Theee Proposal!

Okay, so this a very long overdue post. But here is is finally - MY ENGAGEMENT STORY!!!

So let me give you some background info. Andy & I had been talking about getting engaged for a long time so I knew it was going to happen sometime this year - I just had no idea when! We really wanted to wait until Andy graduated from school, which is in December 2013, in case you were wondering we why waited a few years. And let me tell you is was SO hard to watch so many couples that were younger than us or hadn't been dating as long as Andy & I get engaged. It was tough, but finally our time is here!!

A few days before Andy popped the question I went on a walk with Kourtney [my sister] and we were talking about when we would get engaged and I told her that I didn't think Andy & I were going to get engaged until maybe the fall or even early next year. It was the end of July and Andy would only be home for a couple more weeks. There just didn't seem to be any time left to get engaged as silly as that sounds. The rest of the summer was booked with things we had to do. 

So then on July 27th, my 23rd birthday, Andy & I went to Chicago just for fun. We rode the ferris wheel at Navy Pier and I don't know why, but I kept thinking while we were up there that this would be the PERFECT place to propose. I even felt his pocket to see if there was a ring in it [I apparently wasn't very sly and he totally knew what I was doing after I asked him a few days later]. But there was nothing. Not even a trace. Not gonna lie - I was bummed! But let it go & went on with our day.

Andy & I on the Ferris Wheel

So then on July 28th I was going to celebrate my birthday with my family & Andy since I was gone on the day of my birthday. The plan was to go to church then Texas Roadhouse for lunch then back home for cake & presents. Since I didn't dress cute on my actually birthday (I wore yoga capris & sneakers since we were going to be walking all day in Chicago) I wanted to look semi cute today[I know I'm a total girly girl]. Now let me tell you I NEVER look cute on Sundays. I just don't. I get up just in time to get ready and look semi-decent for church. But today I decided to wake up early, curl my hair, and wear something cute. That never happens. But who doesn't want to look cute when you're celebrating your birthday? :)

My family and I got to church and there were roses laying up by the pastor and I leaned over and asked Kourtney why there were flowers there and we both just shrugged and figured they were for a lady's birthday in church that was today. After the sermon was over the pastor said we were going to end things differently today and that is when...

Andy came out of nowhere and walked on stage. I immediately knew what was happening and started to cry. I was squeezing Kourtney's hand so hard [thanks sis :)], kept saying "oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh" all while bawling my eyes out. I even let out a squeak. I am such a pretty cryer. I was caught completely off guard and in such shock that everything was such a blur. He talked about our love story, how much he loved me, and all that good stuff :) 

Here's one tid bit that he said... "I realized that it is extremely easy to fall in love with a girl if God continuously points you in her direction." OH MY GOSH. I about lost it. I mean how perfect is that?! 

After he had this beautiful little speech he asked me to come up there & got down on one knee & asked me to marry him! I could not stop hugging him or looking at my FABULOUS ring! It was exactly what I wanted. Seriously it is what I would have picked out! I have yet to stop looking at it! I couldn't believe something that beautiful was on my finger!

It was the absolute perfect proposal. It was everything I wanted & more. He did sooooo good! I am so excited to marry such an amazing man! 

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I had a few things I knew I wanted at my proposal & those being...

1. I wanted to look cute. I did not want to be in my sweats & a t-shirt. I wanted to feel pretty & not have to look back on pictures that I look like a hot mess in. And by some miracle I decided to look cute on one Sunday morning. 

2. I wanted my nails painted. I randomly decided I wanted fun pretty birthday nails really late Thursday (July 26th) night. And I used glitter nail polish on all my nails. My nails last way longer when I use glitter nail polish. Thank you God that I chose glitter nail polish otherwise they would have been chipped by Sunday. It's the little things haha

3. I really wanted it videotaped or at least some pictures. Andy had it videotaped by someone we know and now I can watch it over & over & cry all over again whenever I want!

