Go and check it out here !
Monday, July 18, 2011
Thursday, June 30, 2011
The End of the Month
Dustin and I have been together for almost 4 years and as i think back on all the important milestones in our relationship-they all seem to revolve around the end of the month.
Our first date (and current anniversary)- July 30th
My move out to Oklahoma- June 30th
When Dustin asked me to marry him- December 31st
Our wedding- June 30th
I don't know if this is just something random or perhaps something that has higher meaning. Who knows i bet I'll find out I'm pregnant (NOT FOR A LOOOOOOOONG TIME) and have our children around the end of the month as well.
Its kind of a neat pattern and helps remembering important dates easier!
But with that said-
T-Minus 1 year and counting until Dustin and I get married!
Our first date (and current anniversary)- July 30th
My move out to Oklahoma- June 30th
When Dustin asked me to marry him- December 31st
Our wedding- June 30th
I don't know if this is just something random or perhaps something that has higher meaning. Who knows i bet I'll find out I'm pregnant (NOT FOR A LOOOOOOOONG TIME) and have our children around the end of the month as well.
Its kind of a neat pattern and helps remembering important dates easier!
But with that said-
T-Minus 1 year and counting until Dustin and I get married!
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Extreme Couponing
I have found a new hobby that is consuming me at the present moment. COUPONS! I know some of you have seen "Extreme Couponing" on TLC and while i think its impossible to recreate those deals in Stillwater, I'm going to try my best to get some deals here! Being out on your own and paying your bills you learn money is a little tight, so i hope this will help Dustin and I saved money both for the daily life and for our wedding :)
So after much planning Dustin and I went down to the city to Target and heres what we found
For everything pictured here I spent $30.73 and saved $37.04 with coupons and in store promotions which is a 54% Savings! Yay for us.
Now we've got to tackle grocery shopping with our coupons so we'll see how it goes.
So after much planning Dustin and I went down to the city to Target and heres what we found
For everything pictured here I spent $30.73 and saved $37.04 with coupons and in store promotions which is a 54% Savings! Yay for us.
Now we've got to tackle grocery shopping with our coupons so we'll see how it goes.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Found a dress!
So I am happy to report that I've found a wedding dress! It was not planned, nor did I have anyone with me but I was able to find one that I felt was MY dress. Dustin and I planned a trip down to OKC. We had gone mini golfing an then we had a massage planned for later that evening. We were driving around killing time and I told him to drop me off at a bridal store. I had gotten an mail about a trunk show and I wanted to stop in. Walked in and I didn't see anyone else in there, I was greeted my the consultant and told to take a look through the racks and find ones I liked. After trying on what seems like hu dress of wedding dresses I a
Was ab,e to weed out the definate nos and focus on the possibilities. I was a little apprehensive when I only found 2 dresses I liked. But when back to the dressing room with an open mind. As I walked back there was another bride with a dress on and at that moment I knew that was it. It looked almost exactly like another dress I had tried on at a previous store and was in my mind as the front runner. I tried on the first dress I had pulled and it was ok,pretty but just ok. The second dress I tried on I really liked, but I just couldn't wrap my head around this being THE dress. I Kept telling my consultant, as soon as that other first takes that dress off I want to try it on! Finially she took off the dress and I was able to put it on. I can't say that I had an overwhelming emotional feeling but I just felt content...like I knew this was foign to be it. Its odd because I'm an emotional person in every other aspect but this just seemed to be just a calm rational decision. I was happy though, very happy and excited that id finially found one.
Some may say that you shouldn't pick out a wedding dress alone and its something you should have family, friends there for. But I just found that going alone worked for me. It's not what I ever pictured I would do , but it's just how it happened. I don't have any regrets and I know everyone will have their own opinions but I'm happy.
So dress is picked yes!! Now to tackle all my other wedding issues....great.
