Bayou Accents GIVEAWAY!

I'm not sure why, but it took me forever to catch on to the elastic ribbon hair tie trend! But as soon as I saw one on Sarah's wrist, I was completely convinced that I needed to check these babies out.

This is where Bayou Accents comes into the picture. I was very pleased when I discovered this Etsy shop because of the adorable prints and colors available along with their affordable prices!

These are just a few of the colors and patterns offered!

Seriously- they're as cute as they are functional! And I don't know about you, but I always have a hair tie on my wrist.
Why not make it fashionable?

I was SO excited when my hair tie set came in the mail lets be honest, its because of the camo and I'm thrilled that Bayou Accents is offering one of my loverly readers (thats you!) a set of your choice!

Ok, so maybe I'm jumping on the Army boyfriend bandwagon a little bit by being obsessed with camo right now, but I also like to make it a game by dressing it up as much as I can. What do you think about my little "wrist party" combo?

Happy Friday everyone! Have a blessed and safe Labor Day weekend with your families and friends!


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Travel Tuesday- Washington DC Edition

Ever since I read every single one of the Dan Brown books (don't judge me) I've had my little heart set on visiting Washington DC. 

So much history! So much awesome. (two perfect reasons, right?)

I have yet to see all the sights/sites(?) (LIKE ABE LINCOLN)... so its a good thing that I'll be back at the end of September!

I'm not sure if this counts as sight-seeing, but our lovely friends/hosts took us to dinner at a Mexican restaurant at National Harbor and it was FANTASTIC. 

I was pretty skeptical about Mexican food in the DC area being from south Texas (tex-mex snob!)....so bravo Rosa Mexicano! I highly recommend a trip if you are visiting National Harbor.

Also, they have a Peeps store. 

this is not a photo of the peeps store

Now, I keep saying that I was in DC knowing very well that I was in Virginia and Maryland and wherever and that DC does NOT actually span the entire area- bare with me. 

We ACTUALLY went to DC because I wanted to be touristy, but let me tell you, parking is a nightmare!!! I got a little bit grumpy, but by the time we found a spot it was literally on the street directly in front of the Smithsonian (and free!!) and I was a happy happy camper.

The only part of the Smithsonian we had time to see was the Natural Science museum which was way cool. 

We made a beeline for the shiny things, of course...

I would impress you with my knowledge of rocks, but that would be boring via blog-land so I'll spare you.

Oh, and we saw the Hope diamond!!! Very cool. The picture however did Not turn out cool because of the glass and lights and reflections and well...its in a museum. 

I love museums.

The coolest "sightseeing" adventure for me was definitely visiting the Arlington National Cemetery.

I absolutely love history, and even would consider myself a history buff if it weren't for my inability to remember dates and names even if my life depended on it.... but the people, documents, patriotism, wars, love, families, events, memorials....they are all wrapped up in this place.

Little white stones as far as you can see in any direction...those are all somebody's someone that meant the world to them and everyone else in their lives and its just an overwhelming and humbling place to be if you let your mind wander. That was kind of a run on sentence.

Even more meaningful is how Drew's job fits into all of that history. It was one thing to 'know' what his job was, but it was an entirely different experience to witness in context.

Maybe I'll get him on here one day to tell you about it, because he describes it far better than I ever could. So I'll just leave you with this photo.

:)

I'm currently in Waco saying my goodbyes to the faculty and to Baylor...super sentimental! 

Happy beginning of school to my teacher/student friends and readers!

I hope you all have a great start to a wonderful and blessed year. 

One last question- Have you been to DC? Tell me something that I must see or do that I can add to my list for my next visit!!

Graduation!

Hello from Washington DC!

If I had yet to visit monuments I would post some touristy photos for you, but that won't be happening until later today :)

So more on DC later- it's been a wonderful trip so far, and tomorrow I get to take Drew back to Texas with me for a few days!

I GRADUATED!

It's not really a huge shocking ordeal, I mean, it was going to happen sooner or later...right?
Hah-well some days it didn't really seem like graduation day would actually come.

Final project completed, summer class aced, and oral exam passed- my time at Baylor has finally come to an end. (Although I'll actually be there for a few days next week.....but never mind.)

Seriously though, I can't say enough about my time at Baylor.

Like every dramatic and emotional "college kid" I can tell you that there were a few exam seasons and a couple concert cycles that I was pretty sure I wouldn't live through, but here I am on the other side of two degrees and I'm actually breathing still!

