Back in full bloom...

First off, I want to apologize for my absence over the last few days.  I've been spending some time thinking about the direction I want to see the blogs go, and I've come to the point where I've finally made my decision.

Some of you know that about a week ago I started a blog on wordpress that I named "PlateOnDisplay".  Each day I post everything I've eaten, show a picture or two, talk about my workout, and try to squeeze some laughs in.  My desire with this blog was to get my weight loss goals in order and have a forum available  for other people that felt the same way about the current state of their health.

While it was fun to have another blog, I found it incredibly frustrating.  I know that a lot of my readers overlap, and this small town doesn't provide enough different experiences each day to provide enough unique and interesting stories for two blogs.  So here is my solution - discontinue plateondisplay and devote all of my blogging love and affection to "OneOfTheLovebugs".  Now, now, I'm not giving up on my weightloss goals, and I'm not going to make that simply a private battle.  I'm going to have some information I give at the end of each blog - total calories, exercise for the day, what we had for supper, and what I'm reading.  More than likely, once a week I will focus a post on nutrition, weight loss progress, or an awesome recipe that we tried and loved.

In addition, I made some changes to my etsy shop plan.  I changed my shop name to "oneofthelovebugs" so that I could gain continuity between the shop, my blog, and completed the plan with a new email address.  This is all well and good, but it's been a setback on opening the shop.  It's good that I realized it was important for me to have it this way before my bog public launch - because once it launches, there's no turning back. 

So, I've missed you all, and I have so many pictures I want to show you!

As for today, I went to my parents' house to go through the many boxes they have graciously stored since my childhood.  I went through box after box, and eventually mom and I needed a break.  Here's a glimpse at what that looked like. :)

Needless to say, my afternoon brought back beautiful memories from my childhood.  I love you momma!

So how are you all doing?  I've missed hearing from you!

Hope your week is starting off well!!!  I'll write again tomorrow - and I can't wait! <3

-JB

Starting tomorrow look here as I track my progress!!

Blossoms of all kinds!

What a beautiful day. :) 

It was finally a warm sunny day without rain, so I was very excited. This called for a trip to the greenhouse... and I'm happy to report that I brought home 3 beautiful tomato plants and a cucumber plant! I also bought a vibrant pot of impatiens! It will be fun to share with you the progress with you as they sprout blossoms and grow.

I'm excited to show you some of my latest creations!  One of my biggest surprises this week has to do with a few of the projects I have been working on lately.  Since I'm not quite ready for my big surprise yet, I will share a canvas I painted for our home!  I wanted a unique piece of art for a blank wall in our upstairs bathroom, and after shopping for a while, I decided that it would be a great opportunity to design something myself!  So here it is!

A few blogs ago I mentioned that the great folks at the Wayside Inn gave us a beautiful bouquet of fresh roses on our honeymoon. 

I wanted to keep them forever as reminder of our honeymoon and the wonderful stay we had there, so I decided to press them. After a month and a half in a book, I felt confident they were "ready".  Today I retrieved them, and they are gorgeous!

I know exactly how I want to preserve them, and I will show you tomorrow. I am super excited about the finished project!

Check back tomorrow for more excitement!  Don't forget about the shoutout, share, and smiles for this week!  They will get you automatically entered in my giveaway!!!

I hope your week is going well so far!

Leave me something to smile about :-D

-JB

Currently Reading: "Heaven is for Real" - Todd Burpo (almost done!)

Currently Listening to: "Without You" - Keith Urban

What is it with me and flowers???

Wow... Spring is really flying by.  We are officially less than a month from the start of summer! Yay!

Last summer was completely amazing, and I am so excited to kick off another wonderful season of drive-ins, picnics in the park, and digging my toes in the sand.  I was a "summer baby", so it holds a special place in my heart - plus, who doesn't love ice cream cones, summer nights, and outdoor concerts?

All of the photos in today's blog are throwbacks.  I have a lot of photos from my pre-blogging days that I would love to share, so I intermittently toss them in as a "special".

My hubby is always telling me that it seems like I focus on flowers in my photographs.  Part of the reason is my love for "macro photography".  It seems like the smaller the object is, the easier (and more naturally) the photograph comes to me.  However, I have been working on landscapes and portraits, and I'm getting pretty good at them! :-)

The other part of my love for photographing flowers is due to their extreme natural beauty.  I think that there are so many beautiful things about each of us - no matter how different we all may be.  Flowers are the same way!  My best friend lives in North Carolina, and even though we are not Duke fans (GO UNC!), there is one good reason to visit their campus - the gardens.  Last summer, I visited this paradise for my second time with my boyfriend (who became my fiance on the same trip, and he's now my hubby!).  He's not usually much for flowers, but I think he really enjoyed our time there.  If you ever make it down to the Durham area and have some free time, I hope you'll go check it out!  In the meantime, here are some photos from Duke Gardens to hold you over.  :)

I hope you all have a great start to your week - and make sure you take the time to look for some natural beauty around you!!

