It has been WAY too long! Lots of catching up!

I know it has been over a month since I last posted but I have been extremely busy for the past couple of weeks! I am going to attempt to catch up today so here goes:

At the beginning of April my sweet sisters and friends offered to get all of our friends and wedding party together to celebrate me and Jared's (I like to refer to him as handsome) long awaited engagement! Our friends Amanda and Blake offered to host at their house and we cooked out, played some pool, did some dancing, and soaked in the hot tub! It was so good to have everyone together and I seriously had the time of my life! I had not seen some of our friends in awhile so it was good to catch up! Thank you soo much Sarah, Caitlin, Jackie, Kelly, Amanda, and Blake!!!

Here is a picture of some of the girls:

Ok...Whats Next?!

The main reason why I have been so busy is because I have been on a mission to find a teaching job for the Fall! I have been to several job fairs and job fair interviews but so far I have not really heard anything back!

When I first graduated from college I was really not sure what I wanted to do with my life so I decided to get alternatively certified to teach elementary school! I was still not sure I wanted to do that but after getting my current job working for SMU teaching reading in Fort Worth I have realized that I really really want to teach! So lately I have really been concentrating on making sure that happens! I have been updating my resume and applying everywhere so please pray that I hear something soon!

I am not going to lie I have been really stressed out about this whole job situation! The main reason why I am stressed out about it is because Jared and I need to figure out where we are going to live when we get married! The main problem is since we don't know exactly where my job will be we cant start looking for a house! I know our wedding is still eight months away but if we are going to buy a house we will need to start looking and dealing with that sooner rather than later! So please keep me in your prayers!!

On a lighter note.....:)

This past weekend Handsome and I packed up for the weekend and went back to Stephenville for a Texas Country Music Festival! Besides the fact that I think I am getting too old to "camp" for three days we had a blast!!!! This year we got to stay in a camper so it was really not that bad! Jared's best friend, Jonathan and his wife Shelly came as well as my friend Jackie! Seriously I cannot tell you how much fun we had! It was really good to see lots of people from Stephenville that we had not seen in awhile plus listen to some GOOD music!

Please Excuse the hair in these pictures! It was soooo windy!

Me and Handsome:)

I saved the best for last!

About two weeks ago I was sitting in my car about to go into one of my schools when I heard the guy on the radio say " Caller number 20 wins a pair of GEORGE STRAIT tickets to his sold out concert at the NEW Cowboys stadium!" Yes people GEORGE STRAIT! and not just George but Reba McEntire will also be there!!! This concert sold out in an hour and I won two tickets! HA! I am sooo excited about this you have no idea! When I heard the radio DJ saying to call I immediately started calling! I seriously think I called about 30 times before it finally started ringing! I thought he was going to tell me that the concert was over and to quit calling but when he told me that I had won I told him to shut up! ha!

Well that is some of what is happening around here! I am sure I will think of some more things to update later! This weekend my very good friends Kelly and Joseph are getting married!!! I am sooo excited! Even though I was supposed to be about ten pounds lighter and ten shades darker by this time I think it is going to be a great weekend! I will be sure to put up some pictures when we get back!

Congratulations To The New Mr. and Mrs Montgomery!

So as of today at 3:00 pm two of my very very good friends after ten years of dating tied the knot!! They went to Jamaica at the beginning of the week for their weddingmoon and they got married at 4:00 their time! I wish I could have been their to celebrate with them but I know they are having a blast together!!!!

I know that today has been a LONG awaited day not only for Jackie and Shawn but for everyone that knows them! Jackie and Shawn are high school sweethearts that have been together since they were 15!! Can you believe that? I know they have a long happy life ahead of them and I wish them the very best!

To Jackie and Shawn, CONGRATULATIONS!! I love you both and I CANNOT wait to see pictures when you get back!!

P.S. I hope you remember to bring me back my hat with dreads!!:)

Spring Break!!

I have been on spring break all week and it has been fantastic!!! Usually I cant sleep past 8:30 or so on Saturdays and Sundays but I have been sleeping in until at least ten! It has been awesome! I guess you could say I am having a "staycation" because unfortunately I am not on an exotic tropical beach somewhere...but wouldn't that be awesome if I was?! I did get to do a

few fun things though!

