ciaobella

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

ciaobella

Dear Bellas,

I am taking a slight break from blogger-world.

I recently started a new job and simply am not finding the time to be creative with my writing.

I have a few other things, such as relationships, family & ME time to work on.

Be back soon.

Ciao.

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

amira...

Two of the biggest blessings in blog world:

Making new friends

Discovering how many people relate to you.

I want to share Amira's Shades of Gray. We were separated at birth. Seriously.

How do I know this?

She used the word "fart" in her blog, need I say more?

With that being said, I asked her to share this oh so lovely post about love and marriage and relationships.

************************************
Meet Amira

Hello lovely ladies! When Sara reached out to me about sharing my post with you guys, I was so flattered! A part of me feels slightly funny sharing marriage advice (like I'm so wise) when I've only been married for a tiny year, but in that year I feel like we've grown and learned a lot. We challenge each other daily, and it isn't always roses and sunshine, but we're consistently working at it.

Ten Things I've Learned in my 1 Year of Marriage:

1. Marriage is fun! You get to have slumber parties with your best-friend every.single.night.

although he will not tickle your back or play with your hair nearly as much as you want him to

{and there will be more slumbering than partying on most nights.}

2. Never stop pursuing each other. My parents are such a wonderful example of this. They've been married for 32 years and I still find them making out, dancing in the kitchen and holding hands. It's so unfortunate to see some couples, over time, who simply stop making an effort to make each other feel special.

3. That clearing my throat while rubbing my neck and telling him how parched I am will almost always guarantee I get a cold glass of water...even if it's just after he's climbed into bed {in fact this seems to be when I am thirstiest.}

4. Choose your battles. He's going to fart. He's going to leave the toilet seat up. Are these the most important things in the world? No. (Although in our house it's more like "She's going to leave her shoes all over the house" and "he's going to continue to turn off the heater when you aren't looking.")

5. Having a great marriage can be hard work. Like anything you want to excel at, it takes patience, dedication and a lot of TLC. I think it's easy to get lazy and comfortable and start taking each other for granted. You have to make a choice every day to put your marriage before your own wants and desires a lot of the time. We feel lucky enough to share a lot of those wants and desires so it makes it easier :-)

6. Forgive. You've made a promise for life. You're also human which means you are going to make lots of mistakes over the course of forever. Forgive, learn, and keep on keepin' on.

7. COMMUNICATE. Brandon and I dated for about 3 years before we got married and something that I learned very early on was just to tell him how I'm feeling as straightforwardly as possible. Guys don't seem to get hints. If he said something that bummed me out, I don't want to mope about it all day until he realizes what's happened and can come groveling after me {well maybe I do sometimes.} Just be as upfront and honest as possible.

8. Brandon is my partner in life and someone that I always want to be around but he cannot be my absolute everything, nor I his. I would lose it without my girl friends. We think it's important to have guys' nights or girls' nights, and have separate hobbies. I do NOT want to go out into the garage and work on cars with him. He does NOT want to wear facial masks and paint his toe nails with me. And that's okay :-)

9. Compromise. Being right is NOT the most important thing. This is something that Brandon and I are still working on, haha. We're both super competitive, and stubborn and sometimes in the heat of the moment being right about something so insignificant can seem like the most important thing in the world. It's not. And I think this attitude can take it's toll on a relationship. So if you're reading this Brandon, let's just admit that I'm usually right and move on ;-)

10. Accept and embrace your partner for who they are. At the end of the day isn't that what we all want? Someone who loves us just the way we are -- peanut bladder and all. Someone we feel safe with, someone who just "gets" us. Learn to love someone for who they are and forgive them for who they are not.

What makes your partnership unique?

We are complete opposites and somehow we work. I'm talking bleeding heart liberal meet your conservative, gun-toting husband. I'm always cold, he's always hot. He has the patience of a saint, I have the patience of a two year old sans a nap. I'm passionate and fiery -- and he's cool, calm and collected. But I'd like to think I add quite a bit of spunk to his life (maybe more than he initially bargained for) and he absolutely calms the lunatic worry wart I can so quickly turn into.

When you think about your future what gets you super excited?

Little Grays!!! You guys, I went to SEVEN baby showers in 2011 and it's given me a slight case of baby fever. We aren't quite ready yet but the thought of seeing Brandon with his tiny son or daughter makes my heart feel so full. I know he'll be as incredible of a father as he is a husband.

Your favorite quote(s) in regards to Marriage?

"Marriage is an alliance entered into by a man who can't sleep with the window shut,
and a woman who can't sleep with the window open."
George Bernard Shaw

"The best way to love anything is to realize that it may be lost."

true dat.

Thursday, January 26, 2012

you would never catch ciaobella saying...

"Less ranch dressing please."

"Let's take the stairs."

"I would rather wear jeans tonight."

"Ugh. I don't have any polish on my toes."

