I LOVE CHRISTMAS!

Christmas is my ABSOLUTE favorite holiday next to my birthday! I love everything about the Holidays and am so excited about CHRISTMAS in my near future! Tuesday, was a stressful day and I needed some cheering up so I decided it was time to start up the Christmas tunes on Pandora! Yep, that's right bring on the Mariah Carey Merry Christmas Album baby!! You know which one I'm talking about, no? ONLY THE BEST CHRISTMAS CD OF ALL TIME!! Sure it may be from the 90's, but those were the best times! I may expand my thoughts on that in a different post because I honestly don't think they make music or movies like they used to! I really want to bust out the decorations, but Mr. C says no! Yep, Scrooge himself says we can't put out the decor until after Thanksgiving. I guess I will just have to surround myself with everything else Christmas in the mean time. Even though Mr. C wants to wait, I am so excited about our little tradition we started last year! I am going to make a batch of my grandmother's amazing Russian Tea, turn on some Christmas tunes and trim the house in all things Christmas!! My Grandmother's Russian Tea is a fabulous little recipe that just screams Christmas time and makes your house smell absolutely lovely.

Bippie's Russian Tea

8 cups of water

5 tea bags

1 cup sugar

16 oz. orange juice

8 oz. pineapple juice

3 tbsp lemon juice

1 tsp cloves

Make tea in the water, and add rest of ingredients. Simmer for at least half an hour, and serve.

Another thing I am looking forward to is creating our Christmas cards this year! If you have not seen Shutterfly's collection of Christmas cards you MUST check it out! I have used shutterfly to make photo books and calendars before, but this will be the first year of Christmas cards. YAY for first year family Christmas cards!!

http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/holiday-cards

They are having a giveaway for 50 free holiday cards when you post about it on your blog! There are some really adorable Christmas cards as well as photo Holiday cards! To check out the photo Holiday cards click on the link below.

http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery

There are a few criteria I have for Mr. C and I's Christmas cards. They must say the word Christmas and not Holidays and I want something sleek and elegant. Here are a few of my favorites below.

I haven't decided if I want to do a stationary card or just a photo card. They also have great calendar designs (http://www.shutterfly.com/calendars) and these would make perfect gifts!

Tonight, Mr. C and I are headed to a lake house with some friends and I could not be looking forward to this nice relaxing weekend anymore. We are coming back on Sunday and I will be surrounding myself with more Christmas as I meet up with The Bestie to attend the Christmas Village! I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Veterans Day

So, the Holiday post is getting pushed back again due to Veterans Day! I am so very thankful for our freedom. Words could not express my gratitude for all who serve in the military. I would like to point out a few special people in our lives. Thank you for all you have done!

My Grandfather, Pops. He served in the Army.

My Dad-in-love, Jim. He served in the Navy.

My Brother-in-law, Chris. He served in the Army.

Matt's best friend and the best man in our wedding, Josh. He served in the Army.

Another one of Matt's best friends and groomsman in our wedding, Andrew. He served in the Coast Guard.

Another best friend of Matt's and also a groomsman, Mike. He served in the Navy.

There are many more people in our lives that have served, but these guys are our family! Happy Thursday and Veterans Day!!

Happy Hump Day

Hi Friends! I had the Holidays on my mind today, but decided to postpone that entry until tomorrow because tonight Mr.C and I are headed to a CMA Awards Party. I have to run home, find something to wear, let sweet little Ellie out, meet Mr. C and then rush back downtown for the evenings festivities. I have to do all this in 60 minutes (yeah right)! After the viewing party, we will be heading to the Laura Bell Bundy show where we have VIP/Green Room passes (I love my job!) and then catching Eric Church later in the night (again...love my job). If you have not heard his album you are totally missing out! Love this guy and his music!! Needless to say, I think it is going to be a late night. I think I see sausage biscuits in my future followed by a visit to the gym if I eat said sausage biscuits. Everyone needs to tune in to the 44th Annual CMA awards tonight on ABC at 8/7c. It's country music's biggest night, Ya'll! Happy Wednesday!

