I'm a Bride!

So the moment I've been waiting for has finally arrived. I'm engaged! Andrew popped the question on our first evening aboard the Carnival Splendor on the coast of California en route to Mexico. We couldn't be any happier and are so excited to share our lives together as husband and wife in the not so distant future.

I refuse to be that girl on Facebook and Twitter that blows everyone's feeds up with constant babble about what's going on with my wedding, so I'll be documenting all that here on my blog so if you choose to keep up, you can!

Here are the details I know right now:

The Proposal
After putting on a really good show about how he wasn't giving me a ring even though everyone expected him to, he tricked me and really did it! He had been wanting to get to the front of the ship since we had been on the thing and we never could make it to the actual front. Seriously, we went to every floor to no avail. Finally, about ten minutes before we were set to have dinner, we found the way to as far front of the ship as we could get. We're standing there enjoying the view and he says "If I were going to propose, this is where I would do it." Me, trying to be the gracious person I am (HA!), goes in to this long monologue about how I'm glad he's not doing it because everyone expects it. Yada yada yada, trying to make him not feel bad about it. With that, he says casually, "Well, I am." My head whips around Linda Blair in The Exorcist style to see him standing with a ring! He got on his knee and asked me to be his wife. I cried just a little, but was honestly more shocked than anything. He did a really good job playing the pitiful "I'm not proposing" part! We went back inside and called/text our families and friends to share the good news (I have the phone bill to prove it...yikes.) I really could not be happier than I am now.


The Wedding
We will be getting married on June 15, 2013. This is a really special day for us since it is also my grandparent's 50th Wedding Anniversary. I've always wanted to honor their example of what a strong marriage is by sharing this day and I'm so excited that my dream is working out!

The Honeymoon
Funny thing is, we've had this trip planned for a while. It just becomes my honeymoon now! To celebrate the anniversary, my whole family (like 40+ of us) are going on a wonderful Hawaiian cruise! We've been planning this trip for about seven years and the guest list just keeps growing. Andrew's family, our close friends, and my family will share our honeymoon aboard the Norwegian Pride of America.

I think that pretty well sums up all the details I have now. My sister and future bro-in-law are taking the plunge in August, so I won't be doing much planning until after their time. Check back periodically for updates though!

Christmas. Again!

This worked so famously last year that I'm gonna go ahead and press my luck again this year. Without further ado, CHRISTMAS LIST 2011!

Leather Bracelet


Pandora Charms


Grown Up Work Clothes





Anywhere, really. These are just my favorite stores. Usually a medium or large top and 12 or 14 pants...long if available.


Empire Records


iPhone 4 Case

or

This cute Lilly one in Hotty Pink Luscious!


Initial Ring




Tennessee Necklace



Cricut



Cricut Accessories



Cricut Cartridges









These are just a few I like. Pretty much any cartridge would be great, especially font and anything math related.

Luggage
Doesn't have to be this set specifically, just something grownup-ish.






Happy Shopping!

364.

Today I'm thankful for fresh starts. I needed one badly and I'm so thankful to have found it.

365.

Hello old friends!

So I haven't blogged in about a thousand years. I just go through these times when I don't feel inspired or I don't feel like I have anything to say. Lucky for you, that time has come and passed.

I was thinking today about how September is usually a terrible month for me. The past few years have brought lots of heartache and stress during this month and I generally dread it. Also, it's the beginning of fall which then leads to holiday times, which are also terribly stressful and sad. But refreshingly enough, this September has been fabulous. I'm hoping that it's an omen as to how wonderful this winter and holiday season will be!

Lots of people do the "what I'm thankful for" thing in November, but after this month has been so good to me, I'm gonna try to focus on what I'm thankful for every single day. So here is my challenge with myself:
I will post one thing that I'm thankful for every day for the next year. I'm gonna try to include a photo and also try not to repeat myself. Some days will be more deep and meaningful, and some will be light and airy. I figure this shouldn't be too bad since I spend hours a day wasting time on the computer (Hello, Pinterest!). Adding a little post can't be that much harder.

So without further ado....

Today I am thankful for fall nail polish! Getting off to a super heavy start, right? I've been painting my nails more often to make them grow, and quite frankly, I'm tired of pink, red, and orange. I need a little darkness and excitement in my life. Enter fall nail polish colors. I'm currently obsessed with these two:


































Let's be real, I'm not a daring person. So these sassy polish colors make me feel wild! It's the little things, right??

Really?

I'm not really sure what's going on down at the legislature these days. First the attack on teachers and now an attack on...homosexuality. There is currently a senate bill in the works that would make it illegal to discuss homosexuality in schools before ninth grade. Because didn't you know that if we don't talk about it, it will go away? And if we don't tell these kids about it, they won't be gay! Big gay problem solved, right? WRONG, my friends. Knoxville's own Stacey Campfield sites his bill as a way to clear up some time for teachers to focus on science, reading and math...since I know so many teachers that spend HOURS talking about the gays. Is he serious?

While I understand that each family has it's own outlook on alternative lifestyles including homosexuality, brushing such ever growing subjects under the rug is senseless. It will only create more questions in the long run. It's not 1950 people! Get with the times!

