Indianapolis & Chicago!

**WARNING** This post is in picture overload mode!!!

If you have read my blog lately you know we went out of town for the Holiday.  We had such a good trip and I wish I was still there.  We left last Wednesday for Indianapolis, spent Thanksgiving at my Uncles House, Friday we went to Chicago, Saturday we hung out in Indianapolis and shopped, Sunday we came home. 

There are so many pictures I want to share, but I can't put them all on here, so here are a few of my favorite!

My Papa and his Granddaughters! It was so nice to see him b/c he was diagnosed with lung cancer last month and we weren't sure if he would be here for Thanksgiving.

My cousin and I, we always do this pose with each other! Don't ask :)

My sister and I with our cousin!

Christian and I on Thanksgiving! Our first holiday as a married couple!

With our Grandma!

My Daddy and Me!

My sweet nephew and Jacob!

On our way to Chicogo! We rented a 15 passenger van and my cousin and I  got stuck in the last row with the little ones! We loved every minute of it!

All of stuffed into the van!

Christian and I in Chicago! I could do so much shopping here!

This spot was so pretty, I want to go back so bad!

Us and our yummy Starbucks!

I've been playing with Picasa tonight and trying to figure out how to use it...ha! Do any of you use it?

Give Aways at Jenna's Journey!

This just a short post to let you know to go check out Jenna's Jorney for a cute Christmas give away! She always has the cutest things to give away and I love her blog! I hope you all are having a great Monday back to work. It is always so hard for me to go back to work after a holiday or vacation! I will post later about our trip to Indianapolis and Chicago!

Home Sweet Home!

I just realized I haven't blogged since last Monday.  Last week was a busy week for us trying to get ready for our trip and all. We left last Wednesday for Indianapolis for Thanksgiving and just got home tonight. We had such a great time and we were sad to leave my family but it is always good to be back home.  I have so many pictures to share from Indy and Chicago, but I am exhausted tonight and we will have to post pictures tomorrow night.  I am so happy though because as soon as we got home Christian helped me unpack and do all the laundry, so tomorrow I can come home from work and relax.  I feel like I might be getting a cold or something. My nose will not stop running, can't breath, my ears hurt, and I'm just tired. We also got up at 4 in the morning to come home this morning which could be a big part of my problem. I DO NOT do mornings very well, especially before day light.  We took this little boy here with us too and he had such a good time and was so good, but I think he is exhausted too because we hasn't moved from his bed since we got home around 4 this afternoon. 

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and I can't wait to share ours tomorrow!

Our Weekend

We had a nice weekend at home and sometimes they are the BEST! I've already blogged about our Saturday. On Sunday we went to church and then came home.

We have to sit in traffic every Sunday waiting to get out of the parking lot, so I entertain myself by taking pictures! Let me tell you how much Christian loves it :)

 I did run to the mall for a few minutes yesterday and found these two cute headbands!

It was only $3.80 from Forever 21 and so was this one

I can't to wear them! I think they are too cute and Christian actually likes them.  I figured he would think, oh lord what has she found now...lol!

Today has been a long day. I was super busy at work trying to get a job finished for tomorrow, I still had to bring work home even after working late...boo. At least tomorrow is my Friday! I am very thankful for two day weeks :) We leave on Wednesday for our Thanksgiving trip to Indianapolis and Chicago and I can't wait! I've been doing laundry tonight, so tomorrow night all I have to do is put the clothes in the suitcase!

What are your plans for Thanksgiving?

Busy Saturday

We have had very busy Saturday.  We got up this morning and cleaned our house.  We both worked hard on it and fast so we could get everything done.  I always feel so much better when I have clean house, but for some reason it never stays clean.  I think part of the reason I feel like I always need to clean is b/c of my dog that sheds all the time.  After we finished cleaning, we gave Buddy a bath for our trip this week.  Today was our last pretty day before we leave, so I wanted to take advantage and go ahead and get him all clean.  Christian and I finally got ready and headed to Sams to look for Buddy a new dog bed, but no luck. We ended up finding one at Petsmart, go figure. I'm not letting him have the bed until we leave b/c I want to keep it clean to take in the car and to my uncles this week.  While we were there were looking at brushes to help Buddy's shedding issue.  And we got this little thing....

The Furminator (sorry the picture is so little)! We walked by it and saw a demonstration and it was getting so much hair off.  So of course we had to get it.  It was a little expensive for a dog brush but well worth it.  We used it tonight when we got hom and oh my goodness it got so much hair off.  We are going to start using it every other day! It might make my cleaning a little easier.

After Petsmart, we then ran into Kohls to see if Christian could find some jeans b/c I had a $10 coupon that came in the mail.  I never shop there, so I have no clue how I got that but I did find these cute PJ's!

I've been wanting some flannel pajamas for this winter and I found these on sale for $21 dollars and then I had my coupon, so I just couldn't pass them up.  I've already washed them and I'm wearing them now. They are so warm and comfy!

We also went by Lowes to pick up some filters for the house and to look at a washer and dryer. Our washer and dryer is only 4 1/2 years old but they are horrible.  The washer is really loud and ruins all my of my dark clothes.  For some reason it collects so much lint and then my clothes has huge spots of lint on them.  It makes me so mad and Christian has finally agreed to let me get a new set.  I've been wanting the Samsung front load washer and dryer.

We just haven't made up our mind yet on which one to go with.  What do you guys have and like? Do any of you have front loads and like them?

Other than a lot of running around today...we met our friends Dana and Mimi for dinner at Longhorn and then we went to Cold Stone for dessert. Now we just laying on the couch being lazy and enjoying every minute of it!

Show Us Your Life - Pets

~Buddy~

Our 108 pound black lab! We have a had Buddy for 3 1/2 years and he will be 4 in March.  Buddy was given to us for free from sister and brother-in-law.  They knew some friends that were trying to get rid of the puppies and we got Buddy when he was 6 weeks old! He has been the best thing ever and I could not imagine life without him. He is such a momma's boy and follows me all around the house!

Here is Buddy the first night we brought him home, oh how he has grown! He still thinks he is this size and is determined to sit in my lab all the time and sleep with us every night.  We usually all fall asleep in the bed but either myself or Christian will pull Buddy off and make him get on his bed.

We treat Buddy as if he were our child! He goes "bye bye" with us all the time, gets surpises, has birthday parties, and so on... Here is Buddy on Halloween a couple of years ago. It always looks like we are choking him in pictures, it is so hard to get him to sit still.

I love this picture of Buddy! I think his little face is just too cute in this picture! I actually have this one framed and sitting out. Everyone says when Christian and I have kids this will all change, but for now we are loving having Buddy has our child! It makes me so upset to even think about him not being here forever with me.

This was taken last year when we were taking our Christmas pictures! That day was so hard to get him to take any pictures. The one at the top of my page is from that day too!

Chicago & Quesadillas!

Next week we are going to visit my aunt and uncle in Indianapolis for Thanksgiving! I am so excited and can't wait, I feel like a little kid b/c I call or email him everyday telling only this many more days!!! We are going to Chicago while we are there b/c none of us have ever been there. I love cities and love walking around seeing everything.  I am not very familiar with Chicago and not sure what we must see and do. I am open for suggestions!?!?!
Today has been a cold and rainy day, so we have spent the night indoors.  I made Chicken Quesadillas and rice for dinner and brownies for dessert.  I saw were Jenna from Jenna's Journey made this quesadillas one night and I've been wanting to try it.

Chicken Fajita Quesadilla

Boil and shred chicken breast

Heat chicken and fajita seasoning in skillet with 1/3 cup of water

On large baking sheet spread out totillas

Sprinkle your choice of shredded cheese on to the tortillas

Add the chicken to the tortillas and then fold in half

I sprinkled the left over chicken and cheese on top

Bake for about 10 minutes at 350

So easy and good!

