{Ireland Recap: Doin' The Dingle}

We started off our third morning by walking around Kinsale and doing a little shopping...

Bought the most expensive sweater I will ever buy...but it was handmade...and it's amazing. Can't wait to break it out later this fall! 

I love this little town. Some of the smallest streets I've ever seen! 

Very cool shot by Wendel

This sweater...worn almost every day! 

The roofs amazed us...

Then it was back in the car for a very long scenic drive...call The Dingle. 

Yup...you read that right. The Dingle. 

We affectionately called this day "Doin' The Dingle"...

Craziest driver ever...but he got us everywhere safely so I won't complain :) 

We stopped half way through The Dingle for lunch and to stretch our legs! 

There's a story of this dolphin in the water that heals people or something...blah blah blah...it was a place to sit :) 

Cute little mama-in-law

The sheep with the painted toochies :) 

Only a little windy...

These two...adore them!

So so so many signs!

Bathroom break :) One of about 4376 bathroom breaks during this trip. 

Faye printed off this little Dingle tour that gave you narration to describe the scenery as we were passing it, and Andi was our tour guide. I'll admit...I totally loved it! So fun to actually know what the heck you're looking at...other than gorgeousness. 

I love this picture...my in-laws are the absolute cutest!

How did I get so lucky?

That evening we finished "Doin' The Dingle" and then got a quick dinner before heading to our B&B for the night!

White Lightening....bless her little heart. 

The next day is what I like to call "That Day Lelia Thought She Might Die"...

For More Ireland Recaps: 

Getting To Dublin

Waterford and Kilkenny

Blarney and Kinsale

Doin' The Dingle

Aran Islands

Northern Ireland

The End

{Back...and Ready For Action}

Hello Friends! 

I'm back! 

It's been such a crazy, busy, fun, and relaxing month and a half off...but I'm thrilled to be back in action! 

I missed sharing my thoughts, journaling our lives, sharing my inspiration, and being apart of this blogging community! 

So I'm back, and I hope you missed me a little...

A little...maybe? 

I'll be doing many different updates next week! 

House updates. 

Infertility updates. 

Traveling updates

But for now, how about a super random life update? 

1. We got hooked on House of Cards and Scandal and I'm now equally obsessed and terrified of politics. 

2. I'm running...ya'll...running. I was never a runner and never thought I could be a runner. But lo and behold, here I am...running. I still struggle though it...but I'm loving the feeling afterwards! 

3. I know you probably want to shoot me in the face, but I'm already so excited for fall! Alex spoke the words 'pumpkin spice latte' and I actually teared up. Oh my love for fall is just too much! Almost as nutso as Christmas...which yes...I'm excited for that too!

4. I can't even explain how excited I am to enjoy the rest of our summer in Cincinnati! There's so much I've missed! Findlay market, Red's games, picnics, dinners downtown, Sawyer Point, bike rides...So you better believe we'll be soaking up every second of our favorite city! This weekend we're gearing up for Luminosity {I snagged tickets...the angels rejoice} a Findlay market trip, and hopefully a date night on the river. 

5. We offered to take video for my best friends wedding last weekend, and I'm working on a little recap video from the festivities. And it hit me...we don't video enough. We take snapshots of our lives so beautifully in picture form, but where are all of those awkward, in-your-face, wobbly hand, "Verna, say hi to the camera" memories? I think Wendel and I will start to do more of that. I want to remember how people sounded, how they laughed, and catch all of those memories that so often are lost in the shuffle. 

So that's about all! I hope everyone is having a wonderful summer! Talk to you all soon! 

{Bloggin...Ugh}

Hey Friends! 

I'm alive...we're alive...no worries! 

I took an unexpected blogging hiatus last week and it still kind of continues. 

Here's the DL...

My outfit of the days have been workout clothes and PJ's...

We're still not pregnant {insert sarcastic cheering}...

We're in the middle of about five projects, but none of them are far enough along to show you...

Orange Is The New Black has overtaken my life...

Wendel is in his last week of his summer class so he's been busy...

We're traveling WAY too much, so I'm in a constant state of packing, unpacking, and doing laundry...

And blogging just sucks sometimes...

Sorry to cuss ya'll...actually...nope...not sorry. 

Blogging is so frustrating! 

