A visit from life, love & puppy prints - HELLO Carolyn!

 Well hello there! :)

 I'm Carolyn, and normally I blog over at life, love and puppy prints. 

However, today I'm taking over Stilettos and a Fishing Pole! 

As you're reading this post, Jess and her man-child husband Aaron will be enjoying their anniversary trip in Destin.

Can we say JEALOUS?!?!?!

I'm so excited for Jess and her husband, and so glad that they're having a blast celebrating their one year... but I have to say admit...

It makes me SO EXCITED for our one year anniversary trip! 

 Jake (my handsome hubby) and I were married on September 30th, 2011 in downtown Saint Paul, MN.

It was one of the BEST days of my life, and I'm so excited to celebrate the anniversary of such a special date!

That's right! In about a month - the husband and I will be flying here:

 Lake Tahoe!

EEK!

Neither one of us have ever been to Tahoe, so we're super excited to experience it all together for the first time. I've done a ton of searching online to start planning what we want to do while we're there... and let me just say. It's going to be a pretty great trip! 

Here's some of the stuff we have planned... 

Hiking

Jake and I aren't huge nature people... 

but we definitely want to go hiking and experience the natural beauty that Tahoe is known for!

Aerial Trams

Since Tahoe is a huge skiing and snowboarding area... there are tons of aerial trams to bring you to the top of the mountain. Aerial trams will bring us there, let me take pictures and stay nice and cute. Perfect! :)

Stateline

Stateline is literally the state line between Nevada and California, and it's lined with old school casinos and hotels! I can't wait to go do some vintage style gambling! Hopefully we have as much luck as Jess and Aaron have had on their many cruises! :)

 Squaw Valley

The 1960 Winter Olympics was held in Squaw Valley, and even though we're going to be there before the snow hits... I can't wait to see this place! The history and the sights should be pretty amazing!

Food

Jake and I LOVE food, and we love trying new restaurants. I can't wait to try out some of the yummy restaurants around Tahoe!

I can guarantee there will be quite a few food pictures happening on my Instagram feed!

Mansion tours

Jake and I love going through old mansions and learning about the history of the families that lived there. The gorgeous details that go into these houses is amazing, and I can't get enough of it!

 Relaxing

While I'm SO excited to do all of those things... the thing I'm most excited for is to spend time with my husband and RELAXING while enjoying the gorgeous scenery. Yes please!

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I'm going to go back to counting down the days until our anniversary trip, but first... 

I want to wish Jess and Aaron the happiest of anniversaries!

You two are an adorable couple and deserve all the happiness in the world!! :)

Turning the page of Chapter ONE...

One year ago I was on my way to take my unexpected

bridal portraits at the most gorgeous place in the south, The Ford Plantation in which I had no intentions of taking however my MOH, Danielle set the entire thing up for me. This place was breath taking.

It was one of the fun-est days of my life.

I have never felt more like a fairytale character, like Scarlet from Gone with the Wind, like a movie star, like everything a little girl dreams of - that was me on this day. It was a day I always dream off - other than my wedding day.

Truly amazing.

I was six days away from marrying the best person in this world.

I was six days from being a wife.

I was six days before vowing my life to Aaron forever.

I was six days from  the most joyful day of my life.

Today, I am six days away from our

 first wedding anniversary.

I don't think there is a word that describes how truly wonderful this

year has been for us. We've had so much fun. We've changed our "plan"

a million + 1 times. We've grown closer than I ever could imagine we would or even could... 

 While turning the page of Chapter One,

I am here to announce...

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We are buying THIS house....

We are SUPER excited ♥

In contract && close mid-October!

Whoop-Whoop!

Happy FIRST year to us!

Earth to Jessica, I'm ALIVE!

hell-Oo friends!!!

Where on earth do I begin? Maybe with explaining my absences on le blog. Well, I'm here to say that life kicked back in the last lane for Aaron and myself.

We've been non-stop for weeks now. It's one thing or another - but we aren't complaining terribly.

