i like.

i like lunch dates.

i like cheap clothes & expensive jewelry-riddle me that.

i like burlap.

i like fountain sodas, preferably coke zero or diet mtn dew with rabbit ice.

i like phone chats with my maw-maw & paw-paw, they make everything better.

i like over-sized hooded sweatshirts.

i like the language i share with my momma, no one understands us but us.

i like ball point pens.

i like charleston so much that i need to go to addiction meetings.

i like that when i wake up tomorrow, i will say to myself "i marry my best friend this month."

i like SR-the food, the patio, the beach music, the decor.

i like reading Better Homes & Garden.

i like the smell of clean laundry, but not the folding part.

i like grocery shopping.

i like getting sweet text messages from friends.

i like watching the news.

i like the movie Joe Dirt.

i like the sound of waves crashing & how warm sand feels between your toes.

i like my dad's one-liners...his words are the best advice.

i like french manicures.

i like holidays (christmas is my fave, duh.), however i belive you should find something every day to celebrate.

i like post-it notes.

i like *my tootie*, it won't matter how old we are-he'll always be my little-blonde hair-bike{with flames} riding-follow me around {ok i made him follow me around}-sweet brother.

i like running.

i like lynyrd skynyrd.

i like a #6 from wendy's, no tomato or mayo-that will be the first thing i order post wedding.

i like reminiscing.

i like riding in my car with my sunroof open.

i like my friends & family...no one loves them like i do & no one loves me like they do.

*Congrats*

*CONGRATS*

KATIE & DAVID

My girl got herself a diamond last night! WHOOP WHOOP!

LOVE YA'LL!!!

1 month.

1 month until I go from Miss. to Mrs.


:)

Huge sigh of relief.

So as I'm finishing up a lunch date with my parents today, my dad started experiencing chest pains...oh. mah. gah. I was not aware of this little fact but he had been having some discomfort since yesterday-eeek!

Normally this would not be a stage five emergency, but with the recent heart attacks of our close friends, Jeff & Julia, our family has learned to ALWAYS listen to you body...

So mom & dad loaded up & headed to the doctors office, which were waiting on his arrival.

After running numerous tests all afternoon, he was just released & is headed home!

Goodness gracious.

As momma put it..."they don't make enough alcohol in the world for all of this."

Huge sigh of relief, so thankful my dad is ok! HUGE thanks to my homeboy Jesus.

33

33 days-eeeeeek!
_____________________________

Friday:

busy wk + long days @ the ofc = we threw some burgers on the grill & popped in a movie for a chill night @ the casa!

Saturday:

Breakfast w/the hubby-to-be before he had to head into work (booo! to inventory) then ran a 1,000 errands around town, very productive day! After JWB got home we tackled a few wedding items, which i am sooooooo excited about how they turned out :) the details are the fun part of all this insanity!

Hot date followed by a movie, perfect Saturday night!

Sunday:

My bridal portraits :)

HUGE thx to B {MOH, hair stylist extraordinaire, train holder}, K {fab make-up}, Kel {MOH, train fluffier}, & my mom for all contributing to making my photo shoot a happy & easy one!

After the pictures, we all headed over to the Sim's house for a cookout!



This wknd was filled with sunshine, some QT w/my boy, & laughter with friends & family!

Countdown

"Love is not about finding the right person, but creating a right relationship. It's not about how much love you have in the beginning, but how much love you build until the end."

37 days until I marry the love of my life. <3

For Kel

Me & Kel were discussing what would make us forget about this rainy, yucky weather that seems to come back for more every day...

i believe this will put a smile on my friend's face.

More Pig Pickin' Fun :)

Thx to my soon-to-be MIL, here's some more pics from our couples shower :)

My handsome JWB & I waiting for our friends & family to arrive...

We LOVE our new koozies!

Chaddy, Jess, Jen-knee, & Lank

Me & my daddy!

GBake + Fun friends :)

Group shot!

Sims Family

All these smiling faces make me happy!

The hosts!

:)

Groom + Bride + MOH's

China time...JWB is so pumped about it.

The picture says it all.



...such a happy night :)

Old Fashioned Pig Pickin'

This weekend we had our couples shower, an old fashioned pig pickin' :)

We are BLESSED with such awesome family & friends that came to celebrate with us Saturday night!

Dave, Scottie, & JWB getting ready for the par-tay

Our precious cake that looked like a present!

ME & JWB

KELLL & me

Around here, there's only one way to get ready for a night of fun.

 Momma & Kel...Tiffany & Co. boxes make a girl smile.



