Boring summer = Crafts!

I have mostly online classes and no work, so that means I have nothing but time in this tiny apartment! Laying out at the pool gets really old really quick. Thus far, I have made a wreath for my friend Aaron's house, one for my future cousin Erin and Paden's baby boy, and a nice bow tie for Trigger! Even the least crafty of people could make these, they are all ridiculously easy!! I figured I'd share...

Aaron's wreath

Super Simple! I won't lie, I got the idea off Pinterest...

1. Spray paint a grapevine wreath (Less than $5 hobby lobby)
2. Add silk flowers with a hot glue gun
3. Use textured scissors to cut scrapbook paper, tie with raffia, and add sticky letters

Jace's Baby Shower

Again, just ridiculously easy! This just takes some patience because wrapping the yard takes a while and my hands started to hurt. I am a big baby though...

1. Start with a plain Styrofoam wreath
2. measure out the length of each colored section you want and mark with a pen
3. Wrap and hot glue as you go!
4. I cut scrapbook paper into triangles and stuck "It's a Boy" letters on each one. I glued them onto raffia and tied it on.
5. The wooden cut outs all came from hobby lobby and came just like that
6. For his  name I just painted the letters tan and dipped the end of the sponge brush in the paint to make the polka dots!

Trigger's Bow Tie

I saw these on Etsy and lovedddd them, but obviously I dont have $30 to spend on a dog collar. I googled how to make a bow tie and just replaced "sew" with hot glue!

I felt like to make a seersucker bow tie I really needed a mimosa. Luckily Jacob had champagne the jewelry store gave him for buying my ring :) I ended up not using the iron adhesive because it was so small. I bought 1/2 yard of fabric from hobby lobby and could have done with about 90% less than that! Total it was only $5

Next I cut a 12x4 inch strip. (I ended up making another that was 9x3 because this was too big for little Trigger). I folded and glued each side to make it nice and straight

Fold the sides into the middle and hot glue

Pinch in the middle and glue again

Cut another 1x3 inch strip and glue. *Glue to the front and then pinch and glue in the back so you can slip the collar through the back

I think he likes it! :) I slipped a bobby pin in the back of the bigger one, my sister will not approve!

And so it begins...

We may have 352 days (according to the countdown on my phone) but we all knew I wouldn't waste a minute! Step 1, ask my wedding party! I found some super cute things on Pinterest, since that is where I live, but I had to find something that my budget of $0 could handle! Since I am one of the last to get married, I decided to send all my bridesmaids a picture of us at their wedding to ask! I know I elicited at least two sets of tears, mission accomplished. ;) Of course Jacob chose the ever creative text message to ask his groomsmen... so crafty that one!! Haha let the wedding planning insanity begin!!

Engaged!!!!

I am still partially in shock! I can't believe Jacob and I are really engaged! This weekend was filled with overwhelming emotions and I think it took me until today for it to all sink in.

The Story:

Jacob and I met in the fall of 2008. We were set up on a blind date by my sorority sister Erica (and her now husband) Tyler, Jacob's friend from high school. We weren't exactly smitten from the beginning ;) but he grew on me! June of 2009 we ended up walking together in Erica and Tyler's wedding! We didn't see each other again until the following fall, and started dating that winter. Fast forward to 2012 and we live in Tennessee! Jacob is in Nashville working for a company called BoTel and pursuing his music career, and I am finishing graduate school in Murfreesboro 30 minutes away.

Jacob and I have been talking about marriage for quite a while. Precious boy that he is, he cannot keep a secret from me for the life of him! The original ring I picked out in Ruston was sold when he called to talk to them about buying it. Of course, he tells me immediately in a panic. I was a little upset and didn't really know how to react. The next week my friend Aaron and I went and picked out another ring here in Tennessee. Jacob went to get this ring, and again, it didn't work out! The ring couldn't be sized to fit my baby fingers (I wear a size 4). Of course, he tells me again!! Admittedly, I may have been more upset than necessary. I had so many emotions that he was telling me what was going on every step of the way, and that every ring I picked out was gone. I thought there was no way he would ever be able to suprise me.

