Butterfly Sparks Designs

Sunday, October 23, 2011

A milestone marking a goodbye

It's amazing what you can learn in five years! It's just as amazing how fast five years can fly by!


When I started my blog in October of 2006, I had no idea the impact it would make in some people's lives... I also had no idea the impact it would make on me as I looked back over my years of growth, adventure, heart break, new beginnings, transitions and much, much more. You see, I started this blog mainly so my family could keep up with my life while I lived in Nashville. Being 12 hours away from home was something completely new for me and I thought my parents would enjoy seeing & reading my life instead of getting a few 15 minute phone calls here and there. It was a way for me to share pictures, stories and life without racking up an insanely high phone bill each month. Well, it was a success :)

I've been reading back over the stories and the moments, and it's been so crazy to see this timeline unfold in words and pictures. Like, how on December 24, 2006 I talk about the stars... how bright the sky is at my parent's and I can really remember that night and that feeling. It's like the happiness jumps right off the screen.

And then there was May 2009, when Brock and Auny took me on a cruise to Coco Cay, Bahamas! The pictures from that post are unbelievable. The whole trip was amazing and I honestly can't think of a better way to spend the first week of May :)

I could seriously bring up several posts and memories from the past five years, but I'm not because that's why I have blog that shows them to me (and you) within a few clicks!

Now, you're probably wondering 'what is the point of this blog post' and I promise I'm getting to it. See, I love looking back and reading the stories. It's awesome to see the changes, good and bad, that have occurred in my life. I've enjoyed all the comments and sweets encouragement that my followers have posted over the years... It's made blogging worth it. But, there comes a time for change and this is one of those times.

For the ones that have kept up with my blog all these years, you know that my posts have become sparse and I haven't had (made) the time to write the way I used to. It's been difficult to write... I mean, it's been difficult to keep up with life, haha. So, my next sentence is one that I've thought long and hard about and it just needs to happen at this time in my life...

All good things must come to an end, so my dear friends, I am ending my Chasing Paper Stars blog.

Now, I'm not doing this because it's bad or I hate writing or I don't have anything to say... I have plenty to say. I so many things swirling around in my head that could be awesome in a blog post, but I just need to step away from blogging for while. I'm not sure how long, but I can tell you that when (or if) I decide to blog again, my blog will have a new name and a new purpose :) It's sad and exciting all at the same time!!

So friends, thanks for all the love and support over these past five years! And don't worry, just because the blog's gone doesn't mean that I'm gonna quit chasing paper stars!

Monday, September 05, 2011

Two whole years

Can you believe that?! Guess you need to know what I'm talking about first, huh? Well, I'm referring to my relationship with Mr. Kevin Walters. Today marks two years that we've been together and what a perfectly, challenging roller coaster that I don't ever want to get off of :)


If there is anything I have learned in my 29 years, it's that relationships take work, compromise and dedication. I do feel that love and romance are a huge part, but at the end of the day a relationship is a loving dedication that will always be a work in progress.

Two years is a long time. It's ample amount of time to realize things that you love and things that drive you crazy about your boyfriend/girlfriend. But I don't believe it's enough time to have figured any one person out ... considering our minds are always changing, our knowledge is always growing and our surroundings are always challenging us to try new things and experiences. If I look back to the person I was in 2009 when Kevin and I met, I can honestly say I am one different girl today. And it could be in the small things... like I now love Root Beer. In 2009 I had never even tried it. Or it could be in the big things... like I now want something more for my life. I have some career goals and some personal goals that weren't in my mind in 2009. It's like a gradual change over time.

What I'm getting at is that our relationship looks a lot different than it did in September of 2009. It has matured and grown and I love how when continue to learn from one another and we continue to grow, not only as a couple but individually. It's fun to see the new ideas we have and the goals that we yearn to achieve.

Now, want to see what we did for our two year mark?! I thought you would :)




Saturday, July 30, 2011

Day 30 - A Picture that Describes You Perfectly

This is pretty much me! I don't have much to give, but I will give you my heart and my love!


Thanks for reading along with my 30 day challenge! I hope that you wer inspired or at least entertained by learning more about me and my life :)

Friday, July 29, 2011

Day 29 - A Picture that Can Always Make You Smile

This picture can make me smile even on the worst days!


When my best friend's little boy, Luke was like 6 months old, Kevin and I went to visit. Luke took a liking to Kevin immediately and he was loving time getting to play with this new guy in his life. Luke had a fascination with Kevin's nose (as you can see) and I thought it was the cutest thing ever :)

This picture brings a giggle to me every time I look at it. LOVE IT!

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Day 28 - A Picture of Something That Always Makes Your Day


The Caswell sunset, which I'm looking at right now :)

It always makes my day... just wish I could see it more often these days!

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Day 27 - A Picture of Yourself and a Family Member


This is me and my little (bigger) brother at the Boston Red Sox vs. Atlanta Braves game in 2009. It was a great game but definitely one of the hottest baseball games I've ever been to.

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Day 26 - A Picture of Something that Means a lot to You

So I'm realizing that I don't take enough pictures to be able to post on my blog the expectations of this Challenge :(

I don't have a picture of the something that means a lot to me so I'll just describe it to you...

In the summer of 2002, I started working at Camp Caswell. Greatest Summer Ever! Anyway, I have a lunch bag with the theme from that summer ('That New Thing'). Now I know what your thinking... Really? A lunch bag? Let me explain... In that lunch bag there is about 1000 pictures from that summer. Pictures of people who are still my best friends today, 9 years later. I love to look through that lunch bag and remember that summer. The super early mornings and the extremely late evenings. Cleaning Oceana and finding surprises every Sunday that made us laugh and laugh and laugh. Running the putt putt course for hours and hours in the 100 degree gym. Listening the Amy Salley give us instructions over the radio. The Mountain Dew... Oh the Mountain Dew. The talks. The tears. The Worship. Vespers. Hatch. Oh my, I could type for hours.

Yep, that lunch bag is special to me! Extremely special :)

Monday, July 25, 2011

Day 25 - A Picture of Your Day

This is a picture of my day :)


I am at the beach with my family and my niece, Summer found/rescued a snail. She has placed it in a cup with glass, dirt, a rock and a sprinkle of water... everything a snail would need to make it in the cup world, haha.

It's such a relaxing day! I could get used to this!

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Day 24 - A Picture of Something You Wish You Could Change

I wish I could make cupcakes healthy :)

I could seriously eat one a day... but since they're fattening I don't.

I wish I could change that!

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Day 23 - A Picture of Your Favorite Book

Okay, don't laugh but my favorite book is...



...yes and I'm not kidding. Not even a little bit!

Friday, July 22, 2011

Day 22 - A Picture of something You Wish You were better at



Yep! I want to be a better runner... and I'm getting there. Slowly but surely :)

Practice makes perfect right?