As I sit here

eating my homemade pigs in a blanket,

tater tots, and buffalo chicken wings

and gaining roughly 10 pounds minute

I am reminded how lucky I am...

I have an amazing fiance

who doesn't mind eating like a 5 year old with me.

A great family/ support system

Some crazy wonderful friends

and now a place to live in a few months!

We signed today on an apartment with this layout.

Except mine doesn't have a fireplace, boo.

I'm already plotting where I'm going to put everything

The "den/study" is going to be my study room/ our guest room.

I have already decided to register for this pretty rug

You can find it at target

But if you get the last one I might throw a fit.

Theres also a smaller one for the kitchen

AHEM, anyway...

I'm so happy that I have a linen closet in the bathroom

and a vanity with drawers. 

And the option we chose has the largest bedroom!

We still have to work on that whole sharing a closet thing...

But this is the first apartment we will live in together as a 

married couple

So of course I'm pretty excited! 

More updates on the apartment 

and maybe even pictures once we move in!

I am a big proponent of 

"Everything Happens for a Reason"

so much so that I have to tell you a story so you can understand why...

Once Upon a Time...

A girl decided she wanted to be an engineer.

She applied to NCSU and UNCW(for pre engineering)

And got into both.

Once she graduated high school, 

she followed in her father's footsteps

and went to NCSU!

She loved engineering but soon it was time to declare a more specific major so she decided on Chemical Engineering (ChE).

Although she could do the math

and even understood the processes

She found ChE incredibly boring.

She met with an advisor for Biochemistry

And changed her major again in the spring of her sophomore year.

But it wasn't all in vain!

The girl was in a homework group in ChE with another girl 

who ended up being her room mate, one of her best friends

AND her maid of honor!

Because the girl switched her major basically in the middle of her education she had to chose between graduating on time/ hating her life for two years or taking an extra semester and graduating the following December.

She chose to NOT hate her life.

But after searching for jobs the girl got worried that it would be hard to find a job in her major in her home town of New Bern, NC (where her and her fiancé planned to move eventually)

So she emailed her ChE advisor and asked what the possibilities were to finish her ChE degree.

The advisor was nice but directed her to another lady who might help the girl get a minor in something that was similar to engineering but that wouldn't require the girl to stay in school another 3 years for another undergraduate degree. 

The girl made an appointment with this lady who was extremely willing to help but the girl had to cancel the appointment because she wasn't thinking clearly and made an appointment for the day she was supposed to move... 

silly girl.

Well this turned out to be wonderful!

The girl made another appointment with this lady on a different day

She helped the lady set up her tent in the brickyard while they talked.

While they were talking, the girl told the lady of her engineering background

as well as her current major of biochemistry

when out of nowhere a man came up to the girl

and begin questioning her about her intentions after school

Turns out this man was a part of the graduate school

for a masters in Biomanufacturing/MBA

AT NCSU!

 He convinced the girl to apply

And she took the GRE

applied to grad school

got in!!!

and accepted her acceptance this morning!

Long story short if the girl hadn't wanted to do engineering

she probably would have gone to UNCW since they have a beach...

If she hadn't switched into ChE she wouldn't have the background

that was perfect for her masters degree

and she would have not been able to get the connection between the advisor and the lady she met with who introduced her to the man that told her to apply.

Had she not been over a semester she would have never met any of them.

The only down side is that she might not be able to live with her cats for a few more years

But then the plus side of that is her dad will continue to pay for their living situation until she can afford to!

And if you haven't figured out by now the girl is me.

SO AGAIN

I strongly believe that everything, even bad things, happen for a reason.

And we may not know that reason for a week, 4 months, or 15 years

but be patient and get through the hard times

because you never know where they will lead you!

XoXo,

Thanksgiving break went by so fast that it felt like a weekend...

Watched the most beautiful sunset

Unloaded the "closet" full of Christmas stuff for Wendy

This isn't even all of the boxes!

A big theme of the "weekend" was drinking.

Wine, more wine, crown, margaritas.

Luckily no one died as a result.

As always, rejoiced when this gem showed up

I call it "Robbie in a box"

and I have a copy that stays in my living room year round

Is he not the cutest kid in the world?

Then of course I found out I got into grad school

Got my toes done with the cousins

Carolina Bagel & Pollock Street Deli trips

Accidental Artist

Ate way too much with way too many people

And Booked a photographer

PHEW.

So maybe I did have more than a "weekend"

But break came and went way faster than I wanted it to.

T- minus 3 weeks and I'm done!!

Until January 6...

XoXo,

So I confess that even without a link up

I am writing a confessional Friday post

Because I love them...

I confess

I have never participated in the crazy black friday 2 AM target nonsense

There is no amount of savings that could make it worth braving those crowds

And plus, Starbucks isn't open... how would I survive?

