here's to happiness

well since this week is thanksgiving, i thought what better than doing a post for thankfulness.  we have been blessed with so much, and i am ever thankful for all that god has given me and my family! here's just a few!

1. me and my family's health.  this means so much to me that we are all strong and healthy.  we may have our problems here and there and i may go to the doctor more than anyone i know for this and that, but overall we are healthy!
2. family.  since being married, my family has grown. more people to talk to, more people who lend a shoulder to cry on and more people to share the joys with!  it means so much to have so many people to trust and turn to when needed and a friend when they are not available or far away!
3. friends. i <3 my friends.  even though we might not be able to see each other as much as we would hope, but i am thankful for them.
4. my doggy. she is getting so big and she has the most wonderful personality!  sometimes she may be a brat but i can live with that if she makes me laugh and smile all the time.  plus she is so pretty!
5. hubby.  he is awesome when he is not stressing me out! haha he loves me for everything that i am, and though he loves to push my buttons, he knows in the end that i'll laugh which is why i love him most.
6. my home. we bought our first house at 22, which is a big accomplishment for a couple of young kids, but we love it and are so thankful that we have somewhere that we've grown into and love.  it is so fun making it ours and a place where we hope to start a family.
7. my job.  i have a job, and i am grateful to have one in this economic climate.  the people i work with are great and have really grown on me!  they are so fun and make it enjoyable: to the outings, to the lunch dates to happy hours to workout sessions!
8. school. as weird as that sounds it has been so nice taking a class this semester, paid for by my employer.  it has allowed me to get back to what i enjoy and escape the house for a few hours to learn and expand my knowledge.  this is something i've always wanted to do and i'm grateful for the opportunity.
9. ability to travel! we've traveled a lot lately and i'm anxious to do some more.  to get away from everything and relax and be so at ease with everything!  let the next adventure begin.
10. my car. sounds weird, but it gets me to where i need to go and no hassles! thanks!

tiny prints holiday cards!

last year was our first year as a married couple!  the first opportunity to send out holiday cards to all of our friends and family.  we were so excited & even more excited to display our snowy engagement photos in a card designed by me! friends & family loved them so much, i figured let's make this a yearly thing, because who doesn't love receiving holiday cards?!?! 

my family never sent out family portrait cards. i remember always the store-bought ones.  we'd always receive cards from various people we knew and always displayed them on the back of our front door or the fridge.  i always told myself that when i have a family of my own we're going to take a holiday photo each year.  well i've started my family (minus the kiddos) & we are already well on our way to making this happen.  i've even designed our holiday photo shoot happening this weekend! hubby is just as excited!

i came across tiny prints website on a blog i follow & saw what i believe to be the cutest, most creative cards ever!  i love how many design styles they offer from contemporary, to preppy to rainbow!  not only do they do holiday cards, they also do invitations, announcements, occasions & even calendars! How cool. 

even more neat is they are doing a fun promo (50 free holiday cards) this week for all readers/bloggers in the size & style of your choice!  who wouldn't want this!?!  blog about it & your in for a real treat!


holiday cards are a must & tiny prints is your answer!

i've already got mine picked out.  here are some of my faves:

happy holidays!

*interested in getting the 50 holiday cards for you and your family? fill out this form, & tiny prints will contact you! get bloggin'!

as of late..

here is a smorgasbord of photos as to what we've been up to lately! enjoy!  i think some of the posts are so long ago that writing a post about them would be untimely and boring. so as not to bore you all with details, please enjoy the photos!

long time, no see

i have a lot of unwritten posts.  i have the time to write them, i just haven't had the interest in doing so.  we've been doing a lot of things lately, so much show i want to document them on here, but i'll have to actually formulate them into writing.  but i have not forgotten about the blog.  i also have my first exam on monday that i need to study for!

here's to happiness

on this rainy fall monday, here's to happiness:

1. waking up to my main squeeze, and him smiling at me!
2. getting to have dinner with my parents last night for a lovely dinner party, complete with delicious food and laughs.
3. having a warm bed to wake up in when it's so chilly outside. hurts to see others who do not.
4. tye-dyeing with my sister late last night. #bonding
5. seeing my nephew score 4 goals at his game on saturday, and see how happy that made him
6. that i still got my craftiness going for me!
7. the leaves are ever so pretty at this moment.
8. getting to go on a date this week to the hockey game
9. swan lake this friday with my fam
10. it's almost halloween!

