My Best Friend's Wedding (Shower)

My beautiful best friend, Emilee, will be married in 54 short days! I remember how it seemed like I had so much time but at the end it absolutely flew by. The closer it got to the wedding, the more I had to do! Yesterday was five months since the wedding and it seems like time is flying by faster than ever! 

Yesterday Mom and I went to one of Em's showers in Habersham and I must admit, I'm loving how the tables have turned! It's fun being on this side of the wedding chaos! This is the only photo I took yesterday as my phone was not cooperating and I discovered my camera was dead...

Today the bridesmaids hosted a shower in Gainesville at 2 Dog Restaurant. We had eighteen people and the food was delish! The shower was "Around the clock," so guests brought gifts that corresponded to morning, noon, or night. We played the purse game, had delicious cupcakes, and had a great time celebrating sweet Em (and you too Kelsey!). I can't wait for the big day in December! I was there when Emilee fell head over heels for Kelsey and I couldn't be happier for them! They are the most perfect couple I know and I'm glad it's finally their time to tie the knot! Here's a few of pictures from the shower:

Welcome table

Table

Menu, favor, and spoon for marriage advice

Beautiful Bride to be!

Grandma Ruth writing her advice

Beautiful ladies - love you girls!

Such a wonderful time! Love you to the moon sweet friend!

Our Annual Gatlinburg Trip

Hello All! How have y'all been during my hiatus from the blogosphere? I'm sure you've all been enjoying this fantastic weather as much as I have! I don't know exactly where I've been but when I look back since I last wrote it feels like I've been extremely busy! I guess that's life though, huh? Living in the in betweens.

Last weekend we enjoyed our annual trip to Gatlinburg with Chris's family. This is the family's eleventh year going together and my eighth year joining the crew! Chris and I look forward to this trip all year long! It's so insane how time flies. I remember anticipating this trip for the first time like it was yesterday. You know, back when we were fifteen and seventeen and skipped high school to go! It was so weird not having to study or go back to school this year. Well, I went back to school but in a different way I guess! Geez we are getting old! Twenty two and twenty four... that doesn't sound as cute! All these years we've been counting down until we could get married and now we are finally here. Your parents aren't kidding when they say the older you get the faster time flies. I hope it will start slowing down a little bit...

Back to the trip! We stay in a big cabin with everyone usually just outside of town. This year we had a cabin overlooking Gatlinburg with phenomenal views of town and the surrounding mountains. The Smoky Mountains are almost at peak this time of year and I never tire of looking at them! I have taken about a zillion pictures over my lifetime and just keep snapping! We did the usual: a whole lot of shopping and eating! Plus a little bit of hiking, board games, putt-putt, arcade games, and of course enjoying the sights and each other. I'll try to narrow down the several hundred photos I took -

Since we got into town before noon we decided to head out to Cade's Cove 

Plenty of self photography coming up, y'all!

Always have to take a pic of this place ;)

Love him

And him!

Excuse the ghost halo in the photo

Cutest thing ever.

We just couldn't help ourselves!

Sunny Tiff and me

The most beautiful set-up in the fall

Can you tell we are sleepy? Going to breakfast with everyone

Our HUGE bear friend!

Enjoying our last night!

Favorite thing on Earth

View from our cabin

Love listening to music in the rocking chairs

Love love love them!

Lunch at the Apple Barn on the last day

Heading back over the mountain 

We try...

It was so beautiful we decided to take a short hike right before sunset...

COLD

More beautiful with every step

Look at these bridges, Lisa! Teensy!

Arch Rock

I swear the colors change every minute!

How do people doubt the existence of our Creator?

He paints the most beautiful pictures!

Hope those brightened up your Monday!

Halloweentown

I've already dedicated several blog posts to the various fall decorations around our humble little home. I'm more than excited about Halloween so I added a few things to the existing fall decor! As you already know I'm a Christmas fanatic so none of the other holidays get me quite as excited, but I think I'm still more excited than the average person! Chris on the other hand loves Halloween. I think maybe it's a boy thing? Who knows, but I'll take any excuse to go buy some holiday stuff! Most of this I already had from the past couple of years but I had forgotten about it! It was like Christmas going through all my things getting ready to decorate! The "trick or treat" sign, "boo to you" sign, and "Halloween" witch sign were bought at Hobby Lobby last year after Halloween. They were marked between $8-$10 each but I got all three for under $7. Pretty good, right? The plan was to hang them in my classroom but that will have to wait another year :) Enjoy some photos from our humble abode!

On the shelf

Hanging in the kitchen!

New fall tablecloth courtesy of TJ Maxx

Bought this wreath at a craft show in Myrtle Beach!

Out front!

Wedding lanterns turned Halloween!

Crazy looking witch

Spotted this perfect pumpkin along the road and had to have it!

The trick or treat bowl/Chris's candy bowl!

Are you as excited for Halloween as I am? Let's be honest, I'm mostly excited for ABC Family's "13 days til Halloween!" I'm itching to watch Hocus Pocus! Happy Haunting!