Home Depot Regulars

You know you shop at Home Depot too much when you start to recognize the employees. Or worse, the employees recognize you! Last night was hopefully our one and only trip there for this week. Sadly our “date nights” have consisted of wandering around Home Depot for the past few weeks. Why you ask? We have been finishing up a home addition project that started about 6 months ago. Baby steps to the finish line!

I’m pretty sure Owen thinks we own a second home with a bright orange sign in front of it. He gets all excited when we arrive and can’t stop kicking. No baby boy, this so called Home, that smells of delicious newly cut lumber, makes us leave at 9pm promptly every weeknight. It’s sad that I know the closing times, right?

Guest posting today!

A fabulous friend of mine named Casey asked me to guest post on her blog the leaflet today. I of course jumped at the opportunity because 1) I love the girl, and 2) I adore her blog! Check it out!

Goodbye birds of Long Beach

Husband and I are moving in less than two weeks. Before we move we wanted to spend more time on the beach, eat at a few of our favorite restaurants, and reminisce about our first apartment. We started with spending an evening walking along the beach. We thought it would be romantic, and there was a small hint of romance, and a large amount of birds. Apparently it is bird mating season, and bird-hunting fish season. There were hundreds of birds diving for fish and doing their thing. The evening was only romantic for the bird couples in Long Beach. Way to go birds, way to go. 

 

Our Valentine's Dinner

Any date night with husband is lovely, so yesterday was no different. We walked to PF Changs at 5pm, because it was the only place that would take our late/non-reservation butts. Apparently everyone wants to go out on Valentine's day. Who knew? We were sat on the patio which was secluded and surprisingly romantic. Throughout our dinner different waiters kept coming over and offering us more food.... "And here is your sweet and sour pork, lobster noodles, wraps...." we would look at them like they were crazy, then smile, because we clearly already had our food, but how do you say no to all that extra yummy-ness? Then the waiters would wise up and notice they had the wrong table....again....and again. Apparently our newbie waiter had no clue there were different table numbers and put our table number for all the food orders being sent to the patio tables. I hope the other tables didn't mind me taking a bite out of each plate before telling the waiters it wasn't mine.

Happy Valentines Day!

Happy Valentine's Day friends! Whether you are spending the evening with your hunny, or with your besties I hope you have a wonderful day filled with love! Here are few links I've loved. I think might enjoy them!

• Photo series of couples from New York that have been together over 50 years. So sweet. 
• Staying in romantic movie suggestions
• Vintage locket
• A yummy V-Day pizza with heart shaped  pepperonis' very cute and family friendly
• Funny dinner silverware 

Husband and I are not sure what we are doing tonight. We might stay in and cook, or we might walk to our favorite café. Either way I'll spend the evening with my favorite person in the world and my darling valentine.

Anniversary party for 2

I have officially been married a year and a few days now! Yippee! Our 1 year anniversary was on Sunday, but since we had work Monday we decided to celebrate on Saturday night. Phil planned the night and it was perfect. First, he bought me flowers! Always a good start, don’t you agree? Then we walked to a quirky wine bar around the corner from our house. We’ve never been to this place before and it was eclectic. The decorator decided she would start with a pirate theme, and throw in “homey” signs. You know, the ones that are often made of wood and say things like, home is where the heart is. Then apparently she also likes the shipping industry because there were pictures of freight ships sporadically on the walls. Sure lady, go with your gut on this one. We had a glass of wine then walked to a fancy Italian restaurant for dinner.

We were greeted by the Italian owner who remembered Phil’s first and last name when we arrived! I think he memorizes the reservation names so he can greet every customer. Brilliant I tell you, because we felt so welcomed from the moment we walked in. I ordered Lobster Tortellini….. it was heavenly. Phil ordered a steak. Oh so good. Then my lovely mother-in-law called ahead and ordered a bottle of champagne for us. It was so sweet of her, and delicious I might add.

After dinner we walked to a French crepe restaurant for a dessert crepe. It was fantastic and it felt like we were sitting in a café in France. The waiters French accent was so thick that every time he asked me a question I would give Phil the “ummmm you’re going to have to handle this one too babe” look. And he did thankfully. I know this is our first anniversary celebration, but it was the best anniversary celebration yet! I can’t wait for next year’s!

Almost 1 year

Alright people, my 1 year anniversary is on Sunday and I have not figured out what I'm going to wear yet! We are actually going to celebrate on Saturday night and we are going out to a "nice" dinner. Here are some looks I've been loving.... do you have any suggestions? Share away!

This skirt is oh so cute

I think I'd wear this without the tights.... cause it's an anniversary! Bare legs are a must!

Classic pretty

This whole outfit I love

If I knew where to buy this skirt I would have already!

Killing time

Phil and I went to the movies the other night and we arrived about an hour before it started. I’m not sure why we always show up at things early. I guess we are too excited about leaving the house. Or we want to get the best seats in the theater (aka- the row right behind the handicap row. You know, the one where you can put your feet up on the bar. No one is sitting in front of you normally, so people don’t get mad at you when you rest your feet right above their head.) Or maybe we just love finding things to do until the movie starts.  This time we spent about 30 mins in the arcade. We haven’t done this in a while and I felt like I was in Jr. High again. Flirting with Phil during air-hockey, pretending that I was good at the basketball shooting game, and of course letting husband win most of the games. That’s right, letting him win. What!? I could have won if I really wanted to!