It takes so much time, people typically don't get what blogging is and how much time it takes, I don't know what I want for my blog re-design...literally the only time I've been indecisive...ever, I feel like this little blog will never "take off", and I go through the "I'm quitting blogging" thing like once a month. 

Sweet Mrs. Measom explained it so well in her post about blogging frustration...I felt her so clearly in every work she spoke. 

So this is what I'm doing...I'm peacing out on blogging until August.

I'm not in a depression...don't worry!

I just need to extend myself some grace!

I actually hurts my heart to do this. Wendel has asked me like five times if I really want to do this. 

I doubt any of you will go into a depression....but I just really need to do this! 

I think I'll come back refreshed, rejuvenated, and excited about blogging again...hopefully! 

So I'll see you in August! 

I'll be able to recap our summer travels...

Maybe I'll have a new look on the blog...oh deal Lord please!

Hopefully we'll have the sun-room totally done...

And maybe a few other projects will be underway! 

Thank you so much to everyone who does read and support and love this blog of mine!

If you want to follow me in real time, follow my Instagram account...I'll for sure be sharing more there! 

{Friday Blog Feature}

Hey Friends! 

I don't have a super exciting post for ya'll today...sadly. 

We've been STRUGGLING in the sunroom...so flippin' annoying! 

The tile is done...Thank God! 

But the ceiling is give us some fits. 

On top of that, today begins our SIX weekend stretch of traveling. 

Mostly for weddings, but a lot of traveling! 

So no weekends for a while to work on projects...boo. 

As you read, I'm on the road to Greenville, TN to see my sweet college friend marry the man of her dreams! 

Cannot wait to see her in white, and catch up with dear friends! 

I do have some exciting news...a blog post from a year or two ago was featured on a website! 

Woo hoo! 

So go check out the feature...and better yet, the post all about some unique bridal shower games!

Have a fabulous weekend, and I'll be back on Monday to share what we have done so far in the sun-room! 

{Marriage...It's Awesome}

I can say with 100% certainty very few things. 

I can't say with 100% certainty that I'm an awesome friend/daughter/sister. 

I can't say with 100% certainty that I'm an incredible teacher. 

I definitely can't say with 100% certainty that I'm an excellent blogger. 

But I can say with 100% certainty that I have a freaking awesome marriage.

Pictures via Burning Chair Studios

Are we perfect? Heck No! Have we been at it for a long time? No. But we feel insanely blessed to say that our marriage is thriving. 

We do not take marriage lightly, and we've learned a lot in the three short years together as husband and wife. 

Here are my top five favorite things I've learned during this journey.

Maybe I'll get Wendel to do this too...see what he comes up with. 

{Side note: because the majority of my readers are women...and I'm a woman...I'm writing this towards women...still hope you get something awesome out of this men!}

1. Don't Make Being Happy A Guessing Game

You married you spouse for a reason. And they married you for a reason. It's probably because you like each other...hopefully. But one reason you married each other is because you want to make him/her happy. LET HIM MAKE YOU HAPPY! Don't make him guess what will make you happy...tell him! I learned very early on that my sweet, amazing husband will not just off the top of his head plan dates. It's just not who he is. In the beginning I took it so personally. And if I continued to "play the game" I would probably end up resentful and bitter. Then I realized that NOTHING makes him happier than to make me happy. So when I'm wanting him to plan a special date...I'll ask him. A simple e-mail of "hey...will you plan us a date for Friday?" will work. And let me tell you what...Wendel always follows through. {Men...you have to follow through...k?}

Don't make it a guessing game...it's not cute. 

2. Learn Your Spouses' Love Language

This totally changed how I view loving Wendel. When we first took the love language quiz, I was pretty embarrassed to say that my love language was receiving gifts. I now know that it's because my lovely, sweet, shy husband doesn't always verbalize his feelings...but when he brings me home a cupcake, or buys me something off my Pinterest board...that shows me that he has thought about me and loves me. Receiving gifts is NOT his love language. Like at all. I would plan the most incredible gifts for him {a gift every hour on his birthday...yup...that happened}and he received them graciously, but it wasn't filling his "love tank." He needs physical touch and words of affirmation. Hugging him when he gets home from work, and sending him encouraging e-mails is a perfect way for me to show him love. LOVE YOUR SPOUSE HOW THEY WANT TO BE LOVED. Not how you want to be loved. It will drastically change the dynamics of your relationship. Promise!

