Did I Mention?

What a crazy few days it's been! I was completely prepared to have a strong blogging week, but life threw me a little curveball so, finally, on this sizzling summer day, I'm catching up. There's so much on my mind right now that I figured the best way to handle it is to use this blog for my word vomit. Please forgive me!

Monday: I had been noticing for a couple weeks that there was a big hole in my back molar that I didn't remember being there. Since I'm starting my new job on Monday and knew I wasn't going to have any time off for the next few months, I knew I should get it looked at ASAP. I'm still on my Mom's insurance because of my student status which meant I had to drive the six hours up to my hometown in NY (and had to dip into my wedding savings to do it). Boo!

Tuesday: My Mom calls to tell me that I have an appointment tomorrow at 2:00 PM. Guess, I should probably get driving!

Wednesday: Because of my unexpected trip home, my Mom and I have some quality time together- she even took the day off of work so we could...FINISH MY WEDDING DRESS! That's right- it's finished! I left for my dentist appointment, found out a filling had fallen out and was replaced (no Novocaine needed, praise God!) and I was scheduled to come back the following day for my 6-month cleaning. Afterward, I met up with my Mommy at Hobby Lobby to look at more wedding stuff. We ended up keeping our purchase small- 36 floating tea candles for our centerpieces. Hooray!

Our centerpieces will look nothing like this-
but you get to see our candles!
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Thursday: I woke up exhausted, packed up my car and made my way to the dentist office. I hit the road as soon as my appointment was over and boy, was it a loooong drive. The best part of the day was coming home and jumping my Boo. After two whole snuggle-less days we were long overdue for a cuddle sesh! We went to bed early and I slept TWELVE hours. Something tells me I better get my sleeping-in done now because I won't be able to for much longer!

Friday: I have a whole list of things to do today- the apartment needs cleaning, wedding to-do's need to be tackled and my oil needed to be changed 1500 miles ago. But I'm going to relax, catch up on my blogs, maybe hit the gym and relish in this last day of unemployment. Because...did I mention? 

I START MY NEW JOB ON MONDAY!

Pretty much sums up how I'm feeling right now.

Whirlwind Weekend

*Sigh* We're back in Pittsburgh again and while hubby is hard at work and I bask in the joys of unemployment, I had to make sure I updated everyone on the amazing and beautiful weekend we had in Chuck's hometown of Wilmington, Ohio.

I met Chuck at work Thursday evening and after a long drive, we arrived to his parent's house, shared a few drinks with Chuck's brother and sister-in-law and chatted the night away. Friday morning I arose with plans to get lots accomplished! My first stop was the Beauty Bar Salon where I'm getting my wedding hair done. I was able to put down a deposit to secure my appointment and talk to my stylist Lorin. She's so sweet and I'm so excited to have a fun-filled day of pampering and grooming with all my bridesmaids and my Mommy the day of my wedding!

Chuck spent much of the afternoon helping the Stuckerts' good friends and neighbors pack up their moving truck and I entertained myself walking around Wilmington and running errands with his Mom. In the evening, I met up with my good friend, Rachel at Peppermint Patti's, a local, retro ice cream joint. Let me tell you- the Turtle Sundae was amazing.

When I returned home, Chuck's best friend showed up and we all enjoyed a wonderful dinner of brats, sauerkraut and gluten-free pasta salad. I let Chuck and Nic have their "bro time" and went to bed fairly early after some good mother-in-law/daughter-in-law conversation so I'd be sure to have lots of energy the following night. 

Saturday turned out to be one of the best days I've had in a long time and reminded me of why I miss Ohio so much. We started our morning off at the Clinton County Farmer's Market where I got myself some potatoes, kale, honey and the biggest cabbage I've ever seen! 

Seriously! The size of this cabbage is insane!

After the market, we hit up all our local (new and old) favorite spots:

The General Denver (future site of our reception!) for brunch, South Street Coffee House for, well, coffee, and the newly opened The Crave Candy & Nuts for chocolate!

These places are the reason I've grown to love Wilmington as much as I have. There exists such a support for local businesses and each purchase we make there means something. I love supporting the dreams and visions of the people in the community with every dollar I spend.

After our Buy Local extravaganza, we drove out to Branstrator Farm and walked around the grounds a little, visualizing our wedding ceremony. We're so grateful for our friend, Jon who is allowing us to celebrate our union on his beautiful, sprawling estate. I'm so mad at myself for not taking any pictures, but trust me when I say, the pond, the peach orchard and the rows of asparagus, berry, tomato and tons of other plants make for such a picturesque scene. I cannot wait to say my vows in the midst of such natural beauty.