Was ab,e to weed out the definate nos and focus on the possibilities. I was a little apprehensive when I only found 2 dresses I liked. But when back to the dressing room with an open mind. As I walked back there was another bride with a dress on and at that moment I knew that was it. It looked almost exactly like another dress I had tried on at a previous store and was in my mind as the front runner. I tried on the first dress I had pulled and it was ok,pretty but just ok. The second dress I tried on I really liked, but I just couldn't wrap my head around this being THE dress. I Kept telling my consultant, as soon as that other first takes that dress off I want to try it on! Finially she took off the dress and I was able to put it on. I can't say that I had an overwhelming emotional feeling but I just felt content...like I knew this was foign to be it. Its odd because I'm an emotional person in every other aspect but this just seemed to be just a calm rational decision. I was happy though, very happy and excited that id finially found one.
Some may say that you shouldn't pick out a wedding dress alone and its something you should have family, friends there for. But I just found that going alone worked for me. It's not what I ever pictured I would do , but it's just how it happened. I don't have any regrets and I know everyone will have their own opinions but I'm happy.
So dress is picked yes!! Now to tackle all my other wedding issues....great.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Shop your closet Challenge
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Well its no secret to anyone who knows me that I love clothes,shoes, accessories and shopping period. I've found now that I'm living in Oklahoma and paying more bills on my own, I don't have the money for the things I did a year ago. I'm never at $0 at the end of the month, but each month I see my cushion slowly dwindling. I've been contemplating doing something like this for awhile but I was reading a blog I follow this evening and she was talking about a shopping ban/ shop your closet challenge. I though that's what I need to do! 9 times out of 10 I shop because its something to do, not out of necessity. Living in a small town, there isn't much else to do on weekends besides shop around town. It seems everyday money is going somewhere. I don't think ive gone a week without buying new clothes/shoes accessories With the wedding approaching and marriage, I need to save all the $ I can which is why I am going to partake in this challenge.
This by no means will be easy, I'm a sucker for anything new or exciting. I just need to tell myself I don't really need it. My rules and regulations include all clothing items shoes and accessories. I will allow myself on cheat item, only one so I better make it good! Im not going to go too extreme with this and I'm going to try and go until memorial weekend with this challenge.
So I'll update with my progress and let you know how I'm doing!
Here I go!
Monday, May 2, 2011
whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
This past Sunday, Dustin ran the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon. The marathon is in honor and remembrance of those who were killed and wounded during the Oklahoma City bombing on April 19th 1995 and to raise awareness for the continued quest for peace.
Conditions were nit ideal to run a marathon. We got down to the city around 5:45 and it was about 35* and starting to rain. They said it would lighten up.....but it never did. The race was suppose to start at 6:30 but due to weather it didn't begin till 7. Dustin was anxious but excited and I was just ready to get out of the cold. The race started and probably due to weather, there really wasn't anything set up for observers to do. Its was 7am on a Sunday and nothing was open. I decided to go walk around the OKC memorial since that was what everyone was here for to begin with. The outside memorial is beautifully set up with a reflection pond in-between 2 towers with the times " 9:01 and 9:03" on them. Meant to symbolize the time before and after the bomb went off. They also had chairs set up to symbolize those who were killed.
I wish I could have spent more time looking around at it, but it's was getting colder and raining harder and I felt like I needed to get inside. Next to the memorial was a Catholic Church and I figured that would be the best place to seek refuge from the cold. I walked up to the church and asked a women standing out front if it was open, she said yes and let me inside. It was a beautiful cathedral and so enlace warm and safe. I began to walk into the church and a man stopped me and asked me what I was doing, I just told him I wanted to see the church and get out of the rain. He let me pass but I could see up ahead of me the priest talking loudly and making grand gestures to someone. I could hear him saying " get them out" and all of a sudden came striding towards me saying to get out and he told the man to lock the doors. The man just turn to me and told me " out you go" I could not believe I just got thrown out of a church for nothing. A CATHOLIC church for that matter. I could see no event going on at the church, mass was suppose to begin at 8 but what if I was coming in for mass? Or just to come into someplace I thought was suppose to be inviting and sheltering? As I reflect upon what happened to me more it's really upsetting. Thats not what a church is suppose to be like, there not suppose to lock their doors and turn people away when there in need. Would Jesus have turned those away who were seeking his protection? I know this isn't the same in all churches, but it just came at a bad time when I'm already having a hard enough time swallowing the churches regulations on marriage.
