Christmas/Anniversary Trip to Chicago

In December, Jared and I celebrated our second anniversary! I still cant believe that it has been that long ago! I seriously remember it like it was yesterday! I hope I always feel that way! Jared and I had kind of an interesting/hard/sad couple of months leading up to our anniversary, so I wanted to do something extra fun for Christmas break. I started looking for trips in October and came across a trip to Chicago! For round trip airfare and 4 nights at a really cute/nice hotel it was only 290 dollars a person! I jumped right on it! We also invited our friends Jackie and Shawn! It really was one of the best trips I have been on! It was a tad bit cold so I cant wait to go back again when it is warm!

In our five days that we were there we packed in a ton of stuff!

We went to the Bean:

Wriggly Field-seriously one of my favorite parts of the whole trip! I LOVED Wriggleyville!!

We spent an entire day at the Field Museum and we still didn't see everything! But we did see Sue-the most complete dinosaur in the U.S.

I consider Jared to be a foodie-he loves trying new foods and any time we go somewhere he likes to eat what the locals eat. The food in Chicago did not disappoint! We seriously ate, and ate, and ate some more! I felt like I deserved it with all the walking we did! :) One of my favorite meals was at Gino's East. We got an AMAZING deep dish Chicago style pizza!

The first day that we got there we went to the observatory in the Hancock building. It had snowed that morning and it was kind of cloudy, but it was so much fun!

We did lots of touristy stuff and a little bit of shopping on the last day! This was me and Jackie's reward for being so good about the entire day at the Field Museum while the boys looked at and read every little sign in that entire building! :)

Jared even enjoyed some of the shopping! The Lego store was so awesome. They had the skyline of Chicago built entirely out of Legos!

If you know me, you know I like staying at hotels. I looked through all the pictures of our hotel on the internet that I could find and I read lots of reviews. I was so impressed with the hotel. It was so cute and the location could not have been better. It was not even a block off of Michigan Avenue and right next to the Louis Vuitton store. I mean seriously?! We could not have picked a better place to stay!

Overall, we had such a good time! I hope that Jared and I are always able to get away and remember our day from December 2009!

Bling Bling Show Your Ring

I was so excited when C. Mae decided to do the ring bling link up! I am seriously in love with my ring! I think that Jared did such a great job picking it out! About a year before we got engaged we went and looked at rings. This was one of the first rings that he picked for me to try on! I loved it but we both wanted the one he picked to be a surprise so he never told me that was the ring he was going to propose with! The middle diamond is just under 1 carat and all together it is about 2.25 carats. This Valentines day it will have been three years since we got engaged and I still love staring at my ring! 

Not only did Jared do a great job on picking out the ring he also did a great job on the proposal. On Valentines day we were staying downtown and he brought three wrapped presents with him. He gave me one present before we went out to dinner. It was perfume! I was hoping that we would get engaged that night but I figured if he spent that much money on the perfume there was no way we were getting engaged. (He is very frugal:) So after dinner, he gave me my second gift. It was a pair of really cute Valentine wine glasses. We drank a little champagne and he gave me my third gift. I opened the box and there was a large jar of pink, blue, and white M&M's. I was like "Oh Thanks, Jerry." He then told me to look and see what they said so I dumped some out of the jar. One said "Paige", one said "I Love You" and one said "Will You Marry Me?" I turned around in shock and he was on one knee with the ring. I was soooo excited and extremely happy!

Two Years

Today, Jared and I have been married for TWO years! I cannot believe it has already been that long! It seems like just yesterday that I was scrambling around trying to get everything ready for our wedding day! Last year was a little sad because I had to come to the realization that not only was our wedding over, but it had been over for a year! This year has had its ups and downs, but I am so excited for what God has in store for Jared and I in the next coming years. 

Here is Jared and I last year on our anniversary. Clearly, Jared was thrilled to take this picture in the middle of the Cowboy's game! :) I can't wait to do this every year wherever we celebrate! 

Jared took me on an early date celebration on Saturday. We went to Bailey's Prime Plus. It was pretty delicious and really cute! We are leaving on Saturday for our real anniversary celebration in Chicago! I am so excited to get away for a few days with my handsome husband! 

Happy Anniversary Jared! I love you more and more everyday and I am so happy that I get to spend my life with you!

