things are good.

hi hi hi hiiiiii, friends!!!
julia here- ya know, the blonde behind this little ol' blog. it's been over a week since i even logged into this baby and boy does it feel good to see that i still have some loyal followers!! i'm talking really good.

work is amazing thus far. i've been in lots of trainings and i'm shadowing coworkers like a little lost puppy dog. i'm taking in so much information each day that it's a little mentally exhausting.
not to mention i've also worked a 15 hour day in that mix... with a crazy last minute trip to charlotte as the main reason. it's been fun though. i have loved meeting all of the kids in foster care and i honestly don't mind not having a set schedule all of the time. it keeps me on my toes to say the least.

outside of work i have been spending all of my time with that sweet, sweet boy of mine. and of course traveling back to my home town to snuggle with my muffin of 4 nieces. i'd have to say that life is good right now. real good. and i don't plan on letting that change.

thank you all for believing in me and sticking around for random updates. it means the world.

i feel like this should be a PSA.

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whoa, nelly.
i knew that taking on this new job was going to mean big changes in my life- both personally and professionally. changes that i was, and still am, very excited about. changes that were much needed, changes that were a long time coming, and changes that i believe will ultimately lead me into doing the work i feel i have been called to do.

these changes have brought a lot of new scheduling though and i have already (yes, even in the first week) had to adjust quite a few things in order to accommodate those changes. such as the gym, socializing, and of course blogging. i was used to a strict 8am-5pm job within DSS and i got accustomed to that. now, however, my days don't really have a time frame. i may leave at 5, 6, 7pm, or even 2am... all depending on my case load and any emergency situation that may arise. but that's fine with me. knowing that i am helping children is what it's all about. if that means waiting at DSS for hours until we find placement for a child... bring it on.

my blog posts are going to be a lot fewer and more far between though. i just know they are. time is the main reason and then of course there is the fact that i hate the blogger app on my phone. but don't think i am abandoning this little blog of mine. you will still know the important details of this little gal's life. and if you just can't stay away from this face... you can always follow the twitter and instagram. that's how i'll be keeping up with most of ya'll anyways...

birthday weekend and baby girl recap.

ohhhh my goodness gracious, ya'll. between a birthday celebration (lasting all weekend of course), a baby gender reveal for my best friend, spending time with family, andddd starting my new job yesterday... i am one worn out girl. and it is honestly a miracle i'm even getting a chance to share some pictures from the last few days! but i am.

friday night M took me out for a birthday dinner followed by birthday drinks in asheville. we had a ball, naturally. and then saturday was spent celebrating with family and friends. M and i celebrated my birth so much that he actually asked me if i was "really having another birthday dinner" at one point... i guess 4 might be a few too many... but then again... i guess not.
he did an amazing job on all of my gifts though. and ended our weekend with my final present... a necklace that he had custom made with my birth stone and everything. like i said- he did an amazing job.

my best friend from high school, college roommate, and cutest little baby momma ever also found out what her and her hubby are having this weekend...  A BABY GIRL!!! i could not be more excited for their little family... let the shopping begin!

and now i'm off to a training for the rest of the week.
ps- my first day at my new job was amazing!!!

bathroom baby.

on october 3rd, 1987 (26 years ago) (the best day ever) (the day i was born, obviously).
my precious little momma was at home alone giving my sister a bath. my sister was 5 years old at the time.
my stubborn self decided to sucker punch my mother square in the gut and break her water. at home. in the bathroom. with nobody else around. my biological father was never really around (and never has been), so she was already in this thing by herself.  
strongest woman i know, ya'll.
naturally my mom called her best friends that were on stand by and then 911.
however, by the time anyone arrived, i was already on my way into this world and my mom could not be transported to the hospital.
so i was born... at home... in the bathroom... on accident.

my mom and i had dinner and wine last night to reminisce over my childhood and of course laugh over my birth story. she is such an incredible person in my life and i owe absolutely everything i have, and everything i am to that woman.

now i'm gonna finish my work day and celebrate the rest of the weekend!
ps- i start my new job on monday!! eeeeekkkk!!!

i have this philosophy about birthdays...

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it's a serious one too, people. just hear me out...
this was the day you were born. the day that this world was given a precious little gift such as yourself.
so hey, why not treat yourself in every way possible- all day long? or all month long- let's be honest here.

today is my birthday. so naturally i am allowing myself to do anything i want in honor of, well, ME!
vanilla iced coffee this morning. my favorite biscuit for breakfast. endless lunch opportunities. a mid-day birthday treat. a date with my momma to re-cap my hilarious birth story (coming tomorrow if you're lucky, and if i have time). and then who knows!!! the possibilities are endless. so is the wine.
and no calories count on your birthday. just so ya know.

and ps- you are never, ever, ever too old to be a birthday princess on your special day. so wear that crown, do a little dance, wear a pretty dress, and eat all of the cake you want! you're a princess!!

my favorite month is finally here!

happy october, ya'll!!
i'm ready for pumpkin patches, pumpkin beer, corn mazes, flannel shirts, scarves, boots, bonfires, starbucks PSL, crisp air, halloween, and MY BIRTHDAAAYYYYYY (which by the way is in 2 days). i'll start accepting gifts now, pleaseandthankyou.

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a princess wedding and a gypsy camp.

oh my goodness, ya'll...
can we just pretend we're not back at work and instead we're living in castles and pretending to be pricesses?
because that would be pretty much ideal at this point. and it's exactly what i did all weekend.

castle ladyhawke might be the most gorgeous place that i have ever been. between the scenery, the magic of the castle, witnessing two amazing people tie the knot, visiting my alma mater and strolling through the campus that taught me so much, and ending my sunday by visiting family... this weekend was down right perfect. in every way possible.
castle ladyhawke sits nestled in the mountains of western NC. it was once a home to a family who realized that it was too big for them when their children graduated and moved away (go figure). they sold it and it became the ultimate wedding destination. it has everything and more that a bride and her guests could want. seriously.
everything is on site and the shuttles take you wherever you want to go. hello perfect set up.

even the cabins on site are mixed in with the fairy tale theme of princess, castles, and happily ever afters. one set of cabins are known as "the fable village", while the ones we stayed in are called "the gypsy camp."
they were ridiculously cute and decorated in every perfect way possible.

the rehearsal dinner, ceremony, and reception were an absolute blast (and we can't forget down right gorgeous thanks to our great smoky mountains). plus i had a pretty hott groomsman as a date ;) he even put on his dancing shoes for the night!

since we were so close to the campus of our alma mater for the weekend... we strolled around, reminisced, bought some new WCU t-shirts, and of course grubbed down at the mad batter- my most favorite place to eat over there! om nom nom.

sunday M and i headed over to my home town for the afternoon.
my precious 9 year old niece was being baptized, so of course we had to be there!
her heart for Christ at such a young age is truly amazing and inspiring. it was the perfect way to end our weekend!