Each year Jason always gives me something “from Santa.” The reason this is because it is usually an appliance for the kitchen or some sort of daily-use appliance that isn’t a romantic gift. So, Jason saves himself each year by writing “from Santa” on the gift. This year, I received a food processor (!!) and last year I got a blender. I actually tend to look forward these gifts! It’s nice to know he is thinking of how life in the kitchen can be made easier and that he knows it’s not good to make that his primary gift on Christmas Day because it has an electrical cord.

So, I decided this year to do the same for Jason. I found the Audiovox Acoustic Research Outdoor Wireless Speaker and knew Jason would love it. The fact that it is sold at one of the hardware stores helped a lot, too. Basically, it is a wireless outdoor speaker that has a wireless transmitter that you can hook your ipod/iphone/etc into and play music while you are outside. Does my DJ husband need that? Absolutely not. But won’t it be nice to play music while sitting on our back porch, sipping margaritas and grilling? That is the dream that set this gift in motion.

Granted, we set this up on the first of the year and it was cold! But a girl can still dream of the future.

Here’s the package and how we (Jason) installed this beauty.

It looked (and was) pretty easy to install. It only had a few components, including the transmitter.

First, we had to take off the old light. I probably should have wiped it down before taking this picture. Can you see the cobweb?

Then Jason took off the old mount and installed the new one. They looked the same to me, but he did this probably for a good reason.

Here is our speaker waiting patiently to be installed.

Then was the tricky part. We had to re-connect all of the wires including the ground wire. This part was tough on me: I stood on my tiptoes and held the speaker close while Jason connected all the wires. This photo does not mean that Jason did this himself: we recommend two people for any new light install or else you might drop it!

Finally before my arms gave way we had it screwed into place!

 

Our new light/speaker in all its glory. Oh, I hate that orange. We really need to change our shutter color.

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Some days I dream of having a little nook just like this to call my own. We have our home office, but it’s tucked away at the back of the house. I wouldn’t mind putting a desk (somewhere) in the living area to blog from. Isn’t this just perfect?

A few other things that I’m digging this week:

• I’m so excited that Courtney from A Little Glass Box opened up her own etsy store! Go check it out, her yarn ball garlands are so cute and unique. And if you haven’t seen her blog yet, just take a look at her home tour. I. Love. It. All.
• Even Jason was impressed with YHL’s Play Kitchen! How adorable!
• I happened upon this website and am in LOVE! What a cute idea.

 

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I finally bought it. I’m eagerly awaiting its arrival.

The Clover bag by Epiphanie.

I have been debating between this bag and another since last week. I told Jason that in order for me to learn how to photograph better and use the camera we spent a lot of money for, I needed a bag to carry it in. I already hate that I have to carry a tote AND my purse to work everyday to bring in my laptop. Nevermind a camera bag, too! My goal was to find the bag of all bags, that could hold everything at once.

This bag is it. It can hold my 15″ Macbook Air, my camera, and all of my purse things. Here is the video that won me over with the space it has. If you are still debating the video definitely will make a decision for you!

I can’t wait to have a place for everything on the go with everything in its place! I’ve never been so excited for a bag, ever. Please don’t disappoint me Epiphanie!

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I don’t think it’s a bad thing that when a new year comes around, everyone starts creating a New Year’s resolution or two, things they want to change in their lives in the next year to make them better. Every year, I want to quit cigarettes, lose weight, stay healthy, etc. but I’ve never made it a public list. So I’ve decided to combine my New Year’s resolutions with a popular idea other bloggers have called the “life list” (such as Nicole did over at Making it Lovely or Alex did from Alex the Girl). These are in no particular order of importance and they will most likely be edited over time; here it goes:

