Allyse's Adventures

Half Birthday..

2011-08-03T09:20:00.000-07:00

My birthday is December 24th and Zack decided that starting this year the two of us are going to start celebrating my half birthday so that is exactly what we did on July 1st! The entire day was filled with surprises for me due to the fact that I had no clue as to where we were going. We started the Friday morning off by eating breakfast at Chick-fil-A.. Yummy! After enjoying our chicken minis and hash browns we were off. The next place on our list was the Memphis Zoo! We had such an amazing time looking at all of the animals and just spending time together. Even though it was July the weather was not that hot at all. I even let Zack talk me into going into the reptile house. If you know me well you know I am SEVERELY afraid of snakes so this was a huge moment for me!! Obviously I made it out alive so I guess you could so I concerned a little piece of my fear that day thanks to Zachary. Our favorite part of the zoo had to be the new area for the bears. Two of the 3 grizzlies were playing and running around like little kids while the other one napped in the shade. It was so fun! After leaving the zoo we stopped to eat lunch at one of our favorite spots, Huey's. Delicious like always! After lunch Zack surprised me and took me to Anthropologie and told me I could pick out a dress to wear that night. Luckily I work there and get a great discount but this trip we actually found 2 dresses on sale and they ended up being super super cheap! Happy birthday to me right?! After shopping we both went home and got dressed for the evening. I wore one of my new dresses and Zachary looked so handsome in his dark Levi jeans and a plaid navy shirt. We ate dinner at Ciao Bella. I had only been here one time before with Elinor but it was Zack's first time. We both were very impressed. After a birthday dessert we headed to midtown to see Footloose at Playhouse on the square!! The show was AMAZING! Everyone did such a great job. It was opening night and everything appeared to go perfectly. Altogether we had a perfect day. Zachary you bring so much love and happiness into my life. Thank you for being such a wonderful man. I love you!

I HAVE A NEW COMPUTTER!!

2011-08-03T08:41:00.000-07:00

A few semesters ago after staying up late doing work at the library for exams, I left my WONDERFUL Macbook in my jeep while I went inside my house for a few hours to sleep. When I returned 4 hours later I came to find my computer had been stolen. It was horrible!!! Since then I have been using other peoples' computers to do homework and what not. With the upcoming semester approaching I knew I needed to get a computer of my own but I didn't know how I was going to be able to afford it UNTIL YESTERDAY. I was at Hutchison helping my lead teacher, Nicole set up our PreK classroom. She left to pick up her new computer and go through some training. I decided to stay around and continue to work on the room. About 10 minutes later she called me and told me to come down as well because they had a computer for ME!!! I couldn't be more excited if you cant tell! The computer I received is a year old (which is awesome) and here is some more good news.. the school was selling the old laptops and I was able to get one to keep forever for $25!!!!!!!!!!!!! They are PCs but they already have all of the software I will need until I graduate and can buy a new computer of my own!!! The Lord has provided so much for me!!!! I just thought I would share this because it was such a huge moment for me!! Yaaayyyy! Thank you Jesus!

Whats been keeping me busy this summer..

2011-06-29T17:59:00.000-07:00

This summer I set some goals for myself...

One goal has been to pay off my debt that I owe on credit cards. The amount I owed at the beginning of the summer was not a huge amount but any amount is more than I want!! I can happily tell you that I have payed off one of my 4 and I am well on my way of doing the same with the others. It is embarrassing posting this but at the same time it is great accountability! The way I have been working to pay off my debt has been babysitting. In the past I have only taken care of one family each summer but this summer I have been all over the place. Some weeks I have one family, others I have had 2 or 3 a day, and then I have had a single mom that asks me to come one night a week just for some alone time. It has been a very hectic schedule but it has kept me busy and helped me to stay focused on my goal of paying off debt.

Here are some fun/crazy times we have had so far!

The kids wanted to raise money for their service project at VBS so we had a lemonade stand. This was their idea! They kept asking how much a wheelchair cost and it took me a while to understand where this was coming from but when I found out their project was to buy them for 3rd world countries it warmed my heart!

Another goal Zack and I made together was to find a church home. We visited around and really enjoyed High Point Church in Memphis, TN. God really spoke to us when we were there and we could tell that it is definitely a living church that loves the Lord. A few weeks ago we visited Revision Church in Olive Branch, MS. I cant explain the pull that Zack and I feel towards what is happening in this church body. An advantage of going to Revision in the beginning was knowing some of the people I love most in the world were largely involved but we have met some incredible people and have already started building relationships. The Lord has used the messages Sunday mornings and the small group meetings Sunday nights to encourage and challenge us so much. I cant wait to see what the Lord is going to do in our lives!

