Way-Back-Wednesday, Katie Style!

I would like to wish my friend, Katie, a very happy 24th birthday today! In honor of her birthday, I'm dedicating my Way-Back-Wednesday post to her. I'm sure she will be thrilled about all the pictures I'm about to share on the Internet. I've been meaning to do a post like this for a while now because I have a ton of crazy pictures with Katie. I probably have more ridiculous pictures with her than any other friend. I met Katie during my Junior year of high school. She went to school at Moore and I went to North, but we attended the same Cosmetology school. I remember walking in to class on my first day and I didn't know anyone because there was only me and one other girl from North. I sat by myself on the far side of the room and kept quiet like the shy girl that I am (when it comes to being in school and class). Not long after that this little girl named Katie came up to me and asked if she could sit with me. Of course, I gladly accepted and we introduced ourselves and pretty much were inseparable the remaining two years of Cosmetology school. It's so funny to look back at all these pictures and see how much we have (mainly Katie) changed. Apparently Cosmetology school wasn't all business because a lot of these pictures were taken during class while we were doing our hair and make-up and goofing off. Katie and I are currently working together at the same salon and she works at the station right next to me. I LOVE having her there. We reminisce about the good ole days and how much we miss Cosmetology school and all our wonderful friends we made there. Occasionally, we will all have "Cosmo Girls" reunions (cosmetology girls nights), although we don't have them often enough if you ask me. Katie has and always will be a very special friend to me. We always get along great and have tons of fun when we're together and I cherish her friendship greatly! Hope you enjoy the pictures, Katie! Wishing you a happy happy birthday...can't wait to celebrate tonight!
Wannabe Charlie's AngelsI'd like to point out the outfit that Katie has on in this pic. She wouldn't be caught dead wearing that now....and she tells me that I'm the one who wears grandma clothes. Oh how times have changed!My surprise 18th birthday party!We look so young.Rockstar hair!Cosmetology graduationFoilheadI think this was our last day of Cosmetology school, tear ;(State Facial Contest...Katie was my beautiful model!Senior prom. Don't you just love my choice of hairstyle and Katie's choice of eye make-up....cracks me up!Looks like someone was practicing their State Board roller set on my hair!This picture always makes me die laughing. Why so serious, Katie and Dijana? America's Next Top Model pose.Love Katie's face!One of my favs!Hanging out in the facial room. We were supposed to be practicing for the state competition, but clearly we were just goofing off and taking stupid pics. Story of our lives.Cute hair!Not sure what shirt and earrings I'm wearing in this one.Now that looks more like us

Katie's baby shower in April. She is now a wonderful and proud momma to a precious 4 month old baby boy!

Love you Katie Lew and so thankful for your friendship :)

Playing Catch-up!

Since the last time I made an appearance on my blog, there's been a bunch of showers, parties, and events that I want to share with you.

First up, my future sister-in-law/brother's fiance, Ashley's bridal shower. It was a lovely shower and there was great food, friends, family, and gifts!

The bridesmaids and AshleyAshley and MeAshley's mom, Ashley, and my mom Couldn't resist sharing this picture that was on display at the shower. That's Trevor and Ashley at their junior prom. They look like babies!

Next up is Ashley's Bachelorette Party. We stayed at a hotel in OKC and ate food, opened gifts, and then went out to Michael Murphy's Dueling Piano Bar. It was a fun night. I really enjoyed meeting all of Ashley's friends and celebrating her!The picture frame I made for Ashley as part of the decorations

I thought these cups were cute.Ashley and LauraThe bridesmaidsThis was Ashley's reaction after opening a certain gift, but I won't go there because..... "what happens at the Bachelorette Party...stays at the Bachelorette Party"

These sweet ladies from my mom and dad's Sunday school class hosted a nice shower for Ashley! They did a wonderful job with food, decorations, and games.Ashley and the lovely hostessesAshley's mom, me, Ashley, and my mom
The mothers!

Ashley with her mom, grandma, and aunt!

After that we headed to my best friend's house for her "fiesta" engagement party, complete with food, friends, family, the game of washers, and of course, Mexican food! It was a sweet party and I'm glad we were able to be a part of it!

The cute couple!

The apron I got for her so she can learn how to cook :)

cute personalized dish towels

How fun!

Alli and Ryan's Wedding Survival Kit...compliments of Ryan's dad. Such a creative and fun gift idea. There were lots of funny things inside.

Included in the kit was this book. The Idiot's Guide to Being a Groom. Ryan, read up! Ryan and his siblings.

My mom and Alli's mom

Alli and her dad, presh!



Lots and lots of wedding stuff! Now all I have to do is sit back and relax and wait for the wedding weekends to begin....Phew!!

*****IN OTHER EXCITING NEWS, prayers were answered and Aaron found a place to live today! He had quite a bit of trouble finding something that fit his needs and was in his price range. Thankfully he found a place today! He will be very close to work and I think he's really going to like it. He will be moving in tomorrow and will start his new internship Wednesday! YAY!

