The Conley Wedding

Over the weekend, one of my college roommates (and very best friends!) got married! Congratulations to the newlyweds: Hannah & David Conley! My sister and I had the honor of being her wedding coordinators, and we had a total blast organizing things and helping her all weekend. She was a beautiful bride, and everything went so smoothly from beginning to end. I wanted to share a few pictures from the weekend.

The weekend kicked off on Friday night with a lovely rehearsal at St. John United Methodist Church. Everyone did such a fantastic job at the rehearsal and made my job really easy! We followed up the rehearsal with a delicious dinner at Bridge Road Bistro. The dinner had a gnome theme... who knew David meant "friend of the gnome king!"

The next morning was when the real fun began! Hannah asked me to be her makeup artist for the big day and I was nervous/excited! She's such a beautiful girl though... again, my job was easy! Her makeup, hair, dress, veil and shoes all came together for a beautifully vintage modern look.

The wedding ceremony was beautiful (all written by Hannah and Dave!), and it was capped off with a kiss that was a "great success!" I love this picture, and I love the Best Man's reaction. So fun!

Last, but certainly not least, no wedding can be complete with a college roommate picture! Lindsay, Hannah, Emily and I spent two great years living together at Wesleyan, and there will be many more fun years to come as we all now live so close to each other.

It was a wonderful weekend celebrating Hannah and Dave, and we're all now looking forward to celebrating Lindsay and Chris in July!

Fortunes

I love to get fortunes from fortune cookies! Ever since I was little, I've made a game of picking out the right cookie. I love to "collect" my fortunes and put them in places that they can serve as good reminders. This is one that I got recently. I think it's pretty powerful! Another one that I got recently says, "Patience is the key to joy." So true for me!

Straight No Chaser performs Country Roads

Check out this video of Straight No Chaser performing Country Roads in Charleston, WV last night. Their show was absolutely amazing, and I highly encourage finding a tour stop near you! They performed music from a variety of genres, and they are great entertainers as well!

Enjoy a little Country Roads on your Wednesday morning :)

Friday Favorites

Today's Friday Favorites feature is Jamberry Nails. If you haven't caught up with this nail trend yet, you need to get on top of it. As my friend Hannah would say, prepare to have your mind blown! (Hannah is also my Jamberry Nails consultant!)

Decorative Coral

These things are so fun and easy! They come in little sheets that are rounded to meet your cuticle. You select the size that fits your nail best, heat it up with a hair dryer, press on, cut off the excess and file the end! Yep, it's that easy.

Birds

The above picture was my first solo application (I had help with the decorative coral!). It took me 20 minutes to do my nails, and I've received tons of compliments! Check out Hannah's website to see more fun styles and to order (this is not a paid endorsement!). Enjoy and happy Friday!

Paparazzi Life

My sister took this photo of me in Columbus last weekend. This was after she hijacked my camera and took about 10 others. In a weird way, I kind of love this picture!

My Favorite Books As Movies: The Hunger Games Review

I absolutely loved the Harry Potter books. I started reading the series when I was in middle school, and read the last book when it came out during the summer before my senior year of college. I read every single book in that series just as soon as they hit the shelves, and I loved every minute of it.

In contrast, I have never once seen one of the Harry Potter movies. Yep, you read that correctly... I've never seen a Harry Potter movie. In fact, I even look away when they show previews or movie clips on television. It's okay, my husband thinks I'm crazy too. The thing is, I have an image of the characters in my head. I've created mental images of the surroundings and the people and the events. I don't want that image to be tainted with the views of a filmmaker.

Fast forward to The Hunger Games. I read all three books in The Hunger Games trilogy probably faster than I've read any other books. I loved them! The suspense in those books is unlike any other, and the author has a way of just pulling you along with every twist and turn. My husband read the books first and after seeing a very brief clip of the movie, I knew I just had to get these books! Because I saw a clip of the movie before I read the book, that images helped shape my view of the book; therefore, it was okay to see the movie!

So, last night I ventured out to the midnight premiere of The Hunger Games with high hopes of cinematic genius. We got to the movie early, armed ourselves with soda and popcorn, and placed ourselves front and center for the premiere. Lights dimmed, film started rolling... and two and a half hours later I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it. The images in the film were spectacular and so true to the book, but I felt like it strayed from the book in some disappointing ways (nothing overly drastic... just things that make you say, "Hey! Wait a minute!" You'll know what I mean when you see it...)

Overall, I recommend the movie, but read the book first! There are many parts of the movie that would have made absolutely no sense to me had I never read the books first, and in two and a half hours it's difficult to cram in all the details that make the book what it is. Read the book, see the movie, judge for yourself!

The Reading Room

Several months ago, I read Crazy Love by Francis Chan. I'm not sure why I'm just now getting around to reviewing it, because it's a really great book. In the book, Chan discusses our love for Christ. A lot of times as Christians, we have a hard time understanding that the God who created everything from jumbo jets to grains of sand could be in love with each and every one of us. And not just in love with us, but deeply in love with us... crazy in love with us. When you stop and think about it, it can almost take your breath away.

The book raises questions about why we find it so hard to love Christ the way he loves us. One review I read of the book said, "We go to church, we sing some songs, we try not to say cuss words, and just like that we're in love with Christ." It goes so far beyond that though... into the core of how we live our lives, what we think about, how we treat others, and the time we make available just for Christ. Think about it. What if you were in love with your husband/wife and never set aside any time to spend with him/her? Often times, that's how our love for Christ falls short.

I really like this book because it's spiritually renewing without being so theological that those of us who aren't pastors can't understand it! If you're looking for a book to renew your mind, body and spirit... I suggest this one! Happy reading!

I Caved to the Pressure...

I hope everyone likes the blog facelift! New posts coming soon...

What's in a Background?

Today I got some feedback from a dear friend in regards to my blog. His words exactly, "don't take this the wrong way, but the background of your blog is pink." What's that supposed to mean?! I did change the background of my blog since he made that comment, but it's still pink. I happen to like pink!

I'll gladly take your recommendations on a background (and your thoughts on pink) in the comments section below.

The Reading Room

Three words: The Hunger Games. Wow! I don't think I've been this obsessed with a series of books since Harry Potter. This trilogy has action, sci-fi, romance... you name it, it's in there! I normally don't like books of this nature (think post-apocalyptic world), but when my husband read them and recommended I read them right away, I knew I had to jump in. Here are some words of advice: If you read any three books in 2012, make it these three!

The Hunger Games trilogy, written by Suzanne Collins, focuses on Katniss Everdeen and the whirlwind events that occur once she volunteers to enter The Hunger Games in place of her younger sister, Prim. Also representing her District in The Hunger Games is Peeta Mellark, the boy that helped save her family from starvation many years prior. Coached by their District's only Hunger Games victor, Haymitch Abernathy, the two set out for the Capitol, in hopes of being the sole victor (survivor) of the Games. 

What happens from there is pure literary genius as Collins takes the reader through a maze of unexpected twists and turns. Every word in these books will leave you wanting more. Written for younger readers, these books are easy to follow and quick to read. If you love a good book, I guarantee you'll add these to your favorites!

Also, to get you excited about reading the books, check out the trailer for The Hunger Games movie, opening March 23!

Warning: Amateurs at Work!

I definitely do not claim to be a photographer in any way, shape or form. I know that there are serious photographers out there who have studied long and hard to perfect their craft, and it's the amateurs like me, with a nice camera, who make these real photographers seriously angry. So, full disclosure from the beginning: not a photographer!

My husband and I did get a really nice camera for Christmas though, and we have been so excited to get out and play with it. So, what better way to play around with the camera than to take some shots of our friends who are expecting their first baby next month! (Again, we're amateurs.)

It's easy to take pretty pictures when you have great subjects, a nice camera and a MacBook Pro for editing... but, I'm really excited with how their pictures turned out! Below are a couple of the shots we took:

 I love this picture of them in the meadow! I used my limited editing skills to soften the light... I think they look so sweet!

We played around a lot with the filters on the camera. This one has no editing. I think it looks like she's glowing!

Tone Up in 2012

It's official all over again! Exactly a year ago this month, I became licensed to teach Zumba Fitness. This past Saturday, I completed a training course to begin teaching Zumba Toning! I'm so excited to bring a new flair and fitness level to my Zumba Fitness classes. If you're interested in learning more about my classes, check out my Zumba homepage.

Z love!

Zumba & Running: 2011 with Intention

Back in January 2011, I published a post about my word of the year. (Click here to check it out if you missed it!) The word that I selected for this year was "intentional". It's a simple reminder to live each day with a purpose. For me, it has served as a reminder not to act for the sake of acting, but to think out each action, it's cause and effect. This was the first time that I selected a word to live by for the year, and I have to say that I was pretty pleased with the result.

I've never made a New Year's resolution that I've been able to stick to. In the past, I would half-heartedly make a commitment to myself and then let it fall by the wayside. This year, I wanted to do two things. I wanted to become a Zumba instructor, and I wanted to run a half marathon. I fulfilled one of two, and although I fell short, I feel like I accomplished so much.

Becoming a Zumba instructor has been one of the greatest blessings in my life. It has enabled me to stay fit, stay committed to my workouts, and meet a ton of great people. I've loved every single minute of it! Where I fell short was my half marathon. I was able to run a 10k this year, but some personal issues toward the end of the year stopped me short of my half marathon goal. I did, however, become a runner in 2011. I impressed myself with what I could do with a little commitment and a lot of heart. A girl who could barely run a mile at the beginning of the year ran a 10k at a respectable time. To me, that's amazing! My half marathon goal will continue into 2012, and I plan to stick with it!

It all comes back to living intentionally. I made a resolution, and I intentionally set out to make it happen. In addition to resolutions, I made some personal choices and decisions this year that were all done with intention. It's been one of the best years of my life in terms of fulfillment, and it's all because I set out to make it that way through commitment and prayer. In essence, I was living life on purpose.

I hope that your 2012 is blessed with all that you set out to do. May your resolutions be fruitful and your life be lived intentionally!

The Reading Room

Recently, I read Mindy Kaling's Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? If you aren't familiar with Mindy Kaling, she plays Kelly Kapoor on The Office, and she is also one of the head writers for the show. I find her to be absolutely hysterical on The Office, and I was really looking forward to reading her book. Unfortunately, I think it fell a little flat. 

I really enjoyed listening to Tina Fey's book (my first venture into audiobooks; see below), and I hoped that Kaling's book would provide similar entertainment. While I found the book to be light hearted, and at times very funny, it just never amounted to much. Kaling has always been obsessed with comedy, even from the time she was little. So, you can imagine my disappointment when she reviews her top 11 comedy sketches/scenes and most of them fall within the last decade (think Talladega Nights, Anchorman, etc.). Also, she talks a lot about The Office, but she leaves much to be desired in the way of actual relationships she has with her cast mates (other than Ellie Kemper). Overall, I enjoyed the book, but if you're looking for hearty laughs and solid entertainment, skip it in favor of Tina Fey!

My Christmas Hobbies (Obsessions)

It's Christmas time once again! Can you believe it's already December? Where does the time go...

I look forward to Christmas for so many reasons. The most important reason, is the meaning behind the celebration. Without Christ, there would be no celebration. There would be no celebration, because we wouldn't have the hope of eternal life. As you're out and about doing your shopping and other things to prepare for the holiday, I hope Christ is the first thing you think of during Christmas.

After the meaning of Christmas, I look forward to spending time with my family around the holidays. Despite the craziness of gift buying and giving, it feels like everything slows down around Christmas. I love spending hours sitting around a table talking, or playing games, or just watching TV. There is no better time of year than when the tree is twinkling, the snow is falling, and the house is full of people you love!

