Wedding Wednesday: Table Numbers

Better late than never, there are still a few fun wedding projects I want to share with you all. We wanted to do something unique for our table numbers, so we decided to design our own.

We dug out all our school pictures and decided to incorporate them into the table numbers... each one corresponding to our age in the pictures. It worked out perfectly! Once we got to age 18, we were able to use pictures of the two of us together. 

We bought black frames from Dollar Tree, and printed our creations at our local Meijer. (NOTE: if you plan to do this, you may have trouble printing because of photography copyright laws. Make sure to do it in advanced just in case. This is the last thing you want to be worrying about the week before your wedding, and yes, I know this from experience).  

Here are pictures of most of the table numbers:

And here is what they looked like on our tables at the wedding:

I loved the picture idea, it was a great conversational piece. I think everyone enjoyed it whether they were Adam's guests, my guests, knew us when we were little, or met us in college.

What did you do/want to do for your table numbers?
I would love to hear your great ideas!

Winter Vignette

After taking down all the Christmas decor, the buffet was looking bare. I went with a winter theme, and planned to add to it throughout the month. Well, we decided to take on the task of painting the kitchen, living room, and hallway instead (more on that later), so unfortunately the vignette decor was not a priority this month.

I had all of this stuff lying around the house, with the exception of the printable.

I made the fancy tulle lights for my Christmas vignette and decided they would also look great for winter, creating the illusion of snow. I bought the snowflake gems from Pier1 last year. Love them!

I also picked up this candle at TJ Maxx. I have no idea what scent it is, but it is my absolute favorite. I don't even have to light the candle to smell the fresh snowy goodness throughout the house. I have discovered that it smells very similar to Yankee Candle's Frosty Air. 

I found the baby, it's cold outside printable at Over The Big Moon. The hurricane vases were wedding centerpieces, I find every possible excuse to reuse them! I threw some snowflake candle charms (also from Yankee Candle) on them and filled them with white gems. 

I actually ended up really liking the simplicity of this vignette, but I will be excited to stop singing "Baby, It's Cold Outside" randomly throughout the house.

Does anyone else decorate for winter before digging out the Valentine's decorations, or is it just me?

Happy Snow Day! (for Michigan anyways...)

Lucy: Six Months Old!

Yesterday, Lucy Lou turned 6 months old! 

Our tall, skinny bundle of joy is starting to plump up, weighing in at 36.4 pounds. 

She loves snow, baseballs, and playing tug of war.

She is getting so good at following commands that I don't even have any funny pictures of her attacking the camera this time. Those puppy classes are starting to pay off....

Happy Sunday!

On The Nightstand: Heart of the Matter by Emily Giffin

Tessa Russo is the mother of two young children and the wife of a renowned pediatric surgeon.  Despite her own mother's warnings, Tessa has recently given up her career to focus on her family and the pursuit of domestic happiness. From the outside, she seems destined to live a charmed life. 

Valerie Anderson is an attorney and single mother to six-year-old Charlie--a boy who has never known his father.  After too many disappointments, she has given up on romance--and even to some degree, friendships--believing that it is always safer not to expect too much.

Although both women live in the same Boston suburb, the two have relatively little in common aside from a fierce love for their children.  But one night, a tragic accident causes their lives to converge in ways no one could have imagined.  In alternating, pitch-perfect points of view, Emily Giffin creates a moving, luminous story of good people caught in untenable circumstances. Each being tested in ways they never thought possible. Each questioning everything they once believed. And each ultimately discovering what truly matters most.

---GoodReads

This is Emily Giffin's best book since Something Borrowed and Something Blue. Having loved those books, and enjoying the other books she has written, I decided to read Heart of the Matter. Every chapter, the story switches between Tessa and Valerie's points of view and it always keeps you wondering: "what is going to happen next?" Giffin did a great job making both girls equally likable, making it very hard to play favorites. I would highly recommend this book to anyone. I easily fall asleep while reading, so it had to be good if I stayed up until 5am finishing it one night morning! 


I have quite a lengthy reading list, but would love any book suggestions you may have! 

On The Nightstand: Arranged by Catherine McKenzie

Since one of my New Year's Resolutions is to read at least one book a month, I decided that blogging about each book would keep me on track (and also help me post regularly). I will call it "On The Nightstand" and as I read each book, I will tell you what I liked and didn't like, as well as my own rating, and give you a synopsis(not my own). I may even add a "Currently Reading" section to my sidebar so you can see what review will be coming next. I hope you all enjoy this new section!

Anne Blythe has a great life: a good job, good friends, and a potential book deal for her first novel. When it comes to finding someone to share it with, however, she just can't seem to get it right.

After yet another relationship ends, Anne comes across a business card for what she thinks is a dating service, and she pockets it just in case. When her best friend, Sarah, announces she's engaged, Anne can't help feeling envious. On an impulse, she decides to give the service a try because maybe she could use a little assistance in finding the right man. But Anne soon discovers the company isn't a dating service; it's an exclusive, and pricey, arranged marriage service. She initially rejects the idea, but the more she thinks about it-and the company's success rate-the more it appeals to her. After all, arranged marriages are the norm for millions of women around the world, so why wouldn't it work for her?

A few months later, Anne is traveling to a Mexican resort, where in one short weekend she will meet and marry Jack. And against all odds, it seems to be working out-until Anne learns that Jack, and the company that arranged their marriage, are not what they seem at all. ---GoodReads

I LOVED this book! I first found it in Target being compared to Emily Giffin's Something Borrowed. Having loved that book (and all her books) I decided to read Arranged. The topic of arranged marriage is what caught my interest, and it was also what kept me reading. It was also fitting that Anne went to a resort to meet Jack, as I was on my was home from my honeymoon when I was reading it. I have already recommended this book to four of my friends, and would definitely recommend it to any of my followers! 

