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

Doggies....

   Last night Steven and I went to his Aunt's house for her daughter's 5th birthday.  They have got the sweetest, most adorable cockapoo (cocker spaniel/poodle) "Ginger"!  She will be in your lap before you even sit down, ready to love on you and be pet!  Everytime I see Ginger it makes me want a lap dog!  Don't get me wrong, I LOVE big dogs...but I have always wanted a big dog and a small lap dog to run around and be best friends!  I want to be able to pick up my dog and love on it!  Here are a few on the top of my want list:
Miniature Goldendoodle!- My Favorite!
 Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
 Toy Poodle
Cockapoo
Mini AusieDoodle (Austrailian Shephard /Poodle)
 Pyredoodle (Great Pyranese/Poodle)
 YorkiePoo

   Will everyone help me talk Steven into just 1 more dog?  I need one to jump in my lap and not hurt!!

   "A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself."

       -Josh Billings

~Masey

Babies, Babies, Babies!!!

    Okay everyone, don't freak out!!  I'm not pregnant, and not trying anytime soon!! After 1 week of working at my job, my co-worker found out she was pregnant!  This is the first time I have seen a baby growing before my very eyes, and its amazing!  Brittany is itty bitty...5'0 105lbs (not pregnant). She has slowly but surely developed a huge baby belly (hasn't gained a lb anywhere else though!).  She is due anyday now, and just left to go to the doctor because she is in a lot of pain. Who knows, she may be ready to have her!  I have been sitting here trying to do my job, but I am so giddy and can't think about anything else!

   How amazing is it though? I always look at Brittany and just say "I always forget that your baby bump has a living human inside!"...There is a baby growing and moving inside of you! I cannot even imagine the joy a mother feels.  Your baby is a part of you! Your body is their home for 9 months...their safe place to grow! I bet I will be the pregnant woman who is constantly rubbing her own belly, because how else can you show him/her love?

   To my point: is there anything sweeter than a little baby...their first word, first crawl, first steps? Everything they do is so exciting!  My friend Sarah has a 7 month old, and every time I see Avery she is doing something new!  Mary Tait's brother-in-law just had a little girl 4 months ago and I got to see her the other weekend!  Granted both of these babies are incredibly happy and almost perfect, always smiling and only cry when they're hungry or wet!  Regardless...I love babies!!!  Mary Tait needs to hurry up and have one!

 "Children too are a gift from the LORD, the fruit of the womb, a reward.” – Psalm 127:3

~Masey

Thanksgiving at the Greshams!!!

   This year I am hosting Thanksgiving at my house, and I am so excited!  Time to bring out the new china, silver, and mint juleps!!  It seems like such a shame to have my beautiful china locked away in a cabinet collecting dust, so I will host a get together to use it!


 (I only have the bread and butter monogrammed)

  For my centerpiece I am going to have this: who would have thought asparagus and green beans could look so pretty!

   The menu is: Turkey, Ham, Sweet Potato Casserole, Broccoli Cheese Casserole, Green Beans, Dressing, and Rolls.  For dessert we are having Pecan Pie (my fav), Bread Pudding (Steven's fav) and something chocoloate!  I should probably start fasting now!
   I am doing Thanksgiving this Saturday, because Steven is going to the Saints-Cowboys game in Dallas on Thanksgiving!!!  The catch is he is going without me ...I'm not THAT bitter! So this week I am scrambling to get my house looking just the way I want it to. Clean this, Paint that, Hang this, Cook that.  Steven has been a great help, although I'm sure I have had a few too many honey-do's for his taste! 
  Lets hope everything goes well this weekend, and I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving with your families!  You know what comes next.... Christmas decorations!!!!!!!

Mini Van Soccer Mom...

    Yesterday, I go to check my blog and this is waiting on me:

     Anonymous said...

but I want to see the new HAIR......read the post, waited for the appointment, and thought the least you wo9uld do....post a photo of the NEW and EXCITING Masey !!