-insert dramatic Rocky running the steps with his arms in the air-

So this is a MEGA thank you to my family for supporting me financially and emotionally, to my friends and colleagues for understanding and journeying with me, and to the Baylor faculty for being THE BEST collective school of music faculty to exist. And I really mean that.

(If you ever have an questions about the Baylor SoM or faculty, not only will I answer you, but I will most likely go into full on enthusiastic recruit mode. Sic' em.)

Thank you Schubert family for entrusting your home and cat to me for the summer and for being gracious hosts as well!!

Thank you Dean May for giving me the opportunity to play at my graduation ceremony again :) Ken Starr told me that I was spectacular when he shook my hand and gave me my diploma. It was pretty cool.

So- I'm off to be touristy in DC with my handsome trumpet playing Army man :) Have a blessed week!!

<3

*I meant to post this MUCH earlier in the day, but I don't have my laptop and the silly app wouldn't let me SO thank you boyfriend for letting me borrow your computer. :) xo

More of the good stuff :)

Time for my favorite shiny gold button! 
Do you think people would still read my blog if my entire background was shiny gold?.....yeah you're right. But I'm totally feeling it right now.
Today I'm linking up with Stephanie and Sarah for "happies and crappies"- go check these girls out. <3 Seriously. 


happies
- I PASSED MY ORAL EXAM! Master of Music, Paige Brown, thank you!!!!! :) 
- I can now have conversations on the phone with Drew. Everyday. And if I send him a text message he can actually read it!! Glory Hallelujah, I love technology. 

This is me loving technology (please don't get mad at me for posting this....)

- There aren't any pictures to prove it (this happened last time as well...) but I got to grab a drink with Stephanie! We had so much fun chatting that her husband called at least twice to see when she was coming home ;) 

- Tomorrow morning I graduate from Baylor University (again), drive to home to Houston, and fly to DC where that (^) goofy man is! :) YAY

crappies

- Leaving Waco. I'm ready....but I really love this place. I love Baylor, the people, the town, the memories... its going to be bittersweet to say goodbye for good!!!

- Leaving my flute students. Don't. Like. I pour my whole heart into teaching and try my best to be invested, so saying goodbye to them and passing their little flute futures along to someone else is Not my favorite thing to do!!!

Next time you hear from me, I'll be in DC with my Army man :) My major project is over. I finished my second degree. I'm moving to England in 6 weeks!! so I think I can forget about any possible "crappies".....Happy Friday everyone!!!!

FINALLY

After 73 days of anticipation, finishing summer school, teaching at camps, being a part of one of my best friend's weddings, and letting myself cry over those "soldiers coming home" videos several times, I FINALLY got to go to Ft. Jackson to see Drew.

My parents and I drove about 15 hours to get there. I was supposed to be studying in the car (my degree oral exam is on Tuesday), but I pretty much just spent the whole time internally freaking out, talking to whoever I could, and going nuts on social media....so thanks for sticking with me through that ;)

SO, we arrived safely AND I even slept that night (kind of). Crazy, right?!

Excited about our hotel's recognition of the local Army base...but "lol" to "Congratulation"...apparently singular.

On the morning of "I GET TO SEE DREW," we met up with his wonderful momma (YAY!) and sat down on some soggy bleachers- with the hugest amount of nervous/anxious/excited butterflies I've ever experienced in my life, btw...

We started to see movement behind the trees and realized "BAH! THEY'RE BACK THERE!"

Lots of yellow smokey things were thrown and lots of booming happened (shown above) and then they CRANKED "Soldier" by Otherwise (never heard of them, but super cool song and incredibly effective) and all our Army boys/girls came charging through the trees and smoke into formation.

It. Was. Awesome.

*Drew later told me that there quite a few casualties in the stampeding process...not real casualties...you know. Kind of funny if you think about it. 
Poor guys were so excited!!

Luckily at this point they didn't have much to say before they let us all loose to mass chaotically find our loved ones. It probably took us 5 minutes to get out of the bleachers, but LET ME TELL YOU, those may have been the longest few minutes of my life!!!

Finally found him. Couldn't get to him. Maybe almost cried...but I didn't (so proud).

So we just stared at each other like this for a little while....

And finally. 

Good grief. 

Wait, what does your face look like again??

I think my face looked like this the whole day.

And then there was this. **Swoon.

