Coffee CubBuster

If you haven't already heard..... I have the absolute honor of becoming part of the other 2.5 million (actual stat) Smiths in America!!!! My last day of being 25 was one of the best days of my entire life.  God blessed me with my first gorgeous sunrise. Yes, I have never in my life watched a sunrise. Before you call me a lazy college bum, know that I've been awake  before Mr. Sun says good morning many a time, but I've never before gone somewhere to actually watch it peak slowly above the Earth's horizon. It was an actual miracle to see the day begin with such a brilliant work of art. Then, to my unbelievable surprise Matthew presented me with one of the most amazing gifts a girl could receive that early in the morning-- a cup of coffee!  Oh and also an engagement ring. Things were a little hazy and dream-like, but I know there was a beautiful letter, God's beautiful word, and some insane women who like to jog at the crack of dawn and were the first people to kn...

Okay, have you ever had a really good idea for a menu or a theme party? You get really excited and start naming off all the things you could have that somehow relate to one another. Then, somehow you go from a simple 3 course autumn dinner to a Halloween, haunted-house extravaganza? Well,  I think that may have happened at Hillcrest Orchards . Don't get me wrong, it was FANTASTIC, but a little more than the eyes could handle in one day. Let me start by saying their idea to have a "U Pick" apple orchard was perfect! Which was what Matthew and I set out to experience. It's just all the add-ons (bungy jumping, mini-tractor races, hay rides, folk dances, cow-milking, homemade museums of history) that made it a little overwhelming! Yes, I did say cow-milking, and YES buttercup and I got real close, real quick! Aw..... who am I kidding, I was like a kid in a candy store! I loved Hillcrest, and I got all the fresh-picked multicolored precious fruits, "I milked Butterc...

IT'S FINALLY HERE!!!!!  But wait...... it doesn't really feel like it yet...... NO MATTER! It just means that it will feel like it any day now. I am confident of that. It's kind of like decorating the house for Christmas a month in advance. The anticipation, preparation, and continuous celebration makes the big event last longer. The entire time leading up to it is the best part because you know it won't be over for a little while. I hope fall lasts much longer than a little while! I haven't let myself order a pumpkin spice latte except for the one night it was 54 degrees outside. That seemed to be the only logical and appropriate time. I'm holding out for the upcoming cool days because you truly can't appreciate a pumpkin spice latte without some crisp autumn-smelling air. Yes- there is such a thing as autumn-smelling air. Trust Me! It's better than apple-pie smelling air! My friend Heather Caraway has a great blog (her life is much more exciting th...

Jeff and Amy had a beautiful, simple, intimate and elegant wedding this past weekend in Corillon Beach, FL. Now T, before you get upset, its right next to good ole' Panama City, and we just drove up late Friday night and came back early Sunday morning! :) It was a really quick trip, but I'm so happy for the two of them, and Matthew and I felt blessed to be include on their special day. As they enjoy their honeymoon in St. Lucia, I will enjoy my fall break from Simpson Middle and get ahead on some graduate work! Is it fall yet!?!? The perfect alter I can't imagine what Jeff is thinking at this moment... Man I would kill for a hamburger right about now! She locked arms with her daddy, and they were oh so cute! Amy was beaming! And two become one... How gorgeous is this setting! God was just shining down. The quaint and peaceful view at the reception. You better believe I cut a rug, or a square hardwood floor. In case you can't tell (since m...

Matthew and I got to (finally) congratulate the two hottest people east of the Mississippi on their (not so new) engagement this past Sunday! Yes, these two gorgeous people will be making even more gorgeous babies one day. I've already called dibs on baby number one so don't even try it! My college roomie Tionya "T" and her fiance Roswell  will be tying the knot in November in the beautiful Virgin Islands, and sadly I won't be able to see them exchange vows of love. Although when we met for lunch in downtown Duluth (really quaint restaurant-- Park Cafe ) you could tell within seconds how much love they have between them. I'm so blessed to have their love and friendship! Can't wait to celebrate when they get back from the tropics! Yall better where that sunscreen-- T --you know you are tan enough give it a rest ! I'm still trying to catch up with you and have perfect skin ! I also made some really awesome homemade granola this weekend. I've tried...

That's right kids..... 14 days to go before the best day of the whole year!!! Not sure what the heck I'm talking about?  Maybe this will help...... The best part is that I don't celebrate for just that one day! It's already starting, and it's only going to keep getting better!!! Ahhhh!!!!! It's enough to make me jump out of my skin! I hope you enjoy it as much as me! ~FallBuster

So the past week of being a silly and stern 7th grade Language Arts Co-Teacher by day and a smart sophisticated graduate student by night has been quite a whirlwind. What did I get myself into? I was actually thinking about quitting the whole sha-bang all together when one of my students told me a sweet story she was writing for her personal narrative and then gave me a hug afterward. I think she took my heart with her when she got up from the tiny classroom chair. So now I'm thinking I couldn't possibly leave until I learn how to get it back. Needless to say, I'm still trucking along. I knew there was a reason I wanted to teach!  Since I get to enjoy ALL of the national holidays (and then some) as a student/teacher, I'm taking this Labor Day to labor away. I enjoyed a little lake time with the fam on Saturday, but other than that, its school work, coffee, school work, and more coffee in that order. The one thing that really got me through having to work on the weekend...