Pampering your man

Do you know that guys like to be pampered just as much as girls do? (If not MORE!) I really do think that by showing some extra love to your man, it lets them know how much you adore and appreciate them. Here's a short NONSEXUAL list (because everyone knows how to please their man behind closed doors. However, if this list leads to amazing s - e - x then you are welcome!) ((I spaced out the s - e - x because I don't want people typing that in google and coming upon my blog!)):

• Fixing their plate for dinner. I do this every night..one night I was so hungry that I just sat down and started eating, and David thought something was wrong. It isn't "woman in kitchen-cook meal" type of thing.. I fix his plate because he appreciates it every time I do it..and that makes me smile.
• Clip his toenails. (After he showers of course!) This one may seem gross to some, but I don't think there is a greater joy than a man laying on the couch getting his toes "did". After I clip them, I rub some of my lotion on them and give him a quick foot massage--which he loves. He would NEVER go to a spa like I would, so this is his own little spa. Put the yummy smelling lotion on them..he wont notice and you'll smile knowing he smells a little fruity :)
• Back massages. Lotion or massage oil works great. If you don't have time for that, or just don't want to use either-just rub your fingers over his back-it'll make him go to sleep like a baby.
  
• Cheer him on. I'm sure he's got a PS2, PS3, Wii, xbox..something! He probably spends a decent amount of time in front of it. David plays a football game on the PS3 usually every night (which is the reason I am glad we have 2 TVs) but sometimes I'll sit on the couch and watch him play acting like his own personal cheerleader..Even though I think the game is dumb, I am taking interest in something he likes.
• Pray for him. This is perhaps the most important. I prayed for him before I ever met him, and I still pray for him, our marriage, our future.
• Don't criticize or contradict him around others. People don't want to see you two bickering. Save it for behind closed doors. It could blow up a lot bigger than it should if you make him embarrassed around people, just bite your tongue and save it for later.
• Take care of yourself. Put some makeup on, get your hair done (if you can't afford the salon, fix it nice yourself!), exercise a couple of times a week...those things probably don't matter to your husