30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 29

Day 29: Three wishes

Right now these are the things that are on my mind. They are more like dreams and hopes rather than wishes, but here they are:

1. I wish we were debt free.

2. I wish we could be living in our dream house right now.

3. I wish I could find a great job that pays well and will help #'s 1 & 2 come true more quickly.

30 Day Blog Challenge: Days 27 & 28

Once again, I'm late on these. Busy weekend. Hubs and I went fishing on Saturday morning. He had gone the day before and caught a lot of fish so we thought it would be fun to go together. Well, 6am came too early on Saturday and lets just say that catching no fish + 40 degree weather = unhappy me. Hubs caught fish, but I couldn't feel my fingers so I gave up pretty quickly. He told me to quit whining like a 12 year old, so naturally I just sat in the back of the boat with my arms crossed for awhile after that. haha :)

But anyway... on to the blog challenge! This has been a lot of fun and I have no clue what I will post about when its over! :)

Day 27: Pets

Cookie was my first very own dog. She is a black lab, dalmation mix. We got her when I was about 7 or 8. She has been the best dog. Always so sweet.

Here she is at Christmas a few years ago. She is going on 14 years old now and has a lot more gray on her little face, but she is still as sweet as ever. She lives with my mom and I miss her. But I have all of these other crazy fur babies keeping me busy here at home with hubs.

Jack is Brian's black lab. He and hubs were bachelors together before I came along :) He is the most gentle big baby ever. He loves playing with our dachshunds and is so sweet with them, although he does step on them everyonce and awhile, but hey, hes BIG!

He loves the water!

Beautiful boy.

And of course there are the two weenie babies.

This is Captain, the (former) miniature dachshund. I say former, because he now weighs too much to be considered "miniature." Hes about 15 lbs now. The biggest "mini" dachshund I've ever seen, but he's not fat, just all muscle. He is 15 lbs of pure force when he plays, it wears me out!

This is Chloe. She is a force to be reckoned with as well, except she was the runt of the litter, so she is half of what Captain weighs. She may gain a pound or two when she is full grown, but she will always be small.

Our weenie babies love each other! So cute!

and Day 28: What stresses you out?

To be honest, not much stresses me out. That is a good thing because I think stress can really kill you if you're under it too long, but then again, stress can also be good for getting things done. I think when it came to studying for tests and writing papers in college, that stressed me out, but it was good that I felt the pressure to get things done (even though it was usually the last minute- procrastination is a whole different issue!).  I think I'm just more laid back. I've been with the same job for 8 years now. It is the kind of environment that some people can't handle, because the stress can really get bad at times, but I just take things as they come and at the end of the day, things are always ok, so I never let it get to me.

Lately money stresses me out, but I don't worry about it. I guess its a fine line between the two.

I'm having fun with this challenge!

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 26

Day 26: Family Pictures


The most important thing in life is your family...

There are days you love them and others you don't...

 

But in the end, they're always the people you come home to....

Sometimes its the family you're born into...

 

And sometimes its the one you make for yourself <3

 

 

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 23

Day 23: Favorite Vacation

I would have to say that my favorite vacation was our trip to Myrtle Beach in 2009. I had just finished my Junior year at USC and we had been dating about 6 months at this time. It wasn't the most scenic or expensive vacation but I wouldn't have traded those few days for anything. After coming back, we were engaged just a few days later.

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 22

I've missed a few days again. Its been busy around here. We were busy watching the Gamecocks whoop up on Tennessee on Saturday (Go Cocks!)  and then Halloween night was very busy for hub's restaurant. But now the craziness is over for right now at least. My step-sons are here until tomorrow and we are just hanging out and trying to keep them from eating all of their Halloween candy!

But here's day 22: Favorite City

I haven't done as much traveling as I'd like. Most of the places I've seen have been to see family, and I've never left the country, and with the state of things these days, I don't know if I ever will, but there is one place that has my heart and is hands down my favorite city. New York, New York:

My last visit to the Big Apple, in 2008

I love everything about this city. I love the subway, the architecture, the food, the sights and smells. Its one of the only places I know that has a beautiful park in the middle of a bustling city. The people there are not rude like some may say, and I've always been able to find someone to lead me in the right direction or offer suggestions on somewhere cool to visit in the city. Hubs has never been there and I love this city so much that I can't wait until the day we can share in it together. From Little Italy to China town, to Central Park, and Times Square, I would give anything to be able to live there. Its one of those places that you visit and never want to leave.

With my mom and sisters in Central Park

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 :)

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.