Molly's Home...A cause for celebration

Thanks to a hurricane, Molly was able to visit Ohio for a few days and I was ecstatic to have her home. She was going to come home for a wedding, then she couldn't get off work, then the hurricane shut down her city and she had to evacuate. Talk about good timing for her to need to leave SC.

I think I was a little excited when she called to tell me!

She and Lauren got to my place around 12:30am after driving 9 straight hours from SC. We had a little slumber party and Thursday morning we headed home. Molly, Tyler and I went to Emma's for a footlong hotdog and a milkshake in the Jeep. It was the first time we'd been together since August, and other than that one evening at the Ross County Fair, we hadn't been together since April!

It was hard to be at work on Friday knowing that my little sibs were hanging out back home without me. That morning when I got a sweet tea I thought about getting one for my friend Caitlyn that is a graduate student here in my department, but I just wasn't sure of her schedule these days. I occasionally treated her to a sweet tea over the summer when she was a FTE. Well that afternoon she walked into my office with a McDonald's Sweet Tea! That girl is the sweetest.

Friday evening I went back to Piketon and Moly and I went to the football game. It was All Cheerleaders' Night and Piketon won! Yay. We got to watch Avery cheer and then left shortly after halftime. It wasn't that exciting of a game. 

Post high school football game, we did what any normal adults do, we laid on the couch and filmed snapchat videos with ridiculous filters. 

Oh my deer.....

Saturday we traveled north for the wedding of our friend Jake. He and Molly were buds during their undergraduate days and I advised him in both student council and the fraternity. He was actually very influential in getting me to advise the fraternity. I was really glad that Molly was home to go to this wedding with me because the week before I had a bit of a pouting fit about not wanting to go because I didn't have a date. Thankfully it worked out wonderfully because Molly and I went together, we danced all night, and had a great time. There were a few awkward moments but for the most part, it was fun!

The best date.

How are the three of us single?

Photobombs.

Molly and her bud Ben. They claim to hate each other.

Sunday morning we got up pretty early and headed back to Columbus. Lauren picked Molly up and just like that she was gone and back to SC.

Luckily, event though parts of SC were damaged and flooded, her apartment was just fine. The pictures she sent us from around town showed damage and flooding debris, but she was safe!

That Sunday afternoon I drove home and visited Papaw in his new temporary crib, as he's doing a cardio rehab bootcamp. He's spent most of the summer just laying around and not moving, so it caused his leg muscles to weaken and a little fluid to build up again. We watched the Browns lose (no surprise!) and chatted about his favorite politician, Donald Trump (100% sarcasm). I also had to deliver Bowie to my parents because a few days later I headed for Honduras!! More on that soon.

Homecoming Weekend

I'm way behind on life updates, but rather than get further behind, I'm just going to update on this most recent weekend, then I'll try to backtrack a little and get other summer updates posted.

This past weekend was homecoming at both Ohio State and Piketon. For laughs, here is a picture of me at my high school senior homecoming in 2002.

I'm in the front on the left. 

Every year the fraternity I advise builds a float for the OSU homecoming parade. They get so into it and I love it! It's like the worlds largest craft project. Some of the boys who are engineers work to get all of the mechanics down - how is it going to move, etc., while other boys help pomp, design signs, film, etc. They put hours and hours and hours into the float. I pop in for a few hours each evening to help pomp, paint signs, and provide encouragement and support. And leave around 10pm while they all stay there till the wee hours of the morning. #noti

pomping the wheels of the cannon.

pomping the actual cannon.

i painted the shield for the side banners.

Ellen and I (the house director and the advisor.....aka Women of FarmHouse) before we called it a night.

Some the boys and our king candidate.

They were interviewed by NBC 4 on the live news.

Brutus kicked the Rutgers cannon and then it "fell apart."

They ended up placing second to the College of Dentistry. They did a great job and put so much work into it! We just need to start gathering ideas for next year!

Saturday morning I helped clean up the alumni fall fest and then headed home to Piketon for the evening. I visited with Mam and Papaw a few minutes, then headed home to take pictures before Piketon's homecoming dance. Some of the dresses were pretty, but some where not. Some girls had pretty make up, while others did not. Some guys were dressed really fancy, while others were not. Ha. It was all over the board. After pictures I went to Bob Evans and had dinner with Payton and Shanon, so I was caught up on things going on at Morehead for Payton.

