5 loves on monday

5 Things I'm currently in love with....

A super awesome project/blog concept.

This couple's blog is not only incredibly cute but so inspirational. They have amazing diy projects (from cleaning and home improvement to crafts). They also share their home renovation stories (which make me want to completely redo my own home).

This amazing online shop.
I've already bought some flats from them. But you better hurry while they still have their inventory. I waited too long for one pair of flats and missed out . boo!

Awesome blog and great shop. And since they're sponsors of abeautifulmess.typepad.com you get 15% off when you enter the code bmess15.

Florence and the Machine's newest album.  I seriously can't stop listening to it. My favorite track? Shake it off, of course!!

-kel

an exciting week with old friends

This past week was crazy. Two of my good friends from back home came to visit and between the two of them we had the whole week planned. Shopping. Eating. Catching up. And I got to see my new classroom!! Plus, hanging out with Kim and Leigh is always awesome. 

And one of my very good friends got engaged and asked me to be her maid of honor! I seriously am so excited for her. (Can't wait to take and show pictures!!)

Views from this past weekend...

mad men obsessed

 (all photos found on pinterest)

Lately I've been watching a ton of Mad Men. I absolutely love the style too. I wish we all still dressed like that, or at least as classy. I've also caught myself saying things like "dapper" and "plum"....
-k

july 24th

 Yesterday I spent the day celebrating what would've bee my dad's birthday. I had cake (made by my awesome friend Jen), my favorite beer, and the best part (besides spending the day with Steven and Leigh) was seeing my classroom for the very first time!!!! Unfortunately they were working on the floors so I couldn't set up, but I did get to see it! Cannot wait!!!!
-kel

celebrating his would be 61st

Dear Dad,
I remember the last birthday of yours we celebrated. You turned the big 5-0. But even with your salt and pepper hair, you still looked and acted young.
Eleven years have passed and today we should be celebrating your 61st birthday together. More than anything I wish that we were. You were my best friend and I miss you still everyday. But it helps knowing you're in a better place. I just hope they serve cake in heaven!
Always yours,
Kellie

questions and life

Yea, so it's been awhile....

There's just been so much going on. At least, so much going on in my head, keeping my occupied. I have 2 friends coming this week (so excited!!). I also have to clean my current roommate's room and such so we can try to show it and get yet another roommate. I've been doing tons of research and reading for my new teaching job. Plus I've been trying to get stuff together to decorate my new room (which I haven't even seen yet, boo!). Plus I've been running errands for others. I've also been contemplating switching my hair back to its original blonde.... which means yet another thing to plan.

Life is crazy. But good. Just so hectic and full questions.

The one thing I'm really frustrated about is the roommate situation. I feel like we just got one and now we have to look yet again. We've had several fall through and tons that either can't pay the asking price or have a dog. Sometimes I wish that Steven and I were rich and didn't have to worry about roommates. I'm just hoping that we find one really soon, and we get along, and they stay for more than 6 months. Cause this searching is getting old.

-kel

over the weekend

This past weekend was full. And wonderful. Although, I didn't exactly get to do everything I wanted....like go to the pool with some girl friends or bike ride with some other friends..... (boo).

But we did celebrate a friends birthday. And we also took a short trip to St Augustine, one of my favorite cities!!

 And of course any time I get to spend with baby Keags is pretty awesome....
Saturday about 5/7's of us ended up wearing v-necks. I nicknamed us the v-neck crew and promptly decided we needed a picture.

 And Steven decided he wanted to stroll baby Keagan through the city. I have to say, watching Steven want to hold Keags and stroll him, and everything else was pretty awesome. One day that guy is gonna be a great dad.

I also got to try a new restaurant. It was amazing. Beyond amazing actually. And in Stellie points, it is a 8.5.

While wandering around St. Augustine I kept remembering past times I had been there. Like when we went on a pub ghost crawl (which was pretty amazing). Or when I went there for the first time in 6th grade on a field trip. Everything seemed so big and new and exciting then. And of course I also kept remembering the times I went in college with my good friends. Sometimes it's nice reliving sweet memories like that. And it's also nice making more there too.

-kel

science teacher must haves!

Okay, so I did a little browsing on etsy and found some awesome things I really, really want. But I could totally get away with buying them if they're for work right?????

(shirts 1, 2, & 3 found at this shop;  shirt 4 found at this shop; necklace found at this shop)

i'm FINALLY a teacher!

(via etsy)

Only a couple of days ago I wrote this emo-ish post about being ready for a teaching career. Not even 30 minutes later I got a call from a school I had interviewed at previously, asking me for a second interview. A few hours later I was offered a position and the next morning I accepted.
In one short month I will be starting my new career as a full-time 5th grade science teacher. I couldn't be more thrilled, nor more scared. But I think I will love working with my new co-workers and I trust in God to help me along the way. And I also am so happy that He has given me this opportunity!
-kel

my first Nascar experience

 This past weekend Steven and I met up with some friends in Daytona for the Coke Zero 400 Nascar race. (Phew, that was a mouth full).
We started the morning off at the beach, then pool, and then lunch. Then we tailgated. And tailgated some more. And then finally it was time for the race under the lights.