Random 100

I saw on a few other blogs that people are posting 100 random things about yourself. I loved doing this on facebook so I going to do it again on here!

As of 2011 the 100 most random things about me are:


1. I am a hypochondriac.  Of course this is self diagnosed but if I EVER here about some sort of illness...I immediately think I have it. If I ever have a weird pain I automatically think it is something bad.

2. I have been married for almost 2 years exactly! Love you Jerry! :)

3. I am still really sad that my wedding is over. I think about that almost every day and sometimes I get teary eyed.

4. I only like to write with blue pens unless it is a fun colored pen!

5. I am a 5th grade teacher. I love it so much more than middle school!

6. I have 4 sisters and one brother.

7. I have a major sweet tooth. I love all sweets!

8. I love reality television. All of it!

9. I am weirdly obsessed with airports. I don't know why but I really like driving by and looking at the planes wondering where they are going and if they are going somewhere fun or somewhere sad or somewhere for work.

10. I love going on vacation. LOVE IT!

11. Even if I don't actually go on vacation I still like getting on Expedia and researching how much it would be if were WERE to go on vacation.

12. I have two pups. Petey and Cooper. Petey is a Dachshund and Cooper is a Chiweenie.

14. My favorite all time smell is spiced cider. yum!

15. I am usually bad with money and want to blow it the minute I get some but if I actually get on a kick of saving then it kills me to even spend a dime. I like seeing how much I can save.

16. I love little babies and everything that comes along with them-noises, clothes, shoes!

17. Jared and I met at a bar in Stephenville, Texas.

18. I am NOT a morning person. Never have been and never will be.

19. My weakness is pretty stationary! I am obsessed with it.

20. I really love anything monogrammed. I love seeing my name spelled out on something.

21. I am not really a technology buff but I really like having the latest and greatest.

22. I really don't like sleeping in the same bed as anyone else other than Jared.

23. My favorite restaurant is Subway. I could probably eat there at least 3-4 times a week if Jared would let me.

24. It bothers me when celebs and people I know tell other people that they love them. Like people that obviously they don't. Why would you tell a stranger that you love them? I think that it's just weird.

25. I like carbonated water. Got this from my dad!

26. I love blogging.

27. I love getting the mail. It sucks that it's mostly bills but I still like getting it every day.

28. My favorite color is pink. All Shades.

29. I love when it rains. ESPECIALLY if it is a Saturday or a Sunday and I don't have to drive to work in it.

30. Sometimes I think about the things I would like to change about my wedding.

31. I make strange faces when people are talking to me.

32. I turn red very easily.

33. It really bothers me that I turn red.

34. I have been really self conscious of my skin color for the past 8 years. Its white. I'm learning to love it.

35. I do not like driving.

36. I have great parents that are still married.

37. I have fab in laws!

38. I like to ask weird personal questions to friends.

39. I love talking with Jared about what we would do if we won the lottery. I always feel like I might.

40. I like decorating my house.

41. I love shopping.

42. The ONLY time I ever feel like I would be happy to be single is when I think about decorating my bedroom. Jared won't let me have a white bed. :(

43. I like scratching my head. I have done this since I was little. One time my 4th grade teacher told my mom that she thought I had lice. I didn't I just like a good scalp massage! ;)