Web Cam!

Web cam the greatest creation ever! So I might sound way out of date but today was my first time using a web cam.  My boss is taking over the Charlotte branch of our company also and he will now be managing both offices.  Well he wanted us to all to get web cams for our computers for training purposes and to communicate witht the Charlotte office. They came in today and oh my goodness no one got any work done after we got them on the computer. We all enjoyed talking to each other.  I have a lap top that I bring home every night and the best part is my Aunt and Uncle in Indianapolis also have a web cam, so I got talk to them tonight and my little cousins! It was so much fun! I've grown up away from family.  They live in Kentucky and Indiana and I'm in North Carolina and can't believe I've gone so long without this.  I'm so telling my whole family to get one so we can talk! I'm also going to try to get Christian's family down in Florida to get one too! Have you ever used a web cam? If so what website do you go through? I've been using Skype...

Other than playing with the web cam tonight, I've been watching all my Tuesday night TV shows! Christian is still working the split shift tonight, so I've been hanging out with Buddy!

Missing the hubby

Tonight has been kind of lonely around here.  Christian has to work a split shift at work for the next two weeks, which means he goes in around 12:30 and doesn't get to come home until around 10:30. Blah...the joys of being the boss. They are in the process of training a lead for this shift, so in the mean time he gets to work the shift.  Oh well...as much as I miss him at night, it gives me a chance to have "me time".  Tonight I went to Ross to see if I could find a tall vase to go beside my fireplace,  I had no luck though. I am in thr process of cleaning out my house and de-cluttering it! So I'm trying to get rid of little things and replace it with one big thing.  We'll see what comes of it..
I also put my Thanksgiving turkey flag up tonight! I love this little flag and I think he is too cute.  You actually blow up his belly to make him round.  This is really my only Thanksgiving decoration.  I have left my fall decorations out too.  I can't wait to start decorating for Christmas!

Well I'm to go get in bed and cuddle with this cute boy!

I believe he was staring at a treat that I was holding up.  That is the only way I can get him to sit still..lol!

Oh Beautiful Day!

Oh my goodness today was such a beautiful day! It was around 75 and sunny and we loved every minute of it! Today was such a good day and fun! We had a great time at church today and really enjoyed the service! This was only our second time visiting this church but we are really enjoying it! They are helping out around 45 families this year, so Christian and I choose a little boy and girl to buy for. I can't wait to go shopping for them, it makes me feel so good to help others, especially children! My company is also adopting a family this year and I can't wait to start shopping for them either!Christian, myself, and our family has so much already to be thankful for, I would rather help others out!
Here is a picture of me I took today while waiting to get out of the church parking lot. I've been taking pictures of myself since I got my hair cut short b/c I love it so much and I like seeing what it looks like in pictures! I know kinda weird. My hair is so easy to do now and I'm ready to go a couple inches shorter when I go back!

After church we met my parents, sister and her family for lunch at Logan's Roadhouse.  I used to work there through high school and college, so it is always fun to go and visit! We were all so busy talking and laughing at lunch I didn't take any pictures.  After we ate we went by my parents to pick a few things up and then headed home.
We spent most of the afternoon outside and walking Buddy since it was so pretty.  Buddy loved this weather, I had to make him come back in this evening.

Here is Daddy and Buddy! I'm suprised he is actually looking at the camera, it is so hard  get that dog to sit still to take a picture. 

And of course we had to get one of Mommy and Buddy! He would not let go of his toy, so the toy is in the picture.  We took him to the pet store this past week and he got this toy.  He has not let that thing out of sight since we brought it home. I mean he seriously sleeps with it on his bed, it's too funny!

And last but not least one of us...I think it turned out good for taking it ourself! We had such a good Sunday and loved spending it with the ones I love most!

