It's my birthday! {by Mason}

Hey guysh - it's me, Mason! Today is my birthday!!!

After I read Kelly's Blog Post (while my mom was in the other room!) I thought this would be perfect for me - especially since it's my birthday!

I'm three years old today and I got a lot of real food at dinner tonight because of it...mmm!

So anyways, here are six random facts about me...

1) I love to take up a lot of space in my mom and dad's bed. When they disrupt my slumber I growl, moan and give a guilt trip then get into my own bed.

2) I love McDonald's french fries - especially late at night!!!

3) I love going to the dog park - it really puts me in my place. I normally think I'm a big mean dog when I'm on the leash, but once I'm off - I'm really a little mama's boy.

4) I love to do things I shouldn't when my parents are gone. Sometimes I jump up on the forbidden red couch and drink coffee that was left out.

5) Don't tell her - but I love my sister Roxy. I loooove to annoy her!!! I stalk her every time that loud vacuum comes out - she tries to hide from it...

6) My mom tries to put sweaters on me - but I usually don't let her. Sometimes I'll humor her. I heard some talk about boots...get me outta here!!!!!

Good night...I think I have a bone hidden somewhere in this couch!

Dang good chili!

Last week I decided to make chili one day.

I have no personal recipe that I prefer - I only really know my Dad's chili. His is a pretty simple chili - no frills, just your typical stuff.

I think I'm pretty partial to that kind of chili myself.

I went onto the worldwideweb in search of a good recipe and found a one pot chili, went to the store, got my ingredients and came home hoping it would turn out okay.

Well...I tweaked it a bit and ended up with a dang good bowl of chili. Mmmm...it was delish!




One Pot Chili

2 lbs ground beef
1 onion
salt
pepper
1 big can tomato juice
1 big can diced tomatoes
3 cans dark red kidney beans
chili powder

Brown ground beef along with onions. Season with salt and pepper. Drain. Add tomato juice, diced tomatoes and kidney beans and bring to a light boil. Add chili powder to taste - about 4 tablespoons or just over half of 2.5 ounce bottle. Add a dash of sugar and salt to flavor.

Yields: One big pot

Our yearly tradition - 2008

Ryan and I started a tradition last year - our first Christmas living together.

We decided that each year we would pick out an ornament together and have it mean something pertaining to that year or to us.

Last year was obviously our new apartment together. So we got a Hallmark ornament that was of a home with a key hanging on top. I wrote on the bottom of it the year and what it was.

This year was our last Christmas together as boyfriend and girlfriend. Next year, we begin a new chapter in our lives.

To honor this last Christmas, I found the cutest ornament on eBay at Shadowbox Treasures.

Isn't it cute?

I write the personalization in there myself. I think it's very fitting!

Good tidings and joy

We went to my Grandma's house for Christmas this year. It was a good time. There were a lot more people there than normal this year.

As we're all getting older, the family is growing. My brother and sil stayed in town this year so it was nice to have them there as well.

Ryan helped out with getting dinner on the table. So did I!

My theory in this was - we would not have to help clean up afterwards! ha!


My sister was also present this year.

Ava was a little ham all day long. She had, by far, the most presents out of anyone! She was so cute! We got her an Easy Bake Oven for Christmas - she didn't even know what it was when she opened it... And I actually got her to smile with her teeth showing! Yay for me! She's missing her two top front ones though - too cute! :-)

I have no idea why - but my Grandma kept calling her sexy all day. She's 6! I kept saying, "not for quite some time!"

I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas or a happy holiday - whatever you celebrate, I hope it was grand!

With this ring - I thee wed

Let me first off, warn you all that there are A LOT of pictures in this post!

Now that's said...here we go...

I came across a post on Wedding Bee Pro (click here to read it) that gave instructions on how to take amazing engagement and wedding ring photos with a point and shoot camera.

So...along with the millions of other brides I went for it!

I didn't actually go for it until today - after all the Christmas hoopla was over. And guess what else I used to take the pictures?!

Our NEW camera!!! Yay!

Thanks to my future brother and sister-in-law for the great wedding/christmas gift! We absolutely love it!!!

I encourage anyone to read the article and give it a shot. It's really fun and it's fun thinking of stuff you can use.

I love that I did this and I want to keep this post forever to remind me of it.

Here we go!!!!






















Ryan ALWAYS has Chapstick in his pocket, so I thought this was very fitting!


I am a lover of pearls!











Perfect! It's Christmas time right before our wedding!


Ryan actually took this picture and I think it's one of my favorite ones. They look so cute and beautiful next to each other, don't you think?!


I want to turn this one into a sephia toned pictures. So rustic!

Merry Christmas

Snow makes me nuts...

First off, I apologize for the lack of posting lately (Zizi Nikki...mostly - because I'm sure you are the only one anxious to read my posts!).

Second off...we got MORE snow! Just when you think it has stopped...we wake up to a whole 'nother go round with it.

It looks like it's stopped for the most part right now, but it's still semi windy which just blows it all around like it's snowing anyways!

Hopefully it'll be done until...well for the rest of the winter?

Is that too much to ask for?