I have quite a lengthy reading list, but would love any book suggestions you may have! 

New Year's Resolutions: 2013

I realize I am a little behind with my New Year's Resolutions (a whole ten days), but I am just now getting around to making them. Between finals week, our honeymoon, and Christmas celebrations, I didn't have much time to put any thought into what I wanted to accomplish in 2013. Well, now that the new year is here, I have come up with ten wonderful resolutions. I am not saying they will be easy, but I am excited to get them started! I am hoping that by telling all of you, I will be more motivated to stick to it, and I will have you guys to help keep me on track.

Resolution #1: Create a Budget and STICK TO IT!

This is a big one, one that I want to do, but also one that I NEED to do. Between house payments, car payments, groceries, bills, and student loans, it is safe to say we never have much extra money laying around. And I know I don't help matters when I buy things for the house that I know we don't necessarily need, or go out to lunch when I know I have a fridge full of food at home. So, my goal for 2013 is to spend as little as possible, and put more money into savings to better our future.


Resolution #2: Read At Least One Book Every Month

This is the one I am most looking forward to! I have a never ending list of must-read books and I would love to put a dent in it! There is nothing like curling up with a good book and getting lost in the story and actually feeling the emotions of the characters. The problem is that between school, work, and the business of life in general, I am lucky if I find time to read. I am hoping things will be different this year, because I am moving it farther up on my to-do list.


Resolution #3: Attend Church On A Regular Basis

This is one of those "easier said than done" resolutions. Ever since college, I have been quite a slacker in the church department. While my religion is important to me, I seem to always find something better to do on Sunday mornings. I know that sounds terrible, but it's just the way it has been for quite some time. I truly want to attend church, it just sometimes slips my minds. So this year, I need to ask myself every Friday, "When will I attend church this weekend?" I need to plan it in my weekend and stick to it!


Resolution #4: Exercise At Least Three Times A Week

My problem is never starting a workout routine and becoming addicted, my problem is sticking to it even through the busy weeks. The month of December was a bad month for me in terms of eating what I wanted and when I wanted. When I stepped on the scale shortly after Christmas, I almost cried, and decided that NOW is the time to get fit and exercise as much as possible. We recently dipped into our savings to purchase a treadmill, and so far I am trying to use it everyday. With the convenience of having a means to exercise (while watching TV) just a flight of stairs away, I think I will be motivated to do it more often.


Resolution #5: Cook More Meals At Home

It is so much easier to stop at subway on the way home from work, or throw a lean cuisine into the microwave to save some time, but that takes a toll on your body and your wallet. I see about a gazillion yummy recipes on pinterest everyday, but hardly ever make them. I need to say no to the temptations of going out to eat on the weekends and grabbing something quick and easy during the week. I am perfectly capable of making tasty, healthy, and inexpensive meals for the hubby and me, to make our wallet, scale, and taste buds happy.


Resolution #6: Make Sure Lucy Gets Walked Every Day

Walking our puppy was so much easier when the weather was nice and it wasn't dark until 8 o'clock at night. With shorter and colder days, I hate to say that we have been the worst puppy parents ever when it comes to walking our furry, four-legged child. We can blame our busy schedules, but the fact is we COULD find time to walk Lucy if we really wanted to. We do not have a fenced in backyard, so the only opportunity Lucy gets to run around is when we walk her to the baseball fields, and it isn't fair to her if we skip out on it.


Resolution #7: Get Organized and Stay Organized

A place for everything and everything in it's place. I want to know where everything is in my house at all times. I want to have all my receipts neatly filed away so if I need to return something, I know exactly where to find it. I want to have labels and bins in all of my closets keeping things neat and tidy. I want to know where I am suppose to be and when. I want to know when my homework is due so assignments don't sneak up on me and cause me stress. I want to live an organized life with lists and schedules and label makers.


Resolution #8: Be More Punctual

I used to be the kind of girl who was early for everything. I must have gotten tired of waiting my life away, because I am no longer that person, not even close. I wouldn't consider myself a late person, but I am usually the one racing into work right as the clock turns to 8:00 (maybe 8:01) or strolling into class right as the teacher begins talking. I am always leaving the house and praying there is no traffic. Most days, this works for me, but some days I get stopped by every light or can't find a parking spot. On these days, I always say to myself, "if only you didn't hit the snooze button, if only you didn't play with the dog, or if only you grabbed a special-k bar for breakfast instead of cereal." I need to start living by a previous boss' philosophy "To be early is to be on time; to be on time is to be late; and to be late is unacceptable." I have always agreed with this statement, but find myself making excuses for myself far too often.


Resolution #9: Drink More Water

I drink a fairly decent amount of water now, but I know I could be trying harder to cut all sugary drinks from my diet. I need to eliminate options such as pop, juice, and wine and stick to: tap water, flavored water, and sparkling water. Seems easy enough...


Resolution #10: Be a More Dedicated Blogger

My final resolution is to put in more time on my blog. I have been so terrible with it lately, and I miss it. I have so many things I mean to post about, and then never get around to it. I want to be posting things daily to attract more followers, more comments, and overall more FUN!

Well, there you have it... My Ten New Year's Resolutions for 2013. Any tips and tricks you can give to help me stick to these would be greatly appreciated! Some of these things will be easier than others, but I am ready for the challenge. BRING IT ON 2013!

What resolutions have you made? Are you sticking to them? How do you keep yourself motivated?

2012: Year In Review

2012 was one of the best years of my life! Getting married, buying a house, adding Lucy to the family, and traveling to Punta Cana for our honeymoon were by far my favorite moments. 2012 was good to us, but I am excited to see what 2013 has in store for my little family of three. 

Happy New Year Everyone!!