So I left the church and found an open convenient store, sat there for about an hour. The rained cleared up slightly so I walked over to the memorial museum. I was really glad the museum was open. If anyone ever gets the chance to see it I highly recommend it. It was neat how it was set up cronologically from the moments before the bomb went off, to the initial reactions, victim rescuer and the aftermath of the event. The saddest part about the entire thing was seeing the faces and the retrieved toys from the children who were killed. That's what tugs at your heart the most. These innocent children who were killed because of a extremest action.
After the museum, I figured Dustin would be finishing up so I headed towards the finish line. As I got there, I could see him up ahead of me and I have to say I have never seen a person look worse than how he looked. All color was drained from his face, he was staggering and shaking with cold. Felt so bad for him. He was proud of himself though for finishing and he finished under his goal of 4 hours. Official race time was 3:54!
Luckily there was a Methodist church right next to the finish line at was open allowing runner to come in from the cold, seek warmth and get some food. I helped Dustin into the church and went in search of food for him. I went into the dining area just as they were closing the kitchen. I asked a women there if there was any food left I could take him because he needed it and couldn't even move from the spot he was. She told me they weren't allowed to eat in the sanctuary but if I could get him over there she would have a plate. I helped Dustin as he staggered to the dining area and the women was there waiting with food for him. She didn't have to go into the kitchen to get him anything, nor did she have to wait on him and go against what they were told to do. But she did and both he and I were thankful for it. She made sure he was ok and that we had what we needed. Dustin was able to eat, clean up and even get fresh clothes. They provided the runners and the families with a safe and warm place to go. Something the Catholic church should have done for me. It was the first time in a long time I truly felt Jesus working through someone, through this women and through the people at that church.
Dustin is thankful the race is in the past and I'm happy we got through it. It was quite an emotional day. Emotional reflecting upon why they were running, reading and seeing the stories and the images of what happened that day and seeing the true colors of those who serve. It was remarkable to see people come together despite the weather and other hardships to honor those who had died and fight for peace and love for all.
Matthew 25:31-46
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ 41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ 46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
Conditions were nit ideal to run a marathon. We got down to the city around 5:45 and it was about 35* and starting to rain. They said it would lighten up.....but it never did. The race was suppose to start at 6:30 but due to weather it didn't begin till 7. Dustin was anxious but excited and I was just ready to get out of the cold. The race started and probably due to weather, there really wasn't anything set up for observers to do. Its was 7am on a Sunday and nothing was open. I decided to go walk around the OKC memorial since that was what everyone was here for to begin with. The outside memorial is beautifully set up with a reflection pond in-between 2 towers with the times " 9:01 and 9:03" on them. Meant to symbolize the time before and after the bomb went off. They also had chairs set up to symbolize those who were killed.
I wish I could have spent more time looking around at it, but it's was getting colder and raining harder and I felt like I needed to get inside. Next to the memorial was a Catholic Church and I figured that would be the best place to seek refuge from the cold. I walked up to the church and asked a women standing out front if it was open, she said yes and let me inside. It was a beautiful cathedral and so enlace warm and safe. I began to walk into the church and a man stopped me and asked me what I was doing, I just told him I wanted to see the church and get out of the rain. He let me pass but I could see up ahead of me the priest talking loudly and making grand gestures to someone. I could hear him saying " get them out" and all of a sudden came striding towards me saying to get out and he told the man to lock the doors. The man just turn to me and told me " out you go" I could not believe I just got thrown out of a church for nothing. A CATHOLIC church for that matter. I could see no event going on at the church, mass was suppose to begin at 8 but what if I was coming in for mass? Or just to come into someplace I thought was suppose to be inviting and sheltering? As I reflect upon what happened to me more it's really upsetting. Thats not what a church is suppose to be like, there not suppose to lock their doors and turn people away when there in need. Would Jesus have turned those away who were seeking his protection? I know this isn't the same in all churches, but it just came at a bad time when I'm already having a hard enough time swallowing the churches regulations on marriage.
