Love.

I know I gave you a photo overload earlier today, but I don't care. While Kevin and I were at Gray's Lake yesterday just hanging out, I of course had to pester him with a photo opportunity. Let's just say it got a little out of hand and this is what happened.

Blast From The Past

This weekend we traveled back to Kevin's hometown to spend the weekend with his side of the family. It was a nostalgic weekend of looking through scrapbooks and old school work. Kevin brought some back home with us and I thought I'd share because some of the things he dug up are just HILARIOUS. I may be biased because he is my fiancé, and I am a teacher and am easily amused by children. I hope you can see the humor in some of it as well.

These first pictures are from a kindergarten notebook. From what we gathered, the students drew a picture and told the teacher what they drew, and the teacher wrote the sentence. 

I promise Kevin's mom is really a good mom, despite how unsupervised he appeared to be. (Sorry, Jolene!!) ;)

(This next one is just simply not true)

(Kevin said he still vividly remembers this dream)

(His teacher left something to be desired in her spelling as evidenced in the next two pictures)

Running out of ideas?? 

 My favorite part of the one above is the fact that he states, "...Her job is just to cook." Mind you, this couldn't be farther from the truth.

These next few are from his "diary", estimated to be from 2nd grade. He wrote in blue pen for the majority of the journal, and when he was really angry he wrote in red pen. (Jason and Lindsey are his older siblings.)

This is why I love kids!!!!!!!!!!!!! (And Kevin.)

Just for further embarrassment...here's a picture of Kevin from high school with a bunch of sock monkeys...
:)

ALLELUIA!!!!!

Today some awesome information has come to my attention. Like, the most awesome-est information you could ever imagine if you were me. And maybe you. If this information is as awesome to you as it is to me, we should be friends.

As you SHOULD know (if you don't, get with the program here, folks!) Brand New is my favorite band of all time. I will never ever get sick of listening to their music. Ever. It's pure art to my ears. My blog is named after them and I'm getting a tattoo with a lyric from their song. It is my DREAM in life to see them live! MY DREAM! I have heard my BFF Tonia rave about them on and on since I met her. She has told me my mind will be blown and my life will be complete when I finally see them. I don't doubt that. Kevin, who loves them, too, but is not nearly as obsessed, has seen them live, and loves to rub it in that I haven't. Since I started listening to them, they haven't toured anywhere NEAR the midwest. As a poor college student and the frugal gal I am, I haven't been able to travel to the coasts to see them, either. I considered traveling to Canada (11 hours north) with Tonia to see them, but Kevin assured me, "They're gonna come closer!" Well folks it's true. THEY'RE COMING!!!!!!!!!

Brand New announced on their Facebook page today that they are going to be playing at a festival in St. Paul June 23-24. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! That's soooo close! I can't even handle this! Nobody is here to share my excitement, Tonia is still in school, and Kevin is working. So, here I am, blogging my excitement away!!!

The festival is called Rivers Edge, and they just announced the lineup. I only recognize a few bands, but it looks like a great lineup! Dave Matthews Band, Mutemath, Motion City Soundtrack... YES! The list goes on and on. You can read the whole list and all the details of the festival here.

Do you think it's coincidence I decided upon my Brand New tattoo the same week they have FINALLY decided to come see me? I don't. I think it's fate. And that means I have until June 23 to get my first tattoo! If this isn't motivation, I don't know what is! I can't wait!!!

Am I more excited for my wedding or for this concert, you ask? I plead the 5th. ;)

And now I'm off to go on a nice long run with some Brand New BLARING in my headphones! WATCH OUT, WORLD!

An Odd Anniversary

Yesterday was our 2 year anniversary. Tonia sent me a text at 10:30 last night saying, "Happy anniversary!" I turned to Kevin and said, "Honey, do you know what today is?" And he thought for a minute. Then it hit him. "Oh crap. It's our anniversary! Are you mad at me? I can't believe I forgot!" This is typical. Was I mad? No. You know why? I FORGOT, TOO!!!! I mean, what kind of a female am I, not remembering an anniversary? It's not like I had a lot on my mind, fresh off spring break, not a care in the world. I have actually been looking forward to it for a few months now!

This was our first photo ever taken together, probably a week or two after we started dating. 
Clearly, I am enamored ;)

I should have played it off like, "Of course I remembered! You have a lot of ass-kissing to do, buddy!" But instead, I was mature and admitted that I failed, too, and he was off the hook. It's surprising, because our anniversary is something he's actually very good at remembering. He can't remember my birthday, but he can always tell me the date we began dating. Being the master-celebrater-of-everything I am, I am honestly very VERY sad that I forgot. Now I have to wait a whole 'nother year for our next anniversary. Hmph.