The last goal I made was to blog more which I obviously have not done but that is all changing today!! :) It has been very difficult blogging when I don't have a computer but I will find ways. The computer situation will hopefully be fixed closer to August when all of the back to school sales are happening!

I am very excited about the weekend ahead! Zack has decided that we are going to start celebrating my half birthday since my real birthday is Christmas Eve and he wanted me to have a time of my own. (He really is the sweetest!) We both are off work on Friday so he is taking me out on a day of surprises. The only thing I am sure of is we are going to see Footloose at Playhouse on the Square that night. Ahh! Did I mention I am excited?! Also this weekend brings the 4th of July! We will be going to a cookout at our new friends Anna and Garrett Brewer's house.
Hope you are having a happy Wednesday!

BIG BIG BIGGG Changes

2011-04-25T15:48:00.000-07:00

My life in the the past 6 months has completely changed. Relationships have ended and new ones have began. I am still in school at memphis but I am a semester and a half closer to graduating. I still am working at Hutchison but I have gone back to working at Anthropologie as well. I am now dating the talented and handsome Zachary Holcomb and Olivia has returned home from Germany! Over the past months there have been a lot of tears, a lot of laughs, and A LOT of leaning on the Lord. I know I have not always made the best decisions but I try and reflect and see what the Lord was teaching me through the darkness. I have been so blessed to have so many encouraging and challenging people in my life who have been there to help hold me up and who have been there to tell me I have done wrong. I love these people very much and am so blessed to call them my friends. Even thought I don't know what is going to happen, I am so excited to see what the Lord has planned for me in the future.

TOMS

2010-10-04T09:10:00.000-07:00

I have wanted a pair of TOMS since I heard about them! Not only are they adorable but also when you buy a pair a child in need receives a pair of shoes as well. How amazing is that? I was torn between the gold glittery classics and another pair called the cordones I stumbled upon yesterday. Jason ended up talking me into the second pair. I CANNOT wait for them to get here! Even though I didn't get the glittery ones I have a feeling they will be in my possession at some point in the future. :) If you havent checked them out before I would strongly suggest you do so!

www. TOMS.com <

I think these will be perfect for fall and everything else!

Catching Up!

2010-10-03T15:08:00.000-07:00

I'm a slacker.. I know. The past few weeks have been filled with work and school but it also has been filled with friends and BABIES! September 14th Andy and Britt gave birth to a perfect little boy named Samuel and on September 18th Rhonda and Frank gave birth to a beautiful little girl named Maddie Grace! Both babies are doing really well. On the 18th Jason and I were able to go to the first U of M football game of the season with Caryn, Brayden, Ben, Jaime, and Dan. It was so much fun to be back in tiger blue! The next week was full of my favorite shows season premieres! Glee (amazing) Grey's ( amazing) and even though it was the second week Gossip Girl (amazing)! I know.. I know.. I'm a 16 year old but I cant help it!! I also had a paper due and an exam in my Ethnic and Minorities class and dominated both! This past week Revision had our first information meeting at Skate Odyssey in Olive Branch it went well! (Preview service will be Oct. 31 10am @ Skate Odyssey) afterwards Jas and I helped celebrate Chris Few's birthday by surprising him at dinner at Swanky's. Thursday night I hung out with Suzanna, Matt Hall, and Andrew Key one night. We had lots of fun but we had to include Olivia so we took a few pictures including her with the group. A little later into the night Jimy even came by! Jimy and I have been friends since 1st grade and best friends since 5th. LOVEEE HER. This weekend was very fun as well. Friday night Jason and I went to the mid south fair. We had a lot of fun but I remember it being so much bigger when it was in Memphis. Saturday Sara and I went to Target and finished/fixed her registry which was so fun! We both need that time together. Saturday night Philadelphia played a show at a little place called "The Shack" in Collierville. It was a great show. I cant wait for next week when the guys play another show at The Abbey in Midtown. Sunday consisted of church at kwbc, lunch at firehouse subs (yummmm) with Jas, Alex, and Evan , designing philly T-shirts, church at kwbc, seeing The Social Network (AMAZINGG), and finished with dinner at The Villa in Midtown. Such a great Sunday!!!

