Good-bye 2008, Hello 2009!

Another year over and another just starting. 2008 was a GREAT year for me, although there were some down times, it over all was the most amazing year I've had.
So here it goes my top list for 2008:
1) Getting married to Christopher.

2) Spending two amazing weeks in Hawaii on our honeymoon.

3) Philadelphia Phillies winning the world series!!!

4) Barack Obama making history by becoming president:

5) In January the annual cottage winter run.


6) Meeting some of my amazing knottie friends for the first time in person!
7) Having 20lbs of live craw fish coming to the cottage straight from LA!

8) Our friends Greg and Kali got married in May.

9) June, my bridal Shower and my mom retired after 39 years of teaching.

10) July, 4th of July at the cottage, Kenny Chesney concert and I started to DIY our invites for the wedding.


11) August, my birthday of course! Colony day at the cottage, being able to finally drive the Jet-ski by my self!

12)September, my bachelorette party in Atlantic City. Finishing all the wedding projects!

11) Our wedding of course and our amazing honeymoon to Hawaii!
12) November Phillies winning world series!
13) December spending a lot of times with friends and family.

Though there were a lot of good times in 2008, of course we did lose some close people to us and we will remember them.

Christmas Time!

We have been gone for about just about a week. We left last Wednesday and got back late yesterday. It's was a great time, and besides spending it with my parents and family one of the best things was being able to wake up and spend Christmas morning with Chris. This is the first Christmas we actually spent together since we have been together. We started our Christmas with my parents and grandfather, Chris made my most favorite meal ever that he makes Stuffed Chicken Breast and Broccoli with hollandaise sauce. After dinner we watched our wedding dvd and then got ready for church. We went to the candle light service at church. Christmas day we spent the morning opening up gifts, some of our favorites were:
My Garmin Nuvi from my parents, it's super cute and little and also has a pink carry case, yay!

These super cute pug salt and pepper shakers that are kissing:

Dancing with the Stars for the Wii:

And of course a lot of other things, but if I posted pics, this post would be long! Chris also got some awesome stuff, he got Top Spin Tennis for the Wii and Balls of Fury for the Wii which he was super excited for.
After opening presents with my parents, the husband and the pug, we went to visit my Nana at her nursing home. After that we came back and just hung around until the craziness began(the whole family coming over for Christmas). Plus some friends stopped by as well with their gifts. The day after Christmas, we woke up had breakfast with my parents and made our trip to Buffalo to have Christmas with Chris's family. Friday when we got there we opened up our gifts and there too we also got some good gifts, some of our favorites were:
My Cuisinart Stand Mixer:

Guitar Hero Aerosmith for the Wii:

We then went out and bought Guitar Hero Legends of Rock for the Wii:


Saturday we hung out did some after Christmas shopping, played guitar hero and had Christmas dinner, Sunday we spent the day watching football and the Eagles making it to the playoffs! Monday we got up early and came home. Today is really our only day at home again this week, because tomorrow we are off to a NYE party and then to my parents for New Years Day dinner and then off to Rochester Friday night to see some friends and Saturday we are headed to Buffalo, which I'm super excited for, to see some of my friends from the knot again!!! After the new year we will be glad to have a few weekends to just kick back at home and relax, we have been non-stop since the first weekend in December. I sort of feel like we are in wedding planning mode again with all of this running around! Anyways, everyone have a great and safe New Year!

Merry Christmas!

A little late, but Merry Christmas Everyone!

Our Christmas Trees!

This year we have two Christmas trees! We have our big real one that we both get to decorate and then we have just my little "fake" tree.

Our big real tree has been a hot mess this year, it has already fallen over twice, so the lights are a little crooked.



Then there is my tree, which Chris calls a Charlie Brown tree:

Niagara Falls

Chris work Christmas party is held every year in Niagara Falls, NY. His company actually owns a hotel that is right on the falls. Last year we didn't get time to go out to the falls and look, but this year we went to Goat Island and got a few pictures! It was freezing!

Puggie's Halloween!!

I thought I didn't take a picture of Alexis in her Halloween costume but I did! So here she is:

Miss. Puggie The Hot Dog

Craisins!!!

So excited when I walked into target and found these!!! I love these! While they are healthy and good for you, the regular one packs on a lot of calories!! Still good! Try them today!

4 years!

Today is four years since Christopher and I first started dating. Although he told me we can no longer celebrate this date, and only our wedding date, I'm still celebrating it! We've come a long way in the past four years and of course the best memory to date was our wedding day!

Anyways Happy "Dating" Anniversary to Us!!!

Movie Thursday!

Tonight's movie is...

101 Things to do in 1001 Days

I've seen this on numerous blogs I follow, so I thought I would join in on the fun!
The Mission:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic,

Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as New Year’s resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organising and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.



Items in italics are in progress, items slashed through are complete!

