Can't Wait For Christmas This Year!

I don't know about all of you but when Christmas rolls around each year, my pockets begin to hurt. I love giving gifts but I dread the amount of money that is spent.

So last year, the day after Christmas, we decided to put $10 away each week for our family's Christmas gifts. It doesn't hurt to put $10 per week away but it sure does hurt spending $500+ at one shot.

Another positive thing about doing this is that we have been able to buy things right along. If we find something we know that one of our family members would love, for a good deal, we have been picking it up!

That has been the most fun. I love the fact that we could be done with Christmas gifts before Christmas even rolls around. This never happens because we wait are slackers who shop at the last minute for gifts. We might even get to miss the Christmas shopping chaos.

We are going to continue to do this for as long as we are able. Sure makes me look forward to Christmas even more! :)

Happy 3 Year Anniversary!! ♥

Happy Anniversary to my lovely sister and my amazing brother in law!

I can remember the day like it were yesterday. The excitement, love and happiness that was felt all day.


I remember asking my sister if she remembered saying that she would never get married and we shared a laugh.


I am so happy that didn't pan out, and I am sure Brian is too.


Happy Anniversary to the two of you! Praying that God blesses you both with many more healthy, happy and loving years together!

Most Exciting Save the Date, Ever!

Hubs and I got a Save the Date last night.

A wedding in 2012 that will take place in Vegas at Caesar's Palace.

How funny is it that on Sunday I mentioned Vegas being one of my most favorite places to visit?

The wedding date just happens to fall on my birthday. That makes it even better! ;)

I might even be more excited than the bride because I'm about to make a countdown ticker for it and it's not even my wedding. Lame? Not sure if I care.

Vegas, I know you can't wait to see me.

p.s. Maybe that is when I will get busy and produce a little baby B. TMI, whatevs, my blog. But then again, based on the comments on my last post, a lot of you are excited for me and the hubs to produce. And this is why I love every single one of you!

p.p.s. Picture is of us in Vegas so it seemed appropriate.

Fun Facts Sunday

The Rolex Release {Rod and Alex, so cute right?!} has tagged me to share 7 facts about myself. I don't know what 7 things I haven't shared about myself on this blog but I am going to find 7 things you may not know about me. If you already know these 7 things about me, then consider yourself my true blog bff.

The directions are:

1. Write 7 things about yourself.
2. Give the "award" to other blogs.
3. Inform them about it!

Here we go!

1. I am happy that I get to share 7 facts about myself because I love the number 7. Not sure why but I think the number 7 is attractive.

2. I've started taking prenatal vitamins. Not because I am trying to conceive at this moment but because they say it is benefical to take it before you start trying.

3. I make a new meal once a week. I have about 25 recipes typed onto computer paper and then when I try it, I write on the side of the recipe, sooo delish, def. making that again, fail, bummer, not bad, who came up with this????. I try not to share the "who came up with this????" recipes too much because I like not having hateful comments on my blog.

4. I wish I were a fashion blogger. They always seem so cool and put together.

5. I'm going to South Beach in 11 days. South Beach is the first place, Sean and I traveled together. Due to this, it has become one of my most favorite places to visit.

6. But I still love Vegas more.

7. January 2012, I am doing the chop ... can't wait to be au naturale! :)

I’m “awarding” this to:

Tami @ The Tami-licious Life
Kathy @ Lovelace Files
Raven @ A Momma's desires and pacifiers
Frugalista Married
hudson's happening
The Chocolate Knot
CeCe @ King Chloe

Have fun! :)

You Ate My Chinese Food!!!

You know when you and your significant other order takeout. And your significant other gobbles every single piece of food. And you don't because you're "watching" your waistline even though you continue to order foods like Chinese.

A few hours later, your significant other asks you if he could eat your remaining food and you lie and say that you had a seafood meal because you know they hate it.

And your significant other seems to understand and you smile inside because you know you just rescued your Chinese food from going down someone else's throat.

And then the following day, you go into the fridge because you want to eat your left over Chinese food and it is no where to be found.

And when you confront your significant other all they can say is "there wasn't any seafood in it."

Instead of scream and talk about how rude it is, blah, blah, blah ... you wait for them to go to rugby practice and drink all of their favorite ice tea, even though you don't really care for ice tea.

And then when they mention that all their ice tea is gone you say, "so is my Chinese food."

:0)

What's New Around the Little Abode

I haven't done a house post in a while. Probably because there hasn't been much new going on in that department. But I've decided that even if it is a small buy it deserves a feature because it makes me happy. Seriously, a new hand towel for the kitchen makes me happy.

Any who, you know when you want something but every time you go into a store you just can't find it. Not the color, not the shape, not anything you want.

And then one day you just happen into a store and it's like God shined down on you and said, "Child, I want you to be happy today." Yes, I felt that way.

Introducing the two new pillows I've search over a year for. Best part, they were on sale!!! I have this color blue accent around the house and I wanted it in the living room too.

My sister tried to stop me from buying them, telling me they were too girly and hubs was going to think I was trying to sprinkle fairy dust around the house. Um, what?

I said, hey, he got that huge recliner in our tiny living room and I dealt with it so he will deal with this. Funny part was that when I showed hubby the pillows he liked them. Or maybe he didn't want to see me get all pouty {is that a word?} if he said he didn't like them.