I hope not! :-)

I should be back on the posting band wagon by the weekend...I have a few things to share anyways.

Don't worry...they are nothing all too exciting so don't get your hopes all up high!

Plus, this is like a journal for me. Kind of. I would like to eventually print this out in pieces. Maybe I'll do it by the years.

You know...just as a reminder of how I'm feeling day to day, what we do in this uneventful (I like it that way) life of ours. Just reminders of our every days.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Love,

Bella

Mason's favorite ornament

Last year we put up this elephant ornament. Mason has since had an obsession with it!

I take that back...he has had an obsession with it since it's been in the closet waiting to come out for it's first Christmas (last year).

Whenever I'd open the closet for something in our 'office' - Mason has stood on his hind legs and begged to the closet. It is the funniest thing I have seen.


I can't say I blame him, she is kinda pretty. Don't you think?!

She even has red glittery heels on. So cute!



Our little boy! ha! He is so funny...he just cracks us up all the time!!!



We find him randomly sitting up staring at Elly (that is what we have named her!) on the tree.

I actually had to move her to my liking on the tree and it is a little bit more out of his sight.

To no avail, he found her!

I think it might be her feathery tutu that attracts him, but we're still undecided on that one...

Cutie Clementines - we're loving them!

We bought one of those BIG boxes of Clementines last week...the Cutie brand.



Boy oh boy, do we love them!!! The entire box is gone already!!!





These little beauties are SO sweet and SO easy to peel. I think that has got to be one of my favorite parts of them!



Looks like we'll have to go back this weekend for another box... :-)

The one about Santa's Reindeer,,,

I'm sure you have all seen this one before. It had circulated through forwards. But I thought it was cute and so here I am...sharing it with you on my blog!

According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game,

while both male and femail reindeer grow antlers in the summer each year,

male reindeer drop their antlers at the beginning of winter,

usually late November to mid December.

Femaile reindeer retain their antlers until after they give birth

in the Spring.

Therefore, according to EVERY historical rendition depicting

Santa's Reindeer...

EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM,

from Rudolph to Blitzen,

had to be a girl!

We should've known...

ONLY women would be albe to drag a man's

big butt in a red velvet suit all around the world

in one night

and not get lost!

Merry Christmas!!!

Happy Birthday To Me (and) I Take It Back

Well...today I am 26 years old. Of course, it doesn't feel any different than any other birthday. Another year...as I've said...I love birthdays! I don't dread them, it's going to happen anyways.

Aging that is.

So I choose to embrace it!




I got the above wonderful, warm Columbia coat from my Mister AND Twilight...the book! I can't wait to start digging into it.

The book that is.

And my coat is so comfy, I only had dressy peacoats. So it'll be wonderful to his this!





And I take back the sad little Charlie Brown tree that we had...

I happened to see this fake (yes, fake) tree at Walgreens yesterday. I wouldn't look twice, but I noticed that is was sale for $19.99!

Yes $19.99!!!

We went back today to get it. And I just happened to have a $5 off coupone that printed out from the register yesterday. Plus, we bought the cute little gold glittery star topper. All in all, we paid $17 and some change! How awesome is that?!

I thought we wouldn't get much of a good tree for the price that we paid but it is actually pretty nice.

And bonus?

It's pre-lit with white lights!

Love it!!!

I decided to only use certain colored bulbs this year. I chose red, green, silver and gold. I added some red and silver ribbon we had laying around. I want all silver...we shall see...

I love it though!

I also have to add that we started AND finished our Chritmas shopping last night.


I also wrapped all presents today and they are currently decorating our empty space below the tree.

I love the Christmas season!

**written on December 14th - published on December 15th. Don't want to ruin my Silent Sunday now do I?!

Silent Sunday: Ice Storm

image credit

I've been tagged...again!

I was tagged by my friend Jenny over at and she's just rambling again...

1. Link to the person that tagged you
2. Post the rules on your blog
3. Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself
4. Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs
5. Let each random person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website.

Here are 6 random things about me:

1. I am a clean freak! I don't mean just a little. I mean A BIG CLEAN FREAK! As in...I can't sit down until everything is put away. I spent (and I'm not kidding here - Ryan can verify this) just about 8 hours cleaning just a few short Saturdays ago. I get so overwhelmed while I'm doing it too. I want to be done and relax, but I just. can't. stop. until I'm completely done.

2. I would gladly eat appetizers or snacks (or desserts for that matter) for any meal rather than real food. When my Mister was out of town with his band I had cheese and crackers for dinner one night and then chips and guacamole the next night.

3. I can't NOT have nailpolish on. I don't care if it's clear or colored. It must be on. If it's not on, my nails just feel disgusting to me - kind of like nails on a chalkboard. Ugh...it's making me sick thinking of it.

4. I NEED to have the right amount of cream and sugar in my coffee. If not, I get angry with whoever made it - say...Dunkin Donuts! For the most part they are awesome...but at this one location, they can never get it right? It's not their fault, I know this. I just want my coffee how I want it. That's all...

