Hot Springs

We are VERY fortunate!!! (One of) Matt's aunts & uncles owns a little cabin up in the mountains of Hot Springs, NC. So before the craziness of the holiday season began, we ventured up into no cell phone signal territory in order to relax. 

One of my girlfriends from college (also post-college roomies & bridesmaids in each other's weddings), her husband, & dog joined us for a 3 day weekend. We hiked, played games, lounged, ate, and slept in the entire break.

Friday evening we ventured around the little town, had dinner at the Smoky Mountain Diner, walked to the river, and enjoyed the atmosphere of Bluff Mountain Outfitters

I got some pottery from this cute shop The Artisun Gallery

Saturday we hiked up to Lover's Leap along the French Broad River

Heather & I

              What a cute family

Snack Break

Here comes Beaux

Before enjoying our Crockpot spaghetti dinner

Right across the street from our cabin is the footpath that leads to the Appalachian Trail. On Sunday, we walked the AT for longer than we expected to (almost 5 hours) and we never quite made it to the hiker's shelter. LOL.

Happy (& tired) Hikers

If you're ever looking for a weekend getaway

check out the charming 

Chapel View Cottages

Thanks for a lovely weekend!

This Is

where I am for the weekend :)

When I look back now.....

that summer seemed to last forever. And if I had the choice, yeah, I know I'd always want to be there. Those were the best days of my life.....

2005   

                     {we look like babies & I will never be that tan again!}                                         

 2008                                        2010

{Lizzy and I at our friend's wedding & us at my wedding}

This weekend Matt and I are going home and then up to Charlotte for a dear friend's wedding on Saturday. I can't wait to see old friends and celebrate a new marriage!! 

Liz and I met in 2005 while on a Summer Project for CRU in Clearwater, FL. We shared a room with 3 other girls and had one of the best summers (anyone singing the song again?) ever! Since then, we have seen each other over the years either at conferences during college or at weddings!

I am so very excited for her and her soon-to-be husband and the adventures they will have as a married couple! Oh dear prayer partner (what we liked to call each other), I look forward to celebrating y'all on Saturday! :)

{Of course, I can't wait to post pictures from the wedding!}

 AND

Don't Forget to Enter the Giveaway!

You have until tomorrow!!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Week View #2

I am so happy to have stumbled upon Life Rearranged's Instafriday! 

I love being inspired

and I love photography of the everyday life!

[Plus, I can "show off" my Instagram pics on my blog 

for those who don't have an iPhone and can't follow along....hehe]

Taking Lucy out for morning walks can be really interesting

The woods behind our place are full of great trails,

 but there are strange things too:

plenty of trash piles

wild berries & ferns

discarded kid's toys

[see below]

I mean, really? 

Lucy is also our bunny spotter :)

Enjoying a Iced Chai Tea Latte (my fav) & some journaling

Watching Matt's softball team play

The wreath currently hanging on our front door

 

{This is from last week}

  I went to Raleigh for an appointment and afterwards stopped by ANTHRO  :)

The current color on my nails- Prospect Park Pink 

and my favorite calendar in the background by Tay Morgan 

New summer shades

NYC in a minute 

so much cheaper than my usual OPI or Essie 

[and they last just as long and dry quickly]

10 cents a piece!! I couldn't pass it up- even though I didn't really "need" them

Being lazy on a Sunday afternoon

I'm grateful that Matt had the day off work

so we could go to church and make lunch together

Love these curtains :)

Hope you enjoyed the random shots from the week!
Looking forward to checking out the linked up pics too!
Follow along with me @ Lifeasapepin

*i have to clarify: although i love those curtains, they are my friend's! wish i could claim them as mine!

 (she purchased them at a fabric store and made them- i snapped the pic while at her house)

Post-Valentine's

I am married to a wonderful man. He is simply amazing.

We have only been able to share 3 out of 5 Valentine's Days together, (our dating relationship was long distance until 2010) I had no idea what plans he had for last night. [FIVE! That sounds so unreal to me!] 

After cleaning, I made Mocha cupcakes with cream cheese frosting. Yum. Anyways.....

I love my husband. I am so thankful to have him.
I appreciate all that he does for me/for us.

&
He knows me too well: flowers, his cooking, and cheesecake with chocolate and strawberries.

 I love tulips! (Honestly, I don't really like roses)