SYW

1} I used to be the girl that/who__________but I'm not that girl anymore because___________________.

I used to be the girl that matched her bras & panties but I'm not that lover anymore because Aaron doesn't notice, he'd rather me naked.

2} Describe yourself in three words.

Happy. Talkative. Friendly

3} I struggle with...

Balance.

Life is always hectic - never know what's happening from one day to the next. I hope to change that this year.

4} If I closed my eyes right now ______________.

I'd be dreaming of TAKE-2 honeymoon.

Vacation please!

5} I wish I could live without __________

but it just isn't happening.

Internet on my phone.

8 Relationship Habits ...

...that you should kick to the curb this year.

Yes I am a newly-wed, therefore I'm obsessed with the perfect relationship right?

Wrong! Don't mis-judge me.

Yes, I am a newly wed. Yes I am very involved in my relationship with my husband.

No, I do not believe in perfect relationships - I don't even know what perfect really means.

However, my husband and I have come down a very long path long before we ever started planning this wedding, playing house & becoming Mr. & Mrs. Lots of break ups {Lots meaning like more than five} & lots of tears, confusion & WTFs? We've always been far from perfect.  In love & back out of love only to find the love we've waited 10 {very close to 11} years for... with each other. Life is pretty amazing. Finding this love meant completely sacrificing things we said we'd never do or give up. Finding this relationship we have meant completely understanding each other and never disrespecting in ANY way towards one another.  Yes, we fail at times. Our relationship made a double 360 in January 2010. We were on our way to forever.

Once upon a time in far never ever wanna go back there land - I heard this statement over and over and over again  "Relationships shouldn't be that hard. They shouldn't be that much work."

{Cough} Bull-Shiiii

Okay, so I agree that they shouldn't be THAT hard or THAT much work. But they are most definitely hard work. I like to rephrase it and say

"Relationships take a whole lot of energy."

Oh but they do. Which is why I thought the need to share this article I found on TheNest.Com . Maybe it could help areas that you don't really know exsist.

8 Bad Relationship Habits to Kick

 this year.

1} The PDA Habit -

 You stick your tongue down your partner's throat in a cab, in a movie theater, in the back pew at church. You call each other sickeningly syrupy names (you know what I'm talking about, Schmoopy). The thing is, you make your friends nauseous. You make parents cover their children's eyes.

The fix: The next time you're in public, imagine your mother is seated next to you. I really hope this stops you.

2} The {other} PDA Habit -

{I'm guilty of this at home with my hubby. He gets onto me ALL.THE.TIME. Here's my sign!

 Is it to late to add it to my New Years Resolution?}

We're not talking sloppy kisses; we mean your smartphone. Your manners fly out the door when you're glued to your iPhone. You send emails at the dinner table. You tweet at the movies. You talk to your partner ("Mm hmm, mm hmm, yep...") while simultaneously playing Angry Birds.

The fix: Try to get through an entire evening without your PDA -- and focus on present company instead)

3} The TV Habit -

Every night's a threesome that includes you, your partner and that trusty old pal: the DVR. True, there's a lot to be said for the comfort of getting into your pj's and catching up on your shows together, but you can't always act like the Old Married Couple. Until, well, you actually are. And even then....

The fix: One week without TV. (Yes, Hulu counts as TV.)

 

4} The Smothering Habit

9:05 a.m. text: "Morning! Get to work okay?" 10:10 a.m.: "Soooo bored at work. You?" 10:11 a.m.: "Is it 5 o'clock yet?" 10:45 a.m. phone call: "Hey, what are you up to?" And it's not even lunchtime yet .

The fix: One hour without contact. If that's too aggressive, try 10 minutes and work your way up. It's fine to want to be in constant contact, but give yourselves some time to miss each other.

5} The Teasing Habit

{Thanks to this article I maybe just realized I need to lay off this a bit, even though I'm playing. Who likes a teaser?}

It's all meant in good fun, right? You tease him about his haircut, his clothes, his eating habits, his job, the barren walls in his apartment, the way he cleans his car, his toothbrushing, his sunglasses, his [fill in the blank]. After a while, it's not funny; it's actually pretty annoying and demoralizing.

