Update in Under 20 Pictures

Well, hello there.

In my most recent post ("recent" being used very loosely), I said I was back. And then I disappeared for about 7 months. I like to keep people guessing...

I hope to check in a bit more regularly, so I thought I'd write a post to catch you up on where I've been and what I've been doing since March. It will be quick, so try to keep up. 

Guess who's back, back again...

Well, well. If it isn't little 'ol me again.

Where have I been? Let me just start by saying that life has been busy! 

I stepped away from this blog back in October (FIVE months ago!) and took a breath. A long breath. Things were busy, I was short on time and energy, and I had to prioritize. 

Blog-tember Challenge: My Passions

Happy Friday!

Today's Blog-tember Challenge prompt is "What are you passionate about?"  So, here are some things that make me tick - I'd love to hear from you in the comments section about some things you are passionate about. Do we have any in common?

A Simple & Silly Survey

Hope you had a wonderful 4th of July weekend! Do you follow me on social media? If so, you may have seen some pictures. If you don't, let's connect!

I found this A-Z survey on Peanut Butter Fingers (she's adorable, and pregnant with her first child!), and I really enjoyed reading her responses. I thought it was so fun, I decided to share my answers as well! 

The 4th Year Begins

Yesterday Spencer and I celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary, which is insane to me. It seems literally like only months ago I was anxiously putting on my dress, opening my beautiful Tiffany bracelet, and crying over the longest, most heartfelt letter from my groom. I will never forget the church doors opening, and seeing him waiting for me at the end of the aisle - laughing because my mom, my dad, and I were all crying as we walked down the aisle together. :)

Bon Voyage!

Happy Wednesday!

I have some big news - tomorrow (Thursday) - Spencer and I are leaving for our big European vacation that we've been saving for! We finally saved enough, and got it all planned out. I can't believe it's here already!

I'd like to ask you for your prayers as we travel, for safe flights, good rest, and for an easy time finding our way around. It's my first time in Europe, but Spencer has been quite a bit, so I get to take advantage of his existing knowledge. :)

We will be making our way to the following cities (in this order). I would LOVE to hear any sightseeing and/or restaurant suggestions you may have!

1. Manchester, England
While we are here, we will be attending the Manchester United v. Arsenal "football" match. Man U is Spencer's favorite team, and I'm along for the ride (and the new t-shirt). Go team red! ;)

2. London, England 
In London we will do quite a bit of sightseeing. A few things on my list are Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, the London Eye, the Tower of London, Big Ben...

3. Paris, France
I'm excited for Paris! I have heard a ton of great things, especially about the food! We know I love food... Also, we are going to take a market cooking class while we're in Paris, which involves going to the market and selecting all of our fresh ingredients. I can't wait!

4. Florence, Italy
Many people have told me that Florence will likely be our favorite city. The architecture, the history, and the people are said to be some of the best. While we are in Florence, we are planning to take a day trip to Tuscany for a wine tour. I'm looking forward to experiencing some of the Italian countryside!

5. Rome, Italy
Our final stop will be in Rome. There are certainly no shortage of sights to see in Rome, and I hope we have time to get to most of them. Which ones do we HAVE to see?


Over the next 2 weeks, I have some guests posts lined up for you. I hope you stick around and get to know some of my blogging friends!


Also, make sure you are following me on my social media accounts. I plan to share some pictures as I have access to wi-fi.


Facebook: Yellow Door Diaries
Twitter: @YellowDoorDiary
Instagram: @YellowDoorDiaries
Pinterest: Yellow Door Diaries


au revoir!  arrivederci!

Our Weekend: For Better or For Worse

Spencer and I spent our Valentine's weekend at the gorgeous, world class Ballantyne Hotel in Charlotte, NC. We enjoyed many of their amenities, including the golf course, amazing restaurant, and their spa by getting a very enjoyable (and much needed) couple's massage. 

