Girls Night

As most of the people reading my blog know, three of my best friends live in the Dallas area so when I moved up here I was so excited to be able to see them more often! We decided to plan a girls night every four months and last night was the first one. They came over to my place and I cooked. If you had told me just a few months ago that I would be living in Dallas and having Britni, Carrie, and Heather over for dinner at my place I would have thought you were crazy! I just keep thinking this is all a dream and I am going to wake up soon! I still can't believe I live in The Colony, five minutes from Carrie, and it still feels so surreal. I still wake up some morning and it hits me that I really do live here :)

It is amazing how we think we know what is in our future and we have NO idea!! The "suddenlys" of God are amazing! When He is ready to move you better just hold on! I went through a long season where nothing seemed to change and I felt like I was in that movie, "Ground Hog Day." So, I know how hard it is when you want something to change so bad and you are not even sure what but you just need something to change. We all have seasons like that but let me encourage you that you never know what tomorrow holds. You could get one phone call that completely changes everything! Being in God's will and letting Him lead you is so exciting because you never know what He has in store next. That should encourage us in those times where we don't feel like we can take another day of where we are at right now.

I just had to share what was on my heart about that and I truly believe it is for someone reading this blog right now! Be encouraged!!

Carrie and Heather

Me and Britni

Making brownies

Me and Heather

We had such a great time catching up! We decided that every time we get together we talk about things and say we will pray for each other and we decided why not pray now. So, before they left we got together and prayed for each other right there and we decided we would do that at the end of every girls night from now on. I love these girls so much and am so thankful for their friendship in my life!

There have been a few changes I made around my apartment and I told my mom I would post pictures on my blog....

I started to decorate above my cabinets and I found this bird cage at Ross and this plate at Kirklands...it has the scripture John 3:16 written on it. I am going to Canton with Britni and her mom in two weeks and I hope to find some more stuff to put up there!

I wanted something for this corner and found this vase at Target and the branches at Marshalls. 

I never really liked the color of my curtains in the living room. They had a yellow tint to them and they just weren't the color I really wanted. So, I took them back and bought some new ones and I am much happier with how it looks.

New curtains

I love the color of my new curtains and think it adds some more color to the room since most of the colors are beige and brown. Plus it matches the green color in my floor rug perfectly.

Home Sweet Home

I have been in Dallas for almost a month now and am settling into my new apartment and life in Dallas. My mom stayed for a week after graduation and helped me so much at my apartment while I was busy with teacher inservice and starting school. If she hadn't come and helped me I would probably still be living among boxes and boxes. I love my apartment and it is beginning to feel like home. I really like my apartment complex! Britni stayed with me a few weeks ago because she had a meeting in Plano and we walked to the Market on the Square and bought ice cream, and then rented a movie at the Blockbuster rental box outside the store. I love that there are restaurants, a dry cleaners, a market, a nail salon, a coffee shop and even a hair studio within walking distance from my apartment. I haven't been to any of the pools yet but that is on my list this weekend! I am going to take pictures of the square soon!

It has been a while since I have had my own place to decorate and furnish so I have had a lot of fun decorating my apartment. I am really happy how it turned out.

My patio...I can't wait to sit out here when it gets cooler!

This is my actual back door but I use it as my front door since I can park on the street right in front of it.

Another view of the patio

A view of my street

Living Room...I originally bought a smaller chair but the leg was broken and when I returned it this chair was on sale for a great price and so I decided to get it even though it was bigger. It is a tight squeeze but it's cozy :)

Kitchen

I am going to put my cookbooks on top of the fridge and I found these really cute bookends with an M on them to hold them up.

One of my favorite things in the kitchen is this cookbook holder (thanks Katie) and the Pioneer Women Cookbook my sister gave me (thanks Steph)! I haven't cooked out of it yet but I will soon!

My aunt called me when she heard I was moving and asked if I wanted their bistro table since they weren't using it anymore. I always loved this table and was hoping it would work out in the place I found. It fits perfect against the wall in my kitchen and gives me a place to sit and eat since I can't use the bar area in my living room because my furniture is in the way. Thanks Aunt Sandy and Uncle Mark!!!

 Britni, Carrie, and Heather gave me this beautiful cork board for graduation with one of my favorite scriptures on it. I love it and think it is too cute to put notes on!

Bedroom

Britni, Carrie, and Heather also gave me this cute frame for graduation. I love it and found the perfect spot to hang it.  

Bathroom