My Generation

I worry for my generation and the marriages and the relationships we will have. We've grown up watching our parents fight tooth and nail to make things in their relationships work. Often times, they end up not working at all. What kind of outlook does that leave for us?

I personally have grown up with the motto of "Anything worth having is worth fighting for." And to a certain extent, this is so true. I've worked hard to get to the places I am today and will continue to work hard to succeed throughout my life. But should I have to fight to be happy? Maybe I'm naive, but I believe that a relationship should be easy. I'm not saying there should never be tough times, but the hard times shouldn't outnumber the easy times. Love should be fun and carefree. It shouldn't be a constant struggle. But is this what we've been shown? Are our parents setting that example for us?

Some have said my standards are too high. I will admit, I am very picky. But I ask you, Why shouldn't I be? Should I not look for exactly what I want in a husband? After all, I will be spending the rest of my life with him! I want to find the person that completes me. The person I don't have to fight with to make it work. And until I do, or until you find that person, why settle?

An Open Letter to Sen. Rodney Tom of Washington

This is a verbatim copy of the email I sent Sen. Tom after reading this article today. If I receive a reply, I'll be sure to post it as well.

Hello Sen. Tom.

I just read an article with a quote from you about teachers salary, budgets, etc. The particular quote I'm referring to is:

“Education is one of the few areas where a superstar and a slug get paid the same,” said Tom. “In any real profession, it doesn’t work that way.”

My question is what exactly is a real profession if education is not one? I am a student in Tennessee that is one year away from my certification to be a 7-12 Math teacher. I am so excited about my chosen profession and can't wait to get in the classroom. Once there, I hope to make a difference in even just one of my student's lives, much like some teacher made an impact on your life I'm sure. So please explain to me how education isn't a "real profession" or what exactly was meant by that comment. I understand that I am not one of your prospective voters at this time, but I would love a response on this matter.

Thank you,

Kayla Fisher
615-934-4052

P.S. I would like to remind you that without educators, you wouldn't be able to correctly form that sentence or read this email. Just a little food for thought.

Until Now.

I've been so lucky to have so many people support me throughout my education. My teachers, administrators, family, friends, and community have always stood behind me and many others, helping promote our success through education. Because of this superior support I received, I have chosen the education field as my profession to support those generations to come in the same way.

Unfortunately, that support will end once I begin my career if many of our elected officials have their way. There is currently an anti-teacher attack plaguing our state capital that will have a HUGE effect on me and so many others throughout our careers. If you believe that a teacher needs continued support, please contact your legislator and tell them to vote NO on anti-teachers bills.

Thousands of educators across the state and myself would greatly appreciate it.

House Members

Senate Members

Lessons Learned

So I finally finished Eat, Pray, Love. It only took me three months. Looking back, so much happened during those three months. Lots of changes, lots of smiles, lots of tears. And every time I picked the book back up again, it always told me just what I needed to hear. I encourage everyone to read it, as it's got a lot of wisdom to share. Here are some of the quotes that meant the most to me.

From 22

"Moreover, I have boundary issues with men. Or maybe that's not fair to say. To have issues with boundaries, one must have boundaries in the first place, right? But I disappear into the person I love. I am the permeable membrane."

From 41

"Remember--everything you do, you do for God. And everything God does, He do for you."

From 43

"You should never give yourself a chance to fall apart because, when you do, it becomes a tendency and it happens over and over again. You must practice staying strong, instead.

But I didn't feel strong."

From 48

"Your problem is you don't understand what that word means. People think a soul mate is your perfect fit, and that's what everyone wants. But a true soul mate is a mirror, the person who shows you everything that’s holding you back, the person who brings you to your own attention so you can change your life. A true soul mate is probably the most important person you’ll ever meet, because they tear down your walls and smack you awake. But to live with a soul mate forever? Nah. Too painful.
Soul mates, they come into your life just to reveal another layer of yourself
to you, and then they leave. And thank God for it."

"You gotta stop wearing your wishbone where your backbone oughtta be."

From 96

"I have fallen in love more times than I care to count with the highest potential of a man, rather than with the man himself, and then I have hung on to the relationship for a long time waiting for the man to ascend to his own greatness. Many times in romance I have been victim of my own optimism."

From 108

"I was not rescued by a prince; I was the administrator of my own rescue."

I hope someone else finds the words they need too.

Wish List, The Birthday Edition.

As you all know, my birthday is coming up. And there are only 23 short shopping days left, my friends! Since my Christmas List worked famously, I thought I'd try one for my favorite day of the year too. Without further delay, here it is!


Kindle


Sugarland/Little Big Town Tickets for me and Allie!


Wilton Decorating Tips Set


Zippidy Tote in Hello, Dahlia


Zip ID Case in Hello, Dahlia


Empire Records


Return to Tiffany™ Pearl Bracelet

Does that not SCREAM Me?!

Women's Mossimo Supply Co. Olga Canvas Flat Sneakers - Red Size 10


Sperry Topsider "Bahama" Size 9.5 in White


I usually hate gift cards, but I will (hopefully) need lots of new skinny summer clothes, so gift cards might come in handy!





If anyone needs a shipping address, feel free to ask ;)