Sunday I got up really early and headed to Ripley to meet up with Cara. She gave me a tour of her farm and I played with the kittens, then we headed to downtown Cincy to watch The Sound of Music. It was so good! The girl that played Maria talked weird, kind of like the way Kate McKinnon sometimes talks on SNL. Anyway, it was great and I was singing "the Hills are alive with the sound of music...." all evening until I met up with some friends and went to a Jake Owen concert. :)

The Hills are alive......with the sound of music.....ahhhhh haaaaa ahhh.

Jake was playing at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium at the Brighter Days Foundation fundraiser. Jason and Ellie Day were there, along with Colt Ford, Justin Moore, Jake (obviously). I saw Brian Hardline and some other NFL players that I couldn't place. There was a guy from The Office there, along with Elaine's boss from Seinfeld. I thought Cole Swindell was going to be there, but he was not. :(

Jake played for about an hour - he played some good ones, but not all of my favorites like "American Country Love Song," "Alone with You," and "Eight Second Ride". But I have no complaints about watching him sing for an hour! :) Colt Ford and Justin Moore performed a few songs with him too. (PS - I had no idea who Colt Ford was prior to this event!)

And while I didn't get to meet Jake, Thom did give us a ride to our cars and I got to sit in the seat where Jake had sat a few hours before me, so there's that! ha.

A Wedding Quilt

I started a new quilt project a while back, and as I typically do, I tried to work ahead so there wouldn't be any last minute stitching, but I was totally up till 1am a few nights before the wedding trying to get it done.

Quilting is really simple, but sometimes I forget that it's not as simple as I think and that certain parts of it do take up a lot of time.

So I quilted a throw for Stacie and Derek's living room and since I'm not sure how it's decorated, I made it a bunch of different colors. It turned out to be the most favorite quilt I've ever done. (Yes, I say that about all of them, but they just keep getting better I think!)

I originally found this picture below online and really liked it, so I decided to do something similar.

I started to go to the fabric stores and buy fabric in colors and patterns that I wanted, but first I went threw my scraps I have at home and I am so glad I did. With the exception of two fabrics that I ordered online, everything came from my stash! I liked it so much that I cut out double of everything so that I can make my own quilt just like it - or similar, since it won't be exactly the same.

The fabrics are all leftover from other quilts I've made, pillows that I made when I first moved in to my apartment 6 years ago, my sister's baby shower (I had sooooo much extra fabric for that), and a baby shower at work.

I forgot to take a picture at home, so I did at the reception hall! :)

For the back, I like to use extra fabric from the pattern on the front and sometimes I end up liking the back more than the front. For this one I used the two fabrics that I had ordered online, the purple to match their wedding colors and the aqua because they have aqua and greens in their house, and because it had Dogwood Flowers and I like them!

And as always, I did a little personalization in the bottom corner. 

I hope they liked it. It's by no means perfect. It has a lot of places that the binding didn't catch and I had to go back and touch up. I should have hand stitched it on instead of machine sewing, but I ran out of time! It will still serve it's purpose and keep someone that sleeps in their attic warm at night (because I froze the last time I stayed up there!).

And here is a picture of me with the babe of a bride. It was actually the only picture of us together somehow, but I do make a few appearances in this sneak peak video from their wedding day. A whole post to come soon.

Late June and Early July

My posts these days are just starting to become a collection of summaries rather than individual posts on specific events. Oh well! :)

So in my last post I talked about the Cavs winning the NBA Championship. I haven't gotten a championship shirt yet, but I probably will eventually. Just so I can show it to my grandkids one day! ;) I saw this post online and thought it was hilarious. Poor Cleveland! 

One Saturday we did a girls pool day at Lindsey's. Everyone made something and we had a little potluck type lunch. Lindsey made chicken salad and a few other tasty sides, Callie brought a punch, I brought cookies and spinach dip and it was all yummy. I also got a 12 pack of Angry Orchard to share. I drank one can, I had another can a few days later while I was grilling a burger (I felt like it was the right thing to do) and the other 10 are still in my fridge! ha! We had a lot of fun and I got a little too much sun on my back, but was only a little pink that evening.

A few weeks ago I went to Cincinnati for a regional meeting with a group of teachers from 6 different states. It was held at a place called EnterTRAINment Junction. It has a huge display of model trains that was so cool, so after the dinner was over I walked through the display pretty quickly but it would be so easy to spend hours in there!

