Vintage Story - Vintage Finds

Once when my sister and I were little, we went with our Dad to his office on a Saturday.  I think he and my mom were decorating his new office or something like that.  Meredith and I found a meeting room with a huge white board on the wall--so of course we starting coloring on it and wrote "STEVE TOLSON ROX" all over it!!  For some reason, that random day is one of my most vivid childhood memories.  While so many things have changed since then, as they always do with time, the one thing that has not changed is that I still think STEVE TOLSON ROCKS!!  He "ROX" so much that he came to see Jimmy and I when he was in town on Monday!!  It was so good to see my Dad!  How I love last-minute surprise visits! :)

And speaking of things changing with time, [sorry--best transition I could come up with] my friend Jessica and I went thrift store hunting yesterday and I came home with THESE VINTAGE TREASURES:

2 Vintage Suitcases - $8

4 Embroidered Napkins - $3

2 Lace Doilies - $5

1 Old Film Reel - $2

1 Cute Scarf - $1

1 Vintage mirror that I forgot to grab from Jess' car - $5

and my favorite purchase of the day - 1 1963 ed. "Joy of Cooking" - $1

TOTAL - $25

I especially love the 1963 Joy of Cooking WITHOUT the sleeve!!
I'm a sucker for vintage colors!  :)

You can probably expect these awesome treasures to show up in a photo shoot sometime soon!! Still on my shopping list for thrift/vintage stores: olllld vintage camera, old velvet chair in a bright color for photoshoots, vintage scale, chalkboard, vintage globes, and a vintage fan!  Oh--and I also bought this ugly clown dress for the yellow fabric (for making pillows) and the lace collar.  My goal is to make THIS soon.  [tangent: I've really been in the mood to sew something lately!!  We'll see how that goes.] I was planning to be a jokester and be wearing the ugly clown dress when Jimmy came home--but that didn't happen.  I did capture the ugliness for all of you lovelies though.  [my expression shows shock at all that fabric put together!]  Cute right? ;)

[Weekend Update]

Last week Jimmy asked if I had updated our blog lately.  When I said "no" he said--"Well hurry up and post something already or we're going to LOSE READERS!"

To the both of you...sorry it's taken me so long.  Last week I was busy working on a business plan for Courtney Griffin Photography.  My website will be finished soon, but in the meantime you can become a fan of CGP on facebook! :)

A few weeks ago at the American Heart START! Walk, I met a woman named Karen Schrah.  Karen's son Zachary died a year and a half ago, on the football field, from Sudden Cardiac Arrest.  He was just a sophomore in high school.  Had Zachary had a special heart screening for adolescents, or had there been an AED nearby, he could still be here today.  To spread awareness and prevent other deaths from occurring like this, Karen started a non-profit organization called Living for Zachary.   After hearing Zachary's story, I knew I wanted to get involved.  Saturday was the L4Z 5k/10K race in Plano, at which Jimmy and I arrived at 6 AM to volunteer!!  We met a lot of great people and had a great time.  Volunteering made us realize how selfish we typically our with our time, so hopefully there will be more philanthropic endeavors in our future!!

(Taken with my iphone)

Friday afternoon I got a call from a friend from A&M asking me to help him take photos of him proposing to his girlfriend.  As I am a sucker for romantic stories and proposals, I was glad to help!!  Jimmy and I arrived at Lakeside Park around 3:30 where we would be pretending to take photos of each other.  My friend JR and his girlfriend were expected to arrive between 3:50-4.  Only problem was...it was POURING DOWN RAIN!!!!  Despite the weather, it could not have been more perfect.  It was a beautiful proposal!  The photos look great.  Shout out to my sweet husband who held an umbrella over my head while I took hundreds of pictures during the proposal!!! The whole experience brought me back to when Jimmy proposed almost one year ago!  #SOBLESSED  Here is a pic I took while Jimmy and I were waiting, and one of my favorites from the day.  The rest of the proposal pics will be on my website and the CGP facebook page soon!! 

Sunday we went over to my aunt's house in Ft.Worth to celebrate my cousin's birthday, my grandmother's birthday, and Jimmy's birthday.  We had a wonderful time and I took lots of pictures--but didn't realize til I got home that 98% of my photos were of my cousin Beth Ann's daughter Vivian, who wore her bow [almost] all day!! 

My grandmother "B" and I at my Aunt Becky's house!! 

Here's to being a better blogger this week!!! Have a fantastic Monday! 

Why is my husband my FAVORITE?!

because he likes to play!!!! 

and he is really fun.

and when we're together, i'm pretty fun too. 

and because cooking dinner with him is awesome. (see above)

and because he loves me. and i love him. 

a lot. 

