I don't have a whole lot of things to post, but wow... How do people keep up with these blogs??? Life is so busy already. I just don't know how one can keep up with posts.

I am always evaluating my life and figuring out how I can improve on things. I don't mean to make my 2015 sound negative. It was really great! I just tend to pinpoint issues and see how I can be different next time. I am beginning this post with nature photos I took from this year to add positivity.


I loved this little dragonfly. He perched here every day for a month during the summer.

Job
Okay this has been a real problem for me. I accepted a job in logistics and was really excited to learn everything about transportation, specifically imports and exports. I had an upbeat boss that wasn't on my back ever and a small but friendly office.

When I cam back from Thanksgiving break, my boss called me into his office and told me he was getting laid off. He stated that the company was eliminating his position and that he would have to leave by January. I was automatically disappointed. I felt bad for him and his situation, but when I was hired on I was lead to believe that I was the first of what would become a dynamic logistics team. It was great to hear that I was safe and had a job still but what did my boss leaving mean for me?

The disappointment continued. I was made to move from my desk and take a spot in a temp building in the middle of the pipe yard. Also, they were unable to hook up my phone so it seems that I do not actually have a work phone anymore. This makes my life difficult since I use the phone multiple times a day to do my job. I am now under the shipping manager and am basically a glorified shipping clerk.

In all, I am beginning my new year in search of a new job.


Wild poppy growing in our neighborhood during the spring.

Family
Other than the whole job thing, everything else in my life has been spectacular. I've been very thankful that all of our family is healthy. We didn't go on any huge trips, but we did little fun things. Some of the cool things we did this year...

- Went to the George Observatory (looked through large telescopes and saw shooting stars)
- Took my puppy Bear to the dog park often which is now his favorite outing
- Added hardwood floors to our home and made it super pretty
- Went to the Dallas Cowboys vs. New England Patriots game for Reeds birthday (ate in the suite and had awesome seats!)
- Celebrated our 1 year wedding anniversary on May 3rd
- Stayed at home and handed out candy for the first time ever this Halloween
- Got a DSLR camera and love it
- Started volunteering with animal adoptions for the city of Sugar Land
- Did some crafting and made a nice Thanksgiving/Fall wreath (could't mention that without including  a pic)

- Went to a Texas A&M football game and checked out the new stadium
- Put up our first Christmas tree in our house and decorated the yard
- I got Leo, which was probably a mistake, but he is the cutest little bunny and is such a nice guy (I didn't mean to hold him all twisted in the picture)




This was the year of the cooking for me. I used to only be able to make mac n cheese, but this year I learned how to make some great dishes that we love and that are fairly healthy (chicken fried rice, beef and broccoli, cajun chicken pasta, lasagna, and of course, turkey tacos). I am really proud of Reed and I for getting fit this year and working out more than we ever have before. We have both taken up running and I plan to continue distance running and regular workouts. I love that we can jog together with Bear. He loves to run!

 He also loves getting new toys and sleeping in our bed. He's our spoiled baby.






Okay, we're pretty boring but It's a nice life. We stress and try to plan everything, but overall things are good. I always need to take time to recognize that we are blessed. Many have never experienced the wonderful things we have in our lifetime.

And here are a couple pics from our Christmas... which was the warmest Christmas I've ever experienced. Temperatures in the 70s-80s across most of the United States.

Wishes for 2016
My list could probably go on much longer but here are some of the things I would like to do in the new year (and many of them do sound like the typical new year's resolutions) 

- health (keep working out, cooking healthy meals, stay a healthy weight, gain muscle) 
- GO ON A VACATION (something tropical)
- find a job I really enjoy 
- figure out what I want to do for a career (always trying to figure it out)

The list could go on, but these are the main things for me. Happy New Year to all! I hope to spend some time coming up with new creative posts in 2016! 



When I first got my camera I started photographing everything, including my rosebud in the front yard. I plan to read up on ways I can improve my photography and one day get more lenses for the camera (they are not cheap!)

I don't wish to betray my home state of Texas, but Colorado is my favorite state! It's the region that I've spent the most time in other than Texas. I appreciate the warm weather where I live in Houston, but there's nothing like the mountains and wildlife of Colorado. Some impeccable timing allowed me to make the 1 week trip. Here are all the details. 

I'm excited to share the entire process of getting hardwood floors in our home. This includes everything from the selection, pricing, and costs of all the materials that went into the installation. It wasn't the easiest thing to do, but we are so happy with the results! These floors truly transformed our home! 

It's the perfect time to add a puppy into your life. You've told all your family and friends how badly you want a puppy and can't wait to do fun activities with your furry friend by your side. You've already researched the breed of dog you want and are choosing so because its temperament and energy level are well suited for your lifestyle. After finding a breeder that looks family oriented and is definitely not a puppy mill, you are shocked by the price tag. Puppies can be $600, $800, or even higher for one with a fine pedigree, not to mention that the price doesn't include the last round of shots. A new puppy will need supplies, vet visits, and eventually need to be spayed or neutered.

I can check this one off my Bucket list!  We went to Saint Lucia for our honeymoon and it was incredible! My account of the vacation discusses the Sandals Resorts, which are a great option for a romantic stay. I am very fortunate to not have pricing because this trip was a gift, but future vacation posts will include pricing for airfare, hotel, and activities. 

How can I start documenting life after marriage without mentioning the wedding? We've got to start somewhere, so here's a recap. 

There were definitely some stressful situations leading up to wedding day. I'll get to those later. For now, this is the overall feeling that I took away from our wedding. 

To describe it in one word, our wedding day was magic. It was like we traveled somewhere isolated in time where love, family, and friendship erupted into one and the universe was as it should be. There are rare occurrences in life where that kind of feeling happens and when it does, you are certain that it's one of the highlighting moments in your life that's meant to be treasured. The day we married was certainly full of those moments. 


Photos by Alicia Pyne Photography

Over Christmas, I discovered a hand written journal from 1960...

It was a journal written by my grandmother, describing her new life as a married woman and documenting her adventures with her husband. Looking at my grandparents, in their 55 years of marriage it's pretty hard to picture what it was like during year 1. I loved her honest account of being short on money and my grandfather's job filling the vending machines in the dorms. They could barely scrounge up the funds to get my grandmother her favorite drink, a bottle of Dr. Pepper! 

My grandparents have had very full and successful lives and it's incredible to read what it was all like in the beginning. Reading the journal inspired me to document my years of marriage. Whether good or bad, rich or poor, I want to have an account of the emotions and experiences during each year. 

So, in beginning this blog, please know this is my open to the public journal.... basically, it may be boring for you. I appreciate you looking and if it happens to be interesting to you, well great! 

And here's a pic of my dog. He's my baby. 

Enjoy!