So...Jay Leno & I are *Twinsies*

Morning.  :)  If you haven't heard the buzz yet, Raven from A Momma's Desires & Pacifiers is hosting another super cool link party.  This one is about finding your celebrity doppelganger.  If you don't know what a doppelganger is, shame on you for not watching How I Met Your Mother... shame on you.  Anyway, linking up with Raven!

This is the picture I used.. 

Here are the first results I got.. 

When I clicked to see more results...I got these results...

Seriously?  Jay Leno?  SERIOUSLY?  How is it possible for a person to resemble both Jessica Simpson and Jay Leno?  I just don't get it.  Haha.  I'm trying not to let this kill my joy.  
I've never been told I look like any of these people...especially those two old gals.  I'm 23...do I look old?  Haha.  This is doing a number on my self esteem.  But, I've never been told before today that I look like any of the aforementioned celebs.  I've never been mistaken for any celebrity, but I have had people tell me (on more than one occasion) that I look like Jennifer Aniston.  They say it's the hair and/or the eyes... and while I'm complimented on my long, thick hair and big, bright eyes pretty often, I do not (by any stretch of the imagination) even slightly resemble one of the most beautiful women alive.  Haha.  I think my chances are better against Jay Leno.  ;) 

Whatcha think?  Do you see it?   

Anyway, my husband definitely has a doppelganger (or he did when he had long hair)...who just so happens to be his favorite athlete.  Tim Lincecum...no doubt about it.  

 Who is your doppelganger?

Coo Coo Kachoo, 

Mrs. Robinson

Our Love Story, Condensed!

I'm grumpy.  It has seriously been one of those days, y'all.

I work in the family business.  

My dad is my boss and the Vice President.

His dad, my grandma, is the owner and President (although he is pretty much retired and does not work here.  He just refused to retire so that he can keep controlling interest of the company.) 

My grandparents have gone to Aruba for two months.

My parents are on a 10 day cruise.

That means that I am in charge of the company for the first time in my life, and it's not been a picnic. I'm a grumpy bunny, for sure.  I've had to make all kinds of decisions that I'm not really qualified to make.  I've just...well, I've just been forced into the role of "boss" and it's scary.  It's also really hard.  (I know it's good experience, and it's a great "taste" of the future and what's to come...that doesn't make it less frustrating/difficult/exhausting.)  I'm def looking forward to working out and running off some of my frustration when I get off work in about 30 minutes.  In the meantime, I quit (not really) and want to do this love story post instead.  Capish?   

1. How long have you and your significant other been together?

Ummm...he tried to woo me for a while before I gave in.  That starting in November or December.  February 13th will be the one year anniversary of our very first date!  We consider that day to be the beginning of our relationship, so we've pretty much been together a year!  

2. How did you meet? {What's your "love" story?}

We met while working at Ruby Tuesday.  I was a hostess, he was the new server.  I eventually started waiting tables as well, and that's when we started getting more serious. You can read our FULL love story under the "All About Our Love" tab up at the top.  It's pretty adorable.

3. If married, how long have you been married? If not, is this the guy you hope to marry? {do tell}

We've been married for 5 months tomorrow!  <3

4. If you are married, where did you get married at? Big or small wedding?  If not, where would you like to get married? And will it be big or small?

We got married at a small plantation in Georgetown, SC.  It was small-ish.  We had about 80 people in attendance including us, our parents, and the wedding party.  

5. Do you have any nick-names that you call one another? Do share!

Usually just babe or baby.  Sometimes when I'm saying something "difficult" I'll call him sweetheart.  He has called me "kiddo" from the start.  I hated it at first (don't tell him!!) but now, it takes me back... When he calls me kiddo, I call him mayonnaise.  Get it?  He calls me KIDD-0 so I call him MAN-o-naise.  tee hee :)

6. Name 3 things you love most about your honey.

I love his tattoos (my prince charming had to come with tattoos.)

I love his love for God.

I love his sense of humor & how quirky he is.  We're perfect together.

7. Tell us how he proposed? Or your ideal proposal?

haha...the short story?  We were at our wedding venue with my parents, waiting on our wedding planner to get there and get a feel for the venue that we had already booked.  Oh, and I had bought my dress the weekend before.  AND we had already started planning it.  My parents were just walking around, acting all sketch.  He made me sit on a bench under a rose bush with him.  I kept looking around at our venue..not focused on him at all.. I looked over at him and he had the ring out.  I was actually quite surprised, even though I KNEW we were getting married already.  The longer version is up there under the "All About Our Love Tab" and it's pretty funny.  