We went to Austin for my good friend, Kelly's batchelorette party. It started off kind of hectic because when we got to the hotel they did not have our reservation and they were of course booked!! So we were frantic for about two hours because we were three hours from home and we were homeless. We finally got a hotel room and the celebrating started!! Kelly got a lot of good stuff for her soon to be hubby! I think he will like it all;)

I also went to Stephenville for a night to see some other good friends! It is so weird how much things have changed from when I lived there just a year ago! I don't know how its possible considering I am only 24 but I felt OLD! Some of those kids at Tarleton look like they are 12 years old!! No kidding! But I guess if you think about it they are probably my brothers age, which in a way makes me feel even older because I cant believe that boy is old enough to be in college. It seems like yesterday when we brought that little butterball home from the hospital in a limo, (yes a limo but he was the only boy in a family of five sisters I guess he deserved a little pampering) But now he is a full grown college coed as my dad would say!

Anyways back to the real world tomorrow. Oh how I will miss you spring break!

Until next year...

Recession Fashion-Looking Fab for Less!

Today on one of my very favorite blogs, Kellys Korner she was doing a post about recession fashion and looking fabulous for less! I thought I would join in on the fun! I am usually a Forever21 girl because you usually cannot beat the prices BUT my sister, who is a Fashion Merchandising major has shown me that you can go into more expensive stores and still get some awesome deals!! So here is my advice on looking fabulous for less:



** Go into a store and try the items that you like on to check for sizes and then go on the Internet and wait until that item goes on sale! As soon as you see it on sale go ahead and grab it since you already know how its going to fit! You can also go to http://www.retailmenot.com/ and usually find coupon codes for money off as well as free shipping!



** http://www.shopittome.com/ you can go here and register for alerts to be sent to your email when your favorite stores are having sales! That way you know when to go shop!! I also always register my email with my favorite stores and they will send you coupons through your email and snail mail! Example DSW sends me a $10 dollar off coupon every month or so! I Love love love coupons. Why pay retail right?!

Here are a few items that I really like and that are pretty cheap:

This shirt is from the gap. I have it and I love it! I love the girlie ruffles on the neck and sleeves. The color is great for spring and it is on sale right now for $21.99

Here is another also from the gap that is adorable and only $14.99:

Here is a dress VERY similar to one I bought last Friday (I could not find the actual picture) from Banana Republic for $29.99 Seriously People!!!I think it was originally $80.00 It is so cute on I love it!! (I am not sure how much the one in the picture is, but the one I bought is not quite as dressy so you can wear it with sandals or heels!! I think the material on my dress is a heavy cotton)



This is item is from a store called Francesca's(They have great prices) http://www.francescascollections.com/



This would look great with some black pumps for a night out or some cute flats for during the day!

Here is another:
This dress is only $34.98!


So these are some of my fab for less recession fashion picks! Make sure you check out Kelly's blog to get even more "fashion for less" tips!!!

Wedding Planning

I can't believe that Jared and I have already been engaged for three weeks! December 12 is going to be here before we know it!!! The day after we got engaged the first thing I did was go to Barnes and Noble and purchased some wedding magazines. I wasted no time and dove head first into the planning! So far, the date is Saturday, December 12, 2009.

The Church:


Denton Bible Church

Denton, Texas

The Reception Location:

Robson Ranch

Denton, Texas

I have also already gotten my dress, but I definitely can't put that picture up here! There is so much more to do it kind of seems overwhelming at times but right now since I have the most important things picked out I am just trying to enjoy being engaged! It would be a little easier to enjoy, if my new fiance (I feel weird calling him that:)) was here! He has been building a barn in Big Spring all week!

I am ready for this week to be over! We are heading to Austin for my good friend Kelly's bachelorette party! I am so excited I can not wait!!!

Engaged!!!!!

I have not been able to blog about the best day in my life because I wanted to wait until I found my camera cord so that I could upload a picture!!!!

Here's the story:

If you know me, you know that Valentines day is absolutely hands down my favorite day of the year. Who wouldn't love the day that is centered around three of my favorite things in the world: love, candy, and the color pink?! Well...three years ago Jared and I had been dating about 6 months and it was our first Valentines together. I was so excited I got him exactly what he wanted- a sledgehammer!! I even packed him this cute little Valentine bag filled with everything from candy to a travel size first aid kit!!! I could not wait to get off work so that we could go out to dinner to celebrate. He comes to my house (empty handed that is) and my roommate assures me that my gift or card is waiting for me in the car! So we go to the car, I open the door, Climb in, and yeah you guessed it...NOTHING! Then he says "If we had been dating longer I probably would have gotten you something.....Well I guess we have been dating for a pretty long time." (If you know Jared, you know all about his "cute" foot in mouth situations!:) I get over it, happy that at least I have a date for the night. We go to dinner, great food, great Marg! Then to top off this glorious LOVE day Jared takes me to HOME DEPOT!!!! How romantic right?!!! I will admit, I was very disappointed at the time, but now I think the whole story is funny and kind of endearing!!