T.I.G.E.R.S

watching Grey's

Chris's Birthday with El

Suz and I missing Olivia!

On the way to the fair!

Yes he bought a fried twinkie... sick

registering!

Megan and I at the Philadelphia show

Sneak Peak Caryn + Ben Engagements

2010-09-07T22:25:00.000-07:00

This weekend I had the great privilege of taking pictures of Caryn, Ben, and Brayden. Caryn and Ben are getting married in March and Caryn has asked me to be her Maid of Honor!! How amazing is that?! The four of us headed to My Big Backyard in Memphis Botanical Gardens to take the first set of their engagement pictures. This place couldn't be anymore fun for children and adults! We had a great time and I cant wait to take some of the soon to be Mr and Mrs very soon. Until then here is a peak of our adventure....

Sara is Getting Married!

2010-09-02T22:09:00.000-07:00

Tonight Sara, her mom, Lexie, Katie, Carla, and I went to look for bridesmaid dresses. After deciding on one we thought Sara should try on a few wedding dresses. She ended up trying on three.. each one we loved more than the one before. Sara ended up picking a BEAUTIFUL gown!! She absolutely looks like a princess. After deciding on her wedding dress we decided that the bridesmaid dresses would be too casual so we are back to square one with that one.. which was the whole reason to go tonight haha. While trying on dresses Sara told me that she had chosen me to be her Maid of Honor! I couldn't be more honored and excited all at the same time to be her MOH!!! (notice all of the exclamation marks :) Tonight was so much fun and I cant wait for her big day!

This is obviously not the dress chosen but doesn't she look beautiful?!

Last Weekend of Summer

2010-08-30T10:11:00.000-07:00

This weekend was wonderful! Friday after work I came over to Jason's to find that he had prepared steak fajitas for me. It was so sweet and thoughtful and dinner was delicious! On saturday I met up with Caryn for lunch, shopping, and to pick up her WEDDING DRESS! Caryn and I realize more and more everyday that we really are the same person.. it's kind of ridiculous. After coming up with our own version of "California Girls" and turning it into "Tennessee Girls" it was time for me to go babysit. After babysitting I received a call that Sara Friedel my sunshine was officially engaged!! I couldn't be happier for Sara and Mac! Later Saturday night I met back up with Carynie, her wonderful fiance Ben and a group of their friends for the UFC fight. (UFC is something I will never enjoy!) I ended up spending the night and tagging along with them all day Sunday as well. Sunday consisted of softball, lots of pizza, Brayden, grocery shopping, and family dinner with the Sheets family! There were a few problems this weekend.. first my phone was either missing or lost 95% of the time, I locked my keys in my car, and not enough time with Jason. My classes start tomorrow and I am home sick from work today BUT I did get to talk to my dearest OLIVIA on skype! (Skype is by far the greatest invention ever!) My allergies/sinuses have gone CRAZY this weekend and I am about to head to the doctor. I'm praying this is only a sinus infection.

Jason with his yummy dinner he made!

Caryn and I picking up her wedding dress!

Livers and I Skyping!

Summer Update

2010-08-24T11:36:00.000-07:00

I know I said I was going to get better at updating my blog closer together but this summer has been a little crazy (like the rest of my life :). With school starting I hope I will have more structure in my life and will have some time to spend on the computer doing something other than homework. The past 2 months have been filled with lots of events. One being my best friend Olivia Bogdan moved to Germany for a year. This obviously shook my world up a lot. I couldn't be more excited for her and the experiences she is going to have but the selfish side of me wanted to keep her here. Another being that my cousin Andy and his precious pregnant wife Britt came to Memphis for a visit! I watched a little girl named Ellie and her little brother Jack for most of July while working on 3 summer classes. The Lord definitely provided this job so I could work and go to school at the same time! I said goodbye to Olivia on July 2nd which was terrible but after leaving Dickson I made my way to Clarksville to see Elinor. This was my first time going home with El and it just so happened to be the weekend of the 4th. We had a great time and I loved getting to know her family. July 16th I got to fly to Colorado to see my parents! It was a much needed trip. As soon as I got off of the plane I FINALLY met my sweet Arden (Dan and Jenny's baby)! We tried and tried to make her come before I left CO at Christmas time but she waited until after I left so it was wonderful getting to meet her! While I was there we also had Britt and Andy's baby shower for Sam! I cant wait to meet him as well :)! When I came home I attended 2 of Rhonda's showers which were wonderful! We couldn't be more excited about the arrival of Maddie Grace. The highlight of Caryn and Jason's summer was when we all went to Minglewood and saw HANSON. I felt like I was 12 all over again! The guys were great. I was actually more excited about ROONEY who opened for the brothers. I found out just before the show that the singer was the guy from Princess Diaries. Pretty cool huh? On a different note the Charnes family recently suffered from the passing of a wonderful woman. Ms Madolyn's mother went home to be with the Lord on August 14th. We hate that she is no longer with us but we celebrate for she is no longer in any pain and is now in the presence of the Lord.