  

8. Is he a flowers and teddy bear kind of guy for v-day, or strawberries, champagne, and rose petals?

It's hard to say!  Last year was our first Valentine's Day together.  He asked me to be his valentine..it was so precious.  :)  We both had to work on Valentine's Day (we were waiters!) so we went out on the 13th.  He took me to eat Indian Food (I'd never tried it before!), he gave me a poem he wrote (it's still on my dresser), and a card.  He also gave me a journal because he knew how much I loved to write, but had gotten away from it.  I use the book as my prayer journal.  It was very sweet of him.  

9. Are you a sunset dinner on the beach kind of girl, or pop a movie in and relax on the couch?

Neither.  I don't care what we do, as long as we're together and I feel like he made an honest effort to be sweet and romantic and make it special.  Even it was a pb&j sandwich.  

10. Tell us one thing you'd like to do with your significant one day. If you could do anything? Go anywhere?

The first thing that popped into my head was...I would want us to go to India.  He's been on a mission trip.  I've never gone.  It's his favorite place in the world.  My favorite place is Mexico...so I'm surprised that MEXICO didn't pop into my head.  I just know how much he wants to take me to India, to see the things he saw, to experience the things he experienced.  He fell in love with the culture, and I know he wants to experience it again.  I'd love to do that together.  <3 

11. Tell us what you plan on doing on this Valentine's Day.

I'm not sure!  I have two gifts for him & I'm going to make him a card!  :)  But he's been hush-hush about the V-Day plans!  :)  We'll see! 

12. Are you asking for anything this Valentine's day?

I didn't ask for anything.  I did bring him a Kay's catalog "just to look at."  Haha.  I'm hoping for a Pandora Charm (just because I get so excited about adding to my bracelet we started on the honeymoon!).  I didn't ask for anything, though.  I trust him.  I'm excited!    

13. Give us one piece of advice of keeping a relationship strong and full of love.

Relying on Jesus is so important.  I'm relatively positive that if we both weren't Christians who put our trust in GOD, our marriage would have fell apart in the first month.  It was so horrible...the 2nd month was pretty rough, too.  We haven't been married very long, but having Jesus at the center of your marriage is priority number one.  It changes everything to pray together, read the Bible together, and come to Jesus together.  It's everything.  

14.  Show us a picture of what love means to you.

Love is being on the honeymoon  ;) ;) ;)

My parents...the people who taught me love! 

Just look at that embrace, right in the middle of our parents.  (His parents are the man with the grey hair and the woman with the glasses.  My parents are the couple beside us.)

Love is funny faces!  

Love is a bride and groom, both with looks of disbelief! 

I'm linking up our love story here.  You have until Valentine's Day to share your precious, love story as well!   

That helped!  I'm in a MUCH better mood now!   Happy Thursday!

Hey y'all, I'm O'r Yonder!

Good Morning!  
It's pretty much Monday to me, because I didn't work yesterday.
I had an eye doctor's appointment.  I was there for a really long time because apparently my extreme  near-nearsightedness has created a freaking HOLE in my retinas.  I was there for a really long time.  THEN they dilated my eyes and I was blinded by the light.  My pupils were crazy big!

By the time we left the doctor's, we were STARVING.  And we knew that by the time we finished eating, drove the hour home, and THEN went to work...we'd only end up being at work for about an hour.  We decided not to go back to work and to get drunk at lunch instead.  Haha.  Don't judge.  It was Vodkarita and it was delicious.  It had a lot of vodka, a little margarita mix, a little orange juice, and little fresh scrawberry.  It had sugar around the rim.  YUM!  I had two.  I was dancing in the booth.  I passed out on the way home.  I was plastered and blind.  haha  Good times. 

So, like I said, today is my Monday.  Only it's Tuesday and I'm being featured by one of my blog-love-bugs, Bethany!!  :)  I love her, for real, and would be her best friend IRL if we could.  sigh.  You know how they have nudist communities?  I vote that we start a blogger community!  :)  Haha  Anyway...
Bethany has named the post "special k and the art of farting."  Haha.  She gave me a pet name!  I seriously adore that girl.  She's super busy this week with work, and has a GREAT series for the week!  She's featuring one guest blogger each day, and the topic is "firsts."  First anythings.  We got to pick!  It's great.  I hope you'll go check it out!  :)   If you don't already follow her blog, get your butt into gear and start!  She's the best.   

