I Lost My Cool

Holy Moly! Two posts in one week! But this is an emergency...and you'll understand why in a second. 

If you know me you may know that coffee doesn't really agree with me. I mean don't get me wrong, I adore coffee! It's yummy and warm and makes me oh so happy!

But then I lose my cool...

A little back story before we begin. 

My schedule this semester requires me to get up super early for classes and go to work until really late at night. I require a LOT of sleep to just function properly during the day and I can't seem to keep my eyes open in my ummm..not so interesting classes. So I thought I'd give coffee a chance. Let's just say I stayed awake during class...though I don't remember much that was said....

I got coffee after my 9am class and headed straight to my 10am. 

1/3 of the way through my cup of coffee it hit me. I had to move. I had to dance. I had to yell. Was everyone looking at me? Why are both my hands shaking? I think I see oompa loompas.

So of course I text my fiance and my two roommates.

*sorry for the not so lady-like language that follows*

40 minutes later....

So there you all go. My Friday morning. Not the best life decision I ever made, but hey! it sure did make some people laugh. I hope it makes you laugh too =) 

Getting Hitched!

Ok, we all knew this day would come. The day that the bride writes a blog post about getting married. Shocker I know!

But Guysssss, I'm so excited!!!!!!!

Look at him! He's so cute! 

Johnathan and I started dating at the end of my freshman year of high school. It was quite scandalous because I was...14... and he was an elderly 18. Don't worry I was only 14 for like two months after that! (like that makes a huge difference) I mean he was home-schooled, he couldn't be that crazy. (Oh homeschool jokes) But it still added to my cool points that I was dating a senior. 

We practically grew up together and I am so thankful that I am marrying my best friend. We've been together for over five years now and I couldn't be happier.

Well, actually, our engagement is a tad too long and if it could be shortened about three months THEN I couldn't be happier. Note to all future brides! An engagement of 13 months is an awful, terrible thing. Do not do it to yourself!

We are getting married at his church in Easton, MD, this January. It's so close I can almost feel the freezing weather! I'm so excited to finally get to celebrate our love for one another and to become his wife! 

Big Brother

Just so you all know the title of this post is Big Brother because that's what my roommate is watching and I just don't have the energy to think of anything better. Aaaaand this post has nothing to do with a big brother...I don't have one of those. 

Anywho! This past weekend was 1. much needed and 2. super fun! It started Friday right after class, the fiance and I drove up to Ocean City to get in some last minute family time at the end of their vacation. Even after five years of dating it is still a little daunting to be joining such a huge family. Johnathan is one of seven kids. Now don't get me wrong, my extended family is the population of California but I'm only used to my sister and I. The great thing is I ADORE John's siblings! 

This is Jianna and Jade, Johnathan's two youngest sisters. Aren't they beautiful?! Basically I fit in and people already think I'm related I mean look at the resemblance...my skin is just as bronzed as theirs is....crap...

It was a little cold on Friday so we decided to just walk the boardwalk for the afternoon. The "kids" (I'm a kid fyi) also decided to walk along the beach for a while. It was so much fun getting to spend time with them and just catching up.

Johnathan and his youngest bro, Jarrett. Men men men men! Is it weird that the Robinhood Men in Tights song just popped into my head..?

It was a great start to the weekend! Now on to Saturday! Carly, one of my best friends from high school and one of my bridesmaids, came to see me!! Saturday was a rocking party; we went to the zoo, we went out to lunch, we took a nap, we ate dinner, and then we went to Royal Farms to pump up the tires in her van. Seriously, we are too fun. 

From left: Carly, Kendra and Me

The Salisbury Zoo is actually pretty impressive. No lame animals here! We spent the afternoon walking around, laughing at monkeys and even witnessed an attempted escape (that beaver was very determined). 

This is where you learn how to be a sloth. Very important things were learned that day. Very important things. 

This picture doesn't show it well but that bear is extremely close. We could have touched it. We didn't though.

I missed Carly a lot. Life gets too hectic and I don't get to see this beautiful woman enough. It was awful letting her go home but I am sooooo happy I got some time with her. She's my favorite =)

Here's to another awesome weekend this week! 

He's Part of the Family

Ok ya'll, get ready for some photo overload with this one!

If you know me, you know that I love dogs, specifically big, fluffy, bear-looking dogs. My family has always had Golden Retrievers (I don't know, my dad's obsessed or something). So when I was about ten years old my family adopted an adorable little Golden puppy. I had just seen the movie "Brother Bear" and was DETERMINED that his name would be Koda. We came to the compromise of naming him Cota, after a WWII vet. So basically, I got what I wanted. HA! 

Cota meshed into our family instantly. It didn't take long to see that he had just as weird a personality as the rest of us. We adored him!

This is a pretty standard Cota face. Always smiling =)

When I went away to Salisbury, I didn't realize just how much I would miss him. It takes about two weeks...ok two days before I'm scrolling through my phone looking at pictures and texting my sister to send me videos of him. 

I mean seriously! Who wouldn't miss this?!

Cota isn't the most intelligent dog ever. He gets stuck a lot, runs a little crooked and really has about zero problem solving skills. But he is extremely entertaining to watch! If you sit on his toy he gets so confused that he just sits in front of you and makes whale noises. I'm not even kidding. He's Dory's long lost brother. 

He loves his family so much. No matter how much we embarrass him (dressed him up as a plane for halloween) he can't contain his joy when we each come home. 

He is the biggest sissy on the planet. Here's a few things he is scared of:

-thunder

-cats

-brooms

-vacuum cleaners

-New Year's Eve

-Motorcycles

-Laundry Baskets

-Men with facial hair

-Pots and pans 

-Bridges

-Mirrors

-Mail Trucks

He's a little bit OCD as well. When he gets a treat he can't eat it until he's circled the perimeter of the house a certain number of times. You should see him on Christmas morning with his new toy. Around and around right through the middle of the rest of the family opening presents. 

Such confusion going on inside his head. 

When you come home he greets you with his own special way. He MUST walk through your legs. Really you are stuck at the front door for an extra five minutes just trying to move with an 80lb dog underneath you. 

It's quite embarrassing when someone new comes to the house and Cota has no sense of privacy. He just plows his way through! 

If you are wearing a long skirt or dress, he'll get his head stuck. Nothing will stop him!

His funniest times are at the vet. His anxiety really gets the best of him! He paces and cries and tries to climb into your lap on a tiny waiting room chair. If you lift him, he pees all the way across the room. He huffs and puffs and deadweights so no one can move him. It takes three people to keep him on the table. As seen above, he gets so ridiculous they end up smooshing his face into the funniest expressions!

Cota is family. I love him to death and he is one of my favorite parts about going home! He is also one of my biggest stress relievers. He's been with me through it all and still loves me more than he loves himself. 

I have been dreaming of getting my own dog for a long time now but no dog will replace Cota! I can't wait until my next trip home so I can see him =) 

I Never Met A Pumpkin I Didn't Like

This past week was sweltering! It was the kind of hot were you wake up sweaty and go to bed the same way. Adding to the heat is, Salisbury's lovely 100% humidity. Never dry here, never.

So in my muggy state, I find myself dreaming of Fall. The cooler days and crisp nights. Snuggling up next to the fire, drinking hot chocolate, wearing sweatshirts, and movie nights galore! 

Flannel shirts are my favorite! I love them just a little bit big with the perfect pair of jeans and some ankle boots.

Hiking with the colorful leaves is magical. It's one of the many things that remind me of God's love.

Going to the pumpkin patch is such a fun idea for date night! Then you get to carve your picks together and, if you're me, shove pumpkin guts into your boyfriend's face... =)

I'm obsessed with candles! I love that they add romantic light to any room and the scents usually aren't as strong or fake as air fresheners. 

Oh Fall where are you! It's too damn hot right now. 

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...I'm going to be freezing...

(I used a lot of photos from Pinterest. Please don't be mad)