Back to Reality...

Well, we got back from our trip on Saturday night after a long day of driving (13 HOURS!!!). We had a fantastic time & even though the weather had been forecasted to be terrible, we had beautiful sunny blue skies everyday!!! We spent most days on the beach just lounging around & relaxing. Then at night we had fantastic food to eat & did some shopping!! We also made a quick visit to Seaside, Florida which is an adorable little town where The Truman Show was taped a few years ago. We had a great time with my parents, but we were definitely glad to be home. Plus, my in-laws are also in town staying at our house--they are here until Wed morning. What a busy week...I'll try and post some more pics later this week once I get them all organized!

Beach Bunny

In approximately 48 hours, I will be here...

& enjoying these each evening!

Tomorrow at noon, my Hubby & I are taking off work and heading to Destin, Florida with my parents for an entire week!!! Woohoo!!! My brother & sister-in-law are joining us for the first part of our trip then they're heading down to Naples to spend some time with her family. I can't wait to feel the sand beneath my toes. I've traveled to lots of places & it's really difficult to find a place that has sand as soft & white as the Florida Panhandle. Hopefully I'll come back with a nice bronze tan!!! Have a great Memorial Day...I know I will!

Anniversary Celebration

Hubby & I made dinner reservations to celebrate our anniversary & we headed out to a local steakhouse called Flame. They normally have fantastic food & we weren't disappointed. We both ordered filet mignon & they were both cooked perfectly! We also got a free dessert because Hubby told them it was our anniversary when he made the reservations. Flourless chocolate cake with raspberry sauce & whipped cream...YUMMM!!!!

A mini-photo session with the self-timer!

Another fun shot before heading out to dinner!

Since we're trying to watch our budget & we are headed to Florida with my parents next week, we opted not to do official anniversary presents. Besides, the traditional gift for a 2nd anniversary is cotton...there really isn't anything personal about buying my husband a shirt, a towel, or a set of sheets for our anniversary. So, I chose a sweet Hallmark card & called it good. However, I had hinted that flowers are always welcome. ;o) When I got home from work there was a beautiful bouquet of spring flowers. What a great Hubby I have!

2 years & counting...

Today is our 2nd Wedding Anniversary. It's hard to believe that 2 years have already passed since I said "I Do" to the love of my life. We've had some ups & downs & I know I've certainly learned so much about myself in those 2 years. I've learned that those times when we can just be ourselves & laugh & cry are those that I cherish the most. I've learned that it's those little things about Hubby that make me love him the most...even when he drives me crazy. I've realized that as long as we remember the love we share for each other & turn to God each day, we'll be able to make it through anything--both good & bad. I've come to appreciate the ways in which we are different people & I'm realizing that we don't need to be exactly alike to love each other like crazy, because it's those differences that make us the couple we are & I can't imagine things being any more wonderful.

Right before we saw each other for the first time..we chose to see each other before the ceremony & it was one of the best decisions we made for that day!

Our getaway car, a surprise from my parents...a Vintage Rolls Royce!

My husband lights up my world & there isn't a day that goes by that I don't thank God for the man he brought into my life. Happy 2nd Anniversary Hubby...I look forward to so many more.

All photos taken by My Photographer by Kimber

Weekend Rewind

Well after a long weekend full of activites, I've finally got a chance to sit down & relax (even though there is a huge pile of laundry sitting on the couch that needs folded along with a full dishwasher that needs to be unloaded). We've been super busy this weekend as we have just run from place to place & task to task. Friday we had college graduation for my sister-in-law, we had a luncheon celebration with her family & then headed over to graduation. She & I actually both graduated from the same school, so I knew full well what we were getting in to as we headed into the arena and saw a sea full of guests. There are actually 3 different ceremonies to accomodate all the guests & graduates so it was quite the affair. The entire ceremony lasted about 2 hours--I guess it could have been worse. ;o) She graduated with a degree in Psychology & then is heading onto Nursing School followed by getting her Master's in Nursing....I'm so proud of her!!!

Myself & the beautiful graduate, Millie! Is she not just gorgeous?!?

Millie walking in for the processional

The sea of graduates & guests--see why it took awhile?

