Excuses.

Lately I have been full of a great excuse. Just one. One that seemed to consume the past 11 months of my life. I thought it was a pretty good one, considering I was planning a ceremony and celebration that would shape the rest of my entire life. However, looking back this excuse shaped more than just my time. It shaped my social life, my domestic life, my "work out" life, my "crafty" life and my family life. It changed the way I spent my days and ALL nights. Oh and let's not forget to mention- love life.

Excuse of 2010/2011: "After the wedding...", "when the wedding is over...", "I will get to that when I have more time after the wedding...", "September is going to be a busy month when I have time after the wedding..."

So, now that I have the fairytale day behind me and I am now official Mrs. Barnes (most incredible, amazing, extraordinary, better than I could have ever dreamed of day) my to-do lists are our of control. It's almost like my mind has been wiped clean and ready for me to fill with new, exciting projects:

1. Work on work.
2. Run more. Justin and I are running the PF Chang's 1/2 Marathon in January so my normal 2 mile jog isn't really going to cut it.
3. Plan a girls trip with my Seattle besties. WE are in desperate need of some together time.
4. Clean out my closet.
5. Take a photography class to learn how to actually use the camera I have.
6. Make Justin more of his favorite cookies. As long as we do # 2 :)

That should be enough to keep me busy here for the next few months..

Oh yeah and one more...

#7: LEARN TO BE A BETTER BLOGGER!

Good thought to keep in mind.

Happy Wednesday!

It's official...

I am not good at blogging. I am not going to lie, blogging is at the very bottom of the totem pole these days. Lately, I have barely had time to call my best friends back let alone be a good blogger for my loads of 6 "followers." Which doesn't make much sense considering I have a ton more page views a day... follow me people!


The following image is a handy tool in the produce department. I don't agree with buying organic in all instances but in most the food tastes better and I know it is better for me (and Justin). 


Use this image next time you are at the store:

It's a sure great day for a wedding

This song is a must while the ladies and I are getting ready on the big day! 

Bibo

While in high school I worked at a coffee shop named "Bibo." It was a locally owned shop run by two 26 year old guys and one of their moms. I loved it. It was by far the best job I have ever had. We knew every customers name, drink and dogs name. We baby sat for them, house sat when they were out of town and special ordered pastries when we knew they had family coming to visit.


One of the girls that I worked there with is still one of my best friends in the world. We don't see each other often (she is in law school in LA, smarty pants) but when we do get together we pick right up where we left off. A part of me thinks I loved Bibo so much because of her. Whitney is going to be at the bachelorette party and wedding and I can't wait to drink a few too many cocktails with her and celebrate love!

Jersey party? Who knows.

We would always laugh when customers would come in and order coffee like they were at Starbucks. I never really minded, but it was funny to see other baristas get so angry about the "box store" coffee shop lingo.  "I am sorry, you want a tall venti mocha? We don't have that here, only small, medium and large!" 

One of my lifetime goals is to open a coffee shop. I don't know where but I do have a business plan in place and ready to go. Who knows when this will happen but the sooner the better is sounding REALLY good these days. 

A toast to...

Since wedding planning has started I haven't been super emotional about the events taking place. My personality is to plan, plan, plan and then just get through it without any bumps in the road. Not in an insensitive way, just in a time is ticking sort of manner. 

That, however, has not been the case when it has come to our wedding invitations. When Justin and I went to proof the wedding invites a few weeks back it was sob central. I couldn't help it. Seeing our names, together, on the same piece of beautiful paper, in the pretty font made my eyes fill and tears fall. 

So-the night has come to take out our pretty pens and start addressing each and every envelope to our wonderful guests. I can't wait to open the bottle of champagne we have been saving for this day, (from the wonderful Dan and Jen), plant our bums on the couch and toast to many rsvp's and not to many no-see's! 

Oh, and I apologize if your invite has a little bit of smeared ink on the front... this is why...

Justin has amazing handwriting so I am sure he will be doing a little bit of addressing, too :) 

Feeling whole

Nothing has made me happier than becoming "roomies" with Justin. It feels like our relationship has come full circle. The best part of my day is coming home to see him. Yes ladies, he cooks, cleans, makes the bed and he is Mr. Fix IT! 

I can't wait to spend forever with him, he is the best roommate a girl could ask for! 

One for One.

Loving Toms NEW eyewear line! 

"With TOMS Eyewear, one person buys, and one person is helped. TOMS will help give sight to people in need through medical treatment, prescription eyeglasses and sight-saving surgery, administered by its first Sight Giving Partner, Seva Foundation. Based in northern California, Seva has been implementing sustainable blindness prevention and sight restoration programs for over 30 years. Seva programs and partners have helped nearly three million people worldwide to see again. Nepal, Tibet and Cambodia are the first countries in which TOMS Eyewear will give."

http://www.toms.com/eyewear/