Friday, December 31, 2010

J & A Chronicles: A Year In Review

Seeing that it's the LAST DAY OF THE YEAR!!! I thought I would do a Year In Review with lots of pictures and less words =)
JANUARY
J took me to a Steelers @ Miami game for Christmas

Bachelorette Party
FEBRUARY
Strawberry Festival

A REALLY Bad 2nd Fitting
 MARCH
A REALLY Fabulous Final Fitting
Rehearsal and Rehearsal Dinner
♥ We Got Married! ♥
Husband & Wife

Went on Our Honeymoon
APRIL

I turned 25

 MAY
Jess & Doug graduated from ECU
JUNE

Redecorated craft room: before
Redecorated craft room: before

Redecorated craft room: after

Redecorated craft room: after
 JULY
Vacation with J's Parents

Asked to be a Bridesmaid in a Very Good Friend's Wedding
No these are NOT the dresses we are wearing -- I didn't want to spoil anything

Girl's Weekend
Vacation in the Keys with My Family
AUGUST
J's Brother's 25th birthday
 SEPTEMBER 
J's 27th Birthday
Dinner with some Friends at a New Hibatchi Place
OCTOBER
Halloween at Work
Halloween Party

NOVEMBER
My Little Sister Got Engaged and
Asked me to Be her Maid of Honor


Ran and completed my first half marathon

 DECEMBER
The Husband bought us a DSLR!
Had a Rock The Dress Shoot

 
Got our first Christmas Tree



Had Our 2nd Annual Christmas Party

Christmas Cookie Party


Christmas Eve Family Pictures

First Christmas as Husband & Wife

Christmas Day with J's Family
I know 2011 will bring lots of love and happiness within our circle of friends and family!  Happy New Year's Eve everyone -- be safe and have a great time ringing in the New Year!

Thursday, December 30, 2010

DIY Christmas Present Times 4

This year was going to be a small Christmas so in addition to buying a couple little things for friends and family, we opted to hand make some presents.
We made a couple gifts for J's parents. The first was an ADORABLE little pig ornament! His mom collects any and everything pig so this was perfect for her AND it was one of a kind!
::Supplies::
Glass ornament
Pipe cleaners
Spray Adhesive
Glitter
Hot Glue
Google-y Eyes
Ribbon
::To Make::
1. Spray a glass ornament with spray adhesive and layer with glitter. leave to dry.
2. glue on google-y eyes
3. wind pipe cleaner into a tight circle and glue onto the face beneath the eyes using a hot glue gun.
4. cut and bend pipe cleaners to desired lengths for legs and ears.
5. wind pipe cleaner around a pencil or paint brush handle to make the tail and glue on with hot glue.
6. hang with fun/festive ribbon
The second gift we made was a beer 'glass' for his dad.  We used a vase from Michael's and followed these same basic instructions to etch the glass to read "Dad's Big Ass Beer Glass".  He loved it =)

My mom loves earrings. For years she had cute little bow earrings for Christmas.  In one of their moves, the earrings were finally crushed and had to be thrown out.  Since then, all of us have been looking for another pair just like them because she loves them so much.  It seemed the didn't exist so I had a brilliant idea and decided to make them =) They are super simple and inexpensive!
 ::Supplies::
Small gift bows (I found them at CVS)
Earring posts (found in Jewelry section of your local craft store)
Earring backs (found in Jewelry section of your local craft store)
Hot glue
Hot glue gun

::To Make::
Remove sticker/paper from the back of the bow
Hot glue earring post to the back of the bow
Let dry
Add earring backs
VIOLA!!
 See I told you they were easy =) I made 3 sets for her! AND she loves them!