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Photo credit: Dale Guindon

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Photo credit: Byrd Photograpy (our wedding photographer!)

Our friend, Jon Branstrator, standing among his blossoms
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Photo credit: Byrd Photography

Later that evening, after another great cookout at the Stuckert home with family, we made our way back to the General Denver for the last performance of one of our favorite local bands, Ugly Brown Coat. Our Pastor, Noah, and his family are leaving for Memphis this week to begin their next adventure in establishing a food & faith centered organization in TN. To say they will be missed is an incredible understatement, and we're so blessed that they plan to make their return to Ohio to be there for our wedding. Noah's last performance was incredibly bittersweet, as was his last sermon the following morning, but it was a beautiful send-off. It was harder that I imagined saying good-bye to such an inspiring man, and friend, but I'm so eager to see the lives they touch in Memphis and I already told Noah, I plan to intern with him in the near future, whether he likes it or not!

Noah (on right) during his last performance with Ugly Brown Coat.
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Photo credit: Annen Stuckert

After an amazing Saturday night, spent with tons of friends (and future family!), we spent Sunday at Church, I shared a long overdue lunch date with one of my best friends, Karay and we departed once again for Home Sweet Pittsburgh.

Sunday Blessings XX

I'll admit, I was starting to get a little burnt out with my Sunday Blessings every week, but I'm back after some much-needed time away. Going AWOL on my Sunday Blessings link-up was exactly what I needed to gain some perspective and examine if it was something I really wanted to continue doing. Turns out- I do! Counting my blessings is what this blog is all about and it's a good way for me to consciously reflect on what God is doing in my life. 

So without further ado, here are my...

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wedding

I sincerely hope my level of enthusiasm for my impending wedding day is not completely obnoxious to those of you who read this blog, but for the first time in my engagement, I'm actually genuinely excited for my wedding day. The overall stress of trying to plan this event has pretty much subsided (thanks in large part to all my amazing family and friends who are doing every thing they can to help out) and now I'm just anxious to get the party started. It occurred to me that this will likely be the only opportunity that ALL of my friends will be together in one place for me to enjoy! I can't wait to spend an entire weekend celebrating my love and commitment with the people I hold so dear.

family

This will likely be the first time you've heard a peep out of me all weekend (I'm writing this on Thursday) because we're in Wilmington for a few days! I'm really excited to unwind and spend some time with my friends and Chuck's family. Chuck and I are both very family-oriented people, but I'm starting to learn that whereas I can manage having lots of phone calls broken up with a visit here and there, Chuck has almost a physical need to be with his family. It's something I love about him, and I'm so thankful that he has a great family to be with!

blogger friends

I don't know a way to say this that doesn't sound completely silly and cliche, but I genuinely appreciate the handful of blogger ladies I've met over the last few months. It's so wonderful to be invited into your lives and to feel involved in the celebrations, the adventures and the life-changing events you go through. Thanks for inviting me in :)

Mommy

 I know I already mentioned family, but my Mommy deserves a category all her own. My sister and I were joking not too long ago about how my Mom is not exactly conventional, but no matter what life experience we go through, she's usually always right. We may get huffy and defensive, but in retrospect she's always teaching us, guiding us and helping to mold us into beautiful people. I can't imagine getting married without her. I love her so much.

How has God been blessing you lately? Grab a button and link-up!

The Post Where I DON'T Talk About My Wedding

It's 1 AM and I cannot sleep. 

I also can't keep my mind off of wedding stuff. 

I also hate that I'm becoming the girl who has nothing to talk about but my wedding.

*Gag!*

I am making this the post where I DON'T talk about my wedding. 

Damnit, I totally already failed.

Anyway, here goes...

I have officially been unemployed for about a week and a half. Aside from the fact that I am getting stuff done for The-Event-That-Shall-Not-Be-Named and I'm actually keeping up with housekeeping for the first time ever, unemployment is not my style. I've seriously watched about three entire seasons of Keeping Up With the Kardashians. And let me say, this show is awful. Reality TV is my guiltiest pleasure, but I hate that I have spent the last two days contributing to the undue fame of these atrocious people.

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The silver lining is...only one week left of lazy days because I start my new job on July 2nd! There's a small part of me that's a little nervous because of this absurd fear I have of my future co-workers thinking I am completely incompetent. Mostly, however, I'm just excited. This job is going to be my stepping stone job. The job that is actually related to what I got my undergraduate degree in and what will coincide perfectly with the graduate degree I'm working to attain. I feel like in the span of just a couple months I've kicked started my adult life. As daunting as that seems, there's something very comforting about the sense of security that accompanies being a grown-up...ish.

