Two thousand and eleven.

The thought of a New Year's Eve post is a little terrifying. It has so much ground to cover and so much potential to reveal twords the coming year. I think my attempts would only turn up inadequate. I think the best way to go about this is to stay short and simple.

Was there pain in the last year? Of course, but was there joy? That's what I want to hear about. I don't think this life is about the darkness. It's about the light. The sun coming up each morning. But life is so much bigger than this world. I hope if you haven't found that in previous years, this year brings that to you. There's a season for all things in this lifetime. I hope through the next year you come to find understanding of all of the painful seasons of your past and learn that there's an up to every down, but even more importantly there's a bigger plan in motion that you or I can fathom.

This year's been so full for us. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. For the impressions you've left on us in the days of 2011. You have changed our lives. You have changed the world. Please don't forget the potenial you have. That life is about the choices you make.

Let 2012 be about living. About loving. Maybe instead of resolutions we should choose priorities. Does your life reflect the things that are important. Are you giving the things that matter, the things that are real the attention they deserve?

"For what it's worth: it's never too late or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be. There's no time limit, stop whenever you want. You can change or stay the same, there are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. And I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life you're proud of. If you find that you're not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again."

 --The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

      

We love you.

Happy New Year.

I found a quote today that I wanted to share:

Each morning, take time to imagine the person you want to be.

Beautiful, right?

I am understanding of the fact that I am so full of flaws. I think this quote is so inspiring and something I'd like to work on everyday. It changes everything about my day and everything about my life when I start each day spending time with Jesus. Crazy? Honest. We live in this world where we try something once and expect it to change out lives, how unrealistic are we? We give it one shot and then give up. You can change your life one baby step at a time but you aren't always going to notice a change after each baby step. Change takes time and it takes time for us to see change.

Let's try every morning to spend time in our bible. Maybe start one small verse at a time, one chapter at a time, whatever fits into your schedule, maybe just one pray at a time is where you're at. Take time each morning to imagine the person you want to be, what better way to do that than by studying the person we should be striving most to be like?

Dear Jesus, I'd like to say a prayer this morning for everyone whose eyes pass over this post. I pray that you will shake things up for them, that you will change their world. I pray that they choose to dedicate time each morning to you and I pray that they will be patient with the change about to take place and then that they will see the results. We know that you will fill those who hunger for you. Thank you for your promise. Thank you for your forgiveness. I love you. Amen.

Good luck lovers. Please share your goals and results. (:
Katie

Tangled Up In Me.

I'm about to pour my dreams out to you. I hope you're prepared to be supportive, encouraging and honest because I need you. I have real life plans to open a salon. I've been planning and hoping and waiting and stressing and most importantly praying. I've decided I will never be prepared mentally or financially for what I want to do with my life. I'm terrified. I'm ready to start.

Here's my crazy plan. I am going to open a non profit salon.

Ready for more? I'd like to offer all salon/spa services for free will donation.

Here are my thoughts. I first started doing hair because I like making people feel good about themselves. I think that's important and I think it's important for everyone to experience. I don't think people should have that taken away from them because they're unable to afford it. I understand that life can be a tangled mess.

I will collect information about what all of the other salons in town are charging and have the averages posted. I will have to charge for product on any chemical services (color, perm, etc.). But I'd like everything above that to be the clients call. I understand it's possible that people will take advantage of it but I think it's possible that just as many will not. I'd like to provide opportunities for those that can afford it to provide services for others. To help others untangle.

I have so many ideas that I'm not about to ramble about right now. I've been planning this for so long. I'm okay with it seeming ridiculous. I have faith in this.

My first step is to license my business. Before I can do that I have to decide on a name. So here are my two choices.

Tangled

OR

Tangled Grace [Because not all things start out Amazing.]

Please, vote it up! (:

More soon. Thank you.
Love you.

This our 50th post.

Erik and I are going to implement a no electronics night once a week. Or, we're going to give it a shot! Ha. Tonight will be our first night with no computer and no tv. Wish us luck and pray we both survive. ;)

We love you.

Silent Night.