Millie with my brother & her parents.

Friday night, we ran a few errands and then met some friends for late dessert & drinks at one of our favorite places, Fedora's. We had a great time & didn't get home until after midnight (which is quite late for us!)

Saturday morning we got up early & headed to a wedding--it was short & sweet & even included some minor mishaps. The bride & groom just went along with it & everything ended up being perfect. They had a great brunch reception, & everything was beautiful. The happy couple is headed out for a 2-week Honeymoon in Hawaii--I'M SO JEALOUS!!! After the wedding we headed to a local nursery & picked up a few things for our new flower bed. We purchased 2 azaleas, an Endless Summer Hydrangea, & 4 hostas of various shapes, colors, & sizes. We headed home & spent the rest of the afternoon pulling up sod, planting shrubs, & arranging landscaping rock. Today after church we came home & finished the bed off with a nice layer of mulch. I'm super pleased with how it looks (& hopefully it will partially cover up all the meters & phone equipment on the side of our house!)

The finished product!

I'm actually quite exhausted from the yardwork & it's nice to be able to relax for a bit! This week is no less busy than this weekend, tomorrow we have dinner with my cousin & his girlfriend, Tuesday is our 2nd Wedding Anniversary (I can't believe it's been 2 years already) & Friday we are leaving town with my parents to go to Destin, FL for a week...I CAN'T WAIT!!!

Early Weekend for ME!!!

Today is my last day of work for the week...we've got a cram-packed schedule for the next few days! My sister-in-law is graduating from college tomorrow so we've got a celebration lunch for her & the ceremony at 1:30. It's supposed to be really nice outside!!

Hubby & I are also meeting up with some friends later tomorrow night for drinks & dessert at Fedora, a local fondue place. I absolutely love this place!!!


Saturday we have a wedding at 10:30 in the morning with a reception brunch to follow, then we have grand plans for a new flower bed on the North side of our house---what doesn't get done on Saturday will get pushed to Sunday after church, but before a golf outing for the men of our small group. Also, I'm hoping to have my cousin & his girlfriend over for dinner on Saturday night (if we can get the details ironed out)!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Weekend Rewind & a slight Bedroom Makeover

Hubby & I had a very busy, but fun weekend! Friday night we had dinner at a local pizza place with a couple from church. We had a great time just fellowshiping and after dinner we headed back to our house for some more socializing & no-bake cookies (one of my favorites!) Saturday I had to work then I headed to a baby shower for one of my friends from college. She is expecting a baby boy in June! After the shower I headed to my parents' house where my husband had been recruited to help with re-mulching all of my parents' flower beds....let me just tell you this is quite the job & my dad was very thankful for the help. We had pizza delivered & enjoyed a quick meal with Mom & Dad before heading home.

Myself, Sarah, Kelly & Miranda at the baby shower

Sunday was of course Mother's Day so we headed down early on Sunday morning to attend church with my parents'--then it was back to their house to fix lunch. I volunteered to take care of all the planning for lunch which included my parents, my mom's parents, & Hubby & I. We had hamburgers, homemade french fries, & homemade peach cobbler. I do have to brag on myself--the french fries & cobbler were both amazing & I received tons of compliments. I got my mom a more practical gift of neat plastic plates for them to eat outside on & also some new colorful dish towels. She absolutely loved them! My brother came down later in the afternoon & we simply sat around inside because it was COLD!!! My cousin was also having a come & go graduation party so we made an appearance at that later in the afternoon.

My beautiful mom showing off her dishtowels

In unrelated weekend news, we have recently had a slight makeover of our master bedroom. We've just changed out the comforter & pillow shams but man is there a big difference. Hubby & I were both really tired of our old comforter & it looked very tired as well. It was only 2 years old but it looked like we'd had it forever. So...Hubby & I were casually looking for a new one, hoping we'd happen on something we absolutely loved...and we did. The only requirement was that the color scheme had to remain the same because I didn't want to have to change all the accent pieces, wall hangings, window treatments, etc. in the room.

Here is our before picture...

& Here is our after picture....

Hubby & I are both so much happier with the new look...the other comforter set was just so dark--at least this has a little bit of life!