Baby Shower!

Today was my friend Amanda's baby shower! My mom and I went for a couple of hours and it was nice to get to see her.  She lives about 4 hours away and I don't get to see her that often.  She is have a little boy and is due the week after Christmas. I hope I look as good as she did when I am 8 months pregnant! I didn't really take many pictures.  I was too busy eating and talking to take pictures but here is one of us!

I know it is hard to tell which one is pregnant, this picture really makes me want to go on a diet! It will have to wait until the holidays are over b/c there is too much good food!

I just wanted to do a quick post but I have to go get ready.  Christan and I are going out to dinner tonight with some friends and they will be here soon!

Rainy Days

This week has not been very pretty, it has rained the last 3 days! I'm grateful for the rain, but can we please have a pretty day soon? We haven't been up to much this week. We had chicken alfredo for dinner tonight at home and then we went to Petsmart.  I wanted to find Buddy a jacket and hat for when we go to Indianapolis b/c he is going to stay in the garage during the day and he isn't use to outside and cold since he is a inside dog.  He does get to come in at night to sleep but during the day there are going to be too many people.  We are staying at my uncles house and so looking forward to being able to take Buddy with us.  I always miss him so much and can't wait to get home.

Popcorn!!!!

My new favorite snack! I think I have had popcorn everyday this week and I wonder why I can't loose weight! I've been taking it to work and eating as a snack, I am actually eating some right now!

The other day I received this email from a co-worker and I thought t was cute and wanted to share it! I think I really like the little saying b/c I am so against people driving and texting. It is so unsafe!

Anyways I hope you all have a had a good day and have a happy FRIDAY!!!!!!!

Happy 1 Month!

Christian and I have been married 1 whole month today! I know it might be crazy to celebrate only 1 month of marriage, but we are still excited. I love you so much Christian and can't wait to celebrate more special days together!

Here is a picture of Christian and I on our honeymoon! I think it is such a cute picture and we look so happily in love with each other!

Tonight Christian and I went out to dinner to celebrate! We ended up at Outback and it was delicious as always.  We took these pictures with my blackberry, so they are kind of fuzzy.  I wish I would have thought to ge one of us together but I didn't.

This picture makes me laugh so hard.  Christian is cheesin' so big in this picture and reminds me of a little kid in this pic getting his picture taken.

Here is one of me and it is not a very good picture.  It has been cold and rainy here today so I wasn't having the best hair day.

I hope you all have had a great day! We are taking it easy now, I'm on the couch watching TV and blogging and Christian is in the other room on his computer.

The Weedkend!

I'm so sad that weekend is over already :( I guess time flies when you are having fun! We didn't do much Friday night except for going to dinner at PF Chang's.  I believe we were in bed by 10 or 10:30. Saturday was a very lazy day for me.  I did not feel very well for most of the day, so I pretty much laid on the couch or in the bed all day and napped.  Buddy and I did leave the house to go get Chick-Fil-A for lunch.

Here is Buddy lookin out the window while we were in the line at Chick-Fil-A. He enjoyed looking at all the people in the parking lot, he was going crazy I couldn't get to look at the camera.

Last night I was so tired of sitting in the house and was about to go crazy, so Christian and I went to the mall to walk around. I didn't get anything except for a flag for my yard for Christmas with our initial. I will share pictures when I put it out.

Today has been a great day! We got up early and made pancakes before church.  I have never been able to make pancake, I always burn them, but today they turned out pefect and yes I had to take a picture of them.

I want to start making it a tradition to make breakfast before church.  I believe I have shared before that Christian and I have been wanting to find a church to start going to because we haven't been in a while and never together, except for a special occasions at my sisters house. Well today we visited a church called The Summit and we LOVED it and I can't wait to go back next Sunday! We both really excited that today was the start of a 3 week series called God Talk.  Week one is how God talks to us, week two is how we talk to God, and week three is about how we talk about God to others. I can't wait to share more about our journey of finding the right church and I feel we are on the right path!

