Can't believe it!

Tomorrow is our one year anniversary. Husband and Wife for one whole year. I cannot believe it. In some ways it seems like we have been married for a long time. . . way more than one year. But in other ways. . . .it seems like our wedding was just last weekend and we are still honeymooning our way through happiness.

In the past year we have. . . .gotten married,


moved into our first apartment,


both waited tables,


laughed a whole lot,


gone to lots of pretty weddings,


floated down a river,


adopted 2 cats,


sang out loud and a lot,


driven through 8 or 9 states to the far away land of New Joyzee,


moved into our second apartment,

started at a new Big Boy School,


started a new job at some coffee shop,


rode on a train together,


gone to New York City way more than every before,

missed the old friends (a lot),


seen a ton of movies, and have shared so many moments of sadness and happiness (more of the latter) it's impossible to list them all.


I am still perfectly in love and can not imagine life without my Zach. He is beyond perfect for me. We all know there are only so many people who can love someone with a stubborn unfiltered personality like mine---Zach is perfect at it.

Love you and miss you all.

Pretty Faces

Finally, the time has come! I feel like sitting down and posting a blog. I have been putting it off because there is SO MUCH to talk about and that is overwhelming. So. . .I will just start at the beginning. Which is. . . the first --worth talking about-- snow of 2009. Man, it was beautiful. I loved every bit of it. It started the night of December 19th and didn't let up until the next afternoon. After some 20 inches had fallen people finally got the nerve to step outside their warm homes and shovel their driveways and sidewalks. It was a true winter wonderland. Right before my family got here it rained. Note for people who don't live in snow. . . rain washes away snow if it's warmer than 32 degrees outside. Bye bye snow piles.


Also---this happened. I took pictures because I knew that if I did then Zach would shave.

So Christmas '09 here we go! Me, Zach, and the McNeals went to the Christmas Eve service at our church. It was really beautiful. We all held lit candles, sang Christmas carols and hymns, the kids even had little jingle bells. I loved it.


After working at Starbucks 9 days straight. . .including Christmas morning, I headed home to make Christmas dinner for Zach and the McNeals. I was really excited about it though because it was our first Christmas being married! For dinner I made green bean casserole, stuffing, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, dinner roles, and a honey baked ham! Rae and Kevin brought over homemade cherry pie (thanks Rae). We had a wonderful dinner!


After Christmas life was perfect for a good week and a half. And by perfect I mean that I didn't work, my family was here, and Zach and I got to spend so much time together. The morning of the 26th we all opened presents at the apartment and then went exploring around Princeton.

While everyone was here we also went to New York City!!!! Sooo fun. My amazing Grandmother Carlie walked around with us all day. She is 79 years old.

After trekking around the city we all ate at the A&B in Princeton. So delicious. For the rest of their time here we walked around in Lambertville, PA and New Hope, PA. Both very cozy cute towns. They are along the Delaware River which is also very gorgeous.


We also did this:

We kicked off the new year by playing games and drinking sangria and cider. I love my family and we had a wonderful time spending the holidays together.

Love and miss you all. Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!

So basically. . . .

This snow kicked the last snow's butt.



The end.

Love you and miss you all.

Bodda-Bing-Bodda-Boom

What a day! Last night the coffee brewer at Starbucks started smoking! A few fire men and smelly wires later. . . and still no coffee.


So all day today we served Americanos as a substitute for coffee (Take espresso. . .add water. . .voila!). I got only 3 evils looks! Also----I accidentally mistook one of our regulars' mom as his wife. Way awkward. After work I took little Chee-Chee-Mon to a vet in Pennington. Poor little guy has a UTI and blockage.


No good. Hopefully a couple--maybe even one?---nights of having a catheter and rest will prevent surgery. He has such a sad little raspy meow. I hope he sleeps well tonight!

You might be thinking. . "Kaley. . . what have you been crafting since those sweet stockings?" And this is what I say to you inquisitive folk, "Headbands!!!"
That's right. I had left over felt from all those stockings, a glue gun, and a headband. . .I had to do something with it all so bodda-bing-bodda-boom SWEET HEADBANDS! Here's what I have so far:


No headbands tonight though! I decided to make some homemade cookies for Zach.


He is at the beginning of his finals week in his first semester of grad school! One semester down and 5 to go! I also took this opportunity to sport my new apron. Which I very much adore.


In other news. . our Christmas tree is still pretty pretty pretty. A few other Christmas presents have found their way under our tree. Sneakies.

Perhaps you, like me, prefer the view you get from lying under the Christmas tree? Here you go:

Almost forgot, Cathy sent some Christmas presents the other day and included some of my old ornaments. To my surprise she also included a little hermit crab with New Jersey 2009 written on the bottom. We love it.