1. Have 15 date nights with hubby.
2. Play guitar hero/rock band to find out why everyone is so addicted to it.
3. Splurge on dinner at Capital Grille and a movie.
4. Have 4 girls’ night outs.
5. Call my friends at least every two weeks for 4 months.
6. Have friends over for a cocktail party.
7. Visit my grandmother at least 2 times a month for 6 months.
8. Create & send out birthday cards every month (0/12)
9. Go through old toys/dolls and donate unwanted ones to Children’s hospital or other charity.
10. Visit an animal shelter and help out .
11. Visit CHOP and read to children that are there.
12. Volunteer - anywhere.
13. Donate to a food shelter once a month for 6 months.
14. Collect items throughout year for Toys for Tots.
15. Complete a 5k .
16. Complete a 10k.
17. Forgive someone.
18. Write a letter to a loved one at least once a month for six months.
19. Volunteer for Habitat for Humanity.
20. Give someone a sincere compliment at least once a week for a month.
21. Bake something for a bake good sale at least four times.
22. Complete the Ben Franklin Bridge Run.
23. No sweets for two weeks.
24. Make sure all products in shower are organic/natural.
25. Try a yoga/Pilate's class.
26. Go vegan for a week.
27. Take the pug for long walks over a mile at least twice a week for a month.(2/10)
28. Switch to all-natural cleaning products.
29. Splurge on 6 hour day at a spa.
30. Splurge on a 6 hour day at the spa with the hubby.
31. Have healthy children.
32. Take my pre-natal vitamins everyday.
33. Make at least 4 unity candles/memorial candles a month for 4 months.
34. Try 3 new recipes for 3 months.(3/9)
35. Plant an herb garden.
36. Take a Wilton's Cake Class.
37. Take Pug to the dog park at least once a month for 6 months.(1/6)
38. Buy a house with the hubby.
39. Put 10 bucks away every two weeks for 6 months.
40. Close all credit cards.
41. Clean out our closet and get rid of things we no longer need or want.
42. Keep the refrigerator and spice cabinet stocked with staple food/seasonings.
43. Cook a meal with all complete organic items.
44. Clean and organize the garage.
45. Stain back deck.
46. Plant new flowerbeds in backyard.
47. Complete spring clean the house from head to toe.
48. Only eat out once a month for six months.
49. Update my passport.
50. Travel to another country.
51. Visit Chicago.
52. Go back to Boston.
53. Visit the Napa Valley.
54. Take a weekend trip on the motorcycle with Chris.
55. Go on a day trip to somewhere we've never been.
56. Visit the Philly Art Museum with hubby.
57. Go to at least 3 Philadelphia Sport Team Games.
58. Visit the Baltimore Aquarium.
59. Go see a show on Broadway.
60. Go on a weekend trip to NYC.
61. Eat at the Rainbow Room.
62. Read at least one of the books from the Twilight Series
63. Finish "The Other Boleyn Girl"
64. Watch at least 25 movies in 8 months.(2/25)
65. Try 10 new restaurants.
66. See at least 5 shows at the Walnut Street Theatre
67. Have friends over at least once a month for six months(1/6).
68. Read, What to Expect When your Expecting, by the time kiddies are ready.
69. Read at least two books from Oprah's Book Club.
70. Be a guest on The View/Rachel Ray/Conan.
71. Go to a pumpkin patch/hayride/scary thing.
72. Re-learn Spanish.
73. Attend an event the hubby really wants to go to.
74. Attend a dance show.
75. Send a letter to hubby at his work.
76. Write a letter for no reason to 3 friends.
77. Start a mini-cookbook.
78. Give blood.
79. Right thank you cards for all things people do for us.
80. Participate in Big Sister club.
81. Take more photographs.
82. Bake a batch of cookies for a shelter for Christmas.
83. Complete this list.
84. Get up early to watch the sun rise over the lake at the cottage.
85. Catch a fish at the cottage this year while fishing!
86. Get a new cell phone that I really love and not just like.
87. Have three totally different hairstyle's.(1/3)
88. Get Married.
89. Go to Peddler's Village with the girls.
90. Make Chris breakfast in bed at least once a month for 3 months.
91. Try to eat at least 4 hot wings.
92. Donate books I have read to schools/charities.
93. Go camping.
94. Write a poem.
95. Stay in touch with my knot girls and see them at least once every 6 months
96. See all of the Best Picture nominees for the 2008 Oscars.
97. Complete the 100 push up challenge.
98. Run at least 3 times a week for 3 months.(3/44)
99. Donate 5 bucks to any charity for any incomplete items after 1001 days.
100. Go horseback riding.
101. Cook a 5 course meal for friends/family.

Be Thankful

Even though Thanksgiving is over, we do have a lot to be thankful for, even though our economy sucks right now. I saw this on one of my blogs I read daily. I thought it was worth sharing.

1) Food prices have gone up a lot, but yet we are all still mostly able to have a full table spread in front of us, and even leftovers afterwards.

2)Home foreclosures are not uncommon these days, but most of us are still able to be in a warm house to be around family and friends.

3)Credit is hard to find these days, but yet we are all able to find a way to give our selves a Thanksgiving dinner.

4)Gas this time last year was an average of 4.00, at least this year it's an average of 2.00 and we are all able to drive and see family and friends.

5)Many people have been laid off, but yet we still have enough money to supply a thanksgiving feast.

Despite all of this, we are lucky.