The first social gathering at 151.

Tuesday, December 30, 2014



From the time I was little, I have always loved a good party. My mother has always hosted a Christmas supper, NYE party, SOMETHING at our home and it is one of my favorite things to attend. Good food, laughter, gifts, and together time making memories. What is there NOT to love about those times?

So, this year.. our cousin Christmas get together was at my house! I like to call it the first social gathering of 151. (btw: that's my house number.


So, the night before the gathering we had our Patton Christmas which was a blast as usual. When I left there it was 10:30 and I still had not bought the groceries for the party. To Kroger I went and shopped for the next day. Kroger that late at night is definitely the time to shop! 

The next morning I woke up and made Crock Pot Pizza, fixed a bagged salad, and made Chocolate dipped marshmallows.  I do not profess to be a cook but for me, this was good! I think my family was VERY shocked that I prepared a meal BY MYSELF. :)


With all the hustle and bustle of the holidays, I still have no dining room suite to show. Card tables are the next best thing so that's what we used. Let me tell you they worked just the same. I am a firm believer in paper products for the holidays because that time is not wasted on washing dishes. Do not get me wrong, beautiful Christmas china is beautiful but sometimes (such as this) totally unnecessary. 


Marshmallows were the hit of the party. One of our parents made these for our Christmas party at school and I fell in sweet, candy love. I decided these would be great for the Cousin Christmas and I even incidentally made them into the shape of a Christmas tree. 

I am so happy that everything went off without a hitch and I hope that my family felt at home and welcomed into my little happy place. I am so thankful to have a house this holiday season that I can decorate and share with family and friends.

Cousin Christmas 2014, you were fun! Can't wait for next year!

I own a HOUSE!

Sunday, August 31, 2014

Y'all.. it happened!  I bought a house! When I found out that I had gotten the Kindergarten teaching job at Lafayette, I started looking for somewhere to live. Now, in Oxford this is no small feat. 


I searched high and low for an affordable house that I would love for years to come. Every time I came to town I would drive around and see if there was anything out there for me. After all the months of looking, I had a couple of leads and made even made an offer on a house that I thought I LOVED. It all happened so quickly and then it fell apart. (Let's just say the house wasn't for me and would have been a disaster if it should have happened.)

I'm so thankful that my Sweet Savior always has his hands on my every decision. After the house incident, my mother heard about another house that was about to be put on the market and told me that I should look into it.  I went and looked at the house and loved it! I'm so thankful that I found it when I did.

                                  

I never realized what a process buying a house truly is. Through the making offers, negotiating and closing, it has been crazy but fun! I'm happy to say that on this past Thursday, this beaut became MINE!


I'm grateful to my Mother and Daddy who had to do most of the "non-fun" work throughout the process. Being a teacher and closing on a house is not easy and they had to make a lot of the decisions because I wasn't available during the day. I will never be able to re-pay them for all of their help!

Soon and very soon, I will have an update on the decorating and finishing touches of the house. We are moving Tuesday and I know I'll go full-force to get a lot of the decorating done! I am SO excited about having a place in my favorite town to call home!


 Now I'm on the hunt for a dining room table and other accessories for my new abode. If you have any suggestions or see anything that I can't live without, hit me up on Social Media!

The End of the beginning.

Monday, June 30, 2014

Hello again! I'm back today to talk about apartment living and the progress that I made before moving out of my first "big girl" apartment. I loved living by myself for 3 years and being able to decorate my house exactly like I wanted it. It was my place to rest and be myself and I'm so thankful that I was able to live there.

Southaven was a lot of things for me. It was a dream come true(insert story). When I was in middle school, my mama, cousin Linda, and I would go to Memphis on shopping excursions often and I was always so amazed at how "awesome" life was here. It was a much bigger city than anywhere around Pontotoc, and it had so much to offer. I just made the comment one day that I would live in Memphis or Southaven one day as a single girl, and teach. Well, I did that didn't I?

Southaven was also a time for me to get out of my comfort zone and learn what being an adult actually meant. I had very little worries, I took out my first loan.. and paid it off, and I saw that I could get through anything with the help of my friends and family. It was so much fun for the 3 years that I was there and I wouldn't trade it for anything!

Southaven  was also where my first three years in the classroom were spent and it was  challenging, fun, exciting and a great learning experience for me! God had me there for a reason to love on some really challenging kids. He also gave me lots of different classroom experiences so that I knew where I was comfortable and where I fit in the best. He's a good God!

... This has totally gone into a sentimental post! I'm so lucky to have had these experiences. Now back to the Apartment Tour.

