Laundry Time

It's laundry time!  Why am I online shopping?  Who knows really.  I think my body shops as a biological impulse.  Inherited obviously- y'all do know Mamma Kay, right?  Even if I don't buy anything I love online shopping.  When I need a quick break at work I online shop.  Just to see what's out there :)

I do need to get my booty in gear and do some laundry!  James & I have decided to avoid ending our marriage in that weird stage of "could this count as an annulment it was so short" that we do our own laundry.  James does three loads of laundry once a week- lights, darks & towels/miscellaneous items.   The first time I saw this it FREAKED ME OUT!  (When I met James he paid the dry cleaners to launder all his clothes.  True story.)  I probably wash 20 different loads of laundry... I do separate clothes in the hamper by white/neutrals, cools/darks, warm/pinks.  But when it comes time to do laundry I wash my delicate cool/darks, then the everyday clothes, then the jeans, I wash sweaters by them selves, bras by them selves.  Lululemon by itself (I think this flabbergasts James the most).  Occasionally I'll get so tired after vacation that I will wash swimming-suits with Lulu, but those lapses in judgement are very rare.  I need a chart to explain it to anyone.  Due to the intricacies of my laundering habits it takes me a good month or two to accumulate enough in various categories to have a full load of laundry.  Hence the separate laundry truce of 2012.

I need to wash my Spanx!  Because James & I are going on a very special date this weekend :)  We hit a milestone of being completely out of consumer debt!  This was one of the first goals we made when we got married - to be done with debt before our first anniversary.  We still have car, student loans & house left, and will probably start our next phase of getting out of debt soon but we are taking a night to CELEBRATE!  I guess it's good that two people who work in finance are out of debt! Haha.  Thank goodness for James, because I am not good at sticking to a budget.  And I love shopping.  (see first paragraph)

I was talking to a friend who was nervous about starting to get her finances in order.  It's exactly like losing weight.  Everyone knows how to (eat less/spend less + exercise/save more + choose quality = progress) not everyone has self discipline.   I had a bad habit in college/grad school of falling in love with a pair of shoes I couldn't afford.  Buying them.  Then eating OATMEAL three times a day until my next paycheck.  Like it takes a rocket scientist to figure out that's not healthy.

Anyways I digress.... My neutral Spanx/ neutral bras are done in the washing machine! Time to line dry!  I am so looking forward to our date night!  I probably need a new outfit!!!  :-D

Seester's Wedding

It is difficult to put into words sometimes when utterly amazing things happen.  My sweet little Seeester got married, you could tell they were so happy & in love, it was beautiful, perfect for her.  I am so happy for her & the new chapter in her life of marriage.

Here are some photographs of the wedding at Sandals in St. Luica!

Rehearsal Dinner ~ James & I

Rehearsal Dinner ~ the new family James, me, Dad, Mamma Kay, JJ & Tim

 Gorgeous!

Seester & I at the reception :)  A&W

James doing his thang.

Taking full advantage of a flight to the Caribbean... James & I decided to stay an 4 extra days :)  Thanks to Living Social we had a pretty sweet 2 bedroom villa to relax in!  Here are some of our vacation pictures after the wedding was over.

I found my favorite type of RUM CAKE!!!!!! 

When we were going through customs I had to declare "rum cake" and "rum balls," the guy looked at my intake form & said "Really?"  haha

 Gorgeous beaches! 

 I can sure appreciate a good rum punch :) 

 Segway tour! aka James' favorite part of the trip

 Don't I belong on the beach?  My skin doesn't get to vote.

 My vacation obsession!!!  I seriously drank these the entire time!!

On the way to the airport home.  Please note James' vacation beard.  Ew.

Dallas, Y'all

Always love weekends home in the Big D!

Between Kimberly's wedding, the Maverick's game & Mamma Kay taking me shopping at the Bloomies outlet ~ it was a perfect weekend:)

Photo taken by my very talented cousin Chloé

Thanks cousin for the photobomb!

Can you tell how happy I am!?!?!?!?  GO MAVS!!!! 