12 Dates of Christmas: Date 12, Christmas morning

Phil and I wanted to start a tradition of our own, and since this is our first Christmas married we decided now would be a good time to start! We spent Christmas morning just the two of us, and it was perfect. We had little food in the house, so I lovingly poured us a bowl of cereal for breakfast. Fancy I know.  Then we opened our gifts to each other! I gave Phil a vest and flannel shirt, which he looks rugged and manly in (see I’m getting better at calling him things he’ll like!). He bought me a gold Michael Kors watch!!! HELLO GORGEOUS! I flipped out because it is absolutely stunning and had no idea he would pick it out a gift so luxurious! I mean we had cereal for breakfast, for goodness sakes…. We aren’t living in the lap of luxury.  However, husband is brilliant and found my watch at Nordstrom’s Rack and got a steal! He didn’t actually steal it if that’s what you were thinking. Apparently he searched about 20 stores to find one that fit our budget and that he knew I’d love. He is such a keeper.

12 Dates of Christmas is done! Weeww heeeww! I can’t wait for next year. How was your Christmas? I’d love to know how you spent it!

This is us with our nephew James. They have matching vests! As you can see Phil and James are really excited about it. :)

12 Dates of Christmas: Date 11, Christmas Eve

We stayed the night at my parents on Christmas Eve-Eve, so on Christmas Eve morning we slept in, and my mom made us a delicious breakfast. Blueberry waffles, bacon, fruit, and coffee. I’m always surprised when my pants fit me a little tighter after the holidays. I shouldn’t be. I do it to myself. I only have myself to blame. Next year I won’t over indulge. Well, maybe the year after next. Let’s play it by ear.

Throughout the day we went to three Christmas parties and were completely spoiled. We chatted with family, thanked Jesus for coming and bringing life to us, gave each other gifts, and loved every moment of the day.

12 Dates of Christmas: Date 10, Christmas Candle Lighting Service

Our church puts on a great Candle Lighting Service every year and this year was no exception. We sang Christmas carols, the kids even assisted in one song and rang bells (so cute!), and we lit candles representing Jesus coming into a dark world and bringing Light. I, of course, wanted to take a few pictures for the blog and husband was embarrassed of me snapping pictures at “serious” moments. He was also embarrassed of me when I wasn’t paying attention to my candle while taking pictures and spilled wax all over my leg! Slightly scalded leg, and now I might need to replace those jeans. Small price to pay for some good candle shots if you ask me.

On our way there.

12 Dates of Christmas: Date 9, Burnt Cookies

Husband and I had a brilliant idea to bake cookies for our neighbors and pass them out last night. We know a few of the units in our apartment building, and thought it would be a great chance to get to know them a little more. We bought the ingredients, carefully mixed everything together, tasted the yummy cookie dough, preheated the oven, busted out our NEW cookie sheets, placed the dough on the sheets, put them in the oven and set the timer! Sounds perfect right?

Well apparently our new cookie sheets hate us. I also think that they should NOT be called cookie sheets, they should be called “I burn anything you put on me sheets.” After about 2 minutes of the cookies being in the oven, Phil and I started to smell something burning…… I glanced around at my candles that were lit thinking…. What did I just set a blaze? Is our very, Very, VERY dry Christmas tree going up in flames? Is my hair on fire again (yes, I’ve lit my hair on fire before… that story will have to be told another time)? WAIT…. It couldn’t be the cookies…right? Phil and I went to the oven, peeked in and saw those burn-sheets devouring our cookies! The bottom of each cookie was already black, and the top was still dough! Needless to say, our neighbors are not getting cookies this year from us. I assume they would think we hate them if we ding-dong-ditched their doors, then when they opened the door found severely inedible cookies.

Phil and I threw the cookies away, lit a million candles to try and get the burnt smell out of our apartment, and laughed about it the rest of the night. Date night #9 didn’t work out as planned, but husband and I spent it together so it was all good in my book. 

12 Dates of Christmas: Date 7, the Nutcracker Ballet

About a month ago I told Phil that I’d like to go see a ballet sometime. Husband remembered me saying that and found this one a week ago. We decided that we had to go for one of our 12 Dates of Christmas! It was playing about three blocks from our apartment, at the Long Beach Performing Arts Center, so of course we walked! Long Beach weather has been tricky lately and decided to rain on us half way through our walk. Phil, being the selfless man that he is, said he would run back to our apartment and get an umbrella. As sweet as that offer was I thought it would be fun to keep walking, and let my already frizzy hair keep on curlin’ up! We walked just a little faster and prayed that it didn’t rain on our walk home. Which it didn’t! 

This was the first ballet Phil and I have ever seen so we didn’t know what to expect. The music was phenomenal, the dancers were graceful (and so incredibly flexible that it almost made me uncomfortable! How the heck do they get their bodies to bend like that!?), and the story line was classic. Husband might have fallen asleep in the middle of it, and I might have taken a picture of him sleeping. I’d love to see this ballet again, or another one! Any suggestions? 

12 Dates of Christmas: Date 6, Naples Christmas Lights

This weekend Phil and I walked around the island of Naples and looked at all their fabulous Christmas lights. Each house is waterfront and about 90% of them own boats. Apparently they have a competition every year for which house has the best lights display, and several homes were beyond covered with Christmas lights. It was a beautiful sight and such a fun date. Throughout the night, I kept asking Phil what he thought the people that owned those houses did for a living. Then I’d peer into their houses trying to figure it out. Husband kept telling me that I was being creepy, but I ignored that and kept staring in the gorgeous homes. A few times the owners of the house caught me and stared back... slightly awkward... but it didn't stop me from doing the same thing to the next house. Here is what I came up with as possible jobs for those rich folk… doctors, lawyers, drug dealers, taxi cab drivers (seriously one house had several taxi’s out front! I might need to change professions. Of course I get lost often so that might not be a good idea. I assume people wouldn’t like it if they got in my taxi and I asked them for directions.), and naval captains.

Phil and I had a few more dates this weekend! I’ll post at least one a day.

How was your weekend? Did you go on any dates???