thugs, soul thief, and sunshine.

Hola amigos.

(Sorry chicas. Had to go for the masculine plural cause I know there are some guys who read this.)

So last night.

I was sittin in my bed.

Got my awesome tunes playin.

Editing pictures.

Lots and LOTS of pictures.

And that's when I got SUPER excited for todays blog.

Not because I had anything super exciting to say...

but because I fell in love with the pictures I was editing.

Sunday I took family pictures for the Schwartz's.

AKA my aunt, uncle, and cousins.

Well...

during this time I was supposed to take individual pictures of some of the kids.

So Anna Banana and I got to work.

Now, I'm not allowed to put the "official" pictures up yet.

Not till they're all done being edited and release by the family.

But I couldn't help but share some of our "out-takes."

Cause we had a blast.

Now get your awesome playlist ready.

((Cause I swear it helps make it even better)).

And enjoy.

Sibling Love.

Everybody look straight into the sun!!

More sibling love.

"I'm 5 inches tall!!"

Yummy!!

We stole his soul.

Poor amish guy.

LOVE THIS!!!

After trying to jump into the car through the window/top.

Yup.

She failed.

But we had a lot of good laughs!!

That's right.

My gma is a thug.

HA HA HA!!

Aaaaand he's gonna kill me for posting this.

But I don't care.

Cause I loves it.

Hope you enjoyed them as much as I do.

They fill my heart up.

To the brim.

What fills your heart up to the brim??

((that's code for leave a comment.))

Happy Tuesday, loves!!

the importance of turn signals.

 Hello dear chickapeas.

It's been extremely way too long since I've updated.

Please please accept my apologies.

 School has gotten ridiculously crazy.

And I'm not gonna lie... throughout this last week,

my free time was engulfed in the magical world of Edward, Bella, Jacob, and Renesmee.

I got too flippin excited from the Breaking Dawn previews a few months back and I just had to re-read the whole series.

But I'm done now.

And I promise, I will be finding more time to update you beauties on my oh-so-wonderful life.

So instead of filling y'all in on my life for like, the past month,

I'll just fill you in on my weekend.

And then what I intend to do with my life and bloggity from now on.

So without further ado....

Saturday.

I ate some of this DELICIOUSNESS.

Best. Lunch. Ever.

 There's a chance a may be getting a few more pieces before the end of the year...

I gotta stock pile it before people stop selling it for the winter.

YUMM.

Sunday.

I started out my day with a wonderful service at Grace Community Church.

Then we had a family lunch at gmas.

But before lunch, my dad, gpa, and I all went for a mini roadtrip to look at 5th wheels.

Now, I love my grandfather.

But he has A.D.D.

Or maybe it's just old age...

;)

but for reals...

our conversation included topics such as boys, politics, money, amish folk, etc.

then came the random comment:

"I recently learned the importance of having working turn signals."

Can you say scary?

I looked at my dad and asked "Do I really want to hear this story?"

Apparently he had a turn signal out, and he wasn't aware of it.

So a guy tried to pass him on the left while he was waiting to turn left. 

Now, maybe you need to meet my gpa to completely understand this.

But, I thought it was fairly amusing.

Basically because we went from discussing my love life to immediately discussing the importance of turn signals.

Then we ate chicken alfredo.

Made by Melissa Gayle.

Then everyone took naps. 

Then I had the joy of taking the Schwartz family pictures.

It was a pretty easy going day but I loved spending the time with familia.

I loves them.

And you will see pictures of Miss Anna coming soon.

We had a blast taking pictures. 

 ------------------------------------------

So now for my intentions.

My intentions for this lil bloggity.

Welp.

One.

I would like to blog a little more often again.

I was doing so well until this summer.

But, not having internet at home kinda threw a wrench in that little plan.

So now, I'm gonna make more time.

No excuses.

Next.

I'm vowing to take more pictures.

And post them here.

Cause I have lots of beautifulness in my life and I wanna share it.

and C.

I'm officially beginning my first attempt at #39 on my life list.

Read 52 books in a year.

I decided that I was going to start this expedition of my life as soon as I finished reading Breaking Dawn.

And since I finished that book Friday morning,

if officially began when I started reading my next book that evening.

And surprise, surprise.

I've already finished book numero uno.

So, throughout this expedition I will be writing the occasional "book review".

Now obviously I'm not gonna write about every book I read.

That's too much.

But,

some of those books that I deem worthy enough will get a review and a recommendation for you to read it as well. 

As of right now I have about 20 books to occupy my 52 weeks.

So if you have any suggestions, please pass them on!!

Then at the end of my 52 books, I will post a list of all the books I read.

.....now lets hope I can actually accomplish this task in the first try.

Here's to reading!!

Oh, and finally,

my goal for this next year is to increase my followers.

Obviously I need to begin blogging a little more first.

But then I gots me some tricks up my sleeve.

So watch out.

And if you're reading my bloggity,

please click the "follow" button in the upper left corner of your screen.

Or shoot me a comment/email lettin me know.

I wanna get to know all y'alls too!! 

 ----------------------------

 Now it's time to finish up my school stuff for this week.

And hopefully make it home in time to watch the VMAs.

