30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 17

Day 17: What are you looking forward to?

I'm looking forward to...

• Eating the top layer of our wedding cake on our first wedding anniversary (4.11.11)

• Traveling to new places: Vegas with all the Oakes brothers and their wives (hopefully next summer) and visiting family in Utah (this winter if we can save up the money)

• Being a mommy

• Our first Thanksgiving and Christmas as as married couple

• Kissing my man at midnight on New Year's Eve :)

That's a very, very small list of the many things I'm looking forward to in the future. What are you looking forward to?

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 16

Day 16: Dream Home

Right now I am in love with Craftsman style homes. I love all the architectural details like the woodwork on the columns and such. I found this picture and loove this house:

With this staircase:

And it would have this kitchen:

A bathroom that looked something like this (I LOVE beadboard):

Oh and I forgot; there would be a super organized, blackboard door pantry like this one:

 

Dreaming of dream homes makes me so happy :)

Top Two Tuesday: Favorite Fall Decorating Ideas

Have I mentioned that I loooooove fall yet? This week's topic is so fun. These are my two favorite fall ideas that I've seen recently.

1. Fall Wreaths

I love this wreath from DIY Show Off. Such a cute summer wreath, and without the starfish, it would transition perfectly for fall! I've seen this wreath also made with different colored fabrics and it could be made specially for any season or holiday.

DIY Show Off

And how cute is this fall wreath made of magnolia leaves?

Centsational Girl

2. Halloween Decorated Staircase

If I had a staircase, I would love to do this. Thrifty Decor Chick's stairs are so spooky and fun :)

Thrifty Decor Chick

What are your favorite fall decor ideas?

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 15

Day 15: Favorite Bible Verse

I've been looking forward to this day's topic. I do have a bunch of verses that are very special to me and mean many different things to me.

Senior year in high school, we had to choose a "life verse" for the yearbook and all those other senior publications. This is the verse I chose then:

"Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the LORD, not men..."

Ephesians 6:7

I chose this verse back then for a few reasons. I was very active in my school's missions program. I went on mission trips every summer for about 6 years straight. This verse applies to that, but it can also apply to any area of your life. Whatever we do, whether it be our job, our relationships, we should do it as if we were doing it for the Lord: wholeheartedly.

One of my other favorite verses is something that I have lived and seen to be true in every area of my life. Money is something that most people stress out about at one time or another. I won't say it doesn't worry me occasionally, but overall, I don't let it get me down:

"...do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them...Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' ...and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Matthew 6:25-34 (emphasis added)

I can now honestly say that I know that the Lord always provides. It was one of the things on my "beliefs" list earlier in the week. There are always times when things are tight, but never have I been without something I needed, and there are even times that a check for something comes in the mail that we weren't expecting. I've seen it too many times to name, and I'm sure it will continue to amaze me how the Lord continues to provide, even though we are so unbelievably undeserving.

I can't wait to read everyone's favorite bible verses!

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 14

Continuing on in the challenge (three days in a row for me, are you impressed??)...

Day 14: A Picture you love

I needed a good picture, so what else is there to do than go to facebook and look at every picture tagged of you to find a great one you had forgotten about? I had so much fun reliving all the memories from college and I came across this pic and knew I had to post it.

Me (left) and Ashley (BFF)

Me and my best friend, while we were in college, being silly like always before getting ready for a night out. I've been really missing college recently, just for all of the fun times and the lack of "real life" I seem to be experiencing now. Don't get me wrong, I love being married and getting to spend everyday with my man, but college was so fun and I don't think I will ever stop missing it.

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 13

Day 13: Goals

-Become a better Chrstian

-Learn to be the best wife I can be

-Visit all 50 states

-Cook dinner at least 4 or 5 nights a week

-Be the best mom (when I have children) and step-mom I can be

-Get out of debt

-Redecorate our house

-Become better at remembering to do laundry (my poor hubs is always the one who suffers from my forgetfulness- sorry babe!)
-Get back to couponing on a regular basis

-Take more pictures

-Start blogging on a more regular basis

-Come up with a more concrete theme for my blog

-Make my Scentsy business successful

Oops: Blog Challenge Day 12

Wow, it turns out I'm horrible at this "remembering-to-blog-everyday" thing- like I didn't know that already! :)
Well instead of boring anyone with a horrible 10 day catch-up post, I will just join in where everyone else is at the moment. Go over to Katie's Journey to join the fun.


Day 12: Beliefs

I believe in the Creator of heaven and earth, His only Son, and the presence of the Holy Spirit.
I believe in the power of prayer.
I believe there is good in each and every person on this planet.
I believe that true love does exist.
I believe that what my mother told me was true: "everyone comes into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime."
I believe that the Lord always provides. Always.

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 3

Your first love

When it comes to loving there have been a two firsts for me:

The first man I ever loved: Jesus. I became a Christian at a young age, but I don't think I was truly in love with Jesus until high school. I have never, even to this day, known such joy as the joy that I felt when I realized that the creator of the universe loves me, sins and all. Its the most awesome feeling and you've not truly lived unless you've experienced this yourself.

