If We Were to Sit Down for Coffee.......

If we were to sit down for coffee, I would tell you that the past year has been full of its ups and downs. I would apologize for not being present and hope you understand that sometimes, life gets in the way.

If we were to sit down for coffee, I would tell you that despite our current struggles, we are embracing all we have and trusting our journey.

If we were to sit down for coffee, I would tell you that I am more in love with my husband everyday and grateful to have moments like this.

If we were to sit down for coffee, I would want to talk about food. I am a foodie, and love all things recipe and food related. Call me lame, but I can't help it. Take this homemade sauce and meatballs for example. Making good dinners makes me happy. I won't deny myself the easy and little pleasures in life.

If we were to sit down for coffee, I would smile from ear to ear in regards to my three knuckleheads. They bring so much joy, laughter and slight frustration (I can't lie during coffee). Our home would be so quiet without these 12 little legged friends.

If we were to sit down for coffee, I would hope you are doing amazing and that all your loved ones are happy and safe!

If we were to sit down for coffee, what would you say to me?!

Thankful

As the holidays approach, the days in which we all celebrate with our loved ones and give thanks, I smile to myself. Not only because I am excited to have wonderful food surrounded by the ones I love, but because I am extremely grateful for many great things. I feel many blessings surrounding me, and while holidays are wonderful, I am thankful that I am able to be grateful every day for what I have been given.

I am blessed with this incredible life, my health, and the love of the most beautiful people.

There are many gifts that I have been given that I love, but there is one that I cherish the most. I have been given the gift of my husband. A man I can't even begin to describe. He is selfless, loving, compassionate, intelligent, and so unaware of what he brings to so many of our lives. He is the perfect son, the most loving husband, and those who are blessed to know him, know what a kind soul he has. My life is better because his presence has made me a better person. I am forever grateful for what he has taught me and how I've been shown what love really is.

I wouldn't be able to love my husband with my whole heart, if I wasn't shown how by the most beautiful woman in my life. I am beyond thankful for my momma. She has always been and will always be my reason for life. She gave me my first breath, she has been my strength when I have been at my weakest, she is my very best friend. I am the person I am today because she has always shown me how to treat people, how to love, and how to be strong through the hardships. I have never met someone with such a selfless drive to help others, to open her heart for those in need, to always give more to people than she even has, without expectations. She fills my life with beauty, hope, and endless amounts of love. I am not only grateful for my momma, I am proud and honored to say that she is MY mom.

Along with having a mother that I am forever blessed with, she has also given me someone who I was able to grow up with, and continue to as the years pass by. We go through so many different stages in life and if you are lucky, you have a sister to experience these moments with. While not all our moments in our childhood were spent in perfect harmony, nothing puts a bigger smile on my face than the mischief and adolescent fights we got into. That was the start of the most beautiful friendship, one that I hold dear to my heart and continue to cherish in our adulthood. We have seen each other through dark times, and been there right by each others sides as we embark on life's most beautiful moments, marriage and the birth of my first nephew. I could not imagine a better older sister to look up to and hope that there are many more laughs and memories to be made in our future.

While I look to the future for hopefully more blessings, I can't help but reminisce about the past. I am so thankful for my grandparents, who were a huge part of my childhood. Not a day goes by that I don't remember them or picture their beautiful faces. They always showered me with so much love and affection, supporting me in all my endeavors. I miss them terribly every day and often find when I'm struggling, that their faces pop into my mind when I close my eyes tight, without even trying. They comfort me even though they are not here, and I can't describe how grateful that makes me.

I have pictured them a lot over the past 2 1/2 years, having been given a struggle I never imagined. While at first I couldn't find my strength or poise, I now am able to say that I am thankful for our struggles. It has made me realize how blessed I truly am, it has humbled me and it has allowed me to grow into a better person. As my husband and I travel this journey together, not all days are easy. Some days I feel I am losing my way, but I remind myself all the time, that in his time, all things are made beautiful. I am able to look to my husband for the strength I may not feel, and know that through every obstacle our relationship grows and gets stronger. I cannot ask for anything more than what I am already blessed with.

I look forward to what this life has to offer me, and hope that I can always see the beauty that is surrounding me.

Happy Birthday to My Sister Friend!

For many years throughout our childhood, I always felt like my sister stole my spotlight. It makes me laugh to think about it now. Her birthday is two days before mine and she always turned a "better" age than me (in my eyes, of course!) She is three lovely years older than me.

When I turned 10, she became a teenager. When I became a teenager, she had her sweet sixteen. When I turned 18, she was drinking herself to oblivion at the ripe age of 21!

