a new favorite: {restaurant}

last week we finally were able to celebrate shawn's birthday.  you see, his birthday falls on december 31st, so we always try to celebrate it a few days in advance.  this year, however, i was so sicksicksick the day we originally planned to do dinner.  so we rescheduled.  then HE got sicksicksick.... make a long story short, we just finally got around to having that birthday dinner last week.

i wanted to surprise shawn and take him to a restaurant that we had never tried before. i checked out philly magazine's top 50 restaurants and went from there.  i'm border line obsessed with reading reviews (for everything and anything!) as well as menus.  so it took me a little while to pinpoint the right place. but i did finally decide on philly's oyster house.  we first tried oysters during our staycation after the honeymoon, and we loved them! we were able to make it during their happy hour, where they have select oysters for $1!

i have to say that their decor was so exactly my taste: picture white exposed brick walls and subway tiles, with gray accents and vintage oysters plates scattered on the walls to add some extra color and fun.  these photos are directly from their site:

source

we were able to sit right at the oyster bar section where the oysters were shucked right in front of us.  it was very different from anywhere we have been before.

now, on to the food!  we, of course, started with oysters.  shawn had their lobster roll (amazing!) and i had the striped bass with kale and butternut squash.  the food is just amazing... i want to go back already!

after wards we walked along the city streets and popped into a little hole-in-the-wall bar for one last drink before heading home... and i realized that sometimes tuesday night dates are my favorite!

xxoo!

callin' all my girls!

i am so excited for a very bachelorette weekend!  i'm lucky enough to be finished work for the weekend at 12 sharp, so i have set up an appointment for my final dress fitting tomorrow afternoon. i can't wait to slip on my gown one more time! my momma will be joining me, so we will head to dinner afterwards, then its back to my place for a night filled with table arranging for the reception....  or as i like to think of it: a night filled with cocktails and laughs ;)

then saturday morning, i have a quick pitt stop at the hair salon and i'll  be off to part one of my bachelorette bash! i cannot wait! although i don't quite know what is in store, i know it will be a night to remember..

all photos via pinterest

have a great weekend, friends!!

xo

friday things

well, we are back after a 6 day get-away where i feel like all we did was relax, read, eat, and repeat! it was so wonderful to spend time with family & have no time restraints and no schedule.  it was the best kind of vacation.  while away, shawn & i celebrated one year of being engaged.  it was a special day starting out with a little breakfast date, and ending up pool side with a cold drink in hand :)

here's a few photos i snapped via instagram:

it's always so hard coming home, back to reality after an amazing time away. but all in all, it is good to be home- to sleep in my own bed! and it just makes me thankful to have such fabulous people in my life!

lots to look forward to! (more to come on that!) happy weekend, friends!

xo,

7 MONTHS!

not only was yesterday valentine's day, but it was also the 7 month mark in the countdown to our WEDDING DAY! eeeeeeeks!! i've mentioned before that we usually do not make a big fuss over valentine's day. just a special meal and some good wine, linger a little longer in the hug, snuggle a little closer...you know, the little things. but this year is slightly different.  this is our first and last valentine's day as a an engaged couple. and to me (to us) this made valentine's day 2012 slightly more special :)

so it was quite a lovely surprise when i arrived home verrrry late from work to see a beautiful vase of red & raspberry tulips along with a little love note.  something that i was not expecting. something that was so beautifully written.  i will keep that letter forever.  and probably feel butterflies every time i read it.

it's the little things like this that make me realize & appreciate the meaning of love.  i will always remember what our priest told us at our pre-cana class back in october - it is no coincidence that you are sitting next to the person you are next to. what is happening, is meant to be happening. this is something so much bigger than you can ever imagine. you are your partner's life project, his/her key to heaven.  it is your life's job to get your partner into heaven.

this sentiment has stayed with me in my heart and in my mind. i love feeling like this once in a lifetime love, best friend, soul mate, forever kind of love is so much bigger than us.

when something special happens to us, we turn to each other and say, "always remember." ...
i will always remember...
...the second i knew shawn was about to get down on one knee & ask me to be his wife.
...our giggles & happiness during our engagement photo session.
...the closeness we felt after our pre-cana class.
...picking out our wedding bands & the feeling i got when i saw a wedding band on his hand for the 1st time! ....

i will always remember the giddiness of coming home to beautiful flowers & the loveliest of love letters... and knowing i'll always have a valentine...

xo,

2012 {my year}

there is something to be said for the feeling of starting fresh, starting a new year.  2011 was incredible in many ways of joy, excitement, sadness, happiness, and so much more.  but with a great new year's eve party to bring in 2012, i am ready to embrace all that will take place in the next 12 months. 

