{Weekend} Wrap-Up

Linking up today with Sami for some weekend sheeeeeeenanigans!      This weekend was a fun one!    On Friday, I decided to finally make a change in my appearance.  I had been thinking about it for a little while now, and it was just one of those days when you decide to dive in and go for it!  And I'm SO glad that I did!  Check it out:    

 I just love the outcome of my salon visit.  I was nervous about it because I decided to try a new salon, as the one I was previously going to no longer employed the amazing Danielle, so a change was not only necessary to my hair, but also to my hair stylist!  I took a leap of faith, and it definitely paid off!  The color t technician did a fabulous job!  The picture above makes it look like my hair is black, but it's not; don't worry!  It's a dark brown, and it will lighten (already has) in the next few washes, which is always true after getting my hair colored.  That technician made me feel super comfortable and right at home.  I also have her information so I know who to go back to when I'm ready!  She also cuts hair, but she had to leave to pick up her children, which was totally fine.  She took the extra time and effort to be sure that I was in the hands of another great stylist for my cut - she brought me water, a warm towel, magazines...she was amazing!  The new stylist was amazing as well!  She layered my hair like I've been wanting for a WHILE but could never quite get across to other stylists...it's dramatic and I love it!  Money well spent, and it was much cheaper than my old salon!  A win-win all the way around! 

Since we were in the mall, husband decided to browse around for a bit.  He's always going the extra mile to get/buy me things that he knows will make me happy....'just because'.  It's so awesome!  When we first started dating, I had to MAKE him tone it down, as he was going wayyy above and beyond the call of duty as a boyfriend.  I didn't need expensive, extravagant things to be happy...and he finally understands that with me, it's all about the little things!  Aaaaannnndddd....sometimes it's about the bigger things ;).  Hey, I'm a girl and I like me some pampering every now and again!  He bought me a new build-a-bear (as he put it, because we all have a little kid inside of us).  It was super sweet and romantic.  I love it. 

Saturday I decided to support my cousin in her dance competition that wasn't too far away.  She had made the team this year and they were performing four numbers!  I love watching dance, and I used to dance in my high school days, so I was all set.  Their age group was from 11:00 to about 2:30pm.  By that time, I was more than ready to go, and Kyra and I were STARVING!  We were sure to capture our starving-ness faces:

Maeve is definitely a great little dancer!  She did very well in all four of her dances, and remembered them all!  The smile on her face proved that all of the effort that goes into a function like that was well worth it.  She was grinning the entire time and was definitely in her element!  Here I am with the little dancer after her thriller production:  

    I spent the next few hours with my cousins and then attended mass for Palm Sunday that evening.  It was an amazing service.  The Youth Group performs a play of the Passion instead of having to just stand and read it.  The congregation sat down and they dimmed the lights...it was definitely touching.  The younger kids throughout the congregation were able to visualize exactly what happened and teared up a bit...heck, I teared up a bit.  I'll definitely never forget that service!    I ended up spending the night that night, as it was getting late and the girls didn't want me to go, so we headed to Wal-Mart so I could buy some cheap clothes, because I wasn't prepared to sleep over!  The girls loved it!  They went in pajamas and loved every second.  Never a dull moment with those two!    

  On Sunday, I hung around with the cousins a little in the morning, until the drama began over being locked out of a phone/tablet/other techy devices.  It got a little CRAZY!  It also made me miss the days when we could just hang out without these techy devices and have a conversation or watch a movie or go outside and soak up the sun.  Times are definitely changing, and I'm very blessed to have childhood memories of being outside and spending so much quality time with my family playing board games, putting together puzzles, movie nights, camping outdoors with no electricity.  It melts my ♥!    I left their house and headed over to my sister's, who invited me over for lunch!  I hadn't seen her in a few days, so it was great to catch up.  However, I hadn't slept very well the past few nights, and she had worked the night before, so we were both tired and a little loopy!  We laughed and laughed over the silliest things, and played some golf on our phones against each other - highly entertaining!  It was great to just relax, be ourselves, and hang out as sisters.  I'm heading back there today to discuss a book we've been reading...yes, we're geeks, but we love us some BOOKS!  :) After she decided she really needed to go to sleep for work that night, I headed home to Ace and enjoyed a relaxing evening catching up on television shows until Colten came home from work.  When he did, we tried our hands at making fried pickles.  That's right, fried pickles!  And they were AMAZING!  Such an easy recipe that we'll definitely be repeating...a few times haha.  More on that experience to come soon!      Aaannddd...just because I'm in love with my hair, I woke up super early (okay, not 'super' early, but to me it was!) to spend time on my hair and curl it today!  Here's a pic:    

    I've gotten so many compliments on my hair today, and my shirt!  It's amazing how feeling great about yourself, even it's just a small change that you love, can change your outlook on things!  That's why it's super important to take care of yourself and to take the time to do things FOR yourself!  YOU matter, too!  Be sure to take some time this week just for yourself, even if it's only for an hour.      Happy Monday, y'all!  And have a fabulous week!