Not-Resolutions 2009 - the recap

In January, I blogged about the 10 things that I would NOT do in 2009... you can read the post here, I wanted to catch you up, come clean on what I did/did not hold up to, and start thinking about my 10 NOT-resolutions for 2010.

1. Let more than a week go by without seeing my Godson.

I actually did pretty good. It's hard not to. First, Jackson is so stinkin cute, and fun to be around. (It does not hurt that his momma is one of my besties). But I wasn't perfect. There were a few weeks scattered in that I didn't get to see him... but, I think he understands. :)

2. Beat myself up for not working out as much as I need to.

Puh-lease. I followed Ashley and her 20/20 Challenge from Ashisfit.com and lost a bunch of weight (that I have proceeded to gain back since the wedding... that's another post). Mostly, I didn't work out, I just ate better. So BIG check mark here. I guess I don't care if I don't work out as long as I'm not a fatty. :)

3. Bring work home from the office more than 1 night a week.

Oh the things I didn't know when I posted this!! In Feb of 2009 I took a promotion that came with an hour and 15 minute ONE WAY commute. (Yes, almost 3 hours a day in the car). So I can proudly say that I did not bring work home often. Once I work 10 hours a day and drive 3... there is no more working. Aside from the occasional schedule or conference call - I rocked this one!

4. Make myself say "Yes" to something I really do not want to do.

I had kind of an "ah-ha" moment with this one...Sometimes I don't THINK I want to do stuff (because I have too much other crap that needs to get done) ie: I don't WANT to drive 45 minutes to have lunch with a friend on my day off because I will be overcome with gilt that I played when I have laundry, dishes, cleaning, cooking, ect to take care of... but, when I force myself make time for those things... they are the best "Yes"s I say.

5. Stress about what other people think of our wedding.

Done. Our wedding was the most special day of our lives. I could care less if you had fun or not... or if you like buffets, barefoot brides, or beach weddings! haha

6. Hold grudges for anything that happened last year. (Ok, I'll try not to)

I was kidding... I didn't even attempt this...

7. Immediately change into "lounge" clothes when I get home from work.

This lasted about a month. When I was at my lowest weight, the couple of months around the wedding, I did better because jeans or whatever I wore to work were not uncomfortable... now that I have packed on the lbs... I'm back in pajamas. ugh. I hate myself. FAIL.

8. Spend more time watching TV than reading.

I did read more... finished 7 books this year... I know, where do I get the time. However, I did my fare share of TV watching. But, I LOVE TV, and the hubs and I have a couple of shows that we like to watch together... DVR is the Devil to my #8 not resolution!

9. Be a better housewife. What I am now is good enough.

I am not going to lie... I had a couple break downs about this one... work, and wedding just got to be too much. I hired a maid because I just didn't feel like I could do it all myself. But, then that made me feel even more worthless. I'm back at it... being all Martha Stewart and shit. Yea for our regular life!

10.Forget to be Thankful everyday. We are very blessed.

I have not forgotten this...I am so thankful. We are so blessed to be heading into 2010 together. Healthy. Happy. I could not ask for more.

I Heart Christmas... part 2

{Opening presents at my in-laws.
Much more fun when there are little kids there}


{Gathering on the back deck of my grannys house in ATL...}


{Our Frist Married Christmas... it was one to remember!}

I Heart Christmas... part 1

{Lots and lots of Christmas eve snacks... check}


{Fire in the fireplace... check}


{My grandparents down from New York for the holidays... check}


{Presents.... check}


{and moms that get WAY too excited about gifts from Michaels! :) check!}

Merry Christmas!

Wishing all my blog friends a very Merry Christmas and a safe and healthy New Year!!

Pounce...

Have you ever done this... on etsy.com

You can just "pounce" on items that recently sold, or shops that are waiting for a sale. It is addictive.

A little something for me...

$16 via LolaBlossom

I wish I knew a baby girl that needed these adorable hats...

$29 via SparkleberryCrafts

Helarious cards

$15 set of 5 via Port Hope Press

Scrabble pillows with my godsons name (or 1/2 of it)

$98 via pillowhappy

I am thinking about getting a wall decal in Jan when we re-do our master bedroom... an "R" would be nice...

$19.99 via SimplyStickItDesigns

I could just browse all day...

A small thank you...

One of my "resolutions", if you will, for Christmas this year is to actually USE some of the stuff I've been accumulating at after Christmas sales for the past 2-3 years. I have quite the stash! :)

Today I whipped up some survival kits for my 6 managers... after Black Friday... they deserve it!


{I have a love/hate relationship with my edge rounder punch}


{A couple of add ons for the hot co-co}


{I LOVE making my own gift tags!}


{All together now!}


{wrapped and ready to roll}

All 6 of these cost me less than $5... sure, at some point I had to buy the mugs, and the paper, and stuff... but, all I had to buy today was marshmallows and hot chocolate mix! Whoot! Whoot!

I'm so THANKFUL...