    I wish I knew who anonymous was. The word anonymous attached to a message to me is creepy!
    I did not come back with a new post about my hair because I am not too thrilled with it! To my new hair dresser's defense, she cut it like the picture that I brought in.  Unfortunately, it looks completely different on me!
   At first I told Steven that I need to have a sign on my back that says “I Like Men"...just to clarify to anyone that may be curious.  With time I have decided its more like I need a mini-van and 6 kids to take to soccer practice! (PS just tried to look up a picture of a soccer mom with a van and porn came up on my work computer!)
  I have cut my hair short many times, and honestly I like it short rather than long.... But it is shorter than it’s ever been....extremely short!  Any shorter and she might have needed a razor! 
   After a few days getting used to it, and Steven reassuring me I don't look like a boy, I have decided I may have exaggerated a little (shocking, I know).  No, I do not like it, but if I put a cute feminine head band on I can make it look okay.  I am extremely ready for it to grow out though!

   I would say that the haircut looks more like this picture of Katie Holmes:

 
   Yes...about that short!

   Some people at work have made me think they love it, others make me think they hate it.  The girls have gone on and on (even after I say I don't like it) about how cute they think it is (girl's lie).  The man I work with asked me if they pinned me down and chopped it off... I guess I know how he feels.
   In the end though, hair grows.  It won't be too long before it is the length I originally wanted it to be. I'll just embrace the soccer mom within!

~Masey

Out with the old...

    The time has come for me to redo my guest bedroom.  Before Steven and I got married, I decided to give it a mini makeover.  Being the impatient person that I am, I went straight to Wal Mart (Holly Springs has no Home Depot or Lowes) and picked out what I thought to be a beautiful yellow to brighten up the room!  Well, brighten up the room it did... way too much!  I feel sorry for my guests in the morning!  Also, the Wal Mart paint (ahem...tinted water) caused me to do a horrendous paint job...about that of a 2nd grader. 

    A new paint color has been chosen: Martha Stewart "Rainwater"



   It really isn't as dull as the picture makes it look, I promise.  Also, YES I love the color blue and cannot get away from it (my font color is the same as my wall color. Guilty.)

   For Christmas I am asking for one of  these duvet covers, ivory and monogrammed:


   Also, I am asking for pretty curtains... I'm still looking, but I love these:



   After Christmas, this room will hopefully be a sanctuary for my guests!!!  So get out your planners and pick a time to come visit!!!

   ~Masey

Time for a change...



   I have decided my hair needs a make over.  I decided this last night, so keeping with traditional Masey fashion I called this morning and made an appointment for today!  I've always done that... the second I want a hair cut I want it then! 
   I wanted something fun so I got online to look for ideas.  Why is it that when you do that you get the most ugly, outdated looks ever!  Here are a few that were suggested to me:

 

  Honestly...is this a joke?  These pictures look like they are circa 1992 and they are under "cute trendy hairstyles".  The last picture isn't even cut straight!  Why is it I cannot find normal hairstyle websites?

  Then you decide to look up celebrity hairstyles and practically all you get is Rihanna and her pink hair (don't get me wrong, I love Ri-Ri, I just don't want her hair).

  So I have resulted to a picture of Kristen Cavallari:

 

  We shall see what I look like when I get back...

Why is it only 4 years...

   Last night Steven and I were talking about the upcoming game and he pointed out this little fact: after this football season most of our friends will be gone from Oxford.  This is pretty much the last game we will see everyone considering not everyone will be coming back for the egg bowl. 
   For Steven, this is the last time he may ever see some people.  People like pledge bothers and aquaintances that he enjoys seeing but doesn't keep in touch with. Guys are so bad about keeping in touch! 

   I realized this is kind of the same for me.  I mean my group of great friends, I know we will keep in touch.  There are those people though that I love to see and talk to, but know I will not keep up with for years to come.  That is really sad to me.  The problem is that I thought I had already been through this... I've already said bye to friends!
   Anyone remember graduation? From the second I walked out of my last exam I was a blubbering mess!  I remember walking down the hall of Connor (the place I had spent an ungodly amount of time in over the years) and I turned around to take one last look.  Fighting back the tears, I knew that this normalcy would soon be gone and my life would be different. The night before we moved out of the Chi O house I cried nonstop... at the bar, late night, I couldn't look at anyone without loosing it. Why couldn't my friends come live with me and Steven...all of them!
  