I know these sound so petty and honestly if none of these three would have happened I still would have been the happiest girl ever, but God is good and it worked out PERFECTLY! He blessed us so much that day & continues to do so on our journey to becoming married!

After that we went to TPC John Deere & had brunch with both our families & then I went home to eat birthday cake and open presents. Talk about an awesome weekend!!!

Life is so good. 

Wedding plans are in full swing and we will be saying "I do" on August 2nd, 2014!!

Right now :)

Right now....

----> I am despising summer classes. Sitting inside listening to a 3 hour lecture is not what I had in mind for my summer.

-----> I have a mad passion to get a pedicure once a month now. They are so heavenly.

-----> I wish you could wear a sports bra with every outfit. Is it just me or are they the most comfy thing  ever?!

-----> I'm so thankful they make one-a-day contacts! They are lifesavers for my incredible difficult eyeballs!!

-----> I can't believe I will be TWENTY-THREE in one week! This just doesn't seem possible. I still feel 12. And still like pink and everything sparkly. There is no way I am turning 23.

-----> I had a 22-year-old-young-adult-crisis the other day. I became incredibly sad when I thought about how everyone will be packing up their college stuff and moving back to their home away from home. I'm still in denial that this stage in my life is over. I just can't grasp onto the concept of how fast time is moving now matter how slow I am going. Blah. Time go slower. I have so many things I want to accomplish before I'm 30.

-----> Really wishing I had more time to read for fun. I used to read like a mad-woman. Book after book. And then college happened & I didn't have time for it anymore. I am looking forward to the day where my Nicholas Sparks book replace my textbooks :)

xoxo beauties!

College Days

Three Things I would have Done Differently in College

3. I would have moved out of the dorms. I know I am probably the 1% that actually stayed in the dorms, but it was just easier since I was graduating a semester earlier. Looking back I'm sad that I didn't get that experience. While the dorms are fun, it gets old, and I wouldn't have minded being away from campus at times. Don't pick easy, pick complicated. It's way more fun.

2. I would have joined more clubs/done more activities. I got really caught up with school, relaxing, and spending time with Andy that I didn't get involved like I should have. I wish that I would have jam-packed my schedule even more with tons of different activities/clubs. It would have been a great way to meet more people & develop more friendships.

1. I would have made more friends. I don't regret one second of the time I spent with Andy or like the 4 real true friends I made in college, but I always wished I had that huge group of girls that I hung out with. Ya know, the ones that take pictures every five seconds, looking absolutely adorable in their group of 500. I wish I would have put myself out there more and put more effort into being part of a "group."

Three Things I wouldn't have changed

3.  Not partying. I seriously went to 1 party and the bars once my entire time in college. At times I really wished I would have been the partying type because it seemed like so much fun. But looking back, I'm so happy I didn't fall into that norm. [Not that I am judging anyone that does!] I would rather be portrayed as a good girl who does her homework than a drunk girl at the bar every weekend. 

2. Spending every waking second with Andy. Seriously, we grew sooo much while we went to college together. We have so many amazing memories that I wouldn't trade for the world. It was so much fun. Seriously, go to college with your boyfriend. Being with your best friend everyday and experiencing college together is such an awesome adventure :)

1. My perfect balance of studying and having fun/relaxation. There were of course times where I was in the library for 6 hours at a time, that is inevitable. But for the most part I always made time for relaxing. I always made time for "me time" at the end of each week day. Whether it was 30 minutes or 3 hours I made sure it happened. It really helped me from burning out every semester. While your last semester of college is impossible to not get burnt out, I'd say it helped lessen it.

Ten Things that Make You Happy [Tuesday Topics]

Sidenote: So I don't know blog etiquette yet & I apologize if I am doing this wrong fellow bloggers. I really need someone to give me a lesson because I stink at this whole thing. However, my another blogger Ali       
[seriously addicted to her blogs] posted Tuesday Topics & she got it from another blog. So someone please tell me how I am supposed to give the credit correctly & whatnot?! 