"Can we go to 6 Flags!?! I love roller coasters!"

"Let's skip the mall - It's always so crowded."

"Oooh. This is not spicy enough."

"I'll take vanilla instead of chocolate."

"Let's see who can run the fastest!"

"I'd like a cup of coffee."

"There's too much cheese on that."

"Watching Oprah has never made me cry."

"My hair is too thin."

"I would rather be left alone."

"Let's just watch the game!"

"Can we skip dessert?"

"I think passing wind is inappropriate."

"Facebook is such a waste of time."

"Forever21 & Ikea are so overwhelming."

"I'd rather just call you than text you."

"Being a stay.@.home mom sounds awful!"

"Let's go camping!"

"I love grocery shopping."

"Pinterest never gives me good ideas."

Monday, January 16, 2012

confessions of a 26 year old...

Some of these things you may slightly judge me on.

I'm okay with it. I judge myself on a few.

I pick my nose a lot... probably too much, especially when I am driving.
I have a huge love for watered down juice- Recently my mom told me that's actually how she made it for me as a child- all makes sense now.
"On the 7th Day God made summer sausage"... oh em gee... I love sausage & beef sticks. Go ahead with the jokes. Colby jack and summer sausage equals a "Taste of Heaven".
Popping a zit is kind of like a mini high for me. I'm weird like that.
My number one reason for hating winter is that I simply can not text & drive.
My number one reason for hating round-abouts is that I simply can not text & drive.
Sometimes when I've had an awful day- I make a pitstop at the mall or Target just to buy something. Buying a $15.00 shirt from Target is therapy.
I hate ramen noodles- they look like brains and taste like foam.
I would love to move to another state for even a short period of time, but at the same time I'd love to stay.
Chili's fajitas are my favorite. I have very American tastebuds.
Some day I wish to have falsie eye lashes sewn to my lids.
I really want a tatoo. Small. Tasteful. But I have to wait to have a reason or two for it to happen.
At heart, I am a hopeless romantic but struggle showing it for my inner class clown is easier to display.
I like banana bread but HATE bananas.
I want to live a week in the series MadMen just like January Jones - minus the cheating husband.
I think people who strive to be like someone else their whole life - really have issues.
Having a nose ring makes me feel hip.

Happy Monday Peoples.

Friday, December 9, 2011

His Image.

"God created mankind in His own image,

in the image of God, He created them;

male and female He created them."

Genesis 1:27

Hard to remember that at times.
But...
Feeling incredibly loved today.

Monday, November 7, 2011

Come meet my family...

We flew to Denver very early on the morning of
Thursday, November 3rd...

Thursday was a long morning.

We woke up at 3am, jumped in the car and heading to the Milwaukee airport.

First flight was to Atlanta, yes I said Atlanta.

Pointless. Humf.

From Atlanta we flew to Denver, where we rented our first car.
Woo hoo for being 25 & older...

It was a tiny, itsy, bitsy Ford Fiesta, aka clown car.

The pick-up was not great but it got us around and was quite efficient when it came to gas.

Right away, we met my Dad at Buffalo Wild Wings and had lunch- then headed straight to the hospital to see my Grandpapa. My Grandpa had been rushed to the hospital earlier that week with signs of a stroke and a terrible infection. Thankfully, he made a great recovery and was released the Friday we were there.

I held his hand, rubbed his back, he cracked jokes like always

and he LOVED my sunglasses.

Friday, my Dad, Rick & I, ventured up into the mountains in our "Clown Car" to Breckenridge.

*Only about an hour and a half drive"

Perfect weather.

Snow on the ground & the sun to keep us warm.

We walked around town;

Someone bought over-priced sunglasses & it wasn't me.

He was pretty "amped" to have found such a "great" deal from the hippy / slash / stellar sales "dude".

We had Peppermint mochas in the cutest house that was transformed into a Starbucks.

We ate at a restaurant called the "Motherload".

We had an AMAZING time

& tooks picture perfect photos.

Friday night we met up with some of Rick's friends from college.

Just had a few drinks at a local Irish Pub and another bar called "Merle's".

On our walk back to the car, I found this little treasure.

The perfect picture for a
Ciao Bella Blogger.

Saturday was filled with a train ride, the largest Forever21 I've ever seen, lunch at a Mongollian BBQ & dancing in public.

In the evening we went back to Carter's hotel room for dinner and games. To my surprise, my Aunt Krissy answered the door! None of us had a clue she was coming. It was sooo nice to see her. We ate Grandma's breaded chicken with greens and potatoes and we played
"The Game of Things".
*Click to see the game
LOVE this game- one of our favorites.

We were recently introduced, by my friend Ali, to this next game called
"Who, What, Where, When, Why".
Hilarious for groups of 6 or more.

Sunday morning was Dim Sum and Packer day. We went to a Chinese Restaurant decked in our Packer gear and spent our last few hours with family.