The next weekend we came into Ruston for father's day. Michelle told me she couldn't come in town because of a work obligation and I was so dissapointed that I was coming in town and not able to see her. Little did I know that she and Jacob had been plotting all along. Friday June 15 we were headed downtown to meet some friends at Raw and parked about 3 blocks away. If you know me, you know I didn't let this go easily and grilled Jacob as to why in the world he would park so far away. As we rounded the corner I saw the sign below on the Dixie and was absolutely shocked!

Nothing could have prepared me for that moment. I was surprised and just so happy. I felt like I was in a dream watching it happen. I knew I was supposed to be acting and doing certain things, but I just couldn't process it all! Later, Jacob told me he felt the exact same way! He almost forgot to get down on one knee. :) After, I looked over and saw Michelle and her husband Jacob across the street hiding and videotaping. It was the best moment of my life. Later we got to celebrate with our family and friends nearby. He ended up picking the ring by himself, and as usual, he knows me better than I know myself! I could not ask for a more beautiful ring, perfect proposal, or amazing fiance!!!

I feel so incredibly blessed to be marrying this wonderful man. He is truly my better half. On one hand it feels so new and exciting to call him fiance, and on the other it feels like this is the way it has always been. He keeps me grounded and level-headed when I can be a little hard to deal with!

The Big Day:

We have set a date! June 8, 2013 will be the day I become Caty Simmons (squeal)! Nottoway Plantation in White Castle, La is the venue and I cannot wait! It has always been my dream to get married at a plantation. I've always had a flair for the dramatic, if you will, and needed my venue to match!

I can't wait to keep everyone updated and let you know details as we know them. I am so thankful for the friends and family that made last weekend possible and so special. I am so excited to share every moment with our loved ones.

A rundown of life in Tennessee

I have thought about starting a blog ever since I moved 500 miles away from everyone I knew and loved last August. Of course, I feel like everything I have to say is so important ;) but I didn't want to be annoying. However, I know some of my friends want to know what is happening in the fabulous greater Nashville area, so here goes! So the run down of the last few months in a nut shell follows... feel free to read if you would like to know what's been going on...if not, well bless your heart!

Here are the basics:

• I live in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. My massive 800 sq ft 1 bedroom apartment is located on the west side about 25 miles from downtown Nashville. *Nashville is located in the smack dab middle of Tennessee for those of you who have asked. :) Trigger and I are hopefully moving to an apartment down the street that is a bit bigger in August... to accommodate for alllll the people I know are going to visit!

• I go to Middle Tennessee State University (it is actually the biggest university in TN, and to my surprise, twice the size of Tech) and am getting my M.B.E. (Masters of Business Education). Again, for those who have asked, it is a masters through the college of business, not education. I will student teach after I graduate to become a certified teacher...ya know, because I change my mind every 10 minutes and I like my options!

As of June, I have 2 semesters of grad school down (*cough cough with a 4.0 GPA) and will graduate December 15, 2012(fingers crossed). Thus far, my exciting summer has included a rough 3 week Accounting II class that I am soooo happy is over! Until the end of June I have a not so fun 5.5 hour research class on Monday nights, and thankfully in July/August I only have online classes. 8 more classes separate me from my diploma!

I received news today that I got a job running a cheerleading camp during 1 week in July for around 100 girls with 2 helpers. This should be interesting! I lovedddd my experience spending a summer working at a sports camp in Texas, so hopefully this will be just as enjoyable. We shall see if 26 year old Caty can function the same as 19 year old Caty did before.

In case you didn't know, my sweet boyfriend Jacob moved to Nashville in January and works for a company called BoTel (ironically run by a bunch of cajuns!). He will be beginning some studio work (aka playing drums on artist's albums vs. on stage) in a few weeks, and is veryyy excited to say the least! I enjoy having a reason to go into the city...

And offff course, I'm sure you are all dyingggg to know what is going on with the prestigious Mr. Trigger. He has not lost his flair for the dramatic in Tennessee, and of course likes to randomly come up with various health issues. On my birthday, it was an ear infection, skin rash, and dislocated knee. I am happy to report he is just fine and is growling at the dog upstairs on a daily basis. He still enjoys doggy bones, any food you drop, and long walks around the apartment complex.

Hopefully this report update those who were wondering! If you are still reading and were not wondering, well then I hope you were at least entertained.

Until next time!