Christmas 2008

This year we were low on money because with the economy being so bad our job hasn't given us bonuses for 6 months. This means we are out $400 - $500 a month so we've been struggling money-wise. Andrew and I decided not to get each other gifts because when we do we spend a lot! Last year I bought him a DeWalt tool set and those are costly! He got me the engagement ring so you know that was quite a bit. So anyway, this year with the wedding, house hunting, and the crappy economy we decided no gifts.

We concentrated on gifts for Suraya instead. Granted we couldn't spend a ton but I found some awesome deals and she loved everything she got. We bought her a karaoke video game and the girl LOVES it! My mom bought her a Hanna Montana dance video that came with a wig. Well, the child wears the wig all the time now. We went out yesterday and the girl wore it in public. Silly girl!


Hanna Montana look-alike


The most awesome part of Christmas was going to my mom's. She is great! For the past few years she hasn't been able to buy us presents but she kept saying that once she gets her money from the house her and my dad sold during their divorce she would make up for it. Well, it happened. She surprised us with gifts for every birthday and Christmas, graduation, and wedding that she was unable to give us gifts for. It was amazing! Oh, did I mention she's awesome!

Business Idea

I had so much fun designing and making all my wedding products such as the table names that I have decided to do that on the side. I have done some research on what other's have done, type of paper and the looks. I can easily do my own. I'm excited to start! I plan to make a few samples to make sure I can do this then go from there. Here's an example of what I did for my wedding.


Table name

New Life

At a time when I was very happy being on my own and felt like I was completely happy without a man, Andrew comes into my life. I met him in December 2006 and it went from there. We fell in love pretty quickly. I knew very early on I would marry him and he knew he'd marry me. Weirdly, I was NOT looking for love or marriage when I met him. I was done with all of that. We moved in together before we were married and it was a great decision. There was no way we could not have lived together. We were inseparable.


Don't we look so young?

Andrew proposed on Christmas morning, 2007. I of course said yes. After an 8 month engagement we were married on September 6, 2008. It was an amazing wedding. I planned every aspect of the wedding myself and did a lot of the decor, such as the centerpieces, myself. For 8 months I lived, breathed, and ate wedding. It was fun. After the wedding we honeymooned in Hawaii. Neither of us had been there before. It was beautiful. We will definitely be going back soon.


My grandfather walking me down the aisle


Husband and wife








As for life right now, it's great. I'm in school and that's going well. I have about a year left before I graduate with my bachelor's in sociology. It's a tough road but I have to do it. We are currently looking to buy a house. We have come across a few and have put offers in but haven't had one accepted yet. We'll get there...one day....