2012

{image}

2012 was a pretty great year for us, but even so, I'm rather glad to see it go.  2013 will be a BIG year for our family, and quite frankly, I can't wait.  

I did not intend to slip away from this blog.  I did not intend to desert my blog friends or shy away from sharing amazing internet finds.  It just sort of feels right to spend less and less time in this corner of the internet of mine.  For that I apologize, and for that I thank you for understanding.

2012 brought a lot of pretty cool things.  We got a doggie! And as of tomorrow, we've officially had her for an entire year!  She has changed our lives (maybe not Gus) for the better, even if her breath smells like the garbage.  We had so many awesome visitors!  We traveled to Jamaica where I celebrated my 29th birthday!  We gardened! We replaced our expired septic system.  Please note, that one does not deserve an exclamation point, but I am relieved that it a) works properly and b) won't need replacing for a long, long time.  And last but not least of the highlights of 2012 - we got PREGNANT!  

And for your curiosity...

We found out two weeks ago, but honestly, we already knew.  I had a feeling from the moment I knew I was pregnant - and so did a majority of our friends and family.  My mom wouldn't even step foot in the girls section and bought us plenty of boy stuff long before the ultrasound confirmed it.  We're very excited, needless to say, and have started to go a little bonkers with the registry and setting up the nursery.  Christmas was good to our son, so project organizethenurseryasapbeforethecatgetstrappedundercopiousamountsofclothes needs to start now.

We have no big plans for NYE this year.  I'm okay with that.  Being pregnant for me means I can't enjoy things the way I used to.  However, I found some alcohol-removed champagne and I may paint my nails something festive.  It'll have to do :)

I'm happy, healthy and ready for the new year.  So welcome, 2013!

Another Long Weekend Recap

{image}

My goodness, what a weekend.  This post was supposed to be brought to you this morning, but due to unforeseen circumstances, that didn't happen.  I'm happy to be back to normalcy now, back to routine, back to what we know.  Because that means that everything is okay, we're all here and healthy and we can put some stuff behind us.  Are you confused yet?!  First, some highlights ::

• Our friends Hadley & Ryan came to visit us with their adorable son and incredible dog.  They spent a few days with us, we laughed, we ate good food, drank good wine and played some fun games.  It was a great time and I am so so happy they came.  I miss them like crazy already!
• Saturday was spent in our pajamas watching college basketball - it was nice, even if all the teams we were rooting for didn't get the W.
• A champagne toast at home with friends started off our New Years Eve night, and Ghostbusters was on in the background to make us laugh.
• Zazoo's - we went to the bar for the night and listened to some good bands ring in the new year.  When the countdown began, we had a free glass of champagne in our hands and balloons rained down on us when we reached 1.  It was pretty much awesome.  Then dancing broke out and a lot of fun was had.
• After I cleaned the kitchen like crazy, I found something we've been looking for for months now.  A PUPPY!!  To my surprise, the husband agreed to drive to etown and pick one out.  I felt totally underprepared but both of us knew we had to just go for it.  Kind of like having kids - you're never really fully ready, right?  
• The most adorable German Shepherd/Beagle puppies were waiting for us, looking as adorable as possible.  We picked the one who kept staring at me (and the one licking the hamper).  She is so so so cute.  She has a mainly black coat with a tan face and feet.  With a wee bit of white on her. We are in love, needless to say.  But we still haven't named her.  She laid on my lap for most  of the ride home, but the ride home was stopped because of what I was alluding to above.  

We spent the remainder of Sunday night in the ER - not because of a wreck or anything, but because as my husband was driving us home, his muscles cramped up and his speech slurred.  Luckily he pulled over right in time because it all happened so very fast.  I called 911 but even though they said help was on the way, an ambulance didn't come for an hour.  And they only came because I called back.  Twice.  Seriously, so many things are wrong with that.  The one ambulance said they never received our dispatch.  I really hope that's the case because if he were in serious danger (which who knew?) then he might not have been here today.  They took him to the closest ER and there he spent the next 6 hours hooked up to an IV to try and retain fluids he had lost in the process.  Poor guy.  My heart completely broke seeing him laying on the hospital bed.  Supposedly he was attacked by a stomach virus which left him completely dehydrated.  It didn't help that NYE was the night before and we had had our fair share of booze.  Followed by coffee, followed by greasy food (him, not me).  Who knows what's to blame, but the lesson here is learned.  HYDRATE, hydrate, HYDRATE!  24 hours later, he is doing fine.  A little tired and weak, but fine.  The puppy has the best aunt in the world, who took her home and got her food and toys.  She also took her to the vet for us because the poor little thing hadn't been dewormed.  Man.  What a way to welcome the new year, eh?  

So now here we are, resting in our home with our two furry children.  Trying to think of the best name possible for our new little trooper.  Who is lettting out cute little whimpers in her sleep.  

Suggestions are welcome :)

Happy 2012, everyone.  Hope your year is off to a better start than ours!

So long, 2010 Part II

6.  The rest of June was kind of awesome too.  My folks came up to help assemble and mail out our wedding invitations!  We also pieced together the ceremony with my stepdad who officiated our wedding.    We took a day trip down to Starved Rock to hike and explore all the canyons.  It was beautiful and so much fun to get out of the city and into nature.

