Commit to Commit in 2013

I've decided to jump on the goals bandwagon and write out what we'd like to see happen in this upcoming year. I read somewhere the other day to, above all else, commit to commit your goals to God. I like this. I do want to make it my very first goal to rely on God to provide and take care of us. There are a few more things that Zack and I would like to work on/do in 2013...

I want to make a goal to cook dinner at least 3 nights a week. When I say cook dinner I DO NOT mean throw a frozen pizza in the oven. I want to deliberately plan out a grocery list, cook a meal, and have leftovers for the next days lunch. You may think 3x/week isn't a lot at all to cook, but when you live 5 minutes away from a ton of restaurants, it takes a conscious effort to stay in and cook. This week's menu has been chicken, rice, and veggie casserole, baked salmon, homemade mashed potatoes, and broccoli, and broccoli, potato, and cheese soup. I'm LOVING all the recipes I'm finding on Pinterest (and I think it's safe to say Zack is too :D!!)

I also want to exercise more. Post-wedding life has been great, but not too forgiving on my body. Zack and I both want to integrate healthier food and exercise more. (For what it's worth, I've reached my goal this week for cooking healthier meals!)

I asked Zack what his goals were for the year and I got the following response:

hunt more.
go on a vacation.
be happy.
Man I love his simple thinking. The above goals are legitimate reasons why I married him :)

As husband and wife, we are trying to really strengthen our prayer life together in 2013. We have made a weekly prayer schedule for things we want be in prayer for throughout the week and put it on our fridge as a reminder first thing in the morning to be in prayer for our friends and families. What an encouragement this has already been to us! Feel free to join us as we pray throughout the week:

Catching Up from Christmas!

We had a fantastic first married Christmas! I'll tell about our time together through some pictures...

Our First Christmas Tree. The most notable thing about our first tree together is that we couldn't agree on a tree topper. So, our tree remained with a topper until after Christmas, when we finally agreed on a punched tin star.

Just some of our decorations :)

More kitchen decorations

The Star Wars pancake molds were a hit!

My Corn gift, in honor of good ol' MC

Zack was drawn in to the Dark Knight Rises :) We enjoyed watching lots of movies during our time off work!

Christmas morning picture :)

We decided to head downtown on Christmas night to see the lights- it was, as always, beautiful!

The WRAL tower is a staple from my childhood- I was happy for Zack to see it in real life!

Shannon and John had the idea to take a day trip to Busch Gardens to see the Christmas Festivities the park offers- what a great day it was!!

We got to see penguins swimming- so much fun!

The Island of Pompeii ride was completely covered in lights- it was gorgeous to be there during Christmas, despite it being freezing!! 

Lastly, our break consisted of a lot of cooking, baking, and of course, eating! This was my pride and joy of the Holiday season- caramel apple cheesecake. From scratch folks. It was nothing short of sinful, but ohhh so good!! 

All this to say, we had a wonderful, restful, yet fun first Married Merry Christmas! We are so blessed to have spent time with our families, and also with friends! We couldn't have asked for a more perfect December and Holiday Season!

Christ is More

Whew y'all-
We have been living in the real, dirty, messy, and far from perfect real world lately folks. From busyness with jobs, to schedules rarely lining up with each other, to an unexpected case of the flu, I have felt plain out attacked by our enemy lately. But, there is hope. Always.

Just when I start to feel overwhelmed and just about to sink, Christ comes swooping in to save me from myself. With the Advent season, I have really been trying to focus on the fact that Christ sent His son to save us from the everyday mess of the world. Last week's tragedy in CT drew me in and I couldn't look away from the news. I got angry. I was upset that someone's sin ruined so many other people's lives. I got mad that the "man" responsible died.

BUT- then I remembered it's Christmastime and that God sent His son for us. "Christ is more" has been my motto for the past week or so and I just can't get it out of my head. Christ is more than a nationally heartbreaking tragedy. Christ is more than the stress I'm feeling with holidays approaching. Christ is more than the flu virus that made Zack so sick. Christ is more than last-minute shopping, cooking, baking, traveling, and preparations for Christmas. Christ is so much more than my little bitty, miniscule problems. And what's most comforting to me is that Christ is more than my sin. That's why God gave us His Son, miraculously born, to save the WHOLE WORLD of its ugliness and dirtiness.

This is my prayer through the holiday season. To remember that Christ is more and that He really is the reason for this joyous season.

