This week has been so nice and relaxing but also fun and eventful! I'm so happy that January could end on a good note. I know some people believe that January is the most depressing month of the year but I honestly like it. I like the newness and fresh start with the beginning of the year so I'm a happy lady.

Here are a few things that made me smile this week....

1// the 200th episode of How I Met Your Mother on Monday night. I caught the end of it and had to fight back tears. I really love that show and I'm so happy with how this season is shaping up. Big fan of the Mother too!! I'm now waiting patiently for the episode to become available online so I can watch it.

2// the first (and probably last) snow for 2014! It was also the first snow with my husband in our first house so all of those firsts were pretty nice.

3// my favorite crockpot recipe that I seem to change everytime I make it. Eventually I will find the perfect combination to share with all of you! 

**This one had shredded chicken, three kinds of salsa (pretty much everything opened in our fridge), chicken stock, black beans and some quinoa.

4// these awesome Italian Wedding Cookies left over from the party Saturday night. They are dangerously good with my chai tea at night!! 

5// that sweet hubby of mine surprised me with my Birthday gift a little early when he told me his plans for us to attend the Kings of Leon show in Atlanta next week. Holy Moly. Talk about a happy wife. He did so good this year and I'm so happy that the show landed so close to my birthday. It was meant to be. I've been listening to Kings of Leon for soooo long, way before they became popular and I've been dying to see them live since High School. I will be celebrating my 27th year on the 3rd so that just proves how long I've loved them. Over ten years. Dream come true, people... 

dream. come. true.

** I made this pretty little thing with the A Beautiful Mess app and the Over app on my phone.

Hope you all are ending January on a high note also & have a happy weekend!!!

Goals // 2.14

Let's start with checking on the January goals first.... 

I had high hopes for some tasty treats for our neighbors but every weekend was so busy and our weeknights are almost always busy too. Then that Insanity thing was literally an INSANE idea for January so we will work on that later. I kind of blame the flu for some of that. I also want to give running a try and since I have some awesome new running shoes (thanks hubby) I might just do it!

Also, I am going to keep #3 checked even though the snow/ice forced us to reschedule the event. We are going to find a day in February that works for everyone and have some dinner and bag making for the homeless. Speaking of February, here are my goals!

I'm really excited about February because of many reasons. I turn 27 which is super exciting! I get to celebrate my first Valentines as a wife and even though we've never been the couple to celebrate that holiday much I have to say I can't wait to celebrate it with my husband for the first time. Plus those five goals will be a lot of fun to tackle. February, here I come!!

That's Amore.

Over the weekend we hosted the first wedding shower in our home. When Grant finally popped the question and asked Hannah to marry him I instantly knew that we had to give them a couples shower. When trying to pick a theme we thought an Italian dinner would be just right for a cold winter night. Some vino, pasta, salad, delicious desserts and a fun little Italian Soda Bar made the night a lot of fun. We are so excited for this fun couple and can't wait to celebrate at their wedding in just a couple months! 

the formal living room turned into an Italian Restaurant!

dessert happiness... Mmmm!

the brains behind the Italian Soda Bar!

& she found this cute idea and print out HERE.

This man helped so much... I'm so thankful! 

And I couldn't have pulled off the shower without my the best co-host ever, my mom!

I love throwing parties with her!!

So happy to check off No.32 on my 101 in 1001 & congrats to Grant and Hannah!

1 John 4:19

When I put number 35 on my 101 in 1001 I couldn't wait to get started on it. I knew that I wanted to make a print of a bible verse for the collage wall in our front hallway but I wasn't sure which one. I spent some time thinking about what verse best represents our home right now. With us being newlyweds and learning how to love each other in a selfless way I wanted the bible verse to be a daily reminder on how to love. I knew instantly which one to use.

As long as we remember that He loved us first and to mirror our love for each other to His kind of love then I think we will love each other well. After all, that love is the most selfless love ever experienced and I want to be thankful for that every day. 

While I was painting I made an accidental smudge. First time painter problems I guess... the more I looked at it the more I realized I wanted a little color anyways. I decided to paint a little red heart to cover the black smudge and I really love the way it turned out. 

Today is also our 4 month anniversary!

It has been a happy four months and I'm so thankful that I have that man to love.

Our Wedding // The Details

I loved every single detail about our wedding. There was a perfect mix of classic, rustic and glam. A lot of the details were very special to us and I know we will always hold them close to my heart.

my rings were designed by my sweet hubby and I absolutely love them

his band wasn't that hard to find and I love how sleek it is

my necklace was made by my super talented friend, Christina Nicole

my earrings and hair piece was made by Big Rock Bridal

My bracelet was a gift from Peter's oldest sister

I bought Peter's cuff links from Frederick Engraving and I found his tie at Macy's

the invitations, programs and lavender packet stickers were made by my talented friend, Kelly

so thankful for all the work she did for our wedding day!

the florist used for our wedding was Greg Foster

It was so important to have a candle lit at the entrance of the church for Peter's dad since he was not able to be with us on our special day. We also had a bible open for guests to highlight their favorite passages and write a little note for us. 

We now have the lantern and the bible in our living room which I love to see every day and remember our wedding. 

we had my maternal grandparent's first bed transformed into a bench for us to sit in and have our first meal as husband and wife. It was so special to me. We put the bench in our guest bedroom now.

The linens for our table and the cake table were made by my super talented aunt and I still use them for parties now! 

The lace wrapped around my flowers was from my Mom's wedding dress. 

The favors for the wedding guests were boxes filled with tulip bulbs so they could plant them and remember our wedding day every year when the purple tulips bloom. 

all of the chalk boards were written by my friend Heather and I absolutely loved them!

9/28/13 was a perfect day and all these little details above helped make it so much sweeter.

I really wish I could do it all over again!

{Photos are property of Living on Cloud Nine blog, and are artistic property of Red Apple Tree Photography} 

Friday Five

As I mentioned already, last week was rough. While fighting the flu I felt pain I never imagined. I hurt all over. Even running my hands through my hair hurt. yes... my hair. It hurt. I didn't think that was possible. So I am beyond thrilled to be back, healthy & happy. Here are a few things that made this week a whole lot better than last week.

1// holding my husbands hand. yup... that has made me very happy this week after almost a full week of no contact because of that nasty flu. Thankfully he didn't get sick which was the most important thing but it was pure torture. 

2// starting my new bible study by Beth Moore, Whispers of Hope has been wonderful. Like most of her studies, it is not just an easy read. It is deep. It asks that you really take time to sit in His presence and worship Him. I really love it. {& this is on my January Goals so high five for me!!}

3// these super comfy slippers that I really wish I had last week while I was sick. Thanks to Old Navy and the big "After Christmas Clearance Sale" I scored these for a low price of $9.97 and I honestly never want to take them off. I almost slept in them.

4// a delicious lunch date for pizza with my wedding coordinator. After the wedding was over I started to miss her a lot so it made me so happy when we finally got to sit down and catch up this week.

5// preparing for an Italian theme Couples Shower at our house this weekend. I'm so thankful that it could be rescheduled for this weekend since I was most definitely not in the position to do it last weekend. Can't wait to throw my first Bridal Shower in our home and mark that off my 101 in 1001 list too!!

& as always... happy weekending!!!