The fix: Don't try to go cold turkey and stop the teasing  --- it's not realistic. But try to trim it by 20 percent.



6} The MIA Friend Habit

Tell me if this sounds familiar: You interact with your best friend about once a month -- to "like" one of her posts on Facebook. When you finally do hang out with the group, you bring your significant other and you both keep looking at your watches, whispering to each other and wondering how early you can bolt.

The fix: A weekend with your friends -- without your partner. Remember: Your other relationships need nurturing too.

7} The Over Analyzing Habit

You spend more time talking about the relationship than you do actually experiencing the relationship. Open communication is one thing, but when you take it to the lunatic fringe -- Where will we be in five years? What did it mean when you said... -- what you actually could be doing is sabotaging things.

The fix: Shock therapy. (Kidding.) But on your next date night -- or any day -- try to live in the present instead of thinking about the future.

8}The Non-Dating Habit

{agreed. VERY important.}

You've found someone you love, so you don't need to go on stupid dates anymore; the courtship is over! Taking your partner out to dinner and a movie sounds about as logical as taking a surprise vacation to Guam.

The fix: 8 p.m. Reservations. Wine. Candlelight. Romance. (Don't let it die.)

So, did it make you think a little as it did me?

I think so!

The Bachelor: Cheesy First Impressions



Maybe you are new to my blog, maybe you aren't either way you will

see that in the past two years I've become really hooked on his show.

This seasons Bachelor is Ben Flajnik - the runner up {who got down on his knee and proposed to Ashley and was rejected} on last years Bachelorette!

I liked Ben. I think he is a doll.

I've been counting down the days {like no joke} since it was announced on TV when the first show would aire....

whiiiiich was last night. Enough with the yaddi yaddi ya...

-----------------------------

There we {my hubby & I} were at 8:00 sharp - Spaghetti Dinner all set up on the coffee table in the living room ready for the show....

Okay, Did you watch it? So you are with me on the 'Cheesy First Impressions'?

I mean golly geez, if I were about to meet a guy who can possibly be the love of my life -

I do not want to start off

A} Running to him as soon as I get out of the Limo

B}Write a poem that says "Don't make fun of my butt chin dimple"

C} Hand Sanitizer & spraying breathe mints in my mouth

D} Bring my grand mother along... who also had more conversation with

the Bachelor than I did. Right? Right!

If you have no idea what I'm talking about...

Let me just introduce you to a few of the CrAzIeS that I saw last night.

Before I do let me just remind you in case you didn't really know

Girls are just awful & can be SO mean.

Ericka  studys Law & woed him with

"Verdict is in and you are guilty...of being sexy."

Okay not horrible compared to the other lines - but still... hold for later.

Ericka was given a rose.

Amber - Nurse

"My last name is Bacon...do you want a little taste?"

Do what? Really, you are trying to find your husband. Sex is important in a relationship {marriage} but I would NOT want my first impression to be a sex appeal. I sure hope there is more to her {like eating cow balls SERIOUSLY NO JOKE} than wanting to taste bacon because its my last name because I'm Canadian. Weirdo. I thought she seemed pretty cool in her video - but this is why she went home. Knowing Ben from last year, he is sensitive not a horny toad. Geez ma-nitty!

Jenna - New York Blogger

Okay I was REALLY excited about her. Even Aaron got over excited when "blogger" showed up under her name however - This girl was a basket case! One thing I do NOT understand about this show whether it's the Bachelor or Bachelorette is how they get SO upset when they leave before even knowing who the

main catch really is. What if there is not connection for you. right? I mean I get it. It would be embarrassing.  - This girl is definitely gonna be a star of the show - I mean like Drama wise.

Jenna was given a rose but I truly think she's here to stay for the show.

Courtney ... the model.

I'm not digging her. I hate cockiness. Well will see  more of her later.

