Sunday Special - Stephanie B

Stephanie is another one of my good high school friends who luckily is STILL one of my great friends!  Stephanie and I started our friendship during freshman year of high school.  We definitely knew each other before that through church and activities...but we truly didn't become good friends until high school.  Stephanie has always been someone who is really easy to talk to and has excellent advice.  She doesn't hide anything from you, is always very honest, but also very sentimental and caring.  Often times, when we get together, we have a deep and meaningful conversation, a reminiscing session, a crazy drunk night out, and a laughing attack, all in one night.  It never fails that I have an awesome time when I see Steph and I always look forward to the next time I get to see her!  Stephanie and Kyle are getting married next year, in Dubuque!  I am blessed to be able to be their singer and I can't wait to find out what music we decide on. :)

Stephanie, thank you for all of the fun times, the funny times, the crying times, the crazy times, and the loving times.  You are a great friend and I can't wait to see you again!

Florida Freshman Year

Steph, Lindsey and I during choir...sophomore year?

Visiting Alli in IC

Iowa City two years later!

Out in Davenport a few months ago

So excited to see Steph a couple weeks ago!!

Stephanie, Adrienne, and me night out in DPort

Stephanie and her fiance, Kyle

Sunday Special - Shae Colett

Where to even begin?  Shae is one of the few people who actually has enough drive, resources, talent, encouragement, and personality to live out her dreams.  She truly knows how to follow her heart and intuition.  I have always been so proud of Shae and everything she has accomplished, and I still am.  She is currently living in San Francisco, still dancing her little heart out!  Though personally, I think the Midwest could use her back here... ;) But in all honesty, I couldn't be more happy for Shae and everything she has accomplished before the age of 25!


Shae was one of my best friends in high school, and luckily, despite the distance, we continue to remain good friends with tons of good memories to look back on.  She was always such an amazing friend, for example: One night, we had rehearsal run really late for one of our plays, and I still had to go home and study and prepare for my physics test first thing in the morning.  In the morning, while I was studying in the classroom before the test, Shae brought me a card, a white chocolate Hershey bar, and a cappuccino and wished me luck on the test!  And that's the kind of friend she has always been to me...and I only hope I have returned the favor!


Shae, you are an inspiration to me and I am so proud to know you.  Thank you for all of the great memories and I look forward to making more with you.  <3 you!

LP Car wash

Homecoming Senior Year

Shae's Bday after FAME...the froggie blanket I gave her!

At Internationals for Godspell...BIG smiles!

All the girls right before we left for college

Freshman year of college, home visiting :)

New Years 2006

Last time I saw Shae :( Almost two years ago...

Sunday Special - My Daddy

I know it's been a couple of weeks since I've done a Sunday Special.  Ryan and I have been quite busy!  But I have been planning this one since my last Sunday Special anyway, so here it finally is:


I decided to dedicate this special to my father.  My dad, Paul, has been such a rock in my life.  I feel so blessed that I have been able to have such a good father-daughter relationship, because I know that some of my friends cannot talk to their dads they way I can talk to mine. I have always felt so loved and so appreciated, and for that I am grateful.  Sometimes, I swear my dad tries to embarrass me in front of my friends...lol.  Well, at least when I was younger, I thought that A LOT!  He's always telling really cheesy jokes and trying to act "cool"...kind of like the dad in Modern Family.  But he always knows how to make me laugh, even when I was trying to be really mad at him.  I love you dad, thank you for always being there for me and making me smile when you've know I needed to.

Dad, me and Emily

Barenaked Ladies concert Summer 2009

Barenaked Ladies concert Spring 2010

Emily and Dad during our Florida vacation!

Toasting at my wedding

Walking me down the aisle, I love you dad!

Sunday Special - My Mommy

I know that I have already blogged about my family.  But the Sunday Special series is about a person or group that is important to me, so I can't imagine leaving my parents out of the series! (Dad, you're next!)  My mom, Beth, despite even the obvious reasons, has been very important in my life.  She has always supported everything I do and been my biggest fan.  And lately, she has been my friend too.  I feel so lucky to be able to have parents that I also consider my friends.  Even though Ryan and I did not move to North Carolina, and are living so close to home, it has been a blessing for my relationship with my mom.  We have lunch dates and shopping trips and I am so glad for this time that we've had.

I love you mom, thank you for always being there for me, as a mother and a friend.

