Welcome to the Good Life!

wedding cake link up!

 

Today I am linking up with Britt at The Magnolia Pair to show off our wedding cake!  I was so anxious about getting our wedding cake because I'm gluten-free, but I knew I didn't want our wedding cake to be.  So, what does a girl do when she wants a cake with regular flour that she cannot eat herself?  Enter my wonderful sister and maid of honor!  Rachel helped me pick out her favorite cake/filling combinations.  Piece of Cake in the Short North did both of our wedding cakes--the regular cake and the groom's cake.  I LOVED working with them--they were so nice and made the entire process stress free!

Rob is a graduate of THE Ohio State University, so I knew I wanted his groom's cake to be themed for his beloved Buckeyes.  His cake was red velvet, of course and was a replica of the OSU football stadium.  Rob had no idea he was going to have a groom's cake, let alone something so fun!  There were a lot of Buckeye fans at our reception and they all got a huge kick out of it, too. :)

For our actual wedding cake, I knew I wanted our monogram and I knew I wanted some polka dots--but I wanted it to be all white.  Piece of Cake had several options to choose from that were right in our price range and I couldn't have been happier with the way our wedding cake turned out.  The only struggle I had was what type of cake topper to use.  I had thought about doing something personalized, but the price tag seemed a little steep for me.  So, I purchased a Willow Tree Promise cake topper.  I still think it is so beautiful and I hope someday our children will be able to use it. :)

Our cake was chocolate with raspberry filling and I heard from several sources that it was delicious!  I had a small gluten-free cake made at a bakery so that we would be able to cut at least one piece of cake and feed it to each other.  The gluten-free cake was carrot cake with cream cheese icing. 

When we went to cut the cake I was so anxious because I suddenly realized this is the one thing I hadn't planned!  Was Rob going to smash the cake in my face?  Was I going to smash it in his face?  Were we going to use our hands?  A fork?  Talk about major stress! :)

In the end, Rob was a complete gentleman and fed me my piece of cake very sweetly. :)

 Thanks Britt for letting me relive such a wonderful day!

 

wilw!

 I'm linking up with the always wonderful Jamie to share with you what I'm loving this week!  If you want to play along, head over to her blog! :)

I'm loving the quality time I've been able to spend with my family lately!  Although it hasn't been under the best of circumstances, I am still thankful for the time I get to share with them! :)

I'm loving Whitney Houston's awesome Pandora Station!  It's the perfect thing to listen to while I do some blogging and catch up on emails.  There was even a little Michael Jackson thrown in today! :)

I'm loving this reminder for the week.  It's so true! :) 

As I say every week, I am loving my sweet husband!  When I came home last night, he had emptied the dishwasher for me.  It's a small gesture, but it really means the world to me when he does things like that!  I love him and I am so thankful he is my partner in life. :)

 

 

groupon date!

Last night Rob and I had a Groupon date night!  I probably only purchase groupons a few times a year, but in the past couple of weeks I have found some pretty good ones!  One was to a tapas restaurant downtown called Barrios.  I have been wanting to go here for ages and the Groupon was perfect!  Rob and I enjoyed some yummy tapas including bacon wrapped dates, a locally sourced chicken tostada, and a tomato stuffed with cheese and spinach on a bed of quinoa.  Delicious!  The pictures I have of our food look kind of gross, so instead I will just show you a picture of the interior!  Isn't it so cool?  I love the different pieces of wood that make up the ceiling!  

After dinner, Rob and I used another Groupon to go to the movies!  I made a deal with Rob to see all of the Star Wars movies when they come out in the theater in 3D.  I thought there were only a few, so I didn't think I was getting myself into too much.  However, there are SIX!!  Did you know that?!  Anyways, the movie was fine--especially because it was in 3D.  I've heard the movies only get better from here, so I am looking forward to that--or else I might be taking a little nap in the movies. ;)  We also were given popcorn and a drink as part of our movie deal! :)

Most exciting part about our date night?  $30 worth of Groupons=$90+date night!  Success :)

miscellany monday!

-So, this weekend I made an impromptu trip to Kentucky.  My papa is still having some pretty major health problems, so I decided a visit to Kentucky was in order to spend some quality time with him.  I had a wonderful visit with him at the VA Hospital and having some fun with my mom and sister.  My visits to Kentucky are always way too short, but definitely sweet. :)

-In a complete change of topic, I have now finished Harry Potter #5 and am moving onto #6.  I am devastated that I am almost finished with the series, although I'm really looking forward to watching more of the movies.  I'm also devastated I didn't read the books and watch the movies when all of my friends were!  What was I thinking?!

-Some of you have asked about my friend, Crystal's, little baby boy.  He is currently working his way up to four pounds and is doing very well!  She has also started a blog (hurray!) if anyone is interested in following along on their journey!

 

- My heart is also so very burdened for so many of my friends and family.  Life is hard and sometimes things just don't make sense.  I am trying to think of these challenges and struggles as ways to show my faith or their faith to others.  Not always the easiest, but hopefully it will get easier.

Hope you are having a good start to your week, friends! :)

wilw!