When she got her first car, I got a saddle. This right here is a memory that will always remain in my mind. It makes me snicker. Her first car was kind of a shit mobile and when I was handed my first  riding saddle, the thought that went through my head...."what is this? This isn't pretty!" What a rotten little girl I was!

Sharing birthday parties with her didn't really become enjoyable until my 21st birthday. We took a bus to the city and rocked that shit. It was a fabulous time.

As the years go on, I've enjoyed having a birthday close to my sister. It's our own little special time every year to celebrate. As we get older, I appreciate my sister more and more.

So today, I wish my sister friend the best birthday ever.... and I'm sure with this little man, she'll have a great one! Me love you lots and lots!

Winter Bucket List

With every season comes excitement and brand new goals. As we go into the last month of the year, I find myself thinking of all the final things I want to accomplish this year. I've always loved the holidays but as I'm getting older and life is ever changing, I have a whole new perspective on it.

I have always loved spending time with my family. As the years have gone on, the family has unfortunately gotten much smaller. But no matter how big or small it may be....

My winter bucket list:

-Making delicious christmas cookies

-Find an ornament that symbolizes all the changes we have made this year, for the better.

-Spend as much time as we can enjoying the christmas lights- taking a drive, enjoying the moment

-Drink lots of hot chocolate!

-Make my christmas gifts this year

-See a play in NYC

-A night of appetizers n' drinks

-Sunday Brunch with the family

I just want to embrace the winter months, the time with the people I love and remember what matters most. Our health, our families, our love.....

Thankful Every Day

For the very first time in the eight wonderful years I have been with my love, we have NEVER been able to spend an entire holiday weekend together. I never understood what I had been missing, until this  Thanksgiving. Through the many changes we have made in the past year, we have finally found jobs that allow us to spend time together. Four.whole.fabulous.days. And fabulous they were.

We spent lots of time with family which was great. Spending time with out parents means so much to us and while our family may be small, it is full of love. Here is my beautiful and silly momma, I just love her.

We woke up early on friday morning and were out the door by seven. We had no plans to venture out on the infamous black friday, but why not? It wasn't rushed, it wasn't overly busy, and we did snag a few little things but we weren't planning on spending money. We were just enjoying each other's company.

Later that evening, I was graced with my husband's presence at the awesome movie Twilight and we had a nice date night dinner together afterwards. Let's just say I am no spring chicken anymore and my official bedtime has move up quite a bit since switching jobs!

Although, I was a champ and stayed up until 1 am on Saturday when we had our 2nd Thanksgiving dinner at my moms. The food was delicious and it was a fun, relaxed night.

I've learned a lot in the past year. I've learned what truly matters to me and while it hasn't come without difficulty, I am embracing my new found love for life. Every day is a gift, every day I am thankful, and every day I am blessed with a family that I love more than words.

I hope everyone enjoyed their holiday and continue to embrace this time of year....Tis the season!

I Smiled Because.....

This week I smiled because.......

I got to spend a lot of time with this guy.

 I was allowed Peachwave frozen yogurt, twice! Don't fret...it's healthy, right? 

I found a new love of my life.

And paired it with my morning oats!

I learned that these are delicious.....I might be bias because they are named after my hubs!

The caramel is the best, definitely going to have to enjoy that again!

Tried a few new recipes which turned out to be big hits.

Pierogi Lasagna

Tomato, Basil & Parmesan Soup

The man made me dinner which was awesome!

Once the chef perfects and writes a recipe for his chinese barbecue sauce, I'll be sure to share.

Most importantly, I smiled because I'm here living this life and learning to make every day count. It isn't perfect, but it's perfect for me.

Our Very 1st Date

October 1st, 2004, our very first date.....

The first meal we ate together.

The first restaurant we dined at together.

The first movie we saw together.

The first conversation we ever had.

The first kiss I gave him on the cheek.

The first day, of the rest of my life.

To us......

The man who stole my heart on the second date, my best friend and the love of my life. To many more wonderful years together.

I love you!

Half Way & A Little More

I just remembered that I made a short little list of things I wanted to accomplish in the year 2012. At the end of 2011, I posted them and I thought it would be an eye opener to see what I have done and what I have not. So here goes......

1) I want to be healthier. I want to look healthier and I want to feel healthier- I have not accomplished this, which is unfortunate. BUT, even though I haven't during the first half of the year, in the past 2 weeks I have focused on my food choices, and started to be much more active. So I am getting there.

