It's A Girl!!!!!!

My newest niece Ryleigh Belle Stevens was born on November 7th!!! I was able to be in the delivery room, what an experience. Lots of tears and smiles. It's crazy to see your baby sister having a baby.

She is the sweetest baby, we all love her so much already. She definitely has all of us wrapped around her finger. It's truly been a joy watching my sister and her husband become amazing parents. Ryleigh Belle is already growing so fast and we're all enjoying every moment of it!!!!!

I'm looking forward to the years ahead, birthday parties, school plays, holidays, etc. I look forward to being there for the important events and everyday life!!!!

Discovering a New Kind of Fall

We traveled to New England in October. It was our first time in the area, absolutely beautiful. We landed in Boston, rented a car, drove to New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, and back to Boston. We saw amazing sights on our adventure.

A few of my favorite things:

Salem in October

Bed and Breakfast in Vermont

Autumn Foilage

Bar Harbor Maine

Lobster and Calm Chowder (yummy)

The trip was a nice break and very relaxing. We did a bunch of stuff and spending time as a couple was so nice. We would like to make this an annual trip!

Enjoying: Journey

It has been a while since a post, this has been a busy year! So I'm catching up now. We went to see Journey in concert in September. WOW!!!! It was fantastic. We definitely enjoyed one of our favorite songs and sining along: "Don't Stop Believing".... The crowd was energized and it was truly a great time.

We enjoyed spending some time in Memphis while there. We discovered neighborhoods that we seemed to miss on past visits. There are some great architectural structures in the city. We enjoyed a stay in a beautiful hotel and terrific food.

It's so nice to be able to escape from the ordinary routine and enjoy couple time!

Oh...Baby....

My sister-in-law Amber and I hosted a baby shower for my little sis Jessica. Jessica's due in November with my newest little niece Ryleigh Belle Stevens. I am so excited!!!!!! As are my parents and Mark's family.

The shower was a lot of fun!!! Amber provided a beautiful cake from Nana's Bakery in Benton. We provided breakfast quiches, pita chips/spinach dip, and a fruit tray, coffee, juice, and bottled water.

Several ladies attended the shower and gave beautiful gifts for the new baby. She received baby clothes, a stroller/carrier, baby bath, and many other baby items. We played the "Don't Say Baby Game". It's always fun and difficult at a baby shower. We also decorated onesies for Ryleigh. It was so fun and everyone was really creative.

I can't believe my little sis is having a baby. She is still the baby to me. I look forward to experiencing this journey with my sister!!!!

I Love NY!!!!!

We recently took a trip to Manhattan. It's been a while since we've been there, so it was great to be back. I love our hometown (small town life), but I also love spending time in NY.

Our last visit consisted of all the tourist stuff, Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, Central Park, Coney Island, etc... It was a blast seeing all that the Big Apple had to offer. It seems like you need many trips to take everything in (shopping, theaters, museums).

This trip we didn't make any definite plans before arrival. We booked our hotel (Stay Hotel---Amazing!!!!) and that was about it. We decided to take one day at a time. We spent most of our time taking in the city atmosphere. We spent time in Central Park, walking and watching the row boats. We went to the American Museum of Natural History, again, I love it!!!! We took in some great shows on and off Broadway (Arcadia, H4, Any Night, and Fuerza Bruta). The shows were all very different, but we truly enjoyed each of them!!!!

Every time we go to New York, I want to find a way to spend several weeks every year there. There is really no other place like it in the world. It's definitely enough to impress this small town girl!!!!

The Broad Strokes

So it's been almost two months since my last post. A time of changes, joy, and heartaches. I'm learning as I get older, you really must take one day at a time. One has to truly appreciate the simple joys of life.

I titled this blog the broad strokes, in relation to how some artists paint abstractly. The detail in a painting is important, but sometimes it's nice to relax and let the paint brush do the work. I find sometimes in life, I can get so bogged down with the details. It may be constant cleaning or excessive concern for thing that in the grand scheme of things really aren't that important.

So this summer I'm trying to take a broader view of the world around me. It may be sunsets, family dinners, weekend getaways with my sweetie, or cuddling with one of my cats for an afternoon nap. Sometimes these things get lost in the shuffle of paying bills, running errands, and the busy era we currently live in.

This has been nice. As mentioned in a previous post, I'm some what of a control freak. So it's a constant effort to truly make myself relax. I keep reminding myself "today" is part of my journey. I'm learning to appreciate the fact, I don't have it all figured out and to accept the place on the path I currently find myself experiencing!

A Royal Tea Party

My mom, my sister, and I chose to celebrate The Royal Wedding (William and Kate) with a little tea party of our own! We had so much fun! I know some would probably laugh, but I think most of us ladies, like the opportunity to dress up and celebrate in a more formal way.

We met at my house, the Saturday after the wedding. Thank goodness for DVR's (4am Friday morning was just too early). We all dressed up in our dresses and don't forget the "hats". We had hot English tea, pastries, and fruit.

The wedding was very beautiful. I loved the traditional elements along with some modern touches. I was too young to remember the Charles and Diana wedding in the early 1980's, but they definitely shared the recaps leading up to the big day.