ALSO.  Is your blog on twitter?  Do you follow bloggers with your personal twitter account?  If the answer is yes, bounce on over and follow @MyNewWifeLife or click here.  It'll be Tweetarific!  
Happy Monday! Fine, fine.  Happy Tuesday.
Oh...and my drunkenness prohibited me from writing about my new tattoo!  I'm working on the post right now, though!  It'll be up today.  I promise!  For real this time!  XOs

The Leibster Award

I received my 2nd award!  :)  Exciting times, y'all!  

I've seen this award around blog land, and was curious about it.  So when I received it, I decided to do some research.  I Googled.  I had no idea what a liebster was.  Honestly, the first thing to come to mind?  

Source: steamykitchen.com via Lauren on Pinterest

Lobsters.  That's right.  

 To no surprise of my own, the Liebster Blog Award has nothing to do with lobsters.  Imagine that.

I learned that the Liebster Blog Award:

• originated in Germany
• "liebster" is German for "dearest," "beloved," and/or "favorite"
• "lieb" means "loves"
• The award is typically given to smaller bloggers & somewhere along the way, someone decided that 200 followers or less means that you have a small blog.
• The award is given to bloggers who deserve more recognition.

I'm addicted to Google & I think it's GOOD to know the history about things.  Don't judge me as a dork, please.  :)  

OH, and more thing!  The award comes with RULES!  Don't worry, not dress code rules or speed limit signs.  Good rules!  The kinds of rules I don't mind following.  Check it: 

The Leibster Blog Award Rules<3   Thank the person who gave you the award and provide YOUR readers a link to check them out.<3  Give the award to 5 of your favorite bloggers who have less than 200 followers.  Don't forget to provide links!<3  This one is easy because you'll WANT to do it first!  Post the award on your blog!  :) <3  Bask in the love from fellow bloggers - they are they best, aren't they?!<3  Have fun, spread the karma, & whisper a little prayer for the blogger who tagged you & for the bloggers you are tagging!  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Meet WhitneyShe gave me the award.

Thank you to Whitney from The Land of Sunshine for deeming me worthy.  :)  I'm flattered, especially now that I know what the award means AND because I love your blog & it's fun to be recognized by people I like!  If y'all don't read her blog, start now & I'm not kidding..  She is the sweetest & prettiest girl in all the land - and she's a great weight-loss pal.  :)  Even though we've never met IRL, she's the kind of person who will tell you straight up that you're making excuses & need to get your butt in gear.  :)  Seriously.  She told me.  And I dig it.  So, go check her out because she's real.  & real awesome.  :)    
And the award goes to....{in no particular order}
Tiffany at All Because Two People Fell in Love
Karla at Always Kiss Me Goodnight
Monica at The Musings of Lil Moo Moo
Bethany at Healthy is the New Skinny
  Meg from Mr. C & Me
These ladies are my FAVS!  I keep in regular contact with all 5 of them, they are not listed in order of importance, and each of them are WELL worth your time!  :)  I swear it to be true..so check them out!  They deserve to be recognized even though they are "small" bloggers, like myself.  I could go on and on for DAYS as to why I picked these 5, but if you go their blogs they will show you all on their own.  
To everyone else...thanks for helping my blog grow!  :)  I don't want to be cheesy & over-the-top.  I'm aware this isn't a Grammy Award or anything, haha!  I have been meaning to write about this for a while...my little blog has been growing lately & I've met some pretty amazing ladies!  Thank you to everyone who's left a comment, grabbed a button, sent me an e-mail, written a guest post, featured me as a guest poster, or brightened my day in any way at all!  Y'all are awesome & blogging is SO fun.  Thanks for following!  & if you aren't following..I hope you will start!  (And don't forget that soon, we'll HAVE to start following each other with Google+ or BlogLovin' or some other website.  So, try out Google+ today please!  I'd hate to lose  y'all!)
XXOO   

Google+ MINUS

I hope that most of you have heard about the whole Google+ Monopoly going down on March 1st.  If not, read this informative post.  Basically, the convenience of "following" Bloggers is going away.  Google+, or as I like to affectionately call it, Google-, is forcing us to use circles & stuff to follow each other.  Circles are dumb.  Unless they are topped with diamonds.  ;)  
Anyway, you may notice that I added the Google+ Widget to my right sidebar, right underneath the "Blog Archive" Widget, but above the "Followers" Widget.  It looks like this...

Click here to create your own widget.  If you don't do it now, you'll be OUT OF FOLLOWERS on March 1st.  I'm pretty pissed I'm a lady, and I'm angry with Google for forcing us to do this.  But anyway, that's just the way it is!  Moving on...
I also JUST posted another wedding day post!  :)  Part Four!  It's pretty awesome...go read it!  :) 
WEDDING POST PART FOUR   

Gahhh, I loved being a bride!  Can I go back?!