It has been a great summer and now it is coming to an end with school starting on Monday. I never thought I would say this but I am ready! I'm ready to finish school and graduate so I can move on to the next part of my life :)

Liv's last night in Memphis

Trip to Dickson

Sweet little Ellie

Our last picture together before she leaves and she doesn't smile. Typical :)

Taken right after we saw a naked man in downtown Memphis.
Colorado!!

Britt's babyshower

Helloooo Again!!

2010-06-05T20:52:00.000-07:00

So it has been 10 yes 10 months since I last posted. This will be just a glimpse of the past months... I moved from my midtown apartment to the mother-in-law wing of Josh and Amanda Shirley's home. It is very small but just enough for me. The Shirleys have been such a huge blessing in my life! I changed my major from elementary education to early childhood education which will allow me to teach pre k to 3rd. Yes it is official that I will be a teacher. Over Christmas break I was able to go see my parents in Colorado. While I was there we prayed for Jenny to have sweet Arden but she decided to wait for me to go back to Memphis. While I was in CO I also became 21. I was offered a position at Hutchison to be a Jr. Kindergarten assistant while one of the teachers was out on maternity leave (amazing I know)! I eagerly took the position which forced me to take night classes and a Saturday class. In January we found out that Rhonda and Frank are having a sweet baby girl named Maddie Grace!!! We couldn't be more excited. In February I applied and got a job working at Anthropologie. LOVE LOVE LOVE Anthro! This all continued through May. In May I finished my assistant job at Hutch, put Anthro on the back burner for a little while to concentrate on school, and started maymester at Memphis. In the last week or two I started attending Revision Church core group meetings, I found out Andy and Britt are having a little boy, Harper Grace Shirley was born, and I completed my maymester PETE summer class with Caryn. That doesn't even begin to cover everything but that is the best I can do for now! Monday I start my 3 June summer classes so.. let the fun begin! Here are a few pictures of the past months..

This was actually is Peru last July but I did not have a blog then so I am sharing it here :)

My mid-town apartment

Memphis Tigers Football Game

I got to take a quick weekend trip to CO to visit my parents during fall break.

Please look at the beard.

Our christmas tree we cut down.. (note my parents matching :)

My sweet class!

Olivia's graduation!

Sara's graduation!

Dazzling Discoveries

2009-08-09T19:31:00.000-07:00

Last weekend my friends Brittany and Katie (who are avid yard salers) took me deep down into Mississippi to dig through the tables. Last Saturday was the day I realized how addicting yard sales can be. Looking for things for my current little apartment and what I can use in a few years in my new home, just made me want to go more. Here are the things I found....

This little magazine rack was my favorite purchase of the day! It is from the 50's and it will absolutely get a lot of use now that it is in my care. It was priced for $2 but I ended up getting it for $1!

Here are some shower curtain rings I found for 50 cents! Not too exciting for a normal person but these are deffinetly needed. There is no way I could find these cheaper anywhere else.

These 2 frames both have monogramed birds inside. They are very colorful which almost turned me away until I realized how fun they really were and how much life they could bring to a room. The frames are a little messed up but they just need a little love to be good as new! I also discovered that on the back of the frames it has who the frames were given to and who stitched the birds. The artist was Margaret Turner and they were given to Matte on

May 26, 1985.

This little duck Jason and I discovered at Goodwill in Memphis. At first I didn't know if I would be able to paint the brass or not but I tried and this is how it turned out..

SO PRESH! This bottom picture is truer to the actual color of the paint than the first one. I LOVE my duck. He turned out better than I could have hoped for!

my Very first post!!!

2009-08-01T21:41:00.001-07:00

Hello world of bloggers! I am so very excited about my new page. I can't wait to share so much with y'all and to be able to look back on this later in life and see what in the world I was thinking hah! I hope you like my page as much as I have and will continue to love doing it.