Truthfully, I started slacking in the blog area back when I signed myself up for an 8 week challenge that I have promised to update you all about - loosing weight?

Yeah - complete fail. Which in fact, is why I did not really write about it.

I hated that I failed. It's totally bummed me out. Seems like I get a burst of motivation && them wham - it's gone.

Remember when I was running daily? I will filling up your instagram with random running shoes & sweaty facial pictures daily. I was doing SO good. However, my hometown went through a time when it rained for like 5 days straight and sadly that's my excuse on why I quit running. I believe I lost like 5 or 6 lbs?

Yeah, well I gained it back. && became more bloated it seemed.

Me = completely miserable.

Then I dropped the $$$ for a 6 day body detox which I completely failed.

I don't think I made it through the second day. I bought thermus, hand held blenders, a lunch tote && LOTS of fruit & veggies. I did manage to eat a lot of fruit & go more natural however, the detox was horrible. I could not for the life of me

get anything to taste normal. My shakes were gritty & ... just not pleasant.

I struggled terribly getting it down. By the time I was ALMOST finished with breakfast shake/smoothie it was lunch... another one? Yes, && by then it was Dinner. Needless to say I still have an entire kit. Anyone want it? I'll ship it to ya!

Because I'm out.

Where I am at with my weight goal? So I went on my trip with my

friends from Middle School, which was a complete success. Awesome weekend & yes, I wasn't quite where I wanted to be, FAR from it. In fact, I had to go bathing suit shopping because I have NEVER like the story Moby Dick & I was NOT gonna look like him on the beach.

However, as of today. I've been going to the gym every morning && learned that I love running on the treadmill. Seriously. So much easier?! Ay?

I signed up for weight watchers last week for a 3 month trial && I've lost 6 pounds so far.

SIX POUNDS IN ONE WEEK.

Hard work pays off. I'm not taking my diet life to serious yet as serious as I want to be which is pretty damn serious. What I mean by it is, last night I had ice cream.

Not the weight watchers kind - my throat was killing me && I had a headache.

It's the only thing that seemed to make sense. I'm not going to beat myself over it.

Enough of that.

Aaron and I are 1.5 weeks away from celebrating our

 FIRST Wedding Anniversary.

Saaaay WHAT?
Can you believe it? ONE YEAR.

Which is another reason I've been away from the blog. All my time has been looking up && planning out our trip to Destin, Florida.

 

 I have a lot planned for the blog to you must not give up on me.

I have a few guest bloggers coming to visit, a "Paper" tutorial {hence, first wedding anniversary gift} & several other wedding/anniversary related posts.

Super fun!

Last but not least, I'll tell you my fingers, toes && every other part of my

body that can be crossed is cross && have been for months now.

I've been looking to transfer to another location with a raise && promotion...  I want this so bad - so if you could say a prayer for me, it would be awesome. I'd love you always && would appreciate it.

&& ....

The hubby and I have been house searching.
Whaaaaaa-t!!!

That's right. We are looking for our start home to raise our little ones
who have no been created yet {nope, not preggers} with a LOT more space
&& something we can grow into for the next 10 years!

Hours && Hours - Texts back-n-forth ALL.DAY.LONG looking, searching -
getting pre-approved by the bank {score!} && then walking through...
It's tiring but very exciting. As of yesterday, I believe we found THE ONE.

I'm in love.

House talk comes later. We are into the paper work now, so you'll
here more soon. {hopefully}

For now, my time has come to an end.
This blog && my typing actions will be back in gear...
Don't forget to come back next week!

Xo, j

First Wedding Anniversary = DESTIN



Aaron and I could not be more excited to

be celebrating our first wedding anniversary in just three weeks.

Wow! Where has time gone?

After hours & hours, day after day of research of

finding the perfect place to celebrate our first amazing year of being

husband and wife - we have finally found our place...

Destin, Florida

I've always heard it was beautiful & people talk highly of. After reading it was voted the #1 beach in the Southern Living Magazine I figured I check it out - oh yes!

The water really is that crystal!

