What's my secret?

I surprised Phil with the announcement of him receiving a puppy on January 7th for Christmas!! We cannot wait for our new bundle of fur joy to join our family. Zeppelin is going to have a friend!!!!

Her name is Allman and she is a sweet chocolate lab little girl. Phil and I can hardly cannot our excitement and we want her to come home NOW, but alas, we must wait.

Can't wait to post lots of puppy pictures!!! :)

Surprises

I have a surprise I am getting Phil for Christmas and I have to wait 5 more days until I can tell him. I honestly don't think i'm going to make it!!

Hope everyone has a fabulous Monday and I can't wait to post pictures of the surprise for Phil! :)

Oh, Christmas Tree...

We have had a time with out Christmas tree. Well, not exactly with the tree - more like the lights. When we pulled out the lights from last year a couple looked a little funny so we exchanged them with the extra lights that come in those tiny bags and all is right with the world.. welllll not so much.


On Thursday night I plugged in the tree and it looked a little different. I called Phil over to see what could possibly be the matter. We examined and realized that not just one but two different strands had half of the lights burned out. We attempted to go find similar lights, but of COURSE that was a no go. Phil called me on Friday afternoon and told me he had some good news. He was all excited about the lights he got for the tree. "Babe, guess what color I got?" This is when fear rushed through me - I know he knows how much I love red and how much I love N.C.State - but please for the love of God tell me he didn't get red lights? I HATE red lights, I think it looks like a whore house, or some type of Satan tree.
I tried to bust his bubble slightly, but he was still disappointed. We put the lights on the tree just to show him how gaudy they are "YEP!" He said, "You're totally right." (This doesn't happen often) So, what does one do with red lights? I've yet to figure this out.


Back to square one.
Off to wal-mart we went to get three 100 strands of plain white lights. We put them on last night and they looked perfect. We had glasses of wine in hand, listening to Christmas music, putting lights and ornaments on the tree. It was the first time all season that we felt "in the Christmas spirit." We decorated the tree, put all the ornaments on and just sat on the couch drinking wine listening to whatever pops up on the Pandora christmas station and staring at how wondeful the tree looked.

I have yet to take a picture of the tree, and I promise I will. It is by no means a brilliant work of art, but we love it. That's what matters most.

I'll post a picture soon.

Bachelorette Party

I'm going to be seeing a lot of green on my bachelorette party weekend...why is that?

I'm going to be here....

Yep - Savannah, Ga on St. Patricks Day. Just booked that bad boy today.
March 15th - March 18th I will be swimming in lots of green.

Jealous? You should be.

Let it Rain

I love this song and his voice.

A new tradition

Phil and I started a new tradition this Sunday. We drove up to the mountains of North Carolina, walked through a sea of frasier fir trees, and found "the one". Not too tall, not too short. Don't want it too skinny, but not too fat either. No missing pieces - it was our perfect fit!


The man and his grandson came down with their beautiful 1 year old lab and a 4 wheeler in tow. We pointed to the beauty and he pulled out his chainsaw like a knife. "Here ya go." And that was that. Money goes from one had to the other and the tree is thrown over the vehicle and then we're off. (We were invited in to roast marshmallows, which who can say no to that?)


Now to decorate.

Smoozeday

It's Tuesday, which means Monday has come and gone.


This picture below has NOTHING to do with Thanksgiving - actually it was taken a few weeks backs. Mom thought it was cute that her and Olivia (the dog) matched. BAHA. Figured I'd give y'all a laugh. 

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. Phil and I were running about 200 miles per hour the whole time we were home. When we got home on Sunday - we went into a serious coma. 


We got to see sweet baby Leighton!

Tess got to torture kitty cats .. her FAV thing to do.

And here is me and my hunny .. cute :) 

My animals did a whole lot of this........(they love 'grandmas')

We also did a whole lotta drinking and visiting friends. I didn't get any pictures of this which is probably for the best. Others captured those fine moments.


Next up, Christmas. 

The most comfortable shirt...

I'm all about comfort.. I mean who isn't when you aren't going out? I don't wear high heels when I'm munching on the couch watching t.v.


