New Years...and More!

Happy New Year, friends! I rang in 2013 with some amazing friends and family. But lets start at the beginning....

Saturday morning was like Christmas morning...except better than Santa: Mom and Dad were on their way! It was their first time visiting in a year and the first time seeing our new house. I was so excited! After giving them the tour of the house, we took them around the neighborhood and showed them how close we are to the ocean (shockingly close...and we didn't even visit in 2012!) For lunch we had fresh local seafood, right on the water. After, me and Mom did our favorite thing: grocery shopping!

Sunday I woke up and within minutes a plan had been made: Myrtle Beach bound for the day! My parents have a time share and they are looking into different places to visit with it. It was c-o-l-d at the beach. We showed them around the area, went to Broadway, had lunch, and on the way home we stopped at Bass Pro Shops. I'm not so sure what the hype is, or maybe the Myrtle Beach location just isn't that exciting?

When we got back into town, we dropped Dad and Danny off at the bar to watch some football games and me and Mom came home to relax for a little bit. After we picked the guys up we had dinner and passed out pretty early. Which is a good thing...we had to rest up for New Years Eve!

Monday while the guys went golfing, me and Mom planned for our New Years Eve party. Lets just say....a lot of food was involved! Everyone got to our house around 6:30, we ate a ton and played some games. It started with LRC, went to 99, and then while I did karaoke (.....) everyone else played golf and screw your neighbor. And yes, I did do karaoke....I'll blame it on the White Russians!

I'll also blame my insane hangover on the White Russians. Tuesday was a bad baaaaad day. I don't even want to talk about it, but just know...I had a ton of fun singing and shaking my booty on New Years Eve! I celebrated with all my favorite people and am so happy I got to ring in new year with all of them!

My parents flew out this morning. I already miss them. I wish we lived closer (or they lived here!) BUT since we are further away, it just makes each time I see them that much better!

Dear Blog...

I'm sorry I have neglected you!

As you know, the computer broke on Thanksgiving...thanks to a super nasty virus. I tried to fix it, but well, my degree in History doesn't really help in that department. Since then we have been computer free. I blogged from my phone, which resulted in ugly formats and poor blogging. Oh, and to do my 2011 review it took TWO days from the iPhone! Needless to say, blogging has been very frustrating!

The plan was to only use the USO computers. That's where I spent an hour this morning....uploading 30 pictures. Holy smokes that is slow. And, since you know me so well, I am not patient!! I enlisted the help of my uber smart cousin and he helped me and the Hubby pick out a new computer.

I swore up and down we weren't going to buy a computer right away. But I couldn't pass up this deal! So, we are owners of a new laptop. And this time....we will not murder it!

So, dear blog...and blog readers...I'm back! I've missed my religious blogging and reading all of your blogs! I'll be commenting again and, of course, finding new bloggy loves!

To celebrate my return to blogging here are some pictures on events you have missed out on!

Me and Lindsey celebrated Beermas with NC Girls Pint Out!

Kaleb was here for Christmas!

My parents visited us!

Love,
Nicole

Surprise! Happy New Year!

I woke up to the most fabulous surprise on New Years Eve! My Dad called and asked if the mailman delivered a package. I went to the front door to check...and there were Mom and Dad! I was SO surprised, everyone was totally in on it and I had NO idea!

We celebrated the New Year with my family (and wishing my sister could have been there) and new friends. We went to Mike's Farm for a Christmas light display, which wad fabulous! And had a yummy dinner at Marrakesh.

Last year I made 11 Goals for 2011. I failed some and accomplished others (like driving, sleeping more and taking vitamins.)

This year I'm attempting 12 Goals for 2012. That's one goal for every month!

1. Buy a house
2. Get my license
3. Have one month of no eating out
4. Make more time for family
5. Get a job
6. Increase our savings account
7. Keep the house clean, not just acceptable!
8. Try something new
9. Bring Miley for more walks
10. Go to the gym
11. Plant a SUCCESSFUL garden!
12. Go to DC with my Hubby

2011 in Review

Is it just me or did 2011 fly by? Lucky for me it was a great year! Here are some of my favorite highlights...