I'm so excited to experience it but most of all I'm so happy to be able

to spend the whole weekend with Aaron.

 {Are those kids underneath the pool water? Uhh, weird?}

Reservations were booked yesterday.

Ekkk!

Now it's time to research places to eat, entertainment,

daily-do's, beach adventures, & definitely some kind of fishing experience.

I'd love to surprise Aaron with an offshore adventure.

Ticket Bookings = Paper?

 Hmmmm....

Have you ever been to Destin, Florida?

What do you suggest?

If you are interested in Guest Posting about your 1st anniversary,

please contact me ASAP - I will give all details through email.

Savannah Georgia Meet Up: all RSVP's needed!





Hey Y'all

Time is ticking and we have two weeks until we
get to meet in person - how exciting, right?

I can even begin to explain how excited I am to finally hear every one of your
voices & see real life personalities. Yay!
Behind a computer can be tough to learn at times.

So here's the deal.

Lori & myself have decided not to post to many details on our blogs only in protection of ourselves. Savannah is a wonderful city, however you never know people in this world.

Lori is going to send out ONE invitation through email
with all the details, times & events we plan to do.
It is not to late to join this day with us!

Here are the things we need from each of you
if you are 110% in this...

I know several of you have sent us this information
to us - thank you. If you have done so, then we have your info but please
let us know you are definitely attending this blate.

It's crucial everyone sees this & lets us know that you are 100%
coming. We have all day to fill & have awesome events that we want to
participate in. Lunch & Dinner need to be reserve for all of us - please don't
ignore this.

However, in order to completely finish planning our
day with y'all, we have to see who all is in.

We want to do some kind of tour -
Movie Tour, Trolley Tour, Haunted Tour, but there is a fee...
This is a reason why we need you information & your RSVP.
I'm in the process right now trying to maneuver the group rate down to
the least as possible!

Definitely plan on....
Lunch, Dinner, Shopping, a Savannah Tour


... if you do not have a blog URL, please make a google
account so you can comment on this post with your contact infomation.
I am SO very excited & as I speak for Lori, she is too.
We have been looking forward to this for SO long now & the time has come.

Everyone have a wonderful weekend.
Xo

Nail Polish Swap.... My PB & J



Wassup, Wassup, Wassssuuupp!!!

I am SO excited to share my amazing goodies but first

I would like to Thank Jenn & Whitney for hosting this awesome blog swap.

I barely made the sign-up but thank goodness I did because as much as I L.O.V.E

nail polish && LOVE changing my colors {weekly}, this suited me perfect.

My husband was eve super wild about me receiving mail from a blogger...

he knows the drift && waited to watch me open it before leaving to do play in the shed.

So my swap partner is Melissa from My PB & J who is {right now}

in NYC for a Blog Her convention. How awesome?

Well, I totally just made up the convention part, but she's in NYC for something dealing with BlogHer.

 Fo Shizzle my Nizzle.

How have I not seen her blog prior to this swap?

It's really great. You must go check her out - she's pretty big!

Before you do, you must see what she sent me all the way from Cali....

I open my mail to see this....

I was pretty fascinated by her information cards.

Loved them!

How exciting???

&& I was a sucker for the wrapping paper.

Favorite colors together. The bow isn't a wrapping bow...

it's a headband! Even more fun, right?

I thought so too.

I'm a SUPER fan of essie polish. Expensive I know, but it stays the longest on my nails without chipping. If I'm gonna buy polish, I better buy what works for me. 

I actually hit Melissa up before even knowing she was my partner

with a few of my favorites, only later to find out she uses GEL?

I could NOT find Gel polish ANY.WHERE.

Do they sell it?

Melissa, thank you SO very much for being my amazing

partner! I hope you enjoyed this as much as I did.  I love my gifts &

can't wait to dry out the "fast dry", if you know me I'm super impatient && always mess my paint jobs up --- everything was perfect.

Xo

Oh &&....

 Have a wonderful time in NYC. I can NOT wait to hear all about it.