If you know me, then you also know that I love Christmas cards. Not only do I love to receive Christmas cards, but I love to send them. I think about my Christmas cards all year long. My favorite kind of Christmas card is a photo card. Now, don't get me wrong. If you send a Christmas card that doesn't have a photo, I love it just the same. There is just something so exciting about opening a Christmas card that has the faces of friends and family engaging in some kind of memorable activity from the past year. I can't get enough!

Anyway, I start scouting out my Christmas card photo on January 1. I like our Christmas card to have a photo of a memorable event from sometime during the year, so I'm always taking photos and making mental notes of ones that would be good candidates. I would call it a hobby. I think my husband would call it an obsession.

There are two websites that I particularly love when it comes to my Christmas cards. First and foremost, I recommend TinyPrints. I can't say enough about this website! Their customer service and products are unmatchable, and they are FAST (very important around the holidays!). The site has hundreds of beautiful, quality cards to choose from, and they are all on quality stock (no flimsy paper or cheap envelopes). If you're looking for a site for great cards (no matter the occasion), visit TinyPrints!

The second website that I would recommend is Expressionery. They offer tons of great address labels and stamps that would be the perfect complement to your Christmas card. Additionally, they offer gift tags that I simply love! The website also has some beautiful personalized collectible items that would make great Christmas gifts.

Whatever your hobbies or obsessions might be around this time of year, I hope that you take time to remember why we celebrate. I also hope that you take time to relax, enjoy the company of your family, and maybe share a Christmas card or two. Merry Christmas!

Another year older...

Yesterday was my 26th birthday. I'm discovering that birthdays really do become less and less significant as time goes on. There was no cake. There were no balloons. There was one present (other presents came in the days prior). It really just felt like any other day. In a way, it was kind of nice.

I started my day at 6:00 a.m. and was out the door shortly after 7:00 a.m. for school (in case you missed it, I'm a substitute teacher now!). I finished school at 3:00 p.m., and then I monitored aftercare until 6:00 p.m. Aftercare is glorified babysitting for students who don't get picked up right after school. I really enjoy aftercare because I can spend time with some great kids, help them with their homework, and get myself prepared for the next day at school! Anyway, once I finished with aftercare, I went straight to Zumba. After all was said and done, I got home at nearly 10:00 p.m., read a book, and went to bed.

Yep, it's official. I'm old.

The Reading Room

My friend, Shay, recently introduced me to the world of audiobooks. I had never listened to an audiobook before, and when I saw Tina Fey's Bossy Pants in Shay's car, I asked her if I could borrow it. I learned two things from my first audiobook experience: 1.) I love them! 2.) I spend way too much time in the car.

I listened to a five and a half hour audiobook in three days! That's insane. The worst part is that I wasn't on a trip or even driving a long distance. I listened to Bossy Pants to and from my house when going to work and the gym where I teach Zumba. If you have a long commute, I highly recommend audiobooks!

I have to admit, I've never been a huge fan of Tina Fey. I liked her on Weekend Update on SNL, and I really enjoyed Mean Girls, but I'm not crazy about 30 Rock. After reading this book though, I have a new appreciation for her talent. The fact that she is actually reading the story is the best part about this audiobook. Inflection and humor are in all the right places, and I found myself laughing out loud in my car (I'm sure other drivers thought I was crazy). The book flows so smoothly from her childhood to her early improv days to SNL to 30 Rock to family life, and before you know it, you've spent five and a half hours listening to Tina Fey while sitting in rush hour traffic.

Overall, the book has minimal foul language, and lots of laughs. I recommend it (particularly on audiobook) if you're looking for some mindless, entertaining material. If you have other audiobooks that you recommend, please pass them my way!

