My New Best Friends

are...

 ( http://www.amazon.com/ )

( http://www.amazon.com/ )

( http://www.amazon.com/ )

I am a woman obsessed.  We bought 3 books to help us prep for our trip.  Yeah, that means two books on Paris.

George and I love the practical advice Rick Steves offers. And the Top 10 books from Eyewitness are helping us focus on the "top 10" things to see and do.  For example, the top 10 gardens, the top 10 museums, the top 10 things to see in the Louvre, the top 10 cheap cafes, .... you get the point!

We had been very conflicted on what to do with our savings.  We saved for this trip but once it was time to start booking we were so torn: Life vs.Responsibility.  Do we take the trip of a lifetime or pay off debt and have a savings?

Yep, we chose life! 

And it's funny, people keep saying "Good for you" and telling us how they had wanted to go to Europe/Asia/Africa before having children but never did and that it is hard to once you have kids. 

That was our fear, too.  I hope, once we get there, we will realize we can bring a family overseas and it won't be so overwhelming and unfamiliar. 

Have any of you traveled with young kids or plan on doing it soon?  What are your thoughts on long trips with little ones?

That's all I got!  Happy Wednesday :)

oh, p.s. - George also received his passport today!! And he keeps reminding me that HE is going to Paris but I'm not yet; not until I get my passport...bah!

Fur baby

There's reason to believe that I am kind of stubborn. 

I kind of eventually get what I want.  And I may or may not employ such tactics as being over dramatic (throw a tantrum?), slightly pout (crying?), lingering quiet (silent treatment?) and PowerPoint presentations.  

I kid, I kid (or do I?)!    

But I do bring a PowerPoint into the situation should I need to get my point across and grab my audience's (cough, cough, Geo) attention.  I've only resorted to a PowerPoint for one, very important topic close to my heart: A Fur Baby.

Now, I offer my presentation to you.

First, I had George hook the computer up to the TV.  Then I introduced myself and the reason for today's presentation -

Next, I listed the reasons as to why we needed a dog.

Reason 1: Man and woman's best friend.  I could use a companion since Geo travels, has night/weekend activities and works late some nights.

Reason 2: Building a family (yes, that is JT and Jess).  I am ready to start expanding our family.  We have had each other for 5 years now and I am ready for the next step.  He is too... even more so than me.  And we can learn to take care of another being.

Reason 3: Dog vs. Baby.  And speaking of taking care of another being, a dog would allow us to satisfy our "baby itch" yet be cheaper, easier to care for and can offer us comfort/security. Since we live in the city, and close to a not-so-great area, security is big!

Reason 4: Dogs and Health.  I offered a few additional links of interest for him to consider. All are related to health issues that we face.  I mean come on, science is backing me up!!

So I convinced him to get a dog but we haven't gone for it.  I think what does hold us back is the noon-time potty time and the traveling we will be doing.

At least the presentation worked!  I opened his eyes to the benefits.  Now it's just a matter of timing.

Okay, be real with me here: is it that hard raise a dog?  Discuss...

I'll Miss You 2010!

George asked me out on a date last night so we went to breakfast at Simply Crepes this morning.  What a great way to end 2010!  Crepes with eggs and bacon, a good cup of coffee and Geo. 

As we waited for our breakfast, we did our annual month-by-month recap of the year.  It's funny how much took place this year!  So, naturally, I thought I would share our recaps with you :)

January 2010

George looked at a house. 

A few days later, he thought maybe I should look at the house.

I looked at the house.

A few days later, I suggest we put in an offer.

We put in an offer.

Two days later, we were homeowner!

February 2010

We packed.

We made Valentine's dinner.

We closed on our house :)

The next day, we attended pre-cana and LOVED it!

And that same night, we picked up our caterer's dinner sample box, went to our new house, and had, what eventually would be our wedding dinner, our first dinner at our new home. (ya follow that??!)

March 2010

We moved in a snow storm.

I unpacked like crazy.

