TTHOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Saw this quote today and thought that it's a good reminder.

"Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved."
-- Helen Keller

FIRST DAY OF FALL

Happy first day of Fall! I'll be honest, I have always been a summer girl my whole life. But for a little while now, Autumn has grown on me a LOT. It feels like fresh beginnings, crisp air, cozy fires, cozy knits, cozy cuddle weather... basically a whole lot of COZY!

Even though it's still been really warm here, I have been in "fall mode" for a couple weeks now. Iced pumpkin spice lattes have been a great way to get in the "fall spirit" without completely melting in the heat. And every time we have a foggy morning or a cold night, I know that fall is just around the corner.


Ok so get ready, I'm going to bombard you with pictures of the things that make me think of fall. These are being posted because a) I want to wear it b) I want to make it and eat it or c) it remind me of Fall. Actually they all make me think of Fall. What are some of your favorite things about Fall?

Yum. Gotta make this sometime.

Would be really cute paired with some tights, ankle boots, a blouse and a long necklace.Too bad they cost an arm and a leg from Anthropologie.

Pumpkin Spice Latte cupcakes. MUST make these ASAP.

I'm digging the maxi-skirt trend.

I am a big fan of cognac leather anything. Especially bags.

Layers!

Beautiful ring in Fall colors.

When Fall came around my mom always lights candles around the house and put some cinnamon apple cider on the stove to make the whole house smell good. I love it.

I love a good butternut squash recipe, so I'm anxious to try and make this Butternut Squash Pizza. Looks delish.

Boots!

Apple drinks

All images via Pinterest.

P.S. If you want to hear about my new married life, visit our new blog: http://www.hellofromthehickmans.blogspot.com/

Gettin' Married

This weekend Alan and I will celebrate our three year anniversary by getting married. I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with this man, starting in four days! Not to mention celebrating with our closest friends and family.

quote of the day

"When I understand that everything happening to me is to make me more Christlike, it solves a great deal of anxiety."

AWT

Today I woke up in a stripey mood. As in, I woke up with the desire to wear stripes. Unfortunately there were no clean, stripey items in my closet, therefore I'll just have to get stripes out of my system with a blogpost. Love these images found on Pinterest!

Drowning in Wedding Details

I have not posted in ages. I have been so crazy busy with wedding planning, work, etc. Right now I feel slightly like I'm drowning in things I need to do/figure out for the wedding, which is my own fault for planning the whole thing. But I know with a lot of hard-work, focus, and the help of family and friends, it will all get taken care of. If you know me, you know that I LOVE planning the vision of what I want my wedding to look like. The design, the decor details, the theme, the favors, etc. Now i feel like I'm stuck in all the not-so-fun logistical details of making sure everything goes smoothly (technical stuff, getting help with transportation, set-up, break-down, etc.) But I have to remember that there's only so much I can do- I can plan what I want, try to do my best to create my vision, but at some point I will have to let go of it all so that I can enjoy what is really important- getting married to my best friend and the love of my life! (Transition from event planner mindset to Bride mindset)

As you may know, the "theme phrase" of our wedding is: "We're Tying The Knot!" We felt that a somewhat vintage nautical theme with knots felt appropriate with the location of our wedding and where we met (by the ocean in San Diego). Recently came across this knot that will be incorporated in the wedding.It's tied with two separate pieces of string.

True Lovers Knot: a complicated ornamental knot not readily untied and symbolic of mutual love —called also truelove knot.

I am just so excited to get to be with all our favorite people, in what is probably my favorite place, celebrating such an exciting, sacred thing!

Here is a sneak peek of the "feel" of the wedding...

Goals

My goals for year one of being married (that don't necessarily have anything to do with marriage):

- Spend regular quiet time with God and reading more of His word, and more time in prayer
- Learn how to re-upholster a chair with awesome fabric and do so
- Cook one new meal/dessert per week
- Always be reading a book on marriage
- Create a home out of a house, and do so as creatively and inexpensively as possible
- Intentionally pray every week about our future (specifically our career paths and where God can use us most)
- Learn how to balance becoming one while still always being and becoming our own very different and unique people inside of a marriage. And always appreciate those differences.
- Continue exercising on a regular basis. Learn how to make this a lifelong aspect of my life.
- Go on a road trip or even a mini road trip with Alan
- Have regular date nights
- Design and create my own set of stationary/cards
- Save money

This list will most likely grow. Any suggestions?