Well! I didn't intend on taking a month-long hiatus from blogging, but with all the craziness this holiday season, something had to give, and blogging and cleaning my house were it.  I guess this holiday season wasn't any crazier than years past, but I often to much of my shopping/crafting beginning in the late summer/early autumn, and this year, just didn't get to it (that minor task of planning our wedding got in the  way!)
So, here I am, back on the proverbial horse, with a list of resolutions (which I won't bore you with sharing).  Instead, I would like to share with you some of the highlights of our holiday season:

We got our wedding photos (digitally, at least!)

 Got new phones (that's the hubby, phone in one hand, remote in the other)

 Thanksgiving leftover pizza: Cranberry Sauce, turkey, 

Mozzarella, and balsamic onions.  Definitely my favorite 

leftover creation to date!

Picked out and decorated our tree

 Spent time in Canada with the in-laws!

 Hubby got me a label-maker.  He'll be sorry! 

The first thing I labeled was him: Husband

No trip to Canada is complete without a trip to Harvey's!

 Some things I didn't take photos of: The amazing Feast of the Seven Fishes, hosted by my amazing Grandparents, our midnight drive to Canada, hanging lights on our new house, Snowmageddon (we do live in the Northeast!), and our decked-out house.

I hope your holiday season was as blessed as ours was.  Each year, we are more and more thankful for the wonderful families we have both been gifted with. 

Farewell to 2010, you were an awesome year! New house, marriage, continued health for us and our loved ones.  Hello 2011, hope you live up to your potential to be the best yet!

 

Gratitude

My husband and I have had so very many opportunities to be grateful this year:

 

We bought a house,

 Moved in (with mountains of stuff!)

 Had an engagement party

 

And got married!

We couldn't have accomplished any of those things without the love and support from our families and friends.  Each milestone gave us cause to stop and count our blessings among those that we care about, and that care about us.  To reflect on a year full of such an outpouring of support for so many happy occasions brings tears to my eyes.  We are so blessed; this year, and every year.  This post is dedicated to all those without whom our lives would be so, so empty.  

Thank you for everything; you all know who you are.  We are so blessed to have you in our lives.  May the next year be filled with many blessings, happiness, and support from those you love. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Snapshots

Homemade cranberry jelly, standing ready for Thanksgiving!

 Finally, 7 months after we moved in; we're putting up curtains

(All our windows except one came with blinds, so it hasn't been a priority!)

First snow Friday morning...OK so it's only a dusting, but it counts!

 Two months (and 2 days) since we tied the knot.

Watching the UCONN/SU game, 

eating homemade cheesesteak, 

wearing the new hat I got him at the market today. 

Life is good!

Sunday

 A restful Sunday around here:

 

 Home-canned Beef Stock (Pressure canned for safety!)

 Use-up-stuff-from-the-fridge Italian Casserole

Clean linens and Flannel Sheets on the bed

doesn't look like nothing...

 Well.  I keep intending to blog here, but it seems so easy to procrastinate about it...and everything else computer-based, for that matter.  I attempted to write a few times, but it seemed like we hadn't been doing anything worth writing about, nor had I been taking photos.  Or so I thought.  When I  *Finally* uploaded my photos, I found that I had been taking pictures.  Not many, but enough.  So, here's a flip-book of the last few weeks  month. 

 We went to a wood-stacking/bonfire party

Shopped for a new hat (but didn't find one)

 Went to the SAMMY's gala (But they didn't win)

 Had a birthday party (and my husband baked me brownies! This has never happened before!)

 (Tomato pear chutney on cream cheese)

 Husband's band in my kitchen

 Friends (Also, we got a new couch!)

 Leftover mac-n-cheese with jalapenos, tomatoes, 

and all the bits of cheese from the fridge!

 I carved this little guy at work.  

Name's Spike.  He's a porcupine.  

Gotta love jack-o-lantern designs that require the use of a drill ;)

 Had a girl's outing to see Rocky Horror Picture Show

 Saw a great band.  That's the husband dressed as Larry the Cable Guy

 :) (He's dodging my spikes)

I was the Statue of Liberty.  Made the costume.  I'm pretty proud of it!

