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!

thoughts on a new year

i can't say that i am one for making new year's resolutions, but i do love entirely the feeling of a clean slate & starting over.  a reason to look at the past year and reflect & look at the future year and project.

for me, this past year has been the best yet: a new job, a new husband, a new life really... i am so thankful, grateful, and happy that things worked out the way they did.  i don't know what will happen in 2013.  maybe buy a house? maybe a puppy? maybe a new car? maybe it all? i can't wait to see!

anyway, where was i? oh yes, resolutions. i'm keeping it simple & basic this year.

read more.

sweat more.

drink more (water, that is!).

laugh more.

on the reading: i have always been a big reader, but when i started my new job in july i became so busy that the only thing i was reading were blogs.  yesterday, with a day off from work, i lounged on the couch all day and finally finished a book i started on the honeymoon.  it reminded me how much i have missed reading. i have a few reads on my list - time to get to it! (let me know if you have any recommendations!)

on the sweating: another thing that slowed and eventually stopped once i started the new job: RUNNING.. i miss it so much! this should be an easy one to get back into because more often than not, i have a nice chunk of time in the mornings before work.

on the drinking: water is so good for your skin, hair, and just about everything else.  drink more!

on the laughing: who doesn't love to laugh? laughing keeps the heart happy and healthy!

i'm excited to make these things priorities in the new year... cheers to a fabulous 2013!

2012 recap: my year!

i can remember way back in january, shawn repeating, "this is our year.  it will be great."  (a little bit more on that here) of course i agreed.  but i don't think we knew quite what was in store for us.

january started out with lots of excitement for the upcoming wedding, and that was pretty much all i could allow myself to focus on.  time was flying by and we were busy planning something wedding related for almost every weekend of each month! but not before we had a weekend escape to the mountains with our very best friends, which started a tradition that i am so excited to continue next month.

with february, came the 7 month mark and a very small valentine's gesture that will always have me swooning over my sweet husband.  (love that guy so much!) we also settled on the final invitation design and i revealed our save the dates.  then it was off to select the bridesmaids dresses, which still remains one of my most memorable and favorite day-that-turned-into-nights with my girls ever!

in march, i drank the koolaid that was hunger games and my obsession was born! not sure i've ever read through 3 books that fast!  and all of a sudden we were at the 6 month countdown! this month was all about FLOWERS.... i love looking back at what i selected as my inspirations, and seeing what came to life on the big day!

april brought some warm weather and spring fever was in full effect! we celebrated easter at our home and had some outdoor dinners on our deck,  some of my favorite memories for sure! and, of course, the 5 month mark on our countdown ensued!

in may, we celebrated mother's day, finalized some major details for the wedding day and rehearsal dinner, and then we fell off the map for a bit....

june was certainly very eventful! after returning home from our little get-away, it was a surprise bridal shower for me! i remember thinking that if the shower was just a small taste of what the big day would be like, i could hardly contain my excitement! i talked a lot about hair trials and make-up trials. and even shared some of my dream home inspirations.  but one thing i didn't share that month, was afraid it might be too soon, was that while we were in florida i received a life changing phone call - a job offer for my dream job! i will always remember jumping up and down like a fool after very excitedly accepting the offer, and knowing in my heart that good things were absolutely happening for me.

july was a quiet month on the blog. i was busy getting things done before starting my big girl job! our invitations were in my hand and i loved every second of assembling them and mailing them off to their destinations...and eagerly waiting for the responses! .. and, we marked TWO MONTHS to go!

in august, once all of the invitations had been received, i shared our invitations with you! shawn and i made a fun purchase for the honeymoon... and then it was time for my very own bachelorette party!

september was another quiet month on the blog, as we were only days away from the big day! but, i did share my wedding perfume, my excitement for our honeymoon, and a love letter to my soon-to-be husband!

in october, i was back to blogland after taking a small wedding/honeymoon hiatus with  my favorite motto: husbands are the new black! i shared some of the highlights from our honeymoon, and revealed our wedding song, and what we had engraved in our bands.

we were really settling into our newlywed lives in november, and i was so excited to share a sneak peek at two professional photos from the wedding.

and finally, this month, december, i was able to start to share our wedding photos! i gave you a peek into what the day started like, and share with you our very first christmas card.

i have had so much fun looking back at what this past year has brought.  honestly, 2012, you were the best year of my life! you were the picture of love, positivity, health, wealth, and amazing memories.  i don't know how 2013 could be any better! i'm sad to see 2012 coming to an end, but oh so excited to see what is in store!

wishing you and yours the happiest and healthiest of new years! may 2013 bring you many joys, lots of love, and the loveliest of memories..

xxo!