After church today Christian and I went grocery shopping and then I met up with my mom, sister, and aunt.  We first went to lunch just to Wendy's because we were in a hurry to get to the Holiday Market.  I took my camera and had every intention of taking pictures but I forgot. We really didn't find much this year...sad for me but good for the wallet ;) I did manage to find this cute little monogrammed ornament.  I had the lady put The Adams est. 2009

I know it is really hard to see or read but you get the idea.  It is so cute and has a bunch of glitter inside and it just sparkles! Once I got home this evening Christian had made dinner and we watched Christmas with the Krank's! I am so ready for Christmas and I love this time of the year!

 I hope you all had a great weekend!

Show Us Your Life - Thanksgiving Recipes and Traditions

Oh my goodness... I can't believe Thanksgiving is in 3 short weeks, but I can't wait! Thanksgiving is always held at my aunt Tina's house and my grandparents always come down from Kentucky for the week! We have every dish possible...Turkey, Ham, mashed potatoes, green beans, green bean casserole, stuffing, broccoli casserole, corn, carrots, cranberry sauce, deviled eggs, yams, macaroni, bread, pecan pie, apple pie, pumpkin pie, and oh so much more! I love it! Every year we usually eat around 2 or 3 and the all the girls study the sales ads to know where we need to go for black friday! The girls in the family meet up around 4 or 4:30 in the morning on Friday and shop ALL day! I know a lot of people don't like it, but we always enjoy spending the day together and getting bargins.
Well this year is going to be a little different.  We are loading up in the car and going to Indianapolis to visit my uncle and his family for Turkey Day! There will be around 20 -25 of us and I know it will be such a good time! The Friday after we going to Chicago for the day and I'm so excited! I'm hoping we can start making this a family tradition every year to go and visit them!
As far as recipes go I don't really have many.  I usually bring a couple of side dishes but they are all easy and I'm sure you all have heard of them and know how to make them. My dad makes the best yams and they are to die for but I don't have the recipe with me. My aunt and sister prepare a lot of the meals but again I don't have their recipes! So I'll leave you with my specialty: (I think the recipe is even on the can of greens beans)

 Green Bean Casserole

2 or 3 cans french style green beans

2/3 cup milk

1 can cream of mushroom

1/2 can fried onions

pepper

Mix all the ingredients together

(as far as the pepper goes, I just pour to my liking)

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes

Sprinkle top with the other 1/2 of the fried onions and bake for 5 more minutes

Simple as that! Which is probably the reason I bring it every year!

Getting Organized!

For the past few months I felt so unorganized around the house and very cluttered.  We received so many wonderful gifts from our family and friends for our wedding and showers, but now I'm having to go through everything and figure out what old stuff to get rid of and where to put the new.  Christian has been a very big help with this and I believe we have finally found a home for everything, but I still fill cluttered and unorganized. On top of trying to put this stuff away, I struggle every week with keeping my house clean or the way I like it. I'm always thinking I have so much to do around the house before I can relax. Well today I was reading South Family and I realized I'm not the only one who has this issue. Leslie from Lamberts Lately suggested using Fly Lady and I think I might have found a solution to my issues!  I signed up tonight and plan on starting the steps tomorrow and this weekend. Hopefully this will help me get everything in place and organized! Have any of you used this website? Did it help?

I'm so happy that tomorrow is Friday! I'm looking forward to the weekend.  Saturday we don't really have much planned, probably just hanging out around the house and enjoying the day with my husband.  Christian and I haven't ever gone to church together as a couple and I haven't been in a while. I mean we go once in a while with my sister to her church, but we don't really have a church of our own.  So Sunday is the start of finding a church for Christian and I.  I have few baptist churches picked out that I want to go to and see which one fits us best. I'm looking forward to that! After church, we are having a girls day.  My mom, sister, aunt, and myself are going to lunch and then to the Holiday Market at the coliseum. It is a huge craft show that comes every  year!

