My Grandma

I came home tonight to an empty home.

No beautiful little woman sitting on her red couch, watching golden girls, looking up at me when I walk in saying "theres my love!".

Notice the red couch

No one to tell "I love you roomie" as she shuffles to the stairs to head to bed. 

Tomorrow morning, when I walk up from my room, She won't be there with her cute little smile, as she looks up from her bible.

I have absolutely no words to describe how unbelievably blessed I was to live with my grandma for 6 months. My grandma is moving on to better care in an assisted living home. Walking in to this empty home... it really hit me. 

 Holding my niece Francesca

As I sit here in my grandpas favorite chair, looking at an empty red couch, I really miss her. My Grandma.

Jesus, You are good. Jesus, You are faithful. 

It is all pure selfishness that I want her to stay here. But we all know this is whats best for her. She is in SUCH good hands!! I think my entire family is glad my superhero Auntie M found such an amazing home. 

I'm not sure if I've said this before but, I have the most amazing family. Ever. I have these crazy aunts who would do just about anything for anybody! If I grow up to be like them when I'm older, I'll know I did SOMETHING right!

I realize this isn't it. Grandma lives just 20 minutes away. I'm still going to go and watch our golden girls and the odd couple together. Bring her some chocolates that I know she loves. Talk about how much we love those swiffer commercials with the cute old couple... you know what I'm talking about!! And try and soak up as much of her wisdom as I can! 

I pray for a marriage like theirs.

Jesus, give my grandma peace as she has her first night away from her home. Give my entire family peace tonight.  

I love you so much Grandma!!

{L}

Sayonara 25!!

Today is my last day of being 25.

 

25 has been good to me.

 

25 I bought a car, I moved out of my parents home and in with my grandma and was able to spend some amazing quality time with my grandma, I worked with/met some absolutely amazing women at my salon, I had 2 more beautiful nieces born, I was trained in by the master himself, and my bestest friends Molly and Ryan moved 5 minutes away from me. I worked like an adult and played like a kid.  

 

25 was challenging though. A lot of emotions. 25 I lost my grandpa but moved in with grandma.  I fell hard for a man and had my heart broken but loved my Jesus that much more. I found myself so consumed with hair and work that I wasn't always the best friend I should have been. My family has been a hot mess this year. And holy crap was 25 expensive!!

 

But...25 has been so good to me. Through all of those experiences and challenges, I grew up a lot. I learned a lot. I matured a lot. Sure did cry a lot but also loved a lot.

 

Even though she is a bajillion miles away (ok ok... more like an hour and a half), Sara has always been there for me. Whether or not she knew it...She always had my back. She's always been my constant, my best friend, my sister... She's my person. No matter how many miles away we are from each other, she will always be a part of my life in the biggest way possible. I can't do life without her!

 

Best Birthday present. Ever.

 

 

 

 

Ok 26... I'm not exactly ready for you yet but, you're coming anyways! Might as well make the most of you! 

 

I can feel it... 26 is gonna be exciting!

Here's just a few things I want to do before 27:

*Go skydiving

*Live completely on my own, own apartment (preferably St Paul)

*Find/get involved in an awesome church

*Buy a motorcycle

*Travel

*Take TONS of advanced training classes for hair! Better my talent

*Love a lot

*run a half marathon

*Live in the moments

 

 

 

 

Here's a recap of my 25

 

My Dean girls

 

My Signe Ramona

 

Color Run with my salon girls

 

4th of July with the besties! Lollypie!

 

My Grandpa...Miss you!!

 

California...1st vaca in 6 years!!

 

 

 

 

 

Oh yea, 25 has been good to me...

 

{L}





 

 





 

 

The Party {Vintage Carnival}

Hudson's first birthday was a fun labor of love- I crashed hard afterwards!

Amazing people traveled the distance to celebrate our little one year old and I am so grateful to all of you.

 

Thank you to everyone who helped make this happen and shared their ideas! My months of planning certainly paid off! If you like the theme, I have links from etsy shops, tips, and recipes galore- and I am willing to share! 

 

{S}

Partying at The Funky Polkadot and You're going to love it

Thank You

I can't shake this feeling of happiness, nor do I want too. This ecstatic bubble I've been living in this past year... especially these last few months. They never have to go away. They can keep growing and flourishing into my beautiful life. 

