A place to call home

So I figured it was time for another update. Can't believe that January is halfway over. That means that my wedding is getting so close! Its 130 days to be exact! I've finally started thinking more about the wedding and my mom has been such a wonderful help! She's been making tons of phone calls for me finding out information and prices for different things! We are going on Thursday to do wedding stuff! We are meeting at Oakwood to go over layout, decorations, etc. Then we are meeting with the florist and also hopefully start to get decorations that I can start working on! I'm glad that it's finally coming together because I know it will be here before I know it!

So Jeremy and I got started on our Christmas present that was given to us! We were given a new driveway! (you know you're getting old when you get excited about a new driveway!) We were so excited about it because ours desperately needed it! Here is the before picture:

See what I mean? Looks terrible!(excuse Tysons butt, he just had to be in the picture!) But its a small driveway and has hardly any gravel left. So Jeremy and I went to Lowes and bought 20 Timbers to outline our new driveway how we wanted it. Then his uncle, who gave us the Christmas present, came over and started digging up the ground where we were going to put the new driveway. Then we put the base coat down! Here is the after picture (this is just with the base coat, we just got the gravel the other day and still waiting on more so I will take a picture when it's completely done!)

What a difference! We are super excited about it! The bottom part then leads to the shed so we have a walkway for that now! We absolutely love being homeowners! I know there is so much to do and always something to fix, but we love it. It's just nice that we can call it ours!

So I had a first time experience at work 2 weeks ago. Something I never want to do again. I had a patient pass away in my arms. Not sure the reason...stroke, blood clot..I dont know but it was rough. It's a terrible feeling to be right there and not be able to do anything to help him. I watched the paramedics work on him...shocking him, giving CPR, trying to put tubes down his throat...I was in shock. My adrenaline was racing so I wasn't thinking of anything at the time but once that wore off, I was in a strange mood. I feel so bad for the patient and his wife. I can only imagine how hard that is to watch the one you spent your whole life with, pass away in front of you. Just awful. Definitely thinking about his family!

Alright well thats all for now..I will update again soon! Until then..xoxo

a new year!

So it's a new year. Last year went by fast, but it seems the older I get, the quicker they go! A lot of great things happened last year. The boys graduation from college, my best friends weddings, my exciting engagement, our new home, and our adorable pup! It was a great year with so many eventful things but I am looking forward to 2012 as well! This is going to be the year I get to marry my love! I can't be anymore excited about it! I also hope for this year plenty of time with friends and family, to be healthy, to enjoy the small things, to take things more lightly, and to love my pup even more (and hopefully get him enrolled in obedience classes!) If only he was this good all the time :)


So Jeremy and I got a lot of awesome things for Christmas! We got so much stuff for our kitchen (awesome knives, steamer, rice cooker, crockpot, etc) I figured since we got so much for our kitchen that it's time I really start learning to cook. It has been something I've been interested in but never really had to tools to do. Sure I'm great at heating things up, but I want to be able to actually cook! So my friend from work came over the other night and we wanted to make a healthy meal from start to finish! We decided on a WW recipe called Mexican Chicken Wraps. It's super simple and very healthy! We took boneless skinless chicken, seasoned it with taco seasoning, salt, and pepper then cooked it on the stove. Then in a small bowl we mixed light mayo, chipotle peppers in adobe sauce, and one lime. Mixed that together. Then we assembled the wraps with a little of the chipotle mayo, grilled chicken, and tomatos and arugala. It was amazing! It was very spicy because we left the seeds in the chiptole peppers when we diced them but you can just use the adobe sauce instead. We sauteed some mushrooms and roasted some peppers in the oven for the sides! It was so good :)

Jeremy and I had such a wonderful Christmas. Not only did we get to spend it with both of our familes, and see our friends...we also got some great stuff! We were so fortunate to get new rocks for our driveway (you can tell you're getting older when you get excited about a new driveway!), nice luggage for the honeymoon with a nice check included in the luggage, and tons of kitchen stuff! I also got this chair for my living room which I've had my eye on since we moved in our house in August! It matches so perfectly! I love it!

Alright well that is all for now! So happy to be off work tomorrow but I feel I have so much to do! I need to take down Christmas decorations and clean this house! We'll see what gets done tomorrow! Until next time..xoxo!

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

I don't think I could be any happier with my life right now. 2011 has been a life changing year for me! I've helped celebrate Jeremy's graduation from college, gotten engaged to a wonderful guy, bought our first house together, adopted a cute little pup, watched 2 of my best friends get married, and have had the never-ending support and love from family and friends. I've definitely received more than I deserve. I wake up every single day and am thankful for what I have. I hope everyone gets the chance to realize how much they have and be happy with it. There really is no greater feeling!

Christmas is 4 days away! Crazy! One more work day for the week then a nice long weekend with tons of food, family, and friends! Christmas time just makes me happy in general. I love everything about it! One of my favorites is neatly wrapped presents under the tree! I like spending time on wrapping gifts, it puts some excitement in watching people open them :)






Another thing I love, not just at Christmas time, but *most of the time...is my adorable pup! He's growing up and becoming a better dog! He's slowly growing out of his puppy stage, which I will be glad when it's over! But he's just too cute and full of energy! I know when I'm sick or sad he's right there in my face to comfort me!






Ok well this is all for now, until next time!

