Friday, December 31, 2010

2010 via my cellphone

i spent last night flipping through the pictures on my cellphone of the past year, and couldn't help but laugh as i recalled some of the wonderful memories from the year.  there were 120 pictures on my cellphone, but i thought i would share some of my favorites.  

the cutest cupcakes i have ever made. 


and the cutest hat i've ever worn.  do you see a pattern in my 2010?


a pleasant surprise i saw walking down the streets of my home town.



coffeehouse birthday parties!


the birth of kenzie


the rebirth of the gto


thrift store finds.


first signs of spring.


hilarious!


world, meet dixie.


the storm rolling in.


a magical place


cross this off my list of things to do before i die.


an amazing zoo exhibit in st. louis.


summer night swims.


can i keep him?


beauty at kaufman stadium


happy road trip moment


my summer was full of a lack of sleep.


church league softball


POUND FRISKY SUMMER LOVIN'


chicago changed my life.


one of the most gorgeous sunsets of the year.


for my love. 


a peek at my journal (which i don't share with the world)


celebrate! 


morning autumn drive


another gorgeous autumn sunset.


vintage dresses on the day i got engaged!


red velvet thrift store.


happy thanksgiving!


i have a thing about taking pictures in people's bathroom's mirrors.

christmas cookies!

enjoy your new years eve celebrations!  see you in 2011!

Saturday, December 25, 2010

♥ happy christmas ♥


tonight i enjoyed christmas eve service with my family and was totally moved by the thought that Jesus coming to the earth truly encompassed every aspect of human need.  so thankful, blessed, and humbled to call HIM my king!

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6

after christmas eve service we came home to dine with delicious homemade vegetable soup and watched "a christmas story," one of my favorite christmas traditions.  

we finished the evening driving around town, enjoying the wonderful christmas lights.

i hope your christmas is merry, bright, full of joy, and that you make happy memories that will last a lifetime!

will be back next week to share some pics of my christmas season with you all!

Friday, December 10, 2010

christmas mail

yesterday i received my first two christmas cards in the mail from my brother and his wife and from my church family.  i get great joy out of going to my mailbox each day and opening it to see what treasures it might hold for me, but even more i enjoy sending treasures to my friends and family across the nation.  so of course, christmas cards are one of my favorite parts of the christmas season!  i want to share with you some of the great photo cards i discovered today at shutterfly.com.  On Shutterfly you can personalize your Christmas cards by using your own pictures and then add them to the wonderful photo templates they have available online.

they have something for everyone, from single photo cards to multiple photo cards, (you know, to make each member of your family a star).

since this is my first christmas engaged, i am so excited to send out pictures of my fiance and i to all of our friends and family.  our picture is a little goofy, really fun, and i can't post it on here yet.  (i want it to be a mailbox surprise) but i thought i would share some of the templates i am thinking about using to make our christmas card.

i absolutely love the color story used on this christmas card. 

i think the plaid and the words "merry merry" would be the perfect compliment to our fun christmas picture!


and if you've been to my house and seen my brightly colored decorating, you'll understand why this card is one of my favorites.


Some other really neat things you can do on their website are create your own personalized holiday gifts tags.  Here are a few of my favorites!


i have this thing with reindeer this year, so this one is perfect.

i'm so in love with the colors and patterns on this gift tag.  It will look super cute on my simple brown wrapping paper.


And you can design your own photo books, which will make holiday scrapbooking simple, clean, and easy!  I love how you can make mini book like 5x7 or a standard 12x12 scrapbooking size.  

Pictures are my favorite way to keep memories fresh, and shutterfly.com is a great resource to held you.  Check out their website today!

Thursday, December 9, 2010

spreading christmas cheer


christmas is exploding from my home and heart.  here are some of my favorite christmas songs to keep things rolling at your house this year!


Get a playlist! Standalone player Get Ringtones

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

our story

I never thought I would be writing this out.  It has truly been a lifelong journey and I am so excited to share this with you today.

I woke up November 24, 2010 to a cloudy rainy day, but I knew the day before me was going to be magical; I just didn’t know how magical it would become.

Dane and I made the trip from Kansas City to Springfield, MO in order to celebrate Thanksgiving with his family.  Springfield is also the home of Miss Elsie & Miss Emma.  I have been reading Elsie’s blog faithfully for two years now.  She has been a huge inspiration to me creatively.  She also just opened a thrift store with her sister Emma and her fiancĂ© Jeremy in Springfield called Red Velvet.  Ever since I had heard about the store opening, I quickly added shopping there to my list of things to do before I die. Dane would always say, someday baby, we’ll go and enjoy Red Velvet together. 

When we arrived, I was blown away by the store.  I was giddy to meet Elsie & Emma and my eyes couldn’t stop looking at all of the cuteness!  Dane and I began shopping our little vintage passionate hearts out.  I found two vintage dresses and a sweet baby fawn.  Dane found a cardigan and a tie. 

After shopping I asked Dane if we could enjoy some cupcakes together.  Of course the answer was yes, and we walked to the sweets counter together, I was eager to pick out my favorite.  But then Dane said, “Christy turn around.”  Seated at the amazing 1960’s table were two cupcakes with “DW” and “CW” on them.  Those of you squealing and knowing what is coming next, let me simply share, I did not put it all together. 

Dane had me set down, and he pulled out an art journal that he had made me called “Our Life…you and me.”  Just seeing that made me cry and I couldn’t even speak.  The book consisted of our journey together, and we laughed and enjoyed reliving some of our favorite memories together for about 20 minutes, of course I was crying.  Just check out the amazing artwork of my baby below!  For the last page in the journal, Dane explained that we would take a picture at the store and fill the rest of the book with our memories together as we serve God and love each other. 















Then he gave me an owl puppet that he had also made!  (Look at my baby being all crafty!)


“Let’s eat cupcakes,” he said, “but first” and this is where He got down on one knee and I finally it hit me what was happening!

He said the sweetest things.  I wish I could remember it all word for word, but here’s what I do recall:  “I love you, I love who you are and I can’t wait to spend life with you and for us to serve God together, Christy, will you marry me?” I would like to note, I didn’t even look at the ring, I just hugged his neck and said yes with so much excitement and love bursting inside of me!  Then, after Dane dried my tears, he put the beautiful solitaire oval diamond ring on my finger. 

Elsie came and took pictures of us throughout the store and then, put them on her blog.  It was such an honor to be a part of one of her amazing blog posts.

And finally, I got to enjoy the cupcake, and I put it all together, DW and CW…my soon to be initials!  My cupcake was vanilla cake with vanilla frosting rolled in sugar crystals.  Dane’s was chocolate cake with vanilla frosting, also rolled in sugar crystals.  It was the most delicious cupcake I have ever eaten in my life.

What is most exciting about it all is I feel totally at peace and excited about this decision, when I look back at how Dane and I have been brought together, I know that God’s hand has been in it, orchestrating every step, beautifully writing every detail of our stories together.

Ooooo!  I’m engaged my friends!  I’m engaged, and I’m excited for future posts where I can share with you some of the wedding planning details!  I’m engaged!!!!!!!