The last gift I made was for my sister. I made a bracelet a couple weeks ago and she loved it. This one is a little more intense than the previous projects I posted.
::Supplies::
Pearl Beads (2 different colors if you would like)
Small Colored Beads
Small Silver Round Beads
Headpins
Chain
Jump Rings
Cutters
Lobster Claw (or some other type of clasp)

::To Make::
Make chain desired length for a bracelet and remove from main chain strand.
You can make all the charm pieces for the bracelet as you go or you can make them all and then add them to the bracelet -- I make as I go.
1. Using a headpin, add a silver bead, colored bead, pearl, colored bead. 
2. Cut the head pin down, leaving it long enough to curve into a loop to add onto the chain.
3. Using the needle nose pliers, turn the top of the headpin down into a loop shape. Leave the loop open and add to the first link of the chain.  Close the loop using your needle nose pliers.
4. For the next charm, use a headpin and add a colored bead and then a silver bead.
5. Again, Cut the head pin down, leaving it long enough to curve into a loop to add onto the chain.
6. Again, Using the needle nose pliers, turn the top of the headpin down into a loop shape. Leave the loop open, count 2 links of chain and add the charm to the third link of the chain.  Close the loop using your needle nose pliers.
7. For the next charm, use a headpin and add a different colored (or same if you wish) pearl bead.
8. Again, Cut the head pin down, leaving it long enough to curve into a loop to add onto the chain.
9. Again, Using the needle nose pliers, turn the top of the headpin down into a loop shape. Leave the loop open, count 2 links of chain and add the charm to the third link of the chain.  Close the loop using your needle nose pliers.
10. For the next charm, use a headpin and add a colored bead and then a silver bead.
11. Again, Cut the head pin down, leaving it long enough to curve into a loop to add onto the chain.
12. Again, Using the needle nose pliers, turn the top of the headpin down into a loop shape. Leave the loop open, count 2 links of chain and add the charm to the third link of the chain.  Close the loop using your needle nose pliers.
This will be the pattern for the rest of the bracelet.
13. Repeat steps 1 - 12 until you reach the end of the chain.
14. Once you have finished the patterned portion of the bracelet, add jump rings to one of the ends to use as the open end of the bracelet.
15. On the other end of the bracelet, connect your lobster claw with a jump ring.

This is definitely a time consuming pattern but it is so worth the outcome!
It was so fun making personalized gifts for family and everyone really appreciated the effort and thoughtfulness that went into the gifts.

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Christmas with the In-Laws
& What I'm Loving Wednesday +

After leaving my parent's house around noon on Christmas Day, J and I drove straight to his parent's house with Ruger in tow.
When we arrived there I made deviled eggs for the VERY first time ever!!! I was really happy with the turn out.  J's dad likes mayo in his as do I so I told him I would make some.  I totally did it blind and just added a little this and that and it was perfect.  I think I made 8 eggs (so 16 halves) and ate like 12 halves! they were so good!!!
My brother-in-law's girlfriend's mom, step dad and sister also came to gift open. Here are some fun pictures of family opening their gifts!
Typical brother-in-law photo -- it's rare that he takes it serious =)
Anngela (BIL's GF)
Hot Husband ♥
J's Mom
J's Dad
After gifts we took a bunch of group shots that turned out pretty nicely =)  
 
    
As it got later, everyone left so J and I decided to stay and watch Grown Ups with his parents. 
It was finally 9 o'clock and time for me to go to bed -- I. was. EXHAUSTED! We got home and unloaded the dog.  While we were unloading everything else from the truck this was our doggie:
He didn't move from that position for a few hours. Suffice it to say that he was also an exhausted puppy. =)
We had an absolutely amazing First Christmas as Husband and Wife. I am looking forward to many more years of traditions and marvelous family time. =)

Be Sure to Link up HERE!!!

I'm Loving -- that it's going to be back in the 70's this week.  If you look at the picture below, you will see frost. NOT OK! Even though it's kinda pretty lol
 I'm Loving -- The fun scarf I received as a Christmas gift from Anngela & Larry (but probably mostly Anng lol)
 I'm Loving -- Ruger-Dog and the fact that he has to be in the bathroom or any where with me at all times when we are home.  He's so sweet and lovable!
 I'm Loving -- The hoop earrings that J bought me for Christmas!! They are a great every day earring and the first time I have ever had nice hoops! =)

I'm Loving -- These nude heels I received for Christmas -- I am wearing them today and they are SO comfortable!
I'm Loving -- The pawprint ornament I told y'all about yesterday! It's so darling!!
 I'm Loving -- this new lotion from B&BW! It smells delicious.  I love it so much I bought the body wash too!
And of Course, I'm Loving -- my amazing husband who is always there for me to share laughter and tears and shower me with love ♥
Have a Fabulous Wednesday!!! And for those of you like me -- tomorrow is our Friday!! YAY!