Friday's Letters

Dear Friday,  I am so happy to see you.  You don't even know.
Dear Amber,  I have read every single one of the "Share Your Story" posts you've featured.  Every Friday, I learn something new or meet somebody new.  Thank you for doing this!
Dear My Nail Lady,  Thank you for making my nails fa-reaking adorable yesterday! 

  Dear Kale,  I learned some pretty cool stuff about you today from Christin when I read this post and this post.  Come to find out, you are packed full of anti-cancer stuff AND a chemical that helps boost DNA cell repair.  That's pretty awesome.  I plan on buying you next time I'm at the grocery store.  
Dear Zombie,  I'm sure you think that our visit to the vet this morning was made because I hate you.  I swear I don't.  I love you.  And you are a fat, healthy, good boy!  You weighed 7.7 pounds!  You got a clean bill of health!  You didn't whine or cry when you got your shots.  And it only cost us $232.00 for the visit + 6 months of pet-meds!  So, I guess that means we'll both spend our day pouting.  
Dear Healthier Lifestyle,  You are working!  It's so much fun loosing weight!  :)  I've almost lost 10 pounds...if I could lose this last pesky pound I'd be able to say I've lost 10.  When I get there, I'll only have 30 more lbs left to drop!  :)  I've enjoyed eating healthier...I've enjoyed the extra energy!  I'm loving that I am starting to fit into some of my old clothes again.  I can already tell a difference in my  body & in my self-confidence level.  If I could get back to where I was in 2007, I would be unstoppable.  

 
Dear TreadClimber,  I haven't been on you since I was in the 11th grade.  That was about 6 years ago.  Today, when I get off work, we meet again.  Let's try to play nice and be friends, okay?  :)  This is my first day working out in a super long time, so I know I might look like a stranger.  But I promise, you'll recognize me soon if you just go along with it for a while.  
Dear Husband,  We've been off-beat lately.  I don't like it.  I love being married to you, but sometimes I miss being wooed, and sometimes that makes me cranky.  A cranky me usually starts arguments.  Please put those pieces together soon...
Dear God,  We have so many prayers.  We are praying for Mr. Robinson to find a job he enjoys, we are praying for guidance on the mission trip to Kenya, we are praying for our marriage, we are praying for so many things.  Thank You for all of the blessings You've already sprinkled on us.  Thank You for saving us.  Forgive us if we aren't thankful enough.  
Dear People Looking For Jobs,  STOP coming into MY OFFICE on my LUNCH BREAK.  I'm eating.  Does it look like I want to hand you an application?  No!  And while I'm at it, I could care less what position you're applying for.  I could care less that this is a factory.  Do not come in here to ask for an application  like this: "Yo, y'all hirin'?  Lemme get a app-la-cation."   
Dear New Blog Layout,  I like you a-lot!
  What's on your mind this beautiful Friday?  :)   

Oh, How Pinteresting: The Eyebrows Edition

It has been too long since I linked up a Pinterest post, so today I am pop-lock-& droppin' it at the pinning party going on at The Vintage Apple.

Oh, How Pinteresting!  

The Eyebrows Edition 

Everyone want's what they can't have, so I'm sure I'm perfectly normal.  

If you have boobs, you want less.  If you don't have boobs, you want more.

If you are tall, you want to be short.  If you are short, you want to be tall.

If you are thick, you want to be think.  Some think people want to be thick.

Well...I want pretty eye-brows!  I want them more than anything.  Sadly, here is what I have when I'm fresh out the shower:

And here is what I have when I pencil them in a bit:

So, after years and years and years of waxing, plucking, and a few times of shaving them myself (bad, I know)..I've decided that I've got to stop!  I am trying to let them grow out.  So, I've been looking for eyebrow shapes that I think I could do!

Source: sundayinbed.tumblr.com via Chelsea on Pinterest

Source: prettystuff.tumblr.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

Source: google.com via Lauren on Pinterest

Source: google.com via Ryann on Pinterest

Source: vi.sualize.us via Citlalli on Pinterest

Source: everythingfab.com via Liv on Pinterest

Source: aleygreenblo.tumblr.com via Sophie on Pinterest

Source: google.com via Morgan on Pinterest

Source: marthastewart.com via Connie on Pinterest

Source: yayoknay.com via YayOkNay on Pinterest

Source: google.com via Melissa on Pinterest

Source: glamourdaze.blogspot.com via Connie Sagona on Pinterest

I will be the first to admit that I want what I don't have when it comes to eyebrows.  I think my ugly, thin arches make me gravitate towards thicker & more dramatic.  But, to continue being honest...I don't know if I could pull it off without looking like a lesbian or a man.  No offense to lesbians or men - I'm just a heterosexual woman and have no interest in looking like I'm not.  Ya dig?  Anyway.  Sigh.  To have pretty eyebrows.  
I've decided to not pluck for a while.  Let my brows take on a shape of their own, look like a lumberjack for a while.  AND THEN I'll go to a professional, picture in hand, and walk out with stunning eyebrows.  :)  That's my plan.
So, what are you pinning?!

