Life after "I Do"

I will admit... before the wedding I was the very first person to say that the thing I would love most about being married, was not having to plan the wedding anymore. As it turned out, that was only one of the things I love most about being married. While we have been together for 5 and a half years, our relationship has a renewed energy that has been so fun. I love seeing Jeff wearing his wedding ring, or calling himself a house-husband when he cooks dinner and cleans the dishes, or even better, when I hear him refer to me as his wife. :) I love looking through our wedding pictures and hearing from other people how much fun that they had at our wedding. As much as I despised wedding planning, I'm almost sad that it's over. The wedding, that is. :)

We didn't go on our honeymoon right after the wedding and it was definitely a little weird to go back to work afterwards and just jump right into real life. I took off two days before the wedding weekend and one day after and then went right back to work on Tuesday. My students continued to call me by my maiden name, because it was just easier, and my classroom was in shambles because there was a substitute in there for three days. The first day back to real life, I started my day with bootcamp, had a crazy-busy day at school, then had a presentation to do for the second to last day of the semester for grad school. It was as if the whole world hadn't stopped spinning to revel over our love as we thought it did. Since then, it's been hectic!

In two days (2 days!!!!!!) we are heading to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic for our honeymoon. Excited isn't even the right word. Jeff planned the whole trip and after three jam-packed grad school semesters, two back-to-back baseball seasons, a busy school-year, and a whole lotta wedding planning, we will finally be able to relax. I can already feel the cold drink in my hand and sand between my toes...

Since we have been Mr. & Mrs., here is what we've been up to....

We go to church and wistfully think back to how our beautiful wedding ceremony is already a beautiful memory and no longer an anticipated event.

We celebrated our first two weddings as Mr. & Mrs. and we didn't have to plan a thing! Oh, how fun it was to just enjoy ourselves! Two down, five to go!

{centerpiece dollar dance.. typical}

We spruced up the front yard because our house has been seriously neglected the past few months and I am so happy that we are not going to be kicked out of the Homeowners Association any time soon. :)

 

 

We spent Memorial Day weekend up at the lake. It was so amazing to have a whole weekend dedicated to doing nothing but eating, drinking, boating, sunbathing, laughing, and roasting marshmallows.

We've done lots of partying, too. Two bridal showers, a baby shower, Jeff's birthday, my brother's birthday, and some cookouts. We are certainly loving life! :)

Sleepovers & pool parties are a must this summer, too! Love. this. girl.

 

We said 'goodbye for now' to a dear friend from our small group, who we were blessed to meet while she studied abroad in the US. Our sweet friend, Fanny, returned home to Switzerland, but only after a great send-off! Love these people! :)

And the most important thing we've done since the wedding? We became first-time puppy parents to the most adorable pup on the planet! Meet Rocky, our super sweet, sometimes crazy, purebread Boxer puppy! We are so in love with this little monster!

 

I just love, love, love being a newlywed and I can't wait to see what other experiences we will share that will be that much more special, just because we are married.

Next up, Punta Cana! :)

Friday Letters

Happy Friday! Some may say that for a teacher on summer vacation, every day is Friday, but not me. I definitely don't say that. Being home this summer, for the first time, is not what it is cracked up to be. Most of my friends, especially those local, are not teachers, and therefore are at work while I'm home. Boo! Friday means that there are only hours until the hubby is home with me for the weekend. At this point, 6 hours stand between a weekend of plans with friends, dinner dates, sleeping in, yummy breakfast, and church. LOVE the weekends! On that note, I am linking up with Ashley for one of my new fave link-ups. Time to break this blogging funk I'm in! (more on that later)

Dear Friday, you seem to get here quicker and quicker each week, which I'm not sure is a good thing or a bad thing, yet. Regardless, it's nice to see you.


Dear Hubby, you literally saved my sanity by installing an AC in the bedroom last night. I know it's no fair to come home to a cranky wife but two days into living with a broken central air unit, and trying to run around after a puppy that is the tazmanian devil after 5 cups of coffee, will get anyone a one-way ticket to CrazyVille. Thank you for putting up with me. You are so good to me.


Dear Rocky, you are a madman but I absolutely adore you! I had not a clue in the world just how crazy life would get with a new puppy, but we are learning so much about each other. You test my patience in ways I didn't know were possible but you are stealing my heart, too.


Dear Princess, I know that a new puppy has been a really big transition for you, but I hope you still know how loved and precious you are to me. You are my first baby and will always hold the most special place in my heart. Hopefully spending time away from your new little brother next week will be a nice break for you and a good excuse to be loved on constantly from your grandparents.

Dear Punta Cana, I will see you in less than a week. I cannot wait to be on the beach with a drink in my hands for 11 days. Heaven!


Dear Bootcamp Trainer, I don't think you'll be happy until I'm on the floor gasping for my last breath, but I LOVE the workouts. Keep em' coming!


Dear Zumba Instructor, Holy Moly! This was only my second week but I can't believe how much I have been missing out before I discovered Zumba. So. much. fun.


Dear HVAC guy, I may give you a huge kiss when I see you tomorrow morning. I will never, ever take the central air for granted again.


Dear Jillian Michaels, I always love you & hang on your every word, but... you recently said (on Facebook) that being in a warm house in the summer and cold house in the winter, helps to burn more calories. Ok, great, my AC is broken this is good. Except you also said that being in a warm house without an AC will help people to eat less. Why is this not applying to me? Please get back to me. Thanks! :)


xo


Now I'm excited to go find other blogs while the little devil sleeps! :)

Happy Friday!

Dear Husband, I just love being married to you!! I also love that last night you decided that we should get married again because it was so much fun. The best is yet to come, my love.