This past year has had some extreme up's with a handful of extreme downs. And I love that I'm at this point in my life where I can see God in every single aspect of those moments. Those moments of relationships broken, dreams being fulfilled, best friends moving away, additions to our family and the unfortunate loss of one of the best men I've ever known.

My grandpa who passed in November with my Sister Bethany.

I'm moving out of my parents house in the next few days and I have just been slapped in the face with this feeling of emotional bliss... Thankfulness... surreal gratitude?? My words can't completely describe this feeling. I feel like we go through hard ships and find ourselves on our knees asking God to provide, to take away our pain, to fix our problems. We really worship Him and ask all these things of Him but, when He actually does provide and we aren't "needing" his help, we don't give Him the praise or thanks. We almost forget about Him until we find ourselves needing his help again.

Not this time. I have this constant praise for Him. Without Him, I would have come out of those hard ships a completely different person. He's heard my cries, He's put me back together after I've been torn apart, He's been my rock. How can I not give him even just the simplest of thanks?

Here's a fun little recap of my last year:

Graduated Aveda Institute

Absolute wonderful job with the best bossman EVER!

Hudson Elek was born

Bought a car

Inez Leona was born

Learned that just because my best friend decided to move an hour and a half away from me, she is still always there for me and I'm incredibly happy that she talked me into doing this crazy blog which helps us stay connected.

Baby Stewie is on it's way and is due on my birthday 

I've been given the opportunity to plan/coordinate a fashion show with this amazing woman at work

New relationships with some pretty incredible people

And now I'm moving in with my Grandma and I'm so blessed to be able to spend some quality time with her.

Can't seem to thank Him enough!!

Blessed.

{L}

The Search for Simplicity

I have had a craving lately. It is from a time-era I have never been a part of. It's branching off of stories I have heard my grandma tell.

It's when life was simplistic. It's when families were together. It's when homemade was the only option. It's when frugal was the norm.

I have been drawn lately to movies that take place in the 50's and 60's. I love seeing these families portrayed the way they are. I am so sick of tv now where dramatic and disrespectful are on every channel. Where I regularly think, "can they say that on tv?" Life was once pure and humor was innocent. Men were taught to respect women, and women had more sense of worth. Chivalry was alive.

I want my son to grow up enjoying simplicity. I want him to read and play and get dirty. I want him to dig for worms. I want him to use his imagination. I don't want him to live in a completely electronically centered world. I want him to work and earn what he has. Not just live in this society where everyone is entitled. I want him to look up to and learn wisdom from his elders.

I love having the ability to create myself. I am addicted to making family dinner where we all sit together; I love making my house a home- I don't want to miss out on these labors of love.

There is something with laboring with your hands. You feel accomplished and there is pride in your work. This brings me to baking bread.

I have tried on and off for a couple years to make a good loaf of bread. I started with my bread machine and have ended up kneading with my hands.

I love kneading dough. I love putting strength into it. I love feeling the warmth under my palms and the inviting smell drift through my home. This work makes me feel like life is a little more simple. That I haven't lost where we came from. The everything branches from someone's hard work, and that even today, I can be a part of that.

This bread is really good. It's soft. It tastes good. It's easy. And I feel comfortable feeding it to my son with its simple ingredients. It fills my soul with the simplicity I crave. (Find the recipe Here)

May I never forget what simplicity looks like.

Birthday Recap

Can I just say how wonderfully amazing it was to be surrounded by wonderful people on my birthday? I felt so valued, so special, and so loved. I love where I am and the people that are in my life. Very content in this place.

 

 

I started my day by waking up to this. Didn't even know this was possible. 

 

 

Then, I came out of my bedroom and here is what I came out to. Wow, my husband blows me away.

Then late morning, someone rings the doorbell. I get a gorgeous bouquet from Lindsay, who is unable to be there.

Then, Hurricane Hudson helped me open my presents. Notice the crazy hair from the bananas he smashed in his hair prior to the gift opening. My mom joined us too - see her little slippers!

Oh, and a photo bomb by the right side of Kona's face.

I had lunch with family, and an amazing dinner with my outstanding Husband. What an amazing day.

Thank you to everyone who made it that way.