Late Night With KLadd

I freakin love Jimmy Fallon. And I am so pumped that he has taken over The Tonight Show. Benji and I DVR it and watch it at 8pm after the kids have gone to bed. ha.

Sooooooo I haven't blogged in awhile. Partly to blame is Instagram. I feel like I share my photos, which is most important, so blogging took a back burner. I've also started reading like a mad woman again. I've always been a big reader. Especially in my young teen years. In Seminary I got out of the habit of reading for "fun" just because I had so much to read for school. But! finally I am getting back into reading. Having spare time sitting in the car line to pick up Emery has given me great time to catch up. There are so many classics and so many recent books that are true gems. I've missed out on so much taking an academic approach to reading. I forgot how much joy there is in reading a book purely because you want to.

So have you all read The Hunger Games series? FOR REALLLL..... I was a skeptic. For along time. I was like that's trash, that's science fiction....man was I wrong. One of my good friends recommended them to me and i trust her book choices. So I gave it a chance. One of the best series I've ever read. So compelling and smart and tragic and beautiful. I am on the edge of my seat for the DVDs to come out. Anyway.

I've also been doing a lot of "work" on myself. It's no secret that becoming a stay at home wife and mother (and pastor's wife) completely rocked my world.  I've been on a sort of self rediscovery journey. I've made peace with a lot in my past, and I've realized how blessed I am with the PRESENT.  I am trying my best to not worry about the future. I know who holds it in His hands. God has been so apparent to me in the past year.

I do however, want to keep this blog active. There is so much good going on in my life right now. SO many break throughs, recoveries, renewed passions, freedom from bondage, redeeming grace. The list really goes on and on. I feel like I am truly alive again for the first time in a long, LONG time.

We had a hard first of the year. Two family tragedies in the span of one week. So January was spent in transit from here to Gainesville and back.

But February was full of snow, birthday parties for Hadley (1) and Jesse (3). I now have one day, Thursday, that all my kids are at school. Emery in kindergarten and Jesse and Hadley in MMO at our church. I still haven't figured out quite what to do with all that free time (4 hours! ha) but I'm planning on making the most of it.

Sorry for not being present in the past few months.

But not to worry, I'm back and believe me, I'm better THAN EVER!

Book Worm, Night Owl, Perks of Being a Mockingjay

Sorry for the lack of posts.

I am reading, alot.

And I am trying to stay off the internet as much as possible.

and I got three kids now.

and one's in kindergarten

and it's college football season.

I've been busy with life. Which is good. Being busy keeps me moving, which keeps me less depressed.

and that's a good thing.

My Summer Reading List: Great Expectations!

Okay. tonight I am way scattered. Benji just got home from Serbia yesterday, so it has been a whirlwind of emotion and exhaustion and excitement and did I say exhaustion!?



Today we just slept in. Yes, even the kids. Hadley had her 4/5 month well check visit yesterday and got a ton o' shots. so she has felt pretty rotten.

We ate lunch all together as a family. Which I have to say is RARE now that there are 3. We will get used to it, I know. Emery is usually great, Hadley is obviously great. Jesse not so much. BUT he is two and he is a boy. I know that in a few years he will eat just as well as Emery does. Then we will be dealing with Hadley as a 2 year old. :)

Seriously. I am so, SO thankful to have a 3rd child. I know that does not sound like a lot to many people but she is such a blessing.

Any way. I am in therapy. (I swear I will share that story) but anyway. Something we've talked about is trying to find time for me to do things I enjoy.

Well believe it or not I enjoy reading. This summer I have found a few books, from various lists and friends that I think make up a perfect summer reading list.

I Have a kindle, so if it can be downloaded, it is.

I can not BELIEVE summer is almost over. I swear Emery was just born yesterday and now in a few weeks she will start Kindergarten. WAAAHHHHHHH. :(


Okay. So I'm back. Few days later. Here is my list. Most I've read, partially read, or really want to read. I read in binges. ha. Like the OCD I am. I wont read for months then one day i pick of 4 books and read them all that week. It's random, it's eclectic, its totally ME! ha

(I was going to link the books to Amazon but it's late and I have faith that you all know how to find books on Amazon).

1. The Great Gatsby- FSF.  DUHHHHH. Most of us read it in high school, but PUHLEEZE see the movie and the read it again. Magic

2. Love Does- Bob Goff shares stories of his life, faith and love. "Discovering A Secretly Incredible Life In An Ordinary World." This guy is super smart, and Christian. I haven't started this one yet, but it's been recommend by many. If you like Donal Miller, this dudes for you.

