XoXo 2012! Hi 2013!

2012 was an absolutely wonderful year.  Here are some of the highlights:

Bachelorette Cruise

Best night ever!

Chris and I were MARRIED! 

We honeymooned to St. Lucia:

And then we were in weddings:

The Lombardi wedding!

Cam and Meg's wedding

Brad and Amanda's wedding!

Brian and Mary's Wedding

I began working at Pure Barre and went to training:

We also visited Chicago to see coldplay:

Had visitors:

The Kersey's came to help us move in!

Mom and Hal came to check out the new condo

Josh and Sarah came up!

Ginny and Eric

Mom and Hal came for my Birthday!

And lots more!  2012 was a year full of weddings and love.

Here's a fun questionaire I got from Kelly's Corner:


1. What are you most thankful for?

2. What were the highlights of 2012 for you?

3. What are you hoping for in 2013?

4. What were some of your favorites of 2012? (Clothes, movies, songs, TV shows, )

5. Who was God to you in 2012? (and if He was nothing to you - please be honest. You don't need to give sunday school answers. I want to be able to pray that He will be something to you this year!)

So here are my answers:
1.  I am most thankful for marrying Chris.  I never imagined marrying such a wonderful, fun, smart, caring and responsible man!

2.  The highlights are listed above.

3.  In 2013 I am hoping to
-Graduate with my Masters in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
-Learn to me a little more organized and clean
- Take a few fun trips with Chris
- Continue to grow the friendships the Lord has blessed me with

4.  My favorites: Tunics, Lululemon, all Pure Barre playlists, Revenge, New Girl, Homeland, Smash,

5.  The Lord was my savior.  The one who came and paid my debt so that I could have a relationship with Him and eternal life.  He was the source of my great many blessings!

2012 seriously was the most happy, joyful and fun year I've had!  Can't wait to bring in 2013 :)

Beach in December

So Friday, Chris left for a bachelor party in Orlando, so I had 2 days to entertain myself.  The first day I drove over to Tampa and hung out with Lindsay for the day.  I dropped annabelle off at her house  She has 3 other small dogs so Annabelle was in heaven!  Lindsay and I had the perfect day! We went to lunch at a cute local restaurant, she drove me to St. Pete and showed me around her work.  She's a nurse at the all children's hospital in St. Pete and from the looks of it, it doesn't get any better than that!!  Then I took her to a Pure Barre class!! It's always nerve wracking taking friends to PB for the first time, but Linds was a champ and I think she loved it.

After that, I drove down to Ponce Inlet beach which is south of Daytona Beach to meet my dad, his fiance Susan and her kids Catherine and Ethan.  I got there late Friday night so we only had time to hang out and talk for a bit.  The next day we woke up to a cloudy, chilly day.  Dad talked me into a morning run and by the time we were done, the sun had come out and it was a beautiful, sunny and warm day.  We spent the day on the beach laying out in the sun! I finished my Nicholas Sparks book, The Best of Me.  OMGosh it was awesome!!!  Catherine and I went on a long walk and it was so nice getting to talk with her.

When we were sunned out, we came in, showered and went to dinner.  It was a lovely beach vacation and I'm thankful I was able to have it!

My friend for the day

Waiting for dinner!

Dad saying goodbye

Pure Barre Christmas Party

It was the absolute best night:

All the Pure Barre instructors/owners + our handsome dates + yummy food + gorgeous house + good drinks = Perfect night.

It was so much fun to have all the instructors together.  We always see each other 1 or 2 of us at a time but tonight it was everyone together!  

Em and Jan! Love them!

Tiny Tara :)

Such a fun, loving group of women!

Love!

Christmas in P.C.

We had such a lovely Christmas in Panama City.  

Beach babies!

We started staying at the beach house.  The beach house is always such a relaxing, enjoyable time.  We took the toy poodles to the beach.  They loved it!! We let them run free and I've never seen a more joyful sight.

The Girls!

 We also had the annual gingerbread making night.  So blessed to have high school friends I still love and consider my good friends.  

Vivi giving mom tissues!

She was so proud :)

The next night we had Christmas with Heather and Ted, Jan and Judy and the babies Vivi and Judson! It was so much fun watching the kids open their presents!! Christmas is for kids... Kids bring that Christmas magic.

Traditional stair PJ pic!

Love my fam!

The next morning we treated it like Christmas morning.  We all wore our PJs (minus Hal who had to work :(  ) and opened our presents.  Mom did such a wonderful job getting us so many lovely presents. We then had a morning and afternoon of Hot Chocolate (Homemade of course) and Christmas movies.  

That night we went over to dads and exchanged presents and went to dinner. Even though it was a few days before Christmas, it really did feel like real Christmas!  

Christmas-y night!

The nights before we left for FL were so much fun.

One of my favorite nights we just stayed home, ordered pizza, and watched a Christmas movie.  

Perfection!

Diva checking out the Christmas Tree:)

Girls Christmas Craft Night!

I'm going to try to blog about a few fun nights we had this Christmas season.

Before we left for Christmas break I had some girlfriends over for dinner and to start our Christmas crafts for the Sojourn Women's Christmas Gift Exchange.   It was our first dinner party at our new house!  With Trader Joe's and Mama Lisa (a favorite Pure Barre Client of mine that made dessert for us) help, we had a wonderful meal.  Wining and dining is one of my favorite activities.  I could talk and eat and drink with friends every night!

After lots of eating and talking, we began our crafts.  We worked on them until we were too tired to see straight.

Such a blessing to have these women in my life!

Holiday

This is my first year not being home for Christmas.  I'm missing all of the small traditions my family does during these few days.

Sewing Christmas Pajamas with mom

O.C. and sour gummy worms with dad and the boys

Christmas Eve shopping trip with Ross and Robbie

Christmas Eve Service at LHUMC 

Christmas morning stair/fighting picture

Just a few of the things I am missing on this Christmas Eve.  Chris and I are beginning our own small traditions this year starting.  I'm trying to remember that Christmas is about our God giving us the gift of our Savior, and in turn the gift of salvation.  I'm trying to make this season more about peace and joy and less about my small traditions. 

Merry Christmas!