I had planned to go into detail about all of the wonderful things we ate and experienced there, but it just does not seem quite appropriate now. When we returned to our room after dinner on Saturday night, I picked up my phone (which I had left in the room) and discovered that my beautiful, amazing Aunt Linda had lost her long battle with breast cancer. 

This is how I know I have found the man for me. While we had a bottle of champagne on ice, chocolate covered strawberries, a cheese plate and a bottle of red wine, all set up in a beautiful hotel suite - pretty much the most romantic scene you could imagine on Valentine's Day - all was forgotten in that moment. We sat and cried (well, I cried, he hugged) for what seemed like an eternity. I got mascara and lip gloss all over his clean white dress shirt. He brought me mounds of tissues and rubbed my back while I ugly-cried. He told me to forget where we were and what we had set up, and to just be sad if I wanted to be. He showed me that caring for me and being by my side in hard times, was much more important than our plans and images of romance we had. 

That, my friends, is romance. Romance is not candles, bubble baths, champagne and lingerie. Romance is kindness, hugs, and commitment. It's being there for someone when things are great and fun, and also when things are hard. It's letting you cry while reassuring you everything will be ok. Because it will be. 

I'll end this post with some pictures. The first pictures are of dinner on Saturday, and the rest I am sharing are of my lovely aunt, who will always be remembered by her friends, family, coworkers, and the entire town where she lived as the fun, cheerful woman who could take on the world with Christ on her side, spreading His love, and now is rejoicing with a healed body in Heaven. One day we all will be reunited again, and what a family reunion that will be!

Delicious surprise in our room!

My Valentine <3

Hubba hubba!

Spencer's Dinner: Elk

My dinner: Cap Steak

Heart-shaped caramel candies from the chef

Ice cream trio: Brown Sugar, Pistachio, Rocky Road

"The righteous perish, and no one ponders it in his heart; devout men are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death."
- Isaiah 57:1-2

She indeed loved the Lord, and He has taken her from the earth to spare her from evil, and has found rest. These verses are a comfort to me.

Making something delicious, no doubt

Dressed for Walk through Bethlehem, which she founded and ran in her town

With her two beautiful daughters. She loved them more than life.

All of the siblings together.

The Foust girls with their parents, my Mamaw and Papaw

At my sister's wedding, radiating joy

She was, and always has been, truly beautiful, inside and out.

Thanks for your kind words and prayers!


Until next time - - 

Valentine's Day Q+A with the Hubs

Since it's both Spencer's birthday week AND the week of Valentine's Day, I thought it would be appropriate to round out the week with another post where I include my awesome husband. Monday I wrote about our wedding dance and Wednesday was a post to celebrate Spencer's birthday. Today is a bit different, however, because this time I involved Spencer by asking him some questions. 

In today's post, I'm sharing his answers - in all of their honesty! Our relationship is of course "not always rainbows and butterflies (it's compromise that moves us along" - name that song), but I'm blessed to have married a man who is committed and in it for the long haul, through the good and bad, and who is willing to work on himself and be open in communicating what he needs me to work on. And that, my friends, is about all you can ask for in a marriage!

Q: What do you remember most about when we first met?
A: We had a bunch of people over to my apartment my junior year of college. I had definitely spotted you earlier in the night but then we ended up standing in line together waiting on our upstairs bathroom. I introduced myself and that was it for the night. I have always taken things pretty slowly, I think more of a confident approach as opposed to timid slow. The rest is a long story, but that was the first night.

Q: Was there a specific moment you knew you loved me? If so, what was it?
A: I don't have a specific moment. We went through quite a lot together over a couple of years and the culmination of your support and commitment eventually got me there. I did have the first sight feeling the first night. I saw you and saw how you handled yourself around other people that night. After getting a feeling for your personality (quick judgement) and your obvious good looks, it definitely crossed my mind in a casual way that maybe you could be the one.

Q: Describe how you felt the moment you proposed.
A: I was definitely a little nervous, but I think the way the night of the proposal unfolded with the bad weather ruining my initial plan made me kind of relax and just try to make the most of it.