Tonight I'm working on Christmas presents by light of my sewing maching and a night light. I have on my From the Inside Out (by Hillsong United) Pandora radio station. It's so majestic. I'm so at peace.

I'm so thankful for this sweet night.

I got a text today from someone that is so important to me that I haven't heard from in awhile.

Erik got word that he's going to have a phone conversation tonight that he's been waiting for.

Change is in the air for us. We're prepping for whatever it is that God has in store for us next.

This evening just feels so good and so right and I couldn't be more thankful.

We'll have news to share soon. I'm saying prayers that tonight will tug at your heart the way it has mine. I hope life's so sweet to you. I love you.

Forget skinny. Get healthy.

Wow! It's seriously already Friday? This week snuck away from me! I've been working on this post a little everday. It's kind of a tough and touchy subject so I wanted to get it right, but this morning I'm posting it imperfections and all! I'm sorry it took so long. I hope I get the right message across.

I am so heartbroken over the obsession with being thin. Seriously broken in half. Some people are so consumed by what they weigh, that they put all of their time and more importantly thought into losing weight, counting calories etc. On the contrary, I love that now more than ever our world is realizing that taking care of our bodies is important. It's becoming easier and easier to find inspiration to excercise or eat right. I had an instructor in cosmetology school who her whole life had been very thin and people would comment on that to her all of the time. "You're so skinny." "Do you ever eat?" You know the drill, and she would get upset about it and she explained to us, you would not walk up to someone and make comments on how fat they are. Which is true, you wouldn't. What makes it okay to comment on how skinny someone is?

It's funny that we don't see it that way, isn't it? Because so many people spend so much time wanting to lose weight, longing to be skinny. For the people that are born that way, it isn't their choice.

If you watch the biggest loser obviously the show is about losing weight, but do you see it's so much more than that? They're not starving themselves to lose weight. They're eating healthy, they're working out. They're getting strong. They're feeling good and they're dropping lbs.

Either way. So many people are focussing on what they weigh. I think health is so important. Not losing weight. Being healthy. Being healthy is so much more important than being thin. Being thin does not show that you're healthy or inshape. It's not about numbers on the scale. Muscles weighs more than fat. Working out isn't just going to make you look good. It's going to make you feel good. I think that's what it's about. Feeling good. Being healthy. Eating right. Exercise. I am not perfect at this by any means but trying is so worth it. I can really tell the difference in the way I look, in the way I feel when I eat right and work out.

My biggest pieces of healthy advice are going to sound a little crazy, but they make sense.

1. Drink water. Such a clique right? Do it! Some people that drink soda or coffee a lot don't realize that they don't drink water ever! This is a big step in getting healthy. If you need to start small start by adding one glass a day and work up. Water is SO important.
2. Look for whole grains. Pass on anything enriched or bleached. Whole grains. Nom, nom, nom. Noodles, breads, bagels, the works. It may not be the best tasting at first, but that is because you're used to the unhealthy. Once you get used to whole grains you won't go back. Nothing will satisfy you the way they do.
3. Avoid anything lite. I know you think, to be healthy you need to be fat free and lite everything. Wrong. Fat is what makes you feel satisfied. With out it you're going to continue to feel hungry. You want fat in your diet.
4. Avoid anything diet. Look for sugar on the label. In lite and diet they take out the fat and the sugar and replace them with substitutes. You want the real thing.

If you don't work out for whatever reason challenge yourself to something simple. Start with 10 push ups a day. You think I'm joking right? Try it! 10 push ups once a day. You will realize you can make a difference with something so little. I promise. At first it will start to get easier. You will feel a difference and then you will see a difference. When it's easier to do more, add on. It's as simple as that. Do something! Start somewhere!

I think that everyone has a weight that is right for their body. That your body is always going to take you to. I think eating healthy is about understanding what your body is telling you and listening to it. I think you should eat what you're craving, with in reason. I think your body will comunicate with you what it needs, listen to that. If you feel like your body is always telling you that you need dessert. Eliminate dessert from your diet for 10 days. That's it, 10 days will break you of the habit of eating sweets if you're doing it out of habit with out realizing it.

