BBQ, Daisy Dukes and the Old Blue Truck

Enjoying the rustic scenery outside the restaurant

When life gives you a warm summer day, the only logical thing to do is go to get some delicious BBQ.  Kyle and I went to a new place called J.D. BBQ.  The food was some of the best I have had in a long time.  We had fried pickles for an appetizer, one of our favorites.  Then for the main meal I ordered Ribs, Brunswick Stew, and a side salad.  Let me tell you: the ribs were so juicy!!! OMGosh, yummy.  I still think J.R.'s in Norcross has the best Brunswick Stew but this one was pretty good.  The ribs were worth it.

J.D.'s BBQ only cooks over wood giving a hickory smoked taste that is to die for.  Kyle enjoyed the chopped Pork, Ribs, fried corn on the cob, and Brunswick stew.  Let's just say we took some home because the portion was over one serving!

Courtesy of the J.D. BBQ website

Yum yum!  This is just an example of the delicious food you can find here!  The atmosphere is really chill and it is super casual.  Obviously I wasn't dressed up!  Perfect for a Sunday late lunch.  I hope you had a great Sunday! 

"Get a Hold of Yourself, Jennifer"

Warning Very Authentic:

This is what I felt inside of me.  I was going through a personal struggle.  It wasn't quite depression, but I was definitely down on myself...

A little back story on the last couple months:

I was feeling a little down for a few reasons and was having some trouble physically being motivated to get some things done.  I did get up and brush myself off but I wasn't satisfied.  Many people might be able to relate to this if they were unemployed or if it's winter or if it is raining.

I am the type of person who gets energized by other people.  So in a job where I was working from home, it wasn't exactly all I thought it would be. 

But luckily I have people who love me.  My loving compassionate husband did everything he could.  He loved me as Christ loved me.  He gave me the encouragement I needed and talked some sense into me.  He said if you are not happy then quit or talk to your boss.  Get another job.  But do what will make you happy.

I love the company and want to succeed, but the job I was in wasn't working.  So I talked to my boss and we thought it would be better if I worked on different assignments. 

Then the next step was to get a part time job where I could have a lot of personal interaction and do what I love, jewelry sales.  So this is how I got a hold of myself.  One step at a time I pieced my life back together, I started working out again, I brushed myself off, I put my best foot forward and took a stand.

So the moral of the story is there are ups and downs in life and now I am on my way back up!!

Seeing the light through the trees, or the "forest instead of just the tree"

Thanks for all the support you have given me and all of the encouragement through emails and love, I hope this entry inspires you to do what you need to do to get a hold of your life if you need to do it.  God loves you and hears your prayers!!! 

Margarita and Sangria Party

This party is something I look forward to every year, this was our second party ;)  First you send out the invite weeks in advanced.  Then you have to buy all the supplies you need for the party.  Then you have to tidy up a little bit for company.

You make the sangria, cut the fruit, test it.  Make non-alcoholic sangria, pigs-in-a-blanket, watermelon (because it's summer time), cookie cake (with a special thanks to the Navy Seals), meatballs, buffalo chicken dip, put the chips out., make sure the house looks great and light the candles to give a special elegance.

Then wait.

We waited until almost an hour after the party was suppose to start before the first guest arrived.  I told Kyle that no one wanted to be the first ones to the party.  My neighbor was suppose to come but she didn't think we were having the party because she didn't see anyone here when it was suppose to be happening.

By 10 pm the house was hopin though!!!

Some of the beautiful woman at the party.

Time just flew by and we had the absolute best time! 

The guys were all camped out on the couch watching Baseball.  Go Braves!

I love these woman they are all sweet as pie and mean so much to me.  I was so excited that they could all make it to the party!  As you can see the puppies enjoyed their time with the guest. 

The Space In-between

Kyle in Rio de Janeiro over looking the city

I wish I was there in his arms.  That space was where I should have been. But that is not what happened...

Kyle took a trip to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for his International portion of the MBA program he is doing here in Atlanta.  I had just started a new job and couldn't take the time off, and on top of that there was a presentation to a company we partnered with that I needed to attend the week he was out of town.  So to make a long story short I could not attend the trip, nor would I have been allowed as the program for his school said no spouses allowed.  So I was here and he was there and there was a huge space in-between us.  I think my heart was breaking that first night he was gone knowing he was going to be gone for a whole week.  I really don't know how couples do long distance, maybe if it has always been that way it would be easier.  For me, I need physical closeness and I really missed that. 

The Christ Statue, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

This statue is so famous and I had seen it on TV or movies and it looks kind of like a cross which I think is very symbolic.  Kyle told me it was so huge in person, much bigger than it seems in this picture or in the movies.  It is hundreds of feet tall!!!  He was at a distance when he took this picture.  I think it is so beautiful.

It did make me feel better that Kyle said Brazil was over hyped up.  He said that it was also more expensive than he thought it was going to be.  On his trip he went to a Brazilian Steak house and it was about $89 dollars for one person and about two drinks.  The thing you don't realize is they charge for water and you have to drink it because it is unsafe for us to drink their water.  We are just not use to it.  He said there was one time where he felt unsafe and he was even in a group.  Someone at an ATM did manage to steal his credit card number with out actually taking his card, which makes detection hard but he managed to figure it all out before they took too much money and thankfully USAA reimbursed him for the fraudulent charges.

Let's just say he came back a day early, I think he missed me!  What is not to miss?! ;)