If you don't already have it, I suggest going out and buying as many as they have -  It's the Victoria's Secret Long Sleeve Raglan Top.

Go out and buy it and then put it on - you'll feel like you're in heaven. 

On another note: Our Save the Dates came in the mail on Friday, so I've been spending any free time I have putting addresses on envelopes. It's basically about as much fun as it sounds. I thought about just giving them out to everyone we saw at Thanksgiving, but I was told that it may be "ghetto". So, I'm hoping to have these out either the day before or the day after Thanksgiving.

They are really cute and the lady at Parkside Prints did an AMAZING job. Hopefully I can get a picture of them up after they are sent out.

It's going to be a short week!

Hurry UP THANKSGIVING

I can't WAIT to go home for Thanksgiving.. Hurry up Wednesday.

The sad part is that I get more time off for Thanksgiving than Christmas since Christmas is during the weekend - LAME. So I'm totally not looking forward to a rushed Christmas weekend.

So, bring it Thanksgiving.

Biltmore

We went to Biltmore two weekends ago, so I figured I'd post some pictures.

It seriously was one of the most fun days ever. We had such a blast. 

Fitness update

I wrote something not too long ago about starting and doing insanity, so I thought i'd give ya'll an update.


Phil and I did keep up with Insanity until the last two weeks of it, the workouts became 15 - 20 minutes longer PLUS they added another mini workout afterwards, and we honestly don't have time for it. It was much easier to fit in our schedule when the work outs were between 45 minutes to an hour, but most days i don't have an extra 30 or 45 minutes. 
BUT it got us ready to start working out and running again.
So, since then (which has been about 4 weeks ago) I've been doing a lot of running. I try to do some more workouts when I get home, but sometimes I'm just so exhausted that I chug water, stretch and call it a night.


I lost about 8 lbs all together and i'm working on losing about 5-8 more lbs. If I don't, it won't be the worst thing because i'm just glad I got those first 8 lbs off. Being 5'3, even a lb will stick to ya.


We've really changed our eating habits (minus vacations and cheat days) and are now working on portion control.


We'll probably start up insanity again and do the first couple of weeks, but unless we somehow manage to get a couple more hours in the day, it doesn't look like like those 4 weeks will be do-able.

Whoops

I promise I haven't forgotten about the blogging world, can I please tell you guys how busy i've been??

I've been on the go for the past two weeks and have a TON to catch yall up on. I can't do that today because, guess what? I don't have time. Maybe this evening or tomorrow.. sometime! (I have to load pics first, duh!)

I did order my Save the Dates! (BIIIGGG sigh of relief) annnddd got our wedding website pretty much finished! All my girls bought their dresses and I am setting up an appointment to meet with the florist this weekend - talk about wedding overload. GOOD LORD.

I hope everyone is having a fabulous Monday :)

Cutest thing ever?

We all have our own judgements on what could possibly be the cutest thing ever.


I have two of them.


Okay, I know this isn't a recent picture of my niece, actually it's like 4 years old, but HOW ADORABLE WAS SHE? I seriously had the cutest niece and nephew when they were babies/toddlers.

You can't even look at this next picture and not go "aww.." This was a good 8 years ago? Can't believe Gums is 11 now!

Anywho. If you haven't figured it out, i'm kind of obsessed with these two kiddos.

Another Confession

I haven't had my hair cut in about.. oh.. 10 months to a year? Just hearing that makes me feel disguisting. My hair is usually really soft and shiny, that is if I keep up with it. The past couple of months my hair has been shedding like crazy, breaking off at the ends, and just looking a hot mess. I decided it was time for a trim.

Kind of like this^^^^^

I told Nichole, who did my hair (and she did a great job, THANKS NICHOLE :)) to just cut off all the dead ends. Well, apparently, I had about 3 inches of dead hair. So, not so much of a "trim"

Yep, Gross.

Anyways, my hair feels new and looks great and I have been running my hand through my hair going, "It feels so good!"


HA!

Like this-------------^^^^

There is a lesson to be learned here: Don't wait that long before a haircut.

Confessions

So, I have a tiny confession to make.


