seasons greetings one and all.

I figured I'd share the two cards Mike and I are sending out this year. I say sending because they are sitting in my purse waiting for my lazy butt to get to the post office or even the grocery store to snag some stamps. So if you are on my mailing list rest assured you'll get yours, it's just going to be late. Story of my life!

We did two options this year, mostly because some family members and friends didn't make it to the wedding and because well, I wanted to get the most out of our engagement and wedding photos.

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all!

[p.s. yes, I made these, I took some inspiration from online stores that I couldn't afford or had time to order from and made my own. And no, my new last name isn't "No Stalking", although that would be pretty sweet].

Did you send Holiday cards this year?

where has the year gone?

I swear only yesterday I was getting married, and now it's a week from Christmas. Where did this year go? Yes I still plan on telling you about my wedding and my honeymoon, and all that goes with that. I've just been waiting patiently to get my pictures back from our photographer. She sent them out yesterday and I'm so excited. I've seen proofs, they're amazing and I am really pleased with how they turned out. So all in do time my lovelies.

Does anyone else feel like this year has been a blur? It still doesn't feel like Christmas to me yet, no matter how many movies I watch [read: Christmas Story, Christmas Vacation, Bad Santa, Die Hard, and on and on], or how many times I put Christmas music on the radio.

Maybe it's because this year didn't have the standard flow of events. Our wedding was right before Halloween, my favorite holiday. We missed Halloween festivities since we were on our honeymoon, which is a great filler trust me but sometimes I just need Halloween. After that we switched up plans to spend Thanksgiving in Maryland with my father. We usually spend it here with Mike's family. Point being not a single fall-winter holiday has been as it usually is and I think I'm going to blame that for my lack of Christmas cheer... although I'm rather cheerful just not feeling like it's Christmas yet.

Shopping will be completed this weekend, thank goodness. Nothing like waiting until the last minute. This year Mike and I did most of our shopping online. We used Pinterest [so addicting] to create WISH LISTS for each other. This in theory helped out a ton because we were able to give each other links to all our desires and purchase them for each other in one click. It all went smoothly until Mike gave his mom the link to his wish list, to show her an idea he had for his dad, that he also thought he might like to receive for Christmas... and then I panicked fearing she'd buy everything on there, and leave me with nothing. Crisis averted, thank goodness! We worked it all out. But it was touch and go there for a moment. Could you imagine... first Christmas as a married couple and all that was left for me to get him would be socks and underwear? Sooo romantic.

Last year we did a lot of local shopping for everyone on our list and it felt amazing to help our community AND to get out locally and not hit up the mall for gifts. I think I am going to do this again next year. The gifts were more meaningful, the shopping was less stressful and I actually felt good and like it was Christmas for the entire season.

I hope you have all your shopping and baking finished. I myself haven't touched the baking yet... and not sure if I will. However I do have to bake a cheesecake for Christmas dinner. I hope I don't get frazzled before then.

So, are you ready for Christmas?

P.S. I promise to update more often, now that things are slowing down. Tis the Season!

fixation friday: music

It's been a while blog, I'm happy to be back and I will try my best to make it happen more often. I figured I would try to save wedding posts for Wednesdays and do a bit at a time as to not overwhelm myself or any of you. Today I thought I'd discuss music. I am by no means up to date, or what you would call "HIP"... do we still say hip? When it comes to music, often times you will find me rocking out to old hits from the 60's and 70's and more often than not listening to 80's hair metal and or 90's grunge. It isn't often that I am taken back by modern music, usually it annoys me.... but I have taken time to put together a few groups that have been heavy on my radar both new and old, lately.

ADELE

via google • I HUGE puffy heart her.

Seriously, I know I'm a bit late to the game with this being her second album and all but I can't take my eyes, ears or mind off this woman. She's amazingly beautiful, poised and her voice? Forgetaboutit! She blows me away. I am so happy to see some good, old fashioned talent for a change. I'm not shunning the likes of Lady Gaga, Brit, Katy Perry or any other pop diva or singer in the limelight with theatrical stage shows by any means. Entertainment is different for everyone and while I can appreciate a fantastic stage show, sometimes it's just nice to turn on the TV and see raw talent, no frills just a girl or a guy, their instrument of choice, a spotlight and an amazing song, belted out loud and clear. Cut and dry. No Frills just amazing  lyrics, words and tunes.

PEARL JAM

via google • Is it just me or Eddie starting to resemble "The Dude" a bit?

I've been a fan on and off since the 90's. I say "off" only because there were a few years that I lead myself astray listening to different types of music and not keeping up with Eddie and the boys. [Read: Went clubbing a lot and wanted to listen to dance music mostly]. When Mike and I started talking in 2003, we found that our music tastes were very similar. While I have a few choice bands I like that he can't quite figure out why, for the most part our core loves are the same. Pearl Jam was one of those. Where I fell away from the band, he thrived. Mike took time to make me mix CDs with quite a few Pearl Jam songs on them. I quickly discovered all the awesomeness I was missing and started to purchase albums I had missed out on though the 90's and 00's. It's safe to say that PJ is in one of the top slots of my TOP 5 Fave Rock Bands of all time. A few weeks before the wedding Mike and I watched the PJ20 documentary that followed the guys from their beginnings along the 20 year path that has lead them to where they are now. It's hard to believe that 20 years ago, I was a teenager, wearing ripped jeans, flip flops, and friendship bracelets with grundgy clothing, obsessing about Eddie Vedder and Kurt Cobain - oh how I miss those days. 20 Years ago and yet the moment I hear the opening guitar solo in "Alive" I am still transported back to my youth and summers spent at the shore in North Carolina. I can remember belting out "Black" driving my 86 Mercury Topaz and I recall perfectly the day my English teacher asked us to write down the lyrics to our favorite current song and I penned "Jeremy" word for word, line for line for her. She later handed back these papers with little notes scribbled on them. Mine said "Ok? Interesting." in red ink. Maybe she feared I might pull a Jeremy on the class, or maybe it was the bit about mashing his teeth into the recess lady's breast... that made her uneasy, not sure.. either way Pearl Jam struck a chord with me from then on. And I will go on the record to say I think that Pearl Jam was way more amazing than Nirvana. Nirvana had it, but Pearl Jam IMO surpassed "IT".

In watching the documentary Mike and I discovered without knowing that we chose our wedding date to be October 22nd, 2011, which was in turn Pearl Jam's 21st Anniversary of their first ever official show. HOW FREAKING COOL IS THAT?!?! We were stoked beyond belief, especially Mike who for years has idolized Eddie and the boys.

For our wedding I gifted Mike the "Into the Wild" soundtrack. A grouping of songs performed by Eddie and composed largely by him, minus two tracks. I wanted him to have gifts that would stand the test of time. He will always enjoy Pearl Jam and their music, and I wanted him to be able to revisit this music and his other gift at any given time and remember that I gave it to him on our wedding day, and enjoy them both for years to come.  If you haven't seen this movie yet I highly suggest it, it's very moving.

via google

I also purchased the PJ20 book - it's filled with day by day, month by month and year by year journal entries and documentation of their rise as a band, the good and the bad, and all their side projects. It's absolutely amazing. I can't wait to read all of it. After my husband does, of course.

via google

Ever since watching the documentary I can't stop thinking about Pearl Jam, listening to them and wondering what their next move will be.

FOSTER THE PEOPLE

via google

Seriously other than knowing this ONE song, I have no clue about this band, their background or what they are all about. I can tell from googling this image that they ARE easy on the eyes. All I know is that when "PUMPED UP KICKS" comes on the radio I want to put on a pair of roller skates and dance on them in circles rolling to the beat of the music. I LOVE this song!

Off the top of my head these are the 3 big fixations that stick out right now. Between planning the wedding, marrying my best friend and having a very crazy honeymoon I'm spent. I'm looking forward to a weekend of relaxation, football and putting away wedding gifts.

So tell me... What song/band/singer are you fixated on right now?