"She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”- Matthew 1:21

Thanksgiving Recap

I'm only a week behind, but boy did we have a great Thanksgiving!

(at Zack's grandparents)

We started off the long holiday weekend by heading to Salisbury to spend time with Zack's family. We had a traditional Thanksgiving meal with all the fixins', including crock pot mac-n-cheese, creamed corn, and peanut butter kissy cookies :)

After a fun night of talking, laughing, and spending time with family, we headed out to brave the Black Friday folks at Belks... see below...

(the line to get in Belks...)

Belks was C-R-A-Z-Y and we managed to get in and out in about an hour, but without the one item we were really going for- a Christmas tree.

While we were in Salisbury, I met a new feline friend. Zack and I named him Zazzles from an episode of "The Big Bang Theory", where Sheldon gets a cat and names him Zazzles, because he's so "Zazzy" :) I hope to see Zazzles on future visits!!



(me and Zazzles. He looks like a "Zazzles", doesn't he?!)

After we returned from Salisbury, we had a hang out night with Brices and that was all kinds of fun! Watching Elf, NC State Basketball, and the boys build legos made for such a fun night with the sweetest friends!

(so much fun playing with Star Wars legos)



We spent the rest of the holiday together and with my family. We had a nice time both my dad and my mom at Thanksgiving dinners and we also finally got to go see the new James Bond movie. It's so great- if you like Bond, GO SEE IT!!

From the fun night at the Brices, to the good food with all the family, to going to see Bond, to watching mulitple Christmas movies, all in all, we had a perfect first Thanksgiving as married folks :)

Looking forward to all Christmas has in store!!

A Carscaddon Craft

Zack and I got crafty this past week. We got a free microwave cart from my job and it was hideous when it arrived at our house. See below...

So we took off to Lowes and got some nice paint and hardware. We tarped the kitchen floor and opened up the paint can. Zack sanded this baby down and I got everything ready to go. I went to put the first coat on and the paint was literally like painting with milk!! Gross gross gross. LESSON LEARNED FROM THIS PROJECT----GET PAINT SHAKEN UP AT THE STORE. Silly me forgot to get the paint stirred so it was a nightmare from the start! I took the paint back the next day to get properly shaken and after 7 coats of paint...TAAAA-DAAAAA...here's our new masterpiece!!

This has only been set up for 2 days now, but I already LOVE LOVE LOVE it!! I am so pleased with how this turned out and am so excited to start my next craft project... painting old windows to be frames :) Stay tuned...

What 6 Months Can Do...

Today Zack and I celebrate 6 months of marriage! My how the past 6 months have FLOWN by!! As I reflect over the first 6 months of our marriage, I also see just how much change has happened in this season of our lives. Just a glimpse of what the past 6 months has done in our lives...

1-marriage (that in itself is a big enough adjustment!!)
2- Zack graduating college 
3- traveling to Bahamas (my first time out of country)
4- my new job at Camp Oak Hill
5- Zack's first job at Northern
6- moving away from home
7- moving back to Raleigh
8- Zack getting a car (still trying to sell the Jeep)
9- becoming financially independent...is no joke!!

Nonetheless, this chapter of our lives has been flavored fully with change! We are finally leveling out some and things are slowing down (or we're learning to adjust really well)! Here's to many many more anniversaries (whether they by big or small) :) 

A Whirlwind Week!!

This past week was crazy busy, but in a good way!! 

Between Zack getting bunnies in his classroom, to Camp Oak Hill moving office space, to Halloween, the ever-exciting Meredith College Cornhuskin', and even some Wolfpack football,  it was a packed week of seeing old friends and celebrating (with a lot of work in there too)! 

Zack has been working on getting bunnies in his classroom since the trip to the Fair with the FFA and they finally arrived this week :)

In my working world, this week was the BIG MOVE! Camp Oak Hill moved office space. We've moved on up to the 3rd floor! Below is a before and current picture of what I'm doing at work. Finished pictures to come...

We're so excited about our green wall!

Yes, I know, I have my hands full!

This week was also full of fun with so many different friends! I enjoyed going to Can Art, we loved going Trunk-or-Treating with the Brices, we had too much fun at Cornhuskin' Friday night, and cheered for the Pack Saturday at the Game with friends! 

Some of my beautiful girls at Can Art

Avery was the cutest ladybug I've seen!

Post-Corn Ihop tradition :)

Fun at the Game, despite the outcome

 How blessed we've been this week by good friends and good times!