The Night Before NYE

Last night we attended a wedding of one of Joe's childhood friends, Jesse. Here is a picture from the evening:

Me, being the detail freak that I am, LOVED seeing the wedding selections on colors and decor choices. I wish I'd win the lottery so I could start up my own wedding planning business. That is something I've always wanted to do. It would be something I would love doing every day and have a strong passion for. Plus, I'd be damn good at it.

 Ahhh...a girl can dream. Maybe some day :)

Love/Hate Relationship

I now have a love/hate relationship with the holidays. Although, they are my favorite time of year, I am now also hating them. Why? Well, because my pants are feeling a little snug these days. Instead of blaming it on me getting lazy, I will blame it on the holidays.

Only 47 days until Joe and I are sitting here...

And only 6 days until my 30 day bootcamp starts. I'm asking for miracle here but this bikini bod can't be too far off... haha. I am going to attempt to keep a daily log starting on 1/2. Maybe that will make me more motivated.

Goodbye, 2012!

2012... it was a good year but also a year with many challenges.

Last New Years Eve, Joe told me a little after midnight, for the very first time, that he loved me. I should have realized then that 2012 would be a great year. This last year I've experienced what being 'head over heels' in love feels like. I've experienced the joy of getting to know a wonderful family that one day I may officially be a part of. I am lucky enough to have gained some pretty great new friends, friends that may be forever friends. And I've also made so many new memories with my family and old friends.

I also learned the panic of the unexpected in my health scare this year. I learned what pneumonia feels like and that I should take better care of myself when I start to feel sick...before it develops into something worse. And I've even learned that at the old age of 31, a person is still learning who their true friends are.

All in all, this years good outweighed the bad, by far. It may be in the running for best year...so far ;) But I am very much looking forward to seeing what is in store for 2013... who knows, maybe 2012 can be topped.

My new motto to use for 2013:

Life is too short to worry about stupid things.

Have fun.

Fall in love.

Regret nothing, and don't let people bring you down.

Christmas '12

This Christmas I spent with Joe's family. It was my first time experiencing a holiday with his family since we spent Thanksgiving with mine. I must say, I was a little nervous about it. And also sad that I wasn't going to be with my family. I was so grateful for how they welcomed me into their family holiday traditions and made me feel at home.

Christmas Eve was spent at Joe's parents house. We did the gift opening and dinner. It was so much fun to watch his niece and nephew open gifts. They were so excited and it was neat to watch their little faces light up. Easily the best part of this holiday.

Christmas Day we did breakfast/brunch at our house and then all went to the movie This is 40. It was hilarious and the perfect choice for a movie on Christmas.

This Christmas although I received numerous gifts, the best was feeling like I gained a second family.

1st Annual Ugly Sweater Party

Saturday we had some friends over for an Ugly Sweater Party. The bar we generally go to was having their annual sweater party that evening so Joe and I decided to have a 'Pre-Party'. It was a lot of fun. We whipped up a few appetizers, some jello shots and enjoyed spending time with some of our favorite people.

 

Such a fun night but paid for it the next day. I will some day learn I'm not 21 anymore.

Cookies & Wine

Cookie baking, wine, and girl talk... does it get much better?!

Gina, Jen, Orrie, and myself got together Friday night for what we decided would be a new annual tradition for the holidays. We each picked a cookie to bake and then once all was said and done, we split them all up between the four of us. It was a quick way to get a little variety of holiday cookies. Plus, it was a blast doing.

I opted for probably the easiest choice. I made some pretzels with a rolo and pecan on top. It was basically idiot proof. My kind of recipe! The best part of it all... I didn't screw it up :) Shocking.

Jen made some delicious carmel, cashew, chocolate chip cookies. DELICIOUS! Orrie made some Russian Tea Cookies that turned out amazing! And Gina made some adorable gingerbread tree cookies. Which I might add, turned out GREAT and definitely looked the most festive.

Can't wait until next year!

9 months today!

Today, Gordie is 9 months!  Woah.  Time has been flying by.  Which I am sure is the response from all 'parents' as their 'child' grows up. 

I am a little sad as his puppy face is slowly disappearing and he's beginning to look more and more like a grown dog.  However, those floppy ears remain in tact and are what saves his puppy face for a little longer :)

He is starting to become quite the independent little guy.  He's not needing Joe and I as much to entertain him.  He is pretty content just entertaining himself as long as Joe and I are IN the same room with him.  Should we be in a different room... then he's more focused on where we are. 

He also has developed an obsession with wanting to snuggle UNDER the blankets.  He seems to only want to go to sleep under the blankets and he needs to be BETWEEN Joe and I.  Although I love my little snuggle monster, this has become annoying at times.  I find myself sleeping in the most awkward positions just so Gordie doesn't get disturbed. 

Slowly but surely he is starting to listen more on the first command rather than 7 repeats later.  Haha.  He's getting the hint that we're the boss...not him.  I'm pretty sure if he could speak he'd tell you otherwise.  The little bugger sure has us wrapped around his cute little paws.  Love this little guy.

1st 'Second'

Saturday night Joe and I headed over to Kristen and Todd's for their annual Ugly Sweater Party.  This year we were prepared.  We ordered our sweaters and were both determined to be the 'best' at the party.  Sadly, neither of us took 1st place for the ugliest sweater.  Ha! 

This party also was a 1st 'Second' for us as last year we attended the party together on one of our dates when we first started dating.

Here is a picture with last years party on the left and this years party on the right.  Funny how much of a difference one year makes.

Winter is here!

Winter is definitely here... ugh.

Over the weekend we were 'lucky' enough to receive nearly a foot and a half of snow.  About the only good things to come out of this: Joe got to use his snowblower and Gordie got wore out running in the snow.

Winter does make for pretty scenery but I'd rather just view pictures of someone else experiencing the wicked weather.  Especially when this white mess creates such a wonderful rush hour traffic experience...

Game Nights!

Quite a few weeks ago we came up with a new Friday night 'tradion' of sorts.  Game Night!  We get together with Nick and Jen, make dinner and play games.  Generally it's always been various party board games.  This Friday night, however, they brought over the Just Dance for Xbox.  One word to describe this...HILARIOUS.

With all four of us having competitive natures we really got into it.  Finally at 3:30AM we called it quits once we were all too exhausted to keep dancing.

Here's a little taste of the hilarity of the evening.

Boot Camp

Joe and I started a bootcamp this week.  A 5:30 AM bootcamp to be exact.  (what the heck was I thinking?!)  Although I've generally always been a morning person this whoel waking up at 5AM with an alarm is for the birds.  NOT a fan.

The first two days of bootcamp made me want to cry.  I hurt in places I didn't even know had muscle.  I suppose that is a good thing.  We signed up for a 14 day bootcamp just to get a feel of what it was like and if it were something we'd want to continue.  Since then we've also signed up for a month long one that will start in January...

I'm very thankful Joe decided to join me so I wasn't doing it alone.  It definitely makes it easier to have someone to participate with you. 

Here's a little taste of what we look like by 7:00AM....

Hoping to start seeing some results by the end of the month.  Hey...miracles can happen! :)