"We Run Circles, No Direction Do I See"

Title: Blue October - "Kangaroo Cry"

My, oh my, where has time gone?

Hi Bloggers, it's me, Vanessa.

Do you remember me? 

I'm just that girl who blogs a few times and then goes on hiatus more often than she doesn't.

I love blogging. 

But when I am blogging, I feel like I am constantly running out of things to say.

And when I'm not blogging, I miss it terribly.

This little space on the internet is my safe haven.  

I always see posts of bloggers expressing how they feel they can't truly express themselves for this, that, or the other reason.

Me? I've never felt that here.  

& that's what I love most.

My life right now, for many reasons that I hope to slowly get into, is chaotic to say the least.

Everything is changing and the feeling of being overwhelmed is a constant.

Unfortunately I think a lot of the chaos has been hanging out in my head.

So I'm coming back to blogging, because I think I need it.

I need my little space to purge all my thoughts and feelings.

About life. About the small event happening in under 200 days (!!!). About a song I am really loving or a book I lived in temporarily but can't seem to get over. About happiness and sadness.

About me.

The girl with the out of control curls, who is often seen in plain clothes, who wears glasses but hates them so she often takes them off in pictures.

Here I am, making my umpteenth return.

I've miss y'all dearly.

"The Screams All Sounds The Same. Hey!"

Title: Little Talks - Of Monsters and Men

Do you know how many movies there are in the world?

Yeah, me neither but I can guess that number is PRETTY big.

With the constant releasing of new movies, it is hard to keep up.

And inevitably, movies slip through the cracks.

And sometimes, those movies are classics.

And people find out.

And have a heart attack because you are missing out.

And according to people in my life?

I have missed quite a few.

Example A

Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs.

Growing up, I was not allowed to watch any movies or TV shows that involved magic.

But that's a post for another time.

So basically when I was allowed, I had to catch up on all the amazing movies Disney had to offer.

Sadly, I've still missed this one.

Example B

Elf.

Y'all, Vito & I were having dinner with two couples from church.

This movie was brought up and I said how we hadn't seen it and all 4 of their mouths dropped open.

You would have thought we just told them the world was ending.

We promised we'd watch this over the Christmas season so they'll still be friends with us.

Example C

Wayne's World.
My sister yells at me all the time since this is her favorite movie.
And she just can't believe that I haven't seen it, since I'm related.
Thankfully her love wins out so she hasn't disowned me.
Yet.

Example D

You've Got Mail
I admitted on Twitter this morning that I haven't seen this movie.
Response?
LOTS OF SHOUTY CAPS.

So I get it.
I'm missing out on a lot and I promise to remedy this.
So don't disown me.
I'll get right with God asap.

Now do tell.
What movies haven't you seen that cause crazy reactions from people?

{Wedding Talk} Countdown: 11 Months

Today is November 12th, 2012.

Probably to most of you, it seems like just another dumb Monday. 

Mostly, I agree.

Dumb, stupid Mondays always ruin my inevitably too-short weekend.

But today? I looked at the date on my phone at work and it hit me out of no where.

11 more months.

11 more months until our big day.

After this realization, I was instantly hit with two polarizing emotions that can be shown with two different questions that entered my mind.

11 MORE FLIPPING MONTHS?!

& 

ONLY 11 MORE MONTHS?!

First I thought 11 more flipping months.  How is this possible?! 

I JUST WANT TO BE MARRIED NOOOOOOOOOW.  

My impatience shinning through, such a beautiful sight. Vito & I have been together for over 7.5 years at this point.  We started dating in high school so rushing our relationship? Nah.  We never hurried to be engaged (Obviously, because the amount of "about time" comments we received when we announced our engagement made that clear).  We didn't see the point.  I chose him, he chose me,  We knew in the end we'd be together so why rush to spend oodles of money we din't have on a wedding.  We'd get there eventually.  That is not to say we were not or are not flipping excited to be husband and wife.  We are ecstatic.  I am. And now I am feeling slightly impatient because I just want our wedding to be here. I want to be married now and see how beautiful our day will be and how everything will turn out and what everything will look like and to call Vito my husband and be surrounded by everyone we love at the same time and...

I am so overly excited, it is causing my impatience to bleed through.  

And then the flip side of the coin.

I only have 11 months to pull this shindig together? 