Please remember. It takes time to get unhealthy. It takes time to form bad habits. It's going to take time to get healthy. It's going to take time to form good habits. Don't give up on you. You're going to feel a difference before you see a difference. You're going to see a change before your friends do. Your friends are going to see your transformation before others notice. It will take time. Keep going.

We love you. Please love yourself. Be happy with yourself.

Opportunity.

Morning.

I heard some words this morning I'd like to ponder, keep in mind, and be reminded of often.

"Let me ask you something. If someone prays for patience, you think God gives them patience? Or does he give them the opportunity to be patient? If he prayed for courage, does God give him courage, or does he give him opportunities to be courageous? If someone prayed for the family to be closer, do you think God zaps them with warm fuzzy feelings, or does he give them opportunities to love each other?"

It's quite possible that when we're busy praying for blessing's God's busy creating opportunities for us that we're passing by, waiting for him to hand over what we've been asking for instead of working for it ourselves.

Be bold. Take advantage of opportunity.
#thismomentisanopportunity

We love you.

Thanks. Giving.

I keep typing and erasing, and typing and erasing because I don't feel like I have the words to make this post as meaningful as I hope for it to be. When I struggle in writing I find it's best to just lay it all out and then work with what you have, so I'm going to pass on the backspace button for awhile, I appoligize in advace for what comes out. ;)

Thanksgiving.

I love Thanksgiving. I am so thankful for Thanksgiving, for this holiday we get to spend celebrating with food, family, friends, football, parades and most importantly giving thanks. This one day a year that we spend appreciating all that we have. It's terribly sad, right? I love, love, love Thanksgiving, it is one of my favorite holidays (the other being the 4th of July). I love that they're holidays not based on gifts, but on beauty and thanks and giving. But please really think about this..

What if you woke up today with only the things you thanked God for yesterday?

The day after Thanksgiving we would all wake up with full homes and full bellies. What about the rest of the year? What about all of the other days? I hope that this day in your life is so full of thanksgiving, you find yourself celebrating it more than the holiday. But, I think that's what everyday should be about. It's heartbreaking that it is SO easy for us to forget what we have. Aren't we rediculous. We get so wrapped up in wanting things we don't have, we don't appreciate the things we do.

It's crazy the things we have right. What's even more crazy is we don't even realize it. I try to send up more prayers of thanks than anything else, but it's so easy to constantly want and ask for more. Do you have enough?

Erik and I took a look at what we have and I just wanted to share with you what we're celebrating today. Erik put stars next to the ones that are most important.

ERIK'S THANKFUL LIST
Popsicles
Smells
*God
TV/Movies
*Katie
*Family
*Friends
*Music
*Stability
*Home
*Job
Snacks
*Health
*College Football
Love Sac (I should probably do a post on this, it's like a jumbo bean bag.)
*4 Seasons
Color Green
Colors Orange and Blue
FOOD
Clothing
Heat
*Forgiveness

KATIE'S THANKFUL LIST
My Savior
The people in my life. (YOU)

• Erik
• Family
• Friends
• My Cross Country Team
• Our Church Family
• My Daycare Kids

Having a job that I love.
FOOD
Music
Books
Health
Safety
Freedom
Grey's Anatomy
One Tree Hill
Water
Chocolate
Outside

These are all big things that we love and care about, it's funny how easy it is to miss things though. Please spend a little bit of everyday being grateful for what you have. I hope you can find enough in what you have and be so thankful.

Please remember..

Everyday may not be good, but there is something good in everyday.

We are thankful for you.

WE LOVE YOU.

Happy Thanksgiving.

This weak.

One of my beautiful best friends miscarried her child this week. My godchild. <3 Please send love and prayers to her and the father. Pray for their strength, their peace, their healing and that their relationships, with the Lord and with each other, carry them through this. Together. They are two of my favorite people in the world. This week has been heart breaking.

Quick follow up. Jen, I will be so happy to have you as my first client! (: The moving sale was a bust, promise to get a hold of you and Bryan for the next one!

