personalized wine bottles

How cute are these??
http://www.swansonvineyards.com/Mix-Match.aspx

Happy hump day

a royal day

Hi Friends,

This Friday, April 29, Nick and I will be celebrating 5 years of marriage.

We made it!
We also will be sharing April 29, 2011 with another dashing couple.

Wowzers!

And while the rest of the world will be watching the royal wedding, which will be marked as a bank holiday in the UK, and costing more money than many of us will see in our lifetime...We non royals will be having a quiet dinner somewhere in DC.

I think that's pretty cool.

HE is good

Today is Good Friday, and it is today that I am reminded of all the good things in my life.

I am a child of God. My salvation is secure based on my faith in Jesus Christ. He bore my sin and shame by His death on the cross, and rose from the dead three days later so that I will have eternal life in heaven. My God is good.

I have a resurrected marriage. A brand new marriage, and a husband that loves me in a way I can't even describe. He values me. He respects me. He honors me. He supports me. He supports us. My God is good.

I have a fantastic family and wonderful friends that have been there through thick and thin. My God is good.

I have the sweetest dog on the planet. He catches a ball, brings it back, only barks when someone knocks at the door, sits, and sleeps with us at night. My God is good.

We have a beautiful home that we love. My God is good.

Jesus, YOU are good.

Happy Easter friends

xo

what to be?

What did you want to be when you grew up?

A teacher? A firefighter? A zoo keeper? A dancer? A football player?

I always wanted to be a marine biologist. I had an obsession with manatee's. Sea cow's! For real! I was  crazy about them. In elementry school, my best friend, Cameron and I even adopted one. We thought we were so cool...and we kinda were :)

Today, I have NO desire to study marine life whatsoever. I do still have a soft spot for the fat little manatee's, and look forward to seeing them when we go up to Crystal River. But it's not a passion anymore.

So how do you know what you want to be? What is your calling? Is it instilled in you as a child? Does it change frequently?

I sometimes envy those people who have known what they want to do from childhood. My husband, Nick for example, has always known he wanted to be a cop. His mom has pictures of him from age 6 with plastic handcuffs on his belt. We could have an entire Christmas tree covered in just police ornaments that he has collected over the years. It makes my heart smile. He knew his passion.

I am 27 years old, and am still trying to find my calling. What am I meant to be, Lord?

I always thought it was something in the medical field. I went through medical assisting school, and figured out really fast that it was not for me. Then, I nannied for 5 years for 2 precious little boys, and realized how important those young years are. I worked at Starbucks, and realized how happy coffee makes people. Now, I am currently working as a receptionist and going to school in the evenings.

But at the end of the day, I am still wondering what my purpose is? Who am I?
I think it's very important to know what makes you tick. What fulfills you? What makes you smile?

So, I am re-evaluating what makes me, me. What are my strengths? Where do I find my satisfaction? The text I got this morning from my Mom. "Follow your TRUE passion, Kiki." I love my Mom.

Hope you have a beautiful Tuesday friends...doing whatever makes you, you.

Love,
K

my weekend

This weekend was a little different, but I wouldn't have changed a thing about it.

Friday night, I met my 2 dear girlfriends Noemi and Megan for dinner at Mekenita's for some delicious pacific mexican and drinks. Still not sure what pacific mexican is...but it's darn good! I highly recommend it!

After dinner, we headed over to Home Goods to do some browsing. I could quite possibly spend HOURS there. It's my happy place.

Saturday morning, I met my mother-in-law for breakfast, and we talked, and talked, and talked. It was really wonderful, and long over due. Then I worked my magic at Kirklands, and SCORED on a fabulous painting for our dining room. Their clearance is ahh-mazing! Came home, did laundry, got a pedicure (hot pink), and finished the evening with a Skype date w/my hubby, my dad, and my brother. They were all in Maryland on the same weekend. Crazy, right?

Sunday I started my coupon clipping. I only ended up saving a whopping .50 cents on my grocery bill this time, but I'm just learning this. I will get better...hopefully. On our afternoon Skype chat, Nick suprised me w/a plane ticket to D.C. next weekend for our 5 yr anniversary.

 He has been up there for a week for work (he comes home Friday, and will leave again on Monday). I am really excited to see the city and spend a great weekend together! The rest of our Sunday was pretty chill. Cowboy and I layed out in the sun, and I got a little color finally...praises! We feel asleep early, and didn't even get to finish "Dispicable Me"

How was your weekend?

learning to coupon...my oh my!

The time has come. I am learning to coupon.
http://www.thekrazycouponlady.com/

I had NO CLUE how much goes into couponing. It's like an art.

This week, I started watching "Extreme Couponing" on TLC. These chicks are crazy!
http://tlc.discovery.com/videos/extreme-couponing-extreme-couponing-sneak-peek.html

I mean, I get the concept...but I can't see how buying 56 things of mustard...and literally clearing the entire shelf is a good deal? Or stacking toilet paper as high as the celiling is savings?

