Mr. and Mrs. Brooks

I got married last Friday!! It was low-key and stress-free and so beautiful and so very us; I couldn't have asked for it to go any better. We spent 4 perfect days at home with Allie and then have had the time of our lives in New Orleans for the past 5 days. I can't wait to share more information and pics about everything soon, but for now here's a few of my favorite shots from the wedding.

Finish This...Week VIII

Finish This... linkup with Nicole ~Three 31~, Jen ~The Arizona Russums~, Lisa ~COASTLINED~,  and Becky ~The Java Mama~

1. When I need help with life’s mysteries, I turn to- My soon-to-be (2 days!) husband, most of the time. He's proven to be very wise about many things, and he's such a problem-solver that he usually has some solution to whatever I'm worried about, or at least can easily turn my mood around and give me different perspective on the whole thing. If Bruce isn't available, I usually sound thoughts and ideas off  my mom and always, always, pray about things! 

2. My next challenge is figuring out-Exactly how this whole situation of Allie, Bruce and I living together in our new home will look. I wouldn't exactly call it a challenge, as I'm sure it's going to be fantastic. But, it's going to be a change getting settled into a hopefully smooth rhythm of everyday life; albeit a very exciting one!

3. I shake things up-I don't really feel the need to shake things up a whole lot. lol The past few years my life has been in total upheaval, what with the horrible marriage problems, divorce, Daddy's new girlfriend (not necessarily in that order), meeting Bruce, falling in love, Allie being an unpredictable wild child, remodeling a house, planning a wedding....Being with Bruce has been a whirlwind of trying and doing new things--I went tent camping for the first time and we  traveled to two new cities last summer--every day is pretty much a new and exciting day. I do love trying new recipes though, I try to do that as often as I can!

4. High heels are-Really fun every once in awhile. I say heels, although I very rarely actually wear true heels. I do have a kick-butt pair of red Jessica Simpson pumps for the wedding that I'm so in love with, and a black pair Bruce loves that I've worn maybe twice since I've known him, but mostly in the summer I will dress up and wear wedges to go out to dinner. I have brown wedges and black wedges and gold wedges right now. I'm pretty short and not as thin as I would like, so I love the way heels make me feel. I wish they were more comfortable so I could wear them more often! lol But alas, they are not.  

Trendy Tot Tuesday

Trendy Tot Tuesday is here again, and sharing some of my favorites of Allie's outfits this past week...

 Allie loves this grey cardigan thing with her sparkly elephant shirt; she gets so excited to wear it. These skinny Levi's too....such a great investment as she gets a TON of wear out of these. I love it and hate it because it makes her look so grown-up!

Her St. Patrick's Day outfit...I helped organize the St. Patty's Day/Green party at her school yesterday, but forgot to secure anything green for her to wear to it. =( Of course the child doesn't own a single green thing at all....So these leggings with the green strip and green bows in her pigtails (which we love!) were the best I could do. Any day she gets to wear her favorite pink boots is a good day though. 

Black leggings, striped tunic, and black sparkly boots (again....$9 last year at a Goody's end-of-season sale and as you can tell, girl has worn these shoes to death!) was today's attire. Comfy and cute. 

Gymnastics and Best Friends

Allie takes preschool gymnastics one night a week at our local Cheer and Gymnastics Academy though Park and Rec. She seems to really enjoy it and it's a great outlet for her boundless less; also, she's really pretty good at it. The gym has an annual jamboree each spring to showcase the kid's talent to their families, and that happened Saturday morning. Allie loved having everyone there to support her and she did such an awesome job! 

**Mommy's highlight of the day was when I walked over to the edge of the mat and crouched down to take a pic of Allie doing her beam routing, and she yells "Mommy!" runs over to throw her arms around me in a big hug before performing. =) Oh, be still my heart....

A photo recap...

