Homeowners

After months of looking and waiting for our house to be complete, we are now offically homeowners! And what better way to celebrate the occasion by cleaning! I have a feeling this is a sign of many saturdays to come...

We aren't offically moving until next weekend, but spent all day cleaning up the kitchen and floors with the help of my amazing parents! Here's a few pictures of the house.

House Update

So yesterday marked the first day that Kyle and I took on a new title: HOMEOWNERS!

We are so excited to finally have a place of our own and while I see lots of fun decorating in my future, Kyle says he feels a pain in his wallet :)

Move in day is offically next weekend, but we are going to start to move a few things in tomorrow!

Final house pictures are coming as soon as I get them off my camera!!

Our First Place

After many months of looking at houses and dragging our realtor through probably over 50 houses, we have finally found our first place! There will be grass in the front yard eventually.

We are really excited to become homeowers for the first time. Here's a few more pics of the inside for your viewing pleasure ;)

Dining Room

Kitchen

Master Bath

Summer in Review

So, I've been neglecting my blog this summer. Can't believe it's August and I haven't updated since June!! I'd like to say we were traveling all summer in a foreign country, but alas I was majorly just bogged down with work...boo that!

We did manage to have some fun this summer and even take a mini-vaca to Chattanooga. July started off with a long 4th of July weekend in which we were able to help out with our church and help with a fair in Atlantic Station. That night we grilled out with Gretchen, Justin and Elizabeth.

In mid-July we decided to get away for a weekend and escaped up to Chattanooga. Not only did we get a weekend away, but we also got to meet little Aaron James Platt. Silly me left my camera in the car, so I didn't get any pics of the little cutie. We had a blast getting away for the weekend and really got our exercise walking all over Chattanooga.

Overlooking the Tennessee River

Posing at one of the many sculptures around the city

Kyle posing with the giant hammer

Josh and Kyle racing down the hill by the River

On top of Lookout Mt.

We still have a few summer adventures planned... more to come soon!

Three Years and counting...

This past Wednesday, Kyle and I celebrated our third wedding anniversary! My how time flies. It's really been such a blessing to be married to my best friend and get to spend every day together, knowing he's there for me through thick and thin.

We certainly have had a lot of changes in the last 3 years too. We've moved 3 times - once to a new state, made it through graduate school -- well, Kyle did, but think I should get a degree to for all the times I sacrificed my eyes for him to practice on over the years.

We've also found a great church home where we've been able to get involved and help lead a small group. We are so thankful for the provisions and blessings God has given us thus far -- can't wait to see what the future holds in the next year of our adventure through life together!

Had to throw in a few more wedding pics... ha!

Long time no blog

Wow - it's been over a month since my last blog post! Apologizes to my loyal blog readers - all 2 of you, Mom and sissy.

I really can't believe it's mid-June already. Sometimes feels like it should still be February. To celebrate Memorial Day Weekend, Kyle & I headed down to FL for a beach trip with his family.

Our cute little nephew, Noah, has gotten so big since we last saw him at 2 weeks old. He's now holding his head up, smiling and rolling over. (Of course he waited until he got back from the beach to actually roll over)

Noah is also the trendiest baby on the beach. Check out his coordinating outfit!

Someone is a little dazed from the photo shoot

Noah and Aunt Annie

Noah loves his mohawk!

While we were at the beach, we took the opportunity to have a family photo-op on the beach. My hair wasn't cooperating and is in my face for most of these... sigh...

My wonderful in-laws - Kim and Gary

The whole Edwards gang

Even Noah had on a white polo!

Proud parents - Keily & Jack

Kyle and I were the only non- Floridans at the beach and it showed! We came with our pale skin, while everyone else already had a nice base tan and I was ready for some sun! Saturday started off with rain and stayed overcast for the entire day, but had fun hanging out with the family.

Sunday and Monday were gorgeous and just what we needed to relax in the sun and get recharged. We're hoping to be able to take another trip this summer, but since Kyle is so new at his job, I'm sad to say I think this short weekend might be our main vacation for the summer. Maybe I can talk Kyle into taking a few more days off soon!

