My Recent Infatuation

Dustin knows all about it.  He's actually the one who started this relationship.  Meet the object of my lust.

My very own little Rockwell

It sands, it cuts through wood, grout, plastic, and ceramic.  There's nothing this baby can't do.  Including help me with my newest project.

Dustin has been dying to hang our TV in the living room.  I finally gave in and love it.  I wasn't so in love with the old TV stand anymore.  I started looking on craigslist and found a dresser that I just adored for $75.  After seeing it in person, I realized it would need a little more TLC than I originally thought.  I offered a lot less and they took it!  I present our new entertainment center.

I can't wait to get started.

This is what knocked off a HUGE chunk of the price.

Oh joy

There was also a mirror attached that I've already started on.  Stay tuned for the final results and wish me luck!

3 Weddings and a Funeral (3rd & Final Part)

We were thrilled to spend an entire weekend with our friends in Cookeville for Jamie and Russ's wedding. Dustin and I were honored to be in the wedding and stand next to our friends on their special day.  Everything went perfectly.  Jamie did such a great job planning, paying so much attention to every detail.  It was evident to everyone in attendance how much in love these two are.  

The wedding was at DelMonaco Winery in Baxter, Tennessee.  It is a gorgeous place with delicious wine.  I'm sure Dustin and I will be making a trip back there for a tasting.  

The newlyweds... so in love!

With the stunning bride

With my handsome husband

We are such awesome dancers.  Be jealous.

For Labor Day weekend, I attended the wedding of Tighe, a friend from high school, and Heather, his beautiful new wife.  The wedding was in Flat Rock, NC at Highland Lake Inn.  The weather couldn't have been more perfect for sitting next to the lake and watching a lovely ceremony.  They did traditional vows, but each wrote a little something extra to read to each other.  I don't think there was a dry eye there.  My favorite detail from their wedding was their dogs - they had their precious babies dressed to match the bridesmaids.  I wish I had some pictures from this wedding too, but to be honest, hubby is the picture taker and he ended up having to work that day.  I always seem to be more worried about having fun than taking pictures, which I always regret later.  I was so happy to have been included, had a great time, and enjoyed seeing and catching up with old friends. 

A Blog Worth Reading

I came across a blog called "Don't Waste Your Cancer."  The writer of the blog, Libby, recently found out that she has lymphoma.  Her strength and faith in God are equally awesome and astounding.  Reading her blog has been such an inspiration and made me think about life differently.

Please keep her and her family in your prayers.

3 Weddings and a Funeral (Part 2)

I wanted to write this post about a woman I never knew.

Elaine, a close friend of Dustin's family, passed away over the weekend.  I didn't have the pleasure of getting to know her because she has been sick since Dustin and I started dating.  I have, however, had the opportunity to get acquainted with her husband Bill.  When I asked Dustin to choose a person to read one of the selected poems in our wedding, he didn't hesitate with his answer.  It had to be Bill.  He has been and continues to be an extremely important role model/friend to my husband.

Everyone could learn a lesson from their marriage.  It is something we all strive for -  a story of true, unconditional love and devotion, and of truly living wedding vows... "for better or worse, in sickness and in health."  Elaine was sick for around ten years, in hospice care for nearly two.  She was a strong lady who wanted nothing more than time, as much as she could get here with her family.  To hear Bill talk about her, she was his saving grace and the best person you could know.  Bill never left her side.  And she fought for him.  For ten years.  He never put her in a "home."  He took care of her and spent every night with her.  He did what most people wouldn't do in that situation.  He put himself and his needs behind those of wife.  For ten years.

Her funeral will be on Wednesday, just a simple graveside service.  Exactly what I believe funerals should be - those closest to you remembering and celebrating your life.

I hope we are all so lucky as to experience a love like this in our lifetime.  A love where no one quits or gives up no matter how difficult things get.  It's such an inspirational, admirable and heartbreaking story, all rolled into one.

3 Weddings and a Funeral (Part 1)

Apparently love is in the air!  We couldn't be happier for all of our newly married friends.  We have celebrated and danced until our nearly 30 year old feet couldn't take anymore.  It's true what they say.  Weddings are like crack for a marriage.  We left each event reminiscing of when we made our vows.

First up was April and Trey's wedding.  They had a lovely ceremony outside near Norris Dam.  Dustin and I couldn't believe how many guests attended.  I wouldn't have known where to start making a guest list that huge.  They are such wonderful people, it's no surprise that they have so many friends.  I so enjoyed seeing them together at the reception.  They looked at each other, even from across the room, with such affection.     

With the ecstatic bride and groom

I'm telling you - Crack for a marriage!

With the gorgeous bride, my good friend April

My favorite detail of their wedding was the precious signs leading the way to the festivities

I was honored and excited when Jamie asked me to be her Matron of Honor.  One of my favorite duties of being the Head Broad is planning the bachelorette party.  We headed out to Nashville for a weekend of fun with Jamie's friends.  We started off the day with some swimming at the hotel,  

followed by dinner at Hard Rock.

One blushing bride rode the bull at Cadillac Ranch, 

and one (soon to be) sister-in-law danced on the bar at Coyote Ugly.

Jamie & I

The rest will remain between the 5 of us.  Actually, we made sure that 4 out of 5 of us behaved like ladies.  I'll leave it to your imagination to guess which one didn't.  It's safe to say, everyone had a great time and was sufficiently exhausted the next day. 

Beaches

I know I'm late with this post, but better late than never right? For our first anniversary, Dustin and I went on a cruise. Days before we left, Daisy ate our memory card for our camera. I had no idea, but our camera uses some obscure memory card that can only be ordered online. We had to resort to using the waterproof disposable for all of our pictures, since we didn't have enough time to order one.

We had a blast in Stingray City in Grand Cayman!

My AquaMan "nearly catching" a stingray.

Almost asleep on the beach in Jamaica

Exactly one week after returning from our cruise, I left for Key Largo with my mother-in-law, Jenny. We had a great time staying with some extremely accommodating friends of hers. What a beautiful place to live! If I had a memory card at that time, I would've taken pictures of the barracuda and the many nurse sharks we saw while kayaking.

Two weeks after that was the annual family trip to Hilton Head Island. We have been going there for years now and it has become our home away from home. This trip was spent playing lots of cornhole on the beach.

Dustin perfecting his form

Mom and Dad during a game of putt-putt

Trying to figure out why I'm always on the losing team of cornhole

I'm sad that this brings beach trips to a close for the year. I guess you never know when the ocean will call, demanding a visit. Perhaps I can squeeze in one more?

My $30 Investment

We are the proud owners of a 1970s era coffee table. I found it on craigslist (my new obsession) and it was perfect in my eyes. Here is the before picture:

I had to put wood putty in this gaping crack on one side of the table.

I really love that in this picture you can see the top of Dustin's head and his Sonic route 44 in his hand. I had asked him to pick it up so that I could take this picture.

I sanded the edges to age it a little and allow for the inevitable damage the dogs and the husband will be inflicting on this poor table.

After tons of sanding, some paint, a little elbow grease, and some love, I'm happy with how it turned out... especially for the price!