 

There are so many things to be loving this week!  I am so excited to share a few of my loves--especially the ones from my weekend in Vegas!

First, I'm loving the time we spent in the Venetian!  Although we didn't stay there, this hotel was just so amazing and we loved walking through it and seeing the sights!  There are canals all throughout the hotel where you can travel by gondola.  They even sing to you!  So amazing!

 

 

I'm loving this amazing dish from a restaurant in the Venetian!  The restaurant had gluten-free pasta and just completely took care of us!  I had angel hair pasta with fresh tomatoes, basil, and olive oil--with freshly shredded parmesan cheese to top things off!  This may be the best meal I've ever had. :)

 

I'm loving my Valentine's Day gift from Rob!  I am so so excited to sport these pretty shoes!  Right now we have a few inches of snow so I am holding off on wearing them.  However, they are just calling my name in my closet! :)

I'm loving the quality time I got to spend with my friends and their spouses this weekend.  Vegas was amazing and I am so thankful for the time we all got to spend together! :)

 

 

And of course, I'm loving Rob.  I loved getting to spend four days together in Vegas!  I am continually reminded how funny and smart Rob is.  We just have a blast together and I am so thankful that we enjoy each other's company so very much.  (Also I'm loving that I got to wear sundresses this past weekend before I came home to several inches of snow!)

What are you loving this week?

 

our love story! :)

I've seen lots of people around the blogging world sharing their love stories and I thought I would participate for Valentine's Day! :)

1. How long have you and your significant other been together?

Rob and I have been together for just over two years.  We started dating at the beginning of December in 2009.  Yes, we did meet, become official, get engaged, and get married in about 14 months.  We are getting ready to celebrate our first married anniversary next month!  You know when you know! :)

2. How did you meet? {What's your "love" story?}

Rob and I met online. AH!  We told most people that we met through mutual friends, but as time has gone on we (ok actually I) have become much more open about it.  Rob was the third boy I went out on a date with from eharmony and I was the second girl he had been on a date with!  I happened very quickly, which made me very happy of course!

For our first date, Rob and I went to Bon Vie.  Our dinner lasted for a couple of hours before we walked around Easton to look at the Christmas lights.  We went back to my apartment and watched Christmas Vacation.  It was the best first date.  We immediately connected and spent the evening getting to know each other better and sharing stories.  The next day, Rob told his coworkers he had met the girl he was going to marry.  I love that. :)

Within a few weeks, we were official, although pretty much from our first date on, we didn't see anyone else.  :)

3. If married, how long have you been married? If not, is this the guy you hope to marry? {do tell}

Rob and I will celebrate our first wedding anniversary next month!  :)

4. If you are married, where did you get married at? Big or small wedding?  If not, where would you like to get married? And will it be big or small?

Rob and I were married at Worthington United Methodist Church.  Our wedding and reception were pretty decent sized--we had 225 guests attend our wedding!  Rob and I had ten bridesmaids, nine groomsmen, two flower girls, and a ring bearer.  We also had one reader and two of our friends sang at our wedding.  Everyone was so stressed about the size of our wedding party, but honestly it was perfect.  I felt so incredibly blessed to have so many of our friends and family there to celebrate our love.  The love and the positive energy at our wedding was simply amazing.  I wish I could go back and slow time down for the day!

I blogged about my wedding several places if you'd like to see all of the pictures from our big day! :)

Here are our engagement pictures.  

Here is a preview of our wedding pictures.

Getting ready for the wedding!

Just a few wedding candids before the big ceremony!

Just before the ceremony.

Our wedding ceremony!

Our family portraits

Pictures from our reception are here, and here.

5. Do you have any nick-names that you call one another? Do share!

We mainly just use our names.  We'll use babe, etc. but not any unique names!

6. Name 3 things you love most about your honey.

Just 3?!  Let's see... I think Rob is so so funny.  I love how much and how often he makes me laugh.  Rob also totally has my back.  I love how upset he gets when I tell him about someone being mean to me--without question.  I also love Rob's love of traveling and food.  We have so much fun going away or the weekend or traveling around the world together.  and, he is totally up for trying any new kind of food and I love being able to experience things with him!

7. Tell us how he proposed? Or your ideal proposal?

I shared our engagement story here.  Rob is such a romantic and I love that our engagement story is so romantic! :)

8. Is he a flowers and teddy bear kind of guy for v-day, or strawberries, champagne, and rose petals?

Neither, really.  This year for Valentine's Day Rob gave me my first pair of Revas and a box of chocolates from our pets.  I feel very, very spoiled!

9. Are you a sunset dinner on the beach kind of girl, or pop a movie in and relax on the couch?

I think the majority of our dates are cooking dinner together and watching a movie together--sometimes we will do dinner and a movie out also.  However, I think over the top romance is nice eery once in awhile. I think all girls like to be fawned over. :)  

10. Tell us one thing you'd like to do with your significant one day. If you could do anything? Go anywhere? 

Just yesterday Rob and I were discussing a dream vacation we'd like to take to Greece and Italy. :)   I hope someday that dream becomes a reality!