10 Things that Make Me Happy

10. Being Pampered :) I love manicures, pedicures, massages, facials, getting my hair done, someone doing my make-up ect. Seriously, I wish I could afford to do one of those things once a week! It is so relaxing and fun to have someone else do your nails or make your face look pretty :) 

9. Wedding/Propsals Videos. Ah, I am such a sap. I [happy] cry over every lovey dovey videos I watch on pinterest or youtube! I love love and watching people in those videos be incredibly happy just puts a smile on my face.

8. Andy. My love. My man. My everything. This needs no explanation. He is my best friend & never fails to make me laugh. 

[Yes, this is a terrible picture of us. But I thought it captured the idea well :)]

7. Being Fit. I don't always feel this way, but when I do it feels so amazing :)

6. The days where you don't have to wash your hair. I know I'm disgusting. I wash my hair every few days and absolutely dread the days that I have to wash my hair because that means I actually have to spend time on it. I love no wash hair days :)

5. Good deals. I feel like I win the lotto when I come home with awesome bargains! 

4. Compliments. Working as a receptionist it seriously makes my day when a customer tells me that I'm doing a good job & to keep it up. So grateful for those people. 

3. Food. I just love food. I am always hungry & love to eat. It's been really tough to stop eating all my favorite foods, but I sneak in some here & there :)

2. My family is just a given! Love them. I especially love when we are all hanging out, laughing, and in our comfort zone.

[I know this picture may look inappropriate, but we were just trying to help wittle kourtney stay on the tree haha]

[the rents]

1. When the "lightbulb" goes off. I absolutely love when i have an "aha" moment. Like today I decided that I really really really want to do exposure therapy & art therapy when I counsel. It made me so excited as nerdy as that sounds :)

Tuesday's Topic

What a wonderful, boring life :)

Wow - do I stink at this whole blog thing or what?! I seriously want to write, but I feel like I never have anything worthy to write about!! Most bloggers I know are married & have awesome posts on marriage or have kids & have tons of baby advice & stories to update you on, or they are traveling & have adventurous journeys that you can live through. 

Well I'm not married, I am no where close to having kids, & I have never even been out of the country. I know sound like an incredibly boring person. And often times I feel like I don't have this fun, exciting life like those around me. I got to work. I go to school. I sleep, eat, & breathe and try to make it to the next day. That's it. That's my life. Yeah, sure I have fun times with friends, family & my man, but I wouldn't necessarily call it exhilarating or monumental. 

Okay, enough of the pity party. 

Then yesterday it all of a sudden just kind of hit me after reading about a young woman, who I used to be friends with when I was a pre-teen, had lost her husband in a tragic accident. I haven't talked to her in years, but my heart was completely broken for her. And in that moment I realized how lucky I am. It's sad that it took her tragic for me to realize this, but it's the truth. My life is so full & blessed beyond measure. While all this may change in a matter of seconds, at this very moment I am the luckiest girl in the entire world.

Yes, I have an incredible boring life. But a boring life is better than no life at all.

xoxo,

Erica

Go Run :)

Okay, so no one told me how hard it would be to keep up with this thing. Either I have mindless information floating around in my brain or I'm too busy to update. So today's update is going to be brief & hopefully worthy of reading :) 

So I've been working out & eating healthy all of April. [Side note: By eating healthy I mean eating 2 muffins instead of my typical 4 & skipping dessert most of the time, but definitely not always]. I know I'm not overweight or need to lose a massive amount of weight. So please hold your horses & don't lecture me. But I'm a girl and just like every other girl in America I want to be toned, fit, and well just flat-out ridiculously good-looking. And after being healthy for almost one month I feel awesome :)

I honestly hardly see any difference, if any, in my body, but I FEEL FABULOUS! 

It is crazy how just being healthy can make a world of difference in your attitude about yourself. 

So go run, not because you want to be skinny, but because you want to feel absolutely wonderful :)

Take this world & give me Jesus.

This weekend my cousin was killed in a tragic accident. He was 23. Incredibly young. So much potential ahead of him. Getting married May 25th. 