2) I want to make exercise fun and something I look forward to most days of the week- Well, this kind of goes with the above goal. I am taking more walks with my dogs and doing zumba which I find fun. I'm still not up there to the "Yeah, let's exercise all day long people" excitement but I was there once, I will find it again.

3) I want to fix the husband's and my schedules so we are able to spend more time together-COMPLETE!!!! The hubby got a new 7-3ish job during the week, giving him every night and every weekend to be at my disposal! My schedule wasn't as enjoyable the past 6 months working nights, but we are definitely spending so much more time together. It is friggin fantastic!

4) I want to spend more time with my family members- We have made a point, every few weeks to get together for some sort of gathering. We have remembered that family is mostly all you have and we are learning to spend much more time together. I am expecting my first little niece or nephew in December so we are all excited about that!

 

5) I want to start a family of our own- In time this will come, in time.

6) I want to finish the two rooms in our home that we now use as over sized closets- We have finished one room, changed it into my workout room. Its much bigger and brighter and I love it. I'm working on the 2nd room right now.

7) I want to take our dogs on more walks- Well we have definitely improved this but it still needs some more. I want to take them on daily walks with my husband. I can't walk 3 dogs, especially since one of them is awful at walking. My fault, well OUR fault... we are working on it.

8) I want to swim in our pool every day this summer- Wish I did this, especially since summer is coming to an end, but I still have time and it's still warm. The new goal...to get in the pool with the husband! Yeah, it's bad.

9) I want to figure out what I'm suppose to be doing with my nursing career- Another goal that is a work in progress. I changed my job from Emergency Department Nurse to Nursing Supervisor and while it was alright, the hours didn't agree with me and I don't feel that it is what I want to do in my life.  So as I said, work in progress.

10) I want to go on a vacation for our 1st anniversary- We went to Atlantic City for 3 days! Wasn't a tropical vacation but we had a good time and are looking forward to a vacation sooner than later!

 

11) I want to go out more and experience more of what is beyond our home's walls- We have definitely spent the past 8 months hanging out with each other all the time. Dinner dates, movie dates, concerts, long drives to nowhere, Mystic, and Atlantic City. We could be doing more now, but we are on a tight budget so we will do stuff when we can!

12) I want to go to Six Flags once- Not yet. I have put this on the to do list for the past 3-4 years and we still have not completed it, but we will...one day.

I plan to do the next four this year, for sure.

13) I want to go apple picking in the Fall

14) I want to go to a Haunted House

15) I want to continue holiday traditions and start new ones

16) I want to give to a family in need during the holidays

17) I want to do a better job of keeping my house clean all the time- I am working on this! Getting everything more organized and loving it!

18) I want to plant flowers and make our house pretty from the outside- probably won't happen until next year.

19) I want to do more with my life, and sleep less- well working nights, I definitely slept less!!! But now that I'm back on a regular schedule, I do feel I have started to conquer this one!

20) I want to be happy- The past 6 months have been hard but I wake up everyday and remind myself that it is MY choice to be happy. It usually works!!!

So there we have it, I have some things to work on! But not as bad as I thought! Can't wait for the rest of the year to get it done!!!

Saturday

You sleep in a little and wake up to the sun shining on your face. You open the bedroom door and hear the little pitter patter of twelve tiny feet coming to greet you. Your handsome husband is sitting on the couch saying "Morning, beautiful." This is how every Saturday morning should start.

He makes you a delicious breakfast and you spend some time snuggling on the couch watching part of a movie.

You get ready to conquer the day, making a pit stop at "the man store" Home Depot to purchase a new door for your soon to be newly sided house. You enjoy Dunkin Donuts Iced Coffee while taking a scenic drive to enjoy this beautiful weather.

You grab the leashes as your pups jump all over the place in excited anticipation for an evening walk.

You make a new recipe together for dinner, while sipping a glass of wine and just enjoy each other's company. You end the night snuggling on the couch just as you started it.

This is my Saturday and I love it.

Sunday Brunch

Yesterday I set the table, lit the candles and put out our pretty glasses my mother-in-law gave to me, so we could have our first Sunday Brunch.

French toast casserole was in the oven, the aroma of cinnamon and brown sugar filling the air. My mom and step-father were the first to arrive, mimosas were poured and smiles were upon our faces.

As the men sat watching the television, the ladies made the remaining essentials to a perfect brunch; bacon, hash browns and waffles. The assortment of delicious food was complete and we had a wonderful first Sunday Brunch.

These are the moments in life that you always want to remember. You want to remember the happiness, the smiles, the humor and most importantly the meaning of family.