FURTHERMORE I think that Black Friday/ Christmas festivities

shouldn't be allowed to encroach on Thanksgiving

(already ranted about that yesterday)

I confess...

That I drank so much wine

and more wine and then some crown royal

the night before thanksgiving with Robert and his cousins

That I almost couldn't say that "I've only been sick from drinking once"

And that was only by the grace of God himself.

Thank you sweet baby Jesus.

Amen.

I confess...

that I am overwhelmingly in love with taking engagement photos.

So much so that I decided to have a picture sign in book

So I can continue to take pictures FOR EVER...

or at least until next June-ish

I confess...

That I got my fiancé drunk so that he would be more agreeable this time

It worked. And some of his toasty photos turned out to be my favorites

Case in point:

I confess

That even though I am super sick of school

I am very very very much considering going to grad school

(especially since I got my acceptance)

and I found an apartment in my favorite neighborhood

and we can afford it

and I am IN LOVE with it 

Fingers crossed my better half agrees

they allow cats, that's all you need to know right?

I confess

That speaking of cats, I am starting to feel like a traitor

Because Robert wants an English Bulldog pretty bad

And this sweet face that I found on Pinterest is growing on me

A LOT

Please don't tell my kittens.

XoXo,

First of all I love that the holiday is called turkey day

but at the same time I feel like not calling it Thanksgiving

only adds to the fact that people forget what its all about.

I'm the first to admit I am thankful for thanksgiving

because of the yummy food

The break from school right before the home stretch

and the fact that it's now acceptable to put up the Christmas tree

But instead of focusing on getting in line early for black friday

(don't even get me started on how irritating it is that some stores open at 8 today for black friday specials- hello, Christmas has been taking over target since October 31 at least let Thanksgiving have a DAY of glory...)

and food and trees and presents

we should focus on all the things we are grateful for today.

Like family, friends, and health.

So today I am thankful for...

1. Today marks the 1/2 way point of my dad's treatments. At this point his doctors would be okay if he stops and he only has ~26 weeks left! ALL of his scans have been clean. I am still so grateful that by chance his doctor told him to remove a mole that didn't even look abnormal from the outside. It saved his life.

2. I am thankful for this little email I got yesterday that told me "hey, you aren't as dumb as you've been feeling the last 4 years. please come to graduate school" YEP that's right, this girl got into grad school!

3. I am thankful for the sweet baby boy that took time to come cuddle me this morning. Theres nothing like being woken up by the purrs of a cat. Even if he did poke me in the face every time I closed my eyes. 

4. I am thankful for all the love an support that I have from my friends, family, as well as my future family. I hear all these horror stories about not meshing well with the family you marry into... not the case at all. I am so blessed.

5. I am thankful that I have a roof over my head, food on the table, and people (and kittens) that love me unconditionally.

6. I am thankful that in a few short weeks my undergraduate college career will be over!

7. I am thankful that my dad paid my car insurance for another 6 months because I'm probably going to be pretty broke for the next few years...

Well I could go on forever and ever but I just feel so incredibly blessed to have the life I do. 

I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Lots of love,

Lately I've been participating in link ups more

It's a really cool way to find new blogs

And this one is meant to help you find them!

So here's the idea...

It's that time again so head over to A Blonde Ambition and link up.

Ohh Friday...

My first confession is for you.

I confess that now that I don't have class Friday

I love thursdays like I loved Fridays

and many Fridays I forget it's Friday at all.

(please forgive me).

I confess that Christmas usually isn't one of my favorite holidays

I can't really explain why...

But this year I am so excited.

I confess I'm probably more excited that the semester will be over.

And probably another part of me is excited that I can finally

start collecting my own Christmas decorations to decorate my own place

Hopefully.

I confess that I'm also overly excited about all the peacock decorations this year

even though I know Robert will NEVER allow a peacock tree

I might just have to have a mini one for myself.

I confess that when I made the picture above 

I got really happy because "Lucida Handwriting"

used to be one of my favorite fonts for my away status on AIM.

Ahhh memories...

I confess that I take every opportunity I know Robert will be away

To parade around the apartment in my wedding dress. 

I confess that every time I type up a "Friday Confessions" post

I sing "Confessions" by Usher. 

I confess that I was excited about my Gram Stain on my final for lab wednesday

So excited that I took a picture

Gram Positive right there.

BOOO-YAHHH FINAL.

I confess that I stood at the microscope for way too long

trying to get my iPhone to take a picture through the lens.

I confess that the Twilight movie last night was amazing

And that little twist/ change they added for the movie

was the best part

I've never been so glad that they changed something from the book.

Just amazing.

You got me! 

I confess that I am NOT a good scientist

because I am NOT looking forward to going to my research symposium tomorrow

Especially considering my 7 AM alarm.

That should be illegal on a saturday.

UGH.