Hey Dirk, how YOU doin'?  ;) 

ANNNNNDDDD..... this weekend marks James' last game to referee!  Yay!  I get my husband back :)

Valentine's Day

So basically I am in LOVE with Valentines' Day!  I always have been.  And no m'am I was not one of those girls who always had a boyfriend on V-Day.  Quite the opposite.  I think I was single most of them.  I know the people who like to wear black & label it as "Hallmark Capitalism" ~ boycotting a happy holiday seems very emotionally stable...  I just feel that a day dedicated to telling everyone in your life you care about them is awesome.  To me Val Day isn't about romantic love ~ it's about all love.

Put your phone down, stop the tweeting, tell people you love them today.

I love you ~  to my dear family & wonderful friends.  You bring joy to my life, and I love you.

I also love STEAK so I was wonderfully pleased by James' choice of restaurant Ruth's Chris!!!!

And now to the dress decision!

Drum roll please.....................................

I picked the Kate V Dress by Nicole Miller!!! 

Inspired by one of my favorite fashionistas, the one and only Kate Middleton!

Photo Credit:  Kate Middleton Style

Ruth's Chris had a photographer to document the evening.  

I was tempted to write a letter to Ruth's Chris management.  Maybe include a little education in the form of a syllogism:

Major Premise:  Valentine's Day dates are made to please women.

Minor Premise:  Women hate looking larger than they are on film.

Conclusion:  Fish eye lenses are the worst possible choice for Valentines Day.

James contributed some beautiful flowers & I contributed some yummy dessert!  

Hope you had a fabulous day full of love! 

James is 28!

 Happy Birthday to my sweet husband!!!!!

1)  I woke up EARLY y'all to make James breakfast!  If you've ever lived with me you know what an enormous present that was! :)   German chocolate waffles & bacon!

2)  The fire department will come change the smoke detector batteries for you.  James was so excited!  Oh, and this was scheduled... not a result of my breakfast :)

3)  We are going out for Sushi tonight!  So excited to celebrate with my best friend :)

P.S.  Thank you Amanda for the sweet birthday present! I love the earrings!!!! 

P.P.S.  Wait, this post is about James?  Oh well :) 

New Years ~ Fun

 Champagne & gourmet fortune cookie!

Ready for the New Year with new kitchen addition!

Ready for the New Year at work!  Pretty calendar to brighten up my cube!

Chicago Christmas

This year we had great time with James' family in Chicago for christmas! We were spoiled rotten with wonderful presents, food & family!  (And my personal favorite- Christmas morning mimosas!!!!!)

I am still trying to figure out all the settings on my camera... So my pictures were partially in focus & partially blurry as everyone was ripping open presents!  :)

Here are some of my favorites...

Does Santa look familiar to you?? 

Wonder what my big present is?

Yay! I can't sit still enough for the picture! Yay Wellies!

 James' big present... some UCF stuff :)

Christmas morning!  (on my second mimosa)  The best pic of us, even though it is fuzzy :) 

Santa Baby

Here are the gifts topping my Christmas wish list!!!  Especially after James surprised me with a fab jewelry box I need to fill it up! :)

1.  Tall Wellington Boot by Hunter in Aubergine

2.  Crystal Stud Big Pink Earrings from Etsy

3.  Personalized Stationery from Etsy

4.  Monogrammed Necklace from Etsy

5.  Louis Vuitton Cosmetic Pouch in Damier Azur

So my love of Etsy dominated my Christmas list this year.  I doubt I'll see any of these lovelies as James asked me a few weeks ago very confused, "So... are any of your presents actually in a store?"   My bet's on the wellies :)  I wonder how James is adjusting to married life, I took him to a *store* (Nordstrom) to see them in person & when the sales associate explained he just had to get the sock liners his face was priceless :)

Christmas at the Symphony

James & went to the Sunday matinee of the St. Louis Symphony performing Handel's Messiah.   It was lovely & Christmasy.  I loved seeing Powell Hall all decorated up :)  It was beautiful!!