Thankful!

Today I will be participating in The Undomestic Momma's "Top 2 Tuesday." This week her topic is being thankful! I am thankful for so many things this year so in honor of the soon approaching Thanksgiving Holiday here is my FIRST EVER Top 2 Tuesday!

1. Mr.C

I could go on and on about the things I love about Mr. C, but today is about being thankful! I am so amazingly thankful that I signed up for Chemistry in college. We met in our lab class and soon became best friends! Of course, I was smitten from the beginning, but Mr. C had just gotten out of a long and long distance relationship. Needless to say he wasn't looking for love, but I am so thankful God brought us together. After almost a year of friendship, I am thankful that he wanted to take it to the next level. We began dating and the rest is history. We went through some difficult times over the next 5 years, but we made it. The love Mr. C and I share is one of a kind and I am so thankful for that. That love helped us make it through the hard times and also brought us the best times. I am thankful he got down on one knee and asked me to share the rest of my life with him! I am thankful that we professed our love together last April in front of our friends and family and I am thankful that God is working in our relationship everyday! I love you baby and I am thankful for you!

Mr. C

Mr. C and I in College

Immediately after Mr. C proposed Mr. C and I at our rehearsal
During the ceremony
Happily Ever After

2. Good Friends

Where would anyone be without friends? I can honestly say that I have an amazing group of friends that I am surrounded by everyday. I am thankful that I met so many amazing friends through college and they continue to remain in my life. I am thankful that I have a group of friends that no matter what happens will be there for me. I am thankful that my workplace hires people that are not just co-workers, but have become some of my very best friends! I am thankful for that one best friend that has become like a sister to me. I am thankful for the chance that we get to wake up every morning and meet new people that could possibly become our next great friend!

The Bestie and I when we were young

Julie, Jenny, Ash and I

The Lifers Colleagues at the wedding

Well, Hello Monday!

Hi All! I hope you had a great weekend! Ours seemed rushed, but it was very successful! The Mom loved the birthday surprise and it was a complete success!

Friday night after work, my boss hosted a wine party for 10 of her lovely friends. It was my first "official" party and it went so well! We had a ton of fun and I sold lots of wine! Thanks ladies!

On Saturday, Mr. C, The Bestie, and I headed to Chattanooga. We met up with The Mom for manicures and pedicures. I am shamelessly admitting that I have not had a pedicure since the wedding (OMG- that was April ya'll)! While we were getting the spa treatment, Mr. C turned into Super Husband and finished getting all of the lose ends tied up for the surprise birthday dinner! The Bestie and I stalled The Mom before we took her to meet 19 of her closest friends at a local Japanese restaurant. She was so surprised! The look on her face was priceless and I am pretty sure I saw a few tears. We enjoyed a lovely dinner and then headed to a local watering hole to continue the party. We met up with one of The Lifers and some other old friends there to watch the UT/Memphis game. Mr. C and I were cheering for Memphis...orange is not our color! Well the tigers ended up taking a brutal beating from the Vols, but Mr. C and I had a ton of fun making the game interesting!

Sunday we spent some quality time with my Grandparents. We met back up with The Bestie to venture back to Nashville. Once we arrived home, we had to pick up Ellie from The In-Loves house. Mom-in-Love had cooked meatloaf and sent us home with some since we had been gone all weekend! Mr. C and I finished off the night watching "Get Him to The Greek" accompanied by meatloaf sandwiches. The movie was slightly cheesy, but really hilarious. Since Mr. C and I both work in the music industry, it's always funny to see movies poke fun at our careers.

Mondays are not always fabulous, but Mr. C and I are headed to the gym tonight and during my lunch break today I ran home and put a garlic and herb pork roast in the crock pot. YUMMY! I am so glad the weather is finally starting to get cooler! I LOVE cooking with the crock pot when it gets chili out! I hope everyone made it through their Monday!

