I'm Back.... Maybe!

       Well, long time no see! For the 3 humans who read this blog, I'm sorry its been over 2 MONTHS since my last post. My explanation... Blake and I steal internet from the office at our apartment complex and well, I guess the storm that came through a while back that made "our" internet not connect anymore was just God's way of saying, "Blake and Beth, have you ever heard of the Ten Commandments?". So now on my lonely Sunday afternoon while Blake plays disc golf I will sit peacefully at Starbucks (still not paying for internet) sipping my caramel frappe and tell you guys a little about life the last two months!
       Golly, since May?? Um... let's see. Oh! I can begin with Blake taking a new job! I couldn't have been more proud and happy for my hubby. As most of you know Blake was working at Jason's Deli. Having a degree in nutrition, he felt it was appropriate to have a job in food service. His hours there were a little crazy at times and we missed having down time together. He is now a leasing manager at The Bluffs apartment complex here in Ttown and is loving it so far! He has been extremely busy here lately since it is moving season for all the students at UA, but otherwise we love the time he has off!
       During some of that time off, we had an awesome 4th of July at his aunt and uncle's place on beautiful Smith Lake. It turned out to be a great day for sure, we ate too much, talked too much, and I even got a little sunburn. The weekend after the 4th we made a trip up to D.C..... Yep, we went all the way to D.C. and back in one weekend. It was a long but enjoyable road trip for myself, Blake and Kayla. You all probably know by now that Kayla is now a hip new resident in Washington D.C. and Blake and I were the lucky ones who got to move her up there. What's new, right? =) But we were able to get some good tourist pics out of it!
       On to Blake's family vacation that I went on and he didn't. Really. Blake's family had the beach trip planned for a few months and we were all so excited about it. But with Blake beginning a new job and the vacation falling right in their busy season he wasn't able to go. I, however, thoroughly enjoyed the trip with the Cagle's. Of course I ate way too much fried shrimp and key lime pie, but isn't that what vacation is for?
       Overall it's been a pretty great summer and fall and football season are right around the corner. Roll Tide! I'll try and do better and not wait 2 months until the next time I post. To be continued...

Sand, Sun & Water... Pretty Please!

       Hi friends! Haven't been on for a while now. Life's been pretty crazy the last couple weeks and it seems every day I have off I find somewhere to go or some one to see. Here lately Blake and I have spent a lot of our extra time attending graduation ceremonies. My baby brother Ben just graduated Winston County High School on Friday and I couldn't be prouder! He received a scholarship to attend Northwest Shoals Community College which is where Blake went for his first two years of his college career, so he has had some great advice to share with Ben. Also my older cousin Lisa Bailey (now Lisa Bailey M.D.) graduated from UAB last Sunday and my entire family is so proud to have a doctor within us now! So wherever you are graduating, congratulations Class of 2012!

Ready for this guy to
be me!!!

       You wanna know the best thing about graduation time? That just means it's now..... SUMMERTIME!! Blake and I have a few summer adventures planned including a 4th of July lake day, a beach trip at the end of July and lots of bike riding, and picnickin', and whatever else we can get into! I'll try to keep you all updated on our extravaganzas! Until next time....


 

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Thought these were too funny not to share!!! =)

Don't Sweat It

       Every once in a while life gets the best of me and I have to remind myself to slow down and take it all in. To stop going so fast and actually breathe. Myself along with a few of my friends have recently started working out together every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning at 6:30 a.m. At first I was a little skeptical whether or not we would be able to stick with it, but we are about 5 weeks in and feeling great. Our hour and a half workout has come to be a time for me to think. I often get myself in trouble by agreeing to help out in too many places at the same time, and honestly, I think being a hairstylist and always in a hurry (appointment after appointment) makes it worse. I am a people pleaser and constantly try to make the impossible, possible. So having some time to reflect on my thoughts has turned out to be such a blessing. It gives me a chance, although I'm running and sweating to death, to focus on what the day might have in store for me. Blake has been extremely supportive and encourages me everyday (whoa, whoa... don't get the wrong idea. He stays in bed when I leave and is still there when I get back). With these couple of hours a week I have to meditate on what's going on in my life, I am really beginning to see what marriage means and what it stands for. You learn to understand and respect each others needs. Whether it be time to gather your thoughts and feelings, to being comfortable in sharing those thoughts and feelings. This month Blake and I have together for 6 years, and we still learn something new about each other everyday. We are growing and moving forward together and no matter what life throws at us, we are both just going to slow down and remember to breathe!

