how i feel about the blogging community.

i've worried in the past that i'm becoming one of those people who are addicted to their phones and/or social media. there are times when i feel that pull - that compulsion - to look at my phone & consult instagram, twitter, email, or even facebook. at some points in my life, it's gotten a little bit out of hand. in order to combat this issue, i have instituted social media bans on myself before, with what i'd call satisfactory results. so i thought i was making progress, staying in control.

during the weeks of my wedding & honeymoon, in the few days i was free of the pull of all things internet-related, i realized that what i was feeling wasn't a compulsion for social media, but a genuine missing of the community of which i've been lucky enough to become a part. when i did get on twitter & instagram & saw words of congratulations from tina... & then melissa... & then eliza... & then joelle - and then so many more of you - i realized i was missing the blogging community like i would miss a friend. and i have to say: i love that.

the inspiration, comfort, & ease that this wonderful, creative - and mind-bogglingly large - group of people offers up to me is immeasurable. so, simply consider this a word of thanks.

thank you.

photo: a night of blogging \ instagram

the sunday currently, i'm married edition. [volume 5].

i can't even begin to tell you how happy i am to be posting a sunday currently post today! as you will be able to read later this week [and, i'm sure, for a couple of weeks to come], i have had such a whirlwind, lovely couple of weeks of wedding festivities.

but now, justin is jetting toward north carolina, & i am sitting in the kitchen in pajamas, coffee by my side, inspired & ready to write a post [or two].

if you're anxious for wedding coverage, please head over to lindsey's blog. she took some gorgeous photos at nottoway, & i think you'll enjoy browsing them.

as you'll also be able to read later this week, my little wedding-&-honeymoon-induced blogging break has really shed some light on my passion for this community. so just know, i am so happy to be here, writing, reading, & sharing with you all.

happy sunday!

reading the happiness project, by gretchen rubin. i know, i know... i've been reading this particular pick for weeks upon weeks. i really do love it, though. every time i pick up my nook, i end up highlighting more & more. now that i'll have some more free time, i'm sure to speed through the rest of it. and hopefully next, i'll be picking up stacy london's new book, the truth about style.

writing a new list of pending thank you notes! i'm proud to say, i've really kept up with them. i have a post coming soon about why i think they're important, as well as my method when i sit down to pen them. i've also been writing in a newlywed journal, detailing the beginning of our marriage [which i'm really excited about - i plan to write about all of the events in our lives for the first year of our marriage].

listening to hgtv's love it or list it. i absolutely love this show. something funny is that my friend anna claire can't watch this show, because it stresses her out. she doesn't like how whiny the couples always are, as well as how rude they are. i find it funny. there really is conflict in every show.

thinking that tomorrow it's back on the diet & exercise train. as much as i've enjoyed the seemingly endless amount of fried seafood we enjoyed in new england, as well as all the desserts we indulged in, i'm ready to get healthy again. i think what i'm missing the most is a regular intake of water.

smelling the cup of freshly brewed keurig coffee sitting next to me. it's lovely.

wishing justin could have stayed in town longer, as well as had a longer break from work. he works hard every day, & i know he's tired after all the travel & festivities.

hoping to have a nice, productive two weeks in shreveport before i depart on a road trip toward wilmington, & most importantly, justin!

wearing pajamas that i found in a drawer at justin's mom's house. we were so tired last night, & he had to be at the airport bright & early this morning. so needless to say, i slept in after dropping him off & i definitely haven't changed or gotten ready for the day yet.

loving... well, my husband. because now i have a husband. will i ever get used to calling him that? i love that right now it feels new & exciting.

wanting water. h2o. hydration. i have not been drinking nearly enough. i hate feeling dehydrated.

needing... see above? i know, you get it, i need water. but seriously.

feeling happy. lucky. blessed. tired. excited. anxious. ready. inspired. i guess i could have just answered, 'a lot of things,' but it feels fun to just list it all out.

clicking... where do i even begin? i am so excited about all i have to catch up on in the blogging community, but especially here & here... & i plan to search for some new reads [i'm always looking to expand my already-massive google reader feed]. i'm also excited to hit up pinterest. and, of course, the sunday secrets. and, as mentioned before, i cannot stop clicking this post or this post from lindsey. i love re-living the moments!

photo: from our beautiful new england honeymoon \ instagram

what are you doing?

it's wedding day!

photo: us, in wilmington \ instagram

i am marrying this person tomorrow.

the grown-up version, that is.

photo: justin during christmas time \ the christy archives

leaving for nottoway.

today, my mom, dad, sister, & i are packing up the truck with things like a huge box of flowers from our florist, an entire sound system, a wedding gown, & twelve black tuxes.

then we're going to pile in & drive south until we get to the exit.

then we're going to drive through a cute little town called plaquemine. and after those nearly-20 beautiful miles, we're going to turn left at the sign that lets us know we've arrived.

and then, we'll finally, finally be at nottoway... for the WEDDING! we plan to sip wine & sit on the porch of our cottage this evening, after a guided tour through the house & indulging in the delectable bread pudding.

and tomorrow, i'll rise early to go for a run on the levee, overlooking the mississippi, before all the festivities begin to unfold.

justin will be traveling from north carolina to our hometown today, so as we get settled in to white castle, i'll be wishing him safe travels & trying to contain my excitement over seeing him tomorrow after 3 months apart.

so, here goes nothin'...

photos: wedding week preparations \ instagram

the weekend before wedding weekend.

