a happy wife...

Since our plans for tonight got rudely interrupted due to more snow, I'm left surfing the net and browsing through my usual websites {definitely not always a good thing}. Hubby knows what a huge fanatic I am for Nicole Richie's House of Harlow 1960 jewelry line, and when he noticed I was once again googly eyeing through her treasures.... He kindly offered to buy me anything I wanted {within reason of course}. Isn't my man just the sweetest or what!?!
Actually, I think he just felt bad that I've been stuck at home for the past 2 days, or the fact that I ironed all his dress shirts for work {which took me 2.5 hrs to do BTW}... Either way, it was a very lovey dovey gesture for my hunny to do! He knows a happy wife = a happy life!!!
I've been crushing on a few goodies and knew exactly the 2 things that I'll be adding to my collection!

1. House of Harlow 1960 Cabochon Earrings
simple but def with a statement!

2. House of Harlow 1960 Mulitcolored Rhodium Cluster Ring
love chunky cocktail rings!

work in progress

A few post back, I may have mentioned about "our move". Although I did say that I would go more into detail about the whole process, I have decided to omit those "complexities" because, regrettably I still render some animosity towards the whole situation. So to make a long story short & sweet, I will say that hubby and I ended up comfortably nesting exactly where we belong ♥
Since October, hubby & I have been working on redecorating the master bedroom. I was very excited (to say the least) on tackling this project. Not only do I finally get my walk-in closet , but hubby gets one too! Annndd... We also get our very own master bathroom with a jacuzzi! Unfortunately, due to the holidays and a case of the lazies, we temporarily took a hiatus from our little project. But with the new year, I'm ready to finally put this baby to bed!
I knew immediately that our color palates would consist shades of grays, whites, and browns with rusted silver metal accents. To be honest, I can do without the browns but I had to incorporate our bedroom set somehow. Our budget doesn't include all new furniture, so we have to work with what we got. I guess my white quilted head board with silver studded boarder will sadly have to wait:(
More than anything I wish I can show you pictures of our final product, but what can I say, it's a work in progress. Normally I'm a very compulsive shopper. If I see something I like, I buy it...which accounts for most of the items in my "what were you thinking" pile. Like a true Gemini, I loose interest in things very quickly, but I've learned that when it comes to furniture or anything that you have to see or use on a daily bases, it better be something you truly love. So I've been taking my sweet time finding and saving up for my must have pieces!
I'm looking forward to the day when I can finally show my before & after shots!
Below is a wall of my inspirations. wants.must haves. & great buys:
1. The first major decision we had to make was deciding on the wall color. Hubby and I conclusively agreed that we wanted gray. Problem was, there was a million shades of gray!!! We both wanted a shade that wasn't too light or too dark. Luckily a good friend of ours works for Benjamin Moore, and not only was he able to provide us a sample color palate...but he also hooked it up with a great discount!!!

2. LOVE the combination of chic & minimization in these bedrooms! Those headboards and bed frames... s i g h*** I bet it must feel like sleeping inside a giant CHANEL BAG! lol! And those white French antique dressers are to die for!!!

3.Initially I wanted solid white/ivory bedding and linens, but since hubby and I both love eating in bed, I decided to nix that idea. As luck would have it, we found this bedding set that incorporated our color palate.

4.The origin of my inspiration!!! You know I just can't resist adding CHANEL somewhere in the mix. This is numero uno in my "I want" list.

5. the chandelier.The great compromise. I wanted something with sparkles and bling, he wanted to keep the ceiling fan. In the end, we agreed on this lovely item.

6. Every girl needs a full length body mirror!!! The one we purchased it not quite as big as this one, but it's def not as expensive either!

7. Majorly crushing on these white glossed canisters!

8. Eeny, meeny, miny, moe... I'll be more than happy to take either one of these!

9. I ♥ decorative pillows!!! The more the better!!!

10. We chose these simple brushed nickel rods to compliment our white curtains.

11. Lamps are a must! can you guess which one is from Target?

Ophiuchus = BULLcrap

I don't know about you folks, but the supposedly 13th Astrological Sign of the Zodiac, the Ophiuchus {Nov.29- Dec.17} has disturbingly thrown me into a tale spin! Don't get me wrong, I'm not one of those freaks {I mean that in the nicest way possible} that base their daily lives according to their horoscopes, but I do indulge in the entertainment value of it!

