Over the Weekend

The past few days have been a whirlwind. Last Thursday Taylor found out (1) that he got into grad school at UGA and (2) that he had been offered a job at a local hospital!!! We were overwhelmed with joy and excitement about all the opportunities that God was putting before us. And I had my FIRST dress fitting Thursday night at Kelly's Closet. On Friday we left town for a friend's wedding, which was absolutely beautiful and such a reunion!

Last night we made his mom's tasty black bean salsa for the Super Bowl. Here's the list of ingredients:

1 tablespoon of salt

1 tablespoon of olive oil

2 tablespoon of red wine vinegar

2 cans of black beans (drained and rinsed)

4 plum tomatoes diced

1 large red onion diced

1 large bunch of cilantro - chopped

4 limes juiced

1 jalapeno pepper chopped

1 bag of frozen corn rinsed

1 clove of garlic minced

nothin' beats chips & salsa

 Mix it together and serve! It's even better if you can allow it to sit before you serve so the flavors can mix. I can't wait to start collecting recipes from the women in my life!

inspiration: part dos

Today has been a GREAT day. Taylor took the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Health Fitness Specialist exam...and PASSED!! Which means now he is a certified trainer and can build up a client base in Athens at some of the local gyms. We both feel so much relief...sighhh. I'm in such a good mood that I just have to share more images that give me inspiration for the wedding.

photo by Sonya Davey via 100 Layer Cake

inspiration board via Wedding Bee

I love the mason jars, hay stacks and wagon wheel. The wedding invitation in the bottom left corner was one of my favorites from Wedding Paper Divas- I almost wanted to use it.

photo by Amy Carroll via Once Wed

photos by Brandon Kidd via Once Wed

Using slices of wood to add height to a centerpiece is a brilliant! We're gonna borrow that idea :)   I know we're taking a risk by having an outdoor wedding, but after looking at images like this, how could a girl resist?? I love the rustic look below of the table with burlap. We're gonna borrow that idea to.

photo by Tec Petaja via Once Wed

photo by Our Labor of Love via Once Wed

photo by Amy Carroll via Once Wed

inspiration

we're collecting blue mason jars

After a glorious weekend, the weather in Georgia is back to dreary and cold...which leaves me indoors and working on three research projects. I thought I would procrastinate and share some of the weddings that have given me a lot of ideas for the big day.

source

It all started one day freshmen year on Facebook...my friends and I were "stalking" a friend of a friend of a friend (seriously- we had never even met this girl) and we discovered her wedding album. A Louisiana, outdoor, southern wedding, bridesmaids with cowboy boots, and bouquets of wheat. I was in awe. And so the premature wedding planning began! It wouldn't be another year or so until I discovered the mother-load - wedding blogs.

I started visiting Once Wed, a site dedicated to designer weddings on a budget. Not only do they feature real weddings, but also ideas, DIY weddings, a vendor guide, AND used wedding dresses to buy! The wedding that really captured my attention was this one:

photo by Tec Petaja via Wedding Bee

photo by Tec Petaja via Wedding Bee

pie bar :)

 

see that big yellow flower? we're gonna have those too!

Maybe it's because she has red hair...but I truly love how all the elements and colors are so cohesive! Not to mention the outdoor setting is breathtaking. You can see more of this wedding here and here. I'll be sure to share some more images from other weddings that have inspired us for the big day this week!

(Blue mason jars - photo source unknown. All images are Tec Petaja unless noted otherwise)

Two And A Half Years

Harris Shoals

So today marks the two and half year anniversary of when Marilisa and I started dating - July 31st, 2008. It's amazing to think back to that time and all that God has done in our lives since then. The day I asked her to be my girlfriend came after the best summer of our lives, spent working as counselors at The Swamp, a Christian summer camp for kids 9-18. I asked her at Harris Shoals park (pictured above) in Watkinsville Ga, one of my favorite parks in the area and a place that has become very special to both of us. Through the last couple years we've made some amazing memories together at concerts, parks, and restaurants but many of our best memories have been simply sitting and talking on her front steps or going for a long drive together. We've learned so much about ourselves and each other these last couple years, but one thing in particular we've learned is to enjoy the simple moments of life and the company of best friends. I am incredibly grateful that we've been together this long and look forward to having a new anniversary to remember in a few months!