Love is in the Air

Blake and Eric on our
wedding day!

 Don't drink the water!!! I am beginning to think that there is some kind of bacteria in the water in the Tuscaloosa area... but I'm glad there is! Babies and weddings and buying houses...there and so many special events going on all around me and my friends. No need to worry, I haven't been drinking much water lately. A very close friend, who I absolutely adore, is to be blessed with a second little one and I couldn't be more excited about this new addition. A couple new friends have just purchased a new home and I will be helping to host a housewarming party this Sunday. Also.... drumroll please.... Lauren and Eric are getting married!!!! Friday was a day to remember for this sweet couple. I was so giddy the day of the proposal, just waiting for it to happen. Blake and I are so happy for our friends and can't wait to join them in this journey! And I would just like to pat myself on the back for keeping the proposal a secret for TWO WEEKS! Literally... they are going to be the two Weeks. =)

Lauren helping with the blindfold!

The future Mr. and Mrs. Weeks haven't set a date yet but Blake and I have been informed we will be a part of their wedding party and we are honored to stand behind such great friends on such a special day! I can't wait for all the girlie festivities that go along with a wedding. Engagement parties, bridal showers and bachelorette party... all over again! Stay tuned as this becomes a special time not only for our friends, but for Blake and I to join in and be a part of something so amazing and special!

p.s. the internet is being stupid and won't let me upload any more pictures...  more soon.

Peeta or Gale? That is the Question...

       I know every one has heard of it, and may even be tired of hearing of it, but I am obsessed with The Hunger Games!!! A few months before the wedding I began reading the first book of The Hunger Games trilogy. Every time I sat down to read I had a million and one things running through my head. I need to be writing thank you cards, I should be tying ribbons, I could never focus on what I was reading. Therefore, I just dropped it altogether. Sometime after I put it down, Blake picked it up. He ended up reading all three books and thoroughly enjoyed them. So just recently I started over. With the hype of the movie coming out I just couldn't be the only human on Earth who hasn't read the books, (since literally, every human has read them, right?) So here I go... I read the first one in no time. As soon as it was over, I was dying to get my hands on the second and now I am just beginning the third. These books are addicting. Suzanne Collins knew what she was doing. I find myself sitting in my car in the Ulta parking lot, until the very last second I have to go into work, reading. For those of you who know me, this is not the norm. Ok, I'll be honest with you.... This is the first time I have ever read a sequel or a trilogy or anything. I always start but never read the second book, let alone the third or fourth. I get bored too easily or, apparently, just don't care. But these books have sucked me in, as well as my coworkers. Today, actually, we started a very in depth conversation with a few clients who have also been reading the popular fiction stories, about the morals of this trilogy (since you actually find the books in the teenage section in bookstores). We bounced all over the place from, "is this what the world will eventually come to", to, "this is what is teaching our children to be deceiving and manipulative". Pretty intense stuff and something to get you thinking. Either way, I am hooked, along with many others. Definitely a great, easy read if you're looking for one! Also, the movie is absolutely worth seeing in theatre... so eat some popcorn for me!

Cast from "The Hunger Games"

What Can I Say?

I so want this tshirt!

       Life is good! Blake and I are really enjoying the married life. I haven't been happier than I am now. We remain super busy, but isn't that just how it is? There will always be something to do, somewhere to go and some one to see. And I guess that's how I like it. We have made a few changes as husband and wife. I hope to eventually be one of those old couples that can sit down with young fresh couples and say "well, we did this and it didn't turn out too good", and "I thought he'd file for divorce when I did this".  We are taking some advice in certain situations and learning on our own in others. So far so good. =) We talk with each other about hard times to come (because everyone knows they will come) but we are also so excited about the good that will shape our lives.

Haha!! 

       I have had more than two or three people asking me about what roles the two of us play now that we are married. I laugh at this question everytime... I think it's funny that people are curious. And I know what they are actually asking, who cooks and cleans? =) Well, I am not too prideful to say that Blake is the cook. Cooking has never been my forte and probably never will be. And he is ok with that since I am the one who is OCD and dusts the baseboards once a week. The rest we just share the responsibility. So there, for those who were (and weren't) curious, you know now, I don't cook!
       To keep everyone up to date, Blake and I are well and enjoying the newness of our marriage. Continue to think of us if you pray! I believe there is a long, happy road ahead of us!

