It's been a while.

Sometimes I wish life would just slow down, but then I realized it's not going to (except for last weekend when we set the clocks back. That was awesome.) so I guess I just need to catch up with life. 

Here's my attempt at catching up on the last few months (brace yourself for LOTS of pictures)

We soaked up the last bits of summer by watching the sun set over the lake,

 I read this book which quickly became one of my favorites,

 I frequently felt like I was in the Valley of Ashes and Dr. T.J. Eckleburg was watching me on my long commute (name that book),

 We ventured up to Memphis for a wedding and got to spend time with sweet family,

watched sunlight through the window beam on our new kitchen table,

,

 went to the Arkansas state fair,

 had lunch with Caroline during my brief stop in Alabama (new favorite brunch spot in Bham!)

took photos of this girl for my jewelry line (check it out here)

 Went on a road trip to the beach,

 where my mom locked us out of the house (looks like she's broken into places a time or two),

and we didn't want to leave the beautiful October beach.

Back in Arkansas, it decided to turn cold. We crashed a local college and went to a Dave Barnes concert, 

 I got this lovely card in the mail (so much excitement!!),

 went to a pumpkin patch where I wanted this baby pumpkin (why is everything always cuter in miniature form?)

 and succeeded in the muddy maze with this guy.

 Then we headed up to Fayetteville on the most beautiful drive,

where the boys decided to ride a hog,

 and the Tigers decided to beat the hogs!

 We were so thankful to have sweet friends stay with us for the weekend. 

Life in the natural state is always an adventure!

Weekend Adventures

 We drove into the sunrise to spend the weekend in the wonderful city of St. Louis. 

 There was the journey to the top of the arch,

the Braves vs. Cardinals game, 

 and the exploration of downtown and all of its charm.

We ate the most magnificent brunch at Soulard Coffee Garden and had the best lattes at The Mud House.

And then there was The City Museum. Pretty much the coolest museum ever. 

A bus hung off the roof with a ferris wheel on the opposite side. A ten-story slide (among many other slides), lots of climbing and swinging activities, and spectacular exhibits fill the inside. Like I said, not your typical museum. I thought Kevin was never going to leave. 

I'm already making a list of places to go when we return. Needless to say, I fell in love with St. Louis and all of its loveliness and cannot wait to go back!

Weekend goodness & the road less traveled

This past weekend consisted of fishing at sunset,

hiking up a mountain and embracing nature,

taking breaks along the way,

and enjoying the view from the top.

Two different paths lead up to the tip of the mountain and we randomly chose one. The hike was harder than we expected; it was really more of a climb in most parts and we went down the other side, which ended up being 100 times easier. I'm sure there's some deep symbolism in choosing the harder path that leads to the same spectacular view? All I could think about was this poem:

The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth; 

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim

Because it was grassy and wanted wear,

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day! 

Yet knowing how way leads on to way

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

Perhaps Robert Frost was right. 

Or perhaps we were just ill-prepared hikers who {thankfully} made it to the top without rolling back down the steep and treacherous rocks. 

Life through my iPhone

1-4. Fourth of July in Little Rock 5. Iron skillet cornbread 6. Favorite new cookbook 7. Couch details 8. Reading this wonderful blog 

Joyful

Today I am filled with joy. 

I am filled with joy because of big breakfast Saturdays and the start of new traditions. 

I am filled with joy because of opportunities to dress up and free food thanks to the good people at Chickfila. 

I am filled with joy because of homemade fudge and community cafes. 

I am filled with joy because of a roommate who buys me board games to celebrate one month of marriage. 

And I am filled with joy because of late sunsets and someone to share them with. 

“Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day.” 
― Henri J.M. Nouwen