The New Place...No Longer a GYPSY!!!

Signing our lives away...our lease!!!

My Room

Bathroom

Lauren's Room

Our kitchen...a lot of entertaining will be happening here :).

The fireplace pretty much sold it for me!

Our View

Mother's Day at the Boster's

My sister, Brad and I hosted Mother's Day at their home this year.  It was a great experience to host our first holiday for the family!  I have definitely taken advantage of being a guest and I really appreciate all of the effort my mom and the other ladies in my life have put into the holidays!!!

We made my mom one of our family favorites...oven-baked pancakes.  They were delicious!

Sneak Peek

JAMIE | BRADLEY WEDDING

Spring Break

One fabulous perk of my new job is that I get an entire week off for Spring Break.  It has been a great time to catch up on last minute wedding preparations with my sister and mom.  I was  able to get out of the house and spend some time with family and friends and get caught up on...

well, LIFE!!!

We were able to taste at My Sweet and Saucy Shop and finalize the cake order!  The drawings turned out better than we expected and we cannot wait to see the final product (and taste it of course)!!! 

While we were there we picked up some Easter treats!

Over the last year and a half Brad's family set up a "Honeymoon Fund" (piggy bank) for Brad and Jamie.  Mark and Debbie have cleaned out their pockets and coin purses for a while now and have collected a fair amount of spending money for these two!  A lot of people are to thank for donating to the fund :).  We had the pleasure of watching them "break" into the jar and count their savings over Easter.

This week was my week to pick and I decided to go with Indie Night.  We had a lot of fun listening to different music, eating late night Alberto's, and passing out on the couch.  Thank you for having us over Corey and Tyler!!!  It is always a blast.

Jamie and Kelcie were able to make their final decisions on florals and sign contracts.  It is a bit overwhelming picking out arrangements and centerpieces but everything is coming together beautifully.  Alex does amazing work at Beverly Blossoms!

Last but not least, my temporary roommate turned 26 on Monday!  I had the pleasure of accompanying her and her family to Riptide Sushi in Mission Viejo.  It was a great time filled with SAKE BOMBS, Sapporo, sushi, and shots.  Happy Birthday Stacie!!!

Bon Jovi, Hungtington, and Newport

Lauren, Ashley and I FINALLY got to see our favorite 80s band live in concert about a month ago!  Bon Jovi was even better live and we had a fabulous time getting ready, taking crazy taxi rides, and singing along to our favorite songs.  Ashley got us a great deal at the Marriot and it was nice to be so close to the Honda Center.  I always have a wonderful time with these girls and cannot wait to spend many more fun times!!!

Huntington Beach with Lauren and Corey by day!!!

Newport Beach with Lauren and Vanessa by night!!!

March Madness

Starting work at 6:45am definitely has it's advantages...my drive to work every morning!!!

Whale Watching in Newport Beach.  The school I work for had the pleasure of enjoying free tickets to go whale watching at the beginning of the month.  A Christ-centered crew called the FIB'ers Christian Fishing Crew donated their services for the afternoon!

Gluing Party!

I am so happy to have these invitations sent off. They have dominated most of my free time for the last SEVERAL weekends between gluing, embossing, printing, etc. Basically, I have a love/hate relationship with them. I love the way they turned out but it was a painstaking process. Whoever thought that gluing close to 30 crystals on 100 invitations was a good idea was sorely mistaken!!! I must really love my sister.

Stacie, Kim, Tyler, Corey and I headed to The Derby (a piano dueling bar) for cocktails and 80s music a couple of weeks ago! We had a great time thinking of awesome 80s songs for Sofa King Sexy to cover.

Last week Tyler and Corey invited us for the B&B (BBQ and Bowling).  Corey BBQ'd steak, chicken, and bratwurst and it  was all very delicious!  We headed to Fountain Bowl in Fountain Valley for some late night bowling (10:00pm late for me anyways).  Good pick guys!!!

The Start of 2010

The last two months have been spent applying, interviewing (several times), and now working for Olive Crest! I work for a non-published school for emotionally disturbed children, a program within the company. God has given me a great opportunity to learn patience, kindness, and self-control. I am looking forward to what he has in store for me now and in the future within my professional life!

I am so happy to be working in Orange County again and to have the opportunity to stay with some of my closest friends and family.  The Bosters, Ryans, Fragas, and Stacie Hood are so good to me! Mondays are spent with the Bosters watching the Bachelor...Monday is the finale, be sure to tune in! 

Taco Tuesdays...Stacie, Tyler, Corey and I have found that no matter where you are it is always a good time!

 Throughout my last year of college I would go line dancing as often as I could and now that I am back in town it is time to get the tradition rolling again.  It is a great way to get some exercise while having an amazing time.  I suggest everyone try it at least once!  

Home Away From Home

I often find myself going to Brad and Jamie's to escape the business of the city! They have designated their guest bedroom as "Jen's Room" and I am so grateful to have such a calming place to retreat to. Their home has definitely become a place that I like to spend my spare time and it happens to be with two very important people in my life. I am so thankful to have such a warm and welcoming sister and almost brother-in-law. I love you guys and thank you for allowing your place to be my home away from home!!!

Sam has become my pal and Brad says I should be honored as she can be a brat! She is a great cat minus the middle of the night obstacle course she makes of the furniture in my room.

Fun decor Jamie and Brad have displayed...who knew they would both love the classics!

New Year's Resolutions

I am not usually one to make New Year's Resolutions because I believe if you have the desire to change something about yourself it should start with a willingness from the heart not because it is a new year/new start. However, I have a very good friend who made a New Year's resolution to change some aspects of her life a couple of years ago. She not only accomplished her goals but reached her full potential in many different areas. She has inspired me to do the same and I am motivated to reach my full potential as well!
A few years back I had the opportunity to attend a conference for young women at Harvest Christian Fellowship. At this conference we had many guest speakers discuss what is was to be Proverbs 31 women. The Holy Spirit did a wonderful work in me that day and I turned my life over to Christ. Beautiful in God's Eyes is a book by Elizabeth George; she has spent many years researching exactly what characteristics the woman in Proverbs 31:10-31 possesses. Each verse in this proverb discusses a woman's character, value, loyatly, contribution, mission, heart, provision, discipline, vision, work, confidence, diligence, mercy, preparation, handiwork, husband, industry, clothing, words, management, family, praise, faith, and reward; all of which comprise a woman who is beautiful in God's eyes. I am looking forward to not only completing this book but also implementing these lessons and instructions to my life.
I am CHOOSING to be a single, self sufficient woman.  This is MY year and I will be true to myself, and be satisfied with my life as the amazing woman I am!  A good, deserving man will only be the icing on the cake :o) and I will fulfill my life first and have a man because I want one, not 'need' one (Thanks Stacie...our year has only just begun).
Also, the theme song to my life in 2010 is Settlin' by Sugarland!  
I ain't settling for just getting by
I've had enough so so for the rest of my life
Tired of shooting too low, so raise the bar high
Just enough ain't enough this time
I ain't settling for anything less than everything, yeah
Listen, watch and enjoy!

Christmas

Christmas Eve was spent with my Mom's side of the family at our place! We had a wonderful time eating, drinking and being merry.

Christmas Day was spent with my sister's future in-laws. They have become an extra set of parents to me and I love spending time with them. One of my favorite "new" traditions is the BOX. Mongo and Debbie wrap a box in newspaper with coordinating pictures to match our personalities. This year I got a Prince Charming...still waiting on that one... Lisa, Jamie's coworker was able to spend the holidays with us and it was a pleasure to celebrate with her as well.