thankful thursday {link up}

{Link up your own Thankful Thursday post below...}

This Thursday I am thankful for...

1) Your kind, kind words.  The love and kindness that poured in after yesterday's post on adoption seriously overwhelmed me to tears on a few occasions.  I am so grateful for the support and encouragement we have received from family and friends as we have made the decision to start pursuing adoption.

2) Unexpected visit.  I have a very dear friend who has lived with her husband overseas for the past couple of years... she recently had her first child... and they are in the process of transitioning from Tiblisi, Georgia (the country) to St. Thomas island.  They are in the states for a brief period of time and I wasn't sure if I was going to get to see her before they were off again.  Well, I received a phone call on Tuesday at 5:00pm, saying they were about to drive through Louisville and could I meet for coffee? ...ummm, YES!  It was so great to see them and get to love on their beautiful baby girl!

3) BFF sleepover.  I also just found out that my childhood best friend is driving up from Nashville to stay the night with me tomorrow night!  We'll do dinner and drinks Friday night... then probably brunch and window shopping on Saturday before she has to head back.  It will be a quick trip, but I can't wait to see her!!

What are you thankful for this week? Grab the Thankful Thursday button from the right sidebar and link up your own post below. Be sure to visit the other Thankful Thursday participants and share the love!!

Also linking up with:

Kate Says Stuff

The Fontenot Four

First Day of My Life

A Punk, a Pumpkin & a Peanut

dear diary :: adoption

Dear Diary,

This post has sat in the back of my mind and heart for months now.  Carefully typing out sentence by sentence... only to erase and start over again.

Adoption.

It's something I've hinted at here and there on this blog... a seminar here, and a book there... barely making reference to a very big, and very real, part of our life right now.  Lance and I have talked about adoption for years... before we were even married.  The theme of adoption has always accompanied our conversations about children and our thoughts of starting a family.

And as Lance and I have struggled through the journey of infertility, talk of adoption has become a more frequent conversation.

But why has it taken me so long to talk about it?

Because I never wanted adoption to feel like "Plan B."

This is something Lance and I have constantly prayed and truly desire in our hearts.  But yet when you try X, Y and Z first...  then you move on to adoption... sometimes that feels like the absolute definition of "Plan B."

But thankfully, God doesn't do "Plan B's."

His plan is always Plan A.

And while I can sit and worry about how we're going to "fix this" and "do that," God already has something magical in store for us.

Is it adoption?

I'm not sure... but I know I'm not going to stand in the way of God's Plan A.

We mailed in our adoption application last week... and were accepted on Monday... we are excited and hopeful to see what God has in store for us...

Love,
Julia

{girls} weekend in review...

This past weekend was very much a girls weekend, if there ever was one.  With Lance out of town, I find it completely acceptable to deem every night, girls night until he returns.  This will mean: lots good food... great company... a few new drinks... more good food... shoe shopping... ice cream for dinner... fresh flowers... and more good food.  This weekend was the kick-off, if you will.  Let the girls' nights begin!

My girls' weekend started off with an awesome dinner at a new (to me) restaurant, RYE.  It was amazing.  Those dinner rolls alone were enough to seal the deal for me.  We decided to order family-style and just share everything... it was perfect.  I definitely recommend if you live in the Louisville area.

My pretty, pretty friends... Ashley, Amanda and Anne... apparently that was the "A" side of the table.

Me and my friend Bekah... we had to sit in the kitchen since our names didn't start with an "A."

After dinner, we headed down the street to Garage Bar for the remainder of the evening.  Another "must-do" if you live in Louisville.

Saturday morning I slept in a little, then headed to my favorite farmer's market... sparkly clutch still in tow.  Apparently I'm too lazy to switch my purses again... besides I think the pink in my shoe laces really bring out the pink vintage beading... don't you think? :)

So much color at the farmer's market this week... I can't believe this was my first Saturday to make it out all summer... I forgot how beautiful the fresh flowers are and how tasty the breakfast burritos are.  I also found my new favorite obsession... Instagram & Over... together.  Love being able to write on my photos before sharing:)

Got home from the farmer's market just in time to clean house and put my flowers in a mason jar... because two of my very favorite friends will be here any second...

YAY!!  My friends April and Amy drove all the way from Georgia to spend the rest of the weekend with me!  They finally arrived late Saturday afternoon... just in time for us to catch up a little, then head out the door to dinner at The Blind Pig (one of my favorites).

We left The Blind Pig, only to head upstairs to one of mine and Lance's favorite bars, MEAT (they don't have an official website, but here is a great review).  Just the atmosphere alone in this place is worth the trip.  It's this awesome vintage speak-easy bar that's tucked away and hard to find... which adds to the ambiance of it all.  We had a blast catching up and laughing on the corner sofas.

