Holy Moly - No place like home

I never want to come down from this overwhelming, refreshingly content feeling I have from my visit home.

I seriously LOVE Kansas.

I also understand that most of you are scratching your heads wondering how in the world someone could love a state smack dab in the middle of the U.S.

Yes. It is flat. It is landlocked. There are no mountains. No oceans. It has miserable temperature extremes. And it takes 30 minutes to get from one side of town to the next (not because of traffic...but because of pure space).

However, Kansas is home. Kansas has the most AMAZING people you will ever meet. And after being away from my home state for over four years, I can officially make the judgment that it is such a great place to live. I forgot how happy people are. Seriously, everyone is always smiling. Everyone always willing to lend a helping hand.

But even more wonderful - I made a group of friends over 21 years ago...and those friendships have not grown apart one bit. Yes, we are all in different parts of the country and even more different stages of life...but we all have such a strong bond that no one can shake. I am so thankful for these friendships. And for home. And for Kansas...for bringing us all together again. :)

Check out photos from one of the most FABULOUS, fun, beautiful, and emotionally overwhelming weddings I've ever been to.

Congratulations S & J!!!!

P.S. You'll notice my cutie-pie husband is in none of the photos...sadly, he wasn't able to make it back for the wedding. I did, however, had the most fabulous date ever - my bestie since kindergarten. We had a blast...but I MISSED Mr. Ruby so much!!!!

Love me some home time

Being home has been REJUVENATING!!!

I have been able to see friends that I have known since kindergarten...when we wore the infamous hideously unattractive brown and yellow school uniforms.

It is unbelievable that SO much has happened since we graduated high school together: we have graduated from different colleges, moved all over the country (and world for some of us), some have gotten married, and some even have little ones on the way...but it TRULY feels like we have never skipped a beat. You'd think that absolutely no time has passed. I am so thankful and feel incredibly blessed to have such wonderful friends in my life! I love these girls. :)

So, I had to share a sneak peek of the wedding festivities from the past few days. My dear friend is marrying an incredible man - and I couldn't be happier for their soon-to-be marriage (in exactly 5 and a half hours). It has been so clear that God is the foundation for this marriage, and I am excited to see how he blesses them in years to come!!!

Pedis with the bestie

Cute summer and wedding-ready toes!

Meeting up with the bride for some cocktails

Bridesmaid luncheon

High School Pals

Came in all the way from London

Rehearsal dinner at the BEAUTIFUL farm

The gorg couple

My beautiful pals

Love this GIRL!!!

I'm totally betting on a boy

Homefry sandwich

Umm...the breathtaking renovations

Who doesn't love gentle giants - seriously Sammy-boy was huge!

Champagne in a can..with a straw. Brilliant!

Love me some Kansas screened-in porches

Bride to Be

Silly girls sippin our champagne!

Countdown til the REAL show! :)

Update from home

Helloooo friends!

I have to make this quick because precious time at home is quickly ticking away.

Being home in Kansas has been the exact breath of fresh air that I needed.

Warm sunshine. Seeing old friends. Inside jokes with family. Cheap everything. Smart drivers. And (gasp) smiling faces everywhere. Seriously, everywhere I turn, people are HAPPY!!! It totally makes it worth the fact that I am surrounded by a pancake of flatland (which, by the way, shocks me every single time I fly in to Wichita...sheesh it's flat!)

Things started off a bit rocky with my arrival...with lost luggage and all...but I've had a fantastic time!!! I can't wait to share all the fun stories and pictures.

But for now, I must leave you with pics from last weekend and our wonderful, New England Memorial Day Weekend.

Happy Friday!!!

R.I.P. Camera #2

I have SO many awesome pics from our VERY awesome Memorial Day Weekend festivities.

And of course, I am so looking forward to sharing these pics with you.

However, as you can see by the title of my post, you will have to be patient my friends.

Yes, that is correct. I have completely ruined camera numero dos in the span of 1 year. Last year, I broke our quasi-professional SUPER expensive camera by dropping it down a friend's stairs while returning to my beer pong match. (Yes, you heard that correctly). I obvi learned a lesson to never EVER take a super expensive camera to ridiculous sporting events.

Well, yesterday, we said goodbye to camera #2. Mr. Ruby and I packed a delicious picnic lunch, loaded the pups in the car, and went for a long hike in Mass. Mr. Rubes took one picture of me and Samson and as he was handing it to me to take a pic of him, it slid right through my freshly bug-sprayed hands.

"Lens Error" is all it said for the rest of the day. It wouldn't even turn it on or off. :(

Lucky for me, I learned my lesson after the death of my first camera and we purchased the warranty. The camera got shipped off somewhere, and if they can't fix it, I get a new one!!!

The bad news? I'm going back home to Kansas TOMORROW morning with a week FULL of friends, family, and wedding stuff. How will I ever go through the next 5 days without my sidekick glued to my side???

When I realized this, my chest began to tighten, and the room started closing in. I mean, how can I possible go anywhere without documenting every single memory and fun moment?!?!? I started panicking.

I am the one who in college was the VERY last girl (out of over 900 girls) down to the basement during a tornado because I had to take down every single picture in my dorm room so they wouldn't get sucked up in the storm.

I quickly realized I can just borrow my parents' camera for the weekend. PHEW! So, with that being said, you will have to wait before I can post pics.

On a happy note, this beautiful gal will soon be married:

And on another happy note, PLEASE go check out my friend's new blog - this lovely lady is hysterically documenting her life of online dating. SO funny!!! Check it out: The Summer Online Dating Experience

On a final note, my blogging might be a bit spotty the next few days...because I will be soaking up EVERY minute with family and friends back home!!! So hang with me!