We sent out our wedding invitations.

We hosted our first St. Patrick's Day Kegs-and-Eggs.

We purchased our wedding bands.

George turned 28.

April 2010

We hosted my sister's 30th birthday party for 30 of our family members and friends.

I had my bridal shower.  

Celebrated my brother's 24th birthday at our new house.

Finalized our wedding plans.

May 2010

I interviewed at a little medical software company the week before and the week of our wedding.

On the 22nd, we promised forever in front of our family and friends!

On the 24th, I was offered the job.

June 2010

I started my new job.

We went on our honeymoon in Cape Cod: Our first vacation alone!

 I returned to blogging and I can't believe how much I didn't know I missed it.

July 2010

House work, house work and more house work. 

Our good friends, Jordy and Tracey, got engaged :)

We celebrated my 28th birthday with brunch, a random wine tour and some outlet mall shopping!

August 2010

We. Did. Nothing.  ... and loved it!

Well, except for house work but we love that, too.

September 2010

George traveled for work. 

Did some "While You Were Out" house updating.

George paid off his car!

  

October 2010

 

We signed on to host Thanksgiving.

We got down to business with decorating the dining room and living room.

We celebrated our 5 year anniversary on Halloween. 

 

November 2010

 

I finally planned for the holidays, early.

We hosted our first Thanksgiving for George's family... all 15 people.

We had our first Thanksgiving in the house and as a married couple!

We gave thanks... for everything.

 

December 2010

We sent out Christmas cards.

We decorated the house for Christmas (which, besides a tree, we never did in an apartment).

We had our first Christmas in the house and as a married couple.

We spoiled each other and our families, for the last time (we are going a different direction from now on)

We slept-in, ate our faces off and survived our family parties.

We had our last date of 2010.

 

Hope your 2010 was as blessed as ours!  Here's to 2011: You have A LOT to live up to :)

Happy New Year!!

xo- Sarah and George

Happy Thanksgiving!

We did it!  We hosted and survived our 1st Thanksgiving!  14 people, 32 lbs of turkey, 4 batches of green bean casserole, 10 lbs of mashed potatoes and 5 lbs of stuffing later, everyone is in a turkey trance and on their way home. 

Here are some highlights of the craziness...

My happy helper! 

I am so thankful that George stuck by my side and took on this crazy task with me!  I really missed having Thanksgiving with my family (my mom wasn't ready to give it up... story for my therapist another time...George's family was ready to order take-out and call it a holiday).  But we talked 4 times today, going over what we were making, when we were starting each dish, etc.... still, just not the same.

So I am thankful for my husband, thankful for a healthy and happy family, our good jobs, a beautiful home, health insurance, reliable cars, food on the table, clothes on our backs, Starbucks grande non-fat caramel lattes and Netflix instant streaming.

What are you grateful for? 

FCOR's 1st Birthday

My first cousin once removed (FCOR), Audrey had her first birthday this weekend...

Isn't she precious!  I just love her sweet-pea face and Cindy Loo Whoo hair. 

Her Grandma (my Aunt), has been making the first birthday cake for every child in our family for the last 32 years.  And the cake is almost always a self-portrait cake.  And with that same "doll" pan, she made Audrey's Audrey cake...

Yes, the top and the skirt match what Audrey is wearing!  Naturally, there is usually another bakery cake for everyone to dig into.  But I love seeing the cakes with every new baby in our family.  Maybe someday, if we are lucky, our children will get a portrait cake too.

Oh, and just because they are too cute not to mention, here are my other FCORs: Natalie, Lany and their brother Griffin...

Aren't they all too beautiful for words?!  And my cousin Jackie, is due any day now with FCOR Leah. 

I love my family.  And HAPPY BIRTHDAY AUDREY!!!

Thanksgiving Check List

As you know, George and I are hosting his family for Thanksgiving.  Yes, there will be about 18 of us packed into the first floor (cause the second floor is a bathroom and 3 bedrooms... boring) of our 1600 sq ft. colonial. 