Army can't take the goof out of him ;) 

We really had a wonderful day and a half. My parents met Drew's mom for the first time which was GREAT, Drew got coffee (he was very adamant about the coffee), and I got to meet Drew's new trumpet colleague and his wife (although we've actually been in correspondence all summer...whining, angsting, etc)!

But seriously, I really can't put into words how proud I am of Drew! Not only is he an incredible person and a ridiculously talented trumpet player, but now he's a soldier. A soldier that gets to play the trumpet for a living :) 

Now I get to count down the days until I graduate (if I pass my exam Tuesday....say a prayer or five for me) and fly to DC on Saturday!!!

Hope you all are having a wonderful weekend. If you're a new follower, please say hello so I can get to know you! And don't forget to enter the MEGA ad space giveaway going on :)

Don't forget to say hello!

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Dawn's Disaster MEGA Ad Space GIVEAWAY

Hey friends!! Special surprise today- Dawn's Disaster is hosting a MEGA ad space giveaway- a giveaway so huge that there will be THREE winners! 
Check it out, and check back with me in the next few days because I GET TO SEE DREW TOMORROW.
Can you believe I've been blogging for a year?  It seems like just yesterday I picked up my pen and paper computer and started to write for you {and me}.  Thank you SO much for helping me make a successful blog.  As a thank you to YOU, please use promo code THANK YOU and get 75% off The Hubs {in post} or The Big One {200x200} ads if you purchase it in August 2013 {extra entries into the giveaway if you purchase a paid ad space :)}. Now, on to the fun part!  Here are the fab-o ad spaces you can win:

450 x 100 the Hubs Package {in post} from Dawn's Disaster**200 x 200 Adult Frog from Mommy Blog Hoppers**250 x 250 Intriguing Confessions from Confessions of a Mommyaholic**228 x 90 Craft Supply Lover's from Sew Much Crafting**253 x253 Ad & Guest Post from Closet Intellectual**250 x 250 PB & Honey Sponsor from PB & Honey**200 x 200 The Big One from A Geek in Glasses**200 x 100 Medium Ad from The Life of a Wife**350 x 300 Big & Beautiful from Anyonita Nibbles**250 x 250 Top Spot from Forgetful Momma**150 x 150 Giggle Ad & Guest Post from The I Laughed

450 x 100 the Hubs Package {in post} from Dawn's Disaster**200 x 200 Adult Frog from Mommy Blog Hoppers**200 x 200 Spot Plus {2 months!} from Crafty Spices**300 x 300 Cabana Club from A Peek Into My Paradise**200 x 200 Large Ad from Not in Jersey**150 x 150 Affordable Spot from Squishable Baby**200 x 200 Large Ad from Pretty Little Inspirations**200 x 200 Gold Mine {2 months!} from Nugget on a Budget**200 x 100 Small Ad {4 months!} from Girl Booklet**300 x 150 Gold Ad from Serenity You**200 x 200 The Care Package from Jo My Gosh!**600 x 100 Front and Center from Sweet Silver Lining

450 x 100 the Hubs Package {in post} from Dawn's Disaster**200 x 200 Adult Frog from Mommy Blog Hoppers**200 x 200 Let's Have a Glass of Wine from Musings of a Mama**200 x 200 Super Fabulous Blogs from The Wandering Brain**300 x 300 Epic Sponsor from Epic Mommy Adventures**600 x 75 The Whole Enchilada from Mom's Test Kitchen**200 x 200 Flower Child Sponsor from Modern Hippie Momma**150 x 150 Reagan's Sponsor from Raising Reagan**200 x 200 Gold Mine from Nugget on a Budget**200 x 200 Full Ad from Handling With Grace**300 x 300 Platinum Ad from Serenity You**300 x 100 Mama's Spot from Juggling Act Mama**200 x 200 Cinderella Ad from Storybook Reality

Enter away and GOOD LUCK!

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It's HERE!!

Well friends,

I know I've been MIA without warning for quite some time. The last few weeks have been filled with intense project working, studying, and practicing. I'll probably continue doing that again for the next week.... But I'm taking a quick break from my silence to tell you that I'm currently on my way to South Carolina.

TO SEE DREW. Tomorrow :) 

After this day (his last day of training) he will be finished with BCT- Praise The Lord!!! 

To say that I'm proud and anxious and excited would be quite the understatement.... I don't know how to put my feelings into words at this point. We'll just say that tomorrow is joyously anticipated. 

More coming soon :) <3