So I left the church and found an open convenient store, sat there for about an hour. The rained cleared up slightly so I walked over to the memorial museum. I was really glad the museum was open. If anyone ever gets the chance to see it I highly recommend it. It was neat how it was set up cronologically from the moments before the bomb went off, to the initial reactions, victim rescuer and the aftermath of the event. The saddest part about the entire thing was seeing the faces and the retrieved toys from the children who were killed. That's what tugs at your heart the most. These innocent children who were killed because of a extremest action.
After the museum, I figured Dustin would be finishing up so I headed towards the finish line. As I got there, I could see him up ahead of me and I have to say I have never seen a person look worse than how he looked. All color was drained from his face, he was staggering and shaking with cold. Felt so bad for him. He was proud of himself though for finishing and he finished under his goal of 4 hours. Official race time was 3:54!
Luckily there was a Methodist church right next to the finish line at was open allowing runner to come in from the cold, seek warmth and get some food. I helped Dustin into the church and went in search of food for him. I went into the dining area just as they were closing the kitchen. I asked a women there if there was any food left I could take him because he needed it and couldn't even move from the spot he was. She told me they weren't allowed to eat in the sanctuary but if I could get him over there she would have a plate. I helped Dustin as he staggered to the dining area and the women was there waiting with food for him. She didn't have to go into the kitchen to get him anything, nor did she have to wait on him and go against what they were told to do. But she did and both he and I were thankful for it. She made sure he was ok and that we had what we needed. Dustin was able to eat, clean up and even get fresh clothes. They provided the runners and the families with a safe and warm place to go. Something the Catholic church should have done for me. It was the first time in a long time I truly felt Jesus working through someone, through this women and through the people at that church.
Dustin is thankful the race is in the past and I'm happy we got through it. It was quite an emotional day. Emotional reflecting upon why they were running, reading and seeing the stories and the images of what happened that day and seeing the true colors of those who serve. It was remarkable to see people come together despite the weather and other hardships to honor those who had died and fight for peace and love for all.
Matthew 25:31-46
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ 41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ 46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
What do you believe?
Let me start this post by saying that the views and expressions I am about to make are my own. They are not meant to offend or disrespect anyone, only to nearly open the dialogue and the mind of myself and others. And now that I've scared you as to what I'm going to talk about....
I was raised Catholic, I went to church, religious education I even had a stint ( yes illl call it that) at a cathoic school and graduated college with a minor in religious studies. With my various educations I've developed quite an acletic view on faith,religion and spiritually
The reason I find this post necessary to write at this time is because I feel I've dealt a lot with what I believe in the past few months. Anyone who knows anything about Catholics knows it's all about the rules and the traditions. Planning this wedding I've come up against some I don't particularly understand or believe it. Mainly it is the rule that a Catholic wedding ceremony has to be preformed in a Catholic church in order for it to be recognized by the church. Long story short, I'm having some issues with the concept. The church that had significant meaning to Dustin and I is being torn down so will not be available for our wedding. So at this point we settled on another church. But why should we pick a church for the sole purpose that it is a church? Isn't that loosing the point of having a marriage in a church? I understand that a church is suppose to be a holy and sacred space, but if God is the one presiding over the marriage..... He created everything. JEsus may have wanted us to " build his church" but I don't think he really meant build a brick and mortar place and all holy and sacred events must happen here, I just feel the conept is so disconnected from what the intentions originally were.
When I die and go to heaven I highly doubt I'm going to be denied because I was not married in a physical catholic church. Why are the requirement different for each religious denomination? Don't we all want to get to the same place in the end. I don't think it matters if you call yourself Catholic, Jewish, Hindu, baptist, Islamic, Mormon, cnidarian whatever....It's not about the labels it's about how you live your life
I believe in love, loving others and allowing others to love me. I believe in helping people and making a difference. I believe in living life to the fullest and not holding back. I believe that if you treat others with respect and compassion, it will come back to you. Isn't that exactly what were suppose to do?