 It was a great day and a half vacation. But it was also a little bitter sweet. My dad was a huge Nascar fan. He went to the Daytona 500 just about every year. We had even talked about me going with him one year, I was just nervous about how loud it would be. It's been 11 years since he's died and I've never gone to a race even once, until this past weekend. The whole time I kept thinking about him and imagining what he would be doing if he were there with us. It was nice to finally experience one of his favorite things. I felt a little closer to him. And to make my heart melt a little more, during the first couple of laps, Steven could tell I was a little sad, so he leaned over and said maybe the sweetest things ever. He held up his drink and said "Let's cheers to John....and don't worry, he know's I'm going to take care of you."  Sometimes that guy just knows the perfect thing to say and do.

In the end, our guys (Jeff Gordon-,who I've had a crush on since I was 9, and Little E didn't end up winning). However, the big wreck of the night happened right in front of us on the last lap! No photos of that because my stupid phone died soon after the above photos were taken... But it was exciting, and since no one was hurt it was pretty awesome!

So until next year Nascar.......

-kel

a post on creativity

Today you can check me out over on my bestie's blog!!!

-kel

comparing and other unlady like faults

The other day I was reading a post by my friend Erin. And to be perfectly honest, it struck a cord. I kept thinking "Wow, that's me too" and "I do that". 
Then I decided to stop caring about the lives of others on facebook. It's not exactly like you get the whole story anyway, more of what people want you to know (and they hide the bad stuff). But then it kinda got closer to home.....
The other night I had a nightmare about my lack of career. Granted I know it's hard to find a job in your field as soon as you graduate, but it's been over a year. And not only that, but I always thought finding a teaching job would be easy, and it's proven to be the exact opposite. And the frustrating thing in it all is that I know this is God's plan for my life. It's all I've wanted to do for the last 20 years of my life. But I just haven't found one yet. And that scares me and makes me incredibly sad.
So I tried not to think about the stupid dream.
And then my mind took me to another dark place. I started realizing that out of my closest 4 girl friends, I'm the only one whose life seems to be standing still.... One girl friend just had a baby. Another is moving soon to start seminary. Another girl friend just got engaged. And the 4th got a job this year that she absolutely loves.
Now don't get me wrong, I love that all of this is happening for them. They are all deserving of the absolute best, because they are the absolute best (why else would I be friends with them! hehe). But when I start to think of my life and how it's standing still and I feel like I'm getting no closer to anything I want, I get slightly discouraged.
So I started looking up bible verses, because I know that as a Christian we are taught not to compare our lives. God has different plans for each of us and all in His own timing. Only He knows what's in store for me. But at the same time, I just wish He'd let me see the light at the end of the tunnel. It's hard not to give up hope when you don't have that. However, I do have an amazing support system (which includes those 4 beautiful and amazing women) and that's been a lifesaver.
And don't get me wrong, I am happy with my life. I know that I am where I am suppoe to be. It's just that where I am isn't exactly where I want to be.
But in the meantime, I am enjoying the "waiting time" and soaking up what life has to offer.
But in the back of my mind I just keep asking myself "when will it be my turn?"

*** EDIT****
30 minutes after writing this, I got a phone call. That phone call lead to me getting a full-time teaching position!!!!  So excited!

4th of july

 This Independence Day was pretty laid back and fun. We spent the day at our friends house because it was cheaper and easier since they have a month old baby. We made tons of food, talked a lot, had a hot dog eating contest, drank some beers (summer shandy!!!!), and watched a little tv.
It was a perfect day.

And I think baby Keagan enjoyed his first Fourth of July.
-kel

Kellie & Steven, year 2

Last month Steven and I celebrated 2 years of dating. In order to cherish those memories, I decided to create another minibook, like last year. Except, since last year's mini took so long to complete I went in a different direction. 

With some inspiration from one of my favorite bloggers and the help of blurb.com, I made a pretty simple; yet perfect one.

-kellie

You can see last year's mini here.

Keagan's second photoshoot

This past weekend I photographed my friends Jen and Joe, and their adorable son again (and this time with Jen's mom)! I seriously love these guys and their son, Keagan is so precious I can't stand it. 

So this may be an overload of pictures, but come on, how could I not post these? Especially when there's a cute little 3 week old starring in them???

This kid is already the charmer (and a looker). And the best part about our photoshoots is how everyone lights up when he's around. His parents are some of the proudest parents I know. His grandparents are completely in love with him, and even his puppies are smitten with him. It's tough not to be.


 -kellie