here's to happiness

this little blog i follow used to have a post dedicated to happiness, and what makes her happy, and she'd post 10 things that did.  i liked the idea so much, that i thought i'd include it on the days that i feel particularly good and want to spread my happiness to those around me.

so here we go:
1. it's officially fall and the weather is still perfect. i love me some sunshine!
2. giving my namaste at the end of my good workout class. thanking my body for getting me through the workout.
3. listening to spanish music and catching a word or two in the fast chaos.
4. even though i haven't gone grocery shopping, having just enough to pull something together and make myself a lunch!
5. that when on a walk with kaia this morning, she actually listened to me, was calm, and did not chase the bunnies.
6. not having to tell andrew 10 times to get up and move his car so i could leave.  this really makes me happy because normally it is such a struggle in the mornings.
7. hubby wanting to kiss me a million times before letting me get into my car. he can be so cute! even though it makes me late.
8. when the bus driver tells us all "please be careful, watch your step, and have a safe, blessed day!"
9. waking up this morning and having a very chilly breeze coming in and out of our opened windows, felt beautiful
10. that it's wednesday, and the week is half over.

flo-ri-da part II

first official day in florida,  sun was shining, warm breeze through our bedroom window, and the smell of breakfast filled the air.  after eating my favorite breakfast (scrambled eggs, fried potatoes, and fruit) we decided it was beach time!  we got our suits on and headed to bradenton beach, just 15 minutes from my dad's house.  it was friday, so the beach was completely clear, no people since they were either at work or school!  we plopped down our stuff, found a nice spot and settled into the white sand and gorgeous clear water.  the weather was perfect!  not too hot and a nice breeze to cool us down from the sun.  the water = perfection.  i'm definitely a beach girl, and have dreams of living closer to a shore (either coast will do).  maybe andrew will give in, if he knows what's best haha.  after a couple of hours here, we headed back to the house for after-the-beach pool time and then got ready for dinner!  another home cooked delicious meal was on its way, sadly no pictures.  here is how the day panned out:

beach all to ourselves

turtle turtle!

chillaxin'

cold corona on the beach

hubby & wife

catchin some rays

sleeping!

cu in flo-ri-da

<3!

flo-ri-da, part I

hey peeps! just got back from a wonderful 5 day vacay in sunny florida!!  my dad recently bought a house out in bradenton, fl and a visit was in order.  we'd been planning the trip for weeks, and finally were able to snag tickets out there this past weekend.

what's in store for us this weekend! beautiful, sunny florida.

we left our house very early thursday morning, and headed to the airport.  no traffic on the road, not a care in the world except making our flight on time.  we zoomed through security, and arrived just in time to board the flight.  traveling with andrew is always this way, and does not sit well with me, but i guess i'll have to deal.  the girl who was once early for everything is now pretty much late! bummer.  flight was from denver to minneapolis.  it was a quick/easy flight. arriving in minneapolis, we had a 3 hour layover, which is pretty long and boring especially when you're heading to the warm beach and you're wasting a day traveling!  no bueno.  finally it was our turn to board and we were off to tampa!  again, another easy flight and we were there. 

up-up and away

my dad was waiting for us to arrive and we were starving so we figured a nice dinner on the beach would get the trip started off on the right foot. 

view from the car, tampa bay

crossing over the huge bridge in tampa bay.  very high up and long.

zooming past the palms!

my dad suggested heading to a nice restaurant that i'd seen on the beach there before, but never eaten at it.  the beachhouse restaurant gives guests waterfront dining on anna maria island offering a plethora of delicious meals!  check out the site.  if you're ever in the area, i suggest checking this place out!  it was just before sunset upon arrival, so we snagged a table outside on the beach to catch the views to come.  this night they had a singer with a jimmy buffet sounding voice. made for great entertainment.  we each ordered something different and everything was equally as good!  here are some pics:

daddy and andrew at the beachhouse for dinner. great food, great company

nearing the time of sunset. what a view!

my dinner, coconut shrimp, because there were too many choices, i went with the easiest.

lovely

sun has set, taking it all in!

after dinner we went to my dad's place to check out the new digs.  it's very quaint and so nice!  pretty large for just him, so if you need a place to stay, i'm sure he'd love to have you!  so many rooms, a beautiful large patio, with outdoor kitchen and pool.  very comfortable.  i'm glad he was able to find a place he liked so much! after catching up and just hanging around, we were off to bed, ready for a new day!