Yet, his life was stripped away from him in a matter of seconds. How on earth do you make sense of that? You just simply don't.

I haven't seen him in years. I don't really know him all that well anymore since it's been so long. He lived in Arkansas. But at the end of the day he's family. I knew him. I had conversations with him. I saw him laugh. I saw him smile.

And my heart is broken. Broken for Chad. Broken for his parents. Broken for his siblings.  Broken for his fiancé. Broken for every person he has ever touched.

It makes me wonder how in the world people get through tough situations like these without Jesus. Because all I can think about is my awesome God & how he gives me hope that tomorrow my family will get a tiny bit stronger. That He will comfort them. That they will take one step forward each day. 

Chad became an Angel that day. How incredibly special it is to know that he is watching over my family right now as I type. How awesome is it to know that he is in Heaven with our Heavenly Father. There is no better place to be. Heaven is the ultimate prize & he made it. He's there celebrating with Jesus. 

This is how people heal. Knowing that Jesus is taking care of their little boy. That He is holding him tight. That He is rejoicing with him. That one day you will see him again. 

When my grandmother died, my mom & sister heard this song on the radio shortly after, and it has always stuck with me since. It's called "Where I Belong" by Building 429.

All I know is I'm not home yet

This is not where I belong

Take this world and give me Jesus

This is not where I belong

We love you Chad. Forever in our hearts.

Hug Tighter, Laugh Easier, & Love Harder.

Today I was reminded that I need to hug tighter, laugh easier, and love harder.

I was reminded...

That tomorrow is not promised, not even the next minute.

That life is completely passing me by.

How completely blessed I am.

How God does things that we will probably never understand.

That family is your rock. So don't let them slip through the cracks.

How important it is to tell your loved ones exactly how much you love them. Every. Single. Day.

How hard it is to say goodbye.

How much I take for granted.

How I keep wishing for more when I really do have enough.

How special and important love is.

Love is everything. Hold onto it tight. And never let it go.

Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

1 Corinthians 13:7

What to do, what to do?!

Warning: This post is probably going to get really confusing :)

So right now I am working as a part-time receptionist, but I was hired on as only temporary. They didn't give me an exact date of when they wouldn't need me anymore. So I have been applying for other jobs because I didn't want to run into the situation of them telling me they don't need me anymore & then I'm jobless. I wanted to be ahead of the game. So I applied and applied and applied. 

I then got an interview on March 26th. They loved me & practically hired me on the spot, but had to make sure I didn't have a criminal background. So then on Thursday I went into work [my receptionist job] & they told me they wouldn't need me in 2-3 weeks. After work I received a phone call & was offered the job. Kinda crazy how that worked out, huh? I accepted the job & I am set to start April 16th. 

Let me give you some background info about the job I accepted.  I get a laptop, my own desk, a little verizon hotspot wifi, & the title of Care Coordinator. In a nut shell, I will go into people's homes and make sure everything is going okay with the parents and children. I will give them whatever resources I can and do reports for DHS. I will drive all around the county [I will get paid mileage] to meetings with the families and drop off children if needed. The pay isn't great, but you have to start somewhere. This job is beyond full-time, meaning 40-45 hours, however it can even be up to 60 hours a week. It also requires weekends sometimes.

Okay, now remember I am also a full-time grad student. That meaning I am taking 9 credit hours, which doesn't sound like a lot because in undergrad I'd take 15-18 credit hours a semester, but somehow I think I'd go crazy if I had any more hours. This is my first semester as a grad student & it is only going to get harder from here on out. 

I was excited at first when I applied because this job required a bachelors degree and with my just graduating in December I was so excited to put all my hard work now into use! I then got an interview. I wasn't excited at all. I don't know why - there was just no excitement there. I then went to the interview - I wasn't the least bit nervous. I get nervous VERY easily and for the most minor things. It was so weird. It was the easiest , flow-iest, one of the best interviews I'd ever had because I was so at ease. There were no signs of nerves. At all. I then was offered the job & accepted it & again I wasn't really that excited. I wasn't jumping up & down screaming [like I was when I found out I was accepted into grad school]. 

