Summer Fun

Summer brings all sorts of fun with it: vacations, adventures, bbq's, and water fun! I know that I always take more pictures in the summer because we are always on the go. For all of my pictures I create great photo books through Shutterfly. Well Shutterfly is running a fun summer photo contest. With different themes for each week! Head over to their facebook to check it out:

Win a trip for four to The Bahamas and a professional photo shoot so you’ll remember your vacation forever.  All you need to do is upload your favorite photo and caption based on the theme of the week.  Get a gift from Shutterfly just for entering! You can enter at any point during the 5-week sweepstakes period.

PHOTO THEMES

•       Week 1(7/9): Americana

•       Week 2 (7/16): Great Outdoors

•       Week 3 (7/23): Water Fun

•       Week 4 (7/30): Sports & Activities

•       Week 5 (8/6): Parties & Celebrations

PRIZES

•       Instant win prizes just for submitting a photo!

•       Weekly prizes (contestants can enter one time/week)

•       Weekly featured photos: up to 5 weekly entries will be selected from the gallery and featured on the Facebook fan page and awarded a $500 gift card on Shutterfly and a copy of the new Lonely Planet travel photography book.

•       Grand prize: trip for 4 to Bahamas, 4 nights, family photo shoot

*These opinions are my own though I will receive a photo book from Shutterfly due to the post* 

Modern Memories

Now that we have a little one on our hands the need to document every little memory is so much more important! Of course we have the usual ways of home videos and pictures, but it's also nice to have more unique ways. Shutterfly has recently come out with a super creative way to preserve memories... photo yearbooks!

Here's the link:
http://www.shutterfly.com/yearbook/?escFlag=1
Ever thought that the yearbooks done through the school were tired & boring? Well now is your chance to have your hand in on the action because you can design your very own. You can tailor the yearbook to be a perfect match for your child's year and all of their accomplishments/activities.

So be sure to check out Shutterfly and find your own special way to capture your favorite memories.
·        Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shutterfly
·        Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/Shutterfly
·        Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/shutterfly/



*this post was sponsored by shutterfly, but the views and opinions are my own. I love Shutterfly products*

My crazy husband

I love my husband more than words can express, but the man has a serious flaw... He runs out of gas more than anyone I know! Seriously I would bet that he has run out of gas more than 50 times over the course of our relationship. Tonight was just another one of those times, and right in the middle of me cooking dinner no less. Oh well, I earned wifey of the month by being 8.5 months preggo and saving the day! And dinner was salvagable so it wasnt really that horrible of an event.

Plus now he's home and we get to snuggle.

Baby City

This past weekend I was honored to throw a baby shower for one of my dear sorority sisters. Jess is expecting Miss Ella anytime in the next three weeks, and I am so excited for future play dates with BK & Ella. It was so fun to get to promote for Southern Sass Events as well, and I'm hoping to book a bunch of events for this summer. I loved everything about this shower! Here are a few pictures.

Operation: House Bunny

Well, it's happened. I am no longer employed. I am officially a house bunny/ m.i.l.f in training. This has been my first full week off of work, and so far so good. (Though you might want to check back in a few weeks and make sure I'm not talking to myself or playing with puppets, aka being craycray). My days have consisted of blog stalking, lots of Chick Fil A, a little bit of event planning (www.southernsassevents.com), lots of daytime tv watching (Lord help me I watch lots of Rachael Ray and The OC), reading, and working on the nursery. Luckily I havent been so bored that I started bugging people, but dont worry I have my dad, husband, and top three besties on stand by in case I need an intervention.

I have to say I'm really sad about leaving the boys. The T-boys were my life for 3.5 years. I laughed with them, cried with them, watched them grow, and hopefully made an impact in their lives. Their family is my family, and while I know that we will continue to remain close my heart still aches. Little T was only 2 years old when I started. He rocked diapers, went to school for 9 hours a week, and served as my partner in crime while we did everything together. Now little man is in kindergarten, plays soccer and basketball, reads to me, and is fiercely funny and independent. Big T was in half a day pre-k and struggled a little bit with "first child syndrome". My heart ached seeing people not appreciate how kind and intelligent he was. Now he flourishes in 2nd grade, is a math genius, has an amazing group of friends, and is one of the most kind and sincere human beings that I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. It doesnt surprise me that these boys are so amazing considering the parents that they come from. I was truly blessed to have been brought into their family, and I will forever cherish our relationship.

