In need of some decor help!

(The first picture is the old table)

So we are finally around to finishing our dining room, but the walls are empty! So what I want your advice is whether I should leave the walls bare or put something up? And if so what? Any suggestions would be great!

Feline acne!?!

So I never knew there was such a thing as kitty acne! Casey has had this "dirt" like substance around his lip and chin. At first I thought it was a flea colony, but as researched more and tried to look closely, it looks like he has what is called FELINE ACNE. Now I am totally freaking out the more I read, the Internet can be a horrible thing at times. I remember when my mom got cancer and I started googling about it, BIG mistake. Well the good thing is Casey goes in next Tuesday to get neutered so we can ask the vet if this is a correct diagnosis. I just feel so bad for the little guy, it feels like it hurts! Gosh am I going to be a mess when I have kids if I am a mess over a kitten with some blackheads!

So AWESOME!!!

So I bought a laptop with my Christmas money and now I can finally use it because we now have wireless Internet!! Wow, do the little things in life please me! So now this means that I can post more often since I can do it while still hanging out with my hubby! (He gets upset when I am in the computer room all night). Well I will stir my creative juices for tomorrows post...

Pictures of 2008

Since I started my blog in November, I thought it would only be fair to share with pictures some of the highlights of 2008 (really my life is really boring tonight and I have nothing better to blog about ;) )

In October we rescued Tucker...my very first dog...our second "fur" baby...

Donated my hair to a wonderful cause (Cancer-Locks of Love) in the memory of my mother...

We got married on a beautiful October day...

In September I had a rough time in Put-in-Bay, they accomplished their goal for making me dead to the world the next day (did I mention I have not touched a shot since then?)

This is the point I was totally wasted, and why they let me on stage I have no idea....

The gang before we got crazy...

I accomplished my dream two weeks short of my mother's time on earth...I know she was so proud since i was the first in my family to graduate from college...

Got tons of great stuff at my shower as well as catch up with dear friends....

In August we traveled to North Carolina for Lane and Josh's wedding....

In July, shortly after I loss my mother to cancer we rescued Casey who would have died other wise...

In May we joined Crystal and Jason in marriage...

The lovely couple themselves...

The three roomies from the college days...

I am the third over in the top row and my hubby is the sixth over to the right on the top...

In April we celebrated Crystal's last night single...

Sorry these were backwards, but the blog had a mind of its own tonight!!!

My Goals for the New Year

So I am a little late here...but I figure that I must put them in writing or I will never follow up on them. Here are the things that I want to accomplish (in no particular order) by year's end:

1. Finish and pass my Series 7 exam for work-this is more for economical reasons
2. Go to the gym and actually be physically fit for our one year anniversary in October!
3. Be more organized and clean...my husband loves to leave his trails around the house but I am just as guilty!
4. Do my hair and makeup everyday during the work week (I have really gotten too comfy not doing this)
5. Build our patio and a place for my mom in our backyard
6. Possibly think about Grad school???
7. Re-build my relationship with God...I have been pushing him away due to last years events...my mother would be upset if she knew I was holding grudge against him right now.
8. Try to cook dinner at least 3 times a week (I get super lazy sometimes)

Hopefully these are goals that I can accomplish within the next 12 months...if you put you mind to it anything is possible! Wish me luck!

My first award!!!

I am really so touched that Simple Yet Classic





gave me this! She is my first follower and that in itself is exciting that someone I don't know wants to read my thoughts! This is what it reads: You Are Truly Beautiful. Beautiful means so much more than just a pretty face! It also means that you are unique, and oh so full of grace! The things in you that go on much deeper than the softness of your skin. Are the things that make you beautiful, both outside and within!
And here are the Rules: Find the beautiful ladies that you follow. Give them this award. Hopefully it'll truly mean something to each and everyone of you. Don't be shy to give it to the same person! Don't forget to tell them!
So here are the following ladies I give this award to:

1.) The Mrs. over at Simple Yet Classic

I love her blog and she has a special place in my heart for being the first to follow my blog!

2.) And they Lived Happily Ever After...
I have known Brooke since high school, but I love reading her blog to keep up on her life. She's a new mom and documenting her journey with her son. (Plus he is super cute!!)

3.) Angie over at Bring the Rain
Her blog is about her journey with her daughter. She is amazing for what she has gone through and what she gives to others!

A look back at 2008

So since I have not posted for a week or so I thought I would tie up the year in this post. With regards to Christmas, it was not as bad as I thought it would be. Christmas Eve was hard but that was mainly due to be at my mom's parents house...kinda weird without her there. Well let's take a flashback and count down the year:

• 
  The year started out crapy in regards that we knew my mom was very sick with cancer. Come Feburary her second chemo was doing well until we found that her cancer had spread to her bones, this pretty much ruined the year. She kept on fighting for months.
  On July 23, 2008 my mom went to be with my sister and the Lord in Heaven, this turned out to be one of the hardest things I would ever have to deal with. The ONLY comfort was the fact that she was no longer in pain.
• 
  The week my mom died, we rescued a runt kitten from the farm across the streets from my parents house. We named him Casey Blake after my favorite baseball player. He is so loving and amazing creature.
• 
  On August 18 I graduated from Kent State University with my B.A. in English. Such a bittersweet day. I was so proud of my self but this would be one of the many "firsts" milestone moments in my life that my mom would not be there. She would have been so proud. My dad gave me my graduation party as promised and it was a blast. My eight years of work finally pulled through.
• 
  On October 4th I married my best friend, and love of my life Luke. What a beautiful and another bittersweet day. Our day was perfect and I knew my mother was looking down on us from heaven. I truly realized what an amazing family I have and joined.
• 
  We also rescued a puppy Tucker who has become a great asset to our new family. He is so tuned into my feelings and brings a smile to my face (when he is not into trouble).

All of these milestones in the year of 2008 have made me a stronger person. While I would have chose a different path for someof these, I can't change God's plan. So I can only pray that everything will be fine in '09! Happy New Year to everyone and may you have a blessed year!