-JB

Currently Reading: "Heaven is for Real" - Todd Burpo
Currently Listening to: "This" - Darius Rucker

Things that make me smile...

It's raining again today. 

I know that the rain makes the grass soft and green, and inspires the beautiful flowers to shoot up and blossom, but today I just feel like it makes me soggy.  I don't particularly like driving in the rain.  It doesn't really inspire me to do great things.  When it's raining I want to relax on the couch watching HGTV.  While that is a fun way to spend the day occasionally, that isn't what this Wednesday had in store for me... so I packed it all up and am finding my inspiration in Panera with some good ole caffeine. 

After getting what felt like a second shower on the walk from the car to the door, I decided that I needed a good smile.  I have some pictures on my laptop for an occasion such as this.  These are all photos taken with my iPhone - so the quality isn't as great as I like, but they make me smile.

Maybe you need a smile today as much as I do, so I'm going to share these with you all.

Enjoy!

my friends' brand new baby - her name is Maci.

my nephew wearing my scarf.

relaxation.

the flowers that the spring showers bring.

Have a nice evening :)

-JB



Dodging raindrops... and other adventures :)

Spring has sprung, and it has been raining a lot!  Thankfully the grass is a beautiful shade of dark green, and I've really been able to capture the essence of the season in a lot of my photos lately.  All of these photos have stirred up within me the desire to find out if I have a green thumb.  Up until this point, all of my plants have been self-sustaining - meaning they are plastic.  They don't depend on me in any way, and I'm not going to lie, I didn't mind that they were so low maintenance. 

About three weeks ago, I got a callalily as a gift... and it is THRIVING!  So I must be doing something right.  Since this venture appears to be going well, yesterday I ventured out to the store and bought some gardening essentials and a variety of vibrant little flowers.  I planted them before the night's rain - which was great because I didn't have to water them!  Tomorrow I'm going to plan some cornflower seeds that my best friend gave as part of her wedding favor.  I'll be sure to share some pictures from this new adventure... I'm excited to see what blossoms!!!

My best friend's parents both have very green thumbs!  Their property is beautifully landscaped, and I hope that someday I am half as successful as a gardener as they are!  I took a few shots while I was visiting the other day... I hope you enjoy!

Hope everyone had a great Wednesday!!

-JB

Happy Easter... All things new...

I love spring. 

Spring is all about new life.  I love the way the Easter celebration falls during this time of rebirth and new life.  I look at the blooming flowers and the blossoms on the trees, and I can see the hands of our loving God tending carefully to the beautiful artwork around us. 

I am a very visual person.  Photography is amazing because it allows me to capture beauty the way my eyes see it.  I tend to see things up close and personal.  It's so amazing to me everytime I get behind my camera and use it to show others the way I see life through my eyes.  In some of the most mundane, usual aspects of life, I can see something unique and original... and my camera lets me show others what I see. 

I hope you enjoy the photos from this weekend.  God's artwork is amazing, and I always feel so blessed to be able to capture it. 

I love these lyrics by Matt Maher -
"Christ is risen from the dead,
trampling over death by death,
come away, come away,
come and rise up from the grave.

In strength you reign,
forever let your church proclaim
Christ IS risen from the dead."
"Christ is Risen" - by Matt Maher

Have a great day!!

-JB

There certainly is a SPRING in my step...

Spring has finally sprung!!!

Granted, it means more rain that most of us like and the occasional roll of thunder that can cause us to startle when it's unexpected.  It rained a lot yesterday... no, it poured.  And sure enough as I had hoped, the grass is getting greener!

Spring competes with Summer, Fall, and Winter to be my favorite month.  I really do have a tendency of being fickle with my "favorite season".  Maybe the problem is that I'm just really good at seeing all of the awesome parts of each season.  Or maybe I'm just fickle.  :) 

For a while now, Spring has been my favorite.  "A while", as in since last fall.  We were starting to plan our wedding, and I loved the idea of having a wedding during the season that all things new and vibrant begin.  The love of my life agreed with this - even though he was afraid that it would be a cold wedding.  It turned out to be in the 40's that day, and I'm sure if you asked anyone in our wedding party that had to stand outside for all of the pictures, they would tell you that it was a rather cold spring day.

Today, however, was a bit warmer.  I could happily wear flip flops and leave my fleece in the closet.

These are just a few of the treasures I captured on my Sunday afternoon stroll.  I love all three of these... and I hope you do too.  :-)

 I enjoy any chance to capture some blooming blossoms on a tree.  These were gorgeous... I wish this tree was right outside of my window. :)

Believe it or not, this white flower was a tiny wind blown bloom that was just lying in the grass.  I'm so happy I stopped to take a look... it is so beautiful and intricate!

I caught this tulip in the process of blooming.  I can't wait to see these vibrant petals come to life!

Take time to stop and smell whatever incredible flowers you pass by.  I bet you'll be glad you did. :)

-JB

PS - I'd be glad to hear what you think of the photos :)