Sick/Studying

I spent this weekend studying, Ryan spent it sick.  I don't know which was worse.  On the bright side, he seems to be feeling better, and at 1pm next Saturday, this exam will be finished.  Believe it or not, I did capture a few pictures from the weekend. 

Oh Hey There Winter!

"Just airing out my junk, mom.  What's it to you?"

My life

Ryan's life - On the couch with the kitten and a warm quilt

Here's the first and last time you will hear this, I'm actually kind of looking forward to cleaning my house.  It's a disaster because I have been trying to put as much time into studying as I can.  Next weekend though house, I promise I will take care of you.  I don't actually promise though because I might change my mind.  We will see.

Top 10 - Glee Songs

While I'm watching Glee and trying to figure out why they all think they are super heros, I thought I would do a post about the top 10 Glee songs that are better than the originals (in my personal opinion of course).  Feel free to disagree.  These are the songs that when they come on the radio, I wish they were playing the Glee version.



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10. Landslide - Dixie Chicks
I can't really explain this one.  Basically I just think Santana is fantastic.

9. Get it Right - Glee Original
I know that this is an original song, so maybe it doesn't count, but it's one of my favourites. 

8. Somebody to Love - Queen
It's Queen.  Enough said.  I feel like this is one of the classic Glee songs that they should sing every season. 

7. Marry You - Bruno Mars
This one is mostly on the list because the episode was amazing.  Their dance down the aisle at Kurt and Finn's parents wedding was great.  One of those episodes that just made you smile!

6. We Are Young - fun.
When the whole Glee club gets together and bursts into song it makes me smile.

5. The Scientist - ColdplayI was listening to this in the car tonight.  I can't explain this one either, but I just think that their version of this song is so powerful and emotional.

4. Poker Face - Lady Gaga
Does anyone remember when Rachel and her birth mom did a rendition of this song?  Phenomenal!

3. Forget You - Cee Lo
Gwyneth made this whole season.  This song is on my iPod and it has been listened to a lot!  Way better than creepy Cee Lo singing it.  (Does anyone else think he's creepy?)

2. Rumour Has It/Someone Like You Mash Up - Adele
You can't say that Adele isn't amazing, because she is.  That's why I don't have more of her songs on this list.   I have also loved Glee versions of Rolling in the Deep, Chasing Pavements and Turning Tables.  But this mash up was pretty great.  If I'm listening to Rumour Has It now I find myself breaking into Someone Like You halfway through it.

1. Don't Stop Believing - Journey
I know this is a classic song, but it's also another classic Glee song.  And I honestly do like their version way better than the original.  But in a pinch the original will do too. 

Honourable mention goes to last nights Some Nights.  That right there is why I watch Glee. 

Thoughts on a Thursday

1.  Is it Friday yet?

2.  The Bachelor Canada

I'm going to talk about the ending here, you were warned.  (Also known as a spoiler alert.)

Well Canadian Bachelor production, you got us.  Was I the only one who thought that they were terrible at this TV thing and had just made it really obvious that it was Whitney the entire season?  I'm glad it's not.  Especially after that horrid hometown date.  I don't think I have ever seen a bachelorette who was more awkward when meeting the parents.  Like I'm a shy girl, but even I wouldn't behave that way.

So anyways, I'm happy for Brad and Bianka.  I hope it works out, but I'm not counting on it either.  They do seem good together from the moments behind the scenes that they show.  And they call each other cheeseburger.  That's kinda cute, I guess.

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3.  Christmas Music

I listened to it on the drive home yesterday.  It kind of seemed out of place because it was 10 degrees and there was no snow.  But I have to get in the spirit!  I need to get motivated to put up some decorations in my house.

{via} Are you ready?

4.  American Thanksgiving

I am not thankful that you have completely ruined my television schedule tonight.  I recommend also that you move your Thanksgiving to October like us.  Then all your Thanksgiving and Christmas decorating doesn't get all intermingled.  I don't know how you do it. 

That is all.

I'm a Book Worm

I'm not gonna lie, I love to read.  I always have.  So when I saw this link-up for literary junkies, I knew it was a link-up for me!  I got the three questions off By The Porchlight, so here we go.