Happy Birthday Jimmy!!

Happy 23rd birthday Jimmy!!  Shopping for your birthday card this year was more thrilling than buying you any other present, or any other card, any other year...because this year I was able to look in the "To Husband" section!! Not that I bought you one of those, because they were all far too cheesy, but nonetheless, I was excited to have had the option.  I could not be more grateful to be your wife, to love you, to serve you, pray for you, ride bikes with you, cook with you, and be your comrade in many adventurous-but-not-too-dangerous endeavors!!  Your life is worth celebrating every day, not just on this day.  I love you and can't wait to fill our house with surprises and streamers for the next many, many, many years!!

 

Our coffee table filled with presents! A few from me (we went very practical this year) and the rest from my parents. (The pumpkins in the back do not belong there,  they are usually in a cute formation on the coffee table with candles and pretty fall decorations--but birthday overtook the seasons today.)

My mom abandoned standard packing material in lieu of toilet paper and non-perishables!!  Our pantry (and behinds) thanks you! :) 

Gig 'Em Ags!

10 Aggie Flare points for having our flag hang from the balcony!  100+ Aggie Flare points for the hot Aggie husband in the window!! 

Getting pumped for the Aggie vs. Arkansas game tomorrow at the Cowboys Stadium!! WHOOP!! 

Reflections

Jimmy's new schedule allows him to come home at 5 o'clock instead of 6!! It's only been one day, but so far I am loving that extra hour of time we get to spend together in the evening.  The second half of my day is essentially one big countdown until he comes home: 

12:30-3:00 - Continue job search, run errands, bake, read blogs, edit photos and procrastinate housework a tad longer

3:00-4:15 - Attempt laundry/dishes while simultaneously performing a live show of the Glee soundtrack

4:15-4:45 - Final shakedown, where I make sure the house looks nice and it looks like I have been really productive all day

4:45-4:55 - Spruce myself up so I too look nice for the mister's arrival

4:55-5:02 - Stand on my tippy toes and look out the peep-hole until I see my favorite finally coming up the stairs! 

5:03 - Open the door, commence giant bear hug! 

The cooler weather is making our evening walks even more fun!! Hence today's photo collage from our yesterday's walk.  I love learning more about my husband every day and finding new ways to serve him and show him respect.

My relationship with Jimmy and with the Lord seem to be connected in a symbiotic sort of way.  If I'm seeking God and spending time with Him, yearning to grow and fall more in love with Him, the automatic result is a desire to pray for and serve my husband.  To provide him with a glimpse of the overwhelming joy and comfort I feel when I spend time with Jesus.  

Coincidentally, when selfishness wins and I find myself not spending time in the Word, it also wins over my actions towards my beloved.  I wish I had the strength to always choose to love. to serve. to humble myself. etc.  But if I could choose to act that way on my own, there would be no need for Christ.  no need for grace.  no mercy.  And aren't those the characteristics of real love, Christ's love, anyway?

My new photography obsession is reflections.  I wish I were good enough at writing to say something eloquent and quippy about the symbolism of reflection.  But all I know is that my love for Jimmy is to be a reflection of Christ's love for me.  

Really, our lives should be marked with a reflection of Christ's love as we interact with everyone, not just our spouses. 

And lastly, just a picture I took of something I thought looked beautiful.  

III

III of my favorite activities this weekend:
1. Celebrating my graduation with my grandparents (aka B& PaPa) at III Forks Restaurant!  Yum-o!
2. Getting in line for the the REI "garage sale" at 6 AM, where we waited with old friends, and made some new ones, for 4 hours.
3. Eating REAL Chinese food at the Hsiao house after church on Sunday night.  Our friend Chris' mom made us dumplings, beef and broccoli, fried rice and several other dishes!! I even learned how to say "This tastes good" in Chinese!! :)

III of my FAVORITE things right now:

1. Photoshop collages!!

2. Banana bread baking in the oven.  

3. Kelle Hampton's blog.

(3.5) THE WEATHER!! 

(3.75) Jimmy getting off an hour earlier 2 days a week!! :) 

III Things to look forward to:

1. The Mister's 23rd BIRTHDAY!!! (in ONE WEEK from today!!!)  I still have no idea what to get him.  Why must grown-up presents be so expensive?!

2. Courtney Griffin Photography website! (I bartered with my web-designer friend--professional portraits for one kick-butt website!)

3. A weekend backpacking trip!  Jimmy wants me to try it out with a borrowed pack before making the investment in a backpack for me.  I already have my pretty girly pack picked out for when that time comes!! In green, of course.

(3.5) Seeing our families at the end of the month!!! Birthday-palooza here we come!