What's Your Perfect Day?

What would your perfect day look like? Now hold up, we aren't getting extravagant here. No jet setting to Paris, just a normal-ish day. Just picture this: You (and someone of your choosing) get the day off. What would your day look like?

My day would definitely include a whole lot of time with this guy! 

I would love to sleep in with my hubby (which is like 8am for us), get ready and go to breakfast somewhere super delish. I think my favorite is the Sheerwater breakfast buffet at the Hotel Del Coronado. Yum! Then we would either go home and take a little nappy nap and/or do something outside like take a walk on the beach or go for a hike or horseback ride. Then I would love to prep a good dinner and have some friends over for a grill out. Apparently that's southern for barbecue. There would be good drinks flowing, s'mores over the fire and some good guitar playing and singing by my fantastic hubby. Doesn't that sound wonderful?!

What does you perfect day look like?

Thursday Randoms

1.) I have a new favorite blog (not including, of course, the people who have blogs that I'm actually friends with.... like in real life…not cyberspace). Anywho, this is chick Jessica from How Sweet It Is and she is just the most fabulous lady ever. All of her photos and recipes look beautiful and I have been blog binging on all her stuff
for about a week! She does "Tuesday Things" which I always love reading so I'm jumping on board with "Thursday Randoms."

2.) I love love love this dress! I wear it to work all the time and I always feel so sophisticated and cute when I do. It's conservative, but super flattering and I love the little flare of the skirt! I usually wear it with black flats and a gold sparkly belt.

3.) This song came on the radio the other morning when I was coming home from the gym and it really resonated with me. It reminded me that we are all on a journey and that journey is set by God. God has great things planned for us, and I know I need to calm my mind and let God work in me.

4.) I am dying for some trashy frozen yogurt right now. You know, like a mess of yogurt piled with random toppings. Oh yeah. Trashy all the way.

5.) I took this selfie of my sock bun the other day at work (does it count as a selfie if it's of your back?). I am currently undecided on the hairstyle. I have so darn much hair that it makes a gigantic bun, and I kind of feel like I have a prom up-do going on up there. PS…see above outfit in the selfie.

6.) I really want a jeans jacket/vest. Are those still in? Also a knee length flowery skirt. I am a grandma at heart.

7.) I love this water bottle from Target and I could probably write a song about how much I love this thing. I fill it up at least twice a day at work and it helps me drink at least 64oz of water. Plus it's cute!

8.) I love all the "back to your roots" kind of country music that has been coming out lately. Songs like Tim McGraw's "Meanwhile Back at Mama's" and Miranda Lambert's "Automatic" call for a slower paced life, where you enjoy the little things. That's the kind of life I hope to lead, no matter where I'm living. See my life plan here.

Have a great weekend friends! I would love to hear what y'all are up to. Comment back or send me an email!

Update! Update! Read all about it!

Today, a lady in the department that I used to work in was sick and I happen to know her job, so it was a flash back to a slower paced day. But it did give me a chance to write, which I haven't done in forever!

Random update:

Everything is good and pretty darn normal.  I haven't seen my hubby in a few weeks (boo!)but we always have some pretty darn good adventures when he comes home (and lots of yummy food of course). A few weekends ago, we took some of my hubs' friends that he works with on their first Disneyland adventure! I love seeing the faces of people

who are experiencing the Happiest Place on Earth for the first time. However, we did have some 20 something year old complaining fellas by the end of the night. Poor little sore feet!

   

The next weekend Nate was home, we needed a little rest so that included some homemade chili, watching Frozen, a nice long nap, and just some great quality time together. Ahh I need some of that right about now!

We are gearing up for our move back down south... not quite physically preparing yet, but just in the planning stages. We are planning on living with some friends for a while so we can find our perfect home together and we can actually physically see it, not just in pictures. Good plan.

I've been going to the gym at 5:30am. Yes, I know, I'm nuts. But I'm always so tired after I'm done with work and I never want to go, so when my alarm goes off at 4:40am, I just tell myself "I'm going to be tough like Nate and get up and get it done." I'm pretty tired by the end of the day, but I'm always glad I got up and went.

I think that's all my updates for the time being!

PS... Check out my girl Madi's (seriously y'all, we're like sisters) blog Homegrown Hostess. She's pretty much the most fabulous thing out there.

7 Hoorays!

1.) Hooray for my hubby coming home! Definitely number one on the list. My husband comes home for 10 days starting on Tuesday. Hopefully we will fit in lots of snuggling, laughing, time with family, kisses, and a birthday celebration for a particular (almost) 21 year old lady. (Me! Me!) 

2.) Hooray for my job! This new job challenges me so much. I have to talk to a lot of people that I don’t know, most of whom are looking to me for answers, which is not a natural comfort zone for me. However, I have faith in the fact that God is teaching me lots of lessons (especially in patience) that I will need later on in my life. That is what makes me look forward to going to work every day, because I know God is molding me into the woman He sees me as. Also, the senior volunteers I work with are hilarious. On Friday, one described to me how she was "jet propelled" after eating a bran muffin the day before, if you catch my drift. 

3.) Hooray for coffee dates with friends! Claire and I have been friends for over 15 years and nothing ever changes. It was so great to catch up since I haven’t seen her since right after my wedding!

