Happy Valentine's Day.

As you all most likely know I LOVE all things Christmas. So I was very sad when it came time to take down all of my Christmas decorations. My house was looking bare and just didn't feel right. So I was beyond happy when I discovered one of my new favorite blogs {House of Smiths} and was able to create some Valentines decor to get me through spring.

I was under an extremely tight budget this month, so the decorating was minimal but it was enough to make me smile and at the end of the day that is all that matters. Here is some Valentine's cheer from our home to yours.

Stuart was hoping now that Valentine's day will be over that we could dive into the giant jar of M&M's, but I let it be known that it will have to remain as decor through the rest of the month until I can begin decorating for spring.

Stuart and I were planning on a "no frills" Valentine's Day. I am more of a quality time girl, so I was plenty happy to just exchange some cards, enjoy some fine dining and call it a night. We even made an agreement that we weren't going to buy each other anything. So you can imagine my surprise when I get a phone call summoning me to the front desk where some beautiful roses and chocolate were waiting for me. I was really shocked.

I work in a department filled with nothing but women and apparently we take Valentine's day pretty seriously around here. Or maybe it's just any excuse for a party. In any case, I enjoyed a delicious spread of chicken salad and sweets galore. I knew I liked this holiday.

Stuart and I are having a nice dinner out tonight and I cannot wait! We have been waiting to try this restaurant for months. I am so lucky to have such a thoughtful and romantic husband. He's the best Valentine a girl could ask for! Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! You all are very loved.

I Heart STU

Every time I see or hear this commercial. I die of laughter. I have GOT to find myself one of these tank tops. I am one lucky lady to be married to STU. Happy Friday everyone!

Coffee, Conversation & Causes.

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of meeting up with my friend, Laura, for Coffee. There is not much better in life than grabbing a good cup of coffee and catching up with dear friends. I am a sucker for good conversation. It was by far the highlight of my day.

I was so excited when we agreed to meet up at RedEye [formerly known as The Coffee Pub] in midtown. I literally have only been there once since I have moved back to Tallahassee, so walking inside brought back some quality memories. One of my favorite things to do in college was pile into a car, go to The Coffee Pub and grab some coffee, or go to Luna's to buy some gelato and then head over to Fingers & Toes [which sadly no longer exists] for an hour of sheer pedicure bliss. {Excuse the detour down memory lane... now back to coffee shops}.

Over the past couple of months, I've come to realize how much I love coffee shops. I love how they have become a place where people can gather and re-connect. Life has become so consumed with technology and social media that I have learned to treasure the times where you can sit down face to face and have a good chat.

Many coffee shops also contribute to a good cause. I have such a heart for those nearby in America and afar in developing countries who are suffering in poverty. I have such admiration for those who are working hard to support their families and make ends meet, especially during these tough economic times. Which is why my heart fills with joy when I find a coffee shop that serves local and fair trade coffee. When you buy fair trade products you are assisting producers in developing countries by allowing them to obtain better trading conditions and helping them to receive their fair share of the profits earned by cutting out the middle man.

When I was in Charlotte, my friend Liz introduced Stuart and I to Julia's Coffee & Books. It exists to to support Habitat for Humanity, but also to create a place where the community can get a sustainable, conscientious cup of delicious coffee. It also has a used book store which we roamed for almost an hour. Attached to the coffee shop was ReStore, which is where you can find used furniture that is begging to be refinished and placed in a forever home. That's right- a coffee shop actually exists where you can catch up with good friends, buy coffee for a cause, find a good book and buy discounted furniture for cute DIY projects. Talk about heaven.

How I Know I'm Getting Old.

• I feel accomplished if I get all my laundry washed and folded by Sunday night.
  
• My meals are no longer frozen and actually require me to do more work than just pop them in the microwave.
  
• My body naturally wakes me up at 7:00 a.m. on a weekend.
  
• A good weekend can consist of nothing more than me and my husband sitting around the house and enjoying each other's company.
  
• I read... for fun.
  
• I actually have a budget, pay bills and make grocery lists. [scary].
  
• One of my most exciting presents in the last six months was a vacuum cleaner. Yep, getting married will do that to you.
  
• I have to DVR most of my favorite shows because I can barely stay awake to watch them. (This is new for me. I blame the 5 a.m. gym sessions).
  
• Saturday mornings always start with a mission to make our home spotless.
  
• I keep up with current events and watch the news every morning.
  
• I have more work clothes than cute casual clothes.
  