3. Tormenting Thoughts and Secret Rituals- Ian Osborn, M.D. "The Hidden Epidemic of OC-D. " reading up on my recent diagnosis.

4. Paris My Sweet- Karen Wheeler. I've been reading this one for awhile. I would pick it up and get really into it, then switch to another. Then I had Hadley...anyway I plan on finishing it this week. Great memoir of this women's move to Paris and her love affair with all things sweet.

5. The Paris Wife - Paula McLain. Inspired story of the first years of Hemingway's first marriage. To Hadley Richardson Hemingway. WELLLLLL. I named my daughter after Hadley. So I think that's enough said about this book. LOVE!

6. Melissa: A Father's Lessons from a Daughter's Suicide. - Frank Page. I could not put this book down. incredibly tragic, yet full of hope for those of us who suffer from depression. If you have a family member, friend, child, parent who has committed suicide, or if you have ever considered it. Read this book. Also I think all pastors should read this to better help them understand depression, drug use, and suicide.

7. Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn. I was introduced to this author back in my Starbucks barista days. When conversations flowed and coffee did too. This is a great beach read, good mystery.

8. Les Miserables- Victor Hugo. Do I really have to tell you WHY?

9. So Long, Insecurity- Beth Moore. I read this one awhile ago. It was wonderful. It's like she sees into the minds of women everywhere. WE ALL have insecurities and we all need Jesus.

10. Loving The Little Years- Rachel Jankovic. So if you want a hand slap or a butt whooping on raising toddlers, this one is for you. I LOVED this book. She also has a way of looking into our houses where little ones reside and giving my poor attitude a swift kick.


HAPPY READING!!!! SOAK UP THESE LAST FEW DAYS OF A RAINY SUMMER!

How To Look Expensive for Cheap!

Fun article! and actually most things I already implement. Finger nail polish is worth everything! and costume jewelry, buy that big ol $20 fake diamond. Fashion is fun and should make you feel less stressed, not more. 

Jay Gatsby

I can't get over it y'all. the movie was so beautiful. and perfect. and the music, perfect. the colors, perfect, wardrobe. LEO IS GATSBY.

Any way. I am so obsessed with the 20's. With FSF, Hemingway, all the ex pats that lived in Paris during that time.....ANDDDDD!!!! and Dowton Abbey...I just can not contain myself.

We are doing great. Benji is finally done with the subbing for the Greenville Co. school system special needs transportation (for the year). All the graduation ceremonies and parties are over and we are so, so thankful for this weekend of rest at home. Which we will NEED once his summer schedule gets going.

Hadley is getting bigger by the day, as well as Jesse and Emery. I signed Emery up for KINDERGARTEN!!!!!! AAHHHHHH.  i really am excited for her, only a little sad and a little nervous. but i know she will love it and thrive.

I have been frantically trying to find things for us to do every day during the summer. So far I have every day booked but Tuesday, so that will be our "chill" day. play outside in water, watch movies, color, shop :)......I have LOVED having a 3rd baby. I do not regret it at all. we have had some hairy moments. but i am so in love with Hadley. I can imagine our life without 3 kids. God is so good to us. Even though I worried through the entire pregnancy he heard my prayers and gave us a healthy baby. What more could I ask for?

We start our summer schedule Monday. Benji is supa busy in the summers. So I try and plan things for us to do every day.

I swear I am posting Hadley's birth story soon. Just got to get some time to remember the order of things. Happy summer all!

I'm Late, But I Can Not Stop

I know, I know, I know. The end of season 3 has not escaped my snooping ears. So I've heard what is coming....BUT I Just finished season 2 and I am so obsessed with this show. The best series since the first 2 seasons of Grey's Anatomy. And that is saying a lot coming from me. I am hoooooked. and I don't really have time to be hooked on any T.V show.

Saturday, The Best/Worst Day Ever

 One of Benji's former youth plays in the band for USC. His parents have season tickets and had 2 extra that they so graciously gave us for the UGA vs USC game! It happened to be one of the biggest college games of the season as both UGA and USC were undefeated. ESPN Game Day broadcasted live that morning from the USC campus.

Benji's birthday is today, Monday, so we sent the kids to Georgia and spent Saturday in Columbia, SC.