Emily, a PhD student seemed good BUT

 she is the one who hand sanitized his hands & sprayed breath mint spray in his mouth

&&& gave him the first kiss. I don't dislike her but I think she'll stick around.

Even though I was so embarrassed for her & found myself ready for it to end, her rap song to him

was pretty good. Then again, cheesy on the first night of meeting ANYONE.

Emily was given a rose.

Samantha tried to rule him in by wearing her pageant sash to a pageant that nobody has heard of.

It MAY be different if it's like Miss Georgia or Miss Universe but Miss Pacific Palisades? What is that?

Lame! However, Ben liked it  because she too was given a rose.

Holly, who reminds me of a faker Emily wasn't so bad but REALLY

could have lost the Hat. I mean I get it. You are from Kentucky but really... he couldn't even hug you OR see you face. Hello! Other than that, she wasn't bad.

I can't really remember but I think Holly stayed & was given a rose.

Holly sitting with Bacon girl.

Aaron seems to think Blakeley, the "VIP Cocktail Waitress" is a stripper.

It convinced him more when she pretty much let boring pony tail like rape her with her eyes & words.

Blakeley was given a rose.

Speaking of ponytail lady, Monica.

First thing she has to say to Ben is "I miss my dog." Really?

But then it explained it because I really think she is there for the wrong reasons.

And just because I have to say it... Why would you really wear your hair in a slick back ponytail.

Nothing stylish about it. Cute dress, bad hair!

She stayed - Ben must have liked it.

Okay now... Brittney,  she brought her Grandmother with her to woe Ben.

Come on! Just because he is a family man... really? Grandma? I mean sad to say - but all Aaron and I could say about that is wonder how Grandma was taking all the judgement and harsh words from the other ladies as she watched herself on TV last night. I mean, Grandma & Ben had more convo than Brittney did.

However, she was given a rose.

I knew the girl from London was going home. She was sweet but full of energy. I'm hyperactive but I could hardly keep up with her. And her poem to Ben about herself... Don't point out your flaws within 5 minutes of meeting the Bachelor. "Don't make fun of my butt chin dimple" - really.

Yes, she went home.

How about the girl who got out of the limo AND SAID NOTHING.

Seriously. Why would you just walk past him & not say anything.

I sure hope you didn't wonder why you weren't given a rose . Here's your sign!

The last two I wanna discuss are the two I really liked:

Lindzi, who happened to be my FIRST like {judging off looks} when the ladies were first announced. who rode up on a horse. Okay, a little weird & cheesy but as soon as she got off -

I liked her. Well, I liked her in her video - speaking of that, how about that text from her Ex boyfriend - how HORRIBLE. Wow! Anyway, I liked her a lot from the start minus the horse.

Lindzi was given the first impression rose!

& Jamie, the one who adopted her siblings because of a rough past. She didn't go into cheesy lines or make a fool of herself when first meeting Ben. She walked gracefully, smiled & introduced herself. Normal.  Ben also gave her a rose. Yay!

Where is the drama:

both annoying already.

First Year: 4 months!



Crazy busy month for us full of holiday festivities!

12.3.11 - 1.3.11

♥ Celebrated a quarter of a year with dinner & cocktails

on 12.3.11 at the fancy shamancy Jalapenos.

♥ Christmas Photo Shoot on 12.4.11.
SO.MUCH.FUN!

♥ Started my book study with a few other hometown
lady friends. It was great & extremely inspiring.
Book - The Politically Incorrect Wife

♥ on 12.10.11 I attended our hometown Christmas parade while hubby went duck hunted with the guys. Then that evening hosted our annual Christmas Party -

Celebrity Christmas.

♥ Attended my work Christmas Party, Pure Romance Style

on 12.11.11 - Tis the Season to be Jolly.

 to Stephanie Young to always asks me about Pure Romance...
. I promise you I will have my answers out this week. Stayed tuned. It's interesting!