This is the best picture I could find but it is huge, it takes up both sides of our special events center.  Greensboro may lack a lot of stuff, but we do have a BIG coliseum! Hopefully I will find some cute stuff there this year for Christmas presents and maybe a little something for me too :)

Happy Hump Day!

Only 2 more days until Friday! I know I shouldn't wish my life away, but I can't wait for the weekend every week.  I love having 2 days in a row off and being able to do whatever I want, especially now that the time has changed, I feel like I have no time in the evenings. I don't have much to blog about today. Tonight after work Christian and I ran to Ross so I could return a dress, went to Subway for dinner, and to Walmart to pick a few things. I did get a scarf at Walmart for on  $5! I wanted one to go with my new pea coat I got last night.  I found Kenneth Cole coat for only $60, I couldn't pass up the deal. Now we are both sitting here on the couch watching TV and playing on our computers.  I'm waiting for 9:30 to watch Cougar Town, it is so funny. I hope you all have a wonderful night!

Happy Birthday Jacob!

Today is my nephew Jacob's 7th birthday! He is such a mess and is all boy and is always making us laugh at the things he comes up with! He has a such an outgoing little personality and man will his parents have their hands full when he gets older. 

This is a picture of him from our beach trip in August, he was catching sand fleas!

Happy Birthday Jake Man! Uncle Christian, Aunt Crystal, and Buddy love you so much!

Fireproof

Christian and I received the movie Fireproof and the book Love Dare for a wedding gift! I've been wanting to see this movie for a while now and just haven't had the chance. Well Christian's aunt gave us the movie and book. I was so excited when we opened it, I couldn't wait to get back from our honeymoon to watch it. We both liked it so much and have told everyone about this movie. I believe we both cried too! I recommend anyone who is married or getting married to watch this movie. I think about this movie everyday and how I can work it into my marriage! We plan on starting the Love Dare soon! I can't wait, I think it will bring Christian and I closer together and bring more to our marriage.

Our Weekend

We have had a nice weekend just hanging out doing whatever we wanted! Friday I guess Christian and I had a little date night! We went to a Japanese restaurant for dinner and had sushi and hibachi...it was so yummy and we ate way too much. After dinner we ran into a store called Stein Mart and did a little shopping. Christian got 3 new shirts and I got 1 shirt (Lucky Brand for only $6) and a new wallet. We only spent $45 and we saved over $150, I refuse to buy stuff for full price. After that we just drove around looking at houses and then came home. It was a wonderful Friday night with my husband.

Saturday I had a hair appointment at 9:00 to get my hair cut and colored. I have been wanting to cut my hair since the summer, but didn't because of the wedding. So I made an appointment as soon as we got back from the honeymoon! We took about 5 1/2 or 6 inches off and then colored the underneath part an auburn color and then highlighted the top! I love it and it so much easier to do. I have really thick hair so it would always take me forever to dry it and then I would have to straighten it. Here is a picture of me trying to show off my new hair!

We stayed in on Halloween to give out candy. We only had about 30 to 40 trick-or-treaters, which I guess that is more than some get. It was so fun seeing all the kids dressed up, but really makes me mad when you have older kids or adults trying to get candy. Here is all the candy we bought! We still have candy left over.
Here is Christian and I hanging out waiting on some trick-or-treaters!

I haven't posted about Buddy in a while, so here is his fall pictures! It was so hard to get him to sit still by the pumpkins and get a picture. I think this one turned out pretty good. He did not like everyone ringing the door bell last night. Finally, we had to put him in the bedroom because he was barking at everyone.

Tuesday is my nephews birthday, so we went out to my sisters house today to celebrate! He had such a good time with his friends. I didn't get a picture of him because he was too busy playing, but here is one of my cousin and sister with me!

I hope you all had a great weekend!