I've already ranted on here about my love for Real Housewives of New Jersey (RHONJ), but I don't think I've put in my two cents about my OBSESSION with Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. The cool thing about that show is I actually have a link to Kim and Kyle - well way more Kim than Kyle. Should I confess that? We'll get to that later.

Anywho - the dramz on this show keeps me at the edge of my seat and I am especially liking that they are throwing in this hooker -

Straight Dramz.  LOVE IT. This is the lady that got left by that guy that is super fine to be with Leanne Rimes. So, she's already pissed off about life and is now being straight caddy to the other girls. 


I guess I have no girl drama in my life, so I like to watch women over the age of 40 prance around in heels that cost more than my car and jab jealous comments in each others faces. Whatevs. Judge if you want.


Okay, if you don't know already, because it's my ONLY claim to fame and I'm sure I tell everyone - is that my 2nd cousin is Kim's oldest daughter Brooke - so my mom and her dad are 1st cousins which means my Mimi and her Grandma were sisters. Get it? SO at one point and time in my life - Kim was my cousin-in-law? I don't think I've ever met Brooke, maybe when I was little, so no I don't go fly out to see her and parade around Bev Hillz with Brooke and Paris, but I'm not saying I'd turn down the offer. 


Well, I'm off to watch more trash T.V. 'cause I love it!

Vacation

This past weekend we went to Holden Beach in North Carolina. My whole entire family on my mom's side came and we had a blast.

Talk about relaxation - that's all I did. I also got very very sunburnt. Who knew you could get toasted in Octobert in 80 degree PERFECT weather? Lesson learned. I hurt from head to toe! Oh well, at least I get a bit of color before the fall kicks in for good.

There was a lot of swimming and laying by the pool/beach. There was plenty of eating and maybe a bit of throwing back on the blue margs.

 What up heated pool.

Our pretty sweet beach house that had to house over 20 of us! 

 Paw paw and my niece and nephew picking up some shells

 Me and my sweet girl. Love her. 

 Beautiful sunset.

Could they be anymore precious? I'm so glad my niece and nephew love Phil so much. (They've been secretly calling him Uncle Phil for a while now!)

Off to the BEACH

After work today, I'll be heading to the beach. FIRST TIME THIS YEAR.

I am so excited to spend time with my family down at the beach and I get a whole DAY off. I don't get a whole lot of time off for my job, so when I do - It's amazing.

The drive is a good 5 1/2 hours, so we'll be spending the majority of the evening in the car after work. YUCK.

I hope everyone has a fabulous weekend and I'll update with pictures when we get back!

Saying Yes to the Dress

Wedding dress shopping in itself is exhausting. The first couple of places we went to I tried on the dresses and I just liked them, or "really liked them" but I never fell in love. I'm an indecisive person, so I felt like this was going to be a common denominator while trying on my dresses.


The last place on our list to go was absolutely wonderful. I did my dress shopping in Charlotte and Greensboro and out of all the places I went, this boutique blew the rest out of the water. 

Nitsa's in Charlotte was OUTSTANDING. I seriously can't go on about how awesome they were to me. I found my PERFECT dress and I fell in love with it. I always thought girls were being dramatic when they said how emotional it is. Boy, were they right. My consultant Naomi was absolute perfection. I cannot go on about how amazing my experience was. 


I'm just glad that's out of the way, now 500 million other things to do. 

Happiness

I've been doing a whole lot of soul-searching these past couple of days about happiness. I'm not saying I'm not happy, because I am. The problem I am having is when something or someone bothers me, I let it get me down.

My happiness is controlled within myself, and if I keep letting the things that upset me most bring me down, then that's me controlling my own happiness.

So, my soul searching has lead me to decide that it's time to throw out some of the un-happiness in my life.

So, I've put together a few happiness quotes that I've been using to keep my smile up instead of down.


Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.
-Gandhi

Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.
-Dalai Lama

There is no value in life except what you choose to place upon it and no happiness in any place except what you bring to it yourself.
-Henry David Thoreau

Your success and happiness lies in you. Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties.
-Helen KellerHappiness is not something you postpone for the future; it is something you design for the present.
-Jim Rohn


Have a wonderful Thursday.