The first earthly man I truly loved: My husband, Brian. I got lucky with this one, let me tell you. He is an awesome husband and the best friend I've ever had. When we met for the second time (about  6 years after the first time) something clicked and I knew he was it for me. We have our ups and downs every day, but I know at the end of the day he loves me more than anything, and I wouldn't trade that feeling for the world.

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 1&2

I heard about this challenge through one of my daily reads, Simply Smithwick, and she heard about it from Katie's Journey. I thought "hey why not!" So here I go with day one!

Introduce, post a recent pic, and tell 15 facts about yourself

Ok, I'm guilty. Not so recent (6months) but one of my favorite pics from our wedding.

I'm Aimee. I've been married to my wonderful husband for 6 months now. We had a beautiful outdoor wedding last April and its been a beautiful ride so far. I am a graduate of the University of South Carolina and one of the biggest Gamecock football fans you will ever meet. I have my Bachelor's degree in Psychology but I work with my husband at his restaurant. I am now officially addicted to blogging, and even though I don't post too often, I love reading all of the other great blogs out there. I have two wonderful step-sons, Tanner and Tucker. Hubs and I have 3 dogs: a black lab (Jack) and two miniature dachshunds (Captain and Chloe). That's a little bit about me. Now lets see if I can actually come up with 15 facts about myself that I haven't already said!

1. I LOVE ketchup. Seriously. I can eat it on just about anything.

2. I love baking. Funfetti cake is my favorite, followed by cheesecake.

3. I can balance a spoon, knife, and fork on my nose. At the same time. True story.

4. I played soccer and volleyball in high-school. I was also a cheerleader and I coached a squad my senior year of high school. It was the most fun but challenging thing I've ever done.

5. I was born in Connecticut but consider myself a true southern girl, having lived in South Carolina since I was about 3. There is nowhere else I would want to live (with one exception, see #6).

6. I love New York City. I haven't been too many places, but this one tops the list of favorite places ever. I love everything about it.

7. I went to a private school my whole life until I went to USC, but I was never one of the ones who went wild like many others did.

8. I enjoy a glass of wine in the evenings with my husband. We like to sit on the front porch in our rocking chairs.

9. One of my guilty pleasures is watching any of the Kardashian shows on E. They are so crazy but I can't help be enthralled by their lives.

10. I have two sisters. Both are younger than me by 11 and 8 years.

11. Tomorrow marked 6 months since we got married

12. My husband is 8 years older than me

13. We have football season tickets for the USC Gamecocks and we both love going to the games

14. Fall is my favorite season

15. I would rather be cold than hot (thus my love for fall and winter haha)

And Day 2:
What is the story behind your blog's name?

I guess there really isn't a story. I'm am an Oakes now, and this is my life. Sometimes life can stink, but most of the time it is amazing and I couldn't be more thankful for the opportunity to live my life with Mr. Oakes by my side. Its the story of everyday life, fun events, and whatever else I have on my mind.

Top Two Tuesday: Dream Kitchens

Can I just first say how excited I got when I saw this week's topic. I am always dreaming about what my dream kitchen will look like and its something that I've been thinking about a lot recently since we've been on the search for another home.

1. Kitchen from "Something's Got to Give"






I know this must be on some other's list also. This kitchen is gorgeous! I am in love with the white cabinets and dark countertops. Another favorite from this kitchen is the square island. I love big islands that are truly functional, like the shelves for cookbooks on this one, as well as space for pretty decor and plenty of storage space.


2. Kraftmaid Kitchen



I love this kitchen from the Kraftmaid cabinetry catalog. I love the ceiling to floor pantry cabinets as well as the bar on the back of the kitchen island. I can't get away from white cabinet kitchens and I'm sure whatever home we choose, there will be white cabinets in my future.

Go join in the fun on Taylor's blog.

October is here!

I'm so excited about this fall season for more than a few reasons, and one of them is the new Scentsy. There is an awesome new warmer and scent of the month for October.

  

I'm really looking forward to doing my first Fall Festival on October 16th. I have a Scentsy booth there and I'm so excited to be able to share Scentsy with the people who come through. If you will be in the Greenville, SC area from 9am-noon on the 16th, stop by the fair. Lots of activities for kids and families and a great way to get a head start on your holiday shopping! Contact me if you would like more details.

Happy Fall!

Kicked to the Curb

I am guilty of being a slave to stuff. I put too much stock in "things" and sometimes have a hard time throwing things away, for absolutely no good reason at all. This was more than apparent when I received a call last night that someone was coming in the morning to see our house (currently for sale). My first thought was oh my goodness how am I going to clean/declutter/beautify the house in one night. We certainly weren't expecting anyone to come see it. After all, we haven't had any interest in the weeks since we listed the house.

So hubs and I cleaned and cleaned and threw away junk and before we knew it, it was 4am. I am really proud of how much stuff we kicked to the curb (literally) and our home is so much more warm and inviting without all the unnecessary things.

So maybe the people who toured the home this morning will make an offer, and maybe they won't. Either way, I hope we were able to impress them. The search for our dream home continues. We may be relocating in the near future for work, so a lot of things are still up in the air. We will see how it all goes.

I hope everyone is having a lovely weekend :)