dates and decor and dresses

Last weekend seems like SO long ago already! Anyhow, last weekend Andrew and I went on another date. We went to our favorite burger joint. (Boring in the sense that it's a chain and you could go to a thousand other blogs in the blogosphere and find out about cooler, hip one-of-a-kind burger joints, but nonetheless awesome and true -- Five Guys knows how to make a burger.)

And right next door is one of the greatest cupcake establishments to hit a shopping center in these days of cupcake trendery -- Misha's Cupcakes. SO GOOD!!!

And then I stepped foot inside a Home Goods store for the first time in my life and I will never be the same again. It.was.awesome. I wanted to spend oh so much money, but instead I spent 15 buckaroos on this fantastic shadow box frame. I've been wanting one for wedding mementos, but never found one that had quite the right look and size. Then voila. There it was on a shelf all by its lonesome at Home Goods. Andrew and I came home, got down our wedding stuff, and within 20 minutes this baby was hanging above my vanity/desk in our room. It makes me really happy. I've stopped and stared at it a lot this week. I've had to factor it into my getting-ready-for-the-day time so that I don't run late. Our sweet pastor from Tampa who married us sent us his sermon notes for our ceremony. I placed a page of his notes along with the program front and interior page, and a picture I found in a box of extras from the photographer.

After we hung my new favorite piece of decor on the wall, we sat down to watch a movie (and all of the special features on the BluRay, which were so interesting) and eat our cupcakes. It was a great night. I've been wanting to blog about that everyday since, but have not had the chance to do so!

On a completely different note: You should go check out this blog that I recently discovered for 2 reasons...one, it's cute and I like it and you might also. And two, she's giving away an awesome dress from the Shabby Apple and it could be yours or mine!

On another completely different note: This weekend my hubby and I are visiting friends and family. And we will be welcoming our first nephew into the world and I am STOKED!!! Isn't it crazy how much love we can muster up for a sweet, little baby we haven't had the privilege of meeting yet!? I cannot wait to hold him, and to spend some quality time with his big sister and mama. His dad is pretty great, too.

The Laundry beckons and I must go attend to it. (The scary part is that there is more in the hamper AND the washer AND the dryer.) My motto: The sign of a happy social calendar and fulfilled life is a large laundry pile.

i did not get the memo

Apparently Jim Carrey's A Christmas Carol is not a children's movie.

It wasn't what I expected, but it was a good movie nonetheless. Just don't watch it with little, little ones. It airs on the scary side and it has adult themes that are very serious with A LOT of talking. Too much for young ones to care to listen to for a long period of time.

However, this movie...

 

is great for little, little ones!

For someone who doesn't have children yet, I love kids movies and books. Can being a teacher be a good enough excuse for watching Veggie Tales while wrapping Christmas presents? It was available on Netflix instant streaming and I wanted to have something festive on while I wrapped. Plus, I'm just a huge fan of the talking, Scripture quoting vegetables. What can I say...

This cartoon was ADORABLE and really funny. Plus, it gave us some history about the real Saint Nicholas that was largely based on fact. I read up on Wikipedia after I watched and I thought the writers did a pretty good job of telling as much fact as a child's attention span and understanding could absorb in 45 minutes. I also liked it for the way they explained Saint Nick's attachment to and love for Jesus as being the reason for his desire to give and to share with those in need. I give it two thumbs up. I say grab your little ones and a bowl of popcorn and cozy up on the couch with this one!