"You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you."

-Psalm 86:5

The Search

Have you ever been looking for something that you felt determined to find, but the more setbacks you faced the less you wanted to look? I felt like that yesterday.

Taylor and I are in the process of looking for a house to rent once we're married. One of the main problems we've faced is that we're trying to move in by May and most places are occupied through July...I don't think either of us are too picky about the type of house- just as long as it's within our budget and close to campus. Oh and has all the necessities (fridge, stove, dishwasher [you would be surprised how many places in Athens DO NOT have a dishwasher], W/D hook-up, etc). Oh and I would LOVE hardwood floors, but that's a bonus :)

So we're on this search for our first place and it's definitely required some work. We've driven through neighborhoods we like, writing down numbers off "for rent" signs, setting up showings, and pretty much using craigslist religiously. I went to see a house yesterday that I was really excited about (great location, front porch that looked perfect for a hammock...) only to find out once I got there that they were only renting to disabled people. How could I even be upset?? I still felt disappointed when I left, but I know we have a lot of time to continue looking.

Even though I wish we could have found a place right away, it's been a memorable experience for us. We're learning a lot about trusting God and being patient. At the end of the day I just have to remember that we WILL have a place to live and more importantly we're getting MARRIED!

photo via ruffled

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. ~ Romans 8:28

a chilly sunday

It's been very cold in Georgia the past few weeks and yesterday was no exception. After church, Taylor and I went to our wedding venue to ask the owners a few questions about set up and get a better feel for where everything will go on the big day!

the beautiful home

We're getting married at Fair Havens Plantation, which is about 8 miles outside of Athens, GA. We picked this site for a few reasons. First, we're in the south- what better place to get hitched than on a real plantation!? And this beautiful home was actually used for a ball in 1825 that honored the French general Jean Marquis de Lafayette for his assistance in the American Revolutionary War. Another reason we fell in love with the land is because we're outdoorsy- we've always imagined our ceremony outside and the 30 acre pastoral setting (with horses AND gardens) fit the bill perfectly.

the lawn

Our ceremony will take place on the lawn. Walking out there yesterday felt a little surreal- like this actually gonna happen! Right here! I can't wait for it to be filled with the people who mean so much to us.

the cottage

the pasture

The owners of Fair Havens could not be easier and more pleasant to work with. We feel so blessed that God has let us work with such great people throughout this entire process.

Today Taylor is studying for his exam to be a Health Fitness Specialist and I'm working on some stuff with my internship. Everyone's been saying this time is gonna fly by and that definitely feels true so far!

Our engagement story should be up soon and we'll be posting info about all our other awesome vendors this week! Have a great day!

4 months and counting!

It has been over a MONTH since we posted. Shame on us. But we have so much news to share!

1. Taylor has a job. In Athens. Hallelujah!

2. I am in my LAST semester of college. Amen.

3. The jeep...died. It was truly a sad day. We only hope to get another one in the near future- and we won't be changing the name of the blog :)

4. So many wedding details are coming together! Taylor got all the shirts for the groomsmen, my dress FINALLY came in, and we ordered our invitations! Now to work on all the little projects...my house will literally turn into Hobby Lobby.

5. We are less than 4 MONTHS away from the big day! (Ok so yesterday was 4 months, but today still counts as less than 4.) It felt forever away when we got engaged, but now the end is in sight! I'm praying to not get stressed or anxious and just enjoy these last few months of one of the most special times in my life.

Tay and I are making dinner with friends tonight- I'll be sure to share the details tomorrow!

In the meantime...here are some pictures from our campus ministry's 1920's themed New Years Eve Party (in case you didn't know...Taylor and I went on our first date on New Years Eve- 4 years ago!)

dinner @ Transmet

the fellas

me & my best friends for life

dancing the night away with j