Day 16

* a picture of someone who inspires you

my wonderful, spunky, beautiful, youthful great-grandmother Lempi...she raised a family, maintained a household, has a strong relationship with Christ and STILL does yoga at 96. What a rockstar!

I'm beyond blessed to have ALL my grandparents still, along with a great-grandmother. They are all a true inspiration in their own ways.

My paternal grandma,  Cecilia DeRosier Hart is where I took my confirmation name from. St. Cecilia is also the church that we're getting married at. She's the best non-Italian Italian cook ever & I love her dearly. 

Day 12, 13, 14 & 15 :)

* a picture of something you love

oysters! delicious! especially when they are in my kitchen being shucked by my handsome chef :)

* a picture of your favorite band or artist

the soundtrack to my life. this is when he came to bama and kat & i had the time of our lives. love k ches.

* a picture of someone you could never imagine your life without

years ago i heard someone say "when you think you've met your future spouse, refer to 1st Cor. l3:4-7 and replace "Love" with your partners name. If it still makes sense, then you've been truly blessed". 

Brian is patient, Brian is kind and is not jealous;

Brian does not brag and is not arrogant, (Brian)does not act unbecomingly;

it (Brian) does not seek its own, (Brian)is not provoked, (Brian) does not take into account a wrong suffered,

(Brian) does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;

(Brian) bears all things, (Brian) believes all things, (Brian) hopes all things,(Brian) endures all things.

He makes me want to be a better person because I want him to be able the same things about me.

I'm working on it :) Patience isn't one of my strengths! 

* a picture of something you want to do before you die

This picture is 2 fold- 1. I want to be a mommy & 2. I want to be able to love someones feet. 

( I hate feet. Even my own! Gross! So hopefully my sweet baby's feet will win me over) 

This time next week I will be in Tuscaloosa with the lovely ladies that I have missed so much. I've been meaning to write about ttown, but it's still too scary. Maybe I will have the courage tomorrow. 

Day 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

* a picture of your most treasured item 

My maaam <3 She gave me life & I could never repay her for that. As I've gotten older I've learned to appreciate her in different ways. And although there are many things we won't ever agree on, I'm grateful to have such a strong woman as my mommy. 

* a picture that makes you laugh

bahahahahaha!

* a picture of the person who has gotten you through the most

I'm such a daddy's girl, it's kind of ridiculous. It wasn't just his advice and wisdom that guided me, but his never-ending prayers and love. 

* a picture of the person you do the most ****** up things with

- this one I don't have a picture with and it makes me sad. when I think of those "crazy" nights it brings me back to high school and college. We aren't in each others lives anymore, but I wish the best for those girls & hope they are doing well :)

* a picture of something you hate

I'm cringing just looking at this picture. It's fennel. I HATE fennel. For me fennel seeds induce vomiting, especially when I don't know they are in a dish. Disgusting. 

Today is 7 months until the wedding! wwooohhooo

...Because we laugh a lot

My preschoolers are hilarious. This was what I learned today...

One of my little boys to one of the girls " When we get big I'm going to marry you." To which the little girl responded without missing a beat " Yea, because we always laugh so much together." And it was sealed with a high five. I love my job.

Life is so simple and so beautiful. I can't wait to marry the man I laugh so much with.

Day 6

* a picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day

I love how cool, calm and collected she always appears. Her fashion sense is impeccable. And who wouldn't want to be a real life princess for a day? :)

Since chef works late nights now I've become the chef of the family. I know it may be hard to believe. I'm actually kinda falling in love with it. I think what frustrates me most right now is not having the proper tools. You'd think that being an engaged to a chef would come with a fully stocked kitchen?!? Nope. Not here. Not even close. I'm pretty sure my college kitchen was better stocked than ours is now. Apparently, before me, he would never cook at home. So then came me, and I fell in love with his food and now he doesn't have a choice but to make my favorite dishes upon request :) He's such a good sport about it too! What a lucky girl I am. 

We got a new cookbook the other day. It's called "ad hoc at home" and it's written by chef Thomas Keller. 

This cookbook is AWESOME! I highly recommend it to anyone from the beginning cook to the professional chef. And it doesn't hurt to have an adorable pig on the front. I've been toying with the idea of cooking my way through the book. Kind of like a Julie & Julia thing. I just might need a few more pots and pans first. 

So, remember the cute pig on the cover I was just referring to? Well take a look at the new addition to our family...

The hubs-to-be has some new ink. I've loved pigs since I can remember, so this is just one more thing that lets me know that I've definitely met the right man. Look closely at the pig's tail... That would be my favorite part <3

We went out to dinner at a great new restaurant called Temazcal on Boston's waterfront. Pork was on the menu...and also on his arm :) I'm so in love

219 days till the wedding! 15 days till I'm in Tuscaloosa for my first bridal shower!

Day 5

* a picture of your favorite memory

By far, the best memories I have! My amazing parents took my brother and I multiple times to Disney World when we were growing up. We always ate at the Pinocchio restaurant above It's A Small World. I can't wait for Chef and I to bring our kids there for the first time. I <3 Disney

Day 4 & then some...

* a picture of your favorite night

we went away to NYC with one of our favorite couples for the weekend. ate at a 3 Michelin star restaurant, ended the night at an Irish pub. it was our first weekend trip together and i knew on the plane ride home that this was the man that would someday be my husband. 