3. Be Intentional...For Real

Wendel and I help out with marriage counseling at our church, and I can't tell you how many times the word "intentional" comes up during talks. It is so important to be intentional in your marriage. Be intentional in loving your spouse. Be intentional in listening to your spouse. Be intentional about being intimate with your spouse. {bow chicka wow wow} Be intentional about showing love towards your spouse. Be intentional in affirming your spouse. Be intentional about praising your spouse...especially in public. One way we are being intentional in our marriage is at least one thing a year to work on our marriage. That could mean a marriage counseling class, reading a marriage book together, doing a marriage small group together. Something very intentional to work on our marriage together. Our thing is helping out with marriage counseling. We just do administrative things for now, but we've met incredible couples out of it and have learned a ton! Every time we take the course, we come at it from a tiny bit different view. And we always get something out of it! Intentionality {pretty sure that's not a word}...go do it people. And do it well!

4. Never Ever, Ever Speak Ill Of Your Spouse

It is so incredibly easy to fall victim to the "let's trash talk our spouses around the water cooler" crap. Sorry mom...but yeah...it's crap. Don't do it! You don't want your spouse speaking ill of you to his coworkers/friends/family. So stay clear of the trap! Be positive, be praiseworthy, and be your spouses' biggest cheerleader. Now I will say this...don't be obnoxious. You know those people who are super boastful...don't be crazy. Be loving. 

5. Make Memories...And Make Them Awesome

Don't let the stress of planning special moments take over you. I love Pinterest...don't get me wrong, but it has given us all such high expectations...and it's no bueno. Memories doesn't have to mean taking a picnic in a hot air balloon over the ocean while watching fireworks in the background and sipping champagne from flutes he designed with an artist in Ireland. {1. Yes...let's do that. 2. See what crazy dreams Wendel has to live with!} Making memories can be picking up Wendy's frosties and fries and taking them to the park. It could mean getting lost in some woods together. It could be trying to build a fort together and failing so miserably that you end up almost accidentally suffocating the love of your life in the process....that's never happened to us. But making memories is EVERYTHING. 

And the blogger in me would like to add...flippin' document it! That could mean a picture, video, journal entry, drawing, a to scale model out of marshmallows. Whatever the heck comes to mind...but document it. We LOVE looking back and reminiscing the incredible memories. 

So I could go on and on with more and more of these. But I'll stop for now. Thank goodness, right?

Marriage is awesome people...if you're in one...work at it. If you want to be in one...pray for it. If your scared of it...read these words and find hope.

Happy Wednesday Friends!

{Comfy Casual}

Sometimes a comfy pair of jeans, simple black T, and a good hat is all you need to make you feel comfy and put together! 

I've had a few friends recently diagnosed with skin cancer, and most of their spots were right in their hair line. It freaked me out, so I've been trying to wear hats out and about. While sometimes I feel like I look like a diva {haha}...I'll take it over getting skin caner. Any day! 

Jeans: Loft {old, similar, craving these}

T-Shirt: Target {similar}

Hat: Target {can't find online, love this and this}

Purse: Kate Spade {Baxter Street Marian}

Wallet: Kate Spade {Wellesley Neda, similar}

Sunnies: Forever 21 {sold out, expensive version}

Watch: Fossil

Sandles: Steve Madden via DSW {old, similar}

Let's just talk about my new purse...I'm in LOVE!

Mr. Wendel grabbed this for me for our anniversary during Kate Spades's random 75% off sale! 

It's perfection...

And this wallet complements it perfectly! 

Good job Mr. Wendel! 

I wore this outfit for an ice cream date with my two nieces on their last day of school! Nothing like a good dipped cone loaded with sprinkles to SCREAM summer! 

Side note: my niece on the right is officially a senior in high school {wahhhhh} and headed off for five weeks to a scholarship program...we're all in denial. What will we do without her?

Happy Friday! 

We had to put off tiling the sun-room until this weekend because of rain and working on the ceiling...so Mr. Wendel and I have a date tiling in the sun-room tonight! 

Have a fabulous weekend!