5 on Friday

ONE
This is the last weekend of summer vacation.  I can't believe it is over but I am looking forward to going back to work on Monday.  Thankfully students don't return to school for another week so I can ease back into a normal schedule.  Last summer was amazing with my trip to Europe and buying a house but this summer was also one to remember.
Minnesota Trip
Bachelorette Party in California
Birthday Weekend
Michigan Trip
Surprise Bridal Shower from my co-workers

Good-bye summer but it only means we are even closer to our wedding!!

TWO
It has been great spending time with my parents this past week.  They have been in South Carolina for almost 9 months and I haven't seen them since last November.  I am excited that they are going to be around until the wedding and look forward to spending even more time with them.  They are even going to help me take care of the dogs next week since Jason will be out of town and I have to go back to work.

Enjoying First Friday with the parents

THREE
Headed to Iowa this weekend for a Justice Family Reunion.  Looking forward to seeing everyone and introducing Jason.  Jason has not meet many of my family members so it will be nice for them to meet him before the wedding.  It will be a weekend full of good food, good company, card games, golfing, and possibly a little Iowa State Fair appearance.

Hoping to re-create this picture over the weekend of my cousins and I

FOUR

I sent my wedding invites last week and have already received some RSVP cards! So excited and can't wait until October 19th!!

Mailing my invites

FIVE

I am really going to miss spending time with my babies pup dogs.  I will miss our naps together and sunbathing in our backyard.  LOVE THEM!

DIY Project: Burlap Wreath

I have been wanting to make an everyday wreath for a long time.  When I received a Hobby Lobby gift card I thought it would be a perfect time to make one.  I follow a few blogs and saw a wreath I liked on this one. All of the supplies you need are at your local Hobby Lobby and probably at other craft stores.  Even better was the fact that the burlap was 50% off!  All together it cost me less than $20 to make.  I also purchased a "B" to paint and add to the wreath once I become Mrs. Betts!

There is no pattern to making this.  Just start weaving the burlap and pulling it loose to make the loops.  It took me a while to get started but once I did it went pretty fast.  I didn't use any glue or pins.  I tucked the ends into the wreath to hid them and the flower had a wire stem that I just wrapped around one side.  I am pretty happy with the finished product!

July: Loves of the Month

READING: I haven't really read anything blog worthy.  Just reading some easy John Grisham and James Patterson books we have on our bookshelf.

WATCHING:
MOVIES: We recently watched Hitchcock which is about the story of how Alfred Hitchcock's most famous movie "Psycho" was made.  It was a pretty good movie.  We also watched Evil Dead which was definitely not my pick.  I hate scary movies but Jason loves them.  He enjoyed it but I was in and out for most of the movie.

TV:  Just A LOT of reruns of The Hills, 90210, and The Big Bang Theory. 

MUNCHING:
I am OBSESSED with my homemade banana ice cream.  I found the recipe on Pinterest here but made a couple changes.

4 ripe bananas, peeled and sliced into thin rounds
2 tbsp of honey
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 cup milk (the orginial recipie calls for almond milk but whatever milk you use should work}
1 tsp vanilla extract

Place banana slices in the freezer for at least 3 hours.  The original recipe says to place them in a single layer on a tray lined with parchment paper but I just put them in a zip lock bag so I can use for future use. In a food processor pulse frozen banana slices, milk, vanilla and 2 tbsp syrup, scraping down the sides as necessary, until the mixture is the texture of soft-serve ice cream. Spoon into bowls and top with whatever toppings you like.  I use dark chocolate chips and chopped pecans.   I freeze what is ever left.  It stays good except that is is no longer soft-serve ice cream.   

LISTENING
I Want Crazy by Hunter Hayes.  I especially loved it when he sang with Danielle Brandbery on the season finale of The Voice.

All the ladies who came to celebrate

FAVORITE THING ABOUT JULY
I had some great memories of July.  
1. It was my birthday 
2. Jason and I had a great trip to Michigan
3. My co-workers gave me a surprise bridal shower