would never be one of those people with a messy refrigerator but that is exactly what is going on in my house right now. I partially blame my obsession with condiments...who has so many condiments that they can't all fit in the door? This girl apparently. You name a condiment and I would just about guarantee it's in my fridge. On a brighter note my tupperware cabinet is beautifully organized and has been that way since I moved in. I don't think many people can say that, can they?! I hate unorganized tupperware and not being able to find a lid.  Ain't nobody got time for that!

via

7. Honey Boo Boo returned this past Wednesday night much to my excitement! Let's just say as gross and disgusting as it was last season it was worse this season. Like, I almost didn't want to watch it for fear of puking, gross-ness. Picking up a roadkill pig and then cooking the hoofs to eat with beans...who does that? And Mama June and Sugar Bear getting all "romantic?" Please hand me a puke bag. 

Have you ever seen anything more terrifying? via

Weekend Adventures and some GORGEOUS photos!

Only way to beat those monday blues is by re-living the weekend. 

Linking up with Sami's Shenanigans.

1. Made some yummy blueberry pancakes Saturday morning mid-day for breakfast.

2. My parent's house is coming along slowly but surely. Hopefully they will move in soon so I can get all their junk out of my basement:)

3. Hung out with the little sis-in-law this weekend. She's 8 and pretty much my mini-me.

4. Cleaning out the closet, possibly my favorite new outfit.

5. SIL showing some attitude in her new birthday outfit she picked out. 

6. Picked some fresh veggies from the garden. I'm SO happy it's tomato season again. And for all those non-tomato lovers out there...what is wrong with you?! 

7. Closet in need of some major tlc and a large clothing purge.

8. Veggies became dinner last night. Cucumber onion and tomato salad. So fresh. So good. 

9. Did a little spray painting for a quick project I will hopefully be posting soon. 

10. Me and SIL relaxing at the outdoor theatre waiting for The Sound of Music to start. Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens...

11. Gunnar helping me price garage sale bargains for Saturdays sale. 

And....

12. Took some Senior photos of my gorgeous cousin Sophia. 

Weekend Recap and Lobsters

It's the most dreaded day of the week again, Monday! Actually my Monday's aren't too terrible. The work load is usually pretty light which is convenient since I'm always sleepy. Today is no exception. 

Seth was home for the weekend so I knew I was in for some type of manual labor. I'm pretty sure he has forgotten what it means to take it easy or relax on the weekends since that is the only time he is home to get anything done. Luckily, he didn't have anything too crazy in mind. 

I managed to sleep in until 9:30 Saturday which hardly ever happens anymore, so that was pretty nice. I woke up just in time to throw on some old clothes and ride into town, with Seth, to get some diesel for the skid loader and a cookie for breakfast. I know, healthy choices people! 

We came home and I decided, with a friendly nudge from my adorable husband, to finally stain our beck deck. It has only been two years-ish since we power-washed and bought the stain so I don't see what the big rush is, but it was a sunny day so I happily obliged. Happily only because I knew I could get my tan on at the same time. Plus I could jam out to Pandora. 

About an hour in to the staining, I decided that sunblock would probably be a good idea. Apparently an hour was a little too long to wait or else year old sunblock is not a good idea. Either way, my back is a lobster. A bright red, freshly boiled, lobster. 

See, I look like a lobster. 

But doesn't my deck look great?!

Quite the upgrade, if I may say so.

My husband decided to reward all my hard work/tan burn time with dinner and a movie. Steak and potatoes. Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson in The Internship, good stuff I tell ya. (I should probably note that my husband did yard work will I stained the deck. Don't want anyone to freak that my husband makes me do work while he does nothing.)

Sunday was uneventful and included a nap, my husband staying home an extra night and some buttery popcorn. A good day in my books. 

Heading home after work to take an apple cider vinegar bath. Supposedly it helps keeps your sunburn from peeling?? Not too optimistic over here. 

Linking up with Sami's Shenanigans. 

