Has is really been a year?

Has it really been a year?  I can barely wrap my head around it.  I thought I was doing fine (and I am), but then I run across pictures of our last weeks out at the library and it makes me ache inside.  It takes me right back to the feeling I had a year ago: This is it...things will never be the same.

Oh how we cried those last weeks!  We cried over past years, over new friendships just beginning to blossom, we cried over the unknown.  Despite everything my mind and body told me would happen, I am ok! We are ok! Now, this is not to say that I have not had my fair share of sad nights and dramatic bawls over friends missed...

One thing I do believe is that the distance makes each time we are together so VERY special! Looking back on the times I have spent with y'all since graduation, every single time we have lived it up!! From still acting like we own The Library, to literally OWNING "The Beach on Bourbon", we have not lost the spark that we have between us!  That spark that we take with us anywhere we go, vowing to soak up every second we have together and making it a time that will not be forgotten! I have so many amazing memories from this year...we can still have fun outside of college! Who knew?

With each year that passes, we move further and further away from one another.  Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi. We will get married and have kids. We will be successful Pharmacists, Lawyers, Journalists... (Vessel salesmen, haha!)  But I have no doubt that we will always be best friends!  The ones we call when we need a listening ear, an encouraging word, or just a good laugh!

I love each and every one of you and I am so thankful that God has placed you in my life!

 

A faithful friend is the medicine of life. ~Ecclesiastes 6:16

~Masey

New Kitchen!!

By the time I got home from work on Friday, EC had finished all the cabinets in the kitchen!! I made a quick trip to Collierville to run a few errands and get burlap for curtains I may blog about if they look good.  I had the house all to myself Friday night, so I grabbed a glass of wine and got to painting!  It did not take me 45 minutes to antique these cabinets, but made a world of difference! Now when I go into my kitchen it feels bright and airy, obviously that is not the feeling I got before the paint job!

Here are the cabinets after EC painted them:

Here are the cabinets after I "antiqued" them:

Please don't forget to scroll down and look at the before pictures!  I would say this is a world of difference! 

I will post pictures of the rest of the den and kitchen when they are finished. 

PS. Ignore the floor.....that's my next project!

~Masey

Ode to 70's Decor...

Ahh!! Today is the day!!! Today is the day that my 1970's cedar planked kitchen/den cabinets and walls become 2011 shabby chic! Granted this task will take significantly longer than a day, probably more like 2 weeks. I don't care if the painter takes 2 months (well maybe I do...), my house is about to look so much better! I can now entertain without being embarrassed of my outdated home! 

          Imagine living with this for 8 months, but actually I have been looking at it for going on 3 years (Steven lived here before me).  I know some of you probably wonder why I haven't done this sooner.  It is very expensive to hire someone to paint all this, and I do not have the patience to do it on my own.  Steven told me he would not help me (what a sweet husband!) Recently he made me throw away the roller paintbrush because we were not painting another room by ourselves again! (or at least he wasn't going to help me) Granted I have painted the guest bedroom 2 times, guest bathroom 2 twice, the sunroom, a few pieces of furniture...I have also sewed a shower curtain and dust ruffle with no previous sewing machine skills, AND ripped up a linoleum floor (WORST DECISION EVER!).  The point I am getting at is that Steven has lended a helping hand in all of these tasks that were my idea, not his, and he has had enough! I don't blame him.

Back to the main topic! The color I am using I would describe as "Butter" (don't remember the actual name).  It is kind of a creamy yellow.  After the painter is finished, I am going to go back and do some sort of antiquing to the cabinets so that they don't blend in to the walls.  I cannot wait for the finished product!

Here are the before pictures, and when the wonderful "EC" is finished I will post after!

~Masey



So Blessed....

     Goodbye 2010, Hello 2011!!!!!

     I should say that 2010 has been one of the most eventful years of my life!  So many great things  have happened to me! The best would obviously getting married, and might I add to the most amazing guy!!

  

     Example:  I have really really been missing my friends recently.  I was not planning to go to Nashville for New Years with everyone because Steven has to work until 5:30 Friday evening.  Tuesday night I started crying because I missed my friends, and I was sad that they were all getting together and I was not going to be there.  Steven hugged me and told me he wanted me to go and have a good time with my friends, and that he would just hang out in Holly Springs.  I am so lucky to have married someone who only wants me happy, even if that means we will be apart on New Years.  He is the best!

