Five Months

Has it really been five months since I last blogged?? Where in the world has the time gone!! Since Ak and I have moved home we have been busy busy, but in such a good way!

Here is a recap of the past five months:

1. First and foremost...i'm obsessed with pinterest and etsy
(can't get enough!!)

2. Ak's lil sis got married!

3. Of course we made a couple trips to k-town...that didn't really go so well, but we still had a great time!

4. We celebrated mom's 60th in Chicago!

5. One word...Bubba!

Halloween 2011


6. Fell in love with San Francisco!


7. and best of all...found out i'm going to be an AUNT!!!!

I don't set new years resolutions because let's be honest...i always fail! But I'm really going to try to do blog more! I know, I know I said that back in August but I really will!!

Two Years Ago....

I was having my first dance with my handsome husband.

It's Your Birthday...

and tonight we're gonna celebrate like it's your birthday!

It's days like today that I'm looking forward to living in Nashville with the fam.

Going to the chapel!

I am so excited!!! AK's little sister got engaged on Saturday!!!!

We just love Tray and are so excited he is going to be part of the Kelly Klan!

Congratulations!

A Year ago..

A year ago today I walked down the aisle to find my prince charming with a big smile on his face! I can't believe we have been married for a year! What a fun and exciting year it has been. :)

I'm looking forward to all of the memories we will make in the years ahead!

P.S. - He is really excited about the cooking class!

Found It!

I am so excited, I have purchased AK's anniversary gift! Yes, I'm about a month ahead of schedule, but hey that's the planner in me!

I don't know about you but in the summer, I love to grill out... well really have someone grill out (AK) and I prepare the sides . I love grilled cheeseburgers, steaks, veggies, and grilled bbq chicken (although growing up my father used to grill barbecue chicken until it was BLACK and crunchy, I'm talking burnt to a crisp!)

this actually is not as burnt as my dad's famous chicken...


So since the summer has begun we have have grilled out a few times, and two out of three times, let's just say it hasn't gone so well.

So on Sunday, AK mentioned that he would love to take grilling lessons or a class on the techniques of grilling. I thought perfect, I could get him a gift certificate to a grilling class, (and this could be my paper thing) I found the perfect place, Sur La Table. They are in 13 states and provide all sorts cooking classes and also have stores filled with kitchen stuff! I have signed him up for the 5 grill recipes every cook should know. In this class he will learn how to cook, Grilled Chicken with Citrus and Cilantro - Perfect Grilled New York Steak - Grilled Swordfish Kebabs with Mixed Herb Pesto - Salmon Tacos with Chipotle Sauce - Grilled Peaches with Balsamic Glaze and Vanilla Ice Cream. Sounds Fabulous!!

Must Haves

Wedding season has officially begun for AK and I! This week in the mail we received a save the date, wedding invitation and shower invitation for three different weddings. Such a exciting time for all of the brides and grooms! I began to look up their registries and wanted to share some of items that I think every bride and groom should consider registering for.

Here are a few of my favorites:

A nice set of bakeware

China/Everyday - I just registered for China and I love it!

Dutch Oven - This is one of those that my mother was like you have to register for
and I am so glad I did!! I love it!

A great set of knives

Everyday Silverware - Use it everyday and we love it!

Nice set of towels, I had my towels still from college and it's amazing what a good towel feels like!

Serveware, I love to entertain so these platters comes in handy!!

Finally, AK's favorite gift...the pilsner!

Frame the Date

I can't believe that AK and I have been married almost a year!! Needless to say, I am starting to look for a gift for AK. The first year anniversary is paper. I found this really cute idea, it's called Frame the Date.

You can choose really rustic or traditional numbers and frames.

I'm thinking of doing this, but want to get something else too...

I'll let you know what I come up with!

Fun Beverage Dispenser

I love these! Aren't they the cutest things?? They would be great for entertaining. They hold more than your average pitcher and I love how they look!

Running of the Bulls...No it's Brides!

Last night I went to Filene's Basement in search of some silver evening shoes. I was amazed of what I saw when I walked in.

Hundreds of wedding dresses with caution tape around the area and anxious brides leaning over the caution tape, planning their route this morning at 8am when the doors opened. Yes, this was the running of the brides. Have you ever seen this on the news? It's crazy! One of the cashiers told me all of the gowns are generally cleared within 6o seconds of the brides running in! They even had shirts that said "I survived." I really didn't believe that it would be worth it to actually go running for a gown...well let me tell you, IT IS!!!