   It turns out that not too much changed. I am still breathing without my friends with me all of the time, and it is fun to have so much time with Steven!  Yes there are plenty of people I do not see, but the fact that I still have so many people only 30 minutes away makes it so much easier! I've been to Oxford all but 1 football game, and life really isn't too different.
   I feel that this upcoming year may be a bigger change than the last.  Don't get me wrong, I will still have a few friends in Oxford...but not many.  I don't know where some of my best friends will be, and as for the others I do know and could cry just thinking about them being that far away!  I have said this from day 1 of college... Those 4 years are the best time of your life. When you are young you say, "When I'm in college...", and when you're old you always say "When I was in college...."  Why is it only 4 years? 

   So to everyone...lets work hard on keeping in touch and planning fun get togethers several times a year until we look like this! Love you all!!

" I thank my God upon every remembrance of you" Phil 1:3

  PS: I promise my next post will be happier!

~Masey

Wow...

    I am so moved. This morning I checked Ainsley's blog (here) and what I read has completely consumed my day so far...(this).

   I read her first post and have been reading it in between tasks at work.  I cannot stop thinking about this amazing girl Katie, and what a sacrifice she has made to do God's work.  She is living in Uganda and has adopted 14 little girls. FOURTEEN!!! Did I mention Katie is 22? 

   This really makes me think.  What do I do for God? What do I do that makes him happy?  Not enough.  I wonder if he led me to Uganda would I go?  Would I take on the task of sacrificing my whole life to be "Mommy" to 14 girls?  I would like to think that I would do what he led me to do, but the easy option is to ignore it or say it is too hard. 

   I just want to give kudos to all of of the people who listen to God's calling and run with it.  Those that give up their normal, comfortable American lives to go live in impoverished countries and help those in need.  Those that see nothing but hunger and pain all day every day, and still have the strength to smile and praise God at the end of the day. 

 ”A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9)

Do Not Worry...

   Over the past few years I have slowly but surely become a worryer. I worry about stupid things, but one of the major ones is mine and Steven's future.  Will we ever be able to afford anything more than bills and food?  When will I be able to go shopping and buy more than 1 top?  As cliche as this sounds, once you get in the real world you learn to appreciate every little thing your parents did for you. 

   For those of you who have not seen mine and Steven's house here is the deal:  It is a great house, pretty on the outside, and has lots of potential.  However, it still needs some cosmetic work.  I am always wondering when we will be able to afford to update the kitchen, get a new stove, or have someone paint the cedar plank walls in the den (very $$$$). 

   Recently, we have many little problems- fan quit working, disposal won't work... So on top of wanting my kitchen/den updated, we have the expenses of a new fan and disposal. Needless to say, I have been frustrated!

   Last night I decided to pick up my Bible and read a little.  I opened up Matthew and after a few minutes this was in front of me:

²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life^[e]?
   ²⁸ “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹ Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? ³¹ So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. - MATTHEW 6: 25-34

   I don't think he could have made it any more clear!

~Masey
  

Today is here....

   TODAY IS HERE!!!!  I am so excited I can barely stand it! There have been a few occasions where I have seen a lot of my friends in one place since graduation, but nothing like TONIGHT!!! Almost ALL of my friends will be in Oxford, and in COSTUME!!
  
   This morning on my way to work (might I add it was 6:40) I was hardcore dancing to "The club can't even handle me right now"!  I woke up at 2 am and couldn't go back to sleep until 3, and now (obviously) I am completely unproductive at work.

   Why can't this be a whole week and not just 2 days? The past few days everyone's Facebook and Twitter's have been about the excitement that is this weekend.  I say we all just take off work and school, shack up in Oxford, watch movies and talk!!!

Miss you all! I cannot wait for tonight!!

No Judgment....

   Last night Steven and I had dinner with our "married friends" John David and Sarah.  To be honest, when we got married I had just been pryed away from all of my closest friends. I was not that interested in having someone, in a sense, take their place.  Too bad Sarah and I have surprisingly similar personalities, and clicked immediately!  Everything she thinks is funny I think is funny, we laugh until we almost pee our pants at stupid things, and we catch ourselves relating to each other all of the time. So needless to say, I have put my wall down and embraced a great friendship in Sarah! Did I mention she and John David have a 7 month old? Look at their adorable little girl Avery:

...and that would be Sarah hiding behind her!