Ive always though if Jesus came back today and saw what we've done with faith and with religion he would be disappointed. It's like if the founding fathers came back and saw what a mess this countries gotten itself into. It's a break from the original plan, the true importance there so much violence in the world over conflicting beliefs both physical and mental violence. Where is that going to get us? Do we think that if we condemn or try and kill off one religious belief it's going to get us closer to God? I don't think so. Like I said it just seems so distant from the true purpose.
But back to my point on my wedding. I don't want to go through the motions of getting married in the church if I don't really understand why I am doing it. Practing your beliefs should be a personal experience and not something anyone should force upon you. Everyone at different points in their spiritually journeys. Some choose to stay within the rules and traditions while others choose a more open path
Its about how you live your life
I believe in......
Love
Laughter
Joy
Friendship
Karma
Expression
Embarrassment
Adventure
I
Opinions
Experiences
Mistakes
Learning
Knowledge
Questions
Conversation
Change
Revolution
Past
Present
Future
Kindness
Hope
Pain
Triumph
Bluntness
Confidence
Truth
Faith
Miracles
Beauty
Possibilities
Peace
History
Forgiveness
Listening
Talking
Conversation
Words
Music
God
I was raised Catholic, I went to church, religious education I even had a stint ( yes illl call it that) at a cathoic school and graduated college with a minor in religious studies. With my various educations I've developed quite an acletic view on faith,religion and spiritually
The reason I find this post necessary to write at this time is because I feel I've dealt a lot with what I believe in the past few months. Anyone who knows anything about Catholics knows it's all about the rules and the traditions. Planning this wedding I've come up against some I don't particularly understand or believe it. Mainly it is the rule that a Catholic wedding ceremony has to be preformed in a Catholic church in order for it to be recognized by the church. Long story short, I'm having some issues with the concept. The church that had significant meaning to Dustin and I is being torn down so will not be available for our wedding. So at this point we settled on another church. But why should we pick a church for the sole purpose that it is a church? Isn't that loosing the point of having a marriage in a church? I understand that a church is suppose to be a holy and sacred space, but if God is the one presiding over the marriage..... He created everything. JEsus may have wanted us to " build his church" but I don't think he really meant build a brick and mortar place and all holy and sacred events must happen here, I just feel the conept is so disconnected from what the intentions originally were.
When I die and go to heaven I highly doubt I'm going to be denied because I was not married in a physical catholic church. Why are the requirement different for each religious denomination? Don't we all want to get to the same place in the end. I don't think it matters if you call yourself Catholic, Jewish, Hindu, baptist, Islamic, Mormon, cnidarian whatever....It's not about the labels it's about how you live your life
I believe in love, loving others and allowing others to love me. I believe in helping people and making a difference. I believe in living life to the fullest and not holding back. I believe that if you treat others with respect and compassion, it will come back to you. Isn't that exactly what were suppose to do?
Ive always though if Jesus came back today and saw what we've done with faith and with religion he would be disappointed. It's like if the founding fathers came back and saw what a mess this countries gotten itself into. It's a break from the original plan, the true importance there so much violence in the world over conflicting beliefs both physical and mental violence. Where is that going to get us? Do we think that if we condemn or try and kill off one religious belief it's going to get us closer to God? I don't think so. Like I said it just seems so distant from the true purpose.
But back to my point on my wedding. I don't want to go through the motions of getting married in the church if I don't really understand why I am doing it. Practing your beliefs should be a personal experience and not something anyone should force upon you. Everyone at different points in their spiritually journeys. Some choose to stay within the rules and traditions while others choose a more open path
Its about how you live your life
I believe in......
Love
Laughter
Joy
Friendship
Karma
Expression
Embarrassment
Adventure
I
Opinions
Experiences
Mistakes
Learning
Knowledge
Questions
Conversation
Change
Revolution
Past
Present
Future
Kindness
Hope
Pain
Triumph
Bluntness
Confidence
Truth
Faith
Miracles
Beauty
Possibilities
Peace
History
Forgiveness
Listening
Talking
Conversation
Words
Music
God
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