1) What book are you currently reading? Give us a little synopsis and your review.
Don't laugh. I'm reading Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone right now.  An oldie but a goodie!  I was given all seven Harry Potter books for my e-reader and thought it would be some nice easy reading that I would really enjoy!  And I am really enjoying it.  You want a synopsis?  It's about a boy, who finds out he's a wizard, goes to wizard school and is part of the three best friends that anyone could have.  It's fantastic!

{via}  RIP Hedwig, you were a great owl

2) What are your 3 favourite books of all time?
This is a tough question.  I've read a lot of books in my day.  Sometimes it's hard to narrow down when you have favourite authors.  I love Nicholas Sparks.  My favourite book of his might be Safe Haven, and I'm so excited for that movie!  Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin is also probably up there.  And then I'm going to go with The Giver by Lois Lowry, because if you can read a book that many times, you know it's good!  I'm sure there are books I've liked more than those, but I just can't think of them right now.  I've been more of a fluff reader lately.  I just want to read a book that's easy to read.  I don't have time to get into books that are too deep I guess.

3) What is your "approach" upon entering a bookstore? Where do you immediately head after entering through the front door?
I'm a cheap accountant, so buying books is hard for me, because I usually read them pretty fast. If I go into a book store, I usually know what I'm looking for.  If I don't, I would go to the tables in the middle that have Heather's Picks (I think she owns the joint, or is the president or something).  Heather always knows what's good.

And I just ran out of photo storage.  See above where I said I'm a cheap accountant?  I need to figure out how to fix this problem without spending money.  Otherwise, blogger out.  (Just kidding, maybe.)

Our Wedding: Party Time!

I just wanted to share some party pictures, because everyone looks like they are having such a great time!  I promise I'm almost done with the wedding posts.

These two danced all night!

Ryan aka Swan and Michaela always have a good time together

Push it real good!

 

Everyday I'm shuffling

I love these pictures of the bouquet toss.  I tossed the tossing bouquet and then gave my real bouquet to my cousin.  I think she was pretty excited.  

If only we could have a party like this every year!  But I don't think it's in the budget...

Buffalo!

I have one blackberry pic for you of my weekend.  That's all we had time for.  This weekend was our annual Buffalo Christmas shopping trip!  And wow are blackberry pictures low quality.  I don't want to hear anything from you iPhone people, I love my blackberry!

Every year, I head to Buffalo with my mom, sister, aunt and cousin.  This year my other cousin's girlfriend came along as well.  We try to do as much Christmas shopping as possible and usually get something for ourselves as well.  I spent a lot of money, but unfortunately I don't feel that I bought enough gifts. So I have much more work to do before Christmas.

But like usual, we had a great time.  It's so nice to get away for a weekend with a group of girls, and we always have a great time.

It has also become a tradition to see the latest Twilight instalment while we are there, because they seem to always come out the weekend we are there, or the weekend before.  This year was no exception.  Breaking Dawn part 2 had to be seen!  And although it started kind of slow, it was phenomenal.  I don't know what we will do next year.  I will have to get my sister started on the Hunger Games so that we can go see Catching Fire.

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If the Dress Fits

I heard of some women who tried to try their wedding dress on every year on their anniversary.  Whether it fit or not, they would take a picture.  I thought it was a pretty good idea.

So on our anniversary, after a bit of struggle (with the lace up back, not the size), I did get the dress on.  Ryan tightened it just enough in the back that it didn't look terrible.  We definitely weren't taking the time to lace that whole thing up properly!

I'm not sure that it will be going on every year though.  I forgot how tight it is.  Hips tend to get bigger right?

Pipsi really liked how it rustled.  It seemed like a pretty fun toy!

I never did clean the dress.  It's just hanging in my closet.  Should I do that?

A Little Young House Love

This happened on Monday.  If you don't know who they are you are missing out.  This is John and Sherry Petersik of Young House Love.

John and Sherry were in Toronto for their Young House Love book tour.  As soon as I saw that they were coming all the way to Canada, I knew that I had to go.  Plus, I had never been to a book signing before, so that in itself would be an experience.