   So last night while Steven and John David were outside playing guitar, Sarah and I decided to look through cookbooks to see what we could fix next week for our get together.  Happily commenting on all of the yummy casseroles and desserts, she stopped and said: "Look at us! Are we really doing this?  Is this what we consider fun now?" 

   At first I was thinking if anyone saw me right now...cookbook in hand, baby by my side, 22 years old... I would be the epitome of lame!  Ever since I got married, there have been many instances where I couldn't believe I was doing something so "old"... asking for a fridge for my bday, decorating a home, etc...

  I have decided to stop being so judgmental of myself.  I know I'm not old, but I am out of college and married!  It is normal that my lifestyle would change, that my day to day life would change!  So next time I catch myelf enjoying something "old and lame", I am going to embrace it!  As long as I am having fun, whats the big deal?

~Masey

Halloween Treats....

   Whenever I have company, or am invited somewhere for the weekend, I love to make a little snack for everyone.  Over the past few months Steven has had many a get together with "the guys" at our house: fantasy draft, football games, birthdays, etc. Needless to say, I have gotten a lot of practice sprucing up my sally homemaker skills!  This weekend I will be bringing these little creepy crawlers to Oxford:

   Pecan Caramel Spiders! So fun for Halloween! (recipe @ foodnetwork.com)  I cannot decide if I want to haul them to the grove, or have them as a little happy for Ann Clark, Ainsley, and Dana's house... we will see!

   Does anyone know when the little trick-or-treaters will be out?  Are they going to trick-or-treat on Sunday (Halloween), or on Saturday since it is a weekend night?  I am sure there will come a day, sooner rather than later, that trick-or-treaters will get on my nerves.  For now I think they're adorable, and would love for them to come Sunday so I can see all of their costumes!  Sweet little princesses, scary witches, batman, ah I love it!  I wish I had the patience to make 100 pecan caramel spiders and wrap them in orange saran wrap with a purple bow and give them out instead of candy! (I will never have the patience for that!)

  Well anyway, I am SUPER excited for the weekend!  I cannot wait to see all of you and everyones costumes, and most of all be REUNITED with all of my friends!!!  Only 2 days!!

~Masey

Double, double toil and trouble; fire burn and cauldron bubble...

   As you may or may not know, I live for a good costume! With Halloween right around the corner, I have been trying to think of a great costume for the hubby and me.  I had come up with some great ones: Yoko Ono and John Lennon, Johnny Cash and June Carter, Bonnie and Clyde, Sonny and Cher... the list goes on.  He did not want to wear a wig, carry a guitar in the bar, wear a suit all night.....yada yada. I refused to be any sort of play on words.... brick and brick layer, "white trash", socket and plug....you get the point.  I wanted to be some sort of cute, fun couple from the past!  Surprisingly, he came up with a good one!  The Graduate and Mrs. Robinson:

   A sexy lady from the sixties? Teased hair? Great Jewelry? Yes Please!!! Not to mention I somehow still have my Ole Miss cap and gown...how convenient!  So be looking for this lovely duo at the Brary Friday night! 

   PS: I know you all were expecting some sort of fabulous wig from yours truly... I tried.  Steven has made it very clear that he prefers me without a wig, so for our first Halloween I will cut him some slack.  I can't make any promises for the future though..... 

   Here are some flashbacks just for a good laugh:

 

The Beginning....

       Some of you may be wondering why I started this blog.... it is not like Masey to blog!  I am not an excellent writer, I don't dig deep into thoughts, and my head is all over the place!  Well... I just got the urge to start one!  I'm terrible with the phone, and have too many friends to call on a daily basis.  I thought that this would be a good way for you all to know what is going on in this crazy head of mine!

       As you all probably know, I got married on June 19th to the love of my life! (cheesy, I know)  Marriage so far has been a blast, but trying at the same time. You learn alot about yourself ... good and bad! This blog will be a smorgasbord of the joys and trials of my new life, and really just anything I feel like writing about!
      So sit back, relax, and enjoy "Simply Masey"!