     I went on my honeymoon!!! Oh if I could only go back!  For all of you reading, if you aren't married, you are crazy not to go to Ocho Rios, Jamaica and stay at the Royal Plantation! I cannot imagine anywhere being better! It was absolutely fabulous!! I did not have 1 complaint!  You have your own personal butler, it is quiet and relaxing, the food is AMAZING, and everyone there treats you like royalty! We couldn't even go get our own ice!  I had been so pampered that when we came back, I looked up and Steven's mom was carrying my bag into the house! haha I was mortified! I just got out of the car and walked into the house! When we can actually afford a nice trip like that, Steven and I will definitely be going back!

     The sad things that happened to me were at the same time celebrations.  First was graduating from college... Sad because I had to leave behind all of my friends, and happy because I was finished with school!  I had accomplished one of my biggest goals, and I never have to go to class again! 
     Another sad/happy is that I lost my grandad, one of the 3 greatest men I know (1. My dad 2.Pop 3. Steven).  He had been sick with Cancer for a long time, and so it was a blessing that he went to be with the Lord.  I miss him so much, but most of the time I cannot even be sad because I know Pop is sitting up there with Jesus! I could cry with joy just thinking about how amazing that is, and how happy he must be! Pain free! But on a lighter note....

    I wish you all a Happy New Year!  Let 2010 go out with a bang! Celebrate Big!  Hope to see you all in Nashville!!


~Masey

    

  
  

Big Girl....

     Today I am old.....

     Last week I applied for an amazon.com card to save $30 on Steven's Christmas gift, and had all intentions of tearing it up after I got the discount.  Yesterday I have a letter in the mail telling me that my application has been denied due to lack of credit.  Oh the woes of having your sweet Daddy spoil you! Steven, "Mr. Banker", immediately goes to freecreditreport.com to get my credit score (which is really $1)! ha! What happens?  "They cannot present me with my credit report at this time".  What!

     Which leads me to today...

     I am taking out my first loan for $1,000 and paying it back over the next year.  Steven says this will give me credit! So what am I going to do with my $1,000 you ask?  BUY A NEW COUCH! Woo Hoo!!!
So today I am old for 2 reasons: (1) I am buying a couch (2) I am taking out a loan!   Oh my life....

Oh Finals...

  As I sit here at my desk at work, I am very thankful that I do not have my head burried in a book cramming for my next final!  At the same time though, I feel a little sad.  Why? Why would I be sad that I am not taking finals right now?  These are the reasons:
1) It means that I am out of college (a reality that I refuse to accept)...
2) It means I am not sitting at a big long table with my friends pretending to study, but ending up having some of the most fun and deep conversations that I will always remember...
3) I love being organized and making really neat outlines and study guides... (I just hate learning the material)
4) I love a brand new Sharpie pen on a fresh piece of notebook paper...
5) I love being in my most comfy clothes with a warm blanket...
6) It never fails: my friends always celebrate BIG after finals.... They've never let me down!!!

Freshman Year:


Sophomore Year:



 
Junior Year:


Senior Year:
 


  Love you and miss you all!!! We need to appoint someone as our friend President (maybe AC, she fits the description!) that gets us all together for a girl's week or weekend a few times a year! Let's do this soon!!!

~Masey

The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year...



   Behold! Mine and Steven's PERFECT  Christmas Tree!!! Love, Love, Love!!!  It is perfect because A) It is our first Christmas Tree, and B) I have so many beautiful ornaments from my ornament shower that it really is fabulous! 

   Maybe everyone thinks their first tree is perfect regardless of what it really looks like.  I have seen pictures of my parent's first Christmas Tree...extremely twig-like with red apple and heart foam ornaments.  My mom said they sat and stared at it all night just marveling over how beautiful it was!

   Yesterday Steven and I went to Lowe's to get our tree.  Yes, I was the annoying girl with the camera trying to capture this special moment while Steven acted like an 8th grader whose mom was embarrassing him.  I'm trying to get a shot of us and he is looking around to see who is watching!  If I saw a young couple taking a picture with a Christmas Tree, I would assume it was their first Christmas, and think it was sweet!  Needless to say, I got a bunch of crappy smile pictures that I won't ever do anything with.  Oh well. 

   One thing that really seems to happen when you're newly married is figuring out whose way you are going to do things.  All families do holiday things different, and each person wants to do them the way their family has always done them!  Steven starts putting on the lights and he is just throwing them around as quickly as possible.  It has been years and years since he has had to put lights on a real Christmas Tree.  I on the other hand spent all of my years at home with a real Christmas Tree, and have a very distinct in and out, wrap around pattern to make the lights look their best!  Needless to say, I took over the light task while Steven watched football...Not while we listened to Christmas Music (another tradition I love that Steven doesn't!)

   Afterwards we decorated the tree, set up our snow village, and today I will work on the outside of the house! Wreaths on all of the windows!  I LOVE CHRISTMAS!!! Next task...presents under the tree!!

~Masey