with a wedding proposal & engagement this past spring, nothing could be more exciting for me then THE YEAR I GET MARRIED! .. and all of the fun events that lead up to & follow it! i'm anxiously awaiting the draft of our save-the-dates - should be here within a week or so.  i've also begun collecting & saving addresses.  i came up with our guest list months ago, but more recently have been going back to add or delete as necessary.

i'm excited for registering for gifts & deciding on what items we want.  i get so giddy daydreaming about us in our home one day, a home filled with items from our wedding, from people who mean so much to us!

i'm looking forward to meeting with the priest to discuss the details of our ceremony. ie - our flower arrangements and decorations for the pews, as well as readings & song choice.

speaking of floral arrangemets - i can't wait to choose those as well! as of right now, i'm picturing all white and green ...

i'm excited to find "my wedding shoes" and the jewels i will wear when i walk down the aisle...definitely have images in my mind of what i would like....

i can't wait to shop for a bridal shower dress & honeymoon outfits & the perfect dress for a bachelorette!

i can't wait to go shopping with my girls and choose what they each will be wearing... as well as my mom & future mother-in-law!

this year holds so much meaning, and hope, and excitement for me.  i am so excited that 2012 is here!

xo!

welcoming a new year

it is hard for me to believe that this blog was started almost one year ago on a weather induced vacation from work (thanks mother nature!)..looking back, i am so happy that i have a "diary" of sorts to remember all that happened in 2011. i know that 2012 has some big shoes to fill, but i'm feeling pretty good that great things are going to happen. .

wishing you a happy, healthy new year!  i'm ready to welcome in 2012!

xo,

birthday recap & christmas right around the corner..

i find that the holidays are the craziest time of the year along with the best time of the year.  my birthday is on the 19th, which to me, is the perfect way to start off the christmas celebrations! and the best way to round out the celebrations? with shawn's birthday on new year's! yes, that's a lot of celebrating in a very short period of time, but i know of no other way to do it so i absolutely love it!

with my birthday being on this past monday, shawn & i decided to have a little celebration, just the two of us, on saturday.  we started the day off with a little bit of shopping around town.  it was the perfect way to get into the spirit. we walked along main street, in and out of the little boutiques...which were perfectly adorned for the holidays. i love seeing strings of lights and holiday wreaths all around.  i found some perfect gifts for my brother & mom, as well as the perfect stocking stuffer for shawn. thankfully, he was outside on a phone call when i made that purchase! after our afternoon stroll, we headed home to wrap up some gifts & relax for a little bit before readying and heading out for the evening.

one thing we both love is a good bottle of champagne.  lately, we have decided that champagne doesn't need to be saved for special occasions, but rather enjoyed for all occasions that you want to make special! so we sipped on some bubbly while we got ready.

then we headed out to partake in...BOWLING! if you can believe it, in the 5 and a half years we have been together, we have NEVER gone bowling together!

after our game that went by way too quick, and shawn beat me so pathetically, we headed to the bar upstairs and enjoyed a drink or 2! then we played air hockey, where shawn may or may not have pathetically beaten me again ;)

it was the most fun!

on monday, we met with my mom & brother for some amazing sushi.
mom brought  my favorite wine: cupcake savignon blanc & a new one that i have been wanting to try: cupcake red velvet. which was perfect in every way!

 my brother's creatively wrapped gift (above) & its contents (below!!!)

 yes, all of that was consumed..

all in all, it was one fabulous birthday & i can't think of a better way to start my year!

*****

christmas eve is tomorrow,  i can hardly believe it! today will be filled with wrapping & baking. the rest of the weekend? family, friends, food, laughs, love & a few presents :) i can't wait!

merry christmas to all!

xo,

9 MONTHS!

that's 275 days til we say, "i do!"

this week, my mind has been concerned with registry items, among other things! do i want fine china? new bedding? crystal ware? yes, yes, & yes!! :)

also on my mind:
rehearsal dinner attire: here are some images i've pinned..

ahh loving the last two the most<3

now, where to find these beauties?!

xo,

artsy celebrations.

this past friday night we celebrated my brother's fantastic hard work.  he has earned his masters degree & we are so proud! his final art show through the philadelphia university of the arts had it's opening friday evening, so we joined him & then went out for a much deserved drink or two;)

these are a few photos i took of his work through instagram. he has a very unique style of painting where his goal is to capture reflections.  my two favorites are 1 & 2 above.  if you are interested in seeing more, you can check out his website here.

 congrats big brudder!!

have a fabulous sunday;)

xo,