We don't have a DJ or know what we will feed people or even come to a final decision as to who will be in our bridal party and I haven't lost the magical 50 lbs in the last month like I was wishing to lose before dress shopping and... The list goes on here too.  Wedding planning is a joyous job, but good Lord it is overwhelming and time consuming for a couple on a budget.  And there are SO many things to plan I would have never thought of before hand.  And I only have 11 months left to do it all? Time to change into my superwoman gear. 

But even after these two outlooks that first popped into my mind, thinking of our wedding day makes me giggle like a little school girl.  Someone at church last week said "This time next year, you guys will be married!" And we both stood there with stupid grins on our faces.  Because our wedding will be here before we know it and everything will be planned for and even if things go wrong, we will be married at the end of the day, 11 months from now, and that is what is most important!

Am I the only one who experiences two very different emotions surrounding one event or idea?

Fill in the Blank Friday {8} & Giveaway Winner Announced!

Today I'm going old school and linking up with Lauren for Fill in the Blank Friday!

1.  Something I swore I'd never do, but have ended up doing anyway is move into a place without a dishwasher.  We had one for a brief time in the middle of my childhood.  A few years and it died.  My least favorite chore is washing dishes so I always swore when Vito & I moved into our own place, it would have a dishwasher.  But the place we live in? No dishwasher other than Vito's two hands.  Bless that man for doing the dishes.

2.  Something I've always wanted to do is travel to different countries and stay for a month or so to really experience the culture, not just visit on vacation.

3.  Something I have absolutely no desire to ever do is   bungee jump or sky dive. No way. No day  << I agree with Lauren.  I love heights and all but that feeling you get in your stomach when you are on a roller coaster? I HATE it.  So bungee jumping and sky diving? No thanks.

4. The best thing I ever did was go on my first date with Vito. The rest is history.

5. When it comes to trying new things, I am usually in need of some coaxing.  I'm a pretty big chicken when it comes to anything that takes any guts.  Or even eating strange foods.  I love the idea of new experiences but sometimes I just need talked into it!

6. One thing I've never done is lived alone.  I went straight from living at home with my mom to living with Vito.  I admire people who live on their own but I could never.  I have way too vivid of an imagination coupled with a fear of people breaking into my home.  I'd never sleep!

7.  My favorite thing to do is spend a day on the beach with a good book in my hand, sun on my face, and hear nothing but the sound of the waves.

As for the giveaway from Tiny Prints, we have a winner!

Instead of using a website, I went old school and wrote all the names on post its and pulled!  

The winner is Brittany from Boots & Pearls!  

If you aren't already following her, get on that.

Congrats Brittany!

Thanks for all you lovely ladies who entered! 

Happy Friday!!!

It is that time again: Christmas Cards & a Surprise!

Today I placed an order for work that had an 8-10 week lead time.

10 weeks puts us at January 2nd.  

I'll just let that sink in for a second.

My order isn't going to arrive until after the holidays.

This is about the time every year where I realize how close the holidays are and how the end of the year is sneaking up on me.

Halloween is next week. 

Thanksgiving about 4 weeks.  

Christmas less than 9 weeks.

I may not have Halloween candy for the trick or treaters or have my Black Friday game plan mapped out yet, but let me tell you, in between wedding planning, I certainly have started prepping for Christmas!

I've started a skeleton list of people to buy for, amounts allotted to each person, and started drafting ideas.

Some presents have already been bought.

And Christmas cards? 

Y'all, I have been looking at the different options for a month now.

I love sending out Christmas cards to my family, friends, and bloggy friends!

Last year, we ordered our Christmas Photo Cards through Tiny Prints.

And honestly, we could not have been happier with our cards.

They offer so many different and awesome designs and shapes of cards to choose from.

The quality of the finished card was flawless.

And the customer service has been great.
Fast responses, helpful, and always nice.
The way customer service should be!

I will be upfront with the problem we had with our Christmas cards.

There was just too many to choose from.  

Just look at some of these gems I found that I'm already in love with.

How cute is this ornament shaped card?

I adore this font.

I am loving the trifold design!

It was a long and intense process picking just the right card that we both loved.

But it was worth every moment and we are willing to subject ourselves to it again.  

I suggest you head over to Tiny Prints and check out the many different designs.  

I am certain you will find a whole bunch you will love too.

(I won't even tell you how many I already have favorited...)

While you are there, make sure to check out all the special offers they have going on right now.

Besides their website, you can find them all over social media!

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

Instagram: Tiny Prints

Google +

Blog

Now, the REALLY exciting part!

Because Tiny Prints is so awesome, they are letting me host my very first giveaway!

