{a winner + Love Stories}

$25 Gussy shop credit goes to Jessica @ The Jenkins Family -- yeow for Jessica :) I'll be emailing you soon so you can redeem your credit.


Gosh, I am just so thankful for all the comments left -- 118 to be exact. That is a nice pat on the back :) Thanks again!!!

If you didn't see my last post, every zipped pouch in my shop is on sale at 15%-off. The current price is the sale price {which means no PayPal refunds, you get the discount right away}!

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I'm not quite sure what is going on, but I need to vent. About Zack. And how outrageous he is :)

Sunday night he wanted to shave his head. Fine. Then he decided he wanted to have a little mohawk, from his forehead to the nap of his neck. Fine, again.

Then yesterday on the bus we were sitting together and next thing I know his hand is up in my armpit {don't worry I was wearing a coat}.

What the helllllllo?!

I was like, What are you doing? Stop, now.

Yes, I said it just like that.


{It's OK, you can laugh...}


Then he started balling/squashing my fabric knots on my messenger bag.

Again, Stop, now.

Last night he was eating popcorn with his mouth wide open. For those of you that know Zack IRL {in real life} you know he has a... large mouth. Handsome, but large :)

I LOVE YOU, ZACK!!! <3

Anyways. I'm not sure if all the time we spend together is finally catching up with me or what...? Or if God is trying to be like 20% funny {because I think He's being more like 70% funny...}

Some times men are weird. Like, why does he have to PLOP down on the bed? Why can't he swiftly set himself on the bed?

But then again, why does he empty the dishwasher for me after a night of coffee with a friend? Why does he call me Miniature Princess? Why does he love me the right way?

Because that's just Zack :)

I guess as long as he stays away from my armpits we'll be OK ♥



Valentine's Day is soon approaching... what kind of Love Stories do you have to share?


xo!

{the countdown begins...}

I can't believe we've almost been married 1 year! :)
36 days to go...
until our first anniversary...

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06.07.08

all photos courtesy Mandy Gould :)

Five things to share

A couple things of importance:

• Our house is decorated for Christmas :)
• I have pictures to show you
• I have new items on my Etsy site :)
• It is the season for Love + Believing
• I have new music for my website (check out the music player at the end of my blog)
  

Go ahead and breathe that sigh of relief... here are my Christmas decoration pics:

Adorably cute wall sign from JoAnn's. It says "Cozy"---

Snowman from JoAnn's + our little tree :)

Two special ornaments: "Just Married" and Spider-Man---


My little Snowman!!! :)---


A personal apology to my plants. They were "kicked out" of their little window corner.
Hopefully they are tough and survive the next month ;)


Santa Sled + Reindeer, this is a "family-inherited" decoration---

On my way to work this morning I drove past a very large cemetery. I pass this landmark every morning, but even so I couldn't help but notice the HUNDREDS of garlands and wreaths keeping watch at every single grave site. It was amazing. Amidst the beautiful white snow stood proud at least one strong marker that says, We're thinking of you. We miss you. We love you. We haven't forgotten about you.

We'll see you again...

It was really, really cool. Such an uplifter. Also every morning, on my way to work, I listen to the radio. At 8:30 a.m., on the dot, the radio host has THANK YOU JESUS time. It's amazing. Listeners call in and share what they are thankful for. But before that starts, Stephanie (the host), plays a song. :) It's so cool. She says, At this moment we take time out of our day to say...

And the music begins...

"THANK YOU JESUS," sung by this large, powerful, booming choir. I can't help but feel such a blanket of protection over me. Which is why being a Christian only seems like the right thing to be. We don't have to "do" anything, to have Christ want and love us. He already loves us; He loved us from The Beginning. He just wants us to love back, to love others as He loves. It's a perfect thing, really. How can being a Christian NOT be the most amazing choice? It's such an exemplary lifestyle. Something to work on constantly. Something to be proud of :) Something to use to lift others up, because we make mistakes, too. We aren't perfect, yet we are loved. Jesus just wants us to pick Him. That is what is satisfying to Him...

Deuteronomy 7:6 (NIV)

For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.

It really is a great thing to have in life... God.

scarves, pumpkins, and inspiration

This little bug has made its way into our home, and I've had enough! First I was sick for almost a week, and now Zack is sick. We're each taking turns staying home from work this year I suppose. We are having fun celebrating our first fall together as a married couple. We had a great weekend. We were able to spend some time with our friends Joel & Megan. I had to whip out the box of scarves and hats Friday night. Brrr, it's sure chilly outside. Totally loving it though! We bought a huge pumpkin over the weekend to carve and Zack raked the leaves into the street (thank you city of Ferndale!). I did wifey things, like cleaning and baking cookies. I brought a little baggie into work today and it is almost empty :) Guess everyone does love a homemade Chocolate Chip cookie.

