Wedding -Bride & Groom-

So many pictures to choose from...good problem to have :)

Seeing Tate for the first time was so EXCITING!! I was nervous, scared and had butterflies...all at the same time! I couldn't wait to see him...

We did our 'first look' with each of us on the side of the door. I loved standing there holding his hand without seeing him yet.

   

 

Couldn't resist doing photos with a football :)

I loved the time that Tate and I spent together during these photos. My face hurt so much from laughing and smiling the whole time. I don't think I have ever felt more joy than I did at these moments. I love him so much and feel so blessed and lucky that I get to call him my husband!!!!

 All photos were taken by Kimberly Williams Photography

Wedding -Bride Details-

I loved loved loved my wedding dress. It's so sad to think that it was only worn once and never again. I bought it at a wedding gown sample sale and got such a GREAT deal on it.

I knew that I wanted a very long veil for my wedding, but didn't want to pay an arm and a leg for one. So with my moms help, we made one and it cost a staggering $3. I posted about that HERE.

Since my dress had some 'bling' on it, I knew I wanted my jewerly to be settle. I am not huge into jewerly anyway...so something simple was best and what I picked out was perfect.

My mom made me a purse for my big day. She used pieces from her dress and my dress and I loved it so much. Can't wait to pass it on to my kids.

One thing I had a hard time to pick out were my shoes. I wasn't sure what color or style I wanted. I ended up ordering so many pairs and then returning them. I finally found a beautiful pair that were on sale and were my 'something blue'.

All photos were take by Kimberly Williams Photography

Wedding -Getting Ready-

It was so much fun getting ready for the big day with all my friends and family. Everyone met at my house bright and early to get hair and makeup done and eat some good grub.

I made banana bread and egg bake

The gift I gave my Mom!

Calming my nerves...haha

A gift was delivered that morning and I was so excited so I had to open it.

It was from my good friend, Lindsey!!! Thanks again love!

My Seeester

Bestie and MOH 

While we were at the house getting all beautiful, the guys were golfing at the course our reception was being held at. Tate was very thankful for a nice day so they could get out on the greens.

My Brother...Nick, Tate, Tate's best friend and BM...Ed and Tate's Dad.

Tate's good friends and GM...Mitch and Mark, Tate's lil' brother...Luke and Tate's good friend and usher...Scott

Tate's Uncle Dean, Tate's brother and GM...Nate, Tate's Uncle Randy and Tate's oldest brother and GM...Jason.

This picture makes me laugh!

Tate getting all ready to marry me :)

All Photos were taken by Kimberly Williams Photography

New Year Resolutions

As I sat down to think of what my new year resolutions were going to be, I wondered whether I wanted to blog about them. Not that I didn't want to share them, but then I would actually feel like I would have to follow through and try even harder to do them so that I wouldn't feel like a failure x 17 (failing myself + my 16 followers).

Of course no one is going to think I am a failure...but we all know everyone always has high expectations for their resolutions...that is why the gym is PACKED for a good month and drives me bonkers. I've never been one to have my new year resolution to be more healthy because that is an automatic failure in my book. I hate strongly dislike most healthy foods...especially veggies and I love my loads and loads of carbs way too much!!!

As I thought about it more...I want my new year resolutions to be something that makes my life more simple. Life is seriously flying by...I would like it to slow down. We all know that is not going to happen so then why not do things to make it more simple so that I can stop to 'smell the roses' every once in awhile and enjoy this life that is just going so fast. I get stressed so easily...so if I can find ways to make my life more simple, I am all in.

My main new year resolution is to become more organized and stay organized. With tax season fast approaching, I need to really buckle down in the next couple weeks and organize things so that I don't get stressed about little things. I have a very blessed life...but somehow my brain finds a way to get stressed about stupid things.

I would also like to try something different every month. Whether it be a new food or experiencing something different...I want to explore and not be so sheltered. My husband is all about trying new things and I am the complete opposite...so I think it will be good to do this.

Ok..those 2 are BIG ones I feel like and will be enough for this new year. Now hopefully I can keep these resolutions and not be another person that gives up. I don't want to be another 'statistic' :)

Do you all have resolutions...would love to hear them?!!?

Lasagna Soup

This pinterest recipe was so easy to make and super yummy!! I changed a few things about it so my ingredients may differ than the linked recipe.

You will need:

2 teaspoons of extra virgin olive oil
1 pound of ground turkey
1/2 onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1.5 tablespoons of minced garlic
1 32 ounce can of chicken broth
1 15 ounce can of tomato sauce
1 14.5 ounce can of petite diced tomatoes
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1/4 teaspoon of crushed red pepper
8 whole wheat lasagna noodles
1/2 cup of chopped fresh basil
1/2 cup of reduced fat mozzarella cheese
3 tablespoons of parmesan
Garlic bread or breadsticks

What to do:

Heat the olive oil over medium-high heat in a large non-stick dutch oven pan. Brown the ground turkey. After the ground turkey is browned, add the bell peppers, onion and garlic. Cook together over medium-high heat for 5 minutes.