None the less...I'm gonna give it a shot. It makes me crazy to make 2 trips to Publix in a week, and spend $30-$40 bucks each checkout, on top of my Saturday trips. No more!
My bestie, Tana, is teaching me the "how to's" of couponing...and there's alot that goes into planning a shopping trip. I mean you have to strategize, get your list, pair your coupons with what's on sale, buy multiple papers, clip, organize by date, shop multiple stores, do multiple transactions to maximize your savings...ect.

My head is spinning.

So, this Sunday begins my couponing journey. I'll keep ya posted.

Happy Friday

K

one sweet weekend

Well, we had one fabulous weekend.

Friday...I came home from work to a red dining room.

Really red.

Cherry Cobbler

 I tried not to freak and wonder how olive green and light brown color swactches taped to the wall turned to red? Maybe I had mentioned red a few weeks ago, but figured it was a little bold for our small dining room.

Deep breath.

I tried to remember that my precious husband had been busting his rear to get our house back in working order. As y'all know, this has been one rather easy project that has turned from one thing into another. I'd be lying if I said my patience have not been tested over the past few months. Ladders, dropclothes, screwdrivers, nails, shop vac's, dust in places I never knew could get dusty, furniture pulled from everywhere, endless trips to Home Depot...it's been a job. But, it's turning out beautiful.

Anyways, back to my story...

After my red dining room shock, we headed to dinner at Bonefish with our dear friends Brian & Tana. We are rather huge fans of Bang Bang Shrimp :)

Delish!

Saturday, 7:30 am, Nick hit the ground running. He had the yard cut, plants watered, trash taken out and the house totally clean by 11 am.

I am liking this. Very much.

I headed out to meet my girlfriend for lunch in Clearwater. We ended up back at our house for a surprise birthday party my husband planned for me. I had no clue! It was such a nice night!

Sunday, Nick and I headed to Lutz to spend the afternoon with his family. It was long overdue, and he always enjoy's talks with his Dad.

Wrapped the night up with another trip to Home Depot for some more red paint.

Two coates just aint enough...

How was your weekend?

xoxo

fabulous dress for spring!

I am IN LOVE with the dress Carrie Underwood wore yesterday on "Ellen"

Isn't this just FABULOUS? It's Nikolaki by Nick Verreos.

Happy weekend :)

restored

This is just how I feel today...

"[ Restoration of Israel ] This is what the LORD says: “In the time of my favor I will answer you, and in the day of salvation I will help you; I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people, to restore the land and to reassign its desolate inheritances,"




Isaiah 49:8 NIV

Today I feel restored. It's a fabulous day.

27 years later

Today I turned 27 years old. I'm not quite sure why this is so huge for me? Maybe because I feel like I have lived a lot of life.

Today, I think back, and my heart is grateful.

I have learned how important prayer is. It's powerful. It reminds us that we are powerless without Him.

I have learned that forgiveness is not an option. We forgive because we are forgiven.

I have learned that love is tough. It's trying, but in the end...it wins. Love always wins.

I have learned how vital friends are. They are a necessity! I would be one useless blob without my precious girlfriends. I am richly blessed!

I have learned how being with family is like breathing. It's nourishing to my soul, and I feel so very grateful to have so much love in my life.

I have learned that school is so important. It's humbling to be 27 years old, and still in college. One day I'll get through nursing school. I will.

I have learned that getting out of debt is so freeing! If you can't pay cash...don't buy it. Period.

I have learned that saying "no" is ok. In fact, it's good sometimes.

I have learned that's it's ok to still not have kids.

I have learned that natural is usually always better.

I have learned that being you is all that you can be, and you are beautiful!

I have learned that seeing your Facebook wall FULL of sweet birthday messages will keep you smiling all day long.


Thank you dear friends for making my day so, so special.

Love,
K

things that make me smile

This past weekend was just wonderful! Friday, my family came down from VA for my little brother's spring break. Well, I suppose they are not so little anymore...

We had a fabulous meal: lasagna, salad, and hot garlic bread. Of coarse...keylime pie and cheesecake brownies for dessert :) My dear friend, Katie was also in town for the weekend. They make my heart so very happy!

Saturday we packed up and headed to Indian Rocks Beach. Sadly, we didn't get a touch of sun...nada, and it was a crazy, beautiful 83 degrees all day! How does this happen? We topped it off with a trip to the Kooky Coconut for some ice cream. Toasted Coconut for me, Superman & Butterfinger for the boys.

Sunday we went to church and had lunch by the pool. Another gorgeous day. I studied for a few hours for my math test the following night, and then Nick and I headed to South Tampa and had dinner outside at Chipotle. Such a lovely evening.

Monday, my math test...that I studied for Sunday...totally got postponed till Wednesday :) And the painters started painting all the trim and new colors for the walls. Mississippi Mud possibly for the dining room? Decisions...

Today we had a little tornado blow through Spring Hill, and it blew two of the letters off the sign at the dealership..so FLAMMER FORD currently reads LAMME FORD

Tomorrow I turn 27.

Have a fabulous Tues, friends

KD