Anyway, we know it was coming up but it just slipped our minds this week. We even had plans to celebrate it this weekend. We are going to Cedar Falls, mainly to celebrate my brothers turning 21, but also to celebrate the place we met and fell in love (warning: I'm going to start getting mushy in here). We have so many great memories in Cedar Falls of the beginning of our relationship, so I'm looking forward to revisiting those old places and being nostalgic. We're also going to go look at our wedding venues again!

I have a lot of thoughts about being together for two years. When I think about it, it doesn't seem like that long (that's a good thing, right?) I feel like I have known Kevin my whole life, it's hard to believe that it's only been 2 years! It's also weird for me to think that we're getting MARRIED and we only went on our first date 2 years ago. It's not weird in a scary way, but weird in a cool and reassuring way. It's totally true what they say, "When ya know, ya know!"

I feel so lucky that I get to spend all the days for the rest of my life with my best friend. How did I come to love this kid so much? I feel so happy and loved everyday. It's the best feeling in the world. I'm looking forward to many many more anniversaries spent with my boy. After next year, we'll have to start over with our anniversaries. Hopefully June 22nd will be a little easier to remember :)

Thrifting!

Hey guys! Hope you all had a wonderful weekend. I had a relaxing yet productive and exciting weekend. I ate lunch with my dear friend Stephanie who was in town for a bit. It's always great catching up with friends you haven't seen in so long. I had nearly every class in college with Steph so it was nice to catch up with her. Thanks, Steph!! :)

This afternoon Kevin and I spent a couple hours perusing a new antique store. It was a GIANT antique store (for those in the area, it's called The Brass Armadillo) with lots of vendors and a wide assortment of goodies. I brought a few treasures home with me, and found many others that I would have LOVED to purchase if I had a bigger home.

Here are the items that didn't make it home with me...today:

A very cool feather hat that would have made awesome wall decor in a closet or bathroom

So many cool *overpriced* handkerchiefs in this basket

Words cannot describe how much I loved this lamp! However, I wasn't willing to pay what the price tag was asking.

I loved these colorful pastel dishes. Maybe someday.

I really loved this radio! It was bright teal and worked! I even had Kevin thinking it was cool. But the $28 price tag scared me away. I was on the hunt for some DEALS!

A very pretty serving plate!

I was looking all over for canisters for flour, sugar, etc. and this one ALMOST made the cut. I had plans on purchasing it but after walking around and coming back, I changed my mind. I still may go back and get it someday. Four sturdy canisters and matching salt and pepper shaker for $25. Did I make a mistake passing it up?

I really liked this coat but Kevin said it looked ridiculous on me. I couldn't find a mirror anywhere so I had to take his opinion.

Alright so I didn't really have intentions to buy this dresser but I did love the colors on the drawers!

If I had a house and a full-time guaranteed job, I really would have considered buying this one. It's a refurbished corner cabinet for about $200.

Now that I have tortured myself again showing you things I didn't buy but wanted to, here is what I actually did bring home:

A pretty peach towel with some lovely embroidery for $2

Some very well priced ($1.50) vintage handkerchiefs for our wedding (use still to be determined!). The photo is a little dark, but the purple is very pretty with crochetted edges. The yellow is see through with tiny white polka dots. And, the blue one is a very pretty bright blue with a floral design. Anyone have any ideas of what I should use these gems I've been collecting for??

This might have been my favorite purchase of the day! I can NEVER find vintage jewelry I like but I love this turquoise necklace. For $1.50!

This was another favorite. I have been wanting to start collecting kitchy salt and pepper shakers but have had trouble finding a good set to start with (there are always HUNDREDS of salt and pepper shakers at antique stores). How much more perfect does it get than MASON JAR salt and pepper shakers?!

They are smaller than they appear in this picture, about 3 inches tall.

Kevin found lots of goodies, too, but nothing he "had" to have. When we purchase a home antiquing will be much more fun, and dangerous, for us. His man-cave will be well stocked with old beer signs.

Do any of you go to many thrift/antique stores? Anyone in Iowa have any recommendations? I always love finding new places to go. I also was looking forward to this post so I could spread the love of thrifting! There are so many AWESOME things out there and it's a great way to spend a few hours on the weekends.

Happy Birthday, Kev!

Today is Kevin's birthday! He is 25 on the 25th! He finished out his busy season yesterday so we went out with his coworkers to celebrate and had a blast. I have been giving Kevin a present a day. Today it was his "birthday cake", pickle wraps. I woke up early to make them and served them to him in bed. I think that earns me some fiancé points. Not sure what we'll be doing today but I'm just happy busy season is over and he won't be working any more Saturdays and long long nights!

Happy birthday, Honey! I love you very much.