Life Being Married

       That's right! We're MARRIED!!! And have been now for almost a month, I just haven't made to time to sit and write about it. Our life is slowly getting back to normal after our return from our amazing honeymoon in the Dominican Republic, where we ate, drank and were married... merry. =) Our wedding was everything I hoped it would be. With family and friends, cake and dancing, it was all that and then some! I woke up that Saturday morning around 6:30 to my mom in the kitchen brewing my step dad's coffee. I rose from my bed and walked into the kitchen smelling coffee grounds with the biggest grin on my face, and my mom looked at me, smiled back and asked, "are you ready?". With the sun shining and a breeze blowing, I couldn't have been more excited or anxious and ready to get the show on the road! I have many memories of the wedding that I hope I never forget, but one I know I will remember forever,  after Blake and I ran through the sparklers to our car that had been scribbled all over, we jumped in and began to drive away and with the happiest smile I've ever seen on his face, he said, "that was a blast!" It really was more than we ever imagined! But now we are back to our normal lives with wedding rings on our fingers as we head back to work. Until next time!
"the Anthonys"

My Soon-to-be Husband

       As our wedding day grows closer and closer I've been trying to keep cool and remember the reason I am getting married. With all the showers, planning, errands and everything that goes along with a wedding I can see how some would say it is easy to get caught up in the "hustle and bustle" and only care about the material things. Don't get me wrong, my dress is to die for, my centerpieces are amazing.... but my fiance, UNBELIEVABLE!

       David Blake Anthony is a gift from God just for me. I don't know what I have done in my life so far to deserve such a true friend who loves me unconditionally. Blake and I began dating back in 2006, when we were absolutely smitten for each other. Everybody said that feeling would go away over time, but I couldn't disagree more. I still get butterflies when he walks in a room and blush when he surprises me. The two of us have been through a lot in the five and a half years we've been together with going to schools 100 miles away and being apart from each other more than we wanted to be, but obviously God has big plans for the two of us and I am honored to begin my journey to see what that plan is with Blake!
       The way Blake proposed couldn't have been more perfect. On July 5, 2011, Blake came home from work and we had plans to go to my favorite restaurant with some friends. He came home to tell me one of the friends we were double dating with was called into work so it would just be the two of us. "Ok, fine with me," I said, after all, it was my favorite restaurant. Anyways, we head to dinner and argue about where we are going to park because he wants to park in Timbuktu! He selects his parking space and we start walking. After we finish our meal, or I should say after I finish my meal because Blake didn't take two bites of his, we head back to the car. After our 5k walk back to the car, =) Blake can see his keys in the floorboard of his locked car. UGH... Luckily, Kayla lived just a couple blocks away and she has a spare key. We start walking towards her apartment and Blake wants to take this opportunity to walk through the new park. It was hot and humid and I wasn't having it, so he drug me through the park. We walked passed the fountain and kept walking just a little further until I saw, written on the sidewalk in chalk, his proposal!!! On bended knee, the man of my dreams, my best friend in the whole world, was asking me to stay by his side for the rest of his life! Of coarse I said YES! Therefore, in about 5 days I will promise my heart to him for as long as I live. We will vow to love and care for each other forever. Blake Anthony, I love you more than words can say, and I am so thankful to have you in my life! I can't wait to call you my husband!


-BETHANY! =)

stressed out!

Everyone said it would happen.... and it did! This morning I woke up (after a late night with friends watching Alabama win their 14th national championship...) and had to go to another meeting about the wedding. The meeting was pretty much just a time for us to go over a few things and make sure everyone is on the same page and luckily, for the most part, we are. But.... I finally hit the point where I am so tired of planning and just ready for the day to finally be here. I came home afterwards and it being Tuesday, I'm off work, so I laid back down to try to take a nap. And it never fails... my phone goes nuts. It's like everybody and their brother needed me for something today only during the time I was sleeping... or trying to sleep. I made the decision today that from now on during nap time or bed time my phone will be turned off or put on silent. Whew! Just had to rant a little just then. =) Bottom line is that I have come to a point where all that matters to me is that Blake and I are standing together exchanging our vows on January 28.  All the centerpieces, flowers, chairs, music and all that other stuff will be an added bonus to our big day! Because whether or not we have all the pretty things, it will still be our big day!!