New Year's Resolutions, The Final Chapter

It's the last day for my new year's resolutions. Have you been inspired? Hope so!

3. Cook more! (This should be easy, right, with my new mixer I got for Christmas?!)

The plan:

Start "Souper Sundays". It's an idea that I got from The Gossetts  blog. Basically, every Sunday you make some soup!

(First on the list is my Memaw's Minestrone Soup!)

And I want to be able to cook 2-3 meals a week at least, and I'm going to start with:

Baked Lemon Pasta (from The Pioneer Woman)

This looks so yummy. I have an addiction to pasta. It's a problem.

Again, Happy New Year everyone!



New Year's Resolutions, Part 2

It's the second day for my new year's resolutions, so here's number 2....

2. Be less stressed! With grad school starting back up, it's very easy for me to get stressed.

The plan:

First, I'm going to pray about it. This is the best thing I can do because God is always faithful to cast all of my cares upon himself.

I'm also going to do some hobbies that I enjoy and don't do as often, like going to the farmer's market....

...and gardening.

Go on more date nights! Being with my husband relaxes me because he's really good at having fun with me and not allowing me to feel guilty that I'm not doing something else that "I'm supposed to be doing".

And I'm going to buy some bubble bath, enough said.



A Happy Girl

I truly believe this phrase. This has been a year full of wonderful blessings, and I'm glad to be a happy girl. God has given me many reasons to be happy on a daily basis, one of them being my husband.

The day Jerry and I met, my world changed. He has been there for me through a lot, and through it all, we've laughed and had joy. Whenever he comes home from work everyday, I get excited and know that my best friend just walked through the door. 

I also have a great family that gives me so much happiness.

And behind every happy girl lies a great friend, or two, or six. :)

I love these two boys so much!



My oh-so-cute puppies, Bentley and Rocky.

So today put on the prettiest thing that you could, a smile, and ...

New Year's Resolutions, Part 1

Happy 2011 everyone!

With the new year, I've made some resolutions for myself.

1. Exercise more! (I know I know, it's cliche because EVERYBODY has a new year's resolution to lose weight, but it's not to lose weight, just to become more healthy)

Here's the plan:

First, I want to start Zumba. I've heard so many testimonies of how great it is!

I would also like to get Jerry and I bikes so that we can go riding together. (This is the exact one I want :))

Finally, I am going to keep going to my ballet class that I started in early December (only got to go once before they stopped having class for the Christmas holiday).

I have two other new year's resolutions, but you'll have to check back because I'm going to post one a day!

P.S. Remember to eat your black-eyed peas!

Presents

Christmas is right around the corner! Our family is having our Christmas early due to work schedules and traveling. Since I'm making most of our gifts this year, I've been busy trying to get everything done in time. Just wanted to show what all of my sweet nieces will be getting!

Most of them will get these precious rose barrettes.

And my niece, Bella, who isn't going to be born until February is getting this for her new nursery.



cute, huh?



1st Christmas Tree

Jerry and I went to pick out our tree the day before Thankgiving. I was so excited to pick out our 1st tree together! We searched and searched, examining every tree on the lot. Finally we found our tree...it was perfect...

We decorated our tree, and here are the "after" pictures...

Some of my favorite ornaments...(we got the one below on our honeymoon)

Look! There's even a few presents under it (there's a few more now)

Isn't he sweet?



Our tree is up, the decorations are out, and the stockings are hung. I am working on getting our Christmas cards sent out so that we'll be on our way to having a great 1st Christmas together!





Fill-In the Blank Friday





1.   Holiday spirit  is wonderful! I get so excited for Christmas because it just has a happy feel to it, ya know?
2.  The holidays are incomplete without  real Christmas trees, twinkling lights, special ornaments, sweaters, coffee and hot chocolate, warm boots, homemade candy (from your Grandmother), fires in the fireplace, really soft blankets, watching Christmas movies, listening to Christmas songs, wreaths on front doors, sending and receiving Christmas cards, staying in your pajamas a little later in the day, wrapping paper and ribbon, stockings hung in a row, spending time wth friends and family, remembering Christ.

3.  My favorite things to do around the holidays is  to decorate! I love making all sorts of DIY crafts to put up around my house and make it feel cozy. I also love to find somewhere that has really great Christmas lights to go see, because I love them, they're beutiful, I could stare at them all day.

4.  A holiday tradition my family and I have is to go to my Grandmother's on Christmas day and see the ENTIRE family! (it's big, trust me). Also, we get a new ornament every year. We always hang stockings and it turns out to be our favorite thing to open Christmas morning. For breakfast, we always have sausage balls and pound cake.

5.  Holiday music is the best! I loooove Christmas music. I drive Jerry crazy because I start listening to it in November, which he thinks is way too early. I just love the songs, they are so upbeat and heartwarming. They remind me of older times and memories. Our wedding videographer just sent us a Christmas mix CD that I have been obsessed with listening to.
6.  This year, I'll be spending the holidays   with Jerry's family the early part of December and mine towards Christmas. I'll probably go with my family to my Grandmother's house on Christmas day, but Jerry has to work.

7.  Holiday wish list  is this beautiful yellow stand mixer. These adorable slippers from Etsy...and that's all I can think of for the moment.