The best it's gonna get.

I have been in a kind of weird mood. I want to do crafts all the time. I want to paint. I want to clean and organize everything. Like I said, weird. But it's like my release from everything. It calms me when I am able to throw junk away. It relaxes me when I create something, anything. Recently Curt and I have been steadily cleaning out the things we don't need and utilizing the space we have (which is not much, but plenty for us). Our room right now is the cleanest it has ever been! We have never been able to close our closet doors until a few days ago; it looks so much bigger now. We were using out closet doors as a place to hang ties/belts/purses/scarves/and even pants. We finally found a solution for this messy situation. We bought an eight dollar door hanger thinger-ma-bob and voila! Space was created. It looks a ton better and when I walk into our room, I don't just stare at the hanging mess surrounding our closet with disgust and anxiety. Now I look with a pleasant satisfaction. We are living here for another year, and maybe another after that. Who knows. But we definitely are going to keep adding to our apartment little by little, making it more and more like home (but really all I need is Curt to feel at home). You can find me always on BHG.com, looking up new ideas for our little home. I get so inspired, Curt just thinks I'm transitioning into my grandma stage. But I love it so much! Ahhhh, so many great ideas out there. It makes me want our own home, one where we can paint and decorate as we wish. One day Vanessa, one day.

Here are a few snap shots of what our apartment looks like as of now. 

There's all of our ties/scarves/purses hanging on our door.

I finally got around to putting up our wedding pictures last week after I found these great frames at a thrift store. <3

Another one of my favorite thrifty finds. I bought this coat rack for $9 dollars and found these hats at antique shops around town.

TV stand.

More pictures I found at a thrift store. I <3 them.

Magnificent Monday Meal & Movie

I get so excited just thinking about it,

about Family Home Evenings.

Monday night might be my most favorite night,

I don't know if it will ALWAYS be that way,

but for now it probably is.

This past FHE was wonderful.

We ate ratatouille while watching RATATOUILLE.

How cute is that?

Gosh, I want to do it again.

I got the delicious recipe from Allrecipes, of course,

made a beautiful shopping list from it,

went to Payless,

bought all of the ingredients,

came home and started chopping away.

This dish is entirely layers and layers of vegetables 

and is great with garlic bread or cheesy bread.

Firstly, chop everything up with a knife.
Actually you slice everything up.
Big difference.

 

Then you start layering the vegterbles. 

Eggplant, then some zucchini,

Then some onions, 

Then some pepp and tomtoms, then sprinkle on a little Parmesan cheese. 

 Then cook it in the over for forty-five minutes at 350 degrees, then....
Va La!

It definitely does NOT look like the ratatoille from the movie,

But it tastes just as good!

A wonderful wednesday.

I say wonderful because I am so happy!

Our summer is going so great.

We work all day

and then come home and play.

Today I made this deliciously scrumptious meal

(which is not usually the case).

Sauteed chickies, roasted peppers, garlic, mushies, and spinach 

toppedwhole wheat pasta,

mixed with Pesto Basil. 

Gosh,

it was so good and our apartment smells wonderful.

If you want to make it, Allrecipes can help you out.

I go to them for everything.

Right now we are rewatching the Bourne Series for the gazillionth time,

because they are so good!

I never gets old,

just action after action after great acting...except for Pamela Landy.

Then Curty Curt went to basketball,

and is currently there right now.

I went over to my parent's place,

which is just across town.

I love living so close and being apart of their lives!

Hubby and I hang out with my little brother almost every day.

We meet him at the pool and mess around until we are hungry or the sun goes down. 

Love it.

Anyways,

Logan been done graduated

Now, it's time to party...this weekend at his grad party.

I've been helpin my mom get the house organized 

and getting the baby pictures ready for display.

It was a lot of fun.

For some reason, 

now that I have grown up a bit (not much),

I love organizing things.

Especially other people's things. 

It's so soothing.

SOO that was our typical Wednesday for you.

The Flavors of Tippy

 This was my first time ever going to Taste of Tippacanoe,

and I loved it.

Curt and I had sushi, smoked brisket, indian food, carmels, and ice cream.

We had happy tummies.

