Sunday, October 14, 2012

Crazy Holiday Months

Is it just me or do the months of October, November, and December just fly by? I can not even believe that October is almost halfway gone and that all of my favorite holidays are right around the corner! And even though today's date is not even half way through October, I have OFFICIALLY started my Christmas shopping and have already crossed three of my favorite little people off the list! This my friends is a big deal!

I make Christmas shopping my personal challenge to get everyone I know name brand everything but for the lowest price possible. I use coupons at every single store, to the point that I won't even go in if I don't have a trusty "coup" in my hand.  While this may seem extreme, between the hubs and I, we buy holiday gifts for a total of about 28 people. That is extreme! On top of that, I always make doggie gift bags for our furry friends. It can be a hectic time of year to say the least...

But not this year! I have outlined a list of the things I am going to do to make this shopping experience as quick and painless as possible.

1. NOT shopping on black friday. There is nothing that is worth waiting in line hours for and chances are it will be cheaper again right before Christmas anyway.

2. Doing all children's gifts the same so that they are cohesive and easy to put together.  Last year we did movie baskets for each of the kids and this year we will be doing the same as they went over so well! They looked a little like this :

Picture from Pinterest!
 
3. For everyone else I plan on shopping with a coupon or on Amazon using my prime free two-day shipping! That will be hard to beat as amazon usually has the lowest prices and with free shipping I won't even have to leave my house!
 
So that is my game plan...I am hoping that this works.  With 25 people left to shop for, I am going to do my best to get moving!
 
 

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Excitement

There is a feeling of excitement in the air this week! The hubs and I are headed on a mini-vacation to Boston! We are going to be spending some serious time together which is hard to come by lately. We have tickets to see one of our favorite bands play and some dates set up with family ( some of Matt's family lives there and some is going out as the same time as us). Fortunately, some of our other family members have taken on the responsibility of house/dog watching. As excited as I am, I also get so nervous letting other people watch my fur babies. I know they will be fine but I always get so anxious about it.


I am also excited that it is officially October! One more month until my birthday month, our fur babies birthdays are this month, and October is full of warm and cozy things. We have another fun trip planned for the end of the month as well as a visit half way through from some friends. I can't wait!!!

And lastly, all of our house projects are mostly complete.  After a visit from some friends who have volunteered to help me paint a little, there will be NO projects on the to-do list. Unheard of !!! I think I am going to have to come up with some new ideas and things that I want to work on in our house.

What are you most looking forward to this October?

Saturday, September 29, 2012

Rainy Day Reflection

Now that summer is officially over, I usually fall into some sort of rut because I feel like the best part of the year is over. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE fall and winter is OK too. But summer is really where all the good times are at. Especially this summer! We got married, went on an amazing honeymoon, went on vacation with family, and just generally had a good time together.

As happy as the summer was, 2012 as a whole was also full of some of the most trying times in my life. My good friends lost a baby to a rare disease which really hit me hard. I ended a friendship with someone who was toxic, and had a pretty serious back injury that is still affecting me today. So needless to say, I am ok to watch 2012 fade away. There are still some good months coming up though! My birthday month ( November) is my favorite month for obvious reasons. My birthday and the best mashed potatoes ever both fall in this month and I can't wait for it!

So now I am wondering what there is to look forward too. What will 2013 bring? Well we are starting this year off like we have every other year; in a cabin far away from the parties and club scene that usually takes place on New Year's Eve. I love nothing more than being all bundled up sitting next to a fire waiting for the changing of the years!

In February we are heading to Cabo with both of our families in tow. We went together last year and I have memories from that week that I will cherish forever. There is nothing better than spending a week in gorgeous weather with great company.

This is a picture from our resort!


And finally at the start of  the year, Matt will be graduating from graduate school! This has been a long time in the works and I am so excited for him. We are going to have a huge party to truly celebrate this momentus occasion.

So even though this time of year may be chilly and somewhat depressing, right around the corner there are some great experiences waiting!

What are you looking forward to for the rest of 2012 and going in to 2013?

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Frush is Fresh

So the other day I was sent a wonderful package of information along with coupons to try a new product called Frush. According to their website "früsh™ is real fruit blended together with rich, creamy yogurt and all-natural health boosters like probiotics, calcium, and fiber." I ran to my local store to use my free coupons to purchase this product.  I had never heard of this product before so I was unsure where I could find it but it was alas it was located in the dairy aisle in between the yogurt and the milk.  There were 4 flavors available at my local store and I decided on the peach flavor. 
I had this as my snack from my classroom desk and I have to say that I really enjoyed it! While the size is a little on the small side ( it is about as tall as the markers that it is next to) it really does pack a punch. It was filling enough to hold me over until lunch time and it was delicious as well! Nutritionally it does have milk products in it which tends to bother my stomach but it did not this time.  I will absolutely be a buyer of these great yogurt and fruit shake from now on! Thank you to frush for sending me free coupons to try this great new product out! 