I have a thankful heart all year... but, in November I get extra thankful. Recently several people in my inner circle have been having a difficult time... loss of jobs, loss of family members, difficulties raising babies, and rough relationships. The hubs and I feel so blessed... more blessed than we deserve to be. God is so good.

Three years ago we started something that I had no idea would turn into one of my most prized traditions...We like to snuggle in bed on Thanksgiving morning and share our appreciation and our thankfulness for the biggest and the littlest things in life... I wanted to share a few of mine with you.

{My Godly and loving relationship with my soul mate}
{our annoying puppy... who I love more than you can imagine}
{nicknames-terms of endearment that mean so much to me. prea.}
{our beautiful house, that although I am always trying to redecorate, we are blessed to have a place to raise our family}
{our jobs - exnay the commute}
{our family... healthy, happy, and each living very special and fulfilled lives}
{time... although it will never be enough, we make a special effort to spend QUALITY time together, and I cherish every minute}
{best friends, the ones you know will always be in your life}
{my monogram address stamp... vein, I know}
{our budget. DO NOT tell the hubs I said this. But, I am thankful that someone is looking out for our future. That someone is not me. Oh look, a sale!}


Have an amazing Thanksgiving.

Wedding Post 3: The Programs

The programs took a lot of my time... I knew I wanted a fan (because it's beachy) but I wanted it to match our other stationary with the coral...here. We had the same etsy seller {beyonddesign} that created our invitations print the programs and then Mom made them into fans... they turned out awesome.


{Chris's Mom reading the program at the wedding}

My favorite thing about the programs was an idea I got from my MOH... When she and her hubs got married 7 years ago they opted to turn the microphones off and have the vows be a more personal moment. They printed their vows on the programs so the guests could read along. For us, we were concerned that people would not be able to hear us...with the waves crashing and all... :) So we printed our wedding party on the front and our vows on the back. Not a dry eye on the beach.


{the back of our program}

Funny how I didn't get an actual picture of the programs...oh, well. I kept one.

Wedding Post 2: The Flowers

I am so blessed. Really. I had a talented wedding possie that you would not believe. One of my BFFs Carla (we call her lala) used to be a florist, and she offered to do the flowers for the wedding! I couldn't say yes fast enough and I emailed her weekly photos of inspiration. We had a few practice runs at the cupcake party (I posted about here, here, and here)

I really wanted white/green for me... and we thought about several different things for the girls... but could never decide. She ended up doing them each their own color and the looked A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. The best part of all of it... is that I felt relaxed. I knew she would do an beautiful job and so I didn't stress. The day of the wedding lala was locked up in the bedroom...




{Do you like it?}


{eeeepppp!!!}








And, lala made flowers for the mothers/grandmothers.
Something I had not even thought of.
Thanks lala love you.


I didn't even notice until the pro pics came back, but they put their bouquets in vases at the reception too... super cute. Thanks ladies.

Wedding Post 1: My Dress

Posting about the wedding has been hanging over my head... I started asking myself WHY? Why am I stressing about sharing the best day of my life with the 10 strangers that read my blog? Do I share how much we spent, things I would do differently, just the pics, or a run down of each thing? I decided that what I want to do is leave a gift for myself. Something I can read through in 10 years when we have kids, and careers, and a busy life.... when I can't even remember my own name I want to be able to look back and remember the details of the day that started the rest of my life! :)

Let's start with the dress... shall we? I bought it at Davids Bridal. I was torn. We had a small budget that I was planning a destination wedding within. And this dress was about double what I originally planned on spending. I poured through on-line sites like PreOwnedWeddingDresses.com, message boards at theknot.com, woreitonce.com, and bravobride.com trying to find the same dress that another bride was selling... the very few that I did find were too small/too large or in the "pure white" color. (not what I had in mind...but, I did consider tea bagging it!) I was obsessed to say the least. I took a small entourage with me the 2nd time I tried it on at the store...they were surprised at the style. Lace? Off White? I was a little surprised too...but, I was in.love.with.it.

Trying it on in the store...




And so... cha-ching, we bought it. $800 with tax. I spent another $120 on alterations and had the sash made.

And a few pics of the dress in action. I can't imaging getting married in anything else. This dress was made for my wedding! :)











Note to not-yet-brides that plan to marry on the beach:
1. Wear a slip or something, or your dress will blow between your legs like Aladdin pants, boo. {pic below}

Well... it's Friday!

And I have managed to get off track again! :) hehe I am really determined to start the wedding recaps next week, so until then... enjoy our Christmas decorations I put up on Tuesday. (I know, I know, respect the Turkey) But, I work in retail, and I just can't help myself! :)








I even put lights on the little tree in our bedroom... hehe

Honeymoon: 5

Just a few more pics... we had an amazing honeymoon... one that I know will we remember and cherish for the rest of our lives.

"Happiness consists of living each day as if it were the first day of your honeymoon and the last day of your vacation”

Honeymoon: 4

{Welcome to nassau!}


{We took a boat to a private island and practically had the entire beach to ourselves. It was amazing}








{Amazing weather, and I loved having my chair right in the water}


{always willing to do anything to make me smile}


{Our towel that night}

*Tomorrows post: Final recaps