♥ My 12.12.11 my man-child was having TOO.MUCH.FUN
{is there such a thing, not really!} with Frankie, our elf on the shelf.
"Where's he at... Where's he at?"

♥ 12.14.11 HOTT dinner date with my in-laws.
Not really. Okay really - it was a great time @ Miyabis Japanese Grill!

♥ Christmas Party at Heather & Bretts new home
on 12.16.11 - we had a blast.

♥ On 12.17.11 a Christmas party with my immediate family
at my parents house with all the kids. Best day yet!
Played 'Broke Christmas' & we received
a bread warmer & two Mickey Mouse Ponchos!

♥ 12.23.11 -
had dinner with Aaron side of the family, at Grame' & Daa's.
Wonderful night with the family!

♥ 12.24.11 Christmas Eve-
Aaron and I woke up & exchanged gifts as if it were
Christmas morning. Ate Mommas famous cranberry bread & watched the ELF.
 What a wonderful first Christmas it was.
♥ 12.25.11 -Our First Christmas Married
By far the busiest Christmas day EVER!
But it was really great.

♥ 12.31.11 - Brought in the New Year with a large group of
friends at the DeLoachs annual gathering.

♥ 1.1.12 - New Years Day was a lazy one!
Pjs ALL.DAY.LONG with a little TV &
ended the night with Super Mario Brothers 3 on the Nintendo!
Great way to start 2012!

Happy New Year, 2012!!!



First post of the year!

Another year has come & gone!

New Years mean new beginnings and I am just over joyed to see what lies ahead.

I hope it's just as wonderful as 2011 , however I would love for it to slow down just a little. 2011 was insanely busy and went by WAY.TO.FAST!

New Years always makes me think of the phrase Out with the Old, in with the New - which brings us to the topic of my new years

I'll be honest with you. Don't take my new years resolution serious because

really... I never follow through. In fact, I had to look up my resolution from last year if that tells ya anything.  But what's exciting is a lot of those did happen to come true. We paid off debt to where we are almost debt free {almost meaning extremely close} & I got healthier... for the wedding however I've managed to pack a few of those horrible pounds back on. My third resolution was to shop less.. BAH! I don't know how it's possible to shop less when you plan a wedding and have a trillion events to attend. Impossible. BUT - at least I did that AND paid debt off! Yippie!

I'm getting side tracked - A.D.D. I'm getting to it. I swear.

I have a whole new outlook on my 

 this year & by golly I'm pretty excited about it. The things I have on my list this year are  more of a resolution for how I want the rest of the years to look ahead.

♥ Start making weekly dinner menu's & grocery shop by the week.

This is something I REALLY want. I think it'll help a lot and I won't feel so overwhelmed when I get home. Routine.Routine.Routine!

♥  Get up before Aaron gets up to start our day of right.

This was something I wanted to do as a "WIFE" and I mastered it for a total of two weeks.

Which happened to be a really great two weeks - I loved it. So this too, is something I REALLY want to work on.

♥ Organize my house. My gosh - I am the messiest person ever.

Every day I appreciate my mother more and more. I'm a clean person however I'm pretty messy. I've realized I'm almost I don't want to admit it a hoarder. Labels, baskets, whatever it takes for e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g in our home to have a spot. If I don't use it... get rid of it.

♥  Exercise. HA! {like make it a routine. not just one day}

This happens to be on my list every year, every month & everyday. However I never commit to it. I don't want to become a freak about it but I really want to do this for me.

Goal - Run a 5K this year.

♥  Keep my car cleaned.

Whoa! This is going to be a tough one. I'm not sure how, what, or WHY this seems so hard for me but really it is. My car isn't dirty - it's just a mess. I have this thing where I never take anything back into the house I just leave it in the car which leads to a mess. It drives me crazy, really.

♥ Shave my legs every day. 

Period.

♥ last but no where near least - pray more.

I pray a lot but shamefully I'll admit I'm the one who prays the most when things aren't always how I want them. I want to pray because life is good & because we are living.

So. Whadja think? Think I can do it? Of course! What's YOUR resolution{s}?