Obviously, we lost, BIG TIME. :( But we had a great time with some great people from our church. They for realz tailgate in style! We ate lunch at Groucho's Deli, went back to our friends massive motor coach (I'm not even really sure what you call those) but it was air conditioned, had a bathroom and a couch for me to nap on. We watched other football games on T.V. then our friends shuttled us all over to the stadium. Where we experienced the loudest, craziest, game ever.....and watched Georgia get their rear ends handed to them.

We drowned our sorrows in hot coffee and hash browns at the Waffle House (at about 2am) on the way home.  The next morning my body rebelled against our long day and reminded me that I am indeed 34 and 6 months pregnant.

We had a Blast, even though we lost! This week was a long one! Jesse got tubes put in at the beginning of the week. Tuesday we found out the sex of our baby. Sunday thru Wednesday Benji had staff retreat about an hour away so he drove back and forth for Jesse's surgery and my OB appointment. 

Crazy week! but I'm getting used to our life being ridiculously busy. 

Waiting On Fall

I made it! Emery started school, College football is back in season and the air is turning cooler. Finally. Those final weeks of summer were tough! I am feeling so much better now in my 2nd trimester. Emery and Jesse are settling into a nice routine with Pre-school and church activities starting back.

As usual we have had a busy few weeks. We had the privilege of heading to Athens for the first UGA game of the season. We had a BLAST! I love, love, love going to the Georgia games. I grew up in Athens and my Dad was a huge UGA fan as it was his Alma Mater. When I am there I feel like Im honoring his memory and one  of his favorite things.

October 2nd is the big day that we find out the gender of baby #3. Although I will be surprised if it is NOT a boy, we welcome either gender and are so excited to find out! I've only bought a few things here and there for baby. A diaper bag, a Sophie giraffe and a set of gender neutral Aiden and Anias Blankets. The blanket set had the cutest bee blanket and owl blanket included so I would have bought it  even if I knew the sex. 

I Miss Her

So Pinterest is....well, y'all know... anyway. Looking at the food Pins has made me nauseous the past couple of weeks. (I know, such a shame, right!?) So when I've felt the need to Pin I've had to stick with  non food images. 

I found this adorbs image of Lauren Conrad last night. AND IT WOULD NOT PIN! It kept saying the site was spam. So anywhoo....I love it, and I miss her so much! I feel like I seriously know her since I watched her grow up on T.V. 

Haven't read any of her "novels"....haha that may be a bit much for me. But I do love some of her clothing at Kohls.

COME BACK TO T.V LC!

Why Seminary and Kids Wont Let Me Finish Twilight and Start Hunger Games

Y'all thought I was gonna get all theological on y'alls behinds....haha. Well that aint me. I mean I LOVE theology. I live it. Speak it. Know it. But I also know and appreciate young, imaginative minds. Children who love to read. Who devour books in a day....that was me when I was a pre-teen. I read and read and read and I am so glad my parents never encouraged me other wise. I also played outside a ton. actually I read outside a ton. Life was good and I have forever had a love affair with books.

BUT after the past twelve years.....

I'm just REAAAAADDDDDDD OUUTTTTTTT.

No for real.

The first problem was/is when I was pregnant with Emery I was finishing up my last semester in seminary, earning my Masters of Divinity in Theology.

I read A LOOOOOOT. Like a real lot. more than anyone who hasn't been in seminary AT SOUTHERN seminary could understand.  This aint no pseudo seminary, where you can get your degree totally online in whatever. This is a true, for real, musty halled seminary. With real real smart professors. and real real smart students. A whole lot smarter than me.

I went just because I love school. I love Jesus. I love to learn more about Jesus. I also love to read. (annnndddd.....I didn't want my husband to be smarter than me). For real.

Anyway once I graduated, had Emery, moved to South Carolina, started my role as a side kick to Benji's ministry I found not one ounce of time to read unless it was in the bathroom.

And that reading usually consisted of People or US weekly. OR if I was lucky and feeling really cultured I would read one of the Southern Livings my friend Jocelyn had handed down to me.

Occasionally I would find a blog that sucked me in. (I consider that reading, hello! even if it is stalking).

Once I settled in as a new SAHM I was stuck with day time television and watching Emery bounce for hours in her exersaucer. One of my friends introduced me to Twilight, the series.

I LOVED Twilight. New Moon was actually my favorite. But I struggled getting passed those two.

