Monday, April 25, 2011

FLOWERS!!!

Today marks the last day of my vacation, and these last 10 days have been great!! Originally Brad was going to take off last week as well, but he started a new job about a month ago, so asking for a week off right away probably wasn't the greatest idea ever. Therefore, I was home alone all week... well, for some of the week. Mom wound up driving up late Tuesday night and stayed until Friday afternoon. We had a great time just hanging out, doing a little shopping, eating out and working in our flowerbeds.
I had been itching to get out there and brighten up our flowerbeds with a little color for a while, but since this is the first spring that we have been in our house, it's the first time I've ever had to work on flowerbeds and I had no idea where to start!! I'm a girl who has to have a plan, so on Wednesday we started searching through the garden centers at Walmart, Home Depot, and Lowe's. It was a pretty nasty, rainy day, so we knew we weren't going to be able to plant anything just yet. Mom helped me figure out if I wanted annuals, perennials, etc. I also had three dead bushes that I had to replace, so I found some ideas for that as well. I took notes as I noticed things that I liked, then we went home and mapped out a plan as we looked over the flowerbeds. I figured out which flowers I wanted to put in which spot. Like I said, I HAVE to have a plan. I can't just put random things here and there... that's just not how my brain works. OCD? Maybe!! :)
Thursday morning we went back to Lowe's and Walmart, picked up the items on my list and went home and got our hands dirty. A few hours later ....... TA DA.... we have COLOR!!! I love it!!
This is the front flowerbed. The two new bushes are on each end. I decided not to add any color to this bed just yet. I want to wait and see what it looks like after we get those two geraniums in the background hanging on the porch above these bushes.


I LOVE these geraniums!! SO pretty! I have two hanging pots that are going to hang on the front porch. We don't have the hooks up there quite yet though.


We potted these two dahlias. They are sitting on either side of the front door, so they bring color to the front porch area as well. I LOVE the vibrant colors of these flowers!!




This is an overview of our larger flowerbed in front of the office window. I've added a little color throughout with knockout roses and azaleas.


Here are some close-ups of the roses and azaleas.






Here's hoping I can keep everything alive!! Only time will tell. I'm so excited about watching everything grow!! Now we have to mulch both beds to kind of pull everything together and make it look a little nicer. I'm loving everything so far, and I'm so thankful to my mom for helping me figure out what I wanted or didn't want because I definitely would have been lost otherwise!!

Kari's Bridal Shower

The future Mr. and Mrs. Clark!!
I guess wedding season has officially started with the first bridal shower of the year!! Kari Smothers and Matt Clark are getting married in just a little over a month on June 11. I went to UTM with both Kari and Matt. Kari was also in my hygiene class at UTHSC and Matt is almost finished with dental school in Memphis. They are such a cute and sweet couple and I'm so excited for them.
Earlier this month the other bridesmaids and I gave Kari a bridal shower in Dyersburg. Abigail, who also lives in Nashville and who is also a bridesmaid, and I rode together and stayed with Kari the night before the shower. We had a great time working on wedding details and planning. The shower went really well!! The food was yummy, the decor was cute, and she had a really great turnout with great guests and great gifts!!
The cupcake tower! Delicious!!

The Hostesses

Some the food layout

Kari and me

Table full of gifts. They got some great stuff!!