Q: What is the hardest part about being married, and how do you work through it?
A: The hardest part about being married is definitely just meshing our 2 different personalities. I am the one that can be by myself in the Man Room with a record on or just relaxing the majority of the time. You need more communication and cuddling, which I totally understand, but it does take a conscious effort and more energy that what I naturally have. I know I have work to do in that area, so as long as you are patient then we can work through it.

Q: Love Languages - do they work?
A: I think for sure they work. The essence of them is just understanding each other's personalities and how to give the other what they really need. Honestly, I don't know that I have much of a "love language." I am a pretty easy going guy that tries to take things as they come without having many expectations from others. Don't get that confused for me not putting expectations on myself. I know you need more attention to your "love language," which I am working on. The things I naturally lack are the things you need so it takes some serious work and energy. The most important thing is that you know I will always love you, which anyone should be able to make come across after years of being together.

Q: What do you look forward to the most about our future?
A: I look forward to seeing as much of the world as possible and sharing different experiences with you and any children we may have. Exposure to different cultures and experiences have been the best way for me to gain my perspective on life. I like when my own perspective and convictions get challenged and the only way for that to happen is to be faced with different views and environments. It either helps you change your perspective or makes it stronger. If it makes it stronger, then I can still appreciate why others see things the way they see them, even if it differs from me.



So there we have it! The husband Q+A, just in time for Valentine's Day. 

I'm curious - how would your spouse or significant other answer these questions? Do you have more similar personalities to one another than Spencer and I have? Are you like us and have to work at it a bit more? What do you do to show him or her your love?

If you aren't familiar with the Love Languages, I cannot recommend learning about them enough! You can find the book here (affiliate link) or go here to take a quick test. If you and your significant other each take the test, you can get the book and each learn how to express love in a way that the other needs to feel it. It's invaluable!

Plans for this weekend? 

Spencer and I are heading to Charlotte to spend a weekend away. We're also using the opportunity to get Piper's second round of shots done, since all of her shots are provided by the rescue in that area where we adopted her. Poor thing doesn't know they're coming. I feel like a mother taking her child for vaccinations - wah! (That's not an invitation to comment about vaccinations, autism, and your opinion on that matter - please don't). 

Whatever you do, I hope it's a wonderful Valentine's Day, whether it's spent with a spouse, significant other, family member(s), friend(s), or even a quiet night at home relaxing. I love you all and appreciate you reading this little blog!

Until next time - - 

One Hunk of a Birthday Boy

Today's post is fully dedicated to my main squeeze, and my forever-more Valentine, Spencer. Because...his birthday is tomorrow! Since I don't post on Thursdays, I wanted to take the opportunity today to celebrate him and the 28 years he has under his belt. 

Let's enjoy some pictures from the early days, shall we? (I hope when we have children that they are as adorable as this child - so cute!)

Thankfully, he continued on in a great and fun childhood (which I love hearing stories about), with his warm and caring family I am now blessed to be a part of. He graduated high school, went to college to play soccer, and met me along the way. After a few years of back and forth (you can read that story here), we decided to spend our lives together. And that will always be the best decision I've ever made. 

"If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing."
1 Corinthians 13:1-3

So to you, my love, on your special day:
Thanks for the love that supports me, comforts me, empowers me, strengthens me, and drives me. Thanks for your hugs, your laughs, your time, your effort, your patience, your serving nature, your generosity, your trust, your compassion, your humbleness, your appreciation, and your belief in me.

You truly are my rock and my best friend.

I love you, and always will.
Happy birthday, babe!

Wedding Dance

Happy Valentine's Week!

During the month of February, there never seems to be a lack of flowers, chocolates, and all things Valentines Day. Personally, I have always been a fan of Valentine's Day, whether or not I was in a relationship. I just think it's a great reminder to do something special for someone you love, and to let those close to you know how much they mean to you. Of course, this should be done year-round, but if we're honest, we just don't let those special people know how dear they are often enough.

In the spirit of February and love, I am using one of Anne's (Love the Here and Now) blogging prompts this morning from this post: What was your wedding song?