Recipe: Cinnamon Baked French Toast

Source

Enjoy!

A Saturday Night, Just the Two of Us

Tonight was the kind of saturday night I have been craving for a while now. Just me, my husband and an agenda that included......anything we wanted.

After getting some errands done, we went to the grocery store to pick up a few items for the delicious dinners I have planned for the weekend. Our menu tonight, Crispy Shrimp Pasta.

 

Source

I changed the recipe slightly on purpose and also by accident. I think maybe drinking a glass of wine during cooking doesn't agree with me! Despite my mess ups (putting cayenne pepper instead of cajun, turning on the wrong burner that had butter sitting on it!) the end result was delicious! The cheffy gave me a 9/10, to him nothing is ever perfect!

I added some garlic powder, parmesan cheese and fresh parsley to this dish. It's a recipe that you could change to your personal tastes.

It was a great dinner, with good wine and my handsome husband. It doesn't happen every weekend, but these are the moments that count. If you have a chance, try this recipe. It's really good!

What Weekends are Made Of

It has been a long time since I have been able to anticipate a weekend that included all the good things in life.

My husband. Check.

My family. Check.

My best friends (minus one!) Check.

Good food. Check.

Relaxation. Check.

Time away from that place I call H.E.L.L. (work) Double check!

I hope everyone was able to enjoy their weekend. I look forward to more weekends where we can spend time with each other, our loved ones and get things accomplished. What more can I say besides I am grateful for all the glorious moments in life!

Goodbye 2011

This year has gone by way too quickly, just as it seems all years do. What I take with me from 2011, are such beautiful memories, ones I will always hold close to my heart.

- I was given the honor of marrying the perfect man, for me. A man that I am so fortunate to have met and get to experience all the joys and difficulties in life with. I could have not found a better match, and I am grateful for him every.single.day.of.my.life.

- With our wedding, came the wonderful opportunity of spending quality time with my loved ones. A lot of it. I can not ask for a better gift than that.

There are many things I am grateful for. Our health, our home, our dogs, our families and our dearest friends. The list could go on, but if you know me, just know that you are truly loved.

While 2011 was filled with many special moments, there are definitely things that I would like to change for 2012. So I am writing them here as my 2012 goals.

1) I want to be healthier. I want to look healthier and I want to feel healthier
2) I want to make exercise fun and something I look forward to most days of the week
3) I want to fix the husband's and my schedules so we are able to spend more time together
4) I want to spend more time with my family members
5) I want to start a family of our own
6) I want to finish the two rooms in our home that we now use as oversized closets
7) I want to take our dogs on more walks
8) I want to swim in our pool every day this summer
9) I want to figure out what I'm suppose to be doing with my nursing career
10) I want to go on a vacation for our 1st anniversary
11) I want to go out more and experience more of what is beyond our home's walls
12) I want to go to Six Flags once
13) I want to go apple picking in the Fall
14) I want to go to a Haunted House
15) I want to continue holiday traditions and start new ones
16) I want to give to a family in need during the holidays
17) I want to do a better job of keeping my house clean all the time
18) I want to plant flowers and make our house pretty from the outside
19) I want to do more with my life, and sleep less
20) I want to be happy

I hope 2011 treated you well and that 2012 treats you better!

A New Life

At this time last week, my best friend was in labor for over 33 hours. On December 16th, 2011 at 849pm, Caden William Nash was born into this beautiful world weighing 8lbs 11oz.

The emotions I have felt through my best friend's pregnancy and now birth, are something I will never forget. To have someone so close to you have a baby, is an amazing feeling and I am so blessed to have been part of all of it.

The Important People in Life

There are many stages in life, and through these different stages, many things in life change. What once was important to you at the ripe old age of 12, is probably a distant memory at the young age of 28.

I've been to four different schools in my life, lived in six different places, worked at six different jobs and been through many different "phases."

I've been the shy girl who would only speak to her parents.

I've been the awkward adolescent crushing on the same boy for six whole years, who never knew.

I've been the outgoing rebellious high school student who tried to be friends with everyone.

I've been the party girl who tried her hardest to be studious, while enjoying every bit of her late teens and early twenties.

I've met many people who have changed my life for the moment, but only a few that I hold dear to my heart.

Friendships are funny. You may have many acquaintances in life, but the true friends are the most special people you will meet. They are the ones that through the years and all the changes, that will always be there. They will always listen, be there when needed, and no matter how much times goes by, be the ones that always make you feel that no time has passed.

I can count those friends on half of my hand. I wouldn't change that for anything. To my dearest friends, I do love you.