But it's cool because we are in full-planning mode.

First, I have made my lists and have checked them 200 times.

List one: Wegmans!

Many of you are familiar with Wegmans or already adore the majesty that is WEGMANS.  However, where I am from, Wegmans is more than a store.  It's a way of life.  A respected institution.  Mecca.  It is our city.  Wegmans was founded in my hometown.  It employs a third of George's family and thousands in our area. Sure, there are a few other places to shop for groceries but none are as trusted as Wegmans.  People suffer through the economic hardships and lack of opportunity in our area because we know Wegmans is a catalyst for change.  They drive pricing competition (I know, I worked in PR for their top competitor), quality standards, green efforts, and bring other businesses to our area. 

And no one said it better than Alec Baldwin's mom - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqEUYzOpvZ0

Okay, enough of my Wegmans obsession and back to the list.

List one: Wegmans
2 turkeys - one 15 lbs. and one 22 lbs.
3 servings batches of green bean casserole
2 cans of corn
4 bags of dried bread cubes for stuffing
Parsley, Thyme, Sage
Onion, celery and carrots
Yams
Marshmellows
Butter - 1 box of each salted and unsalted
Poultry seasoning
Nutmeg
Allspice
2 boxes of chicken broth
2, 5-lbs bags of potatoes
Cream cheese (for potatoes)
Sour cream (for potatoes)

List two: Perkins... I am getting some assistance on dessert cause sister needs a break!
1 peanut butter silk pie
1 pecan pie

List three: Liquor Store a.k.a. - my happy place... more on my wine interest later
1 box of Black Box Riesling
1 box of Big House Red
3 bottles of red wine
3 bottles of white wine

List four: Decor
Paper plates (the fancy brand)
Plastic utensils (the fancy brand)
Snack plates
Festive napkins
Clear cups (the fancy brand)
Brown craft paper - 1 roll
Crayons
Area rug
coffee table
Table clothes
Flowers
Folding chairs
Folding tables

Ahh, nothing better than seeing a bunch of tasks crossed off!

As you can see, we have a good start!   There are a few more things we need but we are getting there.  I anxious to finish up and start cooking.  We both took off Wednesday so we will get the rest of the items, start some prep work and make a few dishes ahead of time.

I would love to have grace but, as I mentioned before, George's family isn't religious.  So I am thinking about having a "Moment of Thanks".  We can all go around saying what we are thankful for.  I know this might open me up to some gruff but I want to start some traditions.  So we will see.

How are your plans coming along?  What new or old traditions do you have?

Have a Little Faith With Me

I grew up in the Catholic church.  I really enjoyed that time in my life and that early connection I made with God.

I still have a very strong sense of faith but I have fallen away from attending church.  I have to be honest, I no longer 100% believe in the Catholic faith.  We did get married in the church, but I feel God made us all and loves us all and would never want us to hate someone that he made.  No Exceptions.

George and his family did not practice religion.  And prior to meeting me, like back in his high school days, George might have even said he was an Atheist. 

We discussed our religions and faith in the first months of our relationship (guess you could say we "knew" early on that we were forever).  And I asked him "If I was hurt, and lying in a hospital bed, and the doctors said they didn't know if I would make it, would you say "God please keep her here with me?" 

He said yes.  And I accepted that: I knew he was a man of faith.

After our Pre-Cana classes (which we LOVED... would do it again tomorrow), George and I really felt a connection with out faith.  That our union was greater than us.  It was kind of awesome.  We also walked away set on raising our family with faith.  Maybe not in the Catholic church but most definitely with faith.

Lately, I have been wanting to have that connection again.  We have not been to church since our wedding. I have had many talks with God, some of my favorite saints and praying almost daily.  But I am longing for that sense of community my old church had to offer.

We just don't have a church we belong to.  My childhood church is 30-40 minutes away but, like I said, I have fallen away from that church.  So I am looking for a fresh start.

How do you "shop" for a church?