So.  I think that catches you up.  Maybe now I can do more regular blogs instead of sporadic, mammoth ones.  We'll see.

...Aaannd Breathe...

We did it! I'm now a Mrs., subject to all rights and titles contained therein!

The whole day went spectacularly, from start to finish.  The weather was beautiful, there were no disasters, and all the guests got along splendidly!

Many thanks to everyone who helped make the day possible, and a shout-out to my husband's cousin who helped out with some of the last minute details, very late at night.  

Our outdoor ceremony went wonderfully, with our friends and family gathered around as we took our vows.  I can't wait to see the photos from the photographer, she's posted only 4, and boy, are they a tease!

Our venue was wonderful, adjusting the schedule to allow for our late arrival, and putting up all my decorations, etc.  

The cake was so gorgeous, I didn't want to cut it, but we did!

Our week in Vermont was fantastic, with beautiful weather, service, and foliage/scenery!

A few photos:

(I'm not grimacing, we were looking right into the sun!)

Final Update before the big day!!!

I think I've got everything under control!!!  Only a few things left (Mostly delivering decorations and cleaning my house so it'll be nice when we get home) Saturday's the big day, and since I was laying awake in bed running through my mental to-do list, I thought I'd get up and do some computer-ing in the wee hours of the morning!

• Find wedding rings.  We want vintage/antique rings.  We know where we need to go, but it's open funny hours that interfere with work schedules.
• Pick out specific/purchase his clothes (Got his shirt, need pants still)(Getting pants today!)
• Pick out specific outfits for the groomsmen (we have an idea, we just need to say "this shirt" or "those pants") (Got them picked out, just need to give out the info!)
• Get our marriage license!! (This is planned for Monday morning!) (DONE!!!)
• Talk to our cake-maker about what we want and what size.  She's already agreed to make it, we just haven't given her specifics.  I hope to talk to her today.  (DONE!)
• Plan out the order of the day, and deal ahead of time with any logistical issues that come up. (For example, if it's raining, who's in charge of holding the umbrella over me while I walk from the parking lot to the pavilion?) (In progress.  Got the order coming along nicely, as well as logistics)
• Figure out my hair/makeup situation.(working on it!) (Had a run-through last night, it's beautiful!)
• Meet with photographer. (Thursday?) (Email conferenced!)
• Do up our favors (Maybe tonight?) Thanks Alison!
  
• Start writing thank-you notes for gifts already received (All caught up with what's already come!)
• Pack for honeymoon (got my list going, will do this next weekend after laundry day!) (Done, except for overnight essentials, that will be done in the morning)
• Call those who haven't RSVPed (ahem!) (Thank you everyone who is coming!)
• Write out place cards (Delegated to Mom, who has beautiful writing!)
• Make out seating chart (started, it's going to be harder than I thought...) (Just need MIL's approval!)
• Finish up our dinner playlist for the iPod (the band starts after dinner) (Playlist is done, just need to consolidate it into one music program, and charge up/sync the iPod)
• Confirm what balances are due where and get checks for them
• Gather all the wedding stuff in one place (Work in progress!)
• Call flower people
• Touch base again with officiant (meeting with him today!)
• Figure out table number holder for centerpiece. (I'm a flippin' genius!)
• Get to ceremony location with groom, best man, and bridesmaid to discuss decorations (Going today, in the rain)
• Figure out our transportation the day of (we're not doing limos...) (Think we got this one figured out!)
• Make mani/pedi appointment
• Get a haircut and appropriate waxing (Monday)
• Pick up Flowers for ceremony (Done!)
• Refill EZ Pass. 
• Write numbers on place cards
• Drop off all decorations
• Clean Kitchen and bathroom
• I most importantly need to remember to HAVE FUN!!!!!!!!!!!

Also, I have:

• picked up a sweater for over my gown if it's cold

• a "something blue" from the unmentionables dept.
• an outfit for the rehearsal dinner
• been working on my tan (with the help of a small bottle, cause it just hasn't been sunny around here!)
• Gotten and given bridesmaid's gifts (Thank you guys, you are all awesome!!!!!)
• Canned 2 batches of tomatoes from my garden (one red and one green, so they won't go to waste!) Also made a batch of pickles with cukes from the garden...
• Done every stitch of laundry in the house