Happy Blog Anniversary!

I really can't believe I started this little blog a year ago today! However many things have changed since that very first blog.

When I first started this blog I had just moved home a few months earlier for a part-time/ temporary job at the local community college.

 

I'm grateful for the opportunity to work at one of my alma maters and to get a job in my field of study. However, I knew this job wouldn't last because it was funded by grant money and the grant was almost up. So I kept job hunting until I was lucky enough to find my current job at another local university. 

 

 

I have to say finding a full time job with benefits and not having to relocate was a blessing that I'm so grateful for. Being able to still live at home, Sam and I were able to save a lot money to go towards our wedding which wouldn't have been nearly as nice if we were more strapped for cash.

We were able to invite everyone that was on our guest list, host a really fun reception, and even have offer a second reception in Michigan to my family who couldn't make it to Chicago.

The Michigan reception was nice because Sam was able to meet a lot of my family and friends I grew up with. Plus, our Michigan reception was very low-keyed so we actually were able to talk to people and get caught up.

It was nice that I got to reuse my wedding shower dress and any time I get with my grandma and family is a good time.

Now that all the wedding stuff is finally starting to wrap up- I'm starting to move into this next chapter of our lives. Currently, we are still waiting to hear back about the house we put an offer on a few months ago but I really hope we hear some news soon.

I feel like once we are finally moved out of our parents' homes, we'll really start feeling like a married couple and start our own routine. It's hard to feel like a married when you see your parents everyday and don't feel like you have your own space, but that's the trade off to save money.

I want to thank all my readers for following me on this crazy journey that I call "life". There has been a few bumps in the road, but I feel very blessed over all. I have my health, my family, my friends and there not much more a girl could ask for (maybe just a house).

Here's to another great year of "Living, Laughing, and Loving My Life!"

Birthday Parties & Mexican Food

It's the weekend, and it the time to relax and enjoy life. For the past two days I have to done the same thing twice- had Mexican food and went to a birthday gathering.

Last night was our buddy Mike's birthday. He sent out a text message telling everyone to meet up at a local bar and hang out for his special day. So trying to act me age, I put on my big girl pants and prepared for a long night.

To start my Friday evening, my friend Jen and I decided to get dinner and some drinks. We picked a Mexican restaurant that was just down the road from the bar we were going to meet our friends at.

After dinner we headed to the bar where we saw friends we haven't seen in a while. It was a good time, and I'm proud to say Sam and I were the last of our friends to leave. That's not impressive for Sam (because he doesn't sleep) but it's pretty impressive for me because I'm normally in bed by 10:00pm most nights.

 When I got up this morning- I had no idea my day from yesterday was going to be repeated.

This morning I met up two of my girlfriends and went to the mall to do some shopping. After we made our round of the mall, we decided to get some lunch- it just happen that we picked Mexican. (May I add today would make the fourth time I had Mexican food this week- I think I may have a problem.)

After lunch I headed back to Sam's house to wait for him to get home. When I got to his house, his mom was on her way to a birthday party for four of his cousins and asked me if I wanted to come with- I figured why not.

That was happen when you have a giant family- you just have one party and sing "Happy Birthday" 4 times and call it a day. However, it was a really special birthday for one of his cousin's.

It was this little girl's 1st birthday. I never heard of a "smash cake" until today, but kind of a cute idea. It's just a small cake that the birthday kid can just "smash" up and eat. It came with cupcakes so everyone else can have some dessert too. However this little girl was just a little too "girly" to smash the cake so she just picked at the frosting.

Oh Mexico...

Last night we had dinner with Sam's mom, this two brother's- Joe & Jimmy, and his brother Joe's girlfriend Whitney.  Normally we don't go out to dinner as a family, but it was a special occasion because Joe and Whitney where in town. Currently, they both still live in the college town where they went to school, so we don't get to see them often.

These two are great together. They are both fun people and know how to have a good time (as you can tell). The whole reason why they were in town last night is because they left for Mexico this morning on vacation. Hearing about their trip really makes me want to be back on my honeymoon trip- where we made a stop over in Mexico.

I know I just kind of stopped doing the honeymoon recap posts- but Joe & Whitney's trip made me want to recap all the fun we had on our honeymoon (or least the Mexico part of it).