1. Get married to my husband for the 2nd time (it’s coming! June 16 2012!)
2. Quit cigarettes, for good.
3. Eat healthy.
4. Start running on a regular basis.
5. Get more sleep.
6. Edit my wardrobe ruthlessly.
7. Buy a plot of land without any neighbors.
8. Build our “dream house.”
9. Own a Chanel 2.55 bag.
10. Live without credit cards.
11. Be completely debt-free.
12. Have a successful garden that includes vegetables.
13. Own/build a Farmhouse table.
14. Adopt a mutt from the humane society.
15. Learn to sew better.
16. Take one photo a day for a year.
17. Finalize all of the art/frames in our current home.
18. Stop biting my nails and have manicures on a regular basis.
19. Paint one room pink, even if it’s a closet.
20. Train Charlie and Zoey better.
21. Pave our driveway.
22. Decal Jason’s truck with his DJ business, maybe even my car too.
23. Buy a box trailer and decal it for our business.
24. Build our personal business to the point where it could be our sole income.
25. Have a baby, then a couple more.
26. Be a stay at home mom.
27. Understand WordPress better.
28. Keep my car cleaner.
29. Wash my car more often.
30. Get a massage.
31. Create a tradition.
32. Become an “extreme” couponer and learn how to get things for FREE.
33. Have a stockpile.
34. Light more candles.
35. Find a place for our chest freezer that is NOT an eyesore.
36. Create a recipe book.
37. Become a better meal planner.
38. Get my 4th tattoo.
39. Attend a NYC Fashion show.
40. Make a place for myself to blog/craft/etc in our current home.
41. Build more confidence on the phone.
42. Own a pair of Hunter rain boots.
43. Go to Disney World when we have a family.
44. Participate in a NAMI Walk in honor of my mom.
45. Donate a significant amount of money to a charity.
46. Learn to knit and crochet.
47. Go to a state fair.
48. Snowboard in Aspen.
49. Host a big backyard barbecue with our closest friends.
50. Have a stocked wine cabinet.
51. Publish a book.
52. Own a pair of Louboutin heels.
53. Renovate our current kitchen.
54. Visit every state.
55. Participate in a wine tasting.
56. Renovate both bathrooms in our current home.
57. Drive a moped.
58. Spend more time with friends.
59. Refresh a piece of furniture from Craigslist.
60. Own more than two chairs for our dining table.
61. Host a fancy dinner.
62. Host Thanksgiving dinner in our home.
63. Have Lasik eye surgery, if I’m a candidate.
64. Straighten my bottom teeth.
65. Whiten my teeth (once I’m done smoking).
66. Take an RV trip.
67. Go to a football game with my husband.
68. Go to Mexico and have a margarita.
69. Get a passport (will need to, ASAP for our honeymoon!)
70. Learn to photograph better.
71. Go to Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse in Annapolis.
72. Stop worrying about my mom and make her happy.
73. Learn how to bake better.
74. Have a successful marriage.
75. Have no regrets.

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Last year, Jason and I went with another couple (Jason’s Best Man Chris and his girlfriend Maria) to the Poconos for a few days to learn how to snowboard. Because we are crazy, we did it again this year!

My stomach was in knots and I shook so bad the first day that I just wanted to give up, get some hot cocoa and stop this insane idea that I could conquer this winter sport. But Jason was patient and I just continued to bruise my body with each attempt down the hill.

Until day 2. I can proudly say I did an entire run without falling! Maria was extremely patient and spent all morning giving me lessons and by that afternoon Jason and I didn’t even fall when coming off the lift!

This morning we both woke up sore and bruised and came back home. The tree is still up and our living room is still littered with gifts. I should be organizing, but I also brought home with me a sore throat which will likely follow me into the new year. So I am keeping my bruised bottom on the couch tonight and most likely after work tomorrow too. Jason and I have agreed that it’s ok to be boring and ring in the new year with a movie and the puppies while our friends will most likely be out celebrating. I think we will soak up the much needed rest while we can!

So as I wait for Jason to return home from deejaying I’ll be Pinning for the rest of tonight and thinking of 2012 projects! I’m going to give in to the pressure of a new year and will have a post on goals I would like to achieve in 2012 up soon. My list keeps getting bigger!

Does anyone already have a new year’s resolution decided on?

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I hope everyone had a very merry Christmas! Jason and I were so exhausted by the end of it that we passed out without doing any organizing. Our living room is a mess of wrapping paper and gifts! Did you get what you wished for? We sure did!

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A while ago while I learned how to make yarn garland balls (idea courtesy of Courtney from A Little Glass Box) we found that Charlie, too, likes yarn. Jason took the opportunity to take our Canon Rebel out for a spin. Here are some of the test shots.

 

 

 

 

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