We enjoyed our time, just hanging out and have a "very girly day". I look forward to more opportunities to step out of our normal routine and celebrate!

Oh What A Night....

We attended the Junior Auxiliary Charity Ball for the first time this year. We had so much fun!!!! We had some of our closet friends and Jeremy's sister and her husband at our table.

We spent most of the night laughing, talking, and catching up with each other. This year's theme was Moroccan Nights. The boys and girls club was decorated beautifully. The JA ladies did a great job!!!! There was a live and silent auction. We didn't win anything, but it was still a lot of fun! The meal was provided by Savannah's restaurant, yum. Then there was dancing. I am not a very good dancer, usually choose to watch. My sister-in-law Amber always has a way of talking me into dancing. I always have fun when I do. Jeremy is always ready to dance and he's great at it!!!!


Let's not forget about, most importantly the charity itself. JA does a great job supporting the Russellville school district. The ball was a great success as usual!!!! A great time was had by all!

Happy Birthday.... "16 candles times 2"

Yes, this week I am turning 32. I can't believe it's been 16 years since my 16th birthday. I know getting older really bothers some people. I actually enjoy it. I know it's cliche, but it beats the alternative.



I'm always changing and learning. I have great memories from all of the decades to this point. I am really enjoying my 30's. I think I've mentioned before, but I feel like I'm coming into my own. It seems like I'm learning to embrace new things and really accept myself.



I'm looking forward to the birthday celebrations for this week. Dinners with family, cards, gifts, wishes, etc. Just celebrating the gift of another year!!!!!

Spring Wish List

One of the things I love most about living in Arkansas is that we get to experience the difference in the seasons. It seems like when another season is about to start; I am ready for it.


It's no different this year. The groundhog told us last week that spring is on the way!!!! I am ready for it. I have thought about the things that are on my spring wish list, here are a few:


Temperature Spring Weather

Outdoor Activities: Canoeing, Hiking, Picnics, Etc.

Flowers

Outdoor Landscaping Projects

Fresh Air

Spring Cleaning

Outdoor Dining at Restaurants

No More Coats, Gloves, Scarves ( love them during fall and winter, but I'm ready for them to go)

Driving with the top down



The list could go on and on. I can't wait to enjoy every minute of spring!!!!!

Family Matters

Family has always been important to me, but it seems as I get older, it's even more so.


A few months ago, my family started to meet for dinner a few Sunday nights each month. It's been really nice to have that time set aside.


It seems like family time gets lost in the shuffle in our modern era. Sometimes you have to move family time to the top of the priority list and let some other things go. The benefit you receive when you make it a priority is endless.


It's amazing when you sit down with your parents, siblings, grandparents, in-laws etc.; things you discover about them. I'm so glad to be blessed with a large family! I've learned so much from all of these people. Sometimes we may get frustrated with each other, but there's nothing like family. No matter what, when, where, how; we're always there for each other!!!

What Happens In Vegas

We took a little trip to Las Vegas! It's been a few years since we've been there. Our last trip was little shaky, missed our flight and Jeremy's wallet was stolen. Sometimes these things happen. However, this trip was a blast, no major mishaps so to say.



We had a couple of days. We packed them full of activities, but still had time to relax. Our friends were participating in a conference, so when they were free we hung out together. It was really nice to catch up with them.



We went to several shows. I think our favorite show was Le Reve at the Wynn Hotel, it was amazing!!!! It was visually one of the coolest things I've seen. We also saw the Lion King, I absolutely loved it!!! I've wanted to see it for a while, it did not disappoint. Then there was the David Copperfield Show. I'm still saying, huh.... There are things I haven't figured out.



We toured the Bodies exhibit at the Luxor. I had reservations about this, but it was really informative. I took anatomy in college, but I learned so much from this exhibit. I think everyone should see it once. We took a mini walking tour one day. We found an area on the strip, that has been recently developed. The photo is at the top of the page, it looked like something out of a science fiction movie. The food..... It was wonderful. There are so many different types of food. I love living in Russellville, but I do miss some of the ethnic foods. I had some Greek food and ethnic seafood, yum.



The trip was so much fun!!!! It was a nice way to end my Christmas break. I start school next week. This trip was a nice escape before the busy spring semester.

2011-Happy New Year's Resolutions

2011. A new year is here! I know some people have reservations about new year's resolutions. They look back mid year and are frustrated if they haven't lived up to their own expectations.



I like resolutions. I find it challenges me to be a better version of myself. Sometimes I don't meet all of my resolutions, but it helps me exam changes that I need to make.



I like to write my resolutions in my journal. It helps to keep them in front of me. This year I'm posting it, more accountability!!!!



My 2011 Resolutions:



1. Make every day count!



2. Use better time management skills.



3. Be more proactive.



4. Start training to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro in 2012.



5. Read 6 Classic Books: The Scarlet Letter, A Brave New World, Frankenstein, Of Mice and Men, Fahrenheit 451, The Catcher in the Rye.



So hopefully when I review 2011, the resolutions will be a success!!!!!