Goodbye...

...2009.

What a wonderful year you were.

Maybe even the best yet.

It started with a wonderful proposal, followed by one of the best summers of my life.

We spent the weekends here and there, with family and new friends-taking in the sunshine.

We laughed. We learned. We planned a wedding.

And once autumn rolled around, we got married.

It was such a perfect day, and just looking at pictures of our wedding brings on the many emotions of that day.

Your wedding day, although busy, will bring about some of the best moments in your life.

Getting ready with girlfriends. Walking down the aisle with your dad. Being surrounded by such amazing friends and family. Hours of dancing. And knowing you get to spend the rest of your life with someone so special to you.

It's all beyond amazing.

I am sad to see such an incredible year closing in on us, but we know there is so much out there to grasp and see the happiness in.

Life will bring us new challanges, new little moments of laughter, and many more memories to come.

So here is to hoping 2010 is just as lovely.

To make it so I plan on--

Kissing my husband more and more each day.

Sending out more hand-written letters.

Working out more often so I feel better about myself.

Complimenting someone daily.

Visiting friends.

Challenging myself at work.

Cleaning out every last space of my closet.

Taking more pictures with my film camera's and starting a photo board to always be reminded of the fun moments in life.

Trying out many new recipes.

...and lots and lots more things.

Here's to a great year, full of love...Happy New Years!

PS...WANT TO WIN POSTCARDS? There is still time to enter!!! :)

I got a new friend!

You already know that I have a friend named Mini Diana. She took some really fun pictures for us of LA that I hope to post soon...

For Christmas my little brother Brade introduced me to a new friend that

I've wanted for SUCH a long time...

She takes amazing photos just like these...

Via

...and her name is Holga!

I was soooo excited! I cannot wait to get some film in the mail and to give her a try.

Do any of you have Holga's?

Any tips?

Hoping you got something YOU love for Christmas as well!

I got lots of goodies!

Gift cards for B&H photo--one of my FAVORITE websites!

I got 6 pairs of shoes. Seriously.

Lots of fun kitchen appliances-so fun!

And remember that little cradle I saw at the pawn shop in my town that i fell in love with but didn't buy?

Well, I went back there last week to buy it---and it was gone!

I was sad, and called and told my mom, and jace...and probably everone else that i could tell..

That little beauty of a cradle was gone because MY PARENTS called out to that shop and bought it.

FOR ME.

I am soooo exited.

And no, not expecting children in a long while....

But it was such a great antique piece that i wanted to refinish-

AND NOW I CAN!!

I have the best family!

More christmas fun to come...:)

From me to....

YOU?!

It's Christmas Day and what better way to celebrate than with a GIVEAWAY!!!!

UPrinting.com has offered me a great oppertunity to give back to those who are so wonderful to me-all my friends and fellow bloggers! Reading all about your happy moments, and your life lessons has helped inspire me, and keep me entertained daily--for that I thank you.

To thank you we are giving away 100 postcards from UPrinting.com.

How do you win?

That's easy!

To enter to win 100 {4x6, cardstock gloss, full color on both sides} postcards

you need to...

1. simply comment below explaining how you would use these postcards, and include your email address.

2. you gain an extra entry if you are a follower, or become a follower-{please state this in your comment.}

3. gain ANOTHER entry if you post about this giveaway on your blog-{please state this in your comment.}

**winner pays shipping**

It's that simple!

There are so many different uses for these postcards. I've used them for my wedding thank-you's, save-the-dates, and even Christmas cards.

Since I am hosting this giveaway, Uprinting has offered me 100 postcards as well. If any of you know me personally, this is perfect. I always have a use for custom postcards!

I'm going to put a picture that I've taken on the front side and use them throughout the year for thank-you's, or even just for a simple hello. I might even use them for my little photography hobby...the ideas are endless.

via



Graduation invitations, baby announcements, business marketing....

I can't wait to see what you come up with!
I will randomly pick the winner on January 2nd..
The contest ends at midnight on Friday, January 1st!

So get your comments in!
And remember..
Merry Christmas from us to you!!!

Merry, Merry..

Wishing a Merry Christmas to you all.
Hoping you have a wonderful Christmas weekend that is filled with laughter and love.

Xo, Jace and Awna

Dear Santa,

Jace and I have been very, very good this year.