Sunday was church, then lunch at the Butterfly Garden Cafe.  I ordered the olive nut sandwich and it was amazing... but you really can't go wrong with that much cream cheese, now can you? 

Then it was off to the Zappos Fulfillment Center.  Yes, it's true... Louisville is home to the shoe capital of the world... Zappos.  Well, actually it's located about 15 minutes south of Louisville... but totally worth the extra effort.  Best part??  You can actually SHOP at the Zappos Fulfillment Center (yes, it's really called that... and yes, it's really quite fulfilling).  The shopping portion of the warehouse is what you might know as 6pm... they always have weekly specials and incredible weekend sales.  Booking your trip to Louisville yet?? 

Sunday night we walked around the corner to another one of my favorite eating spots... Eiderdown.  I order the spatzle every.single.time.  It's amazing.

We decided to take it easy Sunday night and just chilled at the house and watched a movie.  It was perfect.  Little Cat thought so too.  

Monday it was time for the girls to head back to Georgia... but not without a send off brunch at Lynn's Paradise Cafe.  April ordered the french toast... and HOLY.FRENCH.TOAST.  It was ridiculously huge... and tasty.

It was an amazing weekend... and I miss my girls already.  Good news though... I have enough leftovers in my fridge to last me for eternity.  I'll be eating burgers and french toast for breakfast, lunch and dinner all week long:)

Perfect weekend... perfect weekend indeed.

loyd family beach session! {louisville family photographers}

When I was at the beach a few weeks ago, I had the privilege of photographing one of my favorite families.  You may remember the Loyd family from here or here.  Well, Stephanie and Travis live in Mobile, AL... which happens to be pretty close to Orange Beach, AL... and what better opportunity to turn your annual family photos into awesome beach photos!!  Which is exactly what we did.  The Loyd's met me one evening on the beach and we had a blast... their two boys are simply precious, and my camera loves them... see for your self...

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Sigh... I know... such a cute family, right?  Which one is your favorite?

christmas in july

Ever since Chrystina from Chrystina Noel shared her tips on how to host a Christmas in July party on the blog, I've been brainstorming about how to make my very own "Chistmas in July party" a reality.
Oh, and it.is.happening.

Two things I don't joke around about... Christmas... and parties.

My invitations arrived yesterday... and they.are.awesome.  Almost as awesome as all of the Christmas snack ideas I have swirling around in my mind.  Still trying to decide on a signature Christmas drink... preferably a cold one (hot chocolate isn't nearly as tasty when it's 100 degrees outside)... any ideas?

I've had several friends ask me what exactly you do at a Christmas in July party... to which I reply, "Eat Christmas food and listen to Christmas music, of course... duh."  Although... I did tell one girl we were going caroling.  She may not be coming anymore.

I've considered all kinds of things... decorating cookies... bringing toys to donate for children's Christmas gifts... having an ugly Christmas sweater contest... playing pin the nose on Rudolph... the list goes on.  All of these are awesome ideas... but I decided to keep it pretty simple... eat and hang out.  I decided this because I ended up inviting a random array of different women... some will know each other... some won't.  I want people to be able to mingle... to eat Christmas cookies and meet new people... simple.  I did decide to include recipe cards in all of the invitations, encouraging women to bring their favorite holiday recipe to swap with someone... but that's about the extent of our "activities."

...that is, unless I find an awesome Christmas sweater that lights up...

thankful thursday {link up}

{Link up your own Thankful Thursday post below...}

This Thursday I am thankful for...

1) Girls weekend!!  This weekend two of my very dear girlfriends from Georgia are coming in town to spend the weekend in Louisville!  There will be lots of laughing... eating... catching up... and maybe even a little shopping (don't worry April... not too much;)  It will be a fun-filled weekend, indeed.  

2) Sweet yellow cherry tomatoes.  Love these things.  They are the perfect summer snack.... they taste great with blue cheese dressing... and I can't wait to try them out with this tasty recipe.

3) Inspirational ice cream dates.  I had ice cream with a new friend yesterday... we talked about organizing... and goals... and resolutions... and life... It was so fun to talk to a co-type-A personality.  We talked about "life binders" and how she organizes hers... and how I can't wait to start mine.  It.was.awesome.  {photo source}

What are you thankful for this week? Grab the Thankful Thursday button from the right sidebar and link up your own post below. Be sure to visit the other Thankful Thursday participants and share the love!!

Also linking up with:

Kate Says Stuff

The Fontenot Four

First Day of My Life

Brown Eyed Belle

A Punk, a Pumpkin & a Peanut

The Ramblings of Mrs. Hargrave

consignment goodness

Confession... I like to shop.  I like to buy things.  I have a weakness for shoes and handbags... and pretty much anything that's on sale.