Life set in, I got the last two in the series and got hooked on other books.

Then I got pregnant with Jesse. That ended my reading streak. Up until now. The last book I read was The Help, it was amazing and kind of left everything else I tried to pick up seem futile.

Now I want to, REALLY want to finish the Twilight series and see the movies. AND then start the Hunger Games and see the movies. I've got so many dreams...haha. reading two books. I will achieve this  goal!

Our Staycation With Ryan

This week I think Benji could feel I was near my breaking point. We have be super busy. Gone every weekend, Benji gone almost every night of the week. Like come home scarf down dinner and head back out the door kinda week. 

Also Valentines is a hard holiday for me. while I love the sentiment and celebration in and of it's self it brings back tragic memories of the day I got the phone call that my Dad had a stroke....anyway, I already posted about that. I'm here now to post about two YUMMY things! Movie stars and Shoes!!!! HOLLER!!! 

This weekend, Benji sent the kids to his mom's house. (I know y'all think I ship them off all the time, BUT she loves it, they love it, we love it. WIN WIN!) And usually when we send them to grandparents it's because we have a youth function, hardly ever is it for a weekend together. 

So this weekend we had no plans. Benji had his usual Saturday basketball game, last one of the season (thank GOD)....We slept in late every morning, slept through the night every night. 

And of course I got in a little shopping. I picked up most of what I need for Jesse's birthday party on Saturday....(that's another post on how he is one already! What?) 

We also got caught up on the Red Box. We hardly ever rent movies and NEVER ever go see them. We are just too tired to rent them and hello! It is way expensive to go to the theater when you can pay one dollar to get it from the red box a month later. 

Now I wasn't a huge Notebook fan. I mean I liked it, I read the book and saw the movie. Nicholas Spark's books just don't do it for me. They are all the same! I know I shouldn't be dissing him because he is a S.C native, but anyway..... 

I am however a fairly new Ryan Gosling fan. Y'all he is in like so many movies that are great and no one ever talks about them!!!! 

Which actually are the kind of movies I like. 

So this weekend I subjected Benji to a Ryan Gosling marathon. 

Ides Of March- with George Clooney AND Ryan AND Philip Seymour Hoffman. GREAT MOVIE. 

Drive- Good movie, great soundtrack. I think it won best director at Cannes. But I will warn you it's very gory, like the goriest movie I've seen in awhile, probably since Pulp Fiction. 

 Our last and final Ryan movie was Crazy, Stupid, Love- with Steve Carell, Emma Stone and Julianne Moore. It was awesome. Definitely our favorite of the weekend.


I have to leave you with this. My newest love. My first pair of Tory Burch flats. Fortunately, or unfortunately, however you see it, we have a store in Greenville that carries just my kinda style.

They've also got these Hunter Wellington Boots that I've wanted for years. I may just have to pick those up the next time I have a free moment to myself.

Thank you Benji for a nice relaxing, Ryan filled weekend and thank you for letting me spend a little more on shoes than I should.

I'm really not a shopper, seriously. I only buy my kids stuff they need IF it's on sale. I'd never dream of paying for those boutique outfits for my kids. Although I love the smock dresses, Cici and Grammy do a pretty good job of keeping my kids clothed. :) Kathi also has an enormous amount of hand me downs for Jesse. Most expensive thing I have bought him so far is the Aden & Anias blankets and even they were the ones made for Target. (like 4 for 30 bucks).... I never buy myself clothes, because let's be honest i'm still fat from baby carrying.

(I'm gonna get on that diet/exercise thing real soon I swear)

 So anyway, when I DO shop I REALLY shop and usually buy one big ticket item at a time, like every six months or so..... Ya know, go big or go home!

Hello lover! Orange! and I'm not even a Clemson fan. Yet....

Date NIght 2012

Benji and I don't get out alone often. We may eat "out" a few times a month with the kids, but Chick-fil-A and our local Mexican restaurant do NOT count as a date.

So usually when we go out we like to go somewhere we've never been and somewhere a little nicer than your average chain. There are so many great, local restaurants in our city and we would love to experience them all.

The last time we went out on a date in Greenville was August. That should tell you how much we get a few hours to ourselves.

So last week we went to The Green Room. It was great! Benji made reservations, so sweet, so we had a window seat. We sat and talked and ate great food. I honestly never want these nights to end, but they do.

I'll let you know where we go the next date night in about 3 months!

