Atlanta Purple Stride 2010

 We did it! We ran in our first 5k-- the Atlanta Purple Stride 2010. We ran in memory of my Uncle Craig and Jeremy's Grandfather Farist. Both close family members of ours who had Pancreatic Cancer. My uncle lost his short battle to the cancer in January 2010. & Jeremy's grandfather who passed away in 1997.

 The team ProSki was made up of 9 people- 6 runners and 3 walkers.. It was a chilly morning but we were all excited for the event. I could not be more grateful to my close friends who ran with me, Jeremy and my family. Their support means so much.

Team "ProSki"

It was an emotional day for me and my family. My mom and I cried as we posted Craig's photo on the Honor wall, and both of us cried multiple time throughout the event. I think the emotion was a mixture of sadness and happiness in celebrating/ honoring Craig. I noticed Dad a couple of times with red eyes, and could tell he was holding back the best he could.

Jeremy and I weren't quite able to run the entire thing, but we did our best-- running about 3/4 of the 5k and finishing in 40 mins.We crossed the finish line running and holding hands- then hugged and cried together. We can't wait to run it again next year, and hopefully be able to run every last step.

Miss and love you, Craig, so much.

FOSTER MONSTER

Jeremy and I signed up to foster dogs from the Last chance highway-- specifically the Great Pyrenees breed. On Tuesday, we got our first foster Macy, a 4.5 month old 50 Lb great pyr/husky puppy. She is adorable and kind of looks like a baby polar bear BUT she was a terror at first! 50 lbs and a young puppy proves to be a challenge 

We have had some pee-pee issues. Not sure if she was marking territory or confused/scared. For every time she peed in the house we scolded her, put her in her crate, and then after a timeout would take her directly outside. 10 mins later she was peeing again on the carpet..... so frustrating! So, that night while getting ready for bed I had an epiphany-- she was confused by 1. our ways of discipline vs. her past foster 2. she needed positive reinforcement. So day 3 we figured it out! 1. take her out every hr. and 2. constantly baby her w/ no negative tones. So far so good!

She also cries and howls a loud every time you put her in her pin...and don't get me started on the toys she destroys in a matter of minutes.... Frustrated by her energy and toy destruction (thank god not furniture destruction), I ventured to a local feed and farm store and found her a bone the size of her head and couple "tough toys." Worked like a charm! The bone has proven to keep her busy thus far for hours on end-- Thank God!Not to mention she passes out cold when she is done chewing.

As said, it was been a challenge getting used to the new pup, but she is finally (after 5 days) adjusting quite well. Macy & Sakura play great together-- running laps in the backyard. She is a huge cuddle bug -- and I do mean HUGE, & she has become fairly obedient. She has also learned to walk, without pulling, on a leash; which is a necessity to get her adopted. No one wants a 50 lbs puppy ripping their arms out on a walk.

So Cheers to trying new Things, opening up our home, and giving an innocent puppy a chance at life!

Before & After

I have completely redone my guest room. I changed the rooms, head board, painted the dresser, got new sheets,etc. Some of you saw the new room at my engagement party... but I have yet to post anything about it yet...

Recently, my parents gave me a headboard that they made awhile back for the lake cabin. I was excited to use it in the guest room vs. the willow one that was in there. The willow one is cool but not really the style I'm going for in the house.  I tried putting the new headboard in the room I had originally made the guest room, but it just didn't look right b/c it was to big and the orientation of the room just didn't work.... So I decided to move it into the other guest room, which is my fav room in the house b/c of the windows, and the room is bigger/longer than the other room. It worked perfect! Not to mention, the antiques my family has pasted down worked great with the new headboard in the room.

Before

After

 .... but the dresser needed something. It just didn't quite go with the other woods, and it was to shinny for my liking. I had always intended in refinishing it but couldnt figure out quite what I wanted to do with in until now...So I painted and distressed the to make the headboard and bought new pulls. I, of course, had to go get new sheets for the bed to match (luckily-- I already had a quilt that went perfect), stole a vase from my mom (thanks mom), and some floral stuff to go it in to finish off the room.  

Due for a new post- updated (check)

I know I know... I need to update! I Have been so busy, but had a great weekend with family and close friends at the engagement party! more to come soon....

OK... so I don't even know where to begin???

The past few weeks have been a whirlwind  in every since of the word.... between batting for Brittany, another engagement picture sitting, getting ready for the engagement party (including refinishing a dresser before the party), my sister and nephew visiting, pumpkin patch,  the actual engagement party, MOH & MOB dress shopping, meeting with the florist, and meetings a work...need I saw more?

Batting for Brittany was an event held for Jeremy's Aunt and her family in memory of Brittany (Jeremy's Cousin) who was killed in a car accident about 3 months ago. Brittany loved to play soft ball thus, Batting for Brittany. It was a beautiful day and the turn out was great over 14 teams played in her memory and I was honored to be there.