I've always taken pride in calling myself a true G E M I N I! Sure we can be indecisive, superficial, necrotic, short tempered, easily bored, and even devious at times, but that's all part of our charm.

For the most part, a Gemini is:
♥ "Articulate, versatile and inquisitive. Having an intellectual type of personality, magnetic upon first impression. Well liked by most people they encounter, natural communicators, lively and entertaining and quite the romantic...Gemini are extremely independent. They will not be pinned down by anyone or any rules. They need to experience the world on their own. Change and freedom are extremely important to Gemini, they will never let anyone dictate them, they are extremely independent and freedom is essential to their mental well being.
Life is very interesting and fun with a Gemini friend. If you need any advice, Gemini is the one to ask. They are very generous with their friends, they will spend lots of time with you and share everything with you. Even though Gemini is a social butterfly, they always need time for themselves and that should be respected.
Gemini people are many sided, quick both in the mind and physically. They are brimming with energy and vitality, they are clever with words. They are intelligent and very adaptable to every situation and every person. Gemini are curious and always want to know what's going on in the world around them. They are not one to sit back and watch the world go by, they want to be involved.
Having a seemingly flirtatious nature, they also possess a very strong and enduring bond with their partners. They simply enjoy the game of life. Socializing and being charming are very pleasing to them and they enjoy their role of being the innocent flirt."

With Ophiuchus leering his ugly head, suddenly I've become a bull!?! No offense to all you Taurus out there, but NO thank you! Now before all the Taurus come charging at me, I'm sure you all can relate with my pain when you discovered that you are now an Aries!!!

I understand that there are people out there who don't get what the big deal is. or wonder what the big fuss is all about. Maybe this will put it into persepctive for some of you...
Imagine having a vintage Rolex watch or Classic Mercedes Roadster... Yes it's old and it has it's flaws, but you have treasured it forever and it's priceless! Now, imagine you had to trade it in for a brand new Michael Kors watch or a 2011 Ford Taurus. Clearly there is nothing wrong with having a Michael Kors or a Ford, but let's face it.... It certainly ain't a Rolex or a Benz!

I don't mean to come off as ignorant. I know each sign is unique and special, but I'm a Gemini girl, flaws and all.
Luckily, rumors have it that the New Zodiac Signs apply only to those born after 2009. What a huge sigh of relief!!!

snow, snow... go away!

Excuse my silence for the past few weeks. The New Year has kept me both busy & sickly. As an Eastcoast*er, I' m completely and utterly over this winter wonderland! Seems like we've been getting hit with a snow storm every week, and I just had about enough of it already! I admit, a year ago I was probably singing a different tune. Last year, snow = a great day of snowboarding! But since hubby's snowboarding stunt landed him in the operating room last year, we have been MIA from the slopes, which gives snow little, to no purpose in my life right now!
Hopefully our snowboarding trip to the Poconos in a few weeks will bring back my appreciation for the pluffy cold white stuff.
One thing I am looking forward to is putting these babies to use! I bought these last year for an awesome price.... and until now, I have yet to break them in!
Nike Snowboarding Women's Zoom Force 1

welcome 2011!

12.31.2010
21:30pm

I was completely devastated {still am} when I found out I had to work on New Year's Eve! For some miraculous reason, I've always managed to weasel my way out of working this particular holiday. Seriously, who wants to spend the stroke of midnight to a new year at work?!? NOT ME!! And I certainly can care less about time & a half pay! But the main reason why I'm so upset is, this was our first New Year's Eve together as a married couple and it's sooo disappointing that I won't be locking lips with my hubby when the ball drops:( The thought of calling out of work heavily lingered through my mind, but the thought of KARMA leering over my shoulders is equally heavy. So at the end of the day, I decided to be a good girl and start the New Year off right by being a responsible nurse and bringing my @$$ to work!
While I sit here bored out of my mind, I came up with a few New Year's Resolutions:

♥ No more playing hooky:) I will only call out of work when I have a true emergency or if I'm actualy sick.
♥ put my gym membership to use! These extra 10 lbs have over stayed their welcome!
♥ put my attitude in check and try to be more patient. I can be a major biotch sometimes
♥ this one is more of a goal than a resolution.... get my driver's license!!!
♥ travel as much as I {we} can before babies enter the picture.
♥ less procrastination!
♥ no more dipping into our savings!
♥ get serious about starting my event planning business!