44. I used to drive an Astro van.

45. I love sitting in a hot tub even if it is hot outside.

46. I love hotel rooms and I always jump at the chance to stay at one.

47. I like to dance ridiculously when I am alone, then I laugh out loud at myself about it.

48. I wish I could sing.

49. I am shy until I get to know you.

50. I always get offended when people tell me that I am shy. I don't know why.

51. I hate public speaking but I LOVE the feeling I get after I am done. Its like an adrenaline rush.

52. I love reading!! I could spend hours curled up with a good book!

53. House Hunters is one of my favorite shows. I love looking into people's houses.

54.  One time I won a contest at a baseball game and the prize was that I got to sing the National Anthem. I declined.

55. I think I have restless leg syndrome. I guess this might go under #1.

56. I stare at my engagement and wedding ring at least 20 times a day. I love it.

57. I am obsessed with facebook.

58. I feel like I know celebrities. And that if given the chance I think some might like to be friends with me.

59. I like driving around looking at houses.

60. Fall is my all time favorite time of the year.

61. I told Jared that I loved him first. His reply was "Thank You"

62. My favorite holiday is Valentines Day. I love love and I think this day is just perfect!

63. I like trying to be organized.

64. I enjoy having yard sales. I think they are really fun!

65. Music is a large part of my life.

66. I have the same birthday as my mother in law! It must have been fate!!!:)

67. I have a cute niece and nephew!

68. I like dressing up but I hate wearing heels.

69. I am not really using my college degree. I had to go back and get certified to be a teacher.

70. I like watching sporting events live. Not so much on tv.

71. I have a great group of girlfriends that I know I could count on for anything!

72. I like winter clothes better than summer clothes.

73. I hate being cold but I love when it snows.

74. I cant wait to have a baby!

75. I love the smell of a new car.

76. I pay attention to street names and decide if I like them or not. I then decide if I would move to that street based on what the name is.

77. I am always running late. This is a terrible habit and I do not know how to break it. Even if I am running on schedule I tell myself that I still have time so I slow down and then end up becoming late.

78. I love Apple products. Now that I have several I can not see myself buying others!

79. I walk on the insides of my feet.

80. Until recently, I had only spent the night alone a few times.

81. When I talk about something Jared has said I like to say it in his "voice" :)

82. I am addicted to Pinterest.

83. I like being crafty but I am not very patient so it usually looks kind of crappy when I am finished with it.

84. I do not like coffee.

85. I like to eat left overs cold.

86. I have to have the tv on when I go to sleep.

87. I for some reason like to sell my stuff at yard sales and get new stuff. Jared gets seriously annoyed by this because I do it to his stuff too!

88. I like to watch either King of Queens, Friends, Two and a Half Men, or That 70s show before I go to sleep.

89. I watch Fox 4 News in the morning as I am getting ready. I base how far I am running behind on their line up. If they are playing Facebook Friend of the day and I am still doing my hair, I am in bad shape! :(

90. I hate working out but I love the feeling after I am done.

91. I always say I am going to go in to Target and only buy one thing but never leave with less than 50 dollars spent.

92. I am very nostalgic.

93. I am not a salesman. I tried selling Mary Kay. It did not work out well. I gave all my clients 50% off so i did not make a dime!

94. I hate deleting emails.

95. I love sleeping in clean sheets. I always feel like I rest better!

96. I would rather text than talk on the phone unless I am driving!

97. I love going to the movies!

98. I love the Twilight Saga!

99. I talk to myself! :)

100. Other people's lives interest me. I think that is why I love blogging and reality tv!

Well there it is. 100 random facts about me. That was a lot harder than I thought it would be!

Show Us Your Life Kitchens!

This week at Kellys Korner we are showing our kitchens. I am really excited about participating this week! This is Me and Jared's first place together as newlyweds. So It will always be special to me! It is a small apartment but it is actually really cute and homey. Even though I hate living in an apartment I actually like some of the things it has to offer. It is by far the nicest apartment I have ever lived in!

It is kind of a strange layout so it was hard to get good pictures.

This is the view looking in from the laundry room. I like the dark cabinets and the granite counter tops!

Cross wall

Another thing I really like is the wood floors. We have wood in every room except our bedroom! It is pretty and easy to clean up after 2 small dogs! :)

View from the eating area. The door in the back goes to the pantry. Which is HUGE! Also very messy so no pic!

Eating area.

Picture wall. This is my favorite part of the eating area. It is mostly our engagement and wedding pictures. I can't wait to add to this wall in every house that we live in!

This is the view from inside the kitchen. The living room is to the right and the huge laundry room is right in front of the sink.

Well that is it! This kitchen is perfect for now! I cant wait to have my dream kitchen one day!!!

Weekend

I am still not into the habit of blogging regularly but considering my last post was about a week or two ago I think I am doing pretty good here! I don't have much to write about here lately. It seems like I go to work and deal with 110 junior high kids and when I get home all I want to do is crash. Literally. I come home home, eat dinner sit on the couch and usually do about an hour or two of grading and then go to bed then I wake up the next morning and do it all over again! Oh well...I am just glad that I have a job because I know a lot of people are wishing they were in my shoes right now!