Even though I am already married, I too was leaning over the caution tape oohing and ahhing at all of the beautiful gowns! My mouth dropped when I saw a Vera Wang dress for $699!! Dresses ranged in price from $249 to $699. The original price of these gowns was anywhere from $900 - $9000!

I think it would definitely be worth your while to go check it out, if you can handle all of the people. You may find the gown of your dreams for a fraction of the price. Now, that's what I call a good deal!

Click here to see if there is a Running of the Brides event near you!

Canvas - Part 2

I found it!!! While in Nashville over the weekend I was on the hunt for the perfect frame. I asked Andy's Godmother and Aunt where they would suggest. Since the canvas is a standard 16x20, they suggested a pre-made frame. Andy's Godmother suggested a photographer studio and Andy's aunt suggested Hobby Lobby. I didn't even think to look at either one of these.

I knew I couldn't make it to a studio this weekend, but near my mom's house there was a Hobby Lobby. On Saturday me and mom went searching. I didn't have high hopes since I have been looking and looking at framing places and didn't have much luck.

Not only did I find the perfect frame, but there were two that could of worked! I was having a hard time picking out which one I liked more! I said I didn't want to get a good deal, but I did!!

I would highly recommend Hobby Lobby if you are looking to frame a canvas or anything that is a standard size. They have great pre-made frames!!!



This picture doesn't do it justice, much prettier in person!

Canvas

I am so glad that I bought a canvas of me and Andy on our wedding day. I picked it up from the photographer over Thanksgiving.



Now for the hard part, finding the perfect frame! This is one of things that I don't want to "get a good deal on!" I will have this forever and I am looking for a frame that is timeless.

Over Thanksgiving me and mom checked out Joann and Michaels, but they just didn't have anything that said THIS IS IT! Andy and I went to a specialty frame place here in Columbus. The owner gave us some good ideas, but was used to framing very modern pieces not canvases.

Andy and I are leaving for Nashville later on today for his Christmas party and the canvas is coming with us! I am meeting tomorrow with a frame place in Nashville that does a lot of canvas work!

Hopefully I will find the frame that says TAKE ME HOME! Keep you posted!

Christmas China

The day after Thanksgiving I would always help my grandmother replace her everyday dishes with her Spode Christmas dishes. She would use these for her everyday dishes during the holidays. I loved helping her do this, because it meant Christmas was almost here!



On the other hand, my mom has a Mikasa pattern that is more like China. We only use this for Christmas Eve dinner.



When I was picking out our china for our wedding, I thought long and hard about what to register for. I loved several different patterns. I narrowed it down to two. Lenox Dinnerware - Vintage Jewel Collection



and the other Vera Wang - Lace Gold.


The more I thought about it I went with the Vera Wang Lace Gold. I had in the back of my mind that I could use this as Christmas China as well as regular china. I loved the gold and ivory and thought with a pretty gold charger it would look perfect at Christmas. So for now, I am content with using my wedding china as Christmas china.

However, I am not making any promises that I won't want Christmas china in the future. Sorry Andy!

(pictures - Macys.com)

In the mail!

I am so excited! I got an email earlier today that our wedding video is in the mail! I am anxious to see it and a little nervous. I danced the night away at our wedding and I'm not sure if I'm ready to see my dancing moves on film!

Click Here for a sneak peak of video stills that our videographer sent us a while back.

Four Month Anniversary!

Today is our four month anniversary! As the saying goes....Time flies when your having fun! It feels just like yesterday when we were married. It was a perfect day in July - the weather was beautiful! We had a wonderful honeymoon in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. After the honeymoon, we started our life in Columbus, OH. I decided to start a blog about our journey as newlyweds - in a northern city.

A little bit about us ~ Andy was born and raised in Nashville, TN. I was born in Mississippi but at the age of six my father was transferred to the great city of Nashville, TN. Andy and I have known each other for over 6 years, but we are learning more and more about each other everyday. I am so blessed to have such a loving and wonderful husband! We met at The University of Tennessee while Andy was visiting friends for a football game. Needless to say we are huge UT fans! Andy works for Hunt Brothers Pizza as a territory consultant. He loves what he does and the company! I currently am working at home for my employer that I worked for in Nashville as a conference coordinator.

Andy and I love to eat, shop, travel, and well - (im working on loving this one - working out!) This blog will feature many of the things we love and our life in a northern city!

I hope you enjoy the blog!