This place also has a fun house, which was pretty entertaining too. There was a curtain maze where you literally walk from 3x3 room to room and it was so easy to get lost! One of the rooms had the mirror that make you look really tall or really short! :) There was also a mirror maze, a maze that had strings that you had to crawl through, a space exhibit where you walked through the tube that was spinning and it makes you loose all sense of balance, and a fun house that had a few tilted rooms which totally through you off!

The tilted room.

I'm really tall here. 

And really short here.

Since I was in Cincinnati and the dinner just happened to be up 75 from IKEA, I made a pit stop there for a few things I'd been wanting to pick up! And I got to visit Cara and her new adorable townhouse while in the Nati, too!

Then that weekend Kayla came back to Columbus to visit before going to camp and she stayed with me a few nights. Bowie was extra excited for her to be there! ha. We went to Red, White, and Boom. I had never been before. We watched it from Arch Park and apparently I now know that the area around Nationwide Arena is where all of the high school students hang out. I knew I felt really old for a reason! After the fireworks, we hung out on Park Street while the traffic cleared up and then headed home. It was good to visit with Derek and Stacie and other peeps that I don't see that often!

Bowie anxiously awaiting Kayla's arrival.

I got a shoutout in Kayla's official published research.

Fire works. 

Girls at Red White and Boom.

I also had a few cookouts that weekend, one with work peeps and one with friends. Tim and Carla both are moving out of state for new jobs and we celebrated that with a cookout at a co-workers house. (Tim's wife is also battling cancer, so prayers for her healing are appreciated by the family!) I made marriage cookies and a peach cobbler. Lauren visited me on Friday while she was in town from SC and brought me peaches. I did't have any idea what to do with all these peaches, so I looked up a few recipes and made my first cobbler. I didn't eat any of it because I don't like peaches, but everyone said it was good! And Dr. Birkenholtz's granddaughter said my cookies were the best she's ever had, so that was a win, too! #workinonthosewifeskillz

Work family

 Mom and I headed south to Charleston on the 4th to visit Molly and go to the beach for a few days. Our normal family vacation plans for this year were a little wonky once Tyler had to have his wisdom teeth pulled and dad volunteered to stay home and take care of him. So it was just us girls.

Mom and I got to Charleston about 7pm on Monday and made it down to the harbor for fireworks. Molly was at a coworker thing, so we didn't meet up with her until about 11:30pm. I hadn't seen her in two months!! 

Mom and I at the fireworks.

Reunited and it feels so good!

We spent three days in Myrtle Beach, just sitting in the sun. We got in the water a few times, but there were all these warnings about bacteria and sharks so we mostly just sat on the shore in the sun. I apparently also took know photos while we were there. So here is one that my mom took of us at dinner our first night.

When we went back to Charleston, we visited the Magnolia Plantation and Gardens! It was gorgeous. It did't have an oak tree lined driveway like Boone Hall Plantation does, but it was still just lovely! Much bigger and more landscaped. But you did have to pay extra for all the tours, unlike at Boone Hall. I would have liked to have done the boat tour and the agriculture tour, but oh well. Next time.

On one of the paths through the gardens.

The gorgeous house.

Sister Selfie

All the spanish moss!!!

That evening we went back into town and walked to dinner at a BBQ joint that is right beside the jewelry store where Molly works on the weekends. I had the best macaroni with pulled pork on top. We also got to see Molly's store and meet some of the people that we hear her talk about all of the time. 

You can't get food more southern than this picture right here.

 It was a good trip and I'm glad I got to visit with Molly for a few days. This picture was hanging in her apartment and it makes me sad because this is the last time the three of us were together - April 30. I want her to come back to Ohio!!

Sibbies.

Why not?

How is it already almost July? This summer is flying by and I want it to stop and SLOW DOWN! 

I've been working to embrace my city dwelling more because this city really has so much to offer and I have been taking it for granted way to long. So a few weeks ago I didn't have anything to do on a Friday night, so I went to the Columbus Arts Festival. I had never been, really had no idea what it was, but it'd been on the news a billion times, so I thought "why not?" Well, I realized I am not an art person. Like at all. If you are someone who is into art history and different media and museums, that is wonderful. I am a vintage/antique store, flea market and crafty kind of girl. However, there were two artist booths that I spent quite a bit of time in - here and here. Of course, they both have college football stuff. :) (Also....sports girl.)

View of downtown from the bridge.

Even though I don't love art, I did enjoy walking around at the festival. It was a nice little Friday night date night (with myself) to explore something that was on my Columbus bucket list.