This has been an exhausting week, I'm very much looking forward to the long holiday weekend. Thanksgiving is my favorite. It will be the perfect opportunity for everyone to rest and recoup. What are you Thankful for?

Sweet Sale.

Yawn. Morning All.

HAPPY SATURDAY. And a happy, happy birthday to our sweet, sweet friend Ashley. We're sending up birthday prayers this morning because we can't be there to celebrate in VIRGINIA, prayers that she has the sweetest day and the sweetest year. Ashley, Devin and Crew hold a very special place in our hearts. We miss and love them SO much. Happy birthday doll.

We've been bumming this morning, we're just about to finish watching Love Happens then it's time for a MOVING SALE. I live for garage sales. I love them. There is a moving sale at 9 and then we're off to the church I went to growing up. The United Methodish Church in Sidney for their annual bazaar. They sell all sorts of goodies, crafts and lunch! Yum.

It's go time now, I'll report back to you when we get home. (:

Casual Friday.

I never, never, never, never, never wanted a job were I had to dress up and was stuck wearing anything other than exactly what I wanted or was comfortable in. I am happy with my place right now, but obviously substitute teaching is not my calling. The two days that I love enjoy to sub the most are:

1. Days when I am subbing for a gym teacher. Yup. SWEAT PANTS. I eat that up.

2. FRIDAY when I get to wear JEANS!

When I'm working all week I live for this day. I take that back. I live for coming home everyday after school and changing first thing into my sweats! But secondly I look forward to Friday all week because I get to dress casual! (:

I also very much enjoy when the schools host themed dress up days for events such as homecoming week. I feel more comfortable in my wacky Wednesday get-up than my profesional attire. Bleh.

It's just not my style.

SOMEDAY. I will own my own salon. (: I will be my own boss. And I will wear what I want to work, and I couldn't be more thrilled for that day. Until then it's building hunting for this girl!

The end. I love you.

Thankful for Thursday.

Maybe I'll start a weekly "What I'm thankful for this Thursday," kind of post. Maybe I won't. Ha.

BUT. Today, I am thankful for a good night's sleep. Not because I got one, but because sometimes we don't realize how valuable things are until we don't have them. We don't appreciate the things we have. I hope I can learn to be more appreciative of the things I do have. Getting a good night's sleep is something to be thankful for.

I'm thankful for you.
Katie.

This site is under construction.

Hola Lovers.

I've decided to revamp the blog. Obviously we're in need of change. I've come to the conclusion I either need to get on top of this blogging thing, or be a quitter. SO, I'm going to try, try, try to blog more. (: I'm clearly not fabulous at it by any means but I'm going to work on it. Any suggestions of what you would like to see here are very welcome. Please share. You are the reader and as much as this is about us, it is for you. And as much as this is about our lives, it really isn't about us. It's about our God. (John 3:30 He must become greater. I must become less.) This isn't about me or Erik. It's about you and love and life and beauty and Jesus.

Somedays when I consider taking a step back from this internet crazed world, from facebook, blogging pinterest etc. It's because I feel I'm so consumed with technology that it's taking away from things that are real. But everytime I remember the reality of it is, this is what our world is coming to, this isn't going to go away and this is where I can reach so many people. This is where I can share. My life. My love. My savior. Maybe this is getting a little mushy. But I want to be real, because that's what matters to me. You are what matters to me. I think I need to work a lot more on sharing the things that are real, the things that are happening, the things that are inspiring and the things that are beautiful. Also the things that are true. What else matters?

I love you.
Kate.

What would you like to see here? What would you like to hear from us?

Update to Lily's Game Day Tututorial. (:

Words don't even add to this. Erik's niece in her tutu. <3

LILY'SGAMEDAYTUTUtorial.

As promised here is my do-it-yourself-no-sew-tutu-tutorial. As per usual, it took longer than expected for me to get to this post. BUT, here it is. (: If there's any confusion or if there are any questions, let me know. P.S. Bare with me as this is my FIRST tutorial (and my first tutu)!