Mexico- Cozumel to be exact, was a good time. This was one of the few times our big group really slit up. Sam and I went to the beach with some of the girls (who tried paddle boarding). Mike & Ashely (one of our engaged set of friends) spent most of the day at the local "Margaritaville". I guess they have their own private beach, so it worked out well for them. Finally the other three people of our group went scuba driving and then did some cheap drinking. It was a good day for all.

Sam is a big about getting souvenirs while on vacation, so he needed something from Cozumel. This is what he got...

It's a little hard to see in this picture, but it's a t-shirt with a bride and groom (how fitting because this was our honeymoon) but with the words "GAME OVER" under it. He is such a boy. I'm just glad that now that the shirt has been washed it doesn't fit well, so he never wears it. But it makes for a good shirt to sleep in for me!

Easter Weekend

My weekend was on the boring side (that's nothing new) but it still never feels long enough. That is one thing I miss about working part time- getting long weekends, but I did try to make the most out of the time I did get.

Friday Night-
I went out with my girlfriend Jen. We kept it low keyed- we just got dinner and did a little shopping at Target.

While shopping I did something almost unheard for me- I bought two shirts and one was FULL PRICE! I know most people wouldn't blink a eye at buying a shirt the cost $17.99 but the crazy cheap person inside of me normally would make an accuse why I shouldn't buy it and I would put it back on the rack. However, I figured I needed some new clothes so I just went for it. And I learned buying something full price didn't hurt so bad.

Saturday-
It was nice day. Hung out with my sister in the morning, went to church with my dad, and got dinner with husband.

I don't make it to church every Sunday, but I do go more often then just on the religious holidays. I still haven't found a true church home, but I do enjoy going to this more contemporary church. The music is up beat and the pastor is a great speaker with some pretty good jokes.

Sunday-
Easter was really low key. I had lunch with both my mom and dad at the traditional family table- at Old Country Buffet. My family is not big, so my mom never felt the need to cook the big "holiday" meal. For many years we would go out the our holiday meals, and that hasn't really changed. Maybe when I get my own home I'll start hosting the holiday meals- this way I don't have to push a kid out of the way to get to the mac & cheese or ice cream.

Also as we have gotten older- my mom has given up on Easter baskets. Now we just have a big community bowl to share.

But what is Easter without some candy! 

I hope everyone had a great week and has a good week!

Engagement in the Air

Sam and I must have started a trend (or at least I can think so) because many of friends are starting to get engaged. We make having a wedding and marriage looks so fun- everyone wants to do it now.

Ok that just makes me sound full of myself, but it's a fact that there are a handful of weddings we'll be going to in the next few years. I have to say I'm looking forward to going to these weddings and creating more memories with these friends!

One of Sam's groomsmen from our wedding will be getting married this August. Mike and Ashley are great friends and really down to earth people. They even decided to join us on our honeymoon cruise.

(Oh Sam! Isn't he good at photo-bombs.)

On our cruise there was three couples: Sam & I, Mike and Ashely, and Joel and Casey. 

Joel and Casey are newly in engaged as of last week and I can't be happier for these two. These two are the life of any party and can make anything fun. I can only hope they want to follow our led and have a group honeymoon cruise.

Finally, my cousin Anna is also engaged to her long time boyfriend Buddy.

 (It looks like they had a good time at our wedding!)

I love Anna. Out of all my cousins, we are the closet in age (she exactly 2 months younger) so we have always been pretty close. I'm happy for her and I know she'll make a beautiful bride!

With all these friends getting married, it makes me feel old. However, it's kind of cool to be starting new chapters in our lives.

A Single Girl's Friday Night

Tonight is like many of my Friday nights- pretty lame. I'm Sam-less so I'm spending the night at my mom's. Actually I'm doubly Sam-less; the husband is at work and my Sammy cat is hiding under the bed because there's thunder storm going on. 

He's a big old scaredy cat, but I love him.

I figured I wasn't going to completely waste my Friday night watching tv re-runs and eating a frozen pizza- so what's a girl to do on her "single" Friday Night?

Oh yeah- order a pizza, get a bottle wine and rent a movie! A much better night if I do say so myself. (I know it's still pretty sad, but don't judge me!)

I been on a Redbox renting spree this week-
Monday- Like Crazy (weird and no really ending)
Tuesday- Young Adult (it's ok, but it wasn't what I was in the mood for)
Friday- My Week with Marilyn (we'll see how it goes- I'm hopefully)

The rest of the weekend outlook- dinner with Sam's parents tomorrow and lunch with a friend on Sunday. So pretty lazy but it's ok.

Question: Any big plans for your weekend?