This most recent Friday night, we celebrated Amber's birthday. We went to the Short North area and had a great time. Her BFF from home also joined in on the crazy.

I wish I could get this sideways, but it'll have to do for now.

We did drinks at a few places and then got Jeni's ice cream to kind of cap off the night. There were no empty chairs inside and I was in a dress so I couldn't sit on the curb, so Amber and I ended up on the bikes that you can rent. And while I had drank about a 1/3 of an Angry Orchard, I was NOT intoxicated like this snapchat caption might make one think. Or you would think if you saw the videos of us acting like we were in a spin class while eating our ice cream.

Happy Birthday Amber!

Why not take a selfie with the pretty parking garage wall!

Saturday and Sunday I went home to celebrate my favorite men - my dad and Papaw. Saturday I spent most of the afternoon and evening working on a project, which I'll blog about when I get it done, which is hopefully this weekend!

On Sunday we went to my grandma and grandpa's for our Father's Day cookout. Everyone was there except Molly, who was in SC. Uncle Bill manned the grill this year. Papaw has given up that job now.  :( Sometimes Tyler does it, sometimes my dad does it. I did it last year when we made turkey burgers - and I've never been asked to do it again! ha! We mostly just sat outside in the sun and talked. It was great.

I really wanted to get a picture with my grandpa and my dad, but when I asked Papaw what the odds were of him getting in the picture he said "Slim". So there you have it. And I have no picture. ha.

When we got home from Mam and Papaw's Tyler had Dad's gift ready. I wanted to get him a Yeti cooler, but instead we went for the Ozark Trail version from Walmart, that is pretty comparable and a whole lot cheaper! Tyler had gotten home before I did and filled the cooler with ice and beer for Dad. He was a happy camper! :)

Later that evening Erica and Charlie came over and we went for a little walk. We showed Charlie the post office and where Time Out Pizza was, as well as a trip around the track before it became time for her to eat and she got a little crabby. Erica says she's in a phase where she wants her mom all the time, so I was happy with the little bit of snuggles I got with her while we visited on the porch.

My Florida baby.

both of my Florida girls. LOVE THEM SO.

Another group shot - Charlotte does have two arms! :)

Then even later that night, history was made because CLEVELAND WON THE NBA CHAMPIONSHIP! Now I am not what you would call a Cavs fan. I have never been to an NBA game in my life, but I do like Lebron and I'm really happy for him and mostly for the city of Cleveland and all those Cleveland sports fans, cause man, they've had some sucky teams in the past! haha. I watched the game at home and took some snapshots to remember the occasion.

Just 10 secs left and "we're" up by 3!

Whoo hoo!

Lebron - only 4 months older than me, but so much more money! 

On Monday afternoon I got a text from Alicia asking if I was interested in a free ticket to the Indians game that night. I'd never been to an Indians game before and I didn't have anything on my calendar for that evening, so again thought "why not?" I left work just a teensy bit early and got to the ballpark about a half hour before the game started. (Side note, parking in Cleveland is awful!) Alicia's family was haven't a week long vacation, reunion, graduation party sort of thing, so I got to join in on that fun.  I was hoping that maybe they'd do something big for the Cavs, but they played the video from the last few seconds and then once during the game they were showing everyone's selfies on the big screen and they showed a picture of Lebron kissing the trophy!

Me and Alicia

Our seats were very close to first base and I had my mom and friends texting me throughout the game saying they saw me on tv. Uhhhh.....yikes! The Indians ended up winning the game over the Tampa Bay Rays. Apparently they're doing good this season. If I follow a baseball team, it's the Reds, but the Indians are a close second. #gotribe

After the game was over I walked to my car and took the long route to go see the Q and the former "Witness"-now-it's-just-a-pic-of-Lebron banner.

These were painted all over the sidewalks in Cleveland.

The casino celebrating the Championship.

Hey Lebron!

I've had a lot of fun activities going on, but I'm looking forward to a handful of days to just be at home in the evenings. Last night I got my kitchen all cleaned up, and my living room as well. Tonight I'm going to focus on my bedroom and bathroom and then hopefully make some headway on a few quilts I've got in progress. I'm such an old lady! ;)

So this month (so far) I've noticed the pattern of just saying "Why not?" to a few things and am going to try to adapt that motto for more things in the future! Now there are a lot of things that I will say NO to, so it's not a complete pass for anything. I do have boundaries, limits and morals, but I'm hoping to just embrace life more and do things I wouldn't normally do!