Supplies:
Tule
I used approximately 75 yards of tule, but it will all depend on the size and length of your tutu.
Embroidery Floss
You'll need one, what are they called (?) package of emroidery floss I used the same color as my tule, up to you!
Ribbon
1 yard of ribbon, I used white on my orange tutu, you could use any color.
Scissors
Ruler
Miscellaneous Item
To wrap tule around, two times the length you want the tutu. This will make more sense when you see the pictures.
Something Stable
To tie the end of the tutu to while you're working i.e. I used a chair.

Here we go. Seriously so simple. (:
To start I used this site (because I was clueless) to determine the length and waist size I wanted: http://www.perfectshowers.com/Tutu%20styles.php.

Decide what size and length you want your tutu. I found the above site to be helpful because it gives you examples of where the tutu will fit on your age child.

1. Cut the strips of tule TWO TIMES the length you want your tutu to be.

I decided I wanted my tutu to be 13 inches in length which means I would need to cut my tule 26 inches in length. I found my kleenex box (miscellaneous item to wrap tule around) was the perfect size. My friend Theresa, when showing me how to do this, used a ruler and a baking pan. Whatever is the right size for you. Also the picture shows you I alternated between orange tule and glittery orange tule, those are the different colors. WARNING. If you use glittery tule you are going to get glitter EVERYWHERE. Promise.

Start wrapping the tule around your miscellaneous item ;) I started the tule at the end of the box, that is the same end I will stop on and the same end I will cut on, so everything is cut at the same place.

If you don't use all of the tule (or if you do and it doesn't end in the right place) cut at the same place you started wrapping from.

Completely wrapped this is what it looked like and then you cut straight across the bottom. If you want to measure and cut each piece of tule individually, be my guest. (: But this is easy, quick and they all end up the same length.

2. Attach ribbon to end of embroidery floss.

Cut your ribbon in half so you have half for the begining and half for the end of the tutu. All of my videos I was holding the camera with one hand and trying to tie with the other, ha. SO. If I had trouble, that's why, but I think you catch the drift. You're going to use all of the embroidery floss, so unroll all of it then fold it in half. Attach the ribbon to the middle point. Tie like the video, then pull tight!

*I had trouble with my embroidery floss breaking, Theresa has made many tutus has never had that happen to her. It could have been I was tying tighter, or I bought mine from our small town craft store, maybe it was older so more brittle? I'm not sure, so if I were to make this again just to be safe I think I would double up on the embroidery floss OR at the very end sew a straight stitch all the way down the tutu with my sewing machine. I don't know if this is a problem you'll have or not but I would reccomend doubling the embroidery floss so your tutu's more durable.

Then tie the ribbon to your stable object. (: Obviously in the picture I have already started with the tule, at this point you won't have that.

3. Start tying on the tule!

It's important that you pick one side of your floss to keep straight and the other side to tie with. They will be long and tangle easily so the one I kept straight I just laid straight out and the side I planned to tie with I wrapped around something so I wouldn't have a big mess. I used one of the ends off of the tube my tule came on. You could use anything.

Here comes the main part of the project. Repeat this step, forever. ;) You're going to take a piece of your tule (again I alternated between to colors, so you can see on the floor in the background I have my two piles side by side) fold the tule in half AROUND the side of the floss you're going to keep STRAIGHT.

Slide the piece of tule all the way up to the top of the floss.

Cross over the straight floss with the tying floss. (I hope this is making sense.)

Bring the end of the tying floss under the straight floss and up through the hole in the middle. Pull tight. (: This really is simple, I wish I had a more simple way to explain it, all you're doing is tying a knot.

Here's a video of that, again, one-handed.

After you repeat this a lot, it's going to look like this. (:

Continue until the tutu is the length you want.

4. Attack ribbon to end.

I attached the end ribbon exactly like I was doing the tule. Folded it in half over the straight floss and tied it on with the tie side of the floss. To secure it I tied quite a few more knots there, I cut the extra floss off and then tied the white ribbon once in a knot to finish the tutu!