Last but not least, I also had my bridal shower/bachelorette party the last weekend of June.  It was so much fun and pretty amazing to have all my best girls together in one city!  Yummy food + drag queens = best night on the town ever!

7.  July was fun, we celebrated the 4th by going to Tennessee and partying it up, Badger style at the lake.  I also quit my job!  Aahh..so liberating.

8.  August, sweet, sweet August.  You were so good to me.  I had the best first two weeks of August a girl could ever dream of.  We explored San Francisco and Point Reyes with friends.  We ventured up to Napa for an amazing welcome dinner, the wedding of my dreams and a brunch in the forest.  I stayed out there longer and made my way down to L.A. via Highway One and checked out the Pacific Coast with my brother's family.  I went to Disneyland with the 3 best kiddos.  Seriously, the month of August ruled so hard.

9.  September was pretty awesome as well.  We honeymooned in Italy, traveling all over from the Cinque Terre to Venice to Florence to Rome.  Pretty amazing, if I do say so myself.

10.  October is my favorite month of the year (in close competition with May) and I milked it for all it's worth.  We went to a pumpkin patch and came home with pumpkins, apples and happy memories.  We used up every last apple from a peck and a half and my love affair with baking deepened that month.  Halloween was really fun too.  I was David the Gnome and the mister was Luigi.

11.  November got me into the holiday spirit.  I turned domestic and picked up knitting.  I'm so glad I did!  We also drove down to Wichita and spent Thanksgiving with my family.  Aside from getting sick, it was a wonderful visit.

12. December, how I loved thee.  I was so into the Christmas spirit this year and enjoyed every second of it.  But now that it's over, I'm over it too.  Funny how that works.  We had a great Christmas in Louisville and will hopefully have a wonderful NYE in Chicago.

I just want to thank each and every one of you for making 2010 a fantastic year for Mo Pie, Please.  I look forward to sharing my world with you each and every day and absolutely love reading all of your comments.  You make the world a special place.  Happy New Year to everyone!

Bring it on, 2011!

So long, 2010 Part I

What a whirlwind of a year it's been, seriously.  2010 totally kicked 2009's ass.  Wanna know why?

Here, I'll show you ::

1.  January was a pretty decent start to the new year.  We flew out to California for an open house at our wedding venue and made the most of our time out there.  Somehow, we managed to spend a night in San Francisco (and get completely wasted/pass out fully clothed with contacts still in eyeballs), journey up to Napa Valley/Sonoma to meet with our wedding coordinator, caterers and florist and then head due east to Tahoe for a few super snowy days nestled in the mountains.

We took our engagement photos on a frozen Lake Michigan in January; they all turned out great thanks to Raegan!

2.  February is always a good month for us because that's when we started dating so many years ago.  Last year for V-day/Anniversary, boy treated me to a swanky stay at The Wit downtown which had a great view of State Street and the iconic Chicago Theater.  

3.  March.  What a month March was.  Between March Madness and SXSW, I had a lot to occupy my every waking moment.  I flew down to Texas to meet up with my favorite dudes who were playing the festival.  We partied like crazy in Austin and had a really great time and ate a lot of really great pizza.  Definitely the highlight of the month.

4.  April really flew by.  I went to Kansas City for my bff's bridal shower.  We decorated everything in a Breakfast at Tiffany's theme because her new last name is Tiffany.  Unfortunately, I had too much wine the night before and was experiencing one of the worst hangovers EVER that day but I still enjoyed myself.

5.  May is definitely one of my favorite months of the year.  It's my birthday month and everything is green and pretty.  What's not to love?  This birthday, the big 27, was one of my recent favorites.  All it entailed was a picnic on the boulevard but there was grilled pizza and it was pretty hot that day which made me happy.

6.  June was a crazy month - my bff got MARRIED and we had an awesome time celebrating it!

{there was karaoke so I sang my heart out to her}

Once in a Blue Moon...

Happy New Year everyone!

Tonight's a blue moon! 
I'm so happy that the new year is upon us.  I've been ready for it for too long!  2009 just had to get both Badger & I one last time with sickness (and mine was certainly not pretty).  It hasn't been a good year for us with our health.  In January, we found out Badge has a heart condition after he fainted in the movie theater while we were watching The Wrestler (not serious, but it scared the bejeebus out of me).  This summer he threw his back out and found out he has scoliosis.  So now he's an old man with a bum back.  I have been sick so many times and had so many different health issues I've lost track. 

But there were some good times as well.  Like for instance, OUR ENGAGEMENT!  Some of our very best friends got married and we got to be in the wedding party!  I took a trip to New York with my stepbrother to see our friend Sarah get married!  We went to the Bahamas and California (both awesome).  We went on some cool trips to Louisville and Kansas to visit family and had some very great moments with very great people.

2010 will be an amazing year.  I'm keeping my chin up and staying positive.  My health will be better, I'll maintain good weight and get in better shape.  I'm geting married...to the most wonderful man.  In California!  Loads of other friends of ours are getting married this year too.  And I have family members who are expecting.  It will be joyous :)

I wish the same for all of you!  Have fun tonight, here's to hoping for that perfect new years kiss!  xoxo.

(photo via ffffound)