5. I had surgery when I was 3 years old for two hernias. I remember picking bubble gum gas to put me to sleep and riding home nice and tired in the back of my grandparents car. They also bought me Hungry Hungry Hippos for surviving the surgery. Ha! Just kidding...it was a 'get well' gift I guess!

6. I'm a MAJOR homebody. I would rather sit home any day of the week than go out. I hate dealing with people. I just love the comfort and happiness of home. I love to make little things and just lay around, clean and just be at home!

*I'm super exciting...can't you tell?! :-)


**And I've decided to not tag anyone...if you'd like you can go ahead and tag yourself from my blog. I am mainly just too lazy to go through to each persons blog and tell them. And I'm leaving here (work) in ten minutes and I just don't think there's enough time for that!

My new sisters

I was just flipping through (okay, technically not flipping) pictures from Thanksgiving and came across this one.

I like it.

These are my sisters.

Sister-in-laws to be exact. But what does that really mean anyways?!

They are some pretty cool girls and I can honestly say that I am glad that I have them in my life.

I can't wait to grow old with them too.

:-)

Tolerance

I think they secretly love eachother.

At least that's what I like to tell myself.



We have to put Roxy's food on the counter because Mason would eat it.

I was giving them a special treat of soft food (Roxy's fav is Purrfectly Fish by Whiskas) for dinner earlier tonight.

Usually I put her soft food up on the counter near her other food. Today, for some reason, she wouldn't jump up on the counter. So...I put her food on the ground.

Right near Mason.

And they quietly ate dinner together.

I think they secretly love eachother.

I hope to one day be able to capture a picture of them laying in the dog bed together.

I know - that'll only happen in my dreams :-)

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

**edited...I dislike Blogger at times. Like now, for example! I had my paragraphs (more like sentences) spaced out. I even edited it to try and make it work again. And what do I get?! smooshed together words...I digress!**

Ah, yes. Isn't she a beaute?!

I even added the picture there on the bottom right.

Just so you could see how miniature our Christmas tree really is... It's slightly pathetic.

I am aware.

We went out last Saturday with full intentions of either getting a real tree at church. And possibly skipping that and going to Ace Hardware (bad decision - should've gone to Walmart or Target) for a fake tree.

I know there has got to be a debate on which is better. I, personally prefer real for the smell and just the realness of it all. I grew up with a real Christmas tree every single year. I do have to admit, the needles are a pain (especially last year when we had NO vacuum cleaner...).

We ended up deciding nay on the tree, period. We are just so busy this month with Christmas, birthdays (3 more days until I hit the big 2-6), the wedding next month. I feel like I have seldom moments when I can sit down, relax and not be thinking/planning something.

So I decorated a small tree decoration that we got from my mom last year. I even put our 'meaningful' ornaments on it along with some mini ornaments we had. I still used the usual tree stand - you know, to give it a little height (ha!) - and the ohsoboring tree skirt. AND I made a HUGE ornament our tree topper! Voila!

It isn't the best tree I've ever had, but it will do.

Just for this year though.

That I promise you.

Silent Sunday

image credit

*I interupt this Silent Sunday to note that I think I am going to try and do Silent Sunday Bridal pictures leading up to the wedding. I'm thinking of it as inspiration for some photo ops for THE BIG DAY!*

Just a test...

I am attempting to make a signature.

Just playing around a bit, if you will.

I'll fancy it up later, but I wanted to see if I could master it first.



Now it's time to 'view blog'...

****edited after 'viewing blog'...ugh!!! I don't like the frame around the picture! I think I can change this? I used the same scrap paper as I used for my background and it still doesn't exactly match up. I guess this is when it's best to just have a white one? Or is there a better way around this?

Response cards and a little peak!

I officially sent out our wedding invitations on Monday.

Come Tuesday, we were hearing from all sorts of folks (ha!) that they had received them already! How exciting! Well, at least it is for me! :-)

We even got THREE response cards on Wednesday!

And two more today!

(can you tell I love exclamation marks?!)



And because we are dorks (mainly me for blogging/remembering purposes) that is us with our very first THREE response cards!

People, I'm only doing this once...I need to keep memories alive!




I made this nifty little response card holder/semi christmas decoration to put our cards in. I don't just want to stash them away...this is all new and exciting to me!





And alas...a bit of detail from my dress. I know it's not all too clear, but you get the idea, right?!

Happy December!!!

It sure is December!



We got our first big snowfall overnight last night.



Luckily...I got to stay home today so I didn't have to go out and brave the weather. I did, however, clean off the car this morning for my Mister (I know, I'm sweet like that!).



I love December for so many reasons.



The major thing...MY BIRTHDAY!!! As I have mentioned before, I love my birthday and I look forward to it every year. No matter what age!



The snow is also fun! I just love how pretty it is. I'm not a huge fan of driving or going out in it. My perfect day with snow goes something like today.



I don't have anywhere to go. Except the post office to mail our inviations. Still not sure if that's going to happen until the Mister gets home from work.



And then I plan on watching all sorts of recorded shows! Me and Grey's have a little catching up to do.



Oh and to get some pretty fun collages/frames for your pictures go to Picasa. It's a really good program!



Happy December! :-)