The Woolf Pack

A drip down south…

To Cincinnati for a night. The Occasion? A dear friend I hadn’t seen in over 4 years! We go back to our Ricks College Women Choir days! It was her bday, and was visiting family. So we drove down to Cincy, it was about 1 1/2 away so we met for breakfast on Saturday. It was cool b/c we hadn’t met each other’s husbands. We said goodbye to them and were off to explore. I have to be honest, I was kinda dissapointed in the tourist friendly-ness of downtown. Probably b/c we just used our gps and didn’t plan anything out (including having cash for anything) it was our own fault we didn’t get to explore as much as we wanted to.

The museums that were open, the parking garage was cash ONLY and there were no ATMS in sight and there was literally no street parking! We drove around for a while, and decided we were going to go to the aquarium instead. Nope! It was $8 to park, then $10 a piece for admission. I understand that when you travel, stuff costs $, I’m just used to Cleveland a lot of their stuff is free. Oh well. We got to spend like 3 hours at Ikea and we went to this huge flea market called Cesears Creek. It got a A+++ in people watching and lots of interesting stuff! We stayed over night for $45 at a Holiday Inn, thank you priceline! It was a fun ‘staycation’ many more of those to come!

Beauty School Graduates..

It was sad to say goodbye to some of my favs at school. Obviously the two girls in crowns were the grads. That’s Amber & T w/ my girl Laura. These are some of the girls that have helped me through beauty school! I love you girls congrats!!!! I have 5 more weeks!

3 weeks, 9 weeks, 2ish years to go!

I’m a counter. I make lists.

I have 3 weeks left in my 20′s
I have 9 weeks left till I graduate from Beauty School
James has 2ish years till he’s done w/ his undergrad

Everything seems so unattainable in the beginning, but as we’re getting closer it’s more like ok, we can do this.

I will admit, watching others buy their houses, have their babies, go on exotic vacations makes me give and audible “sigh” – (not trying to sound jealous just anxious!) I step back and am overwhelmed for the life Heavenly Father has given me. He gave me an amazing Family and awesome friends and my Best Friend James.

I know that several of my entries have been reflective and often times not upbeat…but I am so excited for what’s to come! What am I going to do with the gifts I’ve been given instead of wishing I had things others do. I’m thankful for reflecting it gives me the kick in my boo-tay I need to say to myself, “stop complaining and start doing!”

So tomorrow I start doing. I have an informal interview with my first salon tomorrow. I’m back on my path for weight loss (I think, lol). I’m on my way to my 30′s and I can’t wait!!!

Why I love summer in our new place

Happy Ever After

Last month we were able to help out and attend a wedding for dear friends of ours Andy & Joe. They were married in this cool old barn turned into a perfect venue for a wedding! Our cousins Nick & Sarah came down the night before and we had so much fun just hanging out!

i love love.

Whatcha gonna do with all that hair?

A month ago my school had a hair contest. Last minute I decided to enter w/ a fellow classmate Lisa. We were judged on technicality, creativity, and the overall look. I landed 3rd place for “fantasy” (won’t go into that). Our look was ‘Stepford Wife’ – granted our look wasn’t all that creative, I think we pulled it together pretty well. I heart updos.

Turning 30 in 7

{Growing old is a question of mind over matter. Provided you don’t mind it really doesn’t matter.}

I’ve got 7 weeks left in my 20′s!!! I can’t believe it, but am already saying I’m 30 – does that make me strange?

So I really want to do something fun for my 30th since it’s been a while since I’ve had a party.

What ideas do you have? What will you do when you turn 30? What did you do? I want to know!

It happens, ya know?

So, last week I had my 5th miscarriage at 7 weeks. We were bummed, but at the same time felt ok about it. All of the other times I was just told I needed to lose all this weight and blah blah…I always left the dr. office frustrated and irritated b/c I felt like there’s more to me JUST losing weight to stay pregnant. Granted I know that being overweight is a factor, I just never felt it was THE reason why I can’t stay pregnant. So this past week when I went to the dr. for my actual (ironic) first and last appt., she did an ultrasound a bunch of blood work. We talked a little and for the first time I felt like she saw me as a person and I could see her compassion. She is referring us to a gynecological endocrinologist where they specialize in high risk pregnancies. I’m not sure when I’ll actually get to see one as I don’t have insurance right now, hopefully before the end of the year at least. From there they can start to do testing (which I’ve heard is pricey). I’m not even going to stress about it b/c it won’t change anything. But I’m hopeful that in probably a year or two (maybe more) I’ll be able to be pregnant. I’ve accepted that I’ll be an “older” mom and that maybe instead of having a gaggle of curly headed chubsters, we’ll have one or two.