That's all folks

XoXo

It's Wednesday

and I love Pinterest

So stop by The Vintage Apple and link up for

From: http://buildersforeternity.blogspot.com/2012/08/pimp-your-ride.html 

I always wanted a canopy bed when I was little... but have you ever seen the top of those? UGH gross. They collect dust and nastiness and dead bugs. This fake canopy is must better.

 I love this bouquet. I want this arrangement on my dining room table or in my bedroom. The colors are amazing. Stunning.

Find here: http://theworldofaclassylady.tumblr.com 

I want to make these with my cousins when they visit over thanksgiving. They just look so yummy!

Love this quote. Not just a quote for couples. This is true of your friends too. You shouldn't have to impress some one to make you worth of their love. It's not a real relationship if you can't be yourself.

Just found the blog for The Londoner a few days ago

And I love it.

And I found it through this pin:

Dairy free chocolate ice cream.

NOM

I had the thought that the longer I continue the countdown

The more likely people are to think it's a pregnancy count instead.

Typical.

But since (hopefully) I don't appear to be 8 months pregnant

Everyone will know that what I mean is

8 months until I'm Mrs. Barker.

Crazy right?

Well I don't have that much to catch up on considering I haven't done much

We have a meeting with the new photographer over thanksgiving break

and if nothing else is done about the preacher Robert wants

We have a meeting with my preacher too.

I bought the other veil I wanted.

It was an extra 50 dollars off so I'm pretty sure it was fate.

Today we planned to cook a nice meal

And we bought Champagne and orange juice for mimosas

But currently he is picking up his cousin Ed from the airport and taking him to Goldsboro

So for now I'm on my own

WAHHHH

But that does mean I get to blog without him laughing at me... 

I will probably have to do a 7.5 month post when Ed's wife Billie joins us 

She's my wedding planner and I have a feeling she's going to help A LOT.

So for now I will leave you with these

XoXo,

You won't hear me say my full blown opinions much

Because I don't see a need to paint facebook with my political rants

And I don't have that many because I can usually see both sides

But in the case of our military I don't.

You can say whatever you want about the budget

Wether or not you think we should be at war

And how the traffic around bases suck

BUT

Don't ever for a second take that out on our soldiers. 

Too often I hear people who don't support our troops.

Those people are risking their lives for you.

Their families are missing their fathers, brothers, mothers, sisters and loved ones

So that this great country can remain safe.

They are living in fear

Being attacked, even by children.

They don't get that lovely red cup from starbucks at christmas

Many of them miss Christmas all together

And birthdays and holidays and first steps and births

So the next time you think about how much you hate that we are still over seas

Remember to thank the people who are giving up their families and comforts

So that you are safe and sound.

Like these two men:

This is my grandfather Adams, my mom's dad. He was in the Navy! Stationed in Hawaii!

He married my grandmother in California during training before he was deployed.

That cutie next to him is my cousin Jaime. 

This is my grandfather Wetherington.

He spent his first anniversary with my grandma on a rock in Casablanca. 

He missed the first two years of my Aunt's life from being deployed.

THANK A VETERAN!

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

AMEN.

It's already Friday again?

Man, my weeks are flying by

Time for Confessional Friday

I confess that as the weeks are flying by I am getting so nervous because I am not ready to graduate.

I confess that I own a lot of cat outfits

And by a lot I mean too many.

I confess that it brings me way too much joy buying these outfits for my cats. WAY TOO MUCH I TELL YOU! I may or may not have crossed into crazy cat lady town...

I confess I got a B+ on my biochemistry test that I barely studied for, and mostly because two of the questions were the exact same as the old test. Numbers and all. I should feel bad but I don't. #sorryImnotsorry

I confess that I hate group work because even when everyone is doing their work they still NEVER answer your emails... that you sent tuesday (AHEM).

I confess seeing the beach thursday made me seriously wonder if it's possible to hibernate through the winter, except then I'd miss Christmas and my birthday and my anniversary. 

I confess that I actually enjoyed the little league baseball game I went to tonight. Maybe it was because I have a soft spot for little blonde haired boys and the team was full of them or maybe I just love baseball. Anyways, they were way better than I thought they'd be! I confess I was impressed.

I confess that I am skipping ANOTHER home NCSU game. And I confess that in my last confessional I got the team we played WRONG. That's how bad of a college student I am.

I confess that it's 10:30 on a Friday and I'm in my PJs and Robert and I are eating pickled okra. Don't ask me how I got this wild. Maybe one day I'll calm down.

I confess that there is a part of me that is excited to move home for good. But I keep telling myself its because this semester is so tough. And I miss my kittens. 

I confess that I am getting into the Christmas spirit already. I bought Christmas placemats and a new outfit for Mortimor. He was also overjoyed to celebrate Christmas. 

Ho Ho Ho