The song Spencer and I danced to at our wedding is the Michael Buble version of "Crazy Love." It was short, up-beat, not too sappy, and well known enough to be able to be requested when we are out on the town. We love Michael Buble, his voice and style, so after eliminating some other options, the choice wasn't very hard. We've since requested it at a couple of weddings, and when we were out dancing last New Year's Eve. It's fun to have "a song," and even better when it's a song as timeless as Crazy Love. And besides, Michael Buble is just a stud. 

What songs are special to you, and why?

Kitchen Cabinet Makeover: Part II

I left you on Part I of this project with my father-in-law painting doors in the freezing cold garage (did I mention what a trooper he is?). - If you missed Part I, you can catch up here.

Once the everything had 2 coats of the chalk paint, I went back and sealed everything with one coat of Minwax water-based polycrylic for a few reasons. One, I have experience with it. Two, it is more durable for something that will get a lot of use, like kitchen cabinets, than the wax that is recommended for chalk paint. And third, I went with a water-based rather than an oil-based to avoid the cabinets yellowing.

Once everything was FINALLY painted and sealed, I got to hang it all back up! It was so nice to again hide the mess that is inside of our cabinets (which I begrudgingly shared in Part I - but hey, gotta keep it real). 

For hardware, I went with oil rubbed bronze, which is a current favorite finish of mine. I like the look of pulls for drawers (we got these) mixed with knobs for doors (we got these), so that's what I went for! I ordered online from Lowes.com because my local Lowes didn't have as many as I needed in stock. They finally arrived, and when Spencer had a couple of free nights, he measured and made two templates - one for the drawer pulls and one for the door knobs. Clever, isn't he?

He marked where the holes needed to be drilled with a pen, and went back in and started drilling. I followed behind him putting the knobs and pulls in place. Easy, peasy!

Are you ready to see the final results?



Are you sure?



Are you really sure??



Ok...here we go!

What do you think? Is this a project you would take on?

What DIY projects are on your list?


Until next time - - 

And Then There Were Three

Our family has expanded!

No, I didn't have a baby, nor am I expecting. But we did get a puppy! It is my extreme pleasure to introduce you to Piper, the newest member of the Lewis family (please excuse the poor picture quality from my phone)!

Let me start by saying that I have been wanting a puppy since Spencer and I got married in June 2012. He travels quite a bit for work, and I thought a puppy would be great to keep me company. Spencer wasn't sold, though, because of the amount of work and responsibility that comes along with a dog (valid point). Last week, out of the blue, Spencer told me he was not opposed to getting a puppy any longer! Needless to say, exactly one week later I was signing adoption papers for little Piper. Yay!

We adopted Piper through the North Mecklenburg Animal Rescue in Charlotte, NC. I left work early on Friday afternoon to drive up and see her - and to bring her home!

My friend, Alyssa, lives in Charlotte and went with me to see Piper (formerly Delilah at the rescue, and Snowflake in her foster home). She loved her just as much as I did! Here is Alyssa holding her when we got back into the car.

Piper wasn't quite sure what to think, and I can't say she loved the car ride. She cried a bit, and slept a bit. Hopefully she will get accustomed to car rides the more we take them!

It took a day or so, but she seems to be coming out of her shell. Piper loves squeaky toys (thanks to Golden Retriever cousin, Titan, for the squeaky bone toy!) and she loves her Nylabone. I must also brag on her, as she has only had one accident! She pooped on the bathroom floor overnight, but otherwise she potties when we go outside, and she uses the piddle pad quite well! I am so impressed.

You can expect to see Piper from now on throughout the blog. I'll try to keep it to a minimum, but she's just so darn cute. I mean, just look at her and Spencer hanging out watching the Super Bowl in his man room. I'm melting!

I'm just wondering how I will manage to get out the door for work and leave this sweet girl behind. Maybe I can sneak her in my purse. ;) 

Also, congratulations to @erikalynn337, the winner of our $100 Target card via the Instagram giveaway! 

Until next time - -