I’m not giving up hope and I’m certainly not bitter about it. I can’t be, you know? Life goes on whether or not I’m lying in bed feeling sorry for myself. Don’t get me wrong, I certainly have my moments, and I need to grief. But, I need to move on as well. I know that Heavenly Father loves me and is constantly aware of my desires and my needs. I feel his love so strongly in my life by way of my friends and family. I am blessed to have a truly amazing family all around me. Dare I say, I have an amazing brother? Well, I do. He called me to check up on me, it makes me feel good to know that my big bro loves me even when we get joy out of irritating each other, ha ha. It makes me feel good that my parents drove two hours just to take us out to dinner on Friday only to turn around and drive two hours home again. It makes me feel good that my husband does the laundry so I can keep my feet up and rest. It makes me feel good that a good friend called me on Friday b/c she had been prompted by the spirit to do so and she had no idea what was going on, but she just felt like she needed to let me know that she loved me. It makes feel good that I got txt messages from my girls from school saying they loved me and missed me.

When I sit back and think of my life and especially my friends and family, I really can’t find any reason to complain, seriously!!! I do feel guilty b/c I haven’t been that great of a friend as far as returning calls and such. But I figure I’d be a worse friend if I started calling people back at 1 a.m., don’t you think?

Life throws us curveballs all the time when we’re not looking. Sometimes it’s easier to let it hit you smack dab in the face to realize, “Ok, I can do this.” We’ve got a great summer ahead of us. I’ll be done with school, James will be in his major. I’ll be able to actually make REAL money again (sometimes I feel like I’m being paid with monopoly money right now). We’re in the works for some fun trips to Chicago, Pittsburgh, New York, and hopefully a cruise. Of course this is all dependent on said REAL money. I can’t help but be excited for the future. Tonight at work I even started thinking about doing a Masters program part time either my MBA or Counseling. Who knows, I’m getting ahead of myself, just a little. I’m thankful that my cousin is a GREAT resource in the Hair industry and knows lots of people that can point me in the right direction of my career.

Please know that as I’m writing this, I don’t want you to feel sad for me. It’s almost refreshing in a way to see that I’m not as much of an emotional wreck as I once thought I was. Heavenly Father has given me a chance to prepare for the future that awaits us. I’m looking forward to more time with just James, and getting my body in a more healthy state. Which is another thing that I am determined to do. I promise body, I’ll get us there someday!!!

As long as there’s new shoes to be tried on, friends to be made and family to hug, it’s all good!

Have I ever??

So far the bold items is where my life has taken me…what about you??? {post this on your blog!}
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain.
9. Held a Praying Mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Been to the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on a train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied – before I got married and we became poor students again!
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies – sold some for my niece!
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check – oops!
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Tied a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life – maybe not life, my but my roomie and I saved a drunk 17 yr. old when we were in Spain. We helped find her way home after being thrown out of a moving vehicle. (after we chased the car for about a mile)
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Visited Italy

Life in Photos

Here’s what’s been going on over the last few months while I’m not in school or work, enjoy!

To see the all the pics, click {HERE}

This is my good friend Megan, she is AMAZING seamstress!!!! A few months ago we had a “launch party” (in my living room) of her Etsy site. She makes the most beautiful baby blessing dresses, blankets and other trinkets. Thanks to her, I can even get a customized gift, check it out!

This is how my adorable nephews helped us in our move, they made sure our cheese puffs were all gone.

This is my super hilarious amazing friend Jennifer. On her birthday a few of us decided to take her out to a gourmet meal of the Target cafe, followed by some yum Fodue at The Melting Pot. We ended up the evening with our own “ghost tour” (she loves to be scared). We found a bunch of old places in Columbus that were ‘haunted’ and we had a driving/walking tour with a write up of each place. We all had so much fun!

Say hello to John IV, our nephew in Michigan who turned one last month! We went to Michigan to celebrate his year mark, and Easter! It was a fun weekend and had a good time hanging out with the rest of the Woolfs. It was fun watching him eat a cupcake and enjoying the frosting the most!

I’m sure I’m keeping something out. But here’s what we look liked after a loooonnng day. It’s a good thing James thinks I’m beautiful on the inside!!!!!!!! HAHA! Until next time…