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Baby Fever...It's Real

Well I think the title says it all! Baby fever is a real disease. I always thought that this was something that was made up. Other girls my age would say they have it and I would dismiss them and think that they were just giving an excuse for wanting to have a baby at such a young age or as a way to tell people they were ready to start trying. Well its not any of those things. This is real! 


(This is not any baby I know but it is a baby that came up when I googled "baby fever"! )

I wake up everyday thinking about how much I want to have a baby. It is not just the act of actually having the baby here with me but the act of being a mom and all of the fun adventures that come with it.  I picture a baby rocker in the living room, I picture the color the of the nursery, I picture the bedding, and I picture what my sweet little baby will look like. It is all consuming! 

I know that most would say I am too young ( almost 26) but we are married ( for a mere 3 months), we own a house, and we both think that this is a very do-able thing right now! I want to be a young mom so I can chase after my kids and see them go off to college and watch them have my grandbabies. I want to be able to enjoy this so much without the risks that get higher as a women's age goes up.  I want this! 

So folks be prepared, baby fever is real and when it hits it will take over your life! Watch out for more baby related posts! Even though I am not pregnant it doesn't mean I can't dream! 

Did you ever have baby fever? What were some things that you did to help squash it?

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

What I'm Loving Wednesday

 These adorable Andy Warhold designed soup cans from Target. I LOVE the design so much I don't even want to open the soup! 









 I want this printed somewhere in my kitchen. If I am ever having a bad day a cupcake is a sure fire way to make it better. The hubs knows this too. When I call and say you better come home with something sweet, he knows its been a doozy of a day. 
Speaking of sweet treats, candy corn flavored Oreos are to die for! My coworkers and I ate an entire bag. Gone. Dunzo. As in I am going to have to drive to Target again tonight to buy more.



And finally, this beautiful sky the other night on a bike ride with my mom and sister. It was gorgeous. One of those just before sunset skies that really make you think that things are perfect! 



What are you loving this Wednesday?

Sunday, September 9, 2012

DIY for Fall

I absolutely love decorating for ALL holidays but I don't like spending a lot of money doing it. I have scanned Pinterest for hours looking for awesome DIY decorating ideas to save a few dollars here and there. My favorite project so far has been a yarn wreath! It was super easy to make and only cost $20 at Hobby Lobby when most premade wreaths are upwards of $40. 

To start the wreath project you will need two balls of yarn in seasonal appropriate colors or one ball if you would like to stick to one color. I found that the alternating colors gave the wreath a little more charm. A straw or foam wreath to wrap, and some seasonal decor.  I used some faux leaves and sprigs.  The longest part of this project was wrapping the yarn around the wreath tightly. I think it took about an hour and half to do this. Then I attached the leaves and pumpkins by wrapping more yarn around their sticks.  Finally I finished it with a ribbon and hung it on my front door! This is what it looks like hanging up in all of its glory: 


I hope you get a chance to tackle some Fall DIY projects this September! 

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Foreshadowing

It was like I knew the other day that after all of the amazing and fun times this week there would be something that would happen to put a damper on the happy go lucky feeling.  My parents dog has been sick for quite a while now. About 7 months ago she was diagnosed with tumors on her liver and went downhill very quickly.  She lost about 20 pounds over the few short months and hasn't really been able to eat over the last week. Tonight my family had to decide to put her to sleep and end the suffering that we saw taking place.  Our vet was very supportive of this decision and said it was the most kind choice to make. We will miss her though because she really earned a special place in our life after 12 years together! 

I came home to my house and squeezed my fur babies with the husband for a little bit longer. So even though it may sound a bit dramatic, today could be the best day of your life and you have no idea what tomorrow might bring so cherish the smell of the air, the feel of the sunshine on your cheeks, and overwhelming happiness that you have because tomorrow could bring about something very different. 

Monday, August 27, 2012

Falling into Fall

Love the corny title! Fall is coming up so quickly that I feel like I have been free falling into this next season! I love the change of seasons that takes place every few months, but especially the Summer to Fall change. There is something so cozy about the leaves turning color, snuggling inside from the frost, drinking apple cider, and picking pumpkins. September always puts a smile on my face!


 Because I love this change of season so much, I am jumping the gun and decorating for fall today!!! I know this is a little premature but with school starting next week I know I won't be left with a lot of time to do the things that really make me happy like decorating the house. I also can't wait to get in the fall spirit and have already planned a date night later in the week with the hubby that has to do with a outdoor fall activity. Speaking of decorating, I found some ideas on the ever popular Pinterest that I thought I just love!  





How cute are these stacked pumpkins! I am going to go to our local dollar store and try to find some to recreate this!










And these pumpkin ideas are all so unique and would make perfect centerpieces!

What is your favorite fall activity and when will you be decorating? Do you wait until after Labor Day?

Saturday, August 25, 2012

It's Over

Well this week went by entirely too fast and my friends had to leave last night to return back home. They had taken their weeks vacation to come see me and the hubs ( and our fur babies, they are in LOVE with them). We finished up our week together by visiting what I would call the best place to visit in Upstate New York. Saratoga!