159 days..but who's counting?

so I got some suggestions today that it was time to update again. I agree too! I don't really have any reason for the fact that I havent, just haven't. But I am and I feel I have a lot to update on!

First off, I can't belive that Thanksgiving is over and Christmas is less than two weeks away! I still have some Christmas shopping/wrapping to do. I was one of those crazy people that shopped black friday (starting at midnight!) and shopped all night! It was actually pretty fun and I got a lot of shopping done, not to mention a few good deals :)

I'm still in love with my house, especially now that it's Christmas! It really is exciting decorating your first house for christmas for the first time! I will try try try to get some pictures up soon because I just love it! Feels so cozy and holiday-ish!

So wedding is 159 days away. Crazy crazy to me! I have some things done but still have some other things to sort out. I know I need to get on it, I'm just having a hard time motivating myself to do it! I know that sounds bad because it's my wedding and every girl dreams of planning some elaborate day, but I just know what I want and it's pretty simple. We got the necessities, church, reception site, dj, dress, and bridesmaids dresses. so thats a pretty good start i think! Working on cake and photography next. Who knows..I think there will always be something to do until that day gets here!

Speaking of wedding though, I did get my wedding dress Satuday! Went to pick it up and try it on with my mom (who cried when I tried it on)! I know that it is the perfect dress, without a doubt! So excited that it is here and i LOVE it!

Just a random thought.... It's funny when you get older the things you realize. You don't notice a lot when you're younger, I wonder if thats the fact you're just naive to everything or just choose not to notice it. I think, in my case, it was the fact that I didn't believe people could be a certain way because it wasn't how I was raised. It just amazes me how people, especially people much older me, can act. Just lack of work ethic, lack of respect, lack of consideration for anyone else but themselves. It's like people need some type of motivation that they will get something in return for doing anything. Since when does anybody owe anyone anything? Shouldn't things be done because it's the right thing to do? I don't know, just amazes me. But I guess it's good to know that I have great parents who have set great examples for me, and for my friends for being the wonderful dependable people they are!

alright I promise to update more often! until then... xoxo <3

Everyone needs some laughter!

I know I updated yesterday but sometimes you just can't help when your mind has time to wonder and ponder about new things. Tonight on the way back from the gym, I was listening to the radio and a lady had called into the radio station and said she just wanted to thank them for making her laugh. And you know, you dont really hear that often. How many times have you told someone thank you for making me laugh? I know I haven't said it much. but why not? i mean, isn't laughter one of the best things you can do for yourself? It makes things seem easier and lighter. I love to laugh! It truly is the best medicine! So when someone does make us laugh, we should appreciate that. We should say thank you. I know it's something small, but its somethings we take for granted...expecting others to make us laugh. We should even thank ourselves when we get the chance to laugh at ourselves for something silly we did! You never know when a laugh will change a persons day!

A place to call your own

Owning a house has changed me in some ways. Not bad changes, good changes! More like growing up changes. Like, when you are excited to come home and cut YOUR grass, or spend Sunday cleaning YOUR house...something about the fact that it's yours makes it that much better! It definitely has allowed me to appreciate the fact that I do own my own house and even though I may not have tons of money to buy everything I want or live in a huge house, the fact that it's mine makes it all worthwhile :)

So about that whole changing me..that happened this weekend. I put my Christmas tree up. Now before you go saying it's not even Thanksgiving yet, I know I know. I was NEVER one of those people and always waited until after Turkey day, but because it's MY new house, I was just too excited to wait. I absolutely love my little tree and hope to post pictures soon.

So wedding planning is underway...more so than it has been up until now. Have the guest list just about done. Looking at about 250 people. Things just start adding up when you start listing names but I'm excited to have a big wedding! I want a lot of people there to celebrate in our special day! Hopefully getting a dj soon, kinda of got jipped on the first dj but thanks to my friends, may have another one :) Next is the cake to decide on. Jeremy said he definitely wants to help decide so hopefully we can do some tasting soon and get that planned. I just want to make sure I have the big things in place. I figure May is kind of a busy time of year, with weddings, graduations, and prom. I'm hoping to get things reserved soon! Still waiting to find out when my dress comes in, I'm so excited to go see it and try it on!

Well this is all for now, I'm getting a cable for my camera soon so I can post more pictures. Until next time.. :)

say yes to the dress!

So I can't even believe it...I bought my wedding dress today! It still seems so surreal to me, this whole wedding thing, but I could not be happier! I ordered my dress and accessories and am now on the hunt for shoes, but no hurry for them. I even picked out bridesmaid dresses too! Today has been a very accomplished day! I definitely could not have done it without my mom and dad, they've been so wonderful with this whole planning :)

So I'm pretty proud of my cute fiance. He is volunteering at Wintergreen this season to help children with disabilites ski/snowboard! He spent the day today training and then will have to complete a few more training sessions then it'll be time to hit the slopes with the kids! He will be working with children from physical to mental disabilites. I'm very excited that he is wanting to do this for them! He's such a great guy :)

I have definitely become one of those people obsessed with their dogs! I just can't stand how darn cute he is! He has ruined my rainbow flops and nine west leather boots, but because he's so cute, I can't be mad at him! I'm so happy we were given the chance to get a pup, I can't imagine our life without him :)


isn't he adorable?! alright until next time....