However... we're on a pretty tight budget these days.  Therefore, shopping looks a little different.

Enter, CONSIGNMENT SHOPPING.  I've always been a fan of thrifting and consignment shopping.  But this past weekend I hit the mother load, my friends...

I purchased everything you see above for $20 bucks.

Yes. You heard correctly... twenty-flippin-dollars.

On Saturday I stumbled upon the most amazing pop-up shop in the mall... Lou Lou's Boutique Consignment.  It was purely by accident too... best kind of accident, if you ask me.  The pop-up shop was only up for 4 days... and lucky me, I happened to stumble in on the very last day of the 4-day shop... so everything was marked down even further... as in $2 per item.  That's right... two dollars.  

Still not impressed?  How about some details...

Ann Taylor tangerine silk top: $2

Thought this top would look awesome with a pencil skirt for the office. 

Calypso for Target navy tunic, with tags: $2  

This was my second favorite purchase... loved eyelet detail on the bottom.  And I think it will look great belted with a scarf when fall comes around, no??

nameless fitted pink top: $2 

I'm pretty sure this was a handmade top... like someone made this at home with a pattern and their sewing machine.  It fit perfectly and it's very Lily Pulitzer, don't you think?

J Jill linen capri pants: $2

I wasn't exactly sure about these at first... and started debating in the fitting room... then I remembered they were two-flippin-dollars.

Connie Collection multi-colored madras pumps, never worn: $2  

I mean, who doesn't need a pair of taffeta madras pumps??

Gabriella Rocha nude pumps, never worn: $2

Okay... this was by far my absolute favorite purchase of the day.  

I'm kind of in love with them. 

 BCBG neutral summer sandals, never worn: $2

These are a size 6.  I am a size 8.

Otherwise, these would have been my favorite purchase of the day.  But a smart shopper never passes up a great deal... I mean, again... two-flippin-dollars.  Planning to give this pair to my mother-in-law... with her itty-bitty-size-6-shoe-self.

 green & blue scarf, multi-colored patterned scarf, & woven brown belt: $6

Hoping to get good use out of all of these items... especially that multi-colored scarf.  Won't it look great with my navy tunic??

UGG green duck shoes, never worn: $35 

After my awesome shopping trip at Lou Lou's, I headed over to another one of my favorite consignment stores... except this time... to SELL... not buy.  It's one of my favorite spots because they pay you cash on the spot, and I usually do pretty good selling some of my things there.  And Saturday was no exception.  They paid me $108 for some of my items... not too shabby:)  But I couldn't seem to take my eyes off these UGG duck shoes.  I have absolutely no idea when I will wear them... right now, my feet start sweating just by looking at the dang things... but I'm sure when it's cold and rainy in Louisville, I'll be glad I have them:)

Soooo... according to my calculations, I basically came home with all of the above items... AND fifty-three bucks.  Can't beat that.  A very, very successful consignment day.

iris & brad get hitched! {louisville wedding photographers}

Last weekend I traveled to Birmingham, AL to photograph a gorgeous wedding for two very special people.  Meet Brad and Iris...  

These two love birds share a very special story... one that Lance and I have been privileged to see from the very beginning.  During the summer of 2010 Brad and Lance traveled to Nicaragua for what was supposed to be just a week-long mission trip with an organization called Amigos for Christ... turns out there was a pretty girl named Iris that was on staff with Amigos for Christ.  It didn't take long... once Brad laid eyes on her, the rest was history.  I remember when Lance called me from Nicaragua that summer... "Well... Brad met a girl... and I think he really likes her."  Lance ended up flying back after the week was over... but Brad ended up staying almost 2 more weeks.  I think it might have had something to do with a girl named Iris;)

And now here we are... two years later... celebrating their beautiful wedding.  There were so many sweet moments during their big day... here are a few of my favorites...

Iris' dress was gorgeous... loved the buttons...

It was a tad warm the day of the wedding... 

don't let the phone fool you... it got up to 106...

 ...such a stunning bride...

 ...the finishing touches...

...the bride and her beautiful mother...

 ...the wedding shoes...

 ...the bride and groom had a few friends that weren't able to make the trip to the wedding... but nothing a little technology couldn't take care of...

 ...the ceremony was absolutely beautiful...

 ...sealed with a kiss...

...loved the stained glass windows in this church... so beautiful...

 ...this one is my personal favorite...

...best.bridal.party.ever... 

...the reception site was just as gorgeous as the church... 

...the bride and groom look pretty good too;)... 

...this cake was pretty AND tasty... trust me, I tried it myself... 

...these two love birds never left the dance floor...

...and neither did anyone else...

 ...a magical evening indeed...

...happily ever after...