Before I left Southaven, I took pictures of my apartment and it amazed me how much it changed from this post. I added a lot of treasures from thrift shopping and made it my own. But, I must say, packing all these treasures up have not been fun.

I loved having something cute on my door for every occasion! This is the entryway as your came into my apartment. I kept my keys, Harper's leashes and a flashlight having there, just in case!

My super, roomy kitchen that never got the love that it deserved. I am not a cook but I sure loved making this room feel special. I had tons of counter/cabinet space and it's a good thing I did with all of the dishes/accessories that I had. I found some paintings at a yard sale that fit my style and that white cabinet over there held most of my bigger McCarty pieces and platters. The cabinet was a Craigslist find and got some love by painting from me and the parentals. 


My living area was where I spent the most time. Most of my furniture came from thrift/antique stores and I loved having pieces that were not matchy-matchy and were unique. My mantel was probably most most favorite thing in the house-- I loved decorating for each holiday. I started a cross wall and quickly fell in love with it too. The last picture is the balcony that I loved but it was always either too hot or too cold to really enjoy it. 

This was my extra bedroom that a many of friends and family have slept on! I'm so thankful that I was able to share my "home" with so many people. :)

My bedroom included my favorite furniture piece that I own. My armoire that I found on Craigslist and that I know will ALWAYS been in whatever home I am in. I love it that much! My style included lots of thrifting pieces and lots of green. I will eventually paint this furniture but it went with my pillows included in my bedding. 

The last place to show you of my apartment is the laundry room. I had a very small room but it was perfect for my washer and dryer and my collection of Ole Miss prints! I had shelves above for storage and I got a lady from my church to make me curtains to add to the decor. 

I'm so glad that I took these pictures to remember how my first apartment was decorated and all the memories that I made in this place. I'm so excited to see how different my next home will be and believe me, y'all will be included in the journey!

School is OUT!

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Bring it on, Summer! 


Today is the day that I have been looking forward to for about 8 months now. (ha!) It's every teacher's favorite day and every parents realization of what those ladies and gentlemen really do for them. SCHOOL is OUT! I can't wait to start my summer off right.

This summer is going to be very different for me. I am packing up my apartment, putting everything in a storage building and moving in with my Mother and Daddy. Talk about an adjustment.. but I am very thankful that I have this time to make some big decisions. :) (right, Mama?) I'm really excited to get back closer to home and be near Oxford more often. It's my dream and it's "happening". 

john 13:7
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It hasn't hit me yet that I am "leaving" my first real teaching job and all of the people who I have called family for three years! Today when I hugged my principal bye, I could have cried. These people have been there for me and loved me when I wasn't near my parents, definitely wasn't in my comfort zone and needed reassurance that teaching is what I was made to do. God knew exactly what I needed.

I'll always be thankful for the time that I spent at Horn Lake Elementary and I can't wait to see what God has for me in Oxford. Now I can't wait to start my summer vacation by sleeping late in the morning and finishing some errands that HAVE to get done. I can't wait to share my "crazy" summer with you and I can't wait to see what you have up your sleeve too!

Summer Summer Summer!
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Happy last day of school! 

The New Place

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Since I am finally settled in and living life, I decided to do a tour of my new apartment. I really love it here so far but I am kinda lonely with just moving here and not having any apartment friends yet. :)

No worries, I'm fine just needing something to take up my days and I know that is coming all too SOON!

I haven't decorated everything completely but here is a simple version of where I am living. :)

This is my little laundry room that I adore. It's tiny but so me. I'm loving my curtains the most and I believe that they make the room. :)
(thanks, Mrs. Margie)

My cute eating area. I've got to add something to the back wall. 
My kitchen. Notice the Rooster painting? A 2nd grader did that. I'm such a teacher.
My living room. and yes...
got my chair! I love it!
so excited to have my mantel! Can't wait to really decorate it for seasons and such. 
My tv center and cross wall. 
sorry for the junk. :(
my extra bedroom. So far, it's had lots of company!
My hall decor. Love that painting!
My bedroom. I'm thinking Green is becoming my favorite color. We shall see.
Some of my Craigslist pieces and hand-me-downs.
My jewelry holders my daddy and I made. Love them!
Bathroom. Needs some work. :)

I'm excited to show ya'll my little nook. I'm so excited for the possibilities of my 1st place and I know that God has huge plans for me too.

This is such a transition for me and I pray that the Lord helps it get easier. I would love to get mail, gifts, and such from you friends! haha. jk, kinda.
If you would love to send me some mail or some encouragement I'll gladly give you my address via email.

Hope you all are having a great Saturday! :)

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