Overdue, but who is keeping track

I have changed a few things on the blog and wanted to introduce everyone to the important people in my life! Over on the left side are all my favorite people. Of course, I couldn't list every person that tops my favorite list, but these are the people that I will probably talk about most in my blog so I thought they deserved their own little place for everyone to see!

Mr. C: This is probably self explanatory, but Mr. C is the husband. He is my best friend and soulmate. We met in college (MTSU- Blue Raiders Baby!!) and have been together six years this January. We were married this past April and I couldn't be any happier. There are so many things I love about him, but the most important is that he makes me feel complete! He makes me laugh, he makes me feel beautiful, and most importantly he makes me feel loved! Ok...I know...enough of that!

Ellie: Is our little furbaby! She is the cutest most adorable puppy in the world (in my annoying- talk to a baby voice)! We have had her for about 6 months and she completes the Cotty family (for now). She was born in April and we got her from the shelter in June. We actually went to get her brother, but he was already adopted and when they brought her out we couldn't resist! We absolutely love having a dog!

The Bestie: This is my best friend, Ashley. She might as well be my sister! We have been the best of friends since the stone age, well almost anyway. We met 17 years ago and were on competitive dance and twirling teams together. We also attended the same high school and college. We lived together all throughout our college experience and the beginning of adulthood (Ash and G becoming adults together = funny times). She has been there for me through everything and no matter what happens we will always be best friends. I could tell you many more stories about our friendship, but that would take way too long. Ashley's mom is also my Godmother and an amazing woman in my life. I will be giving her a post just for her very very soon!

The Mom: There are no amount of words that could describe how much I love this woman! She would do anything for anyone and sacrifices her happiness everyday for others. She doesn't live in Nashville which makes me cry invisible tears, but we see each other as much as we can. She recently moved in with my grandparents to take care of them (and the daughter of the year award goes to...). I am headed to Chattanooga this weekend with Mr. C and The Bestie to visit her for her birthday.


The In-Loves: Oh my word! Mr. C's parents = adorable! These are my amazing Mom-in-love and Dad-in-love. If I could have hand picked my in-laws it would be these guys! I call them my in-loves because in-laws sounds so, well, you know. I thought in-loves sounds so much better and of course I am in LOVE with them! They live here in Nashville so we get to spend lots of time with them and I am so grateful for that.


The Lifers: These are my girls! The best of the best. I lovingly call them "The Lifers" because I know they will be friends for life and they would do anything for me. This little group consist of Ashley, Beth, Jenny, Jen, and Julie (I listed you alphabetical, ladies). I talked about Ashley earlier.

Beth and I have been friends for about 5 years. She was actually one of Mr. C's very best friends when we met (still is, but I think I stole her to my side). Beth is always full of energy and she can brighten up the room in a second!

Jenny and I have been friends for the past 10 years. We attended high school and college together. We lived together for almost 2 years during college with Jen and Ashley. I am so glad to have her in my life!

Jen and I have been friends for over 5 years. A brief time of that 5 years was spent sharing bedrooms in our 2 bedroom apartment where 3 people lived. Jen is a firecracker and always brings the life to the party!

Julie and I have been best friends for the past 10 years. We met at on our dance team. We have spent endless hours dancing and learning about life together. Julie has also been there with me through the good, the bad, and the ugly.


The Colleagues: I classify Lance and Carrie as "The Colleagues" because we met at work, but these guys are much more than colleagues. Although we met working in the music industry, we have grown very close and have become the best of friends. Everyone spends so much time at their job and I am so grateful to have met these two amazing people.


Alrighty, now you have met some of the most important people in my life. Mr. C, The Bestie, and I are headed to Chattanooga this weekend to have a little birthday fun with my Mom! I hope everyone has a great weekend!