Thursday, January 15, 2015

Our Big Day Part III: Bus Ride

Things have been busy around our house.  We have a dishwasher on the way {HALLELUJAH!}, baseboards ordered {FINALLY!}, and we're in the process of finally getting our window treatments ordered.  It's become evident that we are procrastinators when it comes to getting things done.  I'm finally getting around to blogging the {almost} last installment about our wedding day!  To prevent everyone from overload, I've decided to split the posts about the bus ride and our reception.  You'll thank me later :).  

Anyways, after our ceremony, the wedding party hopped on a party bus bound for Topeka with a few stops along the way to snap some photos.



Our last stop before arriving at Heritage Hall was the State Capitol.  Well, if you have ever been on a party bus, you are aware that drinking is typically involved.  Our wedding party was not the exception and, as it turned out, a few individuals may have had a few too many drinks.  Aaron and I had just finished taking pictures and were on our way back to the bus when we saw a police car speeding into the circle drive.  Cue my heart racing.

We got down to the bus and the capitol police were speaking with a few of the groomsmen.  I boarded the bus unaware of what was going on and the issue continued to be unresolved.  Cue me being VERY angry.  As it turns out, the officer stated they had footage of a man relieving his bladder on the building.  They were unable to identify the specific person and finally someone confessed and we went on our merry way.



Looking back, it is a hilarious memory from our wedding day {particularly if you know my political views}, but at the time I didn't think anything worse could have happened.

Next week I will have the fourth and final post up all about our fantastic reception!

Friday, January 9, 2015

Friday Favorites

I'm linking up with Andrea from Momfessionals today with my Friday Favorites!

We tried two new recipes this week and both were big hits.  The first was this chicken cordon bleu casserole from Six Sisters Stuff.  The second was this creamy tomato tortellini soup from Two Peas and Their Pod.  Both were super easy and equally delicious!
Photo courtesy of Six Sisters Stuff
Photo courtesy of Two Peas and Their Pod
I finished reading My Story by Elizabeth Smart earlier this week and it was so good!  It's a detailed account of her kidnapping and her return back home.  I cannot begin to imagine everything she went through.  You should read it and check out the rest of the books on my 2015 Reading List while you're at it.

The Golden Globes are this weekend and, even though I will be at work, I can't wait!  I love awards season more than a single person really should.  Don't ask me why, I just do.  I haven't seen a lot of the nominees (shame on me!), but I have a few that I am rooting for.

Jennifer Aniston is nominated for Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama and I really hope she wins.  If she doesn't, then I am totally cheering for Reese Witherspoon.  In terms of Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy, I hope St. Vincent wins.  It was excellent!  I could go on, but I would probably bore you.  I'll be watching Monday morning on my DVR (thank goodness for that invention)!.

Happy Friday everyone!

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Goals for 2015

It's that time of year where everyone makes their list of New Year's resolutions or goals in the hopes of actually sticking to them!  I'll be honest and say I did absolutely terrible on my 2014 goals and I really have no excuse.  I think the only one I kind of accomplished was related to reading.  I did read 25 books, but they weren't necessarily all from my 2014 Reading List.  Oops!

I've compiled a list of goals for this year.  Here's to hoping I do a better job in 2015.  I really can't do much worse :).

1. Complete #8, #25, #90, and #96 on my 101 things in 1001 days list.

2. Meal plan-it makes life so much easier.

3. Read more.  I kind of went on a break from reading this past year with the wedding, moving, and the honeymoon, but I'm hoping to get back to it.

4. Be less stressed.

5. Put together at least 2 blog posts per week

What are your goals for 2015?

Friday, January 2, 2015

2015 Reading List

In case you were unaware, I love to read!  Always have, always will.  Since we are nearing the beginning of a new year, it's time for me to share my 2015 Reading List!  I read all but three of the books on my 2014 Reading List, so those will be added to this year's and I'm sure other books will be thrown in along the way.  I won't necessarily read them in the order below, but I will keep you posted on what I am reading when.  Also, at the end of each month, I will share which books I read that month and my opinion of them.  I can't wait to get reading!
 
Here's a look at the books I read in 2014.
 
Allegiant by Veronica Roth
The Husband's Secret by Liane Mortiary
I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai
Night Circus by Eric Morgenstern
The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman
Matilda by Roald Dahl
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell
Z by Therese Ann Fowler
Wonder by R.J. Palacio
And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini
The Silver Star by Jeannette Walls
The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff
Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls
Nurses in War: Voices from Iraq and Afghanistan by Elizabeth Scannell-Desch & Mary Ellen Doherty
Dead Man Walking by Sister Helen Prejean
If I Stay by Gayle Forman
Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight
The Time Keeper by Mitch Albom
River Cross My Heart by Breena Clarke
The Maze Runner by James Dashner
The Scorch Trials by James Dashner
The Death Cure by James Dashner
 
My favorite books were Half Broke Horses, Wonder, The Silver Star, The Light Between Oceans, In Cold Blood, and Night Circus.  My least favorites were If I Stay, I am Malala, and River Cross My Heart.

2015 Reading List
 
My Story by Elizabeth Smart
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Drowning Ruth by Christina Schwarz
The Spectacular Now by Tim Tharp
Wave by Sonali Deraniyagala
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
The Rehearsal by Eleanor Catton
Frog Music by Emma Donoghue
The Orphans of Race Point by Patry Francis
A Life in Men by Gina Frangello
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
The Moth by Catherine Burns, Adam Gopnik, & George Dawes Green
Me Before You  by Jojo Moyes
Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert
The Woman Upstairs by Claire Messud
I'll Give you the Sun by Jandy Nelson
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
Defending Jacob by William Landay
Dark Places by Gillian Flynn
The Good Girl by Mary Kubica