11. Tell us what you plan on doing on this Valentine's Day.

Rob and I have reservations at an Asian restaurant in town. We are both pretty jet lagged from Vegas, so we may go see a movie, but I think we will just come home and go to bed early.  We're pretty exciting. :)

12. Are you asking for anything this Valentine's day?

I already received my Valentine's gift--my new Revas! :)

13. Give us one piece of advice of keeping a relationship strong and full of love.

I think it's so easy to get caught up in your job, money worries, what's coming next, any of the problems you might be facing in your marriage and not remember to love on your spouse.  Every few months, Rob and I will go away for the weekend or a longer vacation if possible.  I always find myself returning home so refreshed and ready to face anything.  Even a night away can make a huge difference! :)

14.  Show us a picture of what love means to you.

thursday randoms!

1.  Do you all watch Big Bang?  You totally should--that's where the above picture is from.  Rob and I got all of the DVDs through Netflix, but loved it so much we bought all of the seasons at Target.  We are slowly working our way back through them.  When one of us has had a tough day, we just watch Big Bang and I swear it makes things so much better!

2.  Our weekend trip to Vegas could not have come at a better time.  I am just flat out exhausted.  I have been going about a million miles an hour and I am ready for the opportunity to sleep, eat, and be with my friends.  Perfect timing. :)

3.  Speaking of the Vegas trip, I have to finish my HP book so I can take #5 with me!  I've checked all of the books out of the library, but I don't want to haul all of them out there with me!  Hopefully I will be able to finish it up tomorrow. :)

4.  I love those picture.  I'm pretty sure my hair has looked like this on more than one occasion. ;)  I think it's so easy to let our problems get us down.  However, there's a difference between having tough things to get through and letting them rule your life.  

5.  Last night Rob and I cleaned up our bedroom and organized some clothes for our trip this weekend.  Ohmyword.  If I wasn't mortified, I would've taken a before and after picture for you, friends.  Suffice it to say, our room really needed the cleaning and it looks MUCH better now!  It was to the point that I'm not for sure how we were able to get ourselves ready in the morning. :)

6.  I walked into a classroom last week to substitute and saw this note left from another sub.  I'm all about being professional and getting my name out--but really?!  Does anyone else think this is a bit much?

7.  I don't tell my blogging friends nearly enough how happy their emails, comments, and tweets make me.  When I'm having a rough day, a comment or an email can totally turn my day around.  I am so so thankful for each and every one of you. :)

Hope you're having a good Thursday! :)

this week's loves :)

I swear I was just writing last week's What I'm Loving Wednesday!  I know this is such a sign of being busy, but I love it!  If you want to link up with What I'm Loving Wednesday, head over to This Kind of Love to link up with Jamie!

This week I'm loving Harry Potter of course!  I am on book #4 and they are so so good!  I am kind of sad that I didn't get into Harry Potter when everyone else did--I really missed out!  They are such good books and I am so enchanted by each one!

I'm loving my Goodreads challenge to myself!  I am trying to read 52 books this year!  So far I have read 8--so I'm just a few ahead of schedule.  Harry Potter is definitely helping me reach this goal! :)

I'm loving these pinterest house pins... Aren't they gorgeous?!

Of course, I'm loving Rob.  I am so excited we are getting away for the weekend with our friends.  This weekend is much needed after several 12+ hour days!  I'm also very excited to be spending our third Valentine's Day together!  So much to love and to be thankful for in my life! :)

vegas!

So friends, we are off to Vegas this weekend!  Several of our couple friends--and a few singles!--are headed there for the weekend.  :)

We are staying at Mandalay Bay.  Have any of you stayed there before?  I am hoping it is as nice as the website shows it to be! 

I'm also looking for some fun restaurants and places to go visit while we're there!  Do you have any recommendations? 

I've also done just a little bit of shopping for our trip...just a little though!  I did get this pretty pretty dress--for free because I exchanged a pair of pants.  Perfect!  Isn't it so so pretty?

I can't wait to hear your Vegas recommendations--I am really looking forward to the chance to get away for a few days! :)

let's talk hair again! :)

My Friday post didn't post the way it was set up.  AND, when I go into edit it, it shows the words I had typed.  Isn't that weird?  Anyways, I just decided to redo it, but with some more detail and pictures! :)

As a reminder, this is what my hair looked like before.....

 

And here is the after! :)

 

I LOVE my long hair, but I have to say, I love the short hair.  I'm pretty pumped about it!  It takes less than 10 minutes to blow dry, when I was spending 20+ minutes each day!  Even more good news?  I wore my hair curly yesterday and I didn't have to wash it today.  This is a huge deal, friends.  I've never been the person who could go two days without washing their hair.  Never.  However, now I am! :)  And if I'm being honest, I think it looked better today.  Weird, huh?  I think wearing my hair curly sometimes is going to be the best treat. :)

Now that I have my hair short, I'm looking for some fun new ways to fix my hair.  Have you all seen this blog--The Small Things?  She is such a rockstar with her hair and provided tutorials for all of her hairdos!  Amazing!! :)

Alright, that is enough for tonight!  Hope you've all had a great Monday! :)