So now my last day at the receptionist job will be April 15th and my first day at the new job will be April 16th. I am having second thoughts & doubts constantly. I know that I will learn an immense amount & it will be great to put on my resume. I love that you have to have a degree to have this job because I didn't get a degree for nothing! I know this job is important & I will be changing lives & it will be extremely rewarding. 

But there is something holding me back. 

I don't know if I will be able to handle this job & go to grad school. It just sounds like way too much. I will have no life. I will literally get up, go to work, go to school, and go to bed. Only to do it all over the next day. That doesn't sound appealing to me at all. I understand that you have to work your way up & may have to start out with a crappy job, but I don't feel like I'm in that point in my life where I necessarily have to do that just yet. I'm worried that this job will become my # 1 priority when school needs to be my #1 priority right now. I'm in school learning about what I'm going to do for the rest of my life & I just don't feel like a job should overtake that. As weird as it may sound I feel like this job would rob me of all the potential I have for grad school. I feel like the only reason I am taking this job is because my receptionist gig is over & I need a job. I can't be jobless. End of story. I have to have a job. 

So I have been praying & praying trying to figure out what to do, but I feel like I am getting no direction whatsoever. I feel so lost. I have no idea what the right decision is or if there even is a right decision. I don't know what God wants me to do. I don't know if he is giving me the option to pick or if I am just not listening.  I keep thinking "this is a sign for me to do this" but then something else happens and I think that's a sign to do the opposite. What am I supposed to do when I have no idea what direction God is pointing me towards? 

So right now I'm continuing to pray about it & will hopefully have reached a decision before I start the new job. Please pray for me to figure out what I'm supposed to do because this girl has no clue!

This was totally longer than I intended it to be. I could have totally written way more, but I'm done I promise! If you read the whole things you are a trooper & if you skipped the middle part then I don't blame you - I would have done the same :)

Cupcakes & Pizza

Whenever I watch The Biggest Loser it almost makes me sick because by the end of the show these people are practically skinnier than me. 

Ouch. 

These people started out being incredibly obese & now they have hotter rockin' bods than I do. 

What.The.Heck.

I'm 22 years old. I have the potential to have ABS. Rockin' hard abs, but instead I eat cupcakes & pizza. And it doesn't really bother me until I flip the channel to The Biggest Loser and they are hott. Mega Hott. And I'm a pig.

A disgusting pig. Okay I'm exaggerating, but you get my point. So while I may never get abs [I like cupcakes wayyy too much], I might actually be able to run, lets say, a half marathon someday! So starting April 1st I decided to really push myself & get that [sorta] hott bod that I've never had! I feel like since I'm writing this out to the public I'm going to have to stick with it & would hate to disappoint you all. I really want to post before & after pictures of my journey, but I feel way to self-conscious at this point in my life to do that. So I plan on taking some & will  post them when I'm feeling better about it!

Seriously, look at Dani. What a babe.

Hey Beautiful ;)

Andy[my boyfriend]: You look so cute today!

Me: You're just saying that cause you have too.

This happens all of the time. Literally allllll of the time.

When a stranger gives me a compliment it seriously makes my whole entire day. It boosts my self-esteem. I feel good, pretty, and confident. It puts a huge smile on my face.

But when Andy, my family, or friends give me a compliment of some sort it honestly doesn't mean much to me. They love and care about me so much, so of course they think that. It'd be kind of weird if they didn't. I'd be a little offended if my parents didn't think I was the prettiest princess of all the lands [along with my sisters]. And I'd be really upset if my boyfriend didn't find me even slightly attractive. That is just the way it is supposed to be. They are kind of obligated to feel that way, aren't they? My parents wouldn't be oddballs if they didn't. My boyfriend would be a weirdo if he had a girlfriend that he wasn't attracted to. They kind of have to think you're cute. 