On Saturday Zach and I will be heading to Philly for some Philly Cheese steaks with the McNeals to celebrate the end of the finals. Expect a fun-filled-Philly Blog!

Love you and miss you all!

A wonderful wonderful weekend.

Last week I finished the last of 9 Christmas stockings! They were a lot of fun to make and definitely a great addition to the Christmas decorations. No they are not for surprise septuplets. . . they are for my family! My family is going to be in Princeton from December 26th to January 2nd and I am so pumped! Since they are traveling so far I figured it would be great to have stockings for them.


It's going to be my grandmothers first time on an airplane. When I asked her if she was nervous she said, "No. . . I'm just real excited." She's probably one of the cutest grandmas in the whole world.


This past weekend was quite spectacular. Not just because it was my birthday weekend, but also because I had three days off from work! Which is a rarity. Friday I woke up whenever and then I relaxed all day. I don't think I accomplished one thing. Scratch that. . . I fulfilled my goal of having a restful day. Go me! Friday evening I made last minute plans to go with my friend (and neighbor) Sarah to a women's Christmas dessert thing. We sang Christmas carols. . . listened to some lady talk. . . and then had dessert. Plus we got to hang out, so it was a wonderful evening! Saturday morning Zach and I woke up to Kevin and Rae calling from downstairs letting us know they were here to pick us up. So we got ready and down to the car in 2 minutes! I was impressed. Zach may or may not have set his alarm for the wrong time. We all drove into Hamilton to watch The Blind Side.


If you go before noon it's only $6.00 a ticket! The Blind Side was a wonderful movie. Perfect for the holiday season. Also perfect if you want to cry a little and laugh a lot. The rest of Saturday afternoon was packed with errands and cleaning the house. As I was leaving the house to go to Target I walked downstairs and looked out the door and paused in amazement because it was SNOWING!!! I stole these pictures from Rae. . .


I was immediately filled with excitement because it was the first snow of the year but also the first time it has EVER snowed where I was living anytime near my birthday. Thanks clouds. . . that was a precious birthday gift. After calling everyone in my family, Cally and Dani. . . I finished my errands and headed home. Saturday night me, Zach, Rae, and Kevin went to Princeton Alliance Church for the Saturday evening service. I definitely prefer it over the Sunday morning service. There are many reasons, but none are very fascinating. After church we headed home for BIRTHDAY GAME NIGHT! Small events are always better when they are giving a title. Me, Zach, Kevin, Rae, Theo, and our new friend Betsy played Catch Phrase and Quelf for a little bit and then enjoyed some cookie cake (my favorite).


Theo brought Apples to Apples and wine. . . turns out they were birthday presents. The wine is delicious and Apples to Apples is always a fantastic game.


Thanks Theo! I absolutely love playing games with people. Hands down one of my favorite activities. After our friends left I opened my presents from my wonderful husband. I unwrapped 2 books, 2 pairs of wool cozy socks, and 1 gorgeous cardigan from Anthropologie that he picked out all by himself. I was extremely impressed.


Sunday Morning----12.6.2009 MY BIRTHDAYYYYYYY!!!

Zach woke up and made me a delicious breakfast of eggs in a basket, sausage, and OJ.


After breakfast it was time to open the rest of my birthday presents. My parents surprised me with a Fossil watch, an apron from Anthropologie, gloves, fun socks, brown Kino's, a purse, and a cashmere sweater.


Just when I thought all the gifts were opened the doorbell rang. Zach returned with a beautiful bouquet of flowers all the way from Cally and Dani in Florida.


Awwwww----I almost cried I was so surprised. I love my best friends. After staring at my flowers and playing with my gifts we relaxed around the house for a little bit, got ready, and then headed to the mall! At some point in time I received a voice text from my good buddy Josh Hagar. He wished me a happy birthday. It was a lovely surprise. We walked around Anthropologie, got links taken off my watch, and then saw the movie 2012; very exciting.


We grabbed a drink from Starbucks then headed home. Rae and Kevin met us at home. I opened a sweet candle (pictured with the lovely flowers above) from them and then blew out some candles on cupcakes Rae made for me.


Thanks Rae and Kevin! Afterward we headed to the Alchemist & Barrister for a wonderful dinner. We ended up being the only people in a fancy room. We acted like fools and laughed a whole lot.


The four of us should never be aloud to sit by ourselves in a nice restaurant.

After dinner we headed to Starbucks for some free drinks and then home. We all ended the night with Phase Ten---my favorite card game.

A wonderful birthday weekend has passed. I don't feel any older. I have a wonderful husband who knows how to make me very happy. I have friends who love me enough to send me flowers from states away and make me baked goods. I have a family who loves me enough to send multiple manila envelopes stocked with birthday goods far in advance. Thank you all for a wonderful birthday!

Love and miss everyone of you.