Ending the New Year on a Good Note...

My lovely friend Denise (on the right) birthday is today!!! Yes, on December 31st! Happy Birthday Denise...to celebrate we are going to a day spa this morning (okay I wrote this early so it would already be done) and I can fully relax when I go to the spa! We are having facials and massages done, and I'm so excited because I've never been to a spa! I have always wanted to and Im finally getting the chance to go! 

I will be back to blog about my experience at the Spa....

Looking Forward to the New Year...

Well the New Year is approaching, its time to make the new goals (also known as resolutions). I like many other people make resolutions and I start off good but I fall off around April, but this year I am going to take a new approach to some of my goals. 

My Yearly Review of Myself:

This year has been a huge learning experience for myself. I had a lot of good things happen this year, and I lot of personal things that have changed in my life.  A goal I've had for myself for a while is speaking up for myself, I am a very non-confrontational person and sometimes I let things roll off my back, when I should have spoken up for myself. Well let me say that I am always improving on this trait and I am very proud of myself. 

Over this year I lost on my closest friends, one day I guess she woke up and didn't want to be my friend anymore (sounds elementary doesn't it). Since I graduated from college I've been adjusting to the fact that you don't talk to your friends everyday, nor do you see them everyday.  But what I have realized is the true friends I have it doesn't matter how often we talk, or see each other...the friendship never changes.  Well this one particular friend I felt like was in the circle of my "closest of close" friends basically put me down and I really don't talk to her anymore. I didn't even hear from her for the holidays (now I'm sure you all know there is more to the story but I don't want to disclose too much)...for months I didn't have peace with the situation but finally I prayed about it and I talked to her one last time...and now I have peace. I know I didn't do anything wrong to her (that I know of...or that has been told to me) so I had no choice but to let it go and give it to God.

 I have also learned so much about sweating the small stuff-I cant make anyone be my friend and honestly I do miss her but it gets to a point of "what can you do"...So with that said basically I'm thankful for the friends that I have, the friendships I have gained, lost, and the ones that have been restored! Everything happens for a reason and sometimes we don't understand it right away but God reveals everything! 

This year I got engaged! I have been dreaming of this moment for my entire life...lol well since I have been older, and its finally here. We got engaged in October and I still cant believe it. I still sit and stare at my ring and wonder if this is all a dream (does that ever go away)?? I cant believe that this next year will all be a preparation year for me working up to 2012 when I will actually be someones wife. I will be marrying my best friend (everyone always says that but its the truth)!! Speaking of engagements and weddings...I get to wedding plan next all next year!!! Wahooo...I have the best bridal party a girl could ask for! I have already sent them cards asking them to be bridesmaids!!! 

School and Work...boy oh boy! These two have been a challenge for me this year. I started school again in March online. I started with two classes but I ended up changing to one class per term because Graduate School is a LOT of reading!!! Since the summer it has been hard to regain focus but I'm working on it, I have been able to maintain a 4.0. Not sure if I will still have it once this current class is over because I currently have a B in the course. But hey there is still time! Work has been a total learning process. This is my first job after college, well except for the one that I transferred to Cleveland with when I moved home. I have learned so much about the higher education field, and although I love what I do I think there are some changes that need to be made in this upcoming year (I will leave this subject alone, because I'm not sure who all reads my blog...LOL). 

Goals for the Upcoming Year...

~Get in shape for this wedding coming up (I'm going to make 5lb goals instead of one big goal)

~Continue to work on speaking up for myself

~Blog more and try to incorporate OOTD post (I always like reading Outfits of the Day and I think I may try some myself)

~Save More Money (THIS IS A MUST)

I think this is about it...I'm sure along the way I will make more goals and I will blog about them! 

What are your goals for the New Year?

Wedding Post: Candy Buffet

I have always loved weddings, all the decorations and minor details that make the day EXTRA special, I have loved EVERYTHING about them! Honestly I love hosting parties and decorating, I cant wait to get my own house so I can have all the parties and do all the decorating that I want! Anyways if I could have any job it would be like an event planner, or a wedding planner (really I would want to be solely a wedding planner).

I have always watched all the wedding shows to get ideas for my big day even before I knew I was having a big day, and ideas for anyone that may ask for my help in planning events (you shouldve seen my sister's baby showers)! For a while now the one thing that I said really wanted at my wedding is a Candy Buffet, I don't care how much it cost, I want one...and I want to buy the candy and all the vases and jars...and I want it set up just the way I the visual in my head (can you tell the seriousness of this matter)!!!

While I was catching up on my blog reader, the blog From Marriage to Motherhood she posted a blog about a dessert table for the holidays. I kept reading and the images came from the website Hostess With The Mostess, and immediately this caught my eye! So I clicked on the link and it had decorating and hosting ideas for the holidays, I went to Themes and of course I found wedding decorations YAY!!!

I came across the most fabulously (probably not a real word) chic CANDY BUFFET!!!! Wahoooo!!!! I was just telling Darrick yesterday after reading a blog with a bride who did a lot of DIY projects for her wedding to save money that I was going to do the same thing!!! I told him I would be making a list today of the projects that I'm going to do and throughout next year I will be working on them!