Saratoga is an area that has lots of shopping off of a street named Broadway, the famous race track is a minutes drive away from the shopping area, and the side streets are littered with awesome little bars that each have their own unique charm. While we didn't make it up to the track, we did make it out to enjoy the nightlife!
 
We spent the night enjoying tasty drinks, dancing, and socializing. By the time we made it home at 2:30 a.m. we were all exhausted! It was such a fun night and I hope there are many more together in our future. Best friends sure have a way of making everything feel special!

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Life

I have been thinking a lot about life in general and came to the realization that life is really what you make of it. If you are going out with your friends and you are dreading it for one reason or another its going to be a horrible night no matter how amazing the possibility of it might be. If you are going shopping and you feel terrible about yourself and just know that nothing is going to look great the odds of finding an amazing outfit go from 100% down to nill.

On the other hand, if you wake up each day and make a promise to yourself that that day will be the best day of your life, I bet you will be able to find some pretty magical moments in those short 24 hours. A glass half full approach might sound a bit like fromage but it really does work.  Be happy in the now, live today like it could be the best day of your life because tomorrow might be the worst. 

I am feeling very appreciative today and just thought I would share! <3

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Visitors

Long time no see! I have had visitors for the past week! Those visitors would include two of my best friends up from the Orange County area! We have been doing so much different things this week that I haven't even had a chance to sit down and read the blogs that I love let alone post on  my own!

For starters, we have been doing so many outdoor activities because the weather has been excellent! We went climbing at a place in the Lake George region called Adirondack Extreme. It is an incredibly challenging ropes course that takes several hours to complete. It was quite a workout. I was also pretty impressed with the height of the ropes. You are in charge or clicking yourself on and off of the ropes and at some points we were between 30 and 60 feet in the air! I took a picture looking down just so I could remember how high it was!



We also took a few hours wandering around downtown Lake George and stopped at a psychic! We each went and had our palms read. I am not sure if I completely believe in psychics but she did tell me some things that I loved hearing! She asked if twins run in the family and I told her that they do on Matt's side. She told me I could be expecting twins in the near future!!! I was OVERJOYED! Only time will tell though I suppose!  
Do you believe in psychics or do you think like I do? I choose to believe because she told me things that I want to hear! 
 

Monday, August 6, 2012

Wedding Recap/ Prepping and the Ceremony

One month ago today the hubs and I had the best day of our lives! I know that everyone says that about their wedding but this day was truly spectacular. I don't want to go into every detail of the day but I did want to share some of the more magical parts. 

To begin the day, all of my maids met me at the hotel for hair and makeup.  Some of us had such a spectacular time the night before that an 8 a.m. wake-up call was very difficult.  We were primped and pampered for several hours while listening to music, snacking, and drinking our fair share of mimosas and wine.  The time flew by quickly and soon it was time to put on my dress!

Once we were all picture perfect we made our way over to the ceremony and reception site ( there were in the same place). We enjoyed 1 drink during our hour long wait and watched as all of the people filed in.  We had about 300 guests so it was fun to watch everyone walk in! Exactly at 6 p.m. we headed downstairs and started the walk down the aisle.  I was escorted by my dad which meant the world to me. He is such a strong presence in my life and I had to tell him so many times not to make me cry! 

Our ceremony was uber nontraditional as neither of us go to church or are religious. I actually wrote the entire ceremony for our officiant to perform.  We also chose to write our own vows.  When the time came to read them the hubs looked at me and asked "Who goes first?" I told him that I didn't think it mattered and he responded with "Great, I am going first and I am whispering them!" Needless to say I was a little shocked but I thought it was a very romantic way to tell me how he felt about me without anyone else hearing. I also spoke my vows very quietly.  It was the joke of the day that the vows would be online later if people wanted to see them. 

Finally we were pronounced Mr. & Mrs. and walked down the isle with nothing but smiles!



More wedding recaps will be coming on the 6th of every month so that I can reminisce this special day for our entire first year of marriage!


Sweet Life

Welcome to the first blog post from the newlyweds! This blog will be used to document the everyday life that we both consider to be pretty sweet. How could it not be ? Even our initials scream candy coated chocolate!!! We are 2 twenty-something newlyweds ( married 1 month!) who want to share everything (even the nitty gritty details) about our life together.

To get started here is a brief recap of everything over the past 5 years! We met in 2008 and after that chance encounter set up by friends we were inseperable. We have been together every since! We moved in together in 2010, engaged in 2011 and and married in 2012.  Along the way we have acquired 2 fur babies, bought a house, completly renovated every room in the house, and worked full time!

This blog will be here to keep track of the cooking, baking, crafting, decorating, and teaching of the sweetest part of this two-some; the wifey. I can't wait to share all of the amazing things that we experience on a day to day basis as well as the fun things that fall in to there as well. I hope you enjoy!

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