Now I am blessed with the opportunity to raise my own little bundle of joy. I can dedicate all of my time and energy to being the best possible versions of mom and wife for my family. I am forever grateful to my husband for this opportunity. I hope I rock my new job titles.

Lots of Changes

2012 is here and with this year brings lots of changes. Not only are we expecting our little family to grow, but I am no longer going to be working. I've had a full time job since I was 15 so needless to say I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed.
I'm worried about not contributing to our family income.
I'm worried that my husband will feel too much pressure.
I'm worried that I will go completely and utterly crazy staying home.
I'm worried that I will lose myself.

But I'm also excited.
I'm so excited to be a mom.
I'm so excited that my husband loves me and our child so much that he is giving us the gift of time together.
I'm excited to be home when my husband gets off work and to have time together.
I'm excited to work on my culinary skills.
I'm excited to work on growing my dream business.

Change is hard and scary and real. It's here, and I hope I handle it well.

2011 in Review

January

We rang in the New Year in fab outfits and with fun friends.

We went to a Redskins game and it was so deathly cold that I broke down and wore Stephen's Redskins beanie. Dont worry, I'm still not a fan (and they lost).

We mailed out our wedding invitations!

February

I had my first wedding dress fitting. I cried.

I had an amazing time with LC in DC and it was just like being 18 again. I loved every minute of it!

March

I had my first bridal shower thrown by my fabulous Maid of Honor!

I went to DC again with Whit and LC and we definitely did things right!

I had my second Bridal shower and it was equally as fabulous!

My bachelorette party was at the end of the month and it was amazing! I was back to the hotel by midnight, but it was still amazing!

April

We had a little Bon Voyage Party before we left for Mexico, and it was a really great time with a really great cake!

We got married in paradise surrounded by amazing friends and family! It was truly the time of our lives!









May

My newest little brother was born, and I am still completely smitten with him!

We got to celebrate our wedded bliss back home with all of our local friends and family that couldnt make it to Mexico!

We went camping for the first time, and I survived!

June

Had my first attempt at baking from scratch, and my banana cream pie came out delicious.

Went to the Rascal Flatts concert with the hubs, cousin, and Brandon. It was an amazing concert! I cant wait to see them next year.

July

We went on a few date nights and enjoyed our first summer married.

We found out that we were expecting our first baby!

We did lots of pool lounging.

I tried my hand at baking again and made my cousin a birthday cake!





August

I spent most of August battling morning sickness so we didnt do a whole lot. I threw a birthday party for my brother who turned 18, and we did lots of laying around the house. We did manage a trip up to DC to visit Stephen's mom, and he treated me to Baked & Wired Cupcakes and some earrings from Juicy!

Hurricane Irene hit our area. We were without power for 3 days, and a tornado touched down about a mile from our house.





September

Daisymae started giving the belly lots of love.

We went to the ODU season opener.

I turned 25 and the hubs through me an amazing birthday party!

October

We found out we were expecting a girl!

I got my Erin Condren planner in the mail and it was life changing!

We took a trip to the mountains with great friends!

We dressed up for Halloween!

November

We celebrated the engagement of my best friend!

We spent a great Thanksgiving with family.

We were 25 weeks pregnant and the belly became loud and proud!

December

We celebrated our 3 year dating anniversary.

 

I did a lot of baking!

My handsome hubby had a fun 27th birthday party!

We took a little weekend getaway to Wintergreen. I did lots of reading and napping, and the hubs got to snowboard!

We had an amazing Christmas!

2011 was by far the most amazing and eventful year of my life. 2012 has serious shoes to fill, though with the pending arrival of our sweet BK it is bound to be pretty great as well!