5. Dance. Twirl. Enjoy.

Yayy! You did it. Seriously so simple. Then to wear the tutu, you tie the white ribbons to each other in a bow like pictured below, which also allows you to adjust the size as needed. (:

Again. If you have any questions get in touch with me. I don't think I missed anything and (Erik's sister-in-law) Amber was SO excited about Lily's new tutu. If I get a picture I'll be sure to share.

A quick catch up. I made it through Homecoming week. We had the BEST weekend with Erik's family. It's always so good to spend time with them. My team ran AWESOME at divisionals and we leave for our state meet this THURSDAY! As of yesterday Erik and I have been together (dating) for TWO YEARS. Crazy. We really have a sweet life together.

WE LOVE YOU.

This Week.

This week's a busy one. I am not, not a public speaking fan. Repeat, not. This week is Sidney's Homecoming so as Cross Country coach I have to THREE TIMES. Three times in one week. So. If I make it through with out dying of anxiety, Erik's parents are coming to spend the weekend with us. We're SO excited for the weekend, we can't wait to spend time with Greg and Micki. We always love going to Idaho and love spending time with Erik's family and this is the first time they're coming to stay with us. We're thrilled! Buuuut, first we have to make it through the week. Bleh. Our time with them couldn't come at a more perfect time. It will be so nice to have them here. After the stress of SHS's Homecoming and the work put into prepping for company, it will be so great to just have a fun weekend!

SO. I just wanted to drop in and prep you. I'm making Erik's niece Lily a game day tutu. We bought her the CUTEST Boise State jersey and I've been working on the most fabulous orange tutu (ahh, I die) to go with it. SO CUTE. Either way. I plan to finish that this week, and get a post up about it and the how to's of DIY tutu making for a friend who's interested in making them for her wedding. I'm going to have to put our home updates on hold a little longer. (:

We love you. Wish me luck with the week! Bleh. So thankful I have the BEST weekend to look forward to. (: What's going on in your week?

Ready. Set. (:

Can you watch this with out smiling? I can't. (: I love. Just what I needed to kick off my day. I have so much to get done, Erik's family will be here to visit SO soon. If I get some down time from our updates around the house, I'll update you!

LOVE YOU.

Wishy Washy.

Good Morning Bloggers.

I've started a new morning tradition with myself. I just completed day two, so we'll see how long I stick with this. (: I've decided I absolutley need to get up every morning and do my dishes first thing right away. So far it's been the best idea. We don't have a dishwasher so we're really good at slacking. So. If I get up every morning and do them, then they won't consume our counter like they normally do! Ha.

I hope you're having the sweetest week. I'm so proud of my cross country team, and my legs. Ha. 7 miles last night at practice. Whoop. (:

WE LOVE YOU.

Success.

To laugh often and love much

To win the respect of intelligent people

and the affection of children

To earn the appreciation of honest critics

endure the betrayal of false friends

To appreciate beauty

To find the best in others

To leave the world a bit better

whether by a healthy child,

a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition

To know even one life has breathed easier

because you have lived.

This is to have succeeded.

[Often attributed to Elisabeth-Anne Anderson Stanley]





To Make You Feel My Love.

My first year at Williston State College my roomies and I would have the most fabulous No Electricity Nights. Seriously, SO GREAT. We would shut off all of the lights, light candles all over the room, we would use electricity to play music and then we'd just hang out. We'd chill or chat. Bond and dance. We seriously had the best times when we had no electricity nights, it was the b-e-s-t way to relax and destress. I love those nights so much. Tonight I heard Adele's version of To Make You Feel My Love and it just brought me back to those amazing nights with my roommates. I feel like it would be a perfect No Electricity song. Do yourself a favor, give yourself a break and try it. Dare you. Love you.

Fall back.

Good morning bloggers. (:

I am kind of procrastinating getting to my house work this morning so I figured it would be a perfect time to recap our summer, yes the past summer that we slacked terribly at blogging about. I'm going to see how much I can cram into one post for you with out being over whelming. I seriously just grabbed my calander off the wall, sat down on the couch and I'm ready to share.

