My Papa

I'm so sorry for the little absence here, its been a tough week. My sweet grandpa (we call him Papa) has been in the hospital since last week and passed away last night. I am so very sad and can't believe how much I am going to miss him. He was so funny and sweet and wonderful, but I know that he is in Heaven with my Mamaw who he loves more than anything. I so appreciate your prayers and sweet words- they are a great comfort. 

XO
-L 

Mamaw & Papa.

Mamaw & Papa and their kiddos.

My Papa and his sweet Mamaw at their wedding in 1955. 

One of my favorite pictures. My dad as a little guy with Papa.

Sometimes

Sometimes you have these moments in life where you can't smile big enough, because you feel so loved. All my best girls made me feel this way this past weekend at my bachelorette party. We had so much fun and laughed so much that I swear my face still hurts. I am so so so blessed.

Geoff makes me feel that same overwhelming love every single day. I can't wait to be his wife.

And sometimes you hear a story about something awful and unimaginable happening far away in another country, and it makes you realize that, even though you are knee-deep in a crappy RFP and sometimes your job feels like working at a mental institution, you are actually amazingly lucky to have a job in a clean, air-conditioned office, with laws that protect you and food on your table, a roof over your head, and people that love you and will always take care of you. Its hard to complain when you realize so many suffer everyday.

I don't want to be a debbie-downer, but sometimes you just realize how damn lucky you are and you feel like saying it out loud.

So, today, I am so grateful for (in no particular order...) my family, friends, and loved ones, my relationship with God, getting to have a beautiful wedding, getting to marry the love of my life, my pets, coffee, my audio book club (without which I would have severe road rage), mix CDs, pineapple Chobani yogurt, spin class, t-shirt sheets, and curry ribs waiting at home for me in the crock pot.

XO
-L

Feeling Breezy

Or at least I would like to be. Usually I find summer is a time to slow down, relax, spend more time outside and just chill. Um, not this summer. We are less than three months away from the nuptials people! I gotta say, my stress level is definitely up. Hence my blog absence. I'm not going to lie, I'm pretty sure my posting will be spotty in the next couple of months as we get closer, but I will do my best to check in with my beloved little blog. I took a rare break from wedding madness to do a little online window shopping this evening. Nothing drops my blood pressure like gazing at gorgeous, flowy, breezy blouses. There are so many in stores that I am in love with. I can see each of these paired with cute cutoffs and flat sandals for summer weekends, with dark skinnies and heels for work, and layered under my fave cardis when the weather gets cooler. Yes, definitely going to have to add a couple of these beauties to my wardrobe.

XO
-L 

Flowering Pastures Blouse via Anthro
OMG. So in love with this one. Definitely at the top of my wishlist. 

Silk Chiffon Flutter Sleve Top via F21

Bellatrix Lace Trim Chiffon Top via Nordstrom

BCBG Pearl Gray Printed Blouse via Bluefly

Anik Batik Berry Cristoba Blouse via My-Wardrobe.com

DVF Annushka Short Tunic via The Outnet.com
Must. Have. This. Top. (So wish I could register for this...) 

A few of my favorite things (right now)

Hey kids, I hope you guys all had a lovely start to your week. I was a bit bummed yesterday cause I had to come home from Tucson before Geoff (curse my few vacation days...) So he is still there soaking up the sun and golfing till Wednesday. So, to cheer myself up while my partner in crime is out of town, I am focusing on some of my fave new little treat discoveries. Nothing crazy, just little things that brighten my day.
Enjoy!

XO
-L 

1. Photography Apps on my iPhone
I am obsessed with Hipstamatic & Shake-It Photo (I used them to make the super fun snaps above, I am even using them for a photo for our thank-you cards.) Love using technology to make something old school cool.

2. Tofu Shirataki Noodles
How is it possible to eat pasta and it be low carb, fat free, & only 20 calories a serving?!! Its like magic!! I am officially hooked on these babies. Thanks to my future mother-in-law and sis-in-law for recommending them. I need some good options now more than ever because, with my wedding dress fitting being only a month away, I am trying to be really good. These will help me squelch the carb craving in a healthy way.

3. Betty Crocker Warm Delights Minis
Bride diet or no bride diet, I must have chocolate. And its my favorite in cake form. Geoff came home with a big stack of these things the other day (just another reason he is the best ever...) and (at 150 calories a pop) they are the perfect way to have my cake and eat it too-without derailing that hard ass spin class I just finished.

4. Obaji Clenziderm Starter Set
Hello genius skincare! If you have read my blog at all, you know that I have struggled with the dreaded acne all my life. I just finished a big round of (painful, expensive) laser treatments and now have lovely clear skin for my wedding, but I was getting stress breakouts. Not cool. So, to keep my newly acquired pretty skin under control, I am using this kit as prescribed by my derm. It is amazing! Thank you Jesus for this product. I'm no expert, but this is the only skincare product on the market with the solubilized  form of Benzoyl Peroxide, which basically means that it is small enough to actually penetrate pores instead of just sitting on top of the skin doing jack-squat. Read more here.

Happy (Belated) Father's Day

Yes, I am a little late on this one (I was traveling yesterday and blogging wasn't an option...) but it is no reflection on what an amazing Dad I have. He has always been there, always been our family's rock, and knows how to fix anything. He is amazingly smart and kind and talented. A true Renaissance man, he could be sculpting a beautiful bronze statue one minute, then switch to a painting or stained glass piece, then head over to his triathalon class with my mom or to one of his many successful businesses. I am so grateful for you everyday Dad-you truly have set the bar high! I love you so much!!

XO
-L