Weekend in NOLA!

I just got back from Lissa's bachelorette party in New Orleans!! We had a blast!!! Melissa's wedding is in March- but her birthday was Friday. So this was the perfect weekend to throw her bachelorette bash! We had a large, but great, group. The theme was disco. Now, most people know that I do not like to dress up. It is way out of my comfort zone, I even loathed certain swaps because I did NOT want to wear anything related to that theme. (I promise I'm not that boring, just don't like wearing crazy stuff.) Since Melissa has been one of my best friends since the day we moved in Martin- she knew this was a little out there for me. She provided my outfit. Which was a cute, and tame, black and white dress. I wore platform gogo boots- way out there for me and a great wig. Whew! I was scared I wouldn't like all the attention we would get on Bourbon Street. However, since there was SO many of us- it was a blast! We took lots of pictures that I'm sure are somewhere on the internet without our knowledge. 

We started out the evening with dinner at Antoine's in the French Quarter. I had eaten here before for Fran's debutante and really liked it, I was excited. We were put in the "dungeon." I can't imagine why they would want to hide 15 girls in disco outfits. After dinner, we headed to Bourbon Street where we were the most popular girls around. Here are a few pictures from the night: 

All the group before going out. Please note the Bride in the middle. 

Hannah and I- she's a much better disco girl that I am. I look ridiculous- my hair wouldn't stay on.

She was a hit everywhere she went. 

Even the singer wanted to be her. 

The bride and I!

It was a great weekend- a nice break from school. However, I'm off to a grad school group meeting, yuck. 5 more months and I'm done. 

Have a great week!!

My Best Friend's Wedding Part 1

2012 is THE year of weddings for me! At the end of this year, I will have been in four weddings! I just love this stage of life. I can't wait for every single one of them. Not to mention 2 of them are probably 2 of the closest friends I've ever had-pretty much sisters. So this is my best friends wedding part 1- The wedding of Mrs. Jordan Wood!! Part 2 will be in May with the wedding of Miss Julie Still!!

Jordan's wedding was the weekend of January 7th in Como, Mississippi. The ceremony was held at Mt. Zion in Independence (which is the same church Coach Freeze was ordained in, but I don't think thats why she chose to get married here..maybe though hehe.) Everything was just beautiful. Jordan really wanted a "winter" theme! Ellen Glosson, of Everblooms, did the flowers and she did a fantastic job! And let me just say-Ellen truly has a gift. Jordan and I were the same "type" of bride. As in, we were very particular and OCD about details, haha. She pretty much saw our vision:-) So if you need a florist in North Ms- she's your girl!

Jordan's Flowers

Love the centerpieces! 

And here comes the bride....

She was one of the prettiest brides I have ever seen! The veil, dress, and everything was just perfect! 

That's me putting on her garter. When we became engaged (exactly 2 days apart), We wanted to have something we shared on our wedding day. I ordered this garter from etsy last spring for us! We hope to one day pass it on to our sisters and maybe even daughters someday. 

The reception was at 211 Main in Como- 

Great Band- Party Planet! (I think)

Such a fun reception! 

Hot Chocolate in Mason Jars with cup runneth over scripture- precious! 

Okay I know this is half eaten but it was my favorite part of the reception. The groom's cake was in the shape of the state. Both Hattiesburg and Senatobia were included to represent their hometowns. How cute is that?! Feature that MS magazine!! 

Best Friends (for a long time!!) 

..And of they left with a sprinkle of snow to Calabash Cove in St. Lucia! 

It was a perfect, flawless wedding that I was so happy to be apart of- Congrats Mr. and Mrs. Wood! 

Miss America 2012

Miss America 2012 was held tonight in Las Vegas!! Even though, I didn't get to go (one day I will!!) I still looove to watch it. I don't miss a year. I was so mad when I woke up this morning sick! I felt awful and slept most of the day. But I started to feel a little better just in time for my Miss America watch party! Julie, Ginny, and Margaret came over to share in the excitement (their husbands/fiances came too but they were in the other room watching football.) Of course, I had my annual text commentary with Sam, and the occasional update from Vegas from Laura (who gets to go every year, and I bug her every year wanting to know what's really happening there. haha) And I hope everyone noticed the handsome guy helping crown Miss America- Joseph Martin!! (Hannah's brother.) He did such a good job!

Let the Miss America Pageant Begin!! 

Miss America Cupcakes

We're serious about Miss America- Getting our ballots ready! 

My Ballot- It was only about halfway through the pageant obviously. I did fair, Wisconsin (the winner) was my projected first runner-up! I was really rooting for Oklahoma. 

Love these girls. So glad they go along with my pageant obsession:-)

Freezing Fridays!

The one thing I was excited about when I found out we were moving to Jackson was that it was just a TAD bit warmer. Well not this week, it's freezing. It didn't help that it was my week to have outside duty at school either. There are not many things I hate worse that being outside in the cold.

Anyway, this has been a very BUSY start back to school. Paperwork, paperwork, grades, plans, more paperwork- Just a long week. Normally I don't mind plans, paperwork, grades, etc. However, when you throw grad school in the loop it completely throws me off. Don't get me wrong- I love going to school. BUT I'm really over this grad school thing. I just think three more classes.three more classes. I want to go to work and come home- nothing in between.

Last weekend was Jordan's wedding! It was perfect! Weather wasn't too bad- a little rainy but nothing big. We had so much fun and it was great being apart of it. I'm going to post pictures soon except I'm having camera issues (I REALLY need a new camera.) So, hopefully coming soon.

