Updates!

Wow! It feels like its been forever since I have updated this thing, and there has been so much to post about! Lately, I have been addicted to Pinterest and crafting, and I kind of put the blog on the back burner.  We have been enjoying our time off by going to a few SEC tournament games, following Mississippi State's baseball team to Tallahassee for another tournament, and going to a golf tournament in Birmingham.  We've also caught up with a lot of our old friends and have been playing trivia on Thursdays, which we have gotten a lot better at lately! At home, the majority of my time, though, has been spent raising our new babies!

 This is Gatsby and Fitz!

We both love The Great Gatsby and decided to name our pups after the title character and the book's author, F. Scott Fitzgerald.  We have wanted a dog for a long time, and now that we live in a house that allows dogs, we were so excited to get our first!  Originally, we were only going to get one, but decided to get two because they were the only two in their litter left, and me being Brittany Herndon, I would have felt guilty forever by separating them.  Now that we are reading lots of material on puppy training, we have learned that raising two puppies at once is not a great idea, and many trainers discourage it.  It has been difficult to teach Gatsby and Fitz how to share and to potty train them at the same time, but we both wouldn't have it any other way.  They are such sweet dogs, and ultimately we are glad we have them both!

AND, we can't forget Dexter, our kitten.

This is our nosy, sweet, curious, hilarious, laundry-loving kitten, Dexter.  My friend Carrie found Dexter and his siblings when they were tiny and nursed them to health.  We agreed to adopt one of her kittens, and she held Dexter for us!  When we brought him home to introduce him to our puppies, we were scared that the pups would play too rough with him, but now, it is the total opposite!  Dexter loves to pounce on the puppies when they are sleeping and play with them, and as soon as he wakes them up, he climbs up on the couch so that they can't get to him.  He is definitely a curious cat and is always making us laugh.  As I type this, all of the animals are finally asleep for a nap, and we're hoping it lasts a while!

In other news, we have been trying to find jobs like crazy.  I really have enjoyed these days of waking up at 10:00, taking care of the animals, and basically being a lazy bum, but being at home all the time is not for me, and we have bills and rent to pay :)  

To make a long story short, I had an interview yesterday afternoon and was offered the job before I left!  I will be working at the University of Alabama Art Department helping with scholarships, advising appointments, and doing office work.  I am so, so excited to start!  Not only will I be working with some great people next to an art gallery, but I can receive tuition assistance as I pursue my Master's in Higher Ed!  I am so grateful and thankful!

AANNDD in other news, we have a wedding venue!  Originally, I had one venue in mind for months, but then I stumbled upon this in Downtown Columbus!

                                                

Sorry for the black around the photos! :)

We're getting married here, at Bella Villa in Columbus!  Bella Villa is part of a spa, and is on the rooftop of a building in the downtown area.  It is so unique and different, and Justin and I love the blue and gold mosaic tile that is in the courtyard area.  There is one room where the ceremony will be held, which is the middle picture with the hardwood floor.  There is another room not pictured that has a huge sun mosaic on the floor, which is where the reception will be held, with dancing in the courtyard area.  

Excited doesn't even begin to cover it!  I love, love the venue and am so happy to be spending our wedding day here.  My previous colors of pastels and blush wouldn't really match, so I have picked a dark yellow/mustard color for the bridesmaid dresses that look awesome against the tile!  I'm using these pictures as some inspiration

This weekend, my mom and stepdad are coming to visit, which I am also pretty pumped about.  They say they are just coming to see the critters, but I know they miss me ;)  While Neil and Justin spend some bonding time golfing, Mom, my bridesmaid Holly, and I are spending the day together going bridal gown hunting!  Woop woop!  I am pretty optimistic that we can find one this weekend, considering I don't have a "dream dress" or anything, and I am not too picky.  Hopefully that will be the case, anyway!

We're spending the rest of the week trying not to be lazy bums, and unpacking a few boxes that are left, cleaning and organizing, and trying to teach Fitz and Gatsby how to walk on a leash.  We plan to stay pretty busy, with me getting acclimated to my new job and getting toned up for the wedding (gym discount woo!), and with Justin taking care of the critters until he finds a job too!  Prayers will be much appreciated ;)