These two.... <3

Nana and Papaw

Allie and Kyleigh, one of my best friend's from high school's daughter

Speaking of best friends, mine are amazing. I'm so blessed that after over 20 years, we all still get together and hang out. Saturday night my best friend hosted a lingerie shower/bachelorette event at her house  about an hour away from our hometown for me. All my other best friends came and we ate and drank and then went out downtown and danced and had the most wonderful time. I know that it's rare to have these types of friendships, and although we're all busy with work, kids, husbands and life, it means so much that we try to stay in touch, and even if we don't talk for a little while, when we do it's like nothing has changed. They know me better than anyone, and I love them so.

Finish This...Week VII

I'm a day late again as I was battling a near fatal sinus infection and bronchitis yesterday, but thanks to antibiotics and steroids, I'm on the mend! 

Another week of Finish This... with Nicole ~Three 31~, Jen ~The Arizona Russums~ , Lisa ~COASTLINED~ and Becky ~The Java Mama~. 

My boobs are- Fairly new to me. I have had very large breasts for most of my life, and I've never been crazy about them. Shopping for a bra, bathing suit, formal dress, even sometimes tops, was a complete act of Congress. I had back pain all throughout high school. But I made do.  However, after giving birth to my daughter, and  gaining lots of weight, they were ginormous! I had trouble finding anything that fit, and my back hurt so much. Having a breast reduction was something I'd always tossed around in my head, but I'd always said I wanted to wait til I had all my children beforehand. Then, I got divorced, and while I definitely still wanted more children, it became something that was at an indefinite point in the future. So I moved forward with breast reduction plans. I got a recommendation for a plastic surgeon from my OB/GYN, did some of my own research and I scheduled a consult with him. He was wonderful.  My mom, best friend, and I spent hours pouring over before and after shots of surgeries. On June 3rd of this year, I had my surgery, and while I did have a few complications from a benign tumor (Thank goodness! My doctor told my parents he initially thought it was cancerous!) and blood pooling up internally that involved several additional doctor visits, I am 100% pleased with my decision. I still have a 36D, so they're not tiny by any means, just much smaller than they were. Also, they're perky and well-shaped and I can wear any type of shirt that I want. I have never been able to wear a strapless dress in my life until now. The scars are not ideal, but I've made me peace with them and are worth what I get in exchange. I would do it all again in a heartbeat. I feel more confident about them than I ever have in my life, and I actually like my boobs for the first time in my life. 

Before, April 2013 (and this bra/dress actually makes my old boobs
look much perkier than they actually were)

After, June 2013

My heart is-So full of love for Bruce and for Allie that it's nearly bursting every day. It's content and happy and at peace for the first time, for real, maybe in forever. 

One thing every woman should know-How to budget and manage her money and take care of her financial life. I've never been especially good at all of this, but I'm learning now, and it makes me feel very empowered. Also, how to cook a few really awesome meals for her family or just friends, and how to walk in really sexy heels.....

My breakfast typically consists of-a couple of egg muffins: eggs, whisked; shredded cheese; and cooked turkey sausage--all poured into muffin tins and baked for about 20 min or so (I'm not sure, I never really keep up with the time, just until they "look" done.) If we don't have these made for the week, then I usually just grab a Fiber One bar on my way out the door. 

I’m so glad I learned the secret to-I don't really know the secret to anything. I don't claim to know all the answers to anything. I'm still figuring everything out, from loving myself to behind a strong woman, to being a wonderful wife, to be being a great mother. I learn something new about myself and my strengths or weaknesses in each of those roles, and I'm always trying to get better everyday. I think that's the secret to being great.

Trendy Tot Tuesday

I love dressing Allie, and in the chaos of our lives right now, I've forgotten how much I love planning her adorable little outfits. I found this Trendy Tot linkup through fellow blogger Holly ~Raising Blondes with Redhead Attitude~ and I thought it'd be fun to share some of her outfits in the upcoming weeks. 

This was her attire for my best friend's son's 1st birthday party on Saturday. Can I just say, I love her little Chucks!?! Aunt Samantha bought those for her birthday in October, and she wears them all the time. She especially loves when me, her, and Bruce all wear ours at the same time! The skinny jeans are Levi's and a Christmas gift from Nana, and I think the top was a birthday gift as well! 