 

the weekend before wedding weekend had just begun.

my last day at work came to a close & i drove home.

i met rachel for a quick afternoon run, & then it was time to go.

the three of us jumped into the truck & headed west.

we made it to the twisting, turning, water-lined drive.

and then, there were some of our oldest friends.

dad maneuvered the boat out onto the water.

and then we saw the sun sinking behind the horizon.

and as planes flew in over the water, i hurriedly clicked this out:

 

now that the sun is going down the twinkle lights are coming out across the water.

 

and really, the evening was as simple as that.

 

 

photo: cross lake at sunset \ instagram

the sunday currently, volume 4.

reading nothing. yikes. i haven't even finished the happiness project. my nook has needed charging all week, & i just haven't done it. i guess my reading has really been pushed to the wayside, due to all the little last minute wedding planning details i've been grappling with. the good news is, a week from today, justin & i will be headed toward our east coast honeymoon, not a care in the wedding-planning world. so, long story short, my reading will soon return to its normal tempo. [as will the critique cache posts].

writing a to-do list i so aptly titled almost done. i know it sounds silly, but seeing that heading at the top of the paper really helps alleviate some of the stress i'm feeling. and the even better news? most items on the list are very simple - they just need to be done.

listening to the sound of cars outside, coupled with a few bird chirps. also, my dad working on some construction in the house. on a music front, anna claire & i listened to what is probably every great song that ever existed, as we made my reception playlist last night. we were overwhelemed. not to mention, the playlist is 9 hours long... the reception is 3. we have some cuts to make, & i have no idea how we're going to do it.

thinking that i can't wait for next weekend. we are less than a week from our wedding!

smelling the pumpkin spice coffee i'm currently sipping on. no, it's not from starbucks, it's of the keurig persuasion. and it is delicious.

wishing i knew how to deal with stress better than i do.

hoping for everything to come together, for safe travels for everyone in the coming weeks, & that it won't feel like a long week, before i get to see justin!

wearing a black millsaps t-shirt & some pink scrub pants. i'm about to get ready for the errands we have to run today, though.

loving that last night, i laid down on the dining room floor while we were making the reception playlist and declared, this is what i like to do on saturday nights.

wanting to have time for a run out in the cold air today.

needing lots & lots of photos to be taken next weekend. yes, we are obviously having a photographer at the wedding, but i really want lots of family & friends pictures taken - because those feel personal & candid. and i have a ton of talented people in my life that really know how to capture moments.

feeling a little bit tired - my sleep was a restless one last night. but also feeling happy.

clicking this henning love post about marriage. and this article that lindsey sent to me a while back, which is absolutely the most perfect thing for me to be reading with my wedding a little less than a week away. thank you, dear. and, on a slightly more shallow note, my the christy residence board on pinterest, where i've begun collecting inspiration & recipes for our home.

here's to the weekend before wedding weekend!

photo: coffee cup \ instagram

what are you doing?

friday's fancies #44: grape escape.

scarf | polish | top | jeans | bag | shadow | earrings | shoes | glasses

something about the turn of the season from blazing hot summers, to crisp, cool falls, always leaves me jonesing for rich plum hues. and with this week's friday's fancies theme - a monochromatic look - i was able to run with that notion. i love the idea of all the items being a slight variation of the same shade - it gives the look an interesting dimension.

share your delightfully monotonous looks here.

stress-melting clothes | the sunday currently | bayou state shower | tenth month | 'whipped cream' & reese's

'whipped cream' & reese's.

i've just gotten out of swimming lessons, & my body has that overly-tired, overly-hungry, but good feeling. my feet are squeaking, wet against the squishy plastic of my flip flops. i know that if i didn't have my shoes on, the black pavement would be burning my skin, & it would be un-ignorable. still, the shoes stab me between the big toe & the second one, & i can't wait until we get to the car.

we get to the car. when i open the passenger side door, immediately i am overwhelmed by the smell of worn leather. the good kind of worn, that lets you know many people have sat in this car, maybe for a road trip or maybe just for a short ride home after swimming lessons.

he turns the key in the ignition, & the engine roars to life. he looks over at me & smiles, asks me if i want a reese's peanut butter cup as he grabs one for himself. i always say yes.

we take off down the road, toward the future i guess, as 'whipped cream' starts to play through the tape deck.

and even though i am little, i can tell that this is always, always how i will remember my grandfather.

 

photo: tape \ instagram

the tenth month.

 

she trudged up the steps after her daily run, spent.

she gazed down the street & realized,

this is the month i'll be getting married.

 

ten days & counting.

 

 

photo: october colors \ instagram

a bayou state shower.

my coworkers sure do know how to spoil a girl... last wednesday, the lovely staff members of 

bayou state therapy,* as well as the other offices in the building, pitched in to produce

an absolute feast, as well as a wedding shower for justin & me.

there were red velvet cupcakes. there was rotel dip. there were sandwiches, pasta salad,

 cocktail weenies covered in bbq sauce, potato salad, & even some oreos. it was delicious.

and after we all had our fill to eat, we gathered in the pt gym for some good old fashioned

 gift-opening. justin & i have been so very blessed to receive so many great, useful items.

i truly can't say thank you enough, but i will do my best by sharing these silly images with you.

i sure do get a kick out of them, & i think you will too...

... yep. that's me.

a heart-felt thank you to everyone involved.

photos: via mom \ iphone

*i have absolutely loved working for my dad this summer/leading up to the

wedding this month. next week, i will discuss this experience in further detail.