We were very kind.

We wrote lots of thank-you notes when people did generous things.

We donated our time to little children who needed it.

We got some good Christmas gifts for our friends and families.

We turned our lights off when we weren't using them. {yes, jace is the best at this}

We said our please and thank-you's all year.

We suprised some people-it was a good surprise, we swear.

We recycled our plastic bags. {jace makes me}

We didn't spread any diseases like the swine flu.

We kissed alot.

We fought a little, but made up. {jace makes me make up. sometimes i want to be mad longer}

We donated clothes to the thrift store. {jace wouldn't let me throw them away.}

We tell those that mean the most that we love them often.

So, since we were good, {or at least Jace was}...all we ask for is...

a super cute new apartment.

Preferable in a city where we can go to barnes and noble for dates late at night.

or where we can walk down the street and just be inspired by the diversity.

or head out and see John Mayer perform less than an hour away.

or shop at something more than a Walmart.

Is that too much to ask?

We promise we'll say thank you.

If it comes with a beautiful bathroom, dining room, and wonderful suitcase end-tables we will love you even more.

We will even provide the suitcases if you need them.

We love you Santa.

PLEASEEEEEEE!

Best.

The best part of THIS Christmas?

Getting to write husband on my Christmas gifts to Jace.

That is magical.

Pirate party.

I spent my Saturday at Logan's pirate themed birthday party.

I had a blast celebrating his 4th birthday with him.

It turns out when his mom asked him who he wanted at his party he said his 4 year old friend and me.

How cute is that.

And...how cool is that eye-patch. I know you're jealous.

Faces.

All these faces make me happy.
PS..whoever wrote the office, and decided that the actors would look at the camera is a genious.
These little moments make the whole show.

smile.

I am a dental hygienist.

Yes, I clean teeth for eight hours a day.

But you know what?

I love it, and yesterday I was reminded why.

No it wasn't a day of work where everything was perfect, and everyone was completely happy..

..but it made me think about why i love what i do.

Here are a few reasons why---

-I clean teeth. Doesn't that make everyone feel better right there? Clean teeth make the world better.

-I get to talk to patients all day long, and I love to talk. I hear about their holiday plans, what little kids what for Christmas, and basically what's going on around the town.

-I get all sorts of neat treats from patients who are grateful for what we do. Salsa, jam, cookies-I love it all.

-I get to see the smile on people faces, or tears rolling down their cheeks the moment after our patients see their new smile. This is one of the most touching things in the world. I admit-sometime tears want to form in my eyes too.

-I get to wear scrubs. None of this spending 3985 minutes deciding what to wear in the morning. This also means more time for blog reading.

-I get to see some of my good friends/coworkers all day long. Our dental office is an easy going, friendly place where laughter is usually abundant.

-I get to sit in a comfy leather chair while listening to John Mayer blast on the XM radio each day. That alone is comfort.

So, even though you might think being a dental hygienist isn't much fun-most of us love it.

And love seeing you-the patients.

Just be nice to us. Some of you aren't.

That doesn't make our days the most fun.

So remember....

Everyday you spend without a smile is a day lost.

Never Stop Loving.

