Anniversary Gifts

A few months before our 1 year wedding anniversary, the husband and I decided that we would buy each other "traditional" gifts each year. With our 3 year wedding anniversary gift coming up this Monday, I decided to share the official list:

Traditional Anniversary Gifts by Year:

First: Paper

Second: Coton

Third: Leather

Fourth: Fruit or Flowers

Fifth: Wood

Sixth: Candy or Iron

Seventh: Wool or Copper

Eight Bronze or Pottery

Ninth: Pottery

Tenth: Tin

Eleventh: Steel

Twelfth: Silk or Linen

Thirteenth: Lace

Fourteenth: Ivory

Fifteenth: Crystal

Twentieth: China

Twenty-Fifth: Silver

Thirtieth: Pearls

Thirty-Fifth: Coral

Fortieth: Ruby

Forty-Fifth: Sapphire

Fiftieth: Gold

Fifty-Fifth: Emerald

Sixtieth: Diamond

For our 1 year anniversary, I gave him coupons for an amusement park {paper} and a leather-bound journal {paper}. He gave me the entire Twilight Series {paper}.

Last year, I gave him 2 shirts from j.crew {cotton} and he surprised me with this pillow {cotton} I had been drooling over for months:

Gorgeous, huh? He went onto my blog and sneakily found out the exact name/style so he could order it online, but THEN they were out of stock so he somehow managed to find it at some other random site. I think I'll keep him. :)

The traditional gift for this year is supposed to be leather. I was racking my brain for literally months, trying to think of something leather that he'd actually want. So, when it finally came to me, it was such a huge relief because he is really going to love this gift! I'll be sure to post pics next week.

hmm...I wonder what he'll be giving me? Oh well, I guess I'll have to wait and find out on Monday! But that's OK because I LOVE surprises!

Do you and your spouse give each other traditional gifts? If so, what are some gifts you have given and received in the past?

Dreamy Kitchen

Lately, I've been so busy working on my new photography website that I've neglected this poor little blog! Although this week promises to keep me just as busy, I'll do my best to post more often. Here is one of my faaaavorite kitchens by Candice Olsen. That window seat is my idea of heaven!

365 Challenge: 3.8-3.17

New additions to the Guest Room

Leftover "Jade Sea" from our old Master transformed this $4 Goodwill find

Spring is coming...

Exploring Nature

I heart Philadelphia

Sleepy Sleeperson

A quick after-work dinner

Philadelphia architecture

A sweet gift from a fellow blogger's etsy shop

teeny tiny tub of goodness

P.S. New wedding pics on the blog and even newer maternity pics on facebook!

Summer Dresses

Did anyone else have a blog post from earlier this week disappear, never to return? I know blogger was having some problems, but I thought all of the posts that were deleted were supposed to have been updated by now? Hmm curiouser and curiouser...

I am about to go do a Maternity Photo shoot. Please, please pray that the rain holds off, at least until this afternoon!

The hubs and I are going to a Wine Festival in Maryland with some friends, tomorrow. I thought the event required a cute, new dress, and I convinced Ben that I would make sure to buy one that I'd wear throughout the summer. Target was my chosen location because they had the biggest variety and there is one 5 minutes from where I work {so I could try on dresses during my lunch break} and 10 minutes from our house {so I could try one on after work, since instead of buying a dress during my lunch break, I got STUCK in a dress and almost had to ask the sales lady to come help me...}. Here were my options:

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

#7

#8

#9

#10

Can you guess which one I chose?

Mom...

I am blessed to have a truly amazing mother. She is godly, sweet, loving, supportive, honest, encouraging...the list goes on and on!

from left: Mom, my little sister Rachel, & me

Happy Mother's Day to my beautiful Mom and to all of you other wonderful mothers!

via

Blog Love: 5.6

Here's what I've been loving lately...

This office has the perfect combination of color and pattern.

Have you taken the virtual tour of Amy Butler's gorgeous home? Pretty, yet cozy.

I love the idea of making your own soy candles for a wedding, or even any other fun event.

I'm so glad to have Freckles Chick back in the blogosphere! Her witty posts have left a void in my google reader.

This frugal kitchen proves that it just takes creativity & imagination to successfully decorate on a budget.

You know I'll be making my own version of this DIY case for my new iPhone.

Go watch this video of Emily telling her kids that they're having another baby. Hilarious!

Nicole's new laundry room has me re-thinking my usual dislike of powder blue.

So, what have you been loving lately?

iPhone!!!

During my lunch break, my husband surprised me with an iPhone 3G!!! I had a POS phone that came for free with his iPhone. Now, my phone is so amazing, I can't even handle it! I've literally spent hours downloading apps, browsing everyone and their mother's facebook, checking my e-mail, surfing the web...I feel like bursting into song! "A whole new world...".

So, if I don't post for awhile, it's because I have turned into this:

Sad, yet true. I am officially obsessed.

My Top 5 favorite apps thus far:

• facebook
• Holy Bible
• USA Today
• TMZ
• Groupon

Now I just have to figure out how I can convince my husband to let me spend $55 on one of these beauties:

Swoon!

Are any of you iPhone lovers like myself?

Turquoise Chevron Kitchen

We live in an apartment in a quiet little suburb called West Chester, just outside Philadelphia. Although I love our kitchen's open floor plan and granite countertops, the white walls and cupboards make it feel a little on the bland side. We don't want to paint, so I'd like to integrate color {my favorite shade of turquoise} and patterns {chevron, of course} to help spice it up a bit {no pun intended}. Here are some of my ideas:

utensil holder :: anthro

tumbler :: west elm

Could be used as a vase or as a small utensil holder.

tea towels :: etsy

milliken rug :: csn stores

My husband is not a fan of having a rug in the kitchen...but this one might be too fabulous to pass up!

l'epice jar :: anthro

Would be cute individually or as a set.

limmaren bottles :: IKEA

I was thinking I could use 1 for dish soap, 1 for balsamic vinegar, and 1 for olive oil. Thoughts?

mini latte bowls :: anthro

What do you think? Any other recommendations for personalizing an aparment kitchen?

It's not about a bunny...

Happy Easter!

365 Challenge: 3.1-3.7

I cannot believe I have a 3-day weekend! I literally skipped all the way from the car to the apartment {I wonder what my neighbors thought?). Oh, and then I ran (again, literally) back outside with my camera because I could not resist taking a zillion photos of the cherry blossoms that practically blossomed overnight! Those pics to come soon, but until then...

Godiva Chocolate Cheesecake from TCF

New drapery rings for the Living Room curtains

Formerly yellow/orange vanity after 2 coats of gray paint {makevoer pics coming soon!}

Rags used for cleaning up great-grandma's antique table

Exploring the Reading Terminal Market in Center City, Philadelphia

My absolute favorite thing from Panera: Tomato & Mozzarella Panini

Love the coffee, but the new logo...eh, not so much

Philadelphia Doors

I am fortunate to live less than an hour away from the beautiful city of Philadelphia. During a trip into the city with some friends, I stumbled upon some gorgeous doors and entry-ways. Enjoy!