A Valentine Tale of Long Ago…

It’s Valentine’s day weekend y’all and for the love of all things Godiva, Starbucks, and Kendra Scott please get your sweetheart something special!

I remember my first Valentine’s day with T.  We were 19 years old and had only been dating a couple of months.  That boy was seriously obsessed with me…I mean who wouldn’t be right?  I remember the first time he asked me out I was like “Well, if you want you can come to my house and watch a movie with me and my Mom”.  I felt bad for him, he knew no one because he was a Texan in the middle of Arkansas…he was a foreigner for goodness sake.

Then when he did come over I made him watch “Romy & Michelle‘s Highschool Reunion”.  I mean….he even pretended to feign interest.  So, after that night we were pretty much attached.  We talked for hours about so much random stuff.

Fast forward a couple of months later to our first Valentine’s day and I bought him a pillow with kisses all over it then I spelled out “I LOVE YOU” with glow in the dark stars on his dorm room wall.  So, every time he turned off the lights he would see my profession of undying love right there in front of his face.

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This picture was on film people…it’s amazing I still have a replica of college days including the pillow case with kisses. 16 years ago….seriously?

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You know how much I loooooove my chocolate.  Terence had gone home a couple of months earlier for Christmas and he brought me back a HUGE box of Godiva chocolates.  Not Hershey’s, no ladies…. G-O-D-I-V-A.  There wasn’t a store in the entire state of Arkansas that sold Godiva & it was gold…..GOLD I tell you!  He had me at chocolate and ya know he may have said I love you back.  🙂

I remember our first Valentine’s day as a married couple.  We had been married about 6 months and Terence was in the Air Force.  We lived in our cute little base house straight out of 1972.  All of the sudden T had to run to the “mall” to get something.  Ahem….okay Captain Obvious.  He came home with a pair of diamond earrings.  I just about died.  At a time when we didn’t have two nickels to rub together and he bought me earrings….

Now days it’s like…well I was thinking of getting you something, but I put money in our IRA instead.  How romantic, you shouldn’t have.

Please never stop thinking it’s okay to let “It’s the thought that counts” be okay!!!  NO NO NO!

I need to try too…it’s not all on men.  I’m guilty (insert shame face).

Ladies, you need to work it honey.

Okay, so there’s my little Valentine’s tale of T+B = <3

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I LOVE YOU TER-BER!!!

 

I don’t know what we are doing this year, but it usually involves take-out and a Redbox movie.  Babysitters are so expensive…anyone wanna babysit??? *cough*

I can’t wait for girls night Friday and the cat claws that come out….literally.

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Oh and this is pure greatness….the love chair in Branson, Missouri.

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As long as we are walking down memory lane here….I can’t believe we have this beautiful boy.  Sometimes I pinch myself.  How did we get so lucky?

(Connor’s first Valentine’s day 2011)

Watch out girls he’s coming for you!

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ANSWER —-> Are we going to have anymore babies???  I get that a lot…and the answer is no, sometimes maybe…usually I don’t know.  If it’s God’s plan.  I have a good 50 pounds of FOOD baby to lose before that’s even a consideration.  I’m about to be 35 and I think I am good.  Yup.

I love photographing and smelling babies.  So, if you ever want to hand yours over for a while let me know 😉

Anyway…I guess that’s all for today.  What are y’all going to do for Valentine’s day?

Chocoholics Anonymous

I got a Fitbit about a year ago and at first I was TOTALLY into it.  Well, fast forward to this year I found it collecting dust in a bathroom drawer.  I dusted off my Fitbit in January and have been wearing it every day since (unless it’s charging).

Last night I did 10,000 steps when Terence persuaded me to go to the high school track and do laps.  I’m glad he did…but today I’m hurting like an old gray mare.  UGH.

It sure is fun to eat that pint of Ben & Jerry’s, but it sucks to get rid of that spare tire I now have around my mid section.

I just started thinking of chocolate…and now I’m thinking of the Valentine’s day Starbucks drink that just came out.  The Molten Hot Chocolate.  See….I have a one track mind.

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I want to be gorgeous and skinny, but really…

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Speaking of Rebel Wilson, I cannot wait for girl’s night out this weekend to see “How To Be Single”.  I’m sure behind the scenes Rebel gave Dakota Johnson all sorts of heck for “Fifty Shades of Grey”  Can you imagine those jokes?

