Waverly Mansion-Columbus, MS and my newfound love of Instagram

Last Saturday, Zach, myself, and his family went to the Old Waverly Mansion in Columbus, MS. (I meant to post this like...Monday but this week has been so busy!)

Waverly used to be a cotton plantation after it's completion (that took 12 years) until the early 1900s. It was abandoned in 1913 and bought in 1962 by the Snow family of Philadelphia, MS, who have spent since then restoring the house and currently live there! During the time it was abandoned, the mansion was a popular "hang out" for teenagers and college students. All you had to do to know who loved who was visit the mansion and read the walls! The remarkable thing though, is not not one thing was missing from the house and aside from graffiti (with absolutely no profanities!) there was also no vandalism. Crazy huh?

I love how the Mississippi state flag looks hanging outside the mansion!

Zach and I in front of the mansion about to take the tour

Such a gorgeous house. They didn't allow pictures indoors but there was a beautiful formal parlor and dining room, amazing furniture and even a ghost story :)

It was so hot and humid out! The mansion had no A/C so we had to try to stay cool in the shade.

The head of the household (Mr. Snow) keeps chickens and peacocks on the property. The peacocks were so pretty.

I bet he was roasting carrying around all those feathers.

There was also an old graveyard just a short ways down the dirt road from the mansion that was part of the Waverly property. A tree had fallen and broken some of the tombs...creepy!

It was so much fun to go see the mansion and plantation and to think it was only about 20 minutes away from the MSU campus!

I also played around with the Instagram app I have on my iPhone this weekend. I have had it awhile but never really touched it until I got curious to what it could do with the Waverly pictures. Now I'm obsessed I Instagram everything!

Here are some "old" pictures I Instagrammed.

Z and I Jax Beach this past Memorial Day Weekend. I look more tan in the Instagram version haha

I LOVE how the water looks in this picture. Z in Destin in March

Me at Jax Beach Memorial Day Weekend!

Zoe Memorial Day Weekend in St. Augustine. I love the sand/black fur/sky constrast. I know I'm a crazy dog lady.

St Augustine!

My favorite picture ever of Zach and me. Destin in March

These are from this Tuesday of Zoe wanting attention and getting all up in my face haha

But she's so cute I can't even get mad.

Happy Wednesday!

Yay summer!

It's officially the first day of summer! But right now, I'm sitting in my office at school freeeeezing because it is POURING outside...and decided to start just as I was walking back from lunch!

Oh well...I was contemplating going home for a nap anyways...haha!

I have had a pretty uneventful few weeks so that's why I haven't had much to report back on...I have lost 10 pounds so far :) which is exciting, and have also been running again finally! I've been a runner most of my teenage-into-adult life, but running took the way back burner with the end of college and beginning of grad school. I am still knowledgeable about current races/training, etc and I'm REALLY glad I'm enjoying it again. I'm planning on signing up for some type of race so I have something to be accountable to.

This one is on the top of my list!

The half of course...my tush ain't running no full anytime soon! Haha

Who wouldn't want to run a race (and by race I mean just for fun/my personal satisfaction not actually racing) in this gorrrrgeous city?

I'm in love with Savannah.
Maybe as a reward I'll buy myself some sweet new kicks...

Like these!!

Or these! Still pink but not quite as...cheerful?

These two awesome running partners are a huge percentage of my motivation for sticking to my running.

Zach is incredibly encouraging and who could turn down Zoe's face when her tail is wagging and she is ready to go run outside!

Also...my first running partner and endless source of encouragement...

I REALLY wish I could be running with my mom every morning on the beach like we used to! I miss chatting with her and making her help me carry the shells I would find on our runs! :)

Anyways...I'm off to go take a nap before I continue working on research tonight...I ran this morning but unfortunately woke up at 5:30 and never fell back asleep before my 7 am alarm...

So I'll leave you with this...

:) That is all!

Happy Tuesday!

These are my confessions :)

I hate wearing jeans. They are incredibly uncomfortable

I love having curves and I don't care that I'm not a size 6

I love to eat

And bake

I'd live off diet coke and m&ms if I could

My running shoes are pink and green

I need the beach for my well being

And will pick my job next year with location and proximity to the beach as huge factors

I'm obsessed with my dog

And take way too many pictures of her

I moved in with my boyfriend 4 months after we started dating

And I've never been happier

And I don't care if anyone doesn't like it

I get jealous

I went to a doctor for help with weight loss

I have a condition that makes it difficult to lose weight

I'm not apologizing

I love shopping

I'm obsessed with picture frames

Especially starfish or beach ones

I like to gossip

I have two tattoos

I make lots of lists

I have OCD with symmetry

I have to chew even amounts of food on both sides

That fact could be a problem for someone with only 1 dimple like myself

It used to drive me crazy because my face wasn't symmetric

Now I kind of like it

I don't want a bachelorette party

For the wedding I've already planned

And I'm not engaged

I'm incredibly similar to my mom

I dance in the shower

When I feel especially chubby I dance to Shakira

I hate bandwagon fans

Oh are you a Florida fan? Or a Tebow fan?

Yeah that's what I thought

I love pink and sparkles and ruffles and bows and I'm not sorry

That is all.

Happy Wednesday :)

Pinterest obsession

I have totally jumped on the Pinterest bandwagon...and I'm obsessed. I may or may not have spent three hours of my evening last night on this addicting website.

Pinterest calls itself a "virtual pinboard". You can create your own boards for categories that interest you and search or browse for pictures and "pin" them onto your boards. Pinning shares them with your followers and also serves for idea safekeeping.

I added this picture to "Salt Life" board

This picture is so cute! I love the coral and teal color scheme!

Added to "Beach Decor"

I dream of having a beach wedding someday and I thought the blue color was just so pretty!

Added to "Cute Wedding Ideas"

And I loved this vintage map of Florida!

Added to "Florida"

Pinterest is really just awesome. I think I prefer it to Tumblr since you can pin your ideas and not have to reblog them.

Let me know if you have a Pinterest because I would LOVE to follow yall and see your boards!

If you don't have a Pinterest (yet...get one soon! ) email me at ash115ley@gmail.com and I'll send you an invite!!