Cause that's what the cool kids do.

Adios amigos.

#1 Pet and feed a Giraffe

Hello lovlies.

Ya'll remember back in May when I posted my life list?

Well if not, then you can check it out here.

Numero uno on my list?

Pet and feed a giraffe.

So last Saturday, July 30th,

my ex-hubs and I ventured south to Ft. Wayne to pay a little visit to the zoo.

Here are some pictures from our journey:

and the highlight of the whole trip:

Woop woop!!

Accomplishment numero uno: completed!

((BTW aren't the pictures completely gorgeous?!?!))

Pretty sure I will be playing in Photoshop soon to possibly make some of them framable art.

Just sayin.

Hope everyone is having a fabulous weekend!!

School is starting in 2 weeks so I will be MIA until then.

However, once school starts back up I will be updating MUCH more often.

Promise!

Happy Saturday!!

jk. apparently...

So you remember back on Monday when I said I would post pictures of our delish Saturday night dinner?

Yea... apparently I was jking...

Not on purpose tho.

I had every intention of posting those mouth watering pictures for you.

Along with the recipe.

However, time got away from me.

So I STILL need to sort through the pictures and edit them.

Then,

you will finally get to see the deliciousness I dream about.

((but not reallly dream.))

I have also come to the realization that school starts in a few short weeks.
And I only have 1 more day off this summer.

Ugh.

I'm going to miss my days off!!

But because school is so close,

it's that time of summer that I need to buckle down and start prepping.

Gots to get those pencil boxes ready,

books sorted,

lesson plans started,

((especially since I'm starting a new curriculum this year that I'm not familiar with)),

decor all sorted and ready to put up on my walls,

and cram in any last summer plans.

It's about to get real crazy up in here these next few weeks.

Speaking of end-of-summer plans.........

The plan is to be doing this on Saturday:

(source)

That's right ya'lls.

It's time to cross something off my bucketlist.

I will be traveling to Ft. Wayne Zoo with the ex-hubs to be a kid again...

...and most importantly...

FEEDING A GIRAFFE!!!

I'm super stoked.

Obviously.

There will def be pictures.

Lots and lots of them.

So prepare yourselves.

I'm also super stoked cause on Sunday I get to have a cousin date with my not so little cousin, Austin.

He's gettin ready to start his senior year...

which means he'll be leaving for college next year.

Not ok.

 

((This is us maybe 3-4 years ago... on a go-kart... that he almost killed us on... but not really))

So he's coming to hang out with me,

do a little lot of yard work,

and I will be treating him to dinner because we just miss each other that much.

And I gotta get the dl on his girl situation.

And then convince him that girls are stupid.

Cause I gots to protect him.

It's my job.

And that's what's on my mind.

And also the fact that I have just spent all this time talking to you instead of writing my lesson plans (which was my original plan).

So you should feel special.

:)

P.S. Pray I survive the dentist today.

I'm skurred.

Real skurred.

Ugh.

I don't like the dentist.

At all. 

life lately...

Life has been crazy...

to say the least.

But here's my life lately...

or rather my weekend...

in pictures.

Friday:

Anna on the way to Chicago!!

the cutest lil' bottles that you ever did see.

And yes, I brought them home with me.

Just in case you were wondering.

My next bathroom mirror.

I got to watch TV while I peed.

No worries... I wasn't actually peeing at this exact moment.

But I was sitting on the toilet.

(With the lid down.. sickos)

We ventured out into Chi-Town to see this chicka.

Ms. Photogenic.

((This is my cousin Rachel from Florida))

And because we're cool..

We had a photo-shoot at H&M.

With awesome shades of course.

After our attempt at a "gangsta" picture.

Our next stop: Cheesecake Factory for a slice of deliciousness.

Snickers Bar Chunk Cheesecake.

My little slice of heaven on earth.

My tummy was very happy with this decision.

 Still photogenic...

((she's gonna kill me for posting this!!

Bekah @ the American Girl Store after her Rebecca doll got her hair did.

Anna loves Rebecca doll.

Next we all headed to dinner at the Rainforest Cafe.

 Finally got to chat it up with my Aunt Lorraine.

All of us gals at dinner.

We love the city.
:)

Saturday:
Sadly there are no pictures... yet!
I did take pictures of our dinner
but you will have to wait till tomorrow for that.
It was delish!!
Laura, Lanie, and I also did Just Dance 2 for approximately 2 hours.
It was a blast.
I shook what my mama gave me till I couldn't shake no more.

Sunday:

Grace Community Church's float for the Elkhart Co. Parade!!
((We won 2nd place. Booya!!))

Me and Steph waiting for the parade to start.
Yes, we walked approximately 5 miles in the crazy ridic humidity.
We were hot and sweaty to say the least.
But it was fun!!

 This was the highlight of my Sunday.
The ONE NAME Worship Event.
GCC's worship bands got together to put on this amazing worship service.
I'm so glad that I was able to go.

and THIS is how you praise Jesus 'round here!!
We celebrated Jesus' unconditional love for us and it was a blast!
It was so fun to see all the balloons flying around and seeing all the smiles!!

How was your weekend??!?!

Happy Monday!!