via

If you pick me a flower, I’ll wear it in my hair. I’ll stash little notes for you where you least expect them. I don’t have many firsts left.. but I’d like someone who I could offer all of my lasts. We’ll make history together. I’ll wait for you even if you’re late – and I won’t complain about it. Kindness to cashiers, valets, waiters and maddeningly slow postal clerks who would try the patience of Gandhi is a must. I will feel safe and most at peace in your arms. When you’re counting aloud, I will try and mess you up. I find you magically delicious. I will let you be right when it doesn’t really matter. I’ll giggle when you show off and I know it’s just for me. I can build a fire without burning the house down. If you wash the car with me – I promise to wear a white t-shirt for you. I‘ll hide around corners and try to scare you in the middle of the night.. of course, I’ll end up scaring myself and you’ll have to calm me down. It’s the simple things you do that make me swoon the most. I love it when you sing to me, even if it's nowhere near perfect. I’ll make you mickey mouse pancakes. Sleeping in has a whole new meaning now that we’re doing it together. I’ll cover you up and kiss your forehead when you fall asleep watching tv. I’ll grant you three wishes. I’ll make you laugh. I will marvel at your strength. I’ll take care of you when you’re sick. My heart will skip every time you walk through the door. My kisses will take your breath away – seriously. I’ll giggle if you leave your socks on in bed. My quirks and oddities have been deemed ‘adorable’ and I will love you more everyday for all of yours. I’ll hold you when you need it. I will give you space when you need it. I will let you be you. You’ll sleep better when I’m next to you. I’ll thank you every time you open a door for me.. I won’t ever let you leave for work in the morning without a passionate kiss. We can watch your movie first. I’ll clean the house perfectly every time your mom comes by. I like horror movies only when you’re with me and only as long as you hold me close. I don’t litter. I love when you pull me down to sit on your lap. I love it when you lay your head on my chest in bed. I can balance a checkbook. I can never turn down a challenge. I’ll fit perfectly in your arms. Hand-written love notes will get you a kiss every time. I can totally keep a secret. I’m pretty funny and will do anything to make you laugh. You will always look hot to me in the morning. I think it’s cute when you eat off my plate. When you’re sleeping, I’ll try to stay quiet. I’ll call when I say I will. I’m looking for a man who quite simply adds something extraordinary and special to my life. And I to him. A fair exchange, an amazing mind, body and soul connection and a place to build something magnificent. -author unknown

This is love. Thank you Jace. They could have written this about us. That's how wonderful you are to me.

I love love. And you. Let's never stop loving like this.

Nothing better.

all the stores in town smell of Christmas trees and cinnamon.

it is just fantastic.

i love the holidays.

Kinda, Sorta...

in love.

and yes, my husband knows this.

we are into season three of the office.

we just decided to start watching them online one day and now we can't stop.

come on jim and pam...i know you get married, so where's the love?

pam, how can you resist.

Happy Tuesday.

I heard..

..that wearing nude shoes makes your legs look longer.

i'm 5'3. i need all the help i can get..

definitely a great investment.

can't wait to wear them out and about.

ps. they were 5 dollars. can. you. go. wrong?

love them.

...

Love {Megan}

Our next little love dare is from a neat girl named Megan. Megan is a fellow photographer lover, and lives really close to my home town. I've had lots of fun keeping in contact with her these past few years and seeing her little daughter Angela grow, as well as watch their adorable house renovation. If anyone knows me--you know I love remodeling older houses, and Megan and her husband have done a great job!

Her advice is really touching to me and Jace, as we are now married, and it's great to see love's perspective from a married couple. We do truely think it is the little things that make the most happiness.

So, THANK you Megan for the wonderful love dare. I enjoyed reading and learning from it. And I hope all the readers learn something as well!!

"Being a young married couple is always difficult and sometimes it's a challenge to keep the romance going after a few years. However, you never really know a challenge until you throw a child into the young marriage. Tyler and I have attempted many times to do things for just our selves and nothing ever seems to become a reoccurring event. For a while we did a sort of camp out on an air mattress in our living room watching hockey movies and then we'd fall asleep out there. But that soon faded with an infant waking you up...the air mattress shifting as you get off of it tends to kill the mood. We soon found a love for cooking together. We'd throw on some good tunes, crank them up real loud and whip up a new meal that we had seen that morning on Rachel Ray or some other show. However life started getting in the way with that one when Tyler started working shift work. He wasn't always home and when he was it was such odd hours that cooking to loud music was out of the question...it would wake the baby. However, I think we may have found it. We combine the four things we both love to do every other saturday night...or friday night, whichever one works out best that week. We start off the evening with cooking up a meal, usually some good homemade chili or buffalo wings and enjoy a family dinner with our daughter. After dinner and dishes are settled, we have a dance hour. The three of us put on the best music that we've come up with from that week and we dance to it for an entire hour. Tyler and I get to practice our polka, swing, two stepping, jiving, and Angela(our daughter) gets a kick out of the movements and laughter. Since all three of us our worn out from the dancing, we settle Angela into bed, and while she winds down we read a chapter out of our books to each other so we get an idea of what the book is like...its easier to decide if you want to read it after them or not. And when the chapter reading is over and done with, we pull up a movie on the computer in our bedroom and drift off to sleep cuddling. It doesn't seem like much, but after a few years of marriage you begin to notice that it's the everyday, miniscule things adding up together that turn out to make the best of nights. "

I...