Memorial day to Labor day, here we go! ;)

My best friend Rhea's wedding. Rhea's been my best friend since preschool. She's an only child so I've always just been a part of the family. I was the maid-of-honor in her pink, blue and green wedding. Here are a few photos.

Their wedding was Memorial day, the last weekend in May, bringing us into June. I have three daycare kids that occasionaly come stay with Erik and I. They're turkeys. (: They're so full of life and we love them. Here are a couple photos.

 

My birthday was the first week in June. Erik bought me a hammock for my birthday, idk that I have any photos I'll have to work on that. It's fabulous and I love it. (: We had an auction at my grandparents house, my dad's parents, they're both..isn't it funny how we use nice words to describe death, if I say they're both dead it sounds bad, but it's the truth so we try to fancy it up with deceased or passed away..either way, you get it. They no longer live in the same world I do. Maybe that's why dead is such a harsh word, because really it's dishonest. They aren't dead, they just aren't living here anymore. I'm happy with that conclusion. SO. We had an auction to sell all of their belongings and their home. It was a hard day for our family, full of bitter sweet and memories. I took so many photos but they're on my dads camera so I'll have to share another time. I think they had 40 shovels and 38 bikes and 24 sewing machines. Seriously, that's how they rolled it. They didn't have just one of anything, they had 13. My dad and I signed up for auction numbers, I think auctions are fabulous, like large garage sales, if you don't know I live for garage sales now you do. We always used to go to auctions with my dad when we were younger, he always asks for number 52, I chose 21. I remember the first time I got to bid for something at an auction there was this old box shaped like 2 dice (I know, more than one is die, but I want you to know what I'm talking about. Ha) with a flip up lid on the top in with a bunch of other things and my dad asked the auctioner if he'd sell the die seperate for me. You can do that if you just want one thing out of the box and just bid for it instead of everything else. They come out with a higher number and if nobody bids they go down. I was so excited when he came out with $10 I bid right away and my dad was upset I didn't wait for him to come down to $5. Ha, but I won it at that and to this day it's in my living room. Back to our summer. I bid and won on a couple old wash boards, a bunch of my grandma's crafty/sewing things which came in boxes with some odds and ends jewelry and things like that. I also wanted A sewing machine as in ONE but came home with three. Ha, I bid on one and when I won it the auctioner said Katie, take those two with it. Either way they're old and fabulous, I just need to get to work on them. When they sold the house it was a sad moment for our family. Such is life, 'eh?

Next. I did wedding hair for a friend of mine Amy. Her and her husband Paul got married at a summer camp they met counsling at. It was a perfect weekend. I LOVE CAMP. If you didn't go to summer camp, find a way to do it. Love, love, love. The night before we had a bond fire and did some star gazing, it was the best. The setting was beautiful! Here are some photos.

I'm for sure not giving the events of our summer the credit they deserve. But if I don't zoom through this I know I won't get them done. The following weekend I went to Denver with my parents for a wedding, the daughter of my parents' friends. I had a good trip with them. Colorado was beautiful. I got to see where I was born, the apartment I first lived in and the house we lived in before we moved to MT. It was fun to see my friends Melissa and Brandon who I've grown up with, my parents' friends' kids!

We spend the 4th of July in Worland, WY with our friends Bret and Emily Younts. They're friends of Erik's from high school and I'm SO glad we got to spend the holiday with them. We had the best time, we always enjoyed visiting Bret before their wedding and this was the first time we've been to visit them since they've been married and Emily moved in. I'm SO glad I got to spend the weekend getting to know Emily. I seriously adore her and I'm so glad we got the chance to get some together time in.

 

In July I also did hair for a wedding of two friends of mine from high school. Curtis and Heidy MacGrady. I did hair for the bride and most of the bridesmaids. The bride and groom didn't want to see each other pre-ceramony so he's not in this photo.

Our summer was seriously loaded with weddings. And FRIENDS. (: I know I've missed SO much this is all I have time for this morning, in my next post I'll try and update you on all of our in home projects.

LOVE YOU SO MUCH.