It has been many many years since I've seen Messiah in person.  I love the Symphony!!!  I remembered the choral parts being beautiful and written very close to scripture.  It was such a beautiful experience because scripture was printed in the program & as your reading the gorgeous music is amplifying the beauty of the season.  I did not remember the soloists who sang straight up Opera style.  They were not my favorite.  Especially when James decided to speak in opera vibrato all night....

AND ~  I almost forgot!!  The conductor was the same conductor at Will & Kate's wedding!! I felt so royal!   All I was lacking was a nice fur :)  (and perhaps a castle or two).

As you may or may not be able to tell James was less than thrilled at my surprise photo shoot while driving :)  I asked a lady to take our picture during intermission on the big staircase.  She promptly ran to the bottom of the staircase & yelled up "I'll take your picture from down here so you look really tall!"...  Because that's a problem I often have... not looking tall enough.  I wish more people knew about flattering photo angles!

Here is a link to the Hallelujah Chorus !

Birthday Love

Monday I turned 28!  I always have loved my Birthday!  Yes, with a capital "B" it is a holiday after all.  I think having a December birthday made me cling with extra devotion to my day of birth.  No, it is not fair to send a kid a Christmas present with a card that says "Happy Birthday & Merry Christmas" nor is it ok to wrap a birthday present in Christmas paper.  Wrapping paper is cheaper than toilet paper.  Seriously?

Luckily I have a wonderful husband & very sweet friends who never make me feel slighted on my Birthday :)

The highlight of my day was being able to take off work & do whatever I wanted!  Translation ~ spend all day in my new lulu wunder unders taking it easy :)  I caught up on a few episodes of Fashion Police!  I ate a meatball sandwich from Subway for lunch!  I organized two bookshelves in the 'hoarder room'! I read a book on my Nook! I perused the many Christmas catalogs I've got in the mail! I took a nap!  Just some of my fun birthday activities :)  For an introvert ~ it was the best self present!

In the evening my dear friends & I went out to eat at Pi Pizzeria.  It is a favorite of James & I ~ very delicious pizza!  And James surprised me with a mint chocolate chip ice cream cake, a childhood fav!

Thanksgivings

For a holiday without presents, I sure do love Thanksgiving :)


On a domestic note...

The first Abarquez Thanksgiving was pulled off above my expectations!  After hearing every year the horror story Mamma Kay tells about her first Thanksgiving, I was not getting my hopes up.  The food was delicious & I pulled out our china/crystal for our first fancy meal  (I mean that literally~ in my tiny kitchen we have no room for china/crystal so they are still in original packaging stacked in the corner near the buffet table... it is like jenga getting out the pieces you need)!  We made a spicy pepper rubbed Turkey breast from Bon Appetit, green bean casserole, my sister-in-law's stuffing recipe, rolls & a marvelous Pumpkin & Pecan Pie from Paula Deen. I'm glad everything was yummy because we will be eating leftovers forever!  All in all it was a lovely day!

On a scary note...

My dear husband is convinced he's going to BestBuy at midnight...  I am NOT a "Black Friday" shopper.  I do not want to go.  I told James if he makes me go then I finally get to replace my camera that I loathe.  I have never been.  Correction- I have never been shopping on Black Friday.  My years of employment at Bath & Body Works had me working 12 hour shifts (6 am to Noon, home to sleep, 6 pm to midnight).  I don't feel my time working has embittered me.  Most of my convictions are simple ones.  I love football.  I love shopping.  They should be all mixed up.  Shopping should not be a timed-contact sport.  Thank you!  Maybe that streak will be broken tonight... who knows?  I do hear James softly snoring on the couch :)

On a sentimental note...

During this time of thanks I have been reflecting on the year and come to realize that big life events magnify the importance of true friendship.  I am so thankful to have so many great people in my life that show love, support, encouragement & wisdom.  When I think of so many people who have touched my life and helped me grow... When I think of the laughs :) the fun times, the hard times, and everything in between ~ I am blessed beyond belief.  Thank you :)