01.01.11
01:25 am

Wow!!!! I just possibly had the sweetest New Year's Eve ever! Minutes before the stroke of midnight, my ooh sooo amazing husband shows up at my job to ring in the New Year with me! Aaaaanndd he didn't come empty handed... Along with a late dinner, he even had a bottle of Sparkling Apple Cider {non-alcoholic of course} with champagne glasses for us to toast with! CHEEEERRS to us! Isn't he awesome or what!?! It is moments like these that I'm reminded over again how unbelievably blessed I am to have a wonderful man in my life!
t h a n k you 2010 for an extraordinary year! And CHEERS to an incredible start to 2011!

Wishing everyone a Year filled with l o v e, happiness, prosperity. and health!!!

My favorite THINGS for 2010

With the year closely coming to an end, I decided to pay a homage to Oprah Winfrey and wrap up my year by sharing with you folks a few of my favorite things for 2010:)
In no particular order:

Unlike Oprah, unfortunately I don't have the funds to give my readers each one of these products:( But I highly recommend that you go out and give these goodies a try!
Sheeesh... I should get some kind of compensation for all these free advertisement LOL!

all I want for Christmas...

My favorite Holiday is just around the corner and I can hardly wait! This year we are continuing our traditional Kris Kringle gift exchanges, and I'm so eager to find out which lucky 3 individuals have me! {I'm in 3 different Kris Kringles}
I ♥ the idea of having a secret Santa. Not only don't you know what gift you're getting, but you also don't know who gave it to you... Which can suck if you're in our circle of friends, because if you guess wrong = SHOT of Henney! But I must say that the best part of our gift exchange are the gag gifts! We have some pretty f#%*ed up but hilarious people in our group= D
When it comes to making a wish list, I usually know exactly what I want. This year I hit a wall. Other than the things I already have and are running low on, I didn't have much on my list. Actually let me clarify that... I have plenty of things I want, but not much that fall within the price range of our limit. Anything extravagant or pricey is usually fulfilled by my hubby, but since he already bought me the iPad... I won't have much luck getting the rest of my " I wants". I didn't realize how difficult it is trying to come up with 3 different wish list that fall within $50-$100 range {clothing not included... My sz varies so I'd rather buy those myself}. It's funny when you're shopping at the mall, you can find a million of things that you want, but when you have to sit down and write out a list, your mind goes blank. So after careful thinking, I finally came up with a list. Just remember, you can't have reality without some fantasies, so I included some "fantasy" items in hopes that one of the lucky 3s will hit the lotto before our exchange:)

Actually there is one more thing that I left out. I'm almost too ashamed to say it because it sounds a little vain. But here goes... I've been completely fixated on getting permanent laser hair removal for my underarms! I know it must sound ridiculous to some of you, but if you only knew the dilemma I have with my pits, you would understand. I don't feel like grossing out anyone so I'll omit the details. Hopefully I'll have enough funds after Christmas to get the ball rolling on my little treatment {takes 6 sessions, once a month}.

