Another Year Down...

One day we will update our blog header because it's really misleading now since we are 32...oops! (Who has the time?) I promise we aren't trying to play tricks on people.  We rang in 32 a week ago today.  Many things have changed, but some things stay the same.  Like your best girls making a trip to hang at the pool.  The Housewife (can't wait to share many more birthdays with you!).  I hosted our small birthday cookout with friends and family last Saturday -- it made the day a little hectic but I have been trying my hand at entertaining a little more this year especially since I'm devoting so much of my time to sprucing up the backyard.  I even allowed myself to buy groceries (sans any coupons) at Whole Foods because I wanted everything to be just right for our pizza cookout and it was my birthday.  It proved to be expensive but exhilarating.  It doesn't hurt that Matt is super into the Big Green Egg and we are having a lot of fun cooking. I have to thank Matt and his Dad for putting up with me and moving our kitchen table out into the back yard and back into the house when it started to rain a bit late into the evening.  

I don't think 32 looks all that different from 31 (Except coming into it with a new last name!).  I will say that post-marriage Matt and I have been doing all the grown up things lately.  Talking and working more with retirement goals. Purchasing life insurance.  Having "Make a Will" on your To Do List seems kind of crazy! My head is filled with thoughts of re-financing the Tiny Affordable Town Home (TATH). Adulting.  It's a thing. 

If you told me I would be obsessed with trying to keep my few outdoor plants alive and spending a lot of time and energy staying healthy 10 years ago I really would have laughed.  There is so much to enjoy about being young and in your twenties, but I have to say that things get better with age.  There is so much comfort to just being myself that I did not have at that time in my life.  I don't really see this part of my life as "settling down" so much as settling into myself.  There is definitely a great happiness and security here. 

~the married gal~

Thank God for Weekends

It's been one of those weeks where I am drowning in work and cannot see the end (even though I know there will be a reprieve), I haven't made it to the gym at all, it's been raining all week, traffic has been utter hell, I haven't been able to find the energy to read a single page in the book I wanted to start this week...I could go on.  But on the week of my 1 year work anniversary I cannot help but remember how lucky I am to be employed and for this lovely reminder of how freaking great weekends (and wine) are.  Even though I'm sad that Matt and I have been passing like ships in the night and will continue to do so this weekend I think I needed to come home Friday night to an empty and quiet house. 

• I spent Friday doing a few chores to get ahead of the weekend and catching up on some internet reading.  Jaclyn Day's blog is by far one of my very favorites -- she posts really good shopping finds, links great articles and generally never runs out of interesting things to put forth into my world. 
• I am really taking advantage of Spotify lately.  This playlist was pretty neat.  I like that I usually listen to something random that I never would normally listen to when I'm on the site. 
• One of the highlights of my week was getting my hair colored.  I ventured out to the Aveda School because we have one here in Atlanta and the prices are insanely good for the students. I have not had my hair really highlighted since I was in college other than  my dabble in ombre the last year or so.  It feels crazy but at the same time I'm strangely wanting more blonde already. I got a cut and full foil for $90. 
• I joined a Pug Playgroup that meets once a month.  I missed April's meeting up but May is Pug Prom.  My heart may explode.  (Did I mention this already? I am so tired I can't even remember!)

Tonight Matt and I are spending the night at the Housewife's place and watching all the little ones until tomorrow morning so she can have a fancy date night in the city.  Other than that I'm grabbing a few plants at Home Depot and doing some more work to hopefully get caught up for the upcoming week -- apologies to everyone that comes in on Monday to emails from me on Saturday. I'm sorry that I have to be that person. 

Happy weekend! 

~the married gal~

Edging Closer to The Big Day of Happiness....

Holy Moly! Excitement! We are less than 30 days from our wedding.  I had to kick it into high gear this weekend for some tasks that we really need to complete before Thanksgiving -- because really I don't want to leave it all until the last minute. 

First and foremost -- I'm really glad The Housewife and I have been training for the half-marathon.  I have been pretty good and really trying to watch what I eat (some days are better than others) and my goal is to throw in some yoga whenever I can and get in my Fly Barre classes until the big day.  My favorite at home yoga is Jillian Michael's Yoga Meltdown.  Seriously try it -- it's hard and it's only 35 minutes (just Google it to find it on YouTube).  But really I feel like I'm in better shape than I have been in the last year or so and it feels SO good! 

It's been super cold lately -- I'm praying for a teeny warm front.  Just a little one.  And some good sunshine for pictures. 

I'm really happy that with a little help along the way from my parents and a lot of saving on our part we are very on track with our wedding budget.  We have not gone above and beyond or into an uncomfortable zone for any item or need for our wedding -- I'm talking rings, reception dinner costs, flowers, dress alterations, bridal accessories, etc.  I may try to do a small post on some of my budget items.  Matt has been super helpful and I have put a good deal of things on his plate to take care of like finalizing items with the restaurant regarding food, wine, & cake, purchasing our wedding favors, taking care of all our hotel arrangements, and he even wrote a big pile of thank you notes last week for some gifts.  

We really don't have much left to do -- marriage license, finalize my itinerary, finalize ceremony details, final fitting for my dress, put together wedding favors, and find Matt's tux.    Ideally I will have this all done before Thanksgiving.  Then maybe we can focus on Christmas and planning our trip to London/Scotland (more excitement)!! 

~happy hump day everyone~

the engaged gal