Graduation

My cousins and I.  My cousin and I went to undergrad and graduate school together!

My best seminary girlfriend.

I love this picture with my parents.

My cutie husband and I.

My gorgeous and newly dreaded cousin, Vanessa.

Some of my closest friends in seminary.

This pretty much sums it up...

Siblings. :) 

Well, I am a few weeks late to post these but graduation was a huge highlight of this past month.  

This day has been four years coming and as I reflect back, I realize how much this decision to go to seminary and move to Dallas really has changed the trajectory of what I believed my life would look like...and that's not a terrible thing.   I am still able to maintain close relationships with my family.  I've made new friends here and find myself in a career that really stretches what I ever thought I believed I could accomplish.  My seminary education really did help me to figure out who I was and what I believed.  Now I feel like I can celebrate not only my education being fulfilled, but also the a better understanding of myself in ministry.  

So bummed I didn't get any pictures of my actual outfit.  Oh well. 

Have a great week!

Ani

Off the Grid

So it's a bit of an understatement to say I've been off the grid for awhile, in terms of blogging.  I'm more than a little excited about the fact that after months of saving, my husband bought us a Canon Rebel T4i.  So my plan is to get back into this whole blogging business.  

Let's be honest, I'm in need of a hobby and I'm in need of some motivation when it comes to being creative.  I'm currently reading Michael Gungors, The Crowd, The Critic and the Muse , and it is completely challenging me to do all of the things I say I want to do (i.e. sewing, cooking, staying organizing) and get better at the things I do well now (singing, piano and guitar, diet & exercise, thrifting).  

This dress comes to you courtesy of my madre who happens to know me well enough to buy me clothes from ModCloth for Christmas because I'm too stubborn to pay for just about anything at ModCloth unless it's 75% off.  I also got some Minnetonka moccasins and these sweet Ray Bans from my brother and his fiance'.  Overall, I got some pretty cool material possessions for Christmas.  

But aside from material things, my favorite part of this winter break was spending quality time with my husband and family.  Highlights included breakfast with both of our families on Christmas Eve day, making paper flower's with my brothers fiance and my cousins, playing Monopoly till al hours of the night, and helping my brother find a suit for his wedding. 

Overall, it was an incredible Christmas break and while I love my job, I'd love to have this much time to spend with my family more often which made it difficult to jump back into work today, but I'm so confident that this year is going to be a good one.  This past year honestly went above and beyond my expectations- I started a new job, my husband started a new job, we had a couple move into our house, and we gained a slew of new friends from church.  

This year, I'm most looking forward to celebrating 4 years of marriage on our first ever cruise and graduating from grad school in May.  

Here's to 2013!  

{Dress: ModCloth (gift), Boots: Plato's Closet ($14.00), Leggings: Target ($8.00)}

Round my Hometown

This morning my parents, Austin and I went to Magnolia Pancake Haus and had a delicious brunch. Ghiradelli chocolate chip pancakes, scrambled eggs, and sausage is a great way to start a morning. The place was packed, too, so I'm just glad we got in without having to wait our full 75 minute wait!

Once my brother caught up with us, he and Austin and I went to get check out Evolution Skateboards so that my brother could spend some of his Christmas money. We rode with the windows down as the weather was absolutely perfect. They also endured more thrift shopping with me and a trip to Buffalo Exchange. They are the best, seriously.

These pictures were taken, yet again, in front of a church. It was even a United Methodist Church. I guess I'm just intrigued by them. I mean c'mon, I'm a church nerd. It's what I do.

We had a delicious dinner tonight at a restaurant called, La Gloria. Then we went walking around the Riverwalk. I forget how lovely my hometown really is, but tonight was a great reminder.

We look food drunk.

My heart is full and my stomach feels equally full. Hoping to enjoy our last day here with continued gorgeous weather and family time.

Love,

Ani (aw-nee)

{Shirt: Thrifted ($1.99), Jeans: F21 ($9.99), Shoes: H&M ($12.95), Necklace: Charlotte Russe ($3.50), Sunglasses: Target ($16.99), Jacket: Target [similar] ($19.95)}

Para, Para, Paradise

So yesterday began our time with my family in San Antonio. My sister left to Dallas on and my brother was working all day yesterday so it was just Austin and I with the parentals, which was still super fun. I convinced (very sweetly of course) everyone to go with me to Goodwill. When I saw this gorgeous aisle, I was SO extremely excited.

I left the store with three super cute dresses after trying on ten. I felt bad making everyone wait on me but when my dad left the store with a nice sports coat and Austin left with some awesome glasses, my guilt quickly disappeared.

I also got my very first pattern and material to try out on my sewing machine! I can't even express how excited I am to sew. I'll definitely have to update on how the projects go, even if they don't go well.

We went to one of Austin's favorite restaurants last night, La Fogata, where we took a few pictures of my outfit, which was nothing really worth taking pictures of, but Austin did get some great pictures of my mom and I. Take a look...

After dinner, we went to see Sherlock Holmes, which was such a well done movie. I loved the first one and the second definitely did not disappoint. Then we went out with my brother after he had band practice and just hung out at HiTones. It was a pretty incredible day spent with the family and I could not be happier.

I hate that this break will soon be over. Oh well, I'll get over it.

Love,

Ani (AH KNEE)

The Real World

I had this terrible feeling in the pit of my stomach right as I was packing to leave my in-laws to spend the rest of the week with my family...I have to go back to the real world this week. I have to leave the absolute bliss of being with family, constantly eating, and vegging out soon and I am deathly afraid of doing so.

I'm afraid for many reasons. It's my last semester of grad school. I'm stepping into something entirely new. Austin and I keep trying to plan our future when we're really not sure what lies ahead. All of these thoughts quickly flooded my mind and then I remembered what I said in my last blog. I just need to soak in every moment to its fullest. It made no sense for me to lose it at that point. I'll come back to reality soon enough, but for now, I'm going to do my best to enjoy this time with my family.

Anyhow, I feel like a brat because most people are already back in their workplaces, but here I am complaining about having a few more days with family. I know, I'm ungrateful. Seriously though, I'm hoping to make of the most of these next few days before big changes hit.

Hope everyone else out there is doing well.

Ani "I hate the Real World (on MTV)" B.

{Dress: Target [Converse] ($6.50), Jeggings: Target [Xhiliration]($12.00), Shoes: Roxy (Gift?), Cardigan: Plato's Closet [Faded Glory] ($8.00), Belt: Thrifted ($1.99)}