Add broth, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, salt and crushed red pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the flavors are blended, about 20 minutes. Add the noodles; bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the soup thickens slightly and the noodles are tender, 10 – 12 minutes. Remove from the heat; stir in mozzarella, basil, and the parmesan(whole-wheat lasagna noodles take a little longer to cook).

I always make garlic bread with my Italian meals. You will need 1 loaf of Italian bread (less or more depending on how many people you are serving). Slice the bread and butter both sides. Put garlic salt on one side of each slice of bread. Put the loaf back together and wrap in tinfoil. Cook at 375 degrees for 20 minutes.

New Year...New Job!!!

Today is my first day at my new job and I am so excited. I will be working for a CPA firm that is only 4.3 miles from my home. Not only am I thrilled about working for a great company, I am also happy to be working so close to home. I don't even have to get on a highway or interstate...I won't even hit a speed limit greater than 40 on my way to work [insert happy dance].

How did this come about? Was I looking for a job change? Why now?

When I graduated college in December 2006, I had a job already lined up with the CPA firm that I did my internship with from January - April 2006. It was in May 2010 that I decided I would like to give the private industry a try [in the accounting world, you can either work in public accounting (CPA firm) in which you have many clients you service or private accounting in which you work for a business in some sort of accounting related positon]. I felt that I was still young enough in my career that I could make the change from public to private. I also didn't want to feel 'stuck' later in life and regret it if I never tried private industry.

So in May 2010, I said my goodbyes and went to work for a company as a Senior Accountant in their internal reporting department. I enjoyed working there and loved the people I worked with. It was about a year after I started that I was beginning to miss the work I did in public accounting and the variety of work I did. I also wanted to advance and knew that was not possible where I was at. I talked to my mom about it and she talked to me about giving it a longer try to determine if I really like, so I did. I still didn't like what I did, but I was trying. I was trying to learn as much as I could so that if and when I decided to change jobs, I know I gave it my all.

It was in November that I received any email from a recruiter that intrigued me. I received emails from this recruiter on a monthly basis. I didn't know who she was and I don't know how she got my email, but it seems that I got many messages on LinkedIn and phone calls from recruiters so I didn't really think anything of it. In her email, it listed many jobs she was currently recruiting for and at the end of the email it said something about having a work-life balance in public accounting. I replied asking her about this because I was curious on what she had to offer.

We spoke over the phone and she let me know of a couple opportunities that were available close to home [one requirement was that I be close to home if I went back in public accounting....long hours during tax season are more favorable when your drive home is only 5 minutes]. I felt like this was all happening for a reason and that I was for sure ready to go back into public if the right opportunity came along. I updated my resume and sent it off to the firm with the position that I wanted with fingers crossed that I would get an interview.

I did get the interview and it went so well. I liked the feeling I got when I walked into the office, I liked the people I met with and I liked the firm and what it had to offer. My interview was a Friday and I heard back on Monday that they really liked me. They wanted to do a second interview so I could meet with a few other partners and managers. I had the second interview a week after my first and that went really well also and I left with a big smile on my face hoping that they liked me as  much as I liked them [sounds like a first date :)].

I received a phone call from my recruiter 2 hours after my second interview...I had gotten the job and she was emailing me the offer. I was elated to say the least!!! The offer was a really good one and I accepted after talking with the hubby. I couldn't stop smiling!!!

I went to work the following Monday and gave my 2 week notice. This was hard becuase although I didn't like what I was doing day in and day out...my boss and the people I worked with were so nice and great. I felt bad. They were all very excited for me and offered congratulations.

So as I start my new job today, I start it with the biggest smile. I am working for a firm that has been around for more than 40 years and has established a great name for themselves. This job is not only going to provide me with great opportunties, but it is a place that I can see myself working for the next 30+ years until retirement. I am ever so grateful for this opportunity and know for a fast that I will be working my hardest to not let them down!!

I am blessed!!!

Happy New Year

It's a new year which means that many people went out on Saturday, enjoyed some adult beverages, probably got intoxicated and felt like crap the next day! I did all that...EXCEPT felt like crap the next day. I am not sure why I was NOT hungover because I did drink my fair amount of booze, but I was totally prepared to be a pile on Sunday. Instead...Tate and I watched movies and football and I put a huge dent into organizing our office.

A group of us went out to a bar downtown Minneapolis for the evening. We had decided to kind of 'live it up' this year since this was probably going to be the last year we would get the chance before babies start to enter the picture for all of us.

My super cute hubby

Pre gamin' with the girls

We had decided to pay a bit extra and reserve a booth. I am so glad we did. We split the cost between everyone so it was pretty cheap. We had our own little 'area' and it included 2 bottles of champagne and NYE accessories.

Our booth

All the ladies

Some of the men

New Year kiss

A fabulous New Years Eve it was. We celebrated with some great friends and enjoyed ourselves to the fullest [even if I was ready for bed by 12:30...getting old]. I feel very blessed for such an AMAZING 2011 and I hope for an even better 2012!!!