In between cleaning "sessions," I found little projects that I've been meaning to do since we moved in. For instance, hang all my purses somewhere so I can admire them daily. I got a few out and Zack said, Oh, I haven't seen that one in a while. [pause] Or that one. Maybe you should donate a few...

Umm, do you want dinner this week?

;)

I have been reading this blog pretty diligently and it is has been a really inspirational way to spend some free time. It is written by a wife and mother named Angie, and she lives in Tennessee with her family. In January of this year, their family was told that the baby she was expecting would most likely not survive. The blog follows the storyline from when the news was first delivered up to today. Angie is a very, very strong Christian woman, but what is so great about this blog is her ability to be real with her feelings and frustrations. Some days she is mad at God, but she never stops loving and praising Him. I invite you to start from the beginning and read forward. Remember to read from the bottom up (newest posts are at the top of the page.) It is wonderful...

That is all I have for today. Thanks for reading :)

Secrets to a Happy Marriage

I love this website: thenest.com

It is full of post-wedding advice, plus great articles on nearly every important topic.

Here are some great Secrets to a Happy Marriage :)

"If you're arguing over how to do a task, please remember that the results will not matter in one day, one week, one month, or one year. Chill out."

"Don't forget to keep 'dating' after you're married. Getting all dolled up and going out on the town, sneaking kisses in the movie theater -- these help keep things exciting!"

"Don't complain or talk badly about your husband to your friends, parents, or siblings. You'll forgive him long before they do. Keep your mouth shut or talk to him about whatever is bothering you. Otherwise, you risk having your relationship judged or commented on by others. And if you have to get it out, write in a journal. Diaries are nonjudgmental, and you'll be more likely to share the bad and the good of your marriage."

"Don't think that there won't be any problems after the wedding. There are bound to be difficulties. The key is to face them and get over them. Talk about what you're feeling and don't try to hide your problems from your spouse -- they'll only explode later on. It's like when you have a wound: Putting alcohol on it hurts immensely, but it disinfects it, stops it from getting worse, and heals it. Talking things out works the same way."

"Sleep naked!"

"Give yourselves at least one day each week to act like children -- like very best friends who have the whole day to do nothing but act ridiculous and laugh hysterically at nothing in particular. By obliging the everyday routine of the workweek, you tend to overlook the true purpose of life: enjoying each other and building a happy, memorable life together. I also recommend getting a dog. To me, this piece of advice is the most important because it allows a couple to have a gentle escape when you just need that extra bit of companionship. Pick a dog that fits your lifestyle and see what an amazing change this new friend can bring into your life."

"Always remember you don't own your spouse -- your spouse is a gift, not a possession."

"Be the bigger person -- be the first to apologize. I personally struggle with this. I don't want to be the first to say sorry! But marriage is more important than our own little self-interests, so I try."

"Nobody is perfect, not even you. Just remember that when he forgets something important or messes up; you could eventually do that too. And when you do, youll hope he won't hold it over your head for the next 50 years!"

"You need to be willing to make more than 50 percent of the effort nearly all of the time. This isn't about being a doormat; it's about really giving your all to the relationship and doing what's best for you as a couple. Don’t be territorial about things, like who changes the toilet paper roll. If each partner puts in what he or she perceives as more than half the effort, things will work pretty well."

"No marriage is perfect or easy, and both people must work at it. Sometimes, you just have to go with the flow. Build a strong team structure. Once that’s in place, then think about kids."

Whew, what a weekend!

WHEWWWW!!!

Zack and I had such a productive weekend, unfortunately this is just a taste of all the busyness that is to come for the next few weeks. Lots and lots of work. Oh well... we're adults now, we can handle it ;) We were in Royal Oak and it was so much fun shopping around. I love being married and having a hubby --someone to come home to!!! We've been married for 58 days today. Unbelievable. It honestly seems like just yesterday we were waiting for the rehearsal to start. We were talking on the phone recently (Zack is out-of-town) and he said, "it seems like we've been married much longer, because I've loved you in that way for a long time."

I can hear your bare feet on the kitchen floor

I don't have to have these dreams no more

Because I've found someone, just to hold me tight,

holding insomniac all night...

-Insomniac by Billy Pilgrim

That sums up our life together