New Beginnings

This week was a big week for me. I left a job that I've called home for the last two years, and I entered into the unknown territory of teaching a 4th grade class. Yep, you read that right, 4th grade. Now, before you get concerned, remember that I've been working with high school seniors for the last two years. As crazy as it seems, there are very few differences between an 18-year-old and a 10-year-old!

In my last two years at the University of Charleston, I've made a ton of lifelong friends. For instance, one of my former coworkers will become my brother-in-law next July. It doesn't get much more lifelong than that! It's hard to walk away from something that you feel familiar or comfortable with. It's also hard to walk away from coworkers who often feel more like family than just people you work with (below you'll see pictures from my going away dinner). I've been blessed over the last two years to call UC my home.

But, when it's time to go, it's time to go.

As my new boss said to me when I took on the role of teaching 4th grade, "When you feel convicted about a change, it's best to pray about it and then take action." That's exactly what I did, and I feel convinced that God is leading me down the right path for me. There are a lot of unknown variables that lie ahead, but I know that He will provide for me when the time is right.

Although it was a sad week, it was also a happy week. A time for change and a time for new beginnings. I hope that your week was equally exhilarating. If not, maybe it's time to pray about a change!

My husband, Justin, and my future brother-in-law, Chris

 We're all former UC employees now! Top: Meghann, Lynsey & myself. Bottom: Chris & Beth

 Shay Slifko, International Admissions! Sweetest girl you'll ever meet!

 Beth, myself, and Lynsey. Jen was creeping in the background :)

Two of my favorites! Lynsey and Justin

Just. Keep. Running.

Many of you will recall that when I started this blog, I had high hopes of running a half marathon this year. I began running in January and worked my way up to the Cooper River Bridge Run 10K in Charleston, SC in April. It was such a huge accomplishment for me, and it really had me energized to run the half marathon this year. I had my sights set on the Huntington Half, and in early August I began my training for the race (which took place today). I've been teaching Zumba since January, and I had been running since the 10K in April, so it felt good to get some longer distances in. Then, in September, disaster struck.

I say disaster, but it really wasn't anything too horrific. In early September, some changes happened at my job, and I had to take on more responsibility and duties than I had previously. This required me to get to work very early, and often stay very late into the evening. If you're keeping score, that meant my job was taking all my running time. In October, I felt like I had come to a place where I could better manage my work, and I got back into training. Unfortunately, in early October, I encountered some health issues that definitely left me sidelined (I've bounced back, but I wasn't able to run for almost the entire month of October!).

All in all, I'm sad that I wasn't able to run the half that I had my sights set on, but I did become a runner (again) in 2011. I ran a 10K that I never thought would have been possible, with a good time I might add! I love that after a long day, I can go home and run 4-6 miles without thinking twice! I haven't given up on my hopes of a half marathon, and I've made a new plan to shoot for the UC Half Marathon in April 2012. Regardless of a half marathon though, I'm proud of the fitness accomplishments I've made so far this year. And who knows, the year isn't over yet!

Defying Gravity

I've never considered myself to be much of an adrenaline junkie, yet I'm constantly pushing myself to the limits. Skydiving, bungee jumping, white water rafting... I've done it all. Today, it was zip lining on Gravity. I don't really think that I'm afraid of heights, but there are definitely times when heights scare me (see the picture from Paris in Las Vegas below). I kept my cool on the heights today though, and it was a blast flying through the trees!

Other than the self portrait, it would appear that I wasn't on this zip lining trip, but the camera was strapped to my harness, so I couldn't snap any action shots of myself! All in all, it was a great day. Even if you're afraid of heights, the guides do a great job of keeping you strapped in at all times, and it feels extremely safe. I highly recommend zip lining on Gravity or Tree Tops at Class VI (even if you're not an adrenaline junkie!).

 Justin and I at Class VI before we left for the Gravity course

 The rest of our crew from L to R: Kellie, Brandon, Wes & Ronnie

 They look intense! Justin and Wes are ready to conquer Gravity!

Justin coming in off the test course

The beautiful scenery of Fayette County, West Virginia