Because I Was So Good

Thank you Santa and Steve Jobs!

 My life just got a whole lot easier.

 I've realized in my adulthood that I am actually a minimalist at heart. Meaning the less "stuff" I have in my home, the less clutter the better.

 I hate paper laying around. I hate junk mail, I hate thousands of pieces of kid toys laying everywhere. All that clutter seriously sends me into anxiety overload.

If I could gut my house and strip all the carpet out (because carpet also gives me a panic attack. It is so nasty), put hardwoods down and just start fresh in 2012 I would.

 BUT having baby and toddler and dog does not a minimalist house make.

However, I'm thinking this MacBook Air will help me in my minimalist journey. It is so streamlined and user friendly. I seriously DID NOT GET IT until I got one. But now I understand. I love you APPLE. Thank you for entering my life.

BIN112

Last week Benji and I finally got a chance to get away for a few hours to decompress from our crazy life.

We never went out for my birthday or our anniversary so we picked a new place to spend some quality time over some quality food.

BIN112 is in downtown Greer, so much easier to park than downtown Greenville. I love downtown Greenville but sometimes the parking just wears me out before we even get to our destination.

Dinner was amazing. We will definitely go back again.

My Year In Facebook Status Updates

right click on the photo to see a larger image. :) cool!

Benji's Birthday Week

Benji turned 31 this past week! Finally, he's not quite as far away from my age. :)

I'd say he had a great week! He killed the biggest deer of his life, got the phone he has been obsessed with for months and we went to a GA game and they actually WON!

I had a blast at the game as well. I really hope we can get down to at least one game every year. Of course it helped that they won, but I would have enjoyed the time with my man regardless.

Happy Birthday Benji! Love you more today than last year!

Oh! P.S!

I finished reading The Help.

Please everyone read this book.

Amazing read! One of the best I've read in a long time.

What I'm Reading

Today was a great day! We visited an apple orchard in N.C. less than an hour away from us. We picked apples, ate fresh made donuts, and had apple cider slushies. It was a much needed change of scenery for me and Emery had a blast.

I got a few good pictures, but I'll save those for another day. (I'm too tired to upload them now.)
~~

The good thing about the local library is that the books are FREE! and you can have a ton out at the same time. The bad thing about the library is also that the books are FREE! and you can have a ton out at the same time. :)

This obviously does not help my schizoness because I end up reading like 3 to 5 books at once.

These are the ones I'm currently in the middle of. Radical is actually the book study Benji is leading our youth through. It is an amazing, life changing read. Most of the youth are actually reading it. Well, at least the girls in my group are, I know girls read more than boys. Anywhoo. I never read the Great Gatsby in high school. It's one I've always wanted to read just never thought of it when looking. Something I read in an issue of Elle magazine peaked my interest in reading it again, so I reserved it through my library account online and picked it up!

The Help I've heard a lot of good things about, so I'll see how it goes. I just picked it up today.

I always love a good book recommendation, so I thought I'd share mine for the moment.

Day Time Love

Guess who has their own new day time T.V. show!!!!!



Oprah may be leaving day time, but she's left us with Dr. Phil, Dr. Oz and now cutie patootie interior designer Nate Berkus!

What I Really Want

What I really want right now is to blog a few different post tonight, but I'm just too exhausted! Today and yesterday pregnancy fog hit me pretty hard. I have felt terrible the past few days.

So here's my summary of what I wanted to blog about separately...

I have found a new healthy treat. Kefir. Lately it has been something that has really helped settle my sensitive stomach.

The September issues of all the magazines are out! Yahooo! September marks the beginning of the new fashion season, which is fun because I always seem to think of fall as the start of the new year as well. I still buy the academic year calenders that run from August to August. Benji's work year revolves around his student's school year, which I love! (it's the perpetual student in me). So pick up the September issues of Vogue, Elle, even Martha Stewart's Living had a fabulous Sept issue. It's the biggest month for all periodicals.

The first weekend in September I'm headed to the beach for a weekend of girls only fun. I'm so thankful for the girls that God has placed in my life. These girls enrich and bless my life more than they will ever know.

Finally, I can not quit watching Diners, Drive In's and Dives on the Food Network. I think it must be the pregnancy. The food looks SO amazing! I want to travel all over the U.S and visit every place that's filmed.

All right, I wanted to add pictures, but I'm donzo for the night. Off to the bath to relax and read one of my Sept issues. :)