11 days and counting...

I'm getting married in 11 days...and the house into which Bruce and I are supposed to move looks like it's been hit by a hurricane. I'm not kidding. 

Barely a month ago, right after we'd gotten engaged and decided we were moving, a major remodel began. New paint and trim throughout the house, hardwood floors in our bedroom, new carpet in Allie's, a chalkboard wall in Allie's room. Thanks to generous donations of supplies and equipment from his former house-remodeler stepfather and the mad painting skills of my mother, the house is going to look wonderful. Over the next couple of months, we'll be making lost of other updates, but this is all stuff we hope to have done before we move in....in 11 days. 

We've worked all weekend, nonstop. Well, Bruce has. I did break for a couple hours on Saturday to take Allie to my best friend's son's birthday party, but got right back at it. We've gotten a lot accomplished, but there is still soooo much to do. 

Currently, our home looks like this...

The living room, holding all the freshly painted trim

Our bedroom, awaiting hardwood flooring

Our bathroom, in the very beginning stage of painting
(the new paint is that lovely grey color)

I have faith we will get everything done, but boy will I be glad once we do!

Laissez les Bons Temps Rouler

(That means "Let the good times roll" in French...) 

In honor of Fat Tuesday and mine and Bruce's honeymoon in New Orleans, my wonderful coworkers got together and threw me a party to celebrate my engagement and upcoming wedding yesterday. 

I know, I know, Fat Tuesday was well, Tuesday, and yesterday was Wednesday, so we were a day late. But our students are released at 2 pm on Wednesdays, so that day was better! 

I work in the library at the end of the school, so it's not all that often I get to see a lot of my coworkers. Plus, it was so thoughtful of them all to give up some of their planning time to come celebrate me! There was punch (Baptist champagne!) and  cupcakes and chocolate-covered strawberries and this amazing cheeseball/dip type thing that I'm determined to recreate. 

I'm getting so very excited about the wedding, and we've just about got all the planning wrapped up. We still have a ton of things to do in our house, but it's all coming right along. 

15 days and counting... =) 

Here are some pics from the celebration yesterday!

Mrs. Stephens & Mrs. Stansberry, who handled all
the planning for my awesome party!

Finish This...Week VI

A new week of the Finish this... linkup with Nicole ~Three 31~, Jen ~The Arizona Russums~, Lisa ~COASTLINED~, and Becky ~The Java Mama~. 

My favorite comfort food is--I don't really know how you choose one...I pretty much use all of my favorite foods as comfort foods...I'm an emotional eater. Which is why I've always struggled with being really fit. My favorite foods, and thus those that make me feel the most comforted, are fried rice (my grandpa has made this for all major holidays my whole life and it's a family favorite) or chocolate oatmeal cookies (the no bake kind, my mom has made these all throughout my life). 

My most memorable birthday was--This past June I turned 28 and it was a totally awesome birthday. I had undergone breast reduction surgery the week before, so I hadn't been doing much. Bruce and I hadn't been dating really long, but on the night of my birthday he came over for dinner and met my family and my daughter for the first time. Then, a couple days later, that weekend, a few of my friends organized an outing with all of my best friends, and Bruce came and met them and celebrated. We all had the best time. 

Our first picture together-@ Grumpy's for my 28th birthday

The best karaoke song is-I don't know, I don't sing karaoke-ever. Reason why---I was belting out "Let it go" by Idina Menzel from the Frozen soundtrack, and Allie calls out "Mommy! Will you please stop singing that song?! 'Cause I like the way that SHE sings it!" 

Boots make me feel-sexy and badass, like I could conquer the world just with a great pair of cowboy boots. They also make me feel giddy happy whenever I see Allie wearing her pink "cowgirl boots" she loves so much! I guess maybe they make her feel the same way about herself as mine do me? 

My favorite boots and my favorite man 

Allie loving on her kitten, wearing her boots

I am grateful-For so many things that I know I don't deserve, but mostly my precious daughter and the amazing man who is helping me make my life everything I always wanted it to be.