I Heart Tattoos Link Up!

Today I'm linking up with Raven at A Momma's Desires and Pacifiers. 

 I am super excited about her starting this link-up and I hope to meet a lot of really awesome women with ink.  :)  I personally have four tattoos, and cannot - can.not. - wait to get more!  My husband can't go more than a few months without some fresh ink, so I know that I'll have to make a decision soon as to what tattoo comes next.  So anyway, here is what I have so far:

~.~

Age:  18

Location:  Inner Left Wrist

Meaning:

  It roughly means "beautiful person" and it was in honor of & is now in memory of my Aunt Lati who passed away from breast cancer in July of 2009.  She was diagnosed in October of 2005, battled stage four breast cancer for 45 months.  She was such an amazing person.  She left behind a husband and a 5 year old daughter.  If you care to read her story (she kept a blog) click here.  Grab a box of tissues.  It's been over two years and I can't go on the site without crying.  It's still too fresh.  She was too young and too good.  But anyway, my family did a lot of Susan G Komen walks/races.  Our team name is "Bella Person," which is a combination of my maiden name, Lati's maiden name, and her married name.  It means beautiful person because we were doing it for her..the most beautiful person any of us had ever met.  I have this tattoo because she has an amazing story full of inspiration and faith.  I wanted people to ask me because I wanted to do everything I could to share her story.  She was and is such a precious person to her family.  She was my favorite aunt.  I loved talking about her.  I still love talking about her.  A lot of people think cancer is for old people.  She was 34.  I'm going to start crying if I keep on, so moving on to the next tattoo... 

    

Age:  19

Location:  Right Hip/Thigh

Meaning:

none

Age:  22

Location:  Left Rib Cage

Meaning:

This tattoo is a fleur di lis.  It is French for lily and is a symbol of strength and excellence.  I got it because I really like the shape, and Mr. Robinson (who at that time was just my friend) drew it for me.  :)  We went and got tattoos together as friends.  Um...the design inside this tattoo is supposed to (subtly) resemble a marijuana plant.  The colors used are the Rastafarian colors, commonly associated with marijuana smokers.  I got the tattoo during a darker time in my life...and this tattoo no longer holds the same meaning it did when I first got it.  I had it done last January.  Now, it's a reminder of falling in love with "the one" and a reminder how far I've come in the past year. 

Age:  22

Location:  Right Rib Cage

Meaning:

 Finally, my fourth tattoo is a cross.  More specifically, it's a Unity Cross.  I did a post all about it not too long ago and you can read about it here.  My husband and I both got this tattoo, except his is on his forearm.  We put together a Unity Cross in our wedding ceremony, display the Unity Cross in our home, and have the tattoo on our bodies to remind us of our love for each other and for God.  The other post goes into more detail.  It's so much more than your typical cross tattoo.  

~.~

As for future tattoos...I want tons more!  :)  I love having a new tattoo.  I love doing the unexpected.  I love shocking people.  I love how expressive tattoos can be.  I particularly love the adrenaline rush.  Oh man, there's nothing like it.  Getting tattoos is incredibly addictive because it is incredibly fun.  Yeah, they hurt.  During the tattoo-getting-process, I always VOW to never again get another tattoo.  When it's healing and itching and driving me crazy, I SWEAR that I'll never go back!  Once it's healed and pretty and not hurting or itching anymore, I start planning my next one :)    
I love tattoos that are uniquely placed.
I love tattoos that collectively tell a story - like a sleeve.

That's my goal.  I eventually plan on having my entire back tattooed.  I love the idea of "sleeve" tattoos, or a tattoo that is made up of tons of smaller tattoos and all fit together perfectly and tell a story.  I love it.  I want a sleeve tattoo, but don't have the guts and would lose my job.  I want a sleeve tattoo on my back.  Does that make sense?  I want my back to tell a story of who I was and who I am.  I want my tattoos to symbolize where I have come from, how far I've come, how much I've grown, who I used to be, who I hope to be..

Can't wait to see everyone else's tattoos in the link-up!  :-D  If you have ink, go check out Raven's page.  She's pretty cool and you absolutely should link up and meet this girl.