4.) Hooray for chocolate covered coconut nuggets! These little beauties are the perfect treat at the end of the day. I just keep telling myself that the dark chocolate is full of anti-oxidants as I pop my 1,000th one of the day into my mouth…

5.) Hooray for fresh fruits and veggies! I seriously went off the healthy eating wagon on Saturday night, accompanied with lots of red wine. This morning I woke up with a serious food hangover, but a nice smoothie and big salad and lots of water made me feel much better!

6.) Hooray for new babies! So many friends and family are having new babies soon. So along with belly pictures and bumpdates online, I got to listen to the grunts and coos of a beautiful 2 month old baby girl (with so much hair) behind me at church this morning. Talk about baby fever!!

7.) Hooray for a grateful heart! I am in such a great place right now and am so grateful for all the blessings God has showered me with. Things are not perfect, nor will they ever be, but things are pretty darn good. And I know it’s God! 

Love my Bloggy Bloggers!

Okay so confession time: I love blogs. I am not the best at keeping up with my own blog, but I love reading other people’s blogs. I especially love Bloglovin because it puts all my favorite blogs in the same place. My husband may or may not make fun of me for how much I love reading blogs. 

I have this fantasy where all my favorite blog writers and I would have lunch together and talk about life and our husbands and babies (if we have them. Not I... yet) . Really, that’s what I feel like is going on as I scroll through my Bloglovin. I feel like I’m getting an update on all my friends, even though 99% of us have never met in real life! 

Here’s the point to this little ranty rant. I want to meet you! I want to have a real friendship with my blog friends! Any of you ladies down? Email me! emilysuewalrath@gmail.com Be my friend! Let’s share our lives! Hey, maybe sometime in this crazy life, we’ll really meet :) I hope so! 

Love always,

Em

What would I do without my God...

Today I give thanks.

I work in a job where people come in, step up to my desk, tell me their problems and ask for help fixing them. I have to know or figure out the answers to their questions. Some of these people’s problems are so devastating and the sadness in their face just hurts my heart sometimes. 

But every person’s problems remind me of one thing. No problem I have is really that bad because people around me are experiencing things that are so much harder. Furthermore, nothing I face is impossible because I have a loving, omnipotent, omnipresent God who is with me every step of the way. 

Sometimes I sit there and think about how much of a dark, black hole I would be in if I were in those situations without God. But then again, I would be that same black hole without my God, even in the best of times. 

Seeing these problems that other people have, first hand, makes me so thankful for what I have and helps me send up a quick prayer absolutely anytime I have a moment of difficulty.

There is always a way, through God. You can always find a way with His help and I truly believe He has a plan for us all. Be His light, not matter if you’re helping other people solve their problems, or trying to solve their own. 

That’s all for now my friends.

Happy Wednesday!

Em

10 things (I think) should be done the old fashioned way

1. Homecooked meals vs. microwave fare or eating out. Some of my favorite times at home with my husband were shared after a meal I or we had prepared. Home cooking just tastes so much better and is so much better for you. There’s nothing like a great meal to bring people together. Why do you think my blog is called Love Around my Table for Lord’s sake?!

2. Expressing your love. Most of my husband’s and my dating life was long distance, which gave plenty of opportunity for words to be shared because we didn’t get the opportunity to say them in person. And while it was nice to get them in an email, there was nothing else like getting a piece of paper that my husband had written his words down on and sent to me.

3. Pie crust. I can’t reiterate this enough. Never. Buy. Pre-made. Pie. Crust.

4. Courting the one you love. Courting is definitely an old fashioned word, but I think it’s just as relevant today. Courting is a term, typically attributed to the actions of a man in order to win a woman’s heart. But I don’t think it should be limited to just men, or to pre-marriage. I don’t think you should ever stop courting each other either. You should always be trying to win the heart of your spouse, even after you know you have it. It’s the effort that matters. 

5. Smiling at strangers. I don’t know if this is something old-fashioned necessarily but it seems to be lost. Maybe it’s just because I work with the general public who comes to me, wanting assistance, and sometimes they are disgruntled, but it seems like no one smiles at each other anymore. Or even says “good morning.” Wouldn’t the world be a little better if we just smiled at each other every once in a while?

6. Waiting in line. This is just a metaphor really. Seems like our generation has no patience for lines, waiting their turn, or anything less than getting something “right now.” 

6.5 Public service announcement: I think we should all quit pulling our phones our while we’re waiting in line or waiting for an appointment or waiting to meet someone. Carry a book in your purse, write scripture on index cards and carry those around, or just appreciate whatever’s around you. Ps... I’m totally guilty of this.

7. Baking your own bread. Yes, it’s a hassle and it takes a long time but it feels like such an accomplishment, plus (*bonus*) makes your house smell fabulous! 

8. We should speak more eloquently. Especially when it comes to ladies and swearing! I have tried to be better about this, but I feel like people take others more seriously when they speak clearly, make eye contact, use vocabulary from a level higher than a kindergartener, and avoid the words that would better accompany the saltiest sailor.

9. Taking care of ourselves. Ladies, that means good hygiene, and clean, put together appearance. You don’t have to spend hours on your hair and make up, and I am in no way a proponent of vanity, but I just feel better and more confident when I feel like I look put together.

10. Love fearlessly! I’m not saying to fall in love with everyone you meet, but when you find that one person, love them with everything you have and show it! It seems like today, people play coy, hard to get, or try to drop subtle hints that just don’t work. If you love, love with your whole heart.

Here's to the past! 

XOXO

Em