So we met with the photographer we want to shot our wedding and turns out we got a free engagement pic sitting with them! so we get more engagement pics-- not to mention he is a much better photographer than the Groupon girl. We went up to a waterfall in the mtns and even though it was cold... Jeremy and I got in the water for some pics. They came out great and we are excited to have Eric Delaforce Photograph our wedding!

Jeremy and I went on a absolute cleaning/yard work rampage before the engagement party. we had to well #1 clean and do yard work :) #2 hang some more pics and other decor stuff & #3 i had to refinish the dresser in the guess room. Got it all done with little time to spare... but it got done. The Engagement party was fantastic we had so much fun and everyone we hold closest to our hearts was there to share with us. it also happened to work out that we had a 10.10.10 engagement party-- so that was kinda fun too!

My sister and nephew visited for 10 days and we had a great time going to the park, playing at the lake, going to a pumpkin patch, making smores, etc. I miss them so much now! but we had sooooo much fun and Brendan loves his uncle Jeremy! "Uncle ,Uncle J!" not o mention it was great to see Jeremy interact with him... J is going to be a great father someday!

While my sister was here we also got the MOH and MOB dress shopping done! so now i can cross that off the "to be done" list for the wedding! Bridesmaid dress choices of course followed suit with the MOH dress selected. !!! we also met with my florist that day to get some ideas and she gave me to fantastic flower arrangements to take home. Now I just have to mull over exactly what I want. I have way to many ideas...

Looking forward to relaxing some before the holiday rush gets here.....

Engagement photos

Yesterday evening Jeremy and I met photographer, Sarah Esther, at Lullwater park to take our engagement photos. We found Sarah though a Groupon offer, and couldn't have had more fun working with her.
She made us so comfortable! Jeremy and I basically spent the entire hour laughing together and falling in love all over again! ere are some samples & we can't wait to see the rest!

Update on wedding: 
We were approved by the owners association for the wedding at Skylake! I have also chosen a florist, and DJ. I have self- designed and made the invites.
The engagement party invites have been sent and I have begun planning that party.Thus, getting the yard done, etc! Now I just have to get a menu ready and CLEAN for the engagement party on Oct. 10!

Project Backyard: Complete!

planter on patio

As I had mentioned in a blog a few weeks back, Jeremy and I wanted to tackle the yard-- put in more attractive and homey plants at the front door and do something, Anything! with the back yard. So, we began our mission a few weeks back... we wondered into Pikes Nursery to browse and get ideas, we didn't want to buy anything yet b/c it was still (and is still) to hot to really plant anything new. BUT we got way to excited about the possibilities and walked out with a car slammed full with plants,soil, and mulch. 

When we got home (at 6pm) we placed the plants where we had envisioned them going during our plant shopping spree and got planting; or should I say Ripping? I say this because we first had to carefully rip the commercial looking plants from the front planting bed before we could start on our masterpiece. After moving the new plants around a few times, arguing a'lil, and moving them around more-- we finally got them planted!

front planting bed

 By this time it was almost dark... but that didn't stop us! we moved around to the backyard and worked till we could no longer see; figuring out where we wanted to put new plants and where we were going to reuse the plants we ripped up from the front. Then, we called it a night! The next day we put everything in the ground- just to put it in the ground. lol! no planting beds yet, just put holes in the grass so the plants would make it through the above average hot weather for the week.

The next weekend we went to home depot "just to pick up somethings"--- hahaha good one right! we walked out with 2 cart fulls of plants, a hammock,and planting tools. Oops again! When we got home-- needless to say-- we had to move all the plants around because we now had even more plants to incorporate into the design. After that Jeremy ripped up a big patch of grass, edged it out, and then we planted the plants,spread mulch and Wa-la! We had a beautiful planting bed!

 I also worked on a planter for on the patio. and...There was a ton more stuff we had to do to get to the end product (3 weekends worth total) of ripping up weeds, mulching, tree spot lights,etc.... but seeing that this entry is getting terribly long.... here are some photos of the finished product.

Planting bed we created around AC unit

planting beds at house and fence line plus- the hammock!

Scenic Mornings

I had an amazing drive into work this morning... Drove over Buford Dam as the thick white fog was creeping up from the river, rolling over the road, and then spreading over the Lake Lanier. It was absolutely gorgeous!

I wanted to stop so bad at the park and drink my coffee-- so that I could continue to marvel at this rare morning. I drive over the dam every morning, and lets just start by saying it can be quite dangerous b/c I get easily distracted by the beauty over the morning sun over the lake or fog laying low on the river. But of all the mornings I have driven this route (almost 9 mos now) I have never seen the drive this beautiful. The Sun was gleaming through the clouds just perfectly over the lake to make the fog glimmer as it crept over the still glass-like water. I am hoping that with the cooler weather of fall and winter approaching that just maybe there will be a few more of these morning in the near future. wish I had a picture of it! and I will be armed with a camera next time.

Picture not of this mornings drive -- but a pic I took one overcast morning when the sky looked like a watercolor painting, while one distinct beam of sun came shining through the clouds onto the lake. (I-phone pics just don't do it justice)