Our weekend started with this little cutie getting neutered. The poor baby had to wear a cone! He still looked really cute so I had to take a picture!



Friday afternoon Jared picked me up from school and we went and test drove a truck for him. He sold his white Dodge about a week ago and has been looking for a new one. He found a Chevy that he liked but wanted to make sure that he couldn't find a better interest rate so he left the dealership promising to call first thing in the morning. Well guess what?! He happened to find a better interest rate and called the dealership to let them know first thing Saturday morning and the guy said "sorry we are about to sell it." Jerry was bummed but I was glad that he didn't end up buying it from that guy because I thought he was rude. Jared said that the guy was probably just annoyed that he didn't go ahead and buy it Friday night but whatever! It kills me when people are trying to get YOU to buy something and they are RUDE! Seriously!



I guess the good part of sitting in the dealership with Jared for two hours was that he took me to La Madeline after! Of course it did not disappoint! Also I am REALLY excited that they now have reduced fat tomato basil soup! Plus it tastes exactly like the original! Yum! I love love their soup!:)

Saturday we woke up and it finally felt like Fall but it was also pouring down rain! My friend Kelly and I had plans to shop til we dropped. It seems like lately that every time I go shopping for something that I actually need I always come home with a bunch of stuff that I don't need. I was looking for new jeans and some fall clothes but came home with none of the above. I did, however, come home with the best smelling candle in the world. Bath and Body Works Spiced Cider! It is to die for! Literally! I love it and it smells our whole house up....which is not hard considering it is only 3 rooms! Ha!:) Anyways point is it is always easier to buy house stuff because you don't have to try it on. Therefor, you come home in a better mood and not feeling like you want to die because you not only had to go up a size in jeans but you also don't feel like you just got robbed!



Sunday was also pretty low key. I graded papers for a bit and watched the Cowboys actually win a game! I also somehow convinced Jared to go see Easy A with me. It was pretty cute! We followed that up with a trip to Wally and then our fav Chinese restaurant! All in all it was a pretty good weekend!



This week is only a 4 1/2 day week for me so I hope that it flies by! I am already ready for next weekend and the fun things we have planned!

Goodbye Summer!!! (Really Late)

Well so much for really trying to be better about blogging! It is already almost two months after my starting fresh post. Oh Well...What can you do!

So it's already September and summer is long gone for me. School is back in session and grading papers and dealing with bad attitudes from twelve year olds is my life right now! Even though it is over I wanted to give a little recap of our summer. This one was pretty low key but I am hoping that NEXT summer will be a BIG one for me and Jerry!

So here is what our summer of 2010 consisted of:

1. A wedding at a castle. Dead serious. I am a moron and didn't get any good pictures of the actual castle but it was out towards Stephenville and it was GORGEOUS!

Jerry and I at the reception

Two of my faves Jackie and Kelly

2. Planning, Planning, Planning, and more planning for Kelly's big day! (She was worth it) And I suppose we were able to do a little partying too! :)

San Antonio for Kelly's Last Fling Before the Ring.

Me and the bride to be! We had a FABULOUS time!!!!

Oh you know just a regular Friday night....just swinging from the ceiling at a bar called

"The Basement"

Great times and even better memories!!

3. Kelly and Levi's big day!

"Whoa Black Betty La Bam a Lam"

The bridesmaids and some of the groomsmen getting ready to rock out at the reception. Kelly made me step waaaaaaaaay out of my box and dance in front of 200 people so I chose to rock out to "Black Betty"

Gorgeous bride and her maids!

4. This handsome guy turned 28!

Jerry turned 28. He had a pretty low key birthday. Dinner at the Keg followed by some J. Ray's cupcakes! Yum! I got him this Ridgid work site radio that it turns out I love. It plays my Iphone and the speakers are awesome! :)

We had a few other fun days. I went to Porta Ransas with my friends Jackie and Shawn and it was fun but I don't have any good pics for more than one reason! We also made an appearance at a few Texas Rangers games, went to the lake, and hung out at the pool a lot. I had a great summer and I am really sad that it is over! It's really crazy to me that this time last year I was about to send out wedding invitations and have my first shower. It is so weird how different things can be in just one year.

I am sad to see summer go but I am really excited about Fall weather and decorations!!