Road Trip to Ft. Smith!

Last week, my best friend from college and I went on a road trip to visit our old stomping ground in Ft. Smith, Arkansas! We had an absolute blast. We played golf, went to dinner and lunch with special friends (including my sweet host mom and dad), sang karaoke, watched the volleyball game and the pom girls, watched the LSU football game, and had slumber parties! It was a much needed get-away and we need to do it way more often. I've definitely missed these girls a ton. Next time we need a week long trip so we can see everybody and spend more time with them. The girls at karaoke.
My road trip partner, Allison!

Christen and me!

When Allison and I first got there we decided it would be fun to play a game of golf. We both brought our clubs because we thought if all the girls were at work or in class when we first got there, golf would be a fun thing to do until they were done.....and yes, it was tons of fun! Probably the funniest game of golf I've ever played. We played a par 3 course and every hole had water involved. As a result, we lost about 10+ balls in the water and we each probably hit about 5 apartment buildings....oops! We didn't keep score because clearly I played TERRIBLE! Oh well, it was still fun!

Allison made par on one hole. This is where her ball landed after the first swing. Her dad, brothers, and boyfriend would be proud so we had to take a picture as proof!

We are definitely going to play golf together again!
Just enjoying the beautiful weather.Nice form, Allie! Me, not so much! The girls at dinner.....it was a little windy!

To Aaron and Another Year!!

Today is an important day! My boyfriend, Aaron is another year older and we are celebrating another year of blissful dating! In honor of Aaron's birthday and our 5th Anniversary, I wanted to share a few pictures from the past year. I ALSO HAVE EXTREMELY EXCITING NEWS TO SHARE...AARON ACCEPTED AN INTERNSHIP WITH THE OKLAHOMA WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT AND HE WILL BE STARTING NEXT WEEK! That means instead of an hour and a half apart, we will now be thirty to forty-five minutes apart. I cannot express in words how excited I am. I have been praying and praying that he will find a job and that it will be something that he loves doing and it will bring us closer together. Although it's just an internship, I count it as an answered prayer and for that I'm very thankful! For the first two years of our relationship, we lived in the same town, but the last three years have been apart. It is going to be different adjusting to seeing each other so often, but it will be a very quick and easy adjustment. I look forward to cooking him dinner occasionally, date nights (esp. double dates with my best friend and her fiance who live there), going to church together, spending holidays together, going to football games.....and most of all being able to go see him on the spur of the moment, whenever I want! AHHHHHH....I'm so happy, I literally could explode! The internship will last six months, so please continue to pray that after the internship he will have a full time job lined out for him, doing something he loves!

Because it's more fun to take a trip down memory lane, here are a couple of old school pictures first. This picture was taken the first time Aaron met my parents after we had only been dating a short while. I can't believe how young we both look and I have the roundest face and biggest cheeks I've ever seen, haha!

I think this pic was taken during our first year of dating. He is too cute!


Fourth of July trip to the zoo this year.
At my Me-Ma's 80th surprise birthday party this April.At the Eli Young Band concert this past Spring.
Before heading out on one of our dates this year.Aaron's graduation this past December. Hard to believe it's almost been a year.
Thanksgiving in Tahlequah with wonderful friends.
After completing the triathlon last September.

I don't want to get all sappy on you guys, but I just want to express how blessed and thankful I am to have Aaron in my life. He truly is the sweetest guy I know. You can ask anyone who knows him and they will more than likely tell you that he has a heart of gold. He treats me like a queen and never asks for much in return. Just ask his brother, Brian. When I go to their house, he calls me "Queen Quincee." Aaron has far exceeded his duties as a wonderful boyfriend this past year. I can't count the numerous times that he came to see me for a whole weekend even though I had to work the entire weekend. He came anyway and found ways to entertain himself while I was at work. Every time I came to see him he took off work for a day or two just so he could spend the whole day with me....that also meant sometimes he had to put in a day of work on the weekends to make up for lost time. He made time and sometimes cancelled plans to attend surprise parties, weddings, races, etc. I owe him a lot of trips to Edmond to make up for all the gas money he spent this past year visiting me. Probably my favorite memories with Aaron this past year involved running the marathon. Aaron didn't run the marathon with me, but he was my biggest fan. He woke up at the crack of dawn and rode his bike beside me many, many times.....and sometimes those rides exceeded 16 miles. I'm pretty sure that was the longest bike ride he's ever been on and ever will go on for that matter. I remember one time he said to me, "you don't know how happy I'll be when this marathon is over. I'll get my girlfriend back." I'll never forget how sweet, compassionate, and proud he was of me after I finished the race. He probably told me 100 times how proud he was and how great I did. That day he knew I was in extreme pain and he waited on me hand and foot. I didn't have to move a muscle because he was right there asking if there was anything he could do for me.





Thank you, Aaron for being such a great boyfriend. I know I don't tell you enough how much you are appreciated and how much you mean to me. I hope you have the best 24th birthday ever! I can't wait to see what the next year has in store for you and me! I love you so much!