today is my blogiversary!!!

For some reason, I thought my "blogiversary" was in August.

Alas! I was wrong... it's TODAY! On September 7, 2011, at my desk as an intern, I wrote my first post.

When I started this blogging journey, I had no idea I would keep it up. I had no idea I'd ever have someone design my blog, make me a button, or that I would make friends online that I would call friends in real life. I never thought I'd host a giveaway, win a giveaway, or meet the person who inspired me to start blogging in the first place, {av}.

This "thing" that is the blogging community is amazing.

Today I celebrate the second year of this little blog of mine that began as "From Carolina Cotton to Illinois Corn" and turned into "Laws in the Lowcountry." I never thought I'd move home to Carolina so quickly, and I didn't know two years ago when I would become Mrs. Law. Life happens to quickly.

Thank you to all of you who have stuck by me, read my blog, commented on it, emailed me, followed me on social media, met me in real life, and encouraged me to keep posting. I am truly thankful and really appreciate you coming back everyday.

Some of my favorite posts from the past two years:

Post #1: Off we go!

Wreath Overboard

It's Official! Long Distance No More!

All I Want for Christmas is Lily 

Homemade Reeses

Home Sweet Main Street

10k Success (my first race!!)

Weekend Project: Refinished Table and Chairs

Weekends + Chair Fabric

WE'RE ENGAGED!

Will you be my bridesmaid?

Engagement picture sneak peak

Rhode Island Wedding

Come Tour Our Home

Exploring Beaufort

My Bachelorette Weekend

Today is Wedding Day

The Hair Emergency - this one may be my all-time favorite

5 Things you should know before you honeymoon

Pancreatic Poochie

Meeting {av}

Giving

Thanks for reading, friends! Love you all!

wedding #4 of 2013: rachel and ct

Rachel and CT have been friends of mine for many years!! I grew up going to school with CT and then when Rachel moved to our hometown, she quickly became a friend of mine, too!

They got married in my new town this past weekend, a place special to both of them. My parents were able to come down and stay at our house for the first time, so it was a great weekend!

Fun wedding cake and pictures of the bride and groom's parents on their wedding days.

Mr. and Mrs. York's first dance

I love that I was able to capture this moment! Rachel is a fabulous singer and as we were listening to their first dance "If I Didn't Have You" by Thompson Square, we realized SHE had recorded herself singing. CT realized it right after we did and his face is priceless. It was such a sweet moment.

Such a beautiful bride!

I cannot believe Baby Love will be here in 6 weeks!!! I cannot wait!!!!!!!!!! Doesn't Rebecca look amazing!?

Dad and Ty

Ty and my Aunt Peggy

Pretty bride in her mom's wedding dress as her getaway dress. Loved it.

It was a FUN night and I loved being there!

Sadly, I had to miss my ZTA big's wedding, and I am constantly stalking Facebook for pictures of her day.

Stole this pic off of Instagram!

Love you Bae!

first day post-work thoughts

I survived my first day! 

I didn't even know what to expect walking into my new office this morning at 8:25. I was ready, surprisingly not anxious (sending a huge thank you to my Bible study group girls for tons of prayers), and ready to face the day!

It was tough going to sleep last night because I had a million thoughts going through my head. Tyler was right there with me and we ended up taking a Dramamine to both fall asleep. I'm quite a thinker (duh!).

Top: LOFT

Skirt: LOFT (similar)

Watch: Kate Spade

Bracelet: David Yurman

Necklace: Stella and Dot (I think?)

Shoes: Tory Burch

The morning was spent getting acquainted with the office and setting up my workstation. My manager is great and had made an itinerary for me. I was really worried I was going to sit around and twiddle my thumbs all day because that's what I have done at past jobs/internships in the past.

I made it through the first few hours, then breaked for lunch... Stopped by Bi-Lo to get a few groceries, then ran home to heat up an Lean Cuisine and let Sarge tinkle. How do those of you who go home for lunch to it? I literally could not sit on the couch because I knew I'd never get up! Luckily I only had time to sit and shovel my food into my mouth, I couldn't really process what was going on! And just like that, I hopped back in the car to the office for the afternoon.

This afternoon sort of dragged on, probably because I ate lunch at 11:30 and at my old job I went to lunch at 1 (central time)! By 3:30 I was starving and needed a Diet Coke pronto. Note: take DC to work tomorrow and stick in the fridge!

Thanks for every ones well wishes and tweets, Facebook messages, emails, comments on photos, and texts. I am a BLESSED girl! 

Good thing today went well or this post could have been depressing.

Oh, did I mention I scanned mail incorrectly and the stamp was on the back of the envelope. Classic rookie mistake!

i need a weekend to recover from my weekend.

