Anniversary Trip

Way back when, like three weeks ago, I blogged about our upcoming wedding anniversary, that has now passed. Thanks to all of our sweet friends who sent us a little not or dropped us a line - we love you guys!

In that post, i also talked about gifts. Paper gifts. Well, good news! We did not get each other the same thing!

Here is what I got Austin:

John Mayer tickets!

He loves him some soulful ballads by one Mr. John Mayer. I thought that this was a genius idea, until I bought the ticket and the only option for delivery was paperless. 

Paper less? as in without paper? Which is the whole reason that I needed this specific gift in the first place? Youhavegottabefrigginkiddingme. Luckily, by using a little ingenuity (read: google) I found this site. Tres handy. And, he LOVED his present. He will love it even more after we go to the concert I am sure.

On the other hand he got me LOTS of paper. 

Paper in the form of reservation confirmations, paper in the form of tickets and badges and paper in the form of maps. All bearing this happy little logo.

He had everything planned for a glorious weekend in historic Colonial Williamsburg. We stayed on the grounds in the Williamsburg Lodge

In a room that looked sort of like this:

and we walked around here:

and we ate here:

by honest to goodness candlelight

We had drinks and coffee out on the town and overall had an amazing day.

But what trip to Williamsburg could end without a trip to the outlets? So we hit them up too where I may or may not have walked away with some J.Crew and Coach finds...

Thank you, thank you, thank you to my wonderful husband for planning such an awesome anniversary.

I love you babe. Here's to many more <3 

Coming Soon...

...Posts.

We have been crazy around here with:

and lots of these:

Back later.

Feel Good Videos

I come to you this morning with two feel good videos I saw on another blog this morning.






Back later with a weekend recap!

4 day Weekend

Usually the onset of a four day weekend is something to be heralded, celebrated and savored. Those last few moments of the day when you know you will be released from your prison job for an extended period of time.

And I am excited about one thing this weekend - our anniversary! Austin has some huge surprise planned, which is a big deal since I have been the "cruise director" for the majority of our almost ten years together. I am so excited! I have planned none of what will be happening this weekend and am totally stoked about it.

Also happening this weekend -- ready for it? Picking up my new sideboard! Yay! Yup, that one from Craigslist. I negotiated and sealed the deal. We will be picking it up, hopefully, on Sunday and it will complete our dining room, and all major furniture purchases for the house. Photos to come.

On the other hand though, bookending this fun weekend are Austin's procedures. I am soooo ready to wrap up this whole appendix issue, but spending two days in the hospital worrying will be no.fun.

Luckily, on the recommendations from good friends, I will have these in attendance with me:

Yes, three books. I read fast. Especially when worrying.

See you guys on the other side.

A new series...

Every now and then, the degree I hold in English gets the better of me and I feel the need to tell a story. When that need comes up, I generally begin a new series of posts here on ye olde blog.

Are you ready for this?

"Walks with Mr. Bingley"

 Bingley, a short while ago, decided to revert to puppy stage again...

He was so cute as a puppy, wasn't he?

...and begin acting out by doing things like eating my Rainbow flops, or diving under beds and not coming out for hours, all sorts of weird behavior for a grown, distinguished dog who hasn't done these things in years, really. 

A big point for us buying a house was so that we would have a yard for him to play in. Well, we do have a yard, but no fence. And, I am the first to admit we were much better at walks and exercise with him in general when we were forced to be because we lived in a little apartment. 

As a result, we have been taking two walks a day, pretty religiously, which has helped our little pup exert all that extra energy and remain the angelic, furry apple of my eye. Not only has behavior improved again, but I get to spend fun quiet time every morning and afternoon with him where we have funny conversations with neighbors in this insanely dog-friendly neighborhood and embark on silly adventures from time to time. 

Now, we (mainly me, since Bings can't type) will bring those stories to you. Get excited.

Addition to the Blogroll

In addition to his lovely wife, Lisa {whose blog address has changed, so make sure to update your links!}, our friend Dan has resurrected his blogging.

Here is Dan, with a swan on his head. 

He is cool like that.

You can read his thoughts here.

A good, cleansing cry

If you don't tear up a little while watching this, I don't think we can be friends anymore.

PSA for the Day

Everyone should read this post today.

That is all.

Being all married, and stuff.

Today is the 7th of June, which puts us 5 days out from our first wedding anniversary! {wth, how did that happen?}

Won't ever forget this reaction. <3

Austin and I have decided to go the traditional route with our wedding anniversary gifts. Though, we have been together for almost ten years, and on that handy chart 10 years = diamonds. Hm. I may have to rethink this whole thing.

In any case, we are giving each other paper. I know, right? Paper.

So, some creativity is called for, and thanks to these new fangled things called computers, printers and the interwebs that creativity is easy.

My present for the hubs is bought and paid for and it is ROCKING. I know he will love it. Here is the thing though; I am worried he got me the same thing.

Without going into too much detail let me share with you a story from our past, to illustrate how likely this point is.

Way back when Austin and I were in college, I was an English major. The English department at Old dominion puts on a Film Festival every year, and those who are English majors get classes cancelled for the week, yay! and have mandatory attendance at like every event.

{For those interested, it has been going on for much longer than 4 years, but for the last 4 years it has been called ON Film, as in Old Dominion University and the City of Norfolk...get it? ON.}

Austin, being the superstar boyfriend, came to certain film events with me, unless they were about love, women, babies, etc.

One night we decided to go see a theater showing of the Beatles' movie A Hard Day's Night. Awesome movie. So we went to see it in the spring and both loved it.

Christmas rolls around the next year and I think, "I have the best.idea.ever. I am going to buy Austin a DVD of A Hard Day's Night! We had such a flipping fun time that night, and he will NEVER see it coming. Awesome."

As the weeks go on towards gift exchange day, Austin and I tease each other relentlessly about how awesome our gifts are. Well, you can see where this is going. 

We got each other the same.exact.gift. 

I know. We are super lame and cheesy. And, we love it. 

There are of course, tons of options involving paper. But, somehow we end up doing things like this. So, let's hope we didn't spend buckets of cash on the same gift. Cross your fingers.

Welcome June!

I know I am three days late. No excuse, sorry.


In any case, I want to give a big shout out to June 2010. June 2009 was pretty darn good to us, though it was bittersweet. We got married, moved cross country, bought a house, said goodbye for a first deployment and survived it all.


This June should be a mixture of the same - that's life right?


This month we get to celebrate our one year wedding anniversary. How did that happen so fast? Are you telling me i haven't changed my Facebook profile picture in a year? Holy crap.


{Seriously though, how do you take down such an expensive photo? What photo is worthy enough to replace that? Not some random bar night party shot, I assure you.}


Also happening in June - Austin's surgeries, etc. While I am semi-anxious about two days in a hospital, again, I will be so thankful to have all of this past us!


In a happy twist, I also get to head to D.C. tomorrow to see some of my grad school faves and the bff Corey.


Bring it on June 2010, bring.it.on.






Sidenote: Bring It On is an awesome movie


{But not Bring It On: Again or Bring It On: All or Nothing...sequels are lame.}


Super Sidenote: My friend Lisa has not seen the awesomeness of the The Toros v. The Clovers, but she still writes an awesome blog that you can check out here.