Spring Clean!

On Saturday Josh and I did some MAJOR spring cleaning. We cleaned/organized our closet, 2 guest room closets, and all of our cabinets in our casual living room. We started Saturday morning and didn't finished until 5pm...I'm still in shock that my husband hung with me the entire time. I was expecting him to throw in the towel around lunch time...but he was a real trooper and definitely pulled his weight! We filled Josh's Tahoe to the brim with clothes and things that we didn't need anymore. It's amazing how much stuff you can accumulate in such a short amount of time....we've only lived in our house for 8 months! Cleaning and organizing your things is liberating. Seriously, it's a great feeling! So, I leave you with this...GET RID OF YOUR JUNK....SIMPLIFY! Happy Spring Cleaning!

And dress the part like this cute little lady on the left here...I did!

I'm kidding... :)

Question...

1. Sky dive
2. Teach kindergarten
3. Learn to play the piano
4. Climb Mt. Everest
5. Compete in The Amazing Race with my hubby

What would you do?

Happy Birthday Josh!

Happy 26th Birthday today to my....

Hilarious
Easy on the eyes
Generous
Witty
Thoughtful
Lean mean grilling machine
Romantic
Caring
Technology guru
Patient
Smart
Slightly messy
Loving
Understanding
Forgiving
Xbox King
Oreo's (with icing) loving...

Husband, Josh.



I love you honey!

XOXO,
Mindy

Green Thumbs?

I have no idea why, but Josh has been talking about planting a new tree in our yard for almost a month now. As most of you know...Josh is normally more into computers, TV's and the Xbox than gardening! :)

On Saturday Josh's parents delivered a cherry blossom tree to our house as an early b-day present for Josh (Josh's b-day is tomorrow!). So, while I was away working a wedding, Josh planted his cherry blossom tree in our side yard. I must admit that I was a little nervous about Josh planting the tree without me (I'm the perfectionist and control freak in our family), but he actually did a really great job! Here is a picture of the new tree...



We're hoping that the little guy will make it...cherry blossoms trees tend to have a hard time in clay soil, which we have in Coppell. But, hopefully one day (with some tender loving care) it will look like the cherry blossom trees in DC! When Josh and I lived in DC, experiencing the cherry blossoms in full bloom was by far our favorite memory...it was like walking in a dream world! So amazing!


Josh took this picture....The Jefferson Memorial is in the background.


As you can see, the cherry blossoms are quite popular in DC. If our cherry tree makes it, we're going to start charging people to look at it...


Josh and I enjoying a picnic under the cherry blossom trees...

Happy Friday!

I've had a really busy week with work...hence my lack of daily blogging. I apologize to all 5 of you who probably check my blog everyday. I'm slacking on my blogging duties....sorry! A couple of weeks ago, we took some family photos in Highland Park with Joseph Mark Photography. We gave this photo session as a gift to my mom for Christmas. The pictures are up on their website...so if you're interested, take a look here. I think they turned out really cute! Joseph Mark Photography also shot Josh and I's wedding almost 3 years ago...I highly recommend them for your photography needs! Enjoy the photos....aren't my niece and nephew so precious?! They are growing up way too fast!

I'm off to the rehearsal for my wedding this weekend. Both ceremony and reception are at Arlington Hall...one of my favorite wedding venues in Dallas! The ceremony is outdoors, so it's looking like the weather is going to be perfect!

Have a great weekend everyone!!

XOXO,
Mindy

What a Relief...

Today marks the day that Josh and I's trip to Zambia has officially been paid for! Praise Jesus! We've been raising money for the past few months and it has been so amazing to watch the Lord provide for us. Truly, I'm overwhelmed by His faithfulness and provisions. Josh and I are so excited about traveling to Zambia this summer to spread the GOOD NEWS of Christ to orphaned children there. We feel greatly blessed by our family and friends who have given so generously to support us financially. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We are so grateful...our cup overflows!

96 days to go until we leave for Zambia!

XOXO,
Mindy and Josh

Guiltless Pleasure....

My sister-in-law, Jill, shared this delicious fruit dip recipe with me...it's healthy, super easy and perfect for a Spring/Summer time afternoon treat...or as a healthy dessert option!



Here's what you'll need...

-1 box of sugar free/fat free Jell-o instant pudding mix - White Chocolate flavor
-1 1/2 cups of fat free milk
-2 tbsp. of pineapple juice...give or take a little
-Fat free Cool Whip (about half of the tub)
-Mixed fruit cut into bite size pieces...I like strawberries, bananas and pineapple best.
-Mini chocolate chips

Directions...

-Follow the directions on the back of the pudding mix....but only use 1 1/2 cups of milk instead of 2 cups
-When pudding reaches the desired thickness, add the pineapple juice and about half of the tub of Cool Whip and stir....feel free to add more Cool Whip if you want!
-Pour dip over mixed fruit
-Sprinkle with mini chocolate chips
-Enjoy!

BBQ, Rock Band & Shanghai Rummy...

Last night we had some friends over for a little BBQ, Rock Band and Shanghai Rummy. Josh was a monster on the grill...the steaks and chicken were delicious! We all ROCKED it on Rock Band and enjoyed a few rounds of Shanghai Rummy...I won by the way. Chris was voted "Most Hated Person of the Night." Nothing new there. "The Most Hated" award is giving to one lucky person every time we get together....it's a joke really...but the fact that Chris gets it almost every time makes me wonder if it really is a joke? :) Here are a few pics from last night. I tell ya...we really are blessed with great friends! Karen/BJ...we missed y'all. I hope BJ is feeling better.


The boys rockin' out.


The girls took it up a notch....


Chris & Marina and Brent & Ali


Jordan & Liz and Josh & I


The girls after a little Shanghai Rummy...

Have a great weekend everyone!!

Introducing 2 New Blogsters....

1) My mother-in-law, Julie Rives....



Julie is an expert when it comes to kids...so we finally talked her into starting a blog about them! Need parenting advice or want to read some funny stories about kids? Check out her blog here.

2) And one of my best friends, Karen Gross...



Karen and BJ got engaged last month and they have decided to do a wedding blog instead of a wedding website...brilliant! Their blog is still a work in progress while they figure everything out, so keep checking it for updates! We can't wait for the big day...Oct. 11th!

Welcome to the world of blogging Julie and Karen...I'm so glad you're here!

Both blog designs by Penny Lane Designs...of course! :)

In Christ Alone

We sang this hymn in church on Sunday and it really stirred my heart...I love the words...they are filled with simplicity, truth and great hope. What an awesome God we serve!

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
'Till on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost it's grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Brought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
'Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand

It's Monday...Need a Good Laugh?

This video is hilarious! It's from the movie "Strange Wilderness," which I have not seen...and probably won't see. But, this silly clip absolutely cracks me up. Hope it brings a little laughter to your day as well...



Strangely, I see a lot of resemblance of me in this shark before I got braces...thank goodness for braces!

Happy Monday everyone!!

April Showers....

Last night Josh and I, along with my mom, Jimmy and Jill, hosted a couples baby shower for my cousin Jared and his wife, Courtney. It was no ordinary baby shower...instead we spiced it up a bit and did a "daddy" shower in honor of dad-to-be...Jared! It was really fun...and turned out super cute! We went with a sports theme and asked guest to bring a daddy related gift. We served sports related food and had the final four b-ball games on as well...everyone really had a great time!

Here is the invitation we sent out....Josh came up with the catchy rhyme, of course.



Here are some pics from the party...


We decorated with sports things...and had pictures around of Jared playing sports when he was little...


Jared played tennis when he was in high school, so mom put this together for the front door.


Parents-to-be...Jared and Court! Courtney is schedule for a c-section on Thursday. We can't wait to meet Pierce Henry Popelka!!


Popelka cousins...


Hostesses with the mostesses..


We served wings and sides from Wing Stop for dinner and key lime pie (Jared's favorite), cookies, ice cream sandwiches and fruit kabobs for dessert...yumo!


Everyone came up with great daddy gifts! We gave Jared and baby Popelka a framed A&M Jersey...every little boy needs one! Gig 'em!


Court's fam....


Jared's fam....


Chris, Ashley and Uncle Robert. My favorite quote from the night...."Ashley, that Chris is a good one...just like your daddy and the Wal-Mart pharmacist." -Ashley's 85 year old grandmother


Mom and Aunt Deb....2 hot grandmothers! :)


I LOVE him...

Footloose and Fancy (I'm mean debt) FREE!!!!

That's right...thanks to our generous tax return, I just paid off my school loan in it's entirety!!!! Wow...what a good feeling that was! I must say...it was really hard to use the money to pay off debt, since we could have done so many more fun things with it...but, I know it will be worth it. And it does feel good to have that behind me! Yeah for being debt free!!

Oh, yeah...we still have a house to pay off. Darn.

Have a great weekend everyone!!!

XOXO,
Mindy

5 random things you may not know about me...

1) My maiden name, Popelka, means "Cinderella" in Czech.

2) Josh and I have been together for 3,131 days...beginning, Sept. 5, 1999 (includes 3 leap days).

3) I am scared to death of alligators and sharks.

4) My mom had my ears pierced when I was 2 weeks old.

5) David Copperfield made me disappear on stage in Vegas. What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas...

April Fool's Drools....

Happy April Fool's Day...a bit late! I had a busy day yesterday and today, so I apologize that I'm just getting around to posting something new.

So, did you get fooled today? I didn't. Not once. Although I have been fooled in years pasted...pretty good actually. Here are my top 2...

#2
Last year....I received a phone call from Mary Frances (my boss) and Alison (co-worker) letting me know that Mary Frances had just received a phone call from a publicist in Chicago looking for an event planner for a very large and extravagant event coming to Dallas...hosted by someone influential in Chicago. The publicist wouldn't divulge who that influential person was, but it was pretty clear that the person was Oprah!! Of course I was getting really excited on the phone (Josh can vouch for me...we were in the car on the way to the Arboretum)! Supposedly we were going to be interviewed for the job ASAP...but Mary Frances and Alison were on their way to Austin...So, I was going to have to represent DFW Events on my own. Crazy, I know...but I was totally falling for it. After a bit...MF and Ali started giggling and screaming "April Fool's!"

#1
Freshman year in college....Josh had been to A&M for the weekend visiting. He had just left to drive back to Baylor...usually he would call me as soon as he got to Waco to let me know that he made it back safely. A couple of hours had passed and I hadn't heard from him. I kind-of started to worry, but tried not to think about it. A while later I received a phone call from a guy friend of Josh's at Baylor....he told me that Josh had been pulled over by a cop on his way home from A&M and ended up getting arrested for an outstanding speeding ticket. Of course I started flipping out! Josh's friend told me that Josh said not to worry and that he would call me as soon as he could. So, Josh let me dwell in my misery for a long time...or it seemed like a long time, until he called me to say "April Fool's!" Not funny Josh...not funny.

Sleep tight everyone...and Happy April Fool's!