...believe in making the time for your family. always. visiting, calling, not just when something is wrong.
...believe that you shouldn't talk about how sad you are that you lost a friend to drinking and driving, and then proceed to party every night yourself.
...believe in surrounding yourself with positive people.
...believe that a mom should always be able to tell her child no, and that child will listen.
...believe in laughing daily.
....believe that this should be the happiest time of the year.
...believe that brides are super busy on their wedding day. if they don't dance with you, it's not because they are mad. they are busy.
...believe in writing in a journal. this is my journal. don't like how i'm feeling? don't read it.
...believe my brother Brade is the luckiest boy on this planet.
...believe if you have a problem with someone. talk to them. don't wait three months before mentioning a thing. that never helps.
...believe in kissing.
...believe that songs can make you feel better alone.
...believe in wedding. and all that you vow during them.
...believe grapefruits are the best fruits.
...believe dates to pawn shops are lots of fun, and should be taken more often.
...believe in love.

Love this song.

• That's Beautiful to Me by Jaron and The Long Road to Love

More Jaron and The Long Road to Love music on iLike

Ditto.

Isn't this classic.

Jace found this on the computer the other day, and I just now remembered to post it.

that's about as clever as it gets.

Ps...word from someone who's been there. life is much easier without families who don't try and make your life hell. so pick carefully.

if you get unlucky..it's ok. you don't have to like everyone.

jace and i don't. :)

Lucky.

I am beyond lucky. Today during my hour long lunch break, I sat on my husbands lap {ps-this is one of my favorite places in the world to be. there is something so wonderful about his hugs} and thought about what a wonderful weekend i had. I didn't do much--but it was great. I usually work Monday-Thursday, so i had Friday off. I got up, threw on one of my favorite dresses, some warm tights, and went outside to face the day. I met with an insurance lady, ran to the post office, had lunch with jace, and went on a little date with him to the pawn shop. There were so many wonderful treasures--especially this beautiful crib. I am still convincing myself it's worth $100, and that I need to go get it RIGHT NOW...:) Jace doesn't see this as logical, as we won't have kids for 23o848 years yet..but it's one less thing to buy later. that's my only excuse. that, and it's adorable.

after he got off work, we cuddled up and started watching the office. from season one. we are in love. me with jim. and jace with me. ok, ok, i definitely love jace the most, but jim is sooo cute and nerdy and so in love with pam. so, i'm over him.

saturday consisted of finishing a few photo sessions while jace worked, and then we made supper and headed out to dairy queen for the new peppermint blizzard. once again, love. mmmm...

Sunday was yet another lazy, lazy day. But those are my favorite kind. We are now onto season 2 of the office...and did lots more cuddling!

All in all, an excellent weekend. my husband is absolutely the perfect guy for me, we got to eat ice cream. we cuddled. talked to family on the phone. surprised my brother and his girlfriend. and was lazy.

With that..here are a few things i fell in love with this weekend...

Jace, of course. I always love him.

Jim. Need I say more.

PS...haven't seen an office episode?! Do it now! Hilarious.

Peppermint blizzard!!!! We love ice cream-even if we have to go out in the snow to get it.

and my latest.. clay from one tree hill. to make a long story short he is a sports agent on my favorite show ever. he asked a his girlfriends sister and brother-in-law permission to fall absolutely, insanely in love with her.

how stinkin adorable.

i love love.

what do you love this week?!

Etc...

And HERE are more.

Don't get sick of us.

we know there are lots.

Loves it.

Our wedding pictures are .......Here!!!!

A lot of you have seen them already, but here they are!!!!!

We adore them!

Fishy.

Something fishy is going on.

but i love it.

hope you have a wonderful friday.

mine has started out great already.

no work.

the weather is decent.

i got to be lazy this morning with jace until he went to work..

and i am now eating chips and salsa for breakfast.

perfect friday.

Sometimes..

...You just need a little help from mom and dad.

this week hasn't been the most fun for me.

sometimes, people are hurtful.

but, my parents always make it better.

i will forever be thankful for them...

miss you.

Yes, this is what a perma-grin looks like..

Our wedding photo's are here!

And we love them..and have been looking at them and smiling ever since!

Can't wait to show you all!