Dear USPS, What's up with your business hours? Closing at 3:00, or even worse, at 2:00, doesn't really help anyone out. Especially people who need to get their Passports in a certain time frame!

Dear personal trainer, I'm pretty sure my quad is going to fall off of the bone. On both legs. Actually, all of my muscles, all over my body. Thank you.

Dear Domino's, thank you for bringing normal back to our house! Gluten-free pizza delivered on a Friday night? Don't mind if I do!

Dear Friday, thank you for being you. I wish every day were Friday.

It's Wednesday!

It's another dreary Wednesday and I'm linking up with Jamie for What I'm Loving Wednesday.

Here's what I'm loving today..

I'm loving that we're back to spring weather tomorrow! We've been having these rain spells that last all week long and I'm tired of it! Bring on the sunshine!!

*Update: By the time I posted this, the rain stopped & now it is muggy & feels like July. We can't win!

I'm loving that my fridge looks like this...

2012 is a busy year for us and I love looking at all the Save-the-Dates, baby & bridal shower invites, and wedding invitiations. Oh, and some of our pics have been updated recently and that makes me happy. :)


I'm loving that we are puppy shopping! I want a dog SO bad & I am just in love with these sweet pups! How can I resist these faces??

{via}

I'm loving that I almost emptied out the entire DVR today! I've had a head cold since last Thursday (and I'm pretty sure my voice will be totally gone by tomorrow) and I finally took a day off today to just rest and try to get over it. I got to catch up on some Bethenny Ever After, Sister Wives, RHONJ, and 16 & Pregnant. Nothing wrong with that lineup! Hah! I also may start watching The Bachelorette after all the Emily hype everywhere.  I may need another day off if I add any more shows!


I'm always loving my sweet husband and that he always cleans up from dinner, even when he cooks. :)

I'm also linking up with Michelle at The Vintage Apple for Oh, So Pinteresting!

Obviously a day on the couch unloading the DVR also means a day on Pinterest!

Here are some of my fave finds today...

{via}

{via}

{via}

{via}

{via}

This is the best one...

{via}

I love Wednesdays! :)

Friday's Letters

I'm linking up with Ashley at Adventures of a Newlywed for Friday's Letters. I have seen other bloggers writing these letters on Fridays and I think they're too cute.



Dear Friday, you really took your sweet time getting here after a long week of state testing, but I am just thrilled you are here. I literally cried out, "Thank God it's Friday!" when my alarm went off this morning. Now if you could only speed up a tad so that I can be on the couch with my hubby watching our wedding video for the first time.

Dearest Husband, I am so happy, so blessed, so fortunate that you chose me to be your wife. Our relationship has grown more just in the past couple of months that I ever thought was possible. You picked the perfect wedding song... "I thought I loved you then..."

Dear Social Security office, you may want to have more than just a security guard standing in the lobby. I would suggest a metal detector and drug tests at the door, as well as looking into the possibility of a reality TV show deal. I could not believe my eyes. Or ears.

Dear Turkeys fighting in front of my driveway this morning, please take your shenanigans elsewhere. I am a city girl and the thought of even one turkey that is still alive and within walking distance of me, is enough to send me over the edge. Eight turkeys is too much for my city self to handle. My stomach literally flips when I think back to it.

Dear Princess, you need to work on staying in one spot when you get to sleep in the bed. Getting up in the middle of the night and jumping on Jeff's chest is really not helping my case that you are a lovebug that only wants to snuggle.

Dear Sunshine, thank you for coming out! I have been waiting for you and I am so glad you will spend the weekend with us. You will be especially lovely at the outdoor wedding by the ocean we are attending this weekend.

Dear Bloggers, I have been on the hunt without success... where can I find a good blog designer? I need a makeover!




Go link up to play along!

What I'm Loving Wednesday

On this dreary Wednesday, I'm linking up with Jamie for What I'm Loving Wednesday. Here's what I'm loving today...

I'm loving MY HUSBAND!!! That's right! We've been newlyweds for a week and a half and I could not be happier!!

 

{via}

I'm loving  that my sweet hubby revealed our surprise honeymoon (that he planned completely on his own!) on our wedding day. We are going to Punta Cana in July!! Ahhh!!! We will be ziplining, exotic snorkeling, and on a catamaran day cruise. Not to mention spending 10 days on the beach with a drink in our hands. Perfection.

{via}

I'm loving that state testing at school is halfway over! Only two more days! Can I get an amen?

I'm loving my girlfriends and the amazing things they did for me leading up to our wedding. I am so blessed to have these girls in my life!

All 10 of us at the cocktail shower they threw for me!

I'm loving that my sweet friend Erin asked me to be a bridesmaid in her wedding this September! We just adore her and her fiance and I am so honored that she asked me to share in such a special day with her!

Are they not the cutest?

I am loving our wedding video preview and that my videographer already dropped our completely edited video in the mail! 11 days after the wedding!!!

Wedding Preview Video <3

I am on Cloud 9 right now and could seriously go on for days, so I'm going to stop! Go link up with Jamie to play along!



Officially a Mrs!

Well.. it's official! We're married!! I feel like time is moving at lightning speed because somehow my wedding already happened and I am settling nicely into life as a newlywed. We had the most perfect day... the sun was out, the sky was blue, everything went smoothly, and everyone had a blast. I have truly never been happier in my life than I was that day. Everyone kept commenting on how calm I was but my heart was most definitely fluttering like mad. As soon as I was at the church, my heart settled and I was just ready to walk down the aisle to my husband. The love in the room was overwhelming and I just can't get over that all those people were there to celebrate us. We have the very best friends and family and are just so blessed to have such wonderful people in our lives. I can't wait until the photographer gives us our CD so that I can share the pictures. Until then, here's a sneak peak at our wedding video.

April 28, 2012