7 Quick Takes {7} and Wedding Photos!

(If you just want to see the Wedding Photos, scroll to #7)

1. I had a heart attack thirty minutes ago when I went to wash my apple and realized only my wedding band was on my finger. No engagement ring. You know the expensive one with the big diamond?! Never has this happened to me and I freaked. (I have been wearing my rings on my pinky finger for the last week or so, because with the humidity my fingers swell up first thing in the morning and I can't put my rings on my ring finger.) I now understand the saying of "my knees were weak" because they were. They were shaking and my heart was racing and I was praying that I would find it. I dropped my apple on the counter, looked in my lunch bag that I had just set in the fridge, and then raced back to my desk where my ring was sitting right inside of my work bag where it had fallen off probably 3 minutes before. Thank you Jesus! 

You can see why I was freaking out. Gorgeousness.  

2. Seth is getting closer to being done working out of state and I can't wait for him to move home. After being in a relationship for almost 12 1/2 years this will be the first time we live together for more than a weekend at a time. Things might get interesting:)

3. I finished Season 3 of Downton Abbey so I will probably shut up about it for a while but holy bananas! They definitely ended Season 3 with a cliffhanger and I googled and Season 4 doesn't even air until January 2014! Is that a joke?!!! Why so long??? Okay, I'm done now. 

4. I don't know what Google Reader is but apparently it's going away because every blog I read is freaking out about it. Apparently BlogLovin is the new cool thing to have though so I guess that's where you can find me. Or using the reader that's in blogger since it's so conveniently located. 

5. I'm considering switching from Blogger to Wordpress but I don't know if I want to go for it or not. I have noticed that a lot of blogs I read are using Wordpress but then I stumble on a bigger blog and they are still using Blogger. Ugh. I don't know what to do. Feel free to argue your case for either in the comments section because I'm sick of researching. 

6. Yesterday morning I wake up this adorable innocence outside my window.

Precious, I know. 

I arrive home to this lovely un-innocent-ness in my mail box. Face palm. 

This isn't the first time we have had a note from a neighbor in our mailbox. 

Lucky for us our neighbors are all great and this little old lady just wanted to tell me that, there has been more traffic on our road lately, and, she is worried about our dog crossing the road and getting hit by a car. She was sweet as could be and didn't care about the old muddy boot or shoe and I think she just wants a friend. After talking to her on the phone for over 30 minutes I have promised to come visit her at some point. And Gunnar was locked in his pen today:(

7. Apparently people enjoyed my engagement photos last week because they have been pinned quite a few times. Because of the enthusiasm I decided to give you some wedding photos for your viewing pleasure this week! (and because I just love to look at them:)

The guys.

My gals.  

The most gorgeous flowers ever. 

My groom. 

LOVE our smiles in this picture. 

:)

Same church my Grandparents got married in over 60 years ago. 

The farm my mom grew up on.

All wedding photos taken by Leigh Miller Photography. She is amazing talented and so sweet:)

Linking up with Jen at Conversion Diary.

I'm a Right Brained Emotional Disaster

I stumbled across this little link here on the MSN home page and was like "WOAH". 

THIS IS ME!

If you haven't clicked on the link yet you probably should do it so you can take the "quiz" to determine whether or not you are right brained. Obviously, I already new that I was, but it's weird to have visuals that can nail down your personality so well. 

Here are some of my favorites from the list.

Your living room serves as an artist's studio, video arcade and jam space.

Maybe not my living room but this is what I have....

Craft closet...one of two.

I'm "organizing" garage sale junk (to get rid of), files, wedding supply leftovers, etc.
Excuse me while I hang my head in shame. 

It's all because I'm right brained though I tell ya! Luckily the rest of my house doesn't look like this or my husband would probably kill me. 

Plus you know why I keep all this stuff? Because of the next point...

You can make art out of anything. Seriously, anything.

I think this all the time and it's the reason it's so hard for me to throw some things away. In the back of my head I'm always thinking I could make something so cool with this! I spend hours on Pinterest looking at cool things to make with my junk. I used to spend hours on Etsy looking, but never buying, because why would I buy when I could make it?