So...this year I think Jared decided to make up for the past. Boy did he!! We went to stay downtown at the Hilton. When we first got there he gave me one wrapped package. (Keep in mind I was really really hoping for a ring) I opened the gift and it was perfume. A teensy tiny bit disappointed because it was not a ring, I thanked him and we left to go to dinner.

Dinner was good! We ended up having to wait for awhile because they were not taking reservations, but the steak and potatoes were worth it!!! After our 4 hour meal, we left and headed back to the hilton. Then Jared gave me ANOTHER wrapped package, so immediately my hopes shot back through the roof as I opened it. It was the adorable wine glasses that I told him I wanted weeks ago. By this time, Jared had definitely made up for our first Valentines!!! We drank some champagne, and I gave him his gift. I got him Vitamins! hahaha! Then he tells me he has another gift but I cant open it until he comes back from the restroom. While he is gone, I shake the package...its heavy...it cant be a ring. So he comes back and I start to open the package. I opened the gift and a glass jar filled with M&M's falls out. I said they were cute and thanked him when he asked what do the M&M's say. I read them. They said:

"Paige"

"I love You"

"Will You Marry me?"

So I turned around and he was on his knee with the most beautiful ring I have ever seen in my life!!!!! So we cried for a little, stared at the ring for awhile, and drank some more champagne. Then we called our parents and friends, and went back to staring at the ring!!!!

I think its safe to say, that Jared definitely made up for our first "Home depot Valentines"

What do you think?!

Sad...but VERY thankful!

Lately I have had a lot of things on my mind. I recently found this blog, (when I figure out how to link it I will) that makes me laugh, cry, smile, sob, and be truely, truely thankful for what I have. He is a single father, due to the fact that his wife died the DAY after she gave birth to their gorgeous daughter. His blog talks about everything that he is going through while in the process of healing from one of the most devastating things that could happen to a human being. At times it is very funny, and others very sad. But in the process of soaking it all in, I have realized that I have so much to be thankful for!

It is hard to realize that I take way too many things in my life for granted. While he is trying to deal with the unbearable heartbreak of loosing his spouse/best friend/mother of his daughter, I am here sitting on my couch with the most trivial concerns looming around my mind. When will my sister quit using/loosing all of my stuff?! When will I be tan enough to wear a brown dress?! Why cant I loose those ten "vanity" pounds? When will I be able to take my next vacation?! When will my boyfriend finally pop the question?!

As I sat here tonight, I realized that in the big scheme of things that none of those things mentioned above really matter whatsoever! I should not be annoyed my sister uses all my stuff, I should be thankful that I have her here in my life to annoy me everyday. And not just her, I also have my four other siblings, and very loving parents. A lot of people in this world do not have the "luxury" of being annoyed by their siblings stealing their stuff, and I have realized that is something that should never be taken for granted.

I find myself at least once a day asking myself this question: "When will Jared ask me to marry him?" then I usually roll my eyes and say, "never." (I know its bad) This is something that I am really really trying to work on. I should NOT be annoyed that we are not engaged yet, but should be very very thankful that he is in my life at all! Don't get me wrong he drives me nuts sometimes, but he is probably one of the best things that has happened to me in a long time. I find in Matt's blog he talks about memories that he had with his wife, that at the time he thought were so trivial and unimportant, but now that she is gone these are the moments that he wished he had stopped and enjoyed even if it was not something he particularly wanted to do. This really made me think. Instead of dreaming my future away, why not trying to enjoying every minute possible in the present that I have with Jared. Even though I have dreamed of the day of my engagement since I was a small girl, truth be told, I would wait til the end of time for him to pop the question as long as I got to be with him in the mean time.

In the blogworld, there are blogs filled with everything from sadness and desperation to happiness and pure bliss. But no matter what your circumstances are or hand that you are dealt in this big game of cards, we should all be thankful for what we have and who we have!