My Bestest, Sara BROVET

My bestest friend Sara Brovet (for a few more days anyway) is getting MARRIED this weekend! I feel like we have been waiting and planning for this day for so long and it's finally here. Sara and I met towards the end of our freshman year of college. We were then roommates during most of the rest of our time at UT. It feels like I have known her my whole life. I can't imagine what life was like without her. We have such a unique relationship that I cherish and am so thankful for. We rarely talk on the phone but we email pretty much all day every day. I can always count on her to tell me the truth...even if she doesn't agree. And if she doesn't agree with my decision, she isn't afraid to say so but she always supports my decision...even if it isn't the same one she would make. We have way too many special memories to list.

Sara and Jason met in college through Sara's longtime friend Sean. They have been dating for what seems like forever and I am so excited for them to finally get married. Jason is the perfect one for Sara and I am so thankful that my bestest found someone who loves her completely.

After work I am heading to Knoxville to help Sara, Jason and family make last minute preparations for their wedding weekend. I promise to take tons of pictures and recap the whole weekend.

Sara-I love you! I am so happy that you are finally marrying your longtime other half. I am so honored to stand beside you and support you on such a special day. I can't wait to celebrate with you!

Top 2 Tuesday...SUMMER Time

Top 2 Favorite Things About Summer

First of all, sorry I have been a blog slacker lately. I have been so busy preparing for my best friend's wedding on Saturday, slammed at work, and studying for the dreaded CPA exam. I promise I won't be a terrible blogger forever!

Ok, on to Top 2 Tuesday...My favorite things about summer are...

1. Vacation and River Weekends:

The Tate's Cabin--I blogged about my family's (Dad and Step-mom side) cabin at the river here. I absolutely love spending as much time as possible there. My Dad and Step-mom Cindy are wonderful and I love spending the weekends there any time, but especially in the summer!

As a bonus, this summer my Mom and Step-dad are taking me on vacation! I am so excited to be heading to Charleston on May 21 for an entire week! Hopefully I will sit for the first part of my CPA the week before, so I will definitely need some relaxation. Plus, I'm hoping to spend some time with my photographer friend Leslie while I am there.

2. Photo Shoots: As most of my readers know, I am an aspiring photographer and summer is a great time to shoot photos. Long days of sunlight make it easy to shoot even after work before it gets dark. Click here to see some images from my latest shoot and let me know if you are interested in posing in front of them camera! :)

Ok, back to far less entertaining things than blogging :(

What are your 2 favorite things about summer? Jump on over to The Undomestic Momma and play along!

Be The Match

My friend Jacqueline inspired me in this post to check into the National Bone Marrow Registry program. In high school a very good friend of mine, Scott, had cancer (Acute Lymphoblastic Lymphoma). My best friend Kim was Scott's girlfriend and Scott's best friend Troy was my boyfriend so we were all pretty close. Scott was one of the best people I have ever known. I first met Scott when I was pretty young and Troy's older sister was my babysitter during the summer. Yep, that's right....I first met my first love because his sister was my babysitter. Small world and funny how things work out. Scott was kind of quiet but when he opened his mouth it was hilarious, especially when it was a smart a$$ comment, which it often was. Scott loved baseball. I remember him getting chemo or some other kind of awful test and then going and playing ball the same day. It was as if his pain and sickness disappeared when he stepped on the field. He spoiled Kimberly rotten. He inspired more people than he knew and he fought so hard. Scott passed away his senior year of high school...before he could graduate, before he could live his dream of playing college baseball, and before he could stand up for his best friend in his wedding. I remember being heartbroken that God didn't heal Scott. We were all so convinced that he was going to be healed. I know God is good and Scott plays baseball in Heaven now but it didn't make it any easier for his family and friends. So I joined the bone marrow registry in honor of Scott A. Elrod. Scott didn't have a bone marrow transplant but if that would have saved him, I know we would have all prayed for someone to be a match and save his life. I can't imagine what it feels like to know that you are giving someone a second chance at life. Yes, it might hurt a little but it won't come near the hurt that occurs when you loose someone you care about. So, I received my packet this week, completed it tonight and am now officially part of the bone marrow registry. Now I just wait for the call, the call to help save someones life. I can't imagine how good that would feel!

Scott Alan Elrod

My Registry Packet

My samples all ready to be sent off

To check out the Bone Marrow Registry click here and Be The Match!

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

Saturday I had the privilege of shooting pictures for a friend at work. Cindy's sister lives overseas but was in town with her daughter Meredith so Cindy wanted some pictures of Meredith and her cousins, Caroline and Rebecca. We had plans to meet at Centennial Park but when we got there everyone else in Nashville was there also....so we had a change of plans and went to the Dragon Park. I am so glad we did. I had never been but it was a great place to shoot pictures. I had so much fun with the girls. Thanks, Cindy for letting me steal a few minutes of your sister's visit! Here are some of my favorites:

I love this one!

She was such a doll

Wishful Wednesday : Charities

"I wish"...I had never ending funds to donate to charity and it would be a combination of the following:

1. Compassion International: From Compassion's website, Compassion International exists as a Christian child advocacy ministry that releases children from spiritual, economic, social and physical poverty and enables them to become responsible, fulfilled Christian adults. I already sponsor a child through Compassion and would love to be able to financially sponsor more children, as well as donate to some of Compassion's other programs. If you are interested, please click here to learn more about Compassion's child sponsorship program and how you can change a child's life.

2. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital: I have a special place in my heart for St. Jude because my mom and step-dad worked there and because a dear friend of mine was a patient there. Click here to learn more about St. Jude.

I am sure there would be many more charities but these 2 hold a special place in my heart. What about you? If you had unlimited funds, what charities would you give to?

Head on over to Kelsey's page to play along!

Bridal Brunch

This weekend I co-hosted a Bridal Brunch for my friend Meg. Rachel, Laura and I have been planning the shower for months and I think it went wonderful. It was so nice to get together with the ladies and celebrate Meg's upcoming wedding. Rachel, Laura and I met at my parents' house on Friday night to set the tables and cook for Saturday morning. We did most of our prep work Friday night. Mom and I stayed up until 2:00 am! Saturday morning we were up early putting the final touches on everything and getting ready for guests to arrive at 11:00. We had cinnamon rolls, chicken salad sandwiches, cucumber sandwiches, sausage balls, mini muffins, fruit and fruit dip, mini brownies and cake pops. Everyone seems to enjoy the food and company. After everyone finished eating, Meg opened her presents. She got some good stuff that I know she can't wait to put to use.

Apron with Meg's new initials

The Recipe Box with Meg's new initials (from idaclaire)

Laura, Me, Meg & Rachel

Me and the Bride-to-Be

Meg, Congratulations on your upcoming wedding. It was my pleasure to host a shower celebrating you and your special day. I hope you enjoyed yourself. I love you!

iPad Giveaway

Do you want to win a new iPad???

MckMama is giving one away! Click here to see how to win!

Plus, you get to help save babies at the same time! It's a win, win!

Finally Friday!

Wow, this week has been fast and slow at the same time. I am anxiously watching the clock until 5 o'clock so I can officially say Goodbye to work for the week. I have a busy and fun weekend planned. Tomorrow I am co-hosting a Bridal Brunch for one of my dearest friends, Meg. It will be here first shower and I know she is super excited. I hope has a blast and it is everything she dreamed it would be! We love you, Meg!

So tonight I will be busy setting up tables and cooking like crazy for the shower in the morning. Tomorrow night is GIRLS NIGHT and I can't wait! We are going out for dinner and drinks and I am so looking forward to spending some quality time with some of my favorite people. Sunday will be for church and recovering and cleaning up my house...it is getting out of hand. I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

30 Day Shred

I bought this today...I'm hoping I can stick to it. I need to very badly.

Tres Chic Ink

My very talented friend Natasha has a calligraphy business here in Nashville called Tres Chic Ink. I have been talking about taking pictures of her samples for her since she started and finally got to do it a couple of weeks ago. Natasha is so talented and I am so proud of her! Check our her personal blog here and her calligraphy blog here. I'm not posting the pictures here because I want you to go to her site and see her work! Love you Natasha!

Hello Pretty

I got a very exciting package in the mail this afternoon. I have been carrying my camera around in this old, ugly, gross camera bag that Monroe let me borrow. Granted, it was fine for him to use...but I'm a girl and I like pretty things. =) Well feast your eyes on my new camera bag...I love it!It came in this pretty purple bag to keep it in when I'm not using it.

there she is!

Isn't she lovely?!?

as you can see, I've already put her to use!

#49 on my list...CHECK

Top 2 Tuesday...Magazines

This week's Top 2 Tuesday topic is magazines. I don't buy magazine very often at all, but I do read them online.

1. People : I love reading the celebrity gossip and People seems to be a little more classy than my other choice.

2.US Magazine: Again, I don't buy very often but I do read online. A girl needs her celebrity gossip...right?

Happy Easter

What a BEAUTIFUL weekend! After work Friday, Landon and I headed to our family's house at the river. We sat around a bonfire and walked with my parents the the neighbors, then headed in for the night. Saturday morning Caddy and I went for a walk on the beach. Caddy got his first taste, literally, of the river and he loved it! I think once the water is a little warmer, he will love it even more. Dad and Landon went fishing while Cindy and I headed back to Lexington to grocery shop for the weekend. Later Saturday afternoon Ginger, Justin, & their fur baby Gracie and Grant & his fur baby Jack arrived. We basically sat outside in the sunshine and watched the dogs play. It's kind of a joke in our family that since there are no babies, we have dogs. It's kind of sad, but it works for now. :)

My brothers and sister and I are hardly ever in the same place at the same time. Usually for a day at Christmas and then maybe one or two other weekends a year, so it was nice for us all to be together this Easter. Sunday morning we all went to church and then had a WONDERFUL Easter lunch prepared by Ginger and Cindy. It was such a wonderful weekend with family...I am already looking forward to this summer and more family get togethers at the river.

Sunday evening Jeff and Natasha had several of us over for a cookout at their new house. It was so much fun to get together, relax and catch up with friends...not to mention the wonderful food. (I swore at lunch I would never eat again...that didn't last long) Thanks Jeff and Natasha!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter weekend...my only complaint is that it was over way too soon!