What a day we had! Chef works 6 days a week and Sundays are the only day we have off together. We had planned on taking the dog out and sitting on a patio somewhere and people watching while having a few cold ones. Once we realized the Sox were playing a day game, we quickly go our bums down to Fenway, picked up some tickets and we spent the afternoon with 30,000 of our closest Fenway friends.

Last week we took a Harbor Cruise...Gotta love being a tourist in your own city :)

Day 3

* a picture of the cast from your favorite tv show

We finally had some nice weather in Boston! Soph and I spent the afternoon at the North End Beach, relaxing and people watching :) 

Our backyard view

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What a cute bum

Being mom's watch dog

Day 2

* A picture of you & the person you've been the closest with the longest

best friend. maid of honor. key to sanity

Day 1

*A picture of yourself with 15 facts

1. I've finally found the one city I never want to leave

2. I HATE fennel seeds

3. Sprinkles & gummy bears make my heart happy

4. I loved going to Catholic school

5. I'm getting married in 226 days

6. My favorite color is red

7. Being a preschool teacher has made me want kids even more, which I didn't think was possible

8. I use to be a picky eater, but I'll now try anything once

9. I love my dog Soph, even though she drives me crazy

10. Cupcakes at the bakery always look so tempting to me, but they usually disappoint and I know I can make better ones. 

11. Having divorced parents sucks, but I can learn from their mistakes

12.I'm obsessed with my cowboy boots

13. I believe confidence is sexy, cocky-ness is obnoxious

14. Disney World is my happy place

15. It's taken me many years, but I finally love my body just the way it is :)

a picture is worth a 1,000 words

100 day photo challenge... here goes nothin'

100 day photo challenge.

1.A picture of yourself with 15 facts
2.A picture of you and the person you have been closest with the longest
3.A picture of the cast from your favorite show
4.A picture of your favorite night
5.A picture of your favorite memory
6.A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day
7.A picture of your most treasured item
8.A picture that makes you laugh
9.A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most
10.A picture of the person you do the most ****** up things with
11.A picture of something you hate
12.A picture of something you love
13.A picture of your favorite band or artist
14.A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without
15.A picture of something you want to do before you die
16.A picture of someone who inspires you
17.A picture of your favorite website
18.A picture of your biggest insecurity
19.A picture and a letter
20.A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel
21.A picture of something you wish you could forget
22.A picture of something you wish you were better at
23.A picture of your favorite book
24.A picture of something you wish you could change
25.A picture of your favorite day
26.A picture of something that means a lot to you
27.A picture of yourself and a family member
28.A picture of something you're afraid of
29.A picture that can always make you smile
30.A picture of someone you miss
31 - A picture of your favorite color
32 - A picture of a crazy night.
33 - A picture of the house you grew up in.
34 - A picture of your currently most played CD.
35 - A picture of your favorite place to eat.
36 - A picture of your ‘other half'.
37 - A picture of the people you spend most of your time with.
38 - A picture of the best part of your day.
39 - A picture of your favorite movie.
40 - A picture of your favorite Disney character.
41 - A picture of you and someone famous.
42 - A picture of your dream house.
43 - A picture of something you can’t function without.
44 - A picture of someone you’re told you look like.
45 - A picture of your lucky charm.
46 - A picture of where you wish you were right now.
47 - A picture of your favorite place to shop.
48 - A picture of your favorite actress/actor.
49 - A picture of where you live.
50 - A picture of your most frequented place.
51 - A picture of your dream car.
52 - A picture of you from Halloween one year.
53 - A picture of someone you think is hot.
54 - A picture of the one thing you would bring if you were stranded on a deserted island.
55 - A picture taken of a memory you will never forget.
56 - A picture of something that makes you happy.
57 - A picture of your favorite holiday.
58 - A picture of your favorite place you visited
59 - A picture of a random item that you own.
60 - A picture of something you’re excited about
61 - School class picture
62 - Last place you traveled to
63 - A picture you took when you were little
64 - Favorite childhood book
65 - A picture of you and your best friend
66 - A picture in your room
67 - A picture taken in the summer of 09
68 - A magazine you like
69 - A picture of a time you weren't having that much fun.
70 - Something you borrowed from someone else
71 - A picture of your favorite piece of jewelry
72 - A stuffed animal
73 - A picture taken on your first day of school one year
74 - Something you found under your bed
75 - You and a friend
76 - Something that annoys you
77 - The last thing that you bought
78 - Your sunglasses
79 - A ticket from somewhere you've been
80 - Your favorite childhood movie
81 - Something you baked
82 - The most embarrassing thing in your closet
83 - The moon tonight
84 - Your favorite pair of shorts
85 - A picture of you and someone one your sports team
86 - Something your mom bought you
87 - Something you hold dear to your heart
88 - Something that made you smile today
89 - An old picture that makes you smile every time you look at it.
90 - Your current school photo.
91 - Something that made you smile today.
92 - A picture of you and someone you cant be mad at for long.
93 - A picture of something that makes you smile.
94 - What your doing right now
95 - A picture of when your hair was shorter than it is now.
96 - A picture taken by someone else and not you.
97 - Something heart shaped.
98 - Your favorite nail polish color.
99 - Something that makes you feel accomplished.
100 - The final picture of yourself with 2 facts that describe you the best