What are y’all doing for Valentine’s Day?  I bought myself a new Kate Spade courtesy of Ter-Bear.  I mean he asks why I need so many purses, but I switch them out and purses ALWAYS fit.  It’s a win/win.  Kate Spade sale going on HERE lady friends!

Connor’s 100th day of school was last week and they were asked to dress like old folks.  Isn’t he the cutest?  He looks just like the old man in the movie UP.  All he needs is some balloons and a walker with tennis balls.

(I told him to make an old man face…this is what I got)

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I’ve been super busy with photo shoots lately and having a ton of fun!  Follow on Instagram for daily happenings!  Love yuns!

School Valentines 2016

This is the third year I’ve ordered Connor’s Valentine’s for school from Cardstore.  I bought enough for his whole class and a few extra for less than $10!  Holla if you hear me say DEAL!

Didn’t they turn out cute?

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You can get each sheet for .99 cents using the code below:

$.99 School Val

I also made some goodies to put with the Valentine’s.  Here’s me trying to “Get crafty with it”.  Feel free to print off the template I made.

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Printable:

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xoxo Becky

Valentine Preparations & Target Love <3

If you haven’t bought anything for your lady or ahem…yourself from your man…check out my friend Kelly’s jewelry!  We had so much fun taking these photos!

Friends! If you are looking for something special to wear this Valentines day let me know! My friend Kelly is having a great deal going on right now (including the neckace I LOVE and am wearing in my new profile pic)

ANYTHING you want is 30% OFF RIGHT NOW!

GO HERE AND TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT???

Access code : Kelly

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The stinking Target $1 spot gets me every time.  I love using glitter in my photos, so I picked up some of the glitter bottles.  Washi tape for Valentines, and notepad from Paperchase (I love that Target is carrying Paperchase!)

These little lights were in the $1 spot too for $3.  Connor is afraid of the dark a lot right now, so I bought these and put them on his bookshelf next to his bed.  It looks really cute too!  I used the teeny tiny Command hooks to attach to the bookshelf.

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See, isn’t that cute!

 

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I also got Connor a pair of fake glasses like his Daddy’s.  He said they help him see better.  I didn’t tell him they were fake obviously…I hope he doesn’t really need glasses for a long while.

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Here is our apartment 🙂

This XOXO banner was $6 at Target and I’m sure I’ll use it for future photo shoots as well!

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I got my sister (lover of all things bling) this shirt from Blings N Thingz on Instagram.

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Some Valentine’s fun photos with my neighbors daughter 🙂

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What are y’all planning this Valentine’s Day?

I’ll share a little craft with you in the next few days <3

Mental Health Break

Testing…testing…one…two…three…

Okay so I can officially say I’ve had sort of a “mental health break” from blogging and I’m hoping to hop back on the blog train.  I’ve been in a funk & haven’t felt like writing.  Reading on the other hand…I can go through at LEAST 5 books a month on my beloved Kindle.

It’s awful.  I wish books would tell you outright whether or not this is part of a 2-5 book series.  I get so caught up reading and reach the end only to discover there are a bazillion more books that I have to wait MONTHS for and by that point I’ve completely forgotten anything about the prior books.

Here’s looking at YOU Sylvia Day *wink* *wink*

I got an email today from Connor’s teacher saying we have to make Valentine’s day boxes for his class at home.  The girl in me wants sparkles and glitter galore…but I know I’ll probably just get some Star Wars stickers and let Connor go to town.  You know how long I’ve been waiting to do arts and crafts for SCHOOL!  I’m more excited than he is probably.  Art is my thing y’all.  If I have to live vicariously through my child so be it.

Still house hunting and trying to keep our heads up before our next lease date is up.  I love our apartments and we’ve met so many great friends here.  It will be sad to leave when we finally do find a house.  I may even cry.  I met a wonderful new friend, Kelly, who moved here with her husband from Little Rock.  I feel like God just brought us together and they are the sweetest ever.  Kelly is me in like 20 years and I just love her spirit!  I went over to their house last night to watch The Bachelor.  I just have to say….Olivia…off with your head!  Or kankles…or toes.  Blah…just leave already – you shallow Cameron Diaz with no personality wanna be.

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Get out.

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We started a Biggest Loser competition at work.  We weighed in today and I only lost ONE POUND this past week.  Ugh.  I’ll have to remind myself not to eat or drink anything before weigh in next time.  I’m so not a gym person….sigh.