Are people still out there?

Is anyone reading my blog anymore? I know many people rely on the "Blogs I Read" ticker to tell them when their friends have updated their blog, which makes things a lot easier.

But from time to time when I'm reading my friends blogs, I notice that it says under my blog that the last post is from FEBRUARY!

What's the deal? Why isn't my blog showing up as updated? I posted numerous blogs since then and still it says the last post I've written is "Cutie Pie" from Feb 20.

Too weird! Hope I'm not just writing to myself.... HA!

Are coupons overrated?

So seems like nearly everyone I know has jumped on the coupon bandwagon. While I'm writing out my grocery list this morning, I decide to check out a few sites and print a few coupons of my own. First stop - Southern Savers to check out the latest deals. There were a few links to Coupons.com and Smart Source. Coupons.com was fairly painless with the exception of downloading a coupon printer...hmm...

All my coupons come out 3 to a page, but I realize my printer is printing everything in color...grrr.... Why is this the default? (I try to change mid-print, but no success). Do I really need the Kelloggs box on my coupon to be in color? I think not!

Next stop.. Smart Source. I select 5 coupons.. that's it. I take the time to try and set the printer to B&W. They start to print and to my dismay, they come out in color again...DARN!

Then I start to notice Smart Source also has advertisements print out with the coupons. So a huge Claritin ad -- wasting my precious ink -- comes out and I soon discover they are printing ONE coupon per page. How wasteful is that!!!

One advertiser got "creative" and gave me a form to fill out and mail in...hmmm... All I want is a simple coupon to save a few bucks. I'm in advertising, so one I'm all for ads that are relevant to consumers, but is this really the place for an ad? Someone is already interested in your product to print out a coupon, why waste their paper and ink to show how great your product is? Not sure the last minute ad is going to push them over the edge, but just a thought for all you CPG companies out there.

Think I really ended up wasting a bunch of ink and paper. Guess I better make sure I get my money out of all this time & energy I put into this and put my coupons to good use. Think I need some coupon tips from the pros out there. Any suggestions?

Easter get together

We celebrated Easter this year at our house with friends and family. I broke out the china again -- 2nd time ever! I got a little Martha-ish & folded my napkins in the shape of bunnies. Mine didn't turn out quite like the picture and I had to use a paper clip to keep it from falling over -- why Martha thinks these will stand up with just starch is beyond me.

Martha's version

My Bunnies

So... not quite the same, but it was still cute for the table. I also tried to make some festive cupcakes complete with jelly beans. I had high hopes of making some with Peeps on top, but by the time I made it to Publix they were all out of Peeps! Is that even possible? Aren't they suppose to have an endless supply of peeps at Easter?

Elizabeth (along with her parents) stopped by on their way back from the beach, so we had a little impromptu Easter egg hunt in our front yard. Elizabeth's response to finding eggs scattered across the yard... "UH OH!" How dare someone be so messy and just leave those eggs lying about! Too funny!!


Couldn't resist putting a few of Miss Elizabeth all dressed up & hanging out with her Auntie and Uncle!

Aunt Ninnie & Ellie

Future Golfer

Easter Photo Shoot

After Easter dinner our friend Chieu offered to take pictures of everyone. I think the last time we had our picture taken professionally was at our wedding. Here are a few shots from our photo shoot. If anyone is looking for a photographer in the Atlanta area you should check her out - she's quite talented :)

Is it Spring yet?

It sure doesn't feel like it with the 45 degree weather we've been having and the weather forecast with a chance of snow tomorrow. I was convinced we'd have good weather the weekend before last when Kyle's parents came to visit. I mean - who would think it would be freezing & rainy in late March?

Since we had to scratch our plans of golf & bike rides on the Silver Comet due to the horrible rain, we instead opted to take in the sights at the Georgia Aquarium (along with the rest of Atlanta).

We had fun checking out all the fishes & interesting creatures.

Tropical fishes


Glow in the dark jelly's

Kyle & his dad

Cute little Sea Otter

Kyle & his Mom

Gator!

(He looks bigger here than in real life)

Kyle with the sting rays & shark petting tank