One of you lovely followers will win $50.00 off your order.
(does not include shipping & cannot be combined with any other promos)

All you have to do is comment on this post and include two things:

tell me your favorite Christmas card design
and please include your email address.

Easy peasy!
The last day to enter the giveaway is November 1st.
***Giveaway is closed!***

This post is sponsored by Tiny Prints but all the opinions stated above are 100% my own.

"Cuz I Know That Time Has Numbered My Days"

Title: Mumford & Sons - Babel

My Weekend in Numbers

3

The number of pumpkin related items I ate at the pumpkin fest on Saturday.  3. ONLY 3! At an entire festival, I saw less than 10 pumpkin food options.  How is that even possible!? I'm still upset.  But the pumpkin funnel cake, pumpkin whoopie pie, and pumpkin bread helped.

2

 The number of pounds I've lost since last Monday.  

1

The number of albums I've had on repeat (since the beginning of last week). 

Mumford & Sons.

6

 The number of loads of laundry I washed and put away yesterday.

7

 The number of Fringe episodes I watched over the weekend.  That show has sucked me in & I'm only on the second season! 

153

  (Approximately) The number of tears I cried last night as Vito read 3 chapters of The Fault In Our Stars out loud.  We are getting close to the end. SOB.

1

 The number of times I cooked over the weekend.  Chili. Mmmmm.

54 

The High temperature yesterday.

17

  (Approximately)  The number of times I wished it were Summer yesterday.

1

 The number of books I finished over the weekend.  Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson.  Such a powerful book.

3

 The number of days over the weekend I wore Halloween-themed socks.

1

 The number of pictures I took over the weekend.

5

 The number of days I am counting down until the next weekend!

How was your weekend?

"When In Doubt, Go To The Library."

Title: Quote from Harry Potter & The Chamber of Secrets

At the age of 25, one of my most favorite past times is reading.  I love to read books and get wrapped up in a different world.

Younger me? She would scoff at me now. I grew up not being a big reader.  I would rather play.  Barbie and Ken needed to head off to work.  And I needed to perform my next big concert to my stuffed animal audience.  Don't forget the multiple viewings of Shirley Temple movies.  I wanted to use my imagination and I didn't see how sitting still with a paperback book was going to let me use my sense of imagination that I had loved.  My mother? Now that woman reads and I never understood then.  She could (and still does!) devour an entire book in one sitting. 

As I grew older, I still didn't understand.  I was a teenager who was wrapped up in friends and boys and invariably spending the time I wasn't with said friends or boys, on the phone with said friends or said boys.  8 hours in school with these people was not enough time.  We needed to come home and spend the evening on the phone.  I still remember how excited I was when I was able to talk on the phone AND be on the internet, chatting on AIM.  It was revolutionary. (25 year old me laughs that my niece will never know a time where you had to dial up to the internet.)  Being wrapped up in this social world left no time for reading.  Hell, I couldn't sit down long enough to do readings for school.  I'd read a few books here and there.  I did enjoy them. But there were things I'd rather do. 

Things changed after I graduated high school.  

I had a boy that I loved who went away for school 1000 miles away.  

And my heart hurt.  

And I was lonely.

Long distance sucks.  

When I was home one day, I noticed Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone was playing on TV.  Up until this point, I had avoided it.  I remember in middle school when they banned the 4th grade teacher from reading the book to her class.  If it was banned, it must not be good right? So I watched the movie.  

And I was entranced in this other world.  

And I wanted to watch it again.  

And I needed more.

So I bought the first book.  

And I tore through it.

And the next,

And the next. 

... 

And I had gotten lost in a world that was beautiful and magical.

It was exactly what my lonely heart needed.

A place to escape and forget.

And then the unthinkable happened.  

HP7 was released on my niece's 4th birthday.  So after celebrations, I ran straight to the book store to pick up my reserved copy. I went home, plopped on the couch and I did not move until I was finished.  I tore through that entire book. 

In. One. Sitting.  

This was the first time, but I promise it was not the last.

 And I understood my mom a little more.  Reading could be so much more than I thought it would.  My imagination, which I once thought would be dulled by books, would actually make books that much more incredible.   

I may have been late to the fandom but Harry Potter changed my life.  

It filled the void I had in my life while Vito was away for nearly 10 months.  

And it made me realize that reading is, in fact, one of the greatest joys in life.  

So tell me your thoughts on reading.

Have you always loved it or did it take you awhile, like me, to realize what you were missing out on?
Also, unrelated but I redid my blog look. Thoughts?