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These are definitely not helping either.  Genius Dove Chocolate…genius.  Who can resist red velvet and chocolate together???

 

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This has got to be my favorite Starbucks card of all time.  It’s a camera….awwwww.

I saw them at Christmas and grabbed like 5 of them because I went hysterical.

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I looooove doing photography.  It’s my outlet and I loooooove LOVE.  I had the pleasure of photographing the sweetest proposal Friday night.  Are they not the cutest couple???

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Love is in the air…next time let’s talk about Valentine’s Day shall we? <3

xo-Becky

 

$.99 School Val

Christmas 2015

We road tripped it to Arkansas this Christmas and I was super excited because we actually got to spend CHRISTMAS EVE AND DAY in Arkansas this year.  We haven’t been able to make that happen in years.

Connor is so good in the car.  He just sits back and watches his movies and barely makes a peep.  Except to go to the bathroom or eat.  I love my baby!

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Connor and I drove in a few days before Terence flew to Arkansas.  We spent most of our time at my sister’s new house (SO PRETTY by the way) and Vinny & Jarrett.  The night we got in Bonnie took us to the new outlet mall in Benton and it had a Lindt candy store.  We were in heaven….sooooo good!  We also found another candy store that carried our beloved Kinder Eggs.  I have no idea how they had them, but I don’t care!  We each bought a case to take home 🙂
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The boys always love seeing each other…most of the time.  They’ll be BFF one minute and fighting over random stuff the next.  Bonnie and I agree that they are payback for how bad we were at that age.  They made ornaments for Nana and decorated cookies.
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Bonnie and I met up with our friends at Ya Ya’s for our annual Christmas dinner.  It’s always good to see my best friends and I look forward to our dinner every single year…that and a filo brownie 🙂

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After a fun stay at Bon’s we headed to the farm to see Nannie!  Here is Nannie’s pretty tree.

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Everyone opening their stockings the next morning 🙂25a121ce-fb4c-44db-9eb4-5033800ac993

My Daddy <3

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The spread…need I say more.  We don’t go hungry at Nannie’s house.  Like Ever.dc57fac3-9db9-4968-92e7-28731bb74209

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Connor got a lot of new presents.  This was a big year for Star Wars and he brought home a ton of new toys to play with.  Thank you Santa!fcb4a407-41cb-4225-986a-1bbdcd361d82

Fun on the farm

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I took some pictures of my sister and her family.

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Isn’t that the most beautiful sunset?

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I’m sure I’m leaving out a ton of stuff.  We had a great time celebrating Jesus birthday and a wonderful trip home.  We actually came home a day early after we left Nannie’s because our car was packed so full we could barely move!  So, we decided to head home and get settled before all the craziness of life started again.

And last, but not least our annual New Years Eve pic!

We love you all and are so thankful and blessed to have another year to share.

xo- The Branches

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Fa La La La Favorites!

Connor and I went to Christkindl this year and it was so much fun!  We met our local radio gal Kellie Rasberry and she was super nice!  This was our 4th year to attend Christkindl in Arlington, TX and if you are making holiday plans I highly recommend going.  It’s free to get in and it’s so much fun.  They really amped it up this year with rides for the kids, gingerbread house building, and real snow 🙂

Here’s our holiday “catch up” if you will…I’ll update more on Christmas soon!
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German macaroni and cheese aka Spaetzle

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s’mores crepes #yum

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We went to Bridget’s 6th birthday party!  Connor’s first time roller skating….we love this girl <3

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One of my absolute favorite things this year was our new tree skirt from PersonalCreations.  It has our last name on it and it’s great quality.  This is the sort of thing I can pass down to Connor’s family in the future.  They are having a huge end of year sale right now and use code SRCH10OFF to get 10% Off and Free Personalization!

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I got a new camera strap from Foto Strap and absolutely LOVE it!  It has my new logo on it too!  I’m planning on posting some of my favorite shots from the holiday season soon.

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A few weeks ago I got to meet these two awesome folks.  Jillian Harris and Todd Talbot from HGTV’s Love it or List it, Too.  I’ve always been a big fan of the show.  They were in DFW doing a promo event for Capital One Home Loans and it was so much fun to chat with them for a bit.  The nicest hosts you guys…super sweet!  I asked Todd if he could help me find a home…sigh…I can only hope.

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Hope you all had a great Christmas and Happy New Year!!!