Strangers don't have too. They don't have the obligation. They can think whatever the heck they want about me. Cute, ugly, fat, skinny, pretty...they get to pick. And I think that is why it fuels my confidence when someone that doesn't have to think you're attractive, but does. And it means it. Genuinely means it. 

I don't get compliments on a regular basis. It's usually more of a once in a blue moon kind of thing.

But then I think about the compliments I do receive from my loved ones. Those are constant. A practically everyday occurrence. I wonder what it would feel like if they stopped. 

And then I realized...

Since when did some random guy's compliment mean more to me than the compliments that the man I fell in love with gives me? How does that even make sense? Since when did his compliments become not enough? Since when did the way my parents view me become unimportant and meaningless? Those are the ones I would be lost without. If my parents didn't remind me just how beautiful they think I am then I wouldn't ever think I was. If Andy didn't tell me how pretty I am to him then I would think I wasn't.

Our loved ones mean the most to us. They tell us the raw, dirty things we don't want to hear. They are honest - right down to the bare truth. They make us stronger, better people. And they think we are absolutely beautiful. It's about time we start believing them.

Divinely Beautiful.

I don't know about you, but looking in the mirror each morning can be the worst battle I have to fight. It truly is a miracle if I walk out of the door feeling confident. 

Call me pathetic, but it must be a girl thing. If you're a woman and this doesn't apply to you then you are so incredibly amazing. Teach me your ways. Please. As women we compare ourselves daily to the women that surround us. It is a never ending game we play in our heads. I go to work & there's a woman that comes in dressed completely in high fashion clothes. I go to class & there's women there that don't have a hair out of place. I go to the gym & there's the girl there that makes me look the opposite of sexy. I struggle with feeling pretty, beautiful, confident, on a regular basis but then I start to think...

Why on earth do I do this to myself? Why do we women torture ourselves? Belittle ourselves? We are so much better than that. We are strong. We are brave. We are beautiful in every way possible. We are all beautiful in different ways. I don't know why this is so hard to remember, but it is. Someone made this for me in college [the picture below] & it really hit home for me. Maybe it will do the same for you.

It starts at the word "Oh." You probably can't read it so here's what it says:

 Oh, how it must offend our creator when we look in the mirror and criticize the beautiful handiwork of his fingertips, calling ourselves "fat" and "ugly." How it must break the Father's heart when the very girl whom he gave the heavens believes she is unloved and worthless. Nothing could be further from the TRUTH. For as daughters of God we are loved beyond comprehension. It's time we see ourselves as we really are. If Jesus says "you're worth it," you're worth it. If the maker of the stars & sky says "you're beautiful," you're beautiful. God doesn't make junk and mistakes. Jesus died so we could be free from the strongholds & deceptions of the enemy. We should be walking in freedom and stop believing the lies. So join me in holding your head high, for there is ROYAL blood pumping through your veins. Begin to speak, think, & act like a Princess, for our daddy is King! Look in the mirror and smile, we are forgiven, precious, loved, and divinely beautiful.


I am fearfully and wonderfully made. God didn't make a mistake. I am exactly the way I am supposed to be. I wouldn't chose to be anyone else. Not in a million years. And neither should you.

Hello Friends :-)

I've always wanted to start a blog, but I hate people reading my writing and I didn't think I'd ever keep up with it. Well all that's about to change :) I am a terrible writer - it takes me forever to figure out where to start and how to get it rolling - so I really don't know why on earth you are even reading this :)  I just really wanted somewhere to talk about all things girly, fun, fit, faith, and random things that happen throughout my life! I love reading other blogs and getting other ideas, inspiration, tips, and life lessons. I'm calling my blog Becoming Beautiful & onmywaytobeingbeautiful because as a 22-year-old woman I find it something incredibly hard to do. To...Feel beautiful. Feel confident. Feel invincible. And most of all loving yourself. How are you supposed to feel beautiful, confident, and invincible when loving yourself is something that is still in the works? And that my friends is what this blog is all about...Loving the woman God has made you to be :)