  This list could probably go on and on. But I will spare you with the rest. It has been a crazy reality to see how much my interests and priorities are changing. But I love it. As much as we all complain about the "quarterlife crisis"; there really is no more exciting time in life.
  
  Stuart and I are growing so much as we continue to work towards our goals. While some of these things may seem boring and mundane, I can see God maturing us. He is strengthening us as a couple and preparing us for what is to come.

...You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness! ~ Matthew 25:21-22

Trim the Fat.

Stuart and I have really been trying to "trim the fat" this last month. As you know, I joined the gym last month which was a huge success. However, the battle has really been waking up at 5:30 a.m. Monday-Thursday to get in our cardio before we start the day. It's been a total lifestyle change for us. We go to bed earlier, wake up earlier and even take vitamins!

I found a running plan on my friend's blog a couple months ago and we've been using it as our guide. And although, we haven't had perfect gym attendance this week, I do think we are making huge strides towards our fitness goals. We have jokingly been calling ourselves "gym rats" now that we have joined the early riser crew at the gym.

We also have been trying to "trim the fat" with our finances. It is so easy to spend away your money without even realizing where you're spending it. We are big fans of the Dave Ramsey plan and we have been trying to follow his steps to reach our financial goals. We've been slashing areas of our budget including everything from our cable bill to our grocery bill. It's been challenging but is already proving to be rewarding.

Yesterday, we received the greatest news. After 3 1/2 months of waiting, we finally found someone who wanted to buy Stuart's car. We had really been praying for this over the past six weeks and it could not have happened at a better time. It was after the holidays, which allowed us to get through paying for all the Christmas presents and traveling. We had just the right amount of money saved up to sell the car and pay off the remaining. Stuart and I cannot WAIT to call up Dave Ramsey and scream "WE'RE DEBT FREE!" Don't worry. We are already practicing. Goodbye, Armada (A.K.A. "The War Wagon")....Financial Freedom, here we come!

Community.

Before Stuart and I got married or were even dating I attended church at The Well. It was so great to attend their marriage retreat and meet new people while catching up with some old familiar faces.

As we walked away from the church I was telling Stuart how refreshing it was to meet so many Christians who were willing to branch out and be accepting to new people. They never made me feel awkward or uncomfortable for not knowing anyone. And they each took time to introduce themselves and start a conversation with me. Not because they felt obligated but because they genuinely wanted to get to know me.

Now it may seem weird that I found this so astonishing, but I have encountered so many social and church scenarios where I will walk in and I'm lucky if anyone will even say hi to me. And if they do say hi, they rarely say more than a few words before shifting focus back to the crowd they're most comfortable with. Even as a Christian and youth pastor's wife, there have been many times where I have felt more comfortable and accepted around non-Christians than Christians.

I always wonder what this says about us. As Christians, isn't the church meant to be our home? Why would we not welcome people into our community?

As someone who has moved around a lot, I am very sensitive to newcomers. I know what it's like to be the new kid on the block and having to deal with the uneasiness of new schools, jobs and even churches. Sometimes I think that we as christians, need to be reminded of how important it is to push ourselves out of our comfort zone and meet new people. It takes more then saying hi and having surface conversation for three seconds. All people want is to feel welcomed, accepted and engaged with in genuine conversation.

I love meeting and learning about people who are different from me. I enjoy connecting with people who are similar to me. I value deep conversations with anyone who can sharpen me. I am praying now more than ever for continued opportunities to meet new people and to make new friendships.

Til Death Do Us Part.

Over the weekend Stuart & I attended an in-town marriage retreat at The Well. It was such a great opportunity for us to meet married couples our age and draw in some wisdom from the "veteran" married couples as well.

Here are some of the things we learned.

Wives want to be led by their husbands. When we receive wisdom, insight and direction from our husbands it makes us feel cared for.

Husbands tend to be passive in areas where they think they are not well respected. They seek assurance that we are confident in them.

Husbands must give love to their wives, so that in turn their wives will give their husbands respect. They are dependent on each other.

We must both remember that love is given and respect is not earned.

Your spouse is not your enemy. When they hurt you, it will help to view them as being wounded rather than offensive. Try to view things beyond your own perspective.

Satan loves nothing more but to divide and conquer. It is so important to be unified as a couple.

In the last seven months, we've realized how important it is to be a team as a family. I am so thankful for my husband's love, support and patience. While we certainly have and will face trials as every married couple does; I am so thankful to know that Stuart and I have made a commitment to one another that we know will last forever.