You try, but you haven't been to a doctor appointment on time in about eight years.

Yep, this is me too. Always late. Or exactly on time. On Sunday's my priest always jokes, "Oh, Julie's here, it must be time to start mass." Too bad it's true. I try so hard but I always underestimate how much time stuff takes even when I try to overestimate. #RightBrainedProblems. 

You're definitely not a morning person.

EVERY.DAY.OF.MY.LIFE. - I wake up before 7:00 am for two reasons only. 

1. Black Friday Shopping - The last couple years it started on Thursday night so I have gone garage sale shopping early to make up for that one morning of lost sleep.
2. Vacation - I will get up at any time day or night if it means I'm going on vacation and I won't even complain. 

Unless I'm doing one of the two things listed above, don't wake me up early and don't talk to me before at least 9 am. You can thank me later (at a decent hour).

You love making other people feel good.

Does anyone not love this?? Random acts of kindness are the best. I need to do more of them. 

And last, but not least, of my favorites from this list...

This is you watching a sad movie.

Or listening to a song, watching a baby commercial, reading a blog, etc. Literally have felt like this twice three times already today. Not joking.

So, in a nutshell....I'm late because I hate getting out of bed and can't find anything in my mess of a room. Plus I got distracted by all the pretty things and trying to make people happy. I feel bad because I'm late and I'm sure it doesn't make you happy so I turn into a blubbering emotional disaster. (I hope you read this really fast and without pauses because that's how I would say it while reaching for a tissue).

And that my dear husband is what you married. A right brained girl who wants to make you happy but spends lots of her time crying for no real reason. Xoxo!

Randoms

There are so many things I want to talk (write) about right now I'm not really sure where to start. I guess I will make a list kinda post with the randomness that is on my mind.

Twitter Drama

Last night at LifeNight (Youth Group) I had to meet with a handful of my girls to discuss the topic of online bullying via twitter and such. A couple of the mom's had brought some of the online drama to our (me and the other LN leader) attention and asked that we discuss with them. It was obviously not a fun conversation to have and everyone kinda just stared at me. I tried to lighten things up by throwing in a line from Mean Girls...You know the one where Tina Fey says, "Raise your hand if you have been personally victimized by Regina George"? Well, I was just met with cold stares and then I felt like they were thinking I was calling them Mean Girls. Face palm. Hoping they can all make up and move on at some point but things are still looking a little rough so we will see.

Gunnar

Gunnar has spent a lot of hours in his big pen this week and I feel really bad. After getting into a fight with a barbed wire fence last week I'm worried to leave him out but he just seems miserable inside the pen. Now don't think he's locked in a little kennel because that's not the case. It's actually a giant outdoor pen that I would guess is probably 20ft x 20ft (i'm not much of a guess-tamater but I think that seems legit) plus he has a huge shed that he can go into if the weather isn't nice. I'm pretty sure all he does is sit inside his shed though. ALL DAY LONG! It's like he is scared to go out in the sunshine or something. Hoping he gets over this soon because he is breaking my heart.

Seth

Warning: Extreme sappiness ahead

I realized yesterday that 11 years ago this month is when Seth and I started dating! April 14th, 2002. Holy smokes I can't believe it has been that long, or short depending on how you look at it, but wow. It was a year and half ago this month that we got married. October 15, 2011 - Best day of my life. I must say that I am blessed beyond belief that this man is in my life. He is the most loyal and best friend I could ever ask for. He would drop everything for any of his family or friends, even strangers at any time. His work ethic is unmatched as far as I'm concerned and his grilling skills are beyond delicious. Every time I see someone write about how wonderful and great their husband is I can't help but think that they don't have any idea how great husbands can really be. I hope I'm wrong and that all women feel the same way I do but I just don't think it's possible. I guess I'll stop here but be warned that I'm still full of all the sappiness.

Leaving the church!

Can't decide if my mouth wide open like this looks obnoxious or not...

Tomorrow's Friday and I. Can't. Wait.