Dreaming Since 1997

   Hi! I can't believe the awesome weather we've been having in new England this summer! I am so grateful. My summer dreams are coming true! Beach, pool, grill, repeat. I could live like this forever... or at least until I start seeing pumpkin spice everything on the shelves- but I digress. Today's post is all about our pool journey, from getting rid of the original pool that came with our house (we moved in a little over a year ago), putting up the new one, and all of the hopeful fun that comes after! The Old Pool  So, the previous owner wasn't much on pool maintenance. When we first moved in, we quickly learned that we were going to have to doctor this pool to bring it back to life. The water was so gross. It looked like a dirty martini. My husband, Thomas, God love him, worked so hard last summer and we actually were able to have people over to swim in it before the end of the summer! It was awesome and I decided that I LOVE having a swimming pool. Then one day, I we...

Hello friends! I decided that in order to keep consistency with this blog, I will do a weekly Thankful Thursday post. This will be about anything that I am thankful for. I believe that happiness starts with a thankful heart, so this will be a great way to increase positivity and keep things in perspective for us. So, without further ado, I will share what I am thankful for this week! Getting my hair done today! I LOVE getting my hair done. I have the best hair girl in Portsmouth! She always does such a great job and we have the best conversation. One thing about me, I am a girls' girl. I can usually strike up a decent conversation with almost any girl. I believe we girls need to stick together! Getting our pool up; Yall, this pool... I am so thankful it is almost over. We have worked so hard on it. I can't wait to enjoy it next weekend when I'm off work.  Talking to my granny more this week. I love my family. I miss them. Ever since I moved to NH, I feel so much more mysel...

Since I was a little girl, I have always wanted to be able to knit and crochet. As crazy as it sounds. I used to think (and I totally still do) that knitting something with a beautiful color yarn and drinking a hot cup of tea or coffee would be the epitome of cool adulthood. I can remember being a little girl, about six or seven, at Granny's house. I would take one of her Afghans off the couch, drape it over my legs and use pencils to pretend I was making it myself. I was a strange kid.  Anyway, I am kind of self taught at crocheting and knitting, so they are both not very good. After watching and rewinding dozens of videos, I have muddled my way through some blankets and scarves, even a sweater that is... let's just say it is better left hanging up in the darkest part of my closet. I am hopeful that, just like with any skill, I will get better as I continue to practice.  One of my favorite times to crochet or knit is in the fall. My husband is really into football, so most da...

Listed below are some of the books I've read over the last several weeks. I think my taste in books has started to change from pure fiction to autobiography/memoirs. I am really liking true stories being shared, not just made up characters. I feel like I actually know these people because they're real. It's something I never considered reading, but I love it and maybe you will to!  Book # 1 Dinner for Vampires So I half physically read and half listened to the audio version, and I loved it! Bethany Joy Lenz is one of my favorite actresses on the Hallmark Channel, and I loved her character from One Tree Hill. I figured her life story would be interesting, and IT IS! It's about her life as a young adult in a real life cult. One thing I really liked about the audio version is that she actually narrates the whole thing, and sings in it, has some guest stars and she has such a great voice. I highly recommend.  Book # 2 The Third Gilmore Girl Oh Kelly Bishop... I had no idea ...

Hello and welcome back! Today I will be writing about my all-time favorite app in the entire world- Pinterest. I have loved Pinterest since I was in high school. You know I've always been a dreamer, and Pinterest only encourages it for me. I must've spent hours creating boards for "My dream wedding" or "my dream beach house", etc. I love this app so much. It has and still is a big part of my daily life. I have a widget on my phone dedicated to a changing photo from my "2025" board, just to keep me inspired whenever I grab my phone. So, in honor of Pinterest being my favorite app, I thought I would dedicate this post to a couple random boards on my profile.  The first random board is... my board entitled "2023". Towards the end of the year for the last several years, I make a new pinterest board and just start adding things to it that I really want to do, be, see, wear, have, start, stop or whatever the verb may be in the new year. It'...

Slow mornings… Is there anything better than a nice, slow morning? Whether you are able to sleep in a couple extra hours, or if you are still the early riser you are on a work day, just taking everything slow. Enjoying the coffee for a little bit longer. Extending quiet time out a little longer. Maybe even going to brunch. If you’re like me, you probably associate slow mornings with vacation, and everyone is their best self on vacation.  Joey I love to spend slow mornings on my deck, with coffee, my bible and whatever Bible study I’m working through. My dogs accompany me as well. They run around the yard until they get tired from the heat and then they walk back up to the deck to lie down near me.  Another slow morning luxury- getting ready. Normally, I am busting through my usual 15 minute routine and trying to get out the door sooner rather than later. When I am able to get ready not in a rush- it is transcendent. I listen to a podcast, whatever new audio book I’m listening...