I took the afternoon off work and headed to Toronto with my mom.  We had a few things to do first, and we wanted to go to Wicker Emporium.  I could have bought everything in that store.  The book signing was at West Elm, I have been wanting to go there for ages as well!  We got there at about 5:20 and the book signing was supposed to start at 6.  We thought we were good to go because nobody was lined up outside, which was good because it was raining.  Then we got inside, where the line was wrapped around the entire store. 

It was a long wait, I'm not going to lie.  We waited in line for about 3 hours.  But at least we could look at things throughout the store, and everyone in line was really great and just happy to be there.  They also handed out the most delicious hot cocoa and cookies.  They knew the way to our hearts that's for sure.

Finally we made it to the front, and it was so worth it.  John and Sherry were no nice and friendly, even though by this point it was after 8:00 and the signing was only supposed to go until 8:00.  I was kind of nervous because I'm pretty shy.  But I learnt something from their daughter Clara and I just kept telling myself "Kaileigh you're being shy.  Don't be shy Kaileigh, be friendly!"  Two year olds are so smart.  But they both made it pretty easy.  I guess maybe they are pros at this by now!

I think that the great thing about this book signing, was that everyone feels like they know John and Sherry.  They aren't just regular authors who wrote a book that you want signed.  They let us into their lives on a daily basis.  They make you feel like you are on this home renovation journey with them.

I haven't had time yet to really sit down and go through the entire book, but it looks like it is full of great ideas. 

Our Wedding: The Reception Details

I loved our reception.  Not only was it a good time, but the room looked amazing (in my unbiased opinion).  We held the reception at a local hall that was basically brand new, I think we were about the 6th wedding to be held there.

We did get a decorator, because none of the linens came with the hall.  She did a fantastic job and made our lives much less stressful. 

The table numbers were an issue and a half.  We had so much trouble making them work!  But in the end, they turned out great.  Each table number had a picture of myself and Ryan at that age.

The head table had Ryan and myself at the end, and the bridesmaids down one side and groomsmen down the other.  I saw this at another wedding and loved the idea.  It allowed everyone to talk to each other instead of only being able to talk to the person next to you.  I found it much more enjoyable.

We collected pictures of all of our grandparents and parents on their wedding day and set them on the guest book table.  There was also a picture of us and the frame said All Because Two People Fell In Love. 

I thought our seating plan turned out great as well!  My mom was the crafty one with most of this stuff.

The centrepieces were some orchids in a tall vase.  Simple but classy.  I wanted the feel of the hall to be elegant and not overwhelming.

The favours were the best part!  We made chocolate turtles (with the help of an old friend).  Turtle shaped chocolates with caramel and pecans in the middle.  So delicious and made with love!

So those are a few details from our special day.  It's the little things that count right?  I don't have pictures of the actual food at the reception, but it was made by a Mennonite lady and was phenomenal!  I always say as long as the food and booze is plentiful, nobody remembers anything else! 

Our Anniversary Weekend

We interrupt our scheduled wedding posts for a recap of our anniversary weekend!  We went away for our anniversary and had a great time.  We drove up to a ski resort area (yes I know there is no snow yet, although we drove through a minor blizzard on the way there).  But we just got away for a weekend and had some time to ourselves. 

We found the only waterfalls in the area.  It wasn't much, but it was something.  It was definitely on private property, so we just stood on the bridge and looked at it, no view from the bottom for us!

We found out about a provincial park that wasn't too far away that had animals.  It had a whole bunch of Canadian animals in it.  Excuse the fence lines, apparently they don't want you sticking your hands in the bear cage.

Birds, foxes, a bear, a wolf, a bob cat, and of course the deer

The dear were so tame, they would come right up to the fence.

I think they thought they were cats.  This one just stood there and let me pet it.  Then it started licking my coat.  It was pretty neat!

There were also hiking trails, so we went for a walk.  It was cold, but a beautiful day.  

We had an amazing dinner on the Saturday night.  As long as I have good food I'm happy!

Sunday morning, in order to get the Friday night at the resort for free, we went to a time share presentation.  Usually this isn't something that we would do, but I figured it was worth it because we were getting a whole extra night at the hotel.  (Which was a $160 value apparently).  They almost got us too!  They made it seem like such a good idea.  But in the end we were able to say no.

It was nice to be able to take time to celebrate our first year of marriage together!