The family, before Alex obviously

In San Francisco!

Adventureland 2008

Bridal Shower

Putting my earring in, wedding day

At the fair

I love you mom

Sunday Special - Ashley J

I know, I know, it was about time I did a special on "my twin," aka, my soul-mate! ;)  I waited this long for a reason...HALLOWEEN!  Unfortunately, we did not get a chance to spend Halloween together this year, but we did the past two years.  Loving this holiday is just one of the many things we have in common.  Ashley and I met while working together at a bank in Ames.  She was actually the lead teller, so she was my boss!  It didn't take too long for us to realize that we were a lot alike and have a lot of the same interests.  We started hanging out...a lot, and it didn't take long for her to become on of my best friends.

It was so hard to graduate from ISU and leave all of our friends.  Ashley was still in Ames, and other friends of ours moved to different cities.  But a couple of months ago, Ashley got a job at the bank I work at and moved to Davenport!  It's been a big move for Ashley, but I am hoping that, along with her boyfriend, I have made the transition easier and been there for her the way she has always been there for me.

Ashley, you have been a blessing in my life.  I love the honesty we share to each other, it's so important to me that we can tell each other everything.  Thank you for being so great...it's because, "you're awwwwesome" :) I love you honey.

One of our first pics together :)

Wilma found out Betty slept with Fred!

At the Kelly Clarkson concert

Ashley and Ashley visiting last fall

Hippies in Madison. Halloween 2009

At the Paramore concert

My wedding day :)

Love you twin

Sunday Special - Scheetzy-baby

Today's special is brought to you by the letter "S" ;)  For two reasons: Sunday and nicknames!  Laura Scheetz and I have been friends for almost ten years now! Can you believe it?! She's one of my oldest friends and definitely one with many MANY memories.  Laura and I became friends when I was a freshman and she was a sophomore.  There was a senior who wanted to go to the Bachelor Capture (when the girls as the guys) with Laura, but of course, she needed to ask him.  So he asked me to drop some hints to get her to ask him to the dance.  Of course it worked...and we ended up going in a group together and have been friends ever since!


We have so many good memories, it's hard to even know which ones to share.  One we still laugh about involves my many sleepovers at her house and her mother's many reminders to keep it down!  I have always looked up to Laura in a way, because she was always such a good friend.  She was an "angel" and I was a "princess" and we reminded each other every day! LoL.  We still use our more creative nicknames to this day...and to be honest, I don't think I can remember how it started.  But she is my Scheetzy-baby and I am her Sarah-lee.


Laura, I love that we are still friends.  And I love that we always have such a good time together.  Thank you for being there for me when I needed it and I hope that I can always be there for you when you need it.  I can't wait to see what the future holds for our friendship!

Oh high school dance :)

Car wash!! 

My loves, their senior prom

Halloween 2008

We love when Shorty comes to visit <3

Definitely a favorite! Visit Scheetzy-baby in Omaha

Enjoying Omaha!

Hawkeye fan and Cyclone fan making nice ;)

My favorite picture!!

Sunday Special - Brooke D

Brooke is my newest friend, and I am so glad to have met her!  We met while working at "the bank which must not be named" last summer.  We started on the same day and became fast friends!  I was, and still am, so grateful for that dreadful bank because I wouldn't have met Brooke if it wasn't for that job.  However, something tells me we would have found each other...haha.  I know that's cheesy, but that's totally how we talk about each other. :)


When I got my new job, at a much better bank, I helped Brooke get an interview there too and of course she blew them away, so I get to work with Brooke again! Unfortunately, we are at different locations, but we get to email occasionally and sit together at meetings.  But of course, more fun than work, we do FUN stuff when we have time to get together outside of work!  For example, one random night out led to a night of bar hopping in a limo!  We started a book club, yes just the two of us, and have read some wonderful books...though we really need to start that up again, with Ashley!  Also, we have attended a couple concerts together, most recently Carrie Underwood (which was AWESOME).


It has been so fun hanging out with you Brooke.  Whether it's Panera date night, a movie, a concert, or a limo, I always have a great night when we're together.  Thank you for the good times, let's have some more of them soon!

Playing Rock Band at RIBCO

Hanging out at 11th Street

When we were sooo in love with my new camera

Being goofy

Brooke did my awesome hair!

WEDDING DAY!

At the Paramore concert

At the Carrie Underwood concert!