I didn't realize there were so many restaurants in Lafayette!

There were food venders all the from downtown up until the skate rink,

and it was a beautiful night. 

And to top it off,

there were fireworks!

These fireworks were pretty dang good,

and for a solid 15 minutes.

The entire time fireworks were going off left and right,

and then the finale was HUGE and super loud. 

It got me excited for the Fourth of July...which is comin up!

love on the court

Curt and I have picked up another sport to play,

just addin it to the list.

Monday=Volleyball

Tuesday=soccer/volleyball

Wednesday=Curt plays basketball

Thursday=soccer

Friday=Volleyball

Saturday=Tennis

Gosh,

we love sports so much. 

Tennis is pretty new for me though.

The last time I played was in Jr. High gym class 

and it definitely was not my favorite class period then.

Curt has had to put up with a lot with me,

I tend to get a little frustrated when I am not very good with something.

But this time, 

I stuck with it and on Saturday was had some really good rallies.

Soon we will be able to have real matches.

Here's some ESPN worthy pictures from the game:

Good times for Lafayette.

 

It finally happened.

An additional church building was built in Lafayette

and the official Open House was yesterday.

The building is absolutely beauitful,

and what is even more beautiful is the growing number of saints 

and the need for another building.

Next is the temple :)

Good things are in store for Lafayette and Indiana.

 This was the young women's display at the Open House. 

They did a great job showing all of their projects and testimonies.

My sister made a book all about temples and her goal to be married in one one day.

Love it.

These are a few more displays that were being shown. 

They really did a great job in capturing what the gospel is about,

eternal families, heavenly covenants, and our Savior Jesus Christ. 

You can check out the news article about the event here!

Curt at Work.

That's my baby!

Look at him working hard,

slaving away,

while at WORK.

Pfcu recently incorporated a work out room into their facilities

(in conjunction with their lactation room-for all those mothers wanting to tone up a bit when feeding the babe)

and Curt took advantage...

Every chance he gets,

He is in that work out/ lactation room,

toning his BOD.

Really,

I don't think he needs to worry obsess about it so much.

But Curt is Curt,

and if he wants to add a little more muscle,

you go get em hun!

In actuality,

they asked Curt to take some promotional pictures

for their new work out room.

I think he promoted it alright.

I wouldn't be suprised if he's in their right at this moment actually.

Chicago temple.

I am so grateful for the opportunity to go to the with the mister this past weekend.

We are so blessed to be so close and make the trip in one day.

It was a wonderful experience, 

and every time we go,

all our wedding memories come back to us. 

(Two months away from our year anniversary!)

We left for Chicago around 11:00 our time

made it to the temple at 1:00 their time 

and then picnicked!

After our delightful picnic,

we went through the temple,

I just can't get over how wonderful it is,

to be completely at peace and encircled in the spirit.

There is no better feeling than to stand next to Curt in the temple,

knowing that we are sealed for all eternity,

and eventually our little kiddies will be too.

I hope one day that our baby Curts and Vanessas will experience this one day too.

Until then,

we will keep doing the best we can in centering our lives on Christ.

 

 

It's just so beautiful!

And of course, 

afterwards its required to stop at Portillo's.

Chicago style dogs and italian beef and their amazing cake shake.

We are always so stuffed on the way home,

but a good stuffed.

Gosh, I'm hungry now.

Afterwards this delightful trip,

we topped it with Jumanji!

That movie still freaks me out,

I don't know how kids can handle it without peeing their pants.

In conclusion, this past weekend was tough to beat.

Stop. Breathe. Run in the Rain.

Gosh. Rain is beautiful. Everything is so alive, awake.

I don't enjoy running too much.

I would much rather play a game of soccer or volleyball 

or football or tennis or pickleball or four square.

But when it's a warm rain,

trickling down your body,

I have to go running. 

I needed it too.

Our lives have been going non-stop.

I didn't think this could happen, 

but we are busier now than during the school year.

Crazy, but good.

So this run was a break from everything,

I was able to run away from my responsibilities and breathe in the fresh air.

I was able to enjoy the beauty around me.

(this gives you an idea of what I saw)

Rain is good for the soul.