January
We rang in the New Year at Duplin Winery.
I was in Katie and Frank's wedding!

February
We went to Disney for our honeymoon!
& I met Bonnie and her gorgeous children!
I had my wisdom teeth YANKED out!

March
I celebrated Mardi Gras with the girls!
We celebrated our 1 year anniversary with fondue!
Danny went to Yuma, me and Miley went to Boston...and Mrs. Gambizzle visited!

April
Me and Mrs. G were Boston tourists.
Jacksonville was hit by a tornado.
I had a tea party with my Roomie to celebrate the Royal Wedding!

May
I celebrated Cinco de Mayo.
And reunited with my Hubby!
We went to an airshow, a comedy show and had a cookout!

June
We went on a river cruise.
Kaleb visited! He got a new bike, went to 2 baseball games, went crabbing, fishing, attempted geocaching and learned how to swim!

July
We started a tradition: Maine with the family!
Had our family pictures taken.
When we were kid free we hangout in Virgina Beach with the Gambizzles...
And survived our second BeerFest with the Colwells!

August
We bought a new (to us!) car.
...and I started driving!
I cut my hair off.
Michelle, Katie and Irene visited us.

September
We celebrated Danny's 29th in Asheville!
We started a new adventure involving NC wine.
Danny went to golf weekend and I surprised Veronica at her bridal shower!
AND I went to the spa with the girls and the fair with my college roommates!

October
For the first time ever, the FRO hosted an event I was interested in!
We ate lots of chili a the ChiliFest!
And we celebrated Halloween with the Colwells!

November
We went to our 2nd USMC ball.
I discovered I can make my own Starbucks.
And Miley turned two!

December
Lindsey visited and we went to Beermas!
I turned the big 2-6!
I went to the winery and a cookie swap.
And Kaleb came down for Christmas vacation!

Happy New Year!

Hello 2011! I hope you are as amazing as 2010 was!

To kick off another great year, last night me and Danny got all dressed up and headed to the Duplin Winery. We had tons of food, listened to awesome music...and of course, drank some yummy wine! And we still made it back in time to pass out before the ball dropped!

I don't want to make a resolution like "lose 10 pounds" or "stop drinking coffee," because lets be honest, those things make me happy. And with a new year, being happy is what it's all about! So, instead I'm setting some goals for myself.

 11 Goals for 2011

1) Get up and move more! Gym, walking, workout videos..anything! Just move!

2) Floss. No excuses.

3) Make an attempt to learn how to drive. This could be the Year of the License.

4) Take Avon a little more seriously. Not just online sales.

5) Get eight hours of sleep every night.

6) Cook every recipe from one cookbook.

7) Take vitamins and drink more milk.

8) Take a class...any kind of class. And make plans to get my Masters, maybe?

9) Make more room for our Savings Account in the Envelope System.

10) Learn how to be patient.

11) Read one book every week.

Happy New Year!

As I get older, I feel like time is literally starting to fly by. I feel like I was just celebrating 2008 being over. My first scorpion bowl seems like ages ago, but it was literally a year ago. 2009 was amazing. Better than I thought it was going to be. I moved out of my parents house and moved over 800 miles away from home. It was a huge growing experience. And most importantly, I met an amazing man who I am going to marry in 69 days. Last year at this time marriage was so far out of my mind, but now its a constant thought!

Me and Danny celebrated the New Year drinking beers at Boston Beer Works and cracking up with Dane Cook. We watched the ball drop in a train station, while waiting for the train. It was such a weird and strange feeling celebrating with a bunch of strangers. Everyone clapped and cheered..it was pretty cool!

Last night we went to a bar with my friend Lindsey. She told me she had a wedding surprise for me, I can't wait to find out what it is! She is also going to give a toast at our wedding..sure to be the highlight of the night. HAHA!

We only have one more day left in Boston. We're going out to brunch with my sister and her boyfriend in the morning..then its packing and cleaning time. I should already start looking for a ticket back to Boston for the middle of February. I still have to do the cake testing and the general tasting at the hotel! Then there's doing the escort cards and gift bags for out of town guests. SO SO much to do!