On another note, Meme sent me this little suprise in the mail this week:

 

Not sure why the picture is so large. For those of you that don't know- This is the Senatobia paper. I know it's a little lame and I'm sure I will hear it from my friends (Ginny and Julie..) But I love to keep up with what's going on- weddings, tate talk, animals at the shelter, and of course the dispatch reports. I like our little paper- I think it's sweet and the way news is supposed to be. I know I can't wait until Tuesday.

 

This weekend is a LONG weekend. I would be more excited except I have grad school Monday night. (it makes it even worse that it's bachelor Mondays.) I'm thankful though that I will get to watch the Today Show. Tomorrow night we are having friends over. Ginny, Julie, and Margaret are coming to watch Miss America!! Woohoo. My parents and sister are coming Sunday. They're bringing our new front door!

 

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Welcome to the New Year 2012!!

I am SO excited about what this year will bring! Just a few things to look forward to in the upcoming months: 

1.) Jordan's Wedding (next weekend, eekk!!) 

2.) Miss America 2012.

3.) New Nicholas Sparks movie- THE VOW.

4.) Valentine's Day. I love pink. 

5.) Spring Break and WARM weather! 

6.) Lissa's Greenwood Wedding!

7.) EASTER. 

8.) The Masters. I love a classic golf tournament. 

9.) Julie's WEDDING!!! 

10.) Summer Break

11.) Trip to LA to visit my favorite california girl, HANNAH!!

12.) Anniversary Vacay

13.) Lelia's wedding!!

14.) Finishing my Masters Degree

15.) Finding a home church in the Brandon/Jackson area!

16.) OLE MISS FOOTBALL.

2011 Highlights- Here's to a great year!

Happy New Year's Eve!!! 2011 was a wonderful year! Besides the whole marriage thing:-), we made some pretty great memories! Here are some of my favorites:

Becca won the Magnolia Heights Beauty Revue! 

And graduated from High School! (This is my only picture from graduation, sadly. I was very out of it, haha. I had gotten 2 shots that day to help with an awful migraine episode I'd had for several days. My mom said I was "drunk"- I wouldn't go that far!) 

I had my very first wedding shower! The first of several. All of which were so sweet. I couldn't be more grateful to all the ladies who did so much for me and everyone who came. 

Some of my school ladies gave me such a sweet and thoughtful shower! This is a picture of my friend Rachel Tabor and I at her house for the shower.  We wouldn't have made it through our first year of teaching without each other. In this picture, she was almost full term with sweet Anna! 

I had an AWESOME bachelorette party with all my bridesmaids (minus Hannie who was there in spirit!) 

Jim graduated with his Masters in Accounting and was offered a job at Tyson Foods as a plant accountant. 

Jordan and I did some major wedding planning all throughout the year. 

Jordan and I with our Jims.

The BIG DAY! June 25th, 2011

The next day, we jetted off to ST. LUCIA! We stayed at Calabash Cove-it was so much fun. (Jordan and Jim are going next week for their honeymoon and we are so jealous. I wonder if they would mind if we tagged along!) 

I spent Labor Day weekend in Destin with my newly engaged bff, Julie! We celebrated Marg's bachelorette party! 

and then there were weddings.... 

Claire and Zack's April 2011 

Leigh and Josh's September 2011 

Margaret and Drew's October 2011 

Lauran Booth and Kyle's, December 2011 

and Ole Miss Football... 

...and many more memories with friends and family. Happy New Year's Eve everyone!!! 

Merry CHRISTmas!

Christmas 2011 was a great success! Now that we live in Brandon, going home for the holidays was just a bit sweeter. There's no place like home! On Christmas Eve, we had dinner at our house with my parents, sister, grandmother, uncle, grandfather, and Jim's parents. My grandfather was able to come home for Christmas so it was extra special. Now I have a MAJOR issue with change. I hate it. Abosulutely can't stand it. It throws me off. I am such a creature of habit (hence my college friends will tell you they never thought I would live anywhere but senatobia, and send my kids anywhere but Magnolia Heights.) However, God does have a sense of humor. I say this bit about change, because this was not our normal Christmas eve routine! Normally, every year we do dinner at my grandparents (James and Joy.) However, since Gamby's been sick this year, My mom picked up the tradition (which I'm glad she did.) Here are some pics from the evening:

Me and Baby Becca (not such a baby anymore) 

That's us with our Meme. She doesn't miss a beat. She will probably outlive each one of us. 

Me and my hubby! First Christmas! 

Becca and i with our beloved cats. Mine is Eleanor and she is such a DIVA! I love her so much. My mom has to send me pics of her throughout the week so I don't become too deprived. I just can't help it that I LOVE cats! 

A favorite gift- My mom had the end of our aisle runner from our wedding made into a tapestry! It was handpainted by Mrs. Allison Burris, my high school art teacher and more importantly CHEER SPONSOR! haha:) She is very talented! 

Christmas morning, we woke up to see that SANTA had came. I guess you never get too old. Santa even brought me a new phone!! (a very appreciative gift since my phone had gone "missing" at school 2 weeks before Christmas!) After breakfast, we headed to Hickory Flat to have Christmas with Jim's side of the family! We even got our FAVORITE pjs! Every year, Jim's sweet aunt gives Lauren and I pajamas and we just love them. 

Aren't we cute!! 

Some of my Favorite Gifts were also: an AWESOME planner (see here: www.erincondren.com), some of my very own Mr. and Mrs. Jim Simpson enclosure cards designed by Lynn Savage- she did such a good job! and a stamp with our new address on it! 

But most importantly, I am thankful for Jesus's birth, Thank goodness HE came!