Northwest Arkansas

October 13, 2010

Zach and I headed out of Hot Springs early this morning for Bentonville and the rest of northwest Arkansas. It was a beautiful and scenic drive up. Here is the best shot I got of NWACC as we were heading down the road for some celebratory drinks and dessert at Ruby Tuesday. (Zach thinks his interview went well *prayers going up*) It was a pretty campus, and I was amazed that they have a parking deck--and UCA doesn't. (Now, I know that a UCA parking deck would probably sink into the swamp that is Conway, but you would think the University would maximize the use of their land in other ways since they can't build a parking deck...)

Anyway, our journey has also included a lovely dinner with Zach's Uncle Chuck and a cool--nay, downright cold--autumn night in NWA! I'm going to have to knit me a sweater overnight!

My Friend Anne with an E

August 19, 2010

Tonight Anne and I finally got together for an overdue coffee date at Java Primo. (I wanna go back for some gelato, prettypleasewithacherryontop. ;)

Anne was one of the first friends I made at UCA a million years ago when we had British Lit I and American Lit I together, and I missed two days of classes and messaged her on here-back when facebook was about being in college and showed your classes and who was in them. I also messaged Monica that day to find out our assignments. (I believe I also messaged Aaron, too, but I don't think he has ever been a reliable source for assignments.)

We're all old now.
We're grown-ups now.
Scratch that. We're adults now.
(Adults is a much more "grown-up" word. ;)

This picture was taken at Danielle and Charles' wedding, just a little less than a million years ago. I am so glad I got to see my Queen Anne (with an E) and catch up. She's so sweet, and I am so glad that we have stayed in touch. The only thing that would have made it more perfect would have been to have Monica there while we dined on Chik-Fil-A and then went for coffee (at Java City--that's what we did on breaks between classes). Nope. I do NOT miss the student center. But I do miss my English friends!!

It's pretty funny that Anne and I became friends and that I married Zach considering they knew each other working at the movie theatre in Hot Springs and actually went on a few dates. ;)


[our ELEVENTH month wedding anniversary AND the anniversary of the day we got our wedding license]

Happy 2nd Anniversary Erin & Nick and Kevin & Bree!!

Two years ago I was at UCA, watching my cousin marry her best friend.

Even though it was hot and humid, I would do it all over again and again. :) It really was fun, from all us girls helping Nick plan the proposal at the homecoming game and engagement party to planning the wedding with Erin (including finding this location) to throwing her bachelorette party to reaching the big day.

Happy second anniversary, Erin and Nick! May each year increase in happiness for the both of you. :) I love you!!

It's pretty awesome you guys were high school sweethearts!!

Also, a very happy second anniversary to Kevin and Bree! We forgot to tell you, but there's a card in the mail with your names on it! (Zach was in their wedding on the same day. :)

Here is Kevin and Bree (in red) at our reception last December. They also loved our Lego cake!

Here are some pictures of Erin and I over the years:

Erin is just six months younger than me, and look how much more hair I had!

Gotta love a mullet!

my high school graduation from Bryant

graduation from UCA (I have pictures of both of Erin's graduations, but they're not on my computer.)

Erin's bachelorette party at Michaelangelo's

Emily and Philip's wedding

our reception

the MASTERS pharr

May 8, 2010
GRADUATION DAY!! Zach and I are officially the Masters Pharr. :) We got up TOO early to head over to the Farris Center for graduation. Luckily we were in the same ceremony and were seated behind each other. Katy Kirk also informed me that Dr. Frontain told her only ugly girls get bangs when she got hers. I'm glad I did not see him today. *heh heh*

Dan spent the night so he could come to graduation.

Getting hooded is rather nerve-wracking because of the fear that they will knock your hat off in the process, thus embarrassing you AND screwing up your hair. Cap hair takes a long time to perfect. We both came through unscathed.

Monica and Ms. Judy came to see us, too!

But let me tell you that, when you are in the first two rows of graduates, graduation feels like FOREVER as you wait for everyone else to get their diploma (covers).

In the Department of Mysteries

Zach with Anatoliy, who was named one of the university's Outstanding Students of the Year

Katie, my dear friend with whom I started grad school--and who hooked Zach and I up!

Our Family--they're the best!

After lovely pictures in the sun and spray at the fountain, we attended the CSPA graduation banquet.Zach's CSPA Cohort

Finally, we headed to the Saucer to celebrate with some of our closest friends.

Ladies of Letters

All in all, it was a great day to become masters! ( And, yes, we would like to be addressed as such. ;) Thank you to all of our family, friends, and faculty who supported us through this process. We couldn't have done it without you!!

"You can pay for school, but you can't buy class..."

I am DONE! And to celebrate, I picked up my cap, gown, and hood. I'm going to be looking pretty snazzy, right?Is this how you wear the blasted hood?! (This a view from the back...)

Also, the hood may look bluish, but it is UCA purple. I'm glad my college/department/whatever-designates-me-as-a-certain-kind-of-master has good colors (purple, gray, and white). *lol*

And what is with those sleeves?! I am certain the sleeves I sewed onto my Lady Guinevere costume were shaped more gracefully. I just don't get them.

I get the hat; I've worn that before. :)
And I like the "Class of 2010" charm on the WHITE tassel. Yep. My gown matches well.

Man, those sleeves irk me. I don't feel very Hogswartsean as I had hoped.

(Just remembered that bangs don't work that well with mortarboard caps. *argh* Thank God for bobby pins and hairspray. :)

This is my "golden ticket," if you will. But I am NOT showing up an hour early. They can forget about it!