Then I come across this candy buffet that is the ultimate inspriration! This website even has downloands that you can use as templates (and it provides instructions) it doenst get any better than this LOL!!!

Dont you just love it???

What were some of the things for your wedding that you werent willing to compromise on??

Christmas was amazing...

Christmas was simply amazing!!! Christmas Eve for me was spend wrapping presents and running the last errands before the BIG DAY! Darrick and I split up that morning, so I could get some stuff done at home and he could get some stuff done at his house. We got back together later that evening before dinner...

Darrick told me earlier last week that he would take care of dinner for Christmas Eve, he wouldnt tell me what he was making. Honestly, I thought he was going to pick up carry out because he was tired (he can cook, but I didn't think he was up for cooking)...BOY was I wrong...he THREW DOWN in the kitchen! We had Pork Tenderloin, Green Beans, and Baked Potatoes ( I was so proud of him...good to have someone that wants to do nice things for you)!!! 

A little after midnight we opened presents....

(My Presents)

Ugg Sundance II-Chestnut

Dell Laptop

Vera Wang-Princess Perfume

SwissGear-Wenger Diana Notebook carrying case

Darrick's Gifts...

 UGG "Butte" Boot 

Cleveland Browns-Jim Brown Championship Jersey

Cleveland Browns Picture (Personalized with his Last Name) 

Christmas morning, we went over my sisters house to watch the kids open presents and to have brunch. We all made a dish to bring, and of course my mom brought the most food (we really didn't have to make anything since she made so much LOL). After we ate we watched the kids play the new video games 

After we left my sisters house we went to Darrick's house for a little bit to rest and change clothes. Then over to his sisters house for dinner with the rest of his family. 

As you can see I didnt take many pictures because I had so much fun!!! This Christmas goes in the books as one of the best ever!! 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Have a safe a BLESSED Christmas!!! And let's not forget the real reason of Christmas and that is the Birth of Jesus!!! So take a moment before or after you open presents, eat Christmas dinner, or gather with your family...and just thank Him for EVERYTHING

(ALL YOUR MANY BLESSINGS)!!!

Merry Christmas!!!

 

Passing Time...

So its the week of Christmas and Im SUPER bored at work! I dont know how this week snuck up on me and I didnt schedule any time off! We automatically get a week after Christmas but I shouldve taken these days before!! Geeze I will make sure I schedule next year!!! In the meantime I found a survey to help pass the time...

1. What time did you get up this morning? Alarm goes off at 5:45 I don’t get up till 6:30 (weird I know)

2. Diamonds or Pearls? Both…but if I had to absolutely choose one I would go with diamonds

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Im not sure…I think it was Takers (Darrick is at work so I can’t ask him right now)

4. What is your favorite TV show? Meet the Browns, Housewives (all series), House Hunters and Property Virgins, and any wedding show on WE

5. What did you eat for breakfast? Maple and Brown Sugar Oatmeal

6. What foods do you dislike? Beets (GROSS)

7. Your favorite potato chip? Cheddar and Sour Cream Ruffles

8. What is your favorite CD at the moment? I don’t have one right now…I would say the Gospel Mix on my Ipod

9. What kind of car do you drive? Volkswagen Jetta

10. Favorite sandwich? I love sandwiches…any kind!!! My favorite is my father’s breakfast sandwiches!!!

11. What characteristics do you despise? Lying, Arrogance, Phoniness

12. What are your favorite clothes? I love skirts and dresses, and hooded sweatshirts (not all together LOL)

13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? Right now I would choose Hawaii, I have always wanted to go there

14. What color is your bathroom? Pink and Blue, Shower Curtain is multi-colored polka dots…its getting ready to be changed in the new year

15. Favorite brand of clothing? Don’t have a favorite brand…I love to shop Macy’s they carry top name designers in Plus Size!!!

16. Favorite time of day? I would have to say after 5 (when I get off work)

17. Where would you want to retire to? Jacksonville, Florida

18. Favorite sports to watch? OSU of course!! And the Cleveland Browns
(Die-Hard Cleveland Fans over here!!!)

19. Coke or Pepsi? neither

20. Are you a morning person or night owl? Morning Person

21. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share? I think we may have picked a reception location and I’m ecstatic!!! I fell in love with this place as soon as we walked in…it seemed perfect!!!

22. What did you want to be when you were little? An Interior Designer

23. What is your best childhood memory? When all my family would spend Christmas together in the same state (how I would love to have those days back) my family from Alabama came to Cleveland and my grandparents were living!

24. Nicknames? Boochie (My father started calling me this when I was little and it stuck)

25. Piercings? Ears

26. Eye Color? Hazel

27. Favorite day of the week? Fridays and Saturdays

28. Favorite restaurant? Any Italian Restaurant

29. Favorite ice cream? Homemade Vanilla, or Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

30. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card? Macy’s

31. Bedtime? During the Week (11-11:45)…weekends whatever time I end up in the bed

32. What are you listening to right now? Nothing…the Heat is blowing loudly at work

33. How many tattoos do you have? 1

34. Next film you'll see? Not sure…Darrick was talking about some fight movie…so maybe we will go see that or he will take my nephew like he originally planned and I can see a chick flick!

Wordless Wednesdays: Christmas Decor (Kitchen and Dining Room)