Many more pics to come :)

Wink

These two people say 'i do' this wknd.

This man is playing at their reception.

reasons 783 why they are awesome.

45 days.

45 days until I marry the most amazing man.

45 days until all the planning comes to an end and the event begins.

45 days until our family & friends surround us as we make a commitment to each other.

45 days until we pop champagne & dance the night away.

45 days...I just can't believe how close our wedding day is :)

Monday

...as we headed west on 40 this weekend, the memories started rolling in from the good ol' days spent in Cullowhee during college.

As much as I am beach girl, those Carolina mountains will always have a special place in my heart.

The reason for the road trip = JACKIE & BRANDON'S WEDDING.

Stunning bride.

Gorgeous venue.

Jammin' band.

CONGRATS TO THE MR. & MRS.
______________________________

love these two ladies...

they will stand beside me as I say 'i do'.

____________________________________

47 days until 'i do'.

wowza.

so much left to do.

<insert excitement, happiness, nervousness, etc.>

showers.

meetings.

drinking champagne.

counting calories.

oh. my.

AM

texts btwn my mom & me...

mom: Did you get up for your morning workout?

me: Yes m'am, up at 5:00 am

mom: Hello, hello...what have you done with our daughter??? Dad wants to know if hell froze over?!
____________________

See here's a little breakdown of my history with mornings...

circa 2000-2004 (Ragsdale days): alarm clocks would get ripped out of the wall, possibly thrown if I was feeling extra fiesty. always late for school, snooze button was hit on average of about 10-12 times. would say awful things to anyone that crossed my path on the way to first period. weekends, psh-i was lucky to get up by 2 pm.

WCU: i never saw a minute of daylight before noon. ever.

entered adulthood/career world following graduation: i could muster up enough maturity to actually get up at a respectable hour to get dolled up and make it to work on time. weekends were spent making up for all the lost sleep-wake up around 11:00 + afternoon naps.

present day: i hop out of bed with a smile on my face. i prefer a morning gym session vs. afternoon. i enjoy sipping my coffee while watching the news. i love watering my flowers. i adore the chirping birds that greet me at sunrise.



So yes, mom & dad, I guess hell has froze because I have officially become a morning person...and no one is more surprised about that statement than me.



I saw this quote on a blog that I <3 today and thought it was very fitting:

"Here's the thing about change...it starts with really small steps. It doesn't start as a grand thing. Step outside your comfort zone & go do something you never imagined yourself doing. Go to a place you never imagined yourself going. It will change your life in a good way."
-Jeff Foxworthy

Cinco de Mayo

Sunny skies & warm breezes CHECK

Coronas in the refrigerator CHECK

A side porch that awaits me + friends CHECK

Ramblin' :)

One of the joys of having a blog is that you can talk about anything you want to, because, well it's your blog.

First up-kuddos, cheers, round of applause, standing ovation, etc. to our troops.

Justice was served.

Second-53 days until JWB & I say 'i do'. hoooooly mackerel.

Third-i <3 impromptu patio nights w/two of my closest girlfriends.

nothin' like sharing laughter & soaking up the special bond that we share.

i consider myself very lucky to have these ladies in my life...i've been very fortunate to have these two by my side in my happiest moments & have had their guidance through life's rough spots...because that's what our little group does, we rally.

if there is something to celebrate, we 'cheers' together.

if there is a disappointing moment, we remind each other that with every bump in the road comes a lesson to be learned.

if there is sadness, we offer a shoulder to cry on.

if there is an event, we coordinate outfits & plan pre-party cocktail hours; where you find one, you find the other two.

if there is nothing at all going on, we share that moment were everything seems balanced & enjoy that we are living God's plan.

i believe that it is not only important to have a man in your life that loves you & treats you like a princess but that it is equally important to surround yourself with friends who love you.

two snaps to my B & Kel.

Wknd bliss.

This wknd was full of catching up with friends & family!

Friday night:
Matt & Meghan's rehearsal dinner @ Grandover...awesome food & amazing toasts made by the people close to them-very touching!

Saturday:
Dress alterations in Lexington
Cake tasting/design consultation @ Maxie B's (soooo excited about our cake!)
Matt & Meghan's wedding *CONGRATS TO THE NEW MR. & MRS.*

Me & JWB

Me & MJ

Love these boys!

Me & Tripp!

Scottttttttie

Sunday we hit I-40 eastbound to Raleigh for a family cookout for Jake & I...

(apparently I only took a few pics?!)

Me & Jess

Tootie butt.

PawPaw & Momma

Tootie & Dad 

:)