happy T H R E E months ♥

T H R E E months down and I'm still happily enjoying the married life. On some level it feels as if we have been married for years. I'm confident when I say that I k n o w my husband and he k n o w s me {we've been dating for over a decade, so we better know each other pretty well! LoL}. But there's a comfort in knowing that regardless of how long we've been together, there's still so many things that we're discovering about each other.
During these short past few months, I already feel like I've changed so much. Who would of ever thought I would swap shopping at Bloomingdales & Nordstrom for shopping @ Bed Bath & Beyond and Home Goods?!? {But let's not get it twisted, Bloomies will always be my numero UNO}
And coupons... Wow, I l♥ve them! I use to just toss them in the garbage, but now I've become a hoarder. It's unbelievable how easily blown away I am with certain household appliances. The Swiffer Duster has recently become one of new my best friends, along with my 2 in 1 ElectroLux Ergo Rapido Vacuum! Let me not forget to mention how easy doing the laundry has become with the help of my duel sorter hamper and Rowenta Compact Steamer! Yesss, BJ and I have started doing our own laundry {very embarrassed to admit that we have been very spoiled and lucky that our parents have been doing it all this time... until now}. Don't get me wrong... I'm still not a fan of doing laundry or ironing, but with the help of my new "friends", they definitely made it more tolerable. Let's face it, household chores have never been my forte, but I'm slowly learning to embrace my domestic side.
More than anything, I'm proud to say that we {yup, I said we} are even learning how to COOK. I always had a passion for baking, but cooking is completely a different story! With our weekly Sunday Family Dinner, we've been forced to tackle the kitchen. Sunday family dinner is a new tradition that was started by my cousin- in- laws and a few of our close friends. It requires each couple to rotate and take turns cooking dinner for the entire gang. At first it was completely nerve recking cooking for all these food critics, but surprisingly BJ & I actually really enjoyed the experience... And so far we haven't poisoned anyone yet:)
I'm certain that as each month passes, we'll be learning more and more about life as a married couple. Hopefully we don't kill each other in the process;)
meet my new friends: Can't wait to put the rest of my bridal shower gifts to use! { sincerely apologize to those who's gifts we've returned and exchanged. We used the credits toward our new beddings and room decor:)}

I scream for iPad

I must admit that I have been more than preoccupied with my new toy, the iPad . I absolutely and 100% agree with Oprah when she said "words cannot describe what I feel for this magnificent device. I really think it's the best invention of the century so far." And we all know Ms. Winfrey does not lie! I would like to take this moment to applaud (clap*clap) all the brilliant minds at APPLE. I am completely astonished how unbelievably smart and creative these folks are! Seriously, how do you come up with these things!?!
Along with my obsession comes my compelling need to find the perfect "wardrobe" to dress my new " baby" in. I'm equally amazed at the designers who came up with the perfect accessories and cases for the iPad. Below are my top FAVES.
Ooh C H A N E L how I ♥ thee!!! But why must you be so damn unattainable @ $1,555 :( That is just a tad bit ridiculous! So for now, I'll happily settle for my Hello Kitty shell case which matches perfectly with my iphone case cover.
Just to make it clear, I'm in no way expecting The CHANEL case... BUT maybe, just maybe someone will be nice and surprise me with the Louis Vuitton one :)LOL!

falling for fall

"SHUT THE FRONT DOOR!!!" (thanks Rachel Zoe for forever embedding that phrase in my personal dictionary) I can't believe Thanksgiving is over!!! BTW, I hope everyone had a wonderful Turkey Day! Despite the cold weather, it still hasn't fully hit me yet that fall has come full steam ahead. I don't always share my husband's enthusiasm for the fall season. In fact, I have a Love & Hate relationship with fall. I find it to be a very melancholy season. How can you not... It forces you to say "good bye" to cute summer dresses, natural summer tans, beach days, bbqs, ice coffees, outdoor flip cup and relay (I'm a frat boy at heart... ♥ beer games), and that natural "carefree feeling" that summer brings. And now I've been forced to say "hello" to shorten days and longer nights, fake heat (which has become absolutely brutal to my poor nose), and unwanted extra pounds that I certainly can do without!!! These cold and gloomy days have left me feeling lazy and forever craving hot & fatty lattes (caramel brûlée lattes to be exact) and comfort foods. And it certainly doesn't help knowing I can cover up all the extra pounds with comfy layers of clothes.... which subsequently leaves any type of motivation to work out in complete hibernation.
Don't get me wrong, like I said... it's a l o v e & hate relationship. I adore the color changes of the leaves (breathtaking), but hate that they fall everywhere and I mean everywhere (so messy)! ♥ ♥ ♥ shopping for fall fashion, but hate hate hate the crowded malls that the holidays bring. LOVE knowing that Christmas is merely a few weeks away, but absolutely hate that one of the BEST years of my life is coming to and end:(
Maybe that's why I've been so bitter about this particular autumn season... It has been a constant reminder that my wedding is over! I know, I know... I need to get over it. But give me a break people!!! It's only been 2 months, but with all the changes the fall season brings, it makes it feel as if it had been months and months ago. I can't help but miss it all! Actually as I sit here thinking about my wedding day, I'm continually reminded how extremely fortunate I am not only in love but in every aspect of my life! I may not be rich in the physical sense of wealth, but I have everything I can ever need and more! I'm truly a lucky girl!
With the passing of Thanksgiving... My relationship with fall has quickly leaned back to love! Being in the presence of my amazing family has left me feeling incredibly blessed and eternally grateful!
Oh and as continuing proof that I have the best husband in the world...I was able to convince him to join the maddness of black Friday for the very first time together! I must say, not a single complaint from him considering I got him up at the crack of dawn! We survived the day with flying colors! And as icing on the cake, I even walked away with a pre Christmas gift! Thank you sweetie for my iPad ! I'm putting it to good use as we speak.... Or should I say " as I write".