A few more Engagement Photos

Here are a few more engagement photos we took. 

Now which ones should we use for Save the Dates? 

I swear ya'll, these stupid things are going to be the death of me. 

I hope everyone is having a great week so far!

201

I told myself I wouldn't start freaking out until it got the in 100's for the countdown until my wedding.


Well today is 201.


I still have SO much to do.


For the past couple months i've been slacking since I've got "so much time" but now our '6 months until' is creeping upon us quickly, as in like 2 weeks quickly.


The next two weeks are dedicated to Save the Dates and hopefully finding that white dress that I need to wear.




ANNYYWHOOO


My cousins wedding was adorable. I don't have many pictures due to the fact I was freezing and didn't want to take my camera out of my purse but I have a few.

Brittany and Jeremy saying their I Do's!

Uncle Tim and Brittany dancing to "My Little Girl" (boy did I cry .. )

The Maid of Honor and my other cousin (sister of the bride) Brooke! 

AND I got to see my LAURA.

Have a Happy Monday Ya'll!

Worst Blogger Ever.

I feel like I've been the worst blogger ever. I've been so busy.

My beautiful cousin Brittany is getting married this weekend and my sweet little jersey girl Laura has come back to the Carolina's for a few days. I can't wait to get to Atown and visit with my friends and family.

I'll have plenty of pictures for when I get back.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.

Happy Friday Ya'll :)

A few Engagement Photos

It was SUPER hot and muggy, but we had a blast taking pictures. Our photographer, Alex Gibbs, did an awesome job. These are only a few and I have many other favorites, but I figured this gave a good idea of what we did. 

Maybe I'll share some more in a few weeks. Now I gotta get those Save the Dates out. 

Trying to keep up

Sorry I've yet to post anything for a while. 


Here's my life in pictures!

Wolfpack football, family, friends, birthdays. What else could I have asked for on a wonderful labor day weekend?


Happy Friday Yall!!

Insane Update

I've yet to update on Insantiy. This workout is killer and it does the job. I've lost 4 lbs already and I'm pretty stoked. I've done it EVERY SINGLE NIGHT. PLUS last night I did it and ran a mile and a half. Talk about a tired girl today.

I've also been eating a lot healthier - which hasn't been as hard as I thought.

We took a before picture the day we started, and Phil of course smiled in his so I had to make him take another one.
"You aren't suppose to smile in your before picture Phil! Don't you see the ads??" hahaha
So we have our sad droopy "before pictures" and in 60 days we'll take a happy, fix our hair and do make up and look HAWT "after pictures" right?? Isn't that how they do it?

HELLO FRIDAY.

Wolfpack Football

This Saturday begins COLLEGE FOOTBALL. I'm a HUGE N.C.State Wolfpack fan and I always have been.

Phil and I are SO excited to go cheer on the Wolfpack this upcoming Saturday. We don't live very close, so when we get the opportunity to see a game, we'll take it! Now, what should I wear?

P.S. I FOUND MY CAMERA! AH! But of course, my charger is now missing. C'est la vie.

New

I've had a blackberry for a while, but I'm such a Mac person and I've been dyyyying to get the Iphone forever. 


Welp, I finally got mine on Thursday and I'm totally stoked about it. It's been amazing so far. I don't even have the need to get a camera since this bad boy hooks up to my Macbook wonderfully!


As I've said before, Phil and I have been doing the workout Insanity since Tuesday and I've already lost 4lbs. I'm pretty impressed with the results. Yesterday, Phil and I went on a 5.2 mile hike to a beautiful waterfall.

Totally worth the hike UPHILL which I was not prepared for and almost had to turn around because my legs felt like jello.

Excuse my paleness, but Phil is handsome :)

 and of course little man got to do A TON of swimming

Hope everyone has a fantastic Sunday. I'm trying to recover from all the exercise  I've been doing. It's all hit me today, so i'll be cleaning, couching it and drinking lots of water!






Oh. P.S. We should be getting our engagement photos in the mail anyyyday! :)