Excuse the camera pictures, when my camera wants to have PMS there is no stopping her.

And then I found another item that I've been searching for, for over a year. I've been wanting to place something on that bar wall and I finally found it. I told you God shined down on me that day.



So that's what's new around my abode. What about yours?!

Our Day Trip to NYC

Hubs has wanted to take a day trip to NYC for a while. I am from the city so it isn't anything new to me, but it is to hubby, so I took the day off on Friday, to make a day out of it. Yes, hubs has gone with me numerous time but it has never been to sight see. We always have to do something, go somewhere specific, so it was due time.

We have always driven into the city but this time around we decided to take the China bus. Yes, it is called the China bus. It is $35 round trip for one person. So much cheaper than the gas and tolls we would have had to pay and we wouldn't have to worry about driving in the traffic {which would eat into our time} or finding parking. Both not fun and waste of time.

Here is a picture of me on the China bus. Hubs refused to get in the picture. Because I didn't want to seem like the crazy wife who makes her husband take pictures of them on the China bus, I decided not to press the issue but I made sure to make him feel bad about it after. ;)

Don't let this smile fool you, I am a force to be reckoned with.


I also wanted hubby to get on the subway but he flat out refused. Something to do with the rats on the train tracks. Whatever, such a rumor ;). I'll make him next time and will be sure to document it with pictures.

Our bus dropped us off at 34th Street so that is basically the area we walked around. Much to be seen there and it was fun to be a tourist actually. I use to be so annoyed growing up with tourists but now I have a sweet appreciation for them.

The first thing hubs wanted to do was see the Empire State Building. He didn't want to go inside, just see it. Strange, but that is what he wanted, so that is what we did.



Then we walked around and took in the sights.






This nice gentleman offered to take our picture so I handed him our camera. I was not worried that he would run off with the camera at all. For a slight second, I panicked because I wouldn't be able to blog about this day if he did run off, but then it quickly disappeared because I knew it meant I would be able to get a brand new camera with no questions. Win, win. Sadly, he did not run off.


I've never claimed to be ultra-cool. I'm lame. Besides hubs wanted to see the Statue of Liberty and we couldn't do it so I found him the next best thing. Best Wifey Award. I know.


More sight seeing.










I would never get tired of looking at the tall buildings


Hubby works for Target so I had to take this picture.






We both needed a bathroom break so we went to the Toys R Us on 42nd Street because of course they had to have bathrooms in there. It was like a mini Disneyland with rides and all.


They also had a Haagen-Dazs so of course I had to get ice cream. Chocolate ice cream, oreo cookies, whipped cream and hot fudge = heaven on earth!





If you are wondering about hubs facial hair, you are very observant. Every fall season of rugby, Sean's team does this weird facial thing. They grow it out and then shaved their chins. I don't even say anything anymore.


After the sight seeing we met up with Jihae for some food and some drinks.



Picture taken on the bus as we left the city.


NYC, we will be back soon. Hubs didn't even see a 1/4 of the things you have to offer.

{Dinner} Sauteed Chicken, Celery, Onions over Rice

This was so, so, so, so good! It is going to be a regular in this household! I can't give anyone credit because I didn't know that I was going to be sharing these recipes with my blog. {fyi: I am going to be saying that for several more recipes, sorry} If this is your recipe, please let me know. I'll like to give you credit.

You will need:

3-6 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
1 Large Onion
4 Celery Stalks
Salt
Garlic Powder
Pepper
1 Stick of Butter {I'll use a little less than that next time}

1. Sautee 1/2 Stick of butter over medium heat in a frying pan adding chicken breasts that has been seasoned with salt, garlic powder and pepper

2. Cut celery into quarters then add to top of chicken

3. Cut onions into big circles and lay over celery


4. Add another 1/2 stick butter, flipping chicken and celery as needed {the recipe didn't call to cover with a lid but I did to ensure the onions and celery were soft as possible}


5. Cook rice in separate pan

6. Cook chicken all the way through and continue to sautee until the celery is soft and has picked up the butter, onion and chicken flavor


Serve Chicken, Onion and Celery over hot Rice and enjoy!

My Sister's Birthday Celebration In Pictures

If it's your birthday you deserve your own photo shoot. Well, not really but maybe she will return the favor on my birthday. ;)




And then I didn't do something, that I have had to do for a very long time. Beg someone to take my picture, ahhh. You would have thought I would have taken more.


Then my younger sister wanted a photoshoot of her own but she doesn't like to "model pretty".



So I made her.



Then I forced Sean to take pictures of me with my sisters {minus 1} before he went to work. You would think the camera did something horrible to him when he was younger.




Then off to karaoke we went.


The birthday girl ordered a short drink. We fixed that issue the next round.


Sisterly love. Nothing like a sister.


Then we proceeded to take ridiculous amounts of pictures, that we might have annoyed others but it's my sister's birthday and we do what we want.







I wish I could have asked people to take pictures of us up there singing our hearts out but of course I didn't. We sang TLCs "No Scrub" and Alanis Morisette's "Ironic". I think we were perfect. We should do it for a living.

Then we took a cab home and watched some movie {that I can't remember right now} and talked our ears off, until we fell asleep. It was a perfect night.


Happy 23rd birthday to my fabulous sister! I love you! ♥