back into the swing of things

It's been quite some time now since I had the opportunity to spend some quiet "me time" . Between moving back and forth, and my work schedule being turned upside down, life was a little crazed for a moment, leaving me no time to write.
So please excuse my absence.
I think the subject on the move deserves its own blog entry so I'll save that one for later... but a major reason for my absence was also due to my temporary change of schedule for work. For those who don't know, I'm a Maternal Child Health (MB, peds, & NICU) RN and work 12hr night shift (7p-7a) 3x a week...(when I do most of my babbling and writing lol!)! I was asked by my supervisors to become what they call a "super users" to help teach and implement a new computer charting program for the hospital. When I agreed to do it, I didn't know all that it entails. I didn't realized right away the major perks in it for me=) First and most importantly, NO WORK on weekends until January!!!! (who can possibly say no to that). Second, I was able to manipulate my schedule to include NO HOLIDAYS either!!! (which I could not be more ecstatic about because this would be mine and BJ's first Holiday Season being married) I would also have to switch to the day shift (7a-7p) for 3 weeks. Initaily I thought awesome more time to spend with the hubby and more time to tackle some of the million things that needed to get done....Right!?!... WRONG!!!...Waking up and being ready by 6:30 am was complete torture...especially during these past chilly mornings! Although I would be home by 7:30pm leaving me plently of time to do things ... all I would want to do is bury myself under the covers and snuggle next to my husband and be a lazy dog. Not exactly the productivity I had in mind. Although I ♥ sleeping next to my hubby every night, there was a small part of me that couldn't wait to go back to my regular schedule. Usually after a long night at work, I love coming home to an empty quiet house (it's daytime so the scary factor is out the window) and having the bed all to myself to sleep in...hubby is a major bed hog, so I have to enjoy those moments.
Which I'm glad to say is exactly what I'm doing this very second=)
I'm sure on some level hubby is glad I'm back on my night shift duty too, this way he can go back to enjoying his video games and ESPN channel.

♥ Happy One Month

Today marks one month of our ♥ Happily Ever After ♥. I still feel like a blushing bride :D I can't help but get gitty every time I say "my husband". I hope this feeling never goes away! Omg... I can't believe how mushy I am! But I don't care, every girl should experience this amazing feeling! People have asked me repeatedly, " so, how does it feel to be married?", and I always try and play it cool by answering nonchalantly ''feels great" or "feels the same". But the truth of the matter is, it feels indescribably i n c r e d i b l e!!!
Although our love story started over a decade ago, there is an undeniable sensation of warmth and comfort knowing that a marriage seals the deal. We both come from families where our parents are still happily married to each other (presumingly I should say lol). So we both see marriage as something permanent... and whether we like it or not, we are stuck with each other. I'm confident that I speak for the both of us when I say that "we" love that notion!!!
I definitely believe one month is a milestone in a marriage, so I think a gift is in order for this special occasion don't you all agree?!? LOL! *Hint *Hint!!!