First off, I want to send my heart and prayers to Boston. I cannot imagine another community hurting and grieving. I pray for our nation and that we are able to find the one responsible for this tragedy.

On to happier news. We had the busiest weekend possible this weekend and I think after sleeping all day yesterday I have recovered!

Friday night I met my aunt to watch her daughter and my cousin play soccer. I can honestly say it was the first time I've pulled for my high school rival, Orangeburg Prep. Though I cheered for them, I couldn't bring myself to wear Indian red!

Saturday I woke up bright and early and drove to Bluffton for a 5k that I signed up for last minute. This runner's high is a serious thing! It was not quite a full 5k, so my time is a little deceiving. The profits from the race benefitted oral cancer awareness. Did you know April is Oral Cancer Awareness month? I love running small town 5k's, but I also love running them when they benefit a philanthropy! I won 1st place in my age group, 7th overall, and my "time" was 23:27. I'm going to pat myself on the back on that one!

After the race we finally got in some boat time! We packed our things and Sarge for four hours out in the sunshine! It was a beautiful day.

Saturday night we went to the Junior Service League BBQ here in Beaufort. I'm trying to get involved, so I wanted to go ahead and meet some of the girls. It was so much fun and they had a great band! Here's a picture with my sweet Beaufort friend Anna. She immediately took me under her wing and has helped me make friends and shown me the ropes here! Our husbands work together so that makes it even more fun!

hey don't we love these arrangements!?

Sunday morning we headed to Charleston bright and early to meet with Tyler's brother and his wife. So weird to say my brother and sister-in-law! Crazy! We had a great lunch at Poogan's Porch then walked down King Street for Second Sunday. Tyler and I were almost cross eyed from such a late night! 

On our way out of town, we met up with my blog BFF Shannon for a drink at Triangle in West Ashley. It was so fun to catch up with her and compare wedding stories! It is funny we both planned and planned and talked about weddings for the past few months together and now they are both over! I am so thankful for her and our friendship!

Whew, told y'all it was crazy! But so so fun! 

How was your weekend?

Jamaica {Honeymoon Recap 1}

I am FINALLY getting to post our honeymoon pictures. As I mentioned the other day, I haven't had the time or patience to sit down and work on blog posts, but I am going to crank these next few posts out! They are all very picture heavy!

We went to Couples San Souci on the Ocho Rios side of Jamaica! It was all-inclusive and so much stinkin' fun!

Enjoy the pictures from days 1 and 2!

We were greeted with champagne and wine and cheese when we got to our room.

Sunset in our back yard.

Nautical decorations.

First day on the beach.

View from our front porch.

Other side view.

Room service breakfast.

Beach time!

Oh Tyler.

I was obsessed with the flowers.

Gorgeous view! #nofilter

Our spot for the week.

Sunshine.

I adore this picture of Ty.

Don't love this so much of me buttttt.

Dinner the first night.

Yummmm dessert.

I made Ty take outfit pictures for the blog. Poor guy.

That's it for the first two days. Stayed tuned for the next two!

xoxo

Happy Year 1 to Me!

I cannot believe it! I have officially been in Illinois for one year TODAY!

 

On November 1, 2011, my mom and I packed my car and set out on the 12.5 hour drive from South Carolina to Illinois to start my new life here! You can see that blog post here before I left, here when I got there, and here after a few days in!

 

What a year it has been...

 

Experienced my first road trip with Tyler from IL to PA for Thanksgiving.

 

Lost my white cat Lily.

 

Went to Kansas City and Chicago.

 

Traveled home for Christmas and my best friend's wedding.

 

Took a weekend trip to Chicago in the snow.

 

Traveled to Wisconsin Dells and Minneapolis for work and hit the jackpot at the Mall of America.

 

Finally made my apartment mine.

 

Flew to Atlanta for my friend Mary's wedding.

 

Ran my first 10k race and then started running 5ks.

 

Traveled to Iowa for Cinco de Mayo with friends.

 

Drove to Nashville for a sweet friend's wedding.

 

GOT ENGAGED in Charleston!

 

Lost our family dog Abby.

 

Traveled to Pennsylvania for Tyler's grandmother's funeral.

 

Went back to Nashville for my roommate's bachelorette party.

 

Ran my first Race for the Cure for breast cancer.

 

Flew to Rhode Island for Tyler's brother's wedding.

 

My roommate got married!

 

Took a quick weekend trip home.

 

Started wedding planning!

 

Holy cow. What a list of places, things, and travels.

 

That was an entire YEAR. Can't believe it!

 

Thank all of your for your love and support over this last year! So much has happened, and so much more is in the works! Can't wait to continue sharing my life with you as I document it on my blog. I'm so thankful for the friends I have made on this blog.

 

Happy Thursday!