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Of course, with the new job comes a heck of a commute. Over an hour, actually. So Chuck and I have made the decision to move. Although Chuck has grown to love aspects of Pittsburgh, I confess that city-living is just not for me. I feel overwhelmed by the fast pace of cities. I like to slow down, be present, and absorb the serenity of the country. It's where I'm most at peace. The idea of living in a much smaller town within a short drive of the city sits very well with my soul. Now we cross our fingers and wait for our landlord to tell us we can extend our lease a couple months so we can concentrate on The-Event-That-Shall-Not-Be-Named and save up some money and we'll be on the hunt for a new home!

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These are the countless things (along with being BROKE) that have been taken up space in the small part of my brain that hasn't  been consumed with The-Event-That-Shall-Not-Be Named. It's nice to know that my brain does function in some other capacity, but it was not easy. So for any of you who may read my blog. I apologize. I never wanted to be that girl, but it appears for the next two months, I will be. All I ask is that you be patient with me, and I promise to return to normal some time in September. 

Until that time, this will be me: 

Growing Things v2

Remember a couple months ago when I posted about starting seeds? Well, I thought since my little tomato babies are thriving so well in our backyard, I'd share an update on their progress.

Disclaimer: Please forgive the obviously overgrown and neglected grass!

Seven tomato plants and a whole lot of marigolds! I accidentally mixed up my tomato plants when I put them in the ground so it will be a complete surprise which kinds we end up with!

Fun fact: Little critters that like to eat your garden like rabbits hate the taste of marigolds. By planting them alongside your veggies, the critters will get a yucky taste and assume all the plants taste icky. This is why there's so many in my bed- I want to make sure they don't munch on my tomatoes!

We also managed to salvage three of those stakes from our very own yard when we cleaned it up a few weekends ago! Our yard also used to be an alley so there are bricks everywhere.

View of our tomato/marigold bed with cucumbers planted along the fence.  The wooden planter is a mix of more marigolds and another kind of flower whose name is totally escaping me right now.

Marigolds, tomatoes and hopefully I'll get a basil plant in there! It keeps slipping my mind, but basil is probably my favorite plant to grow!

Another shot of our porch area including the lights and the little planter off the fire escape. To the right is our shared  wooden table and some seating. Past that is the doorway that leads to our bedroom. I would've taken pictures if I wasn't embarrassed about how messy it is currently with all our garden stuff!

Although my inner country girl misses having a big, grassy yard to play in, I have to say, I'm totally loving our little urban oasis!

My Creepy Friend: God

Have you ever heard the Biblical story of Abraham and Isaac? If you haven't here's the breakdown:

Once upon a time there were two people.

Abraham and his wife, Sarah.

Both desperately want to have children, but cannot conceive.

God tells both that with patience and faith, he will bless them with a child.

God holds true, and Sarah becomes pregnant at the age of 90.

They name their son Isaac.

To test Abraham's faith, God commands him to take his son, Isaac, to a mountain and sacrifice him as a burnt offering.

Abraham does as God commands, and right before he's about to kill his own child, God stops him and believes that Abraham will obey him under any circumstance.

The End.

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Now there's a lot of crazy shenanigans that take place in the Old Testament. Rape, incest, etc. Child sacrifice seems to just be icing on the cake. I believe that Jesus' coming ushered in an age of a loving God versus the angry God of the Old Testament, but still. I cannot reconcile God asking this of one of His children. But more than that, if the lesson to be learned here, is we must love God so entirely that we're willing to give up everything (including but not limited to murdering the people we love most), I confess I am a shitty, shitty Christian.

Before I met Chuck, my Mom and sister were the loves of my life. In fact, they still are. If God were to ever ride down in a winged chariot, beard flowing like some kind of Greek mythological character and asked me to kill my family, you know what I would say? "Umm...no thanks." The same goes for any of my friends. Heck, any of my enemies!

Does anyone else find it disturbing that this is in a kids' coloring book??
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Now, do I really believe God would ever ask this of me? Not even a little bit. However, wrestling with the story of Abraham and Isaac leads me to question, what would and wouldn't I be willing to give up for God? And do I really love God more than anything else in this world?

Plain and simply, no. Chuck, my Mom and sister have taken up lodging in my heart and have left little room for anyone or anything else to enter. God is more of an acquaintance. While Chuck and I spend every day together, even texting when we're apart, I spend maybe one hour a week with God. Uttering a prayer before devouring my spaghetti, asking Him to bless an interview, counting my blessings, namely for blog purposes. I've managed to make God about the equivalent of a Blogger friend.

I'm an honest and open book with Him. But He is only a priority when it's convenient for me, when I really want something, or am feeling particularly guilty. I want to be in love with God. To be able to call on Him just to say, "Hey! Thanks for being with me when [this] happened today!" To raise Him up above the level of a distant friend.

This is what I gathered from a creepy story about child sacrifice and impregnated elderly people. How do you reconcile Abraham and Isaac, and how does it speak to you? More importantly, how do you try to make God most important in your life? I have no answers today, just questions.

Sunday Blessings XIX

The first Sunday in June, hooray! Is it just me or is time flying by? How is it summer already?! Life is chaotic to say the least on my end, but I'm so incredibly thankful for where I'm headed the next few months. 

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love

Three months until I'm hitched! With only 3 months left to go, it's beginning to sink in just how huge a deal this is. Chuck and I had an amazing conversation where we both admitted to each other that there are times that we freak out a little bit over our upcoming nuptials. I read all these blogs of girls who are betrothed and sound so sure and confident in their wedding plans. I can't be the only person to experience these fears, right? It occurred to me that maybe these same girls are not being entirely honest about their feelings and I pledge to be 100% honest about my emotions as I head toward the altar. 

Am I in love? Hell yes! Confident that Chuck is the perfect person for me? Without a doubt. Intimidated by the seriousness of the vows I'm going to be taking? Most days, very much so. I'm just glad Chuck and I have the sort of relationship where we can communicate these fears. There is no hurt or distrust, simply and open and honest partnership. Which only serves to strengthen my confidence in us as a married couple.

health

I think this is a new category in my Sunday Blessings, which is just plain crazy! I'm all about healthy eating and living, so why am I just bringing this up now? Well, because although I eat relatively healthfully, I've been a lazy butt these past few months. With less than three months to our Big Day, I'm committed to getting myself into top-notch wedding-ready shape. Yesterday was Day One. I went to the indoor track on campus and just ran. No keeping track of miles, minutes or laps. I listened to my body, ran until I couldn't anymore and felt great at the conclusion. I'm ready to be healthy and fit!

job

This is my last week working at the health club! I'm thankful for the amazing people I've had the opportunity to meet, the flexibility this job has allowed, and the fact that I've gotten some major reading in on the clock! While I don't at all take for granted the past 10 months there, I'm so looking forward to the changes ahead. 

What are you thankful for this week? Grab my button and link-up below!

Speed Dating and the Big 2-0-0

Here you have it folks, my TWO-HUNDREDTH POST!!!

The girl who started this blog before her four-month excursion in East Africa  in 2009 would never have believed the direction this blog would take. From cross-cultural adventures and trying single-handedly to save the world to wedding plans and love stories. The past three years of my life that I've documented on this blog have been a true testament to God's unfailing love, and even more, to His ridiculous sense of humor!

I've changed so much these last few years- opening myself up to the possibility of love and pursuing a career that not only do I love and enjoy, but I'm actually good at?! I have so much to be thankful for! And I'm so thankful for those who have shared in this journey with me. Here's to the next 200!

What better way to celebrate 200 posts than by staying in my PJ's and skipping the makeup?!

In other news, I've been seeing this link-up making it's way through the Blogger world and it didn't take much arm twisting to get me on-board. So without further ado, courtesy of Nicole at This Little Momma, I present to you...

Speed Dating with Kaity

My dream job would be working in Communications with an international hunger relief organization such as Bread for the World.

I love dressing up so it's no surprise that my favorite holiday is Halloween.

I hate odd numbers and I always round to the nearest 0 or 5 when telling time. 

I'm not a big fan of movies or TV, preferring a good book or watching old seasons of Friends.

My favorite band is Led Zeppelin, but I genuinely love every genre of music.

I hate wedding planning. My wedding would be a complete mess without my Mommy and future Mom-in-Law!

I constantly fluctuate between chronic wanderlust and baby fever. I love reading other people's birth stories!

None of my best friends live in the same state. Currently, they're in NY, PA, OH, MD and FL.

I love sending and receiving mail. My best friend Whitney and I recently started a snail mail book exchange and I'm having so much fun! 

My favorite vegetable (or fruit?) is tomato. It's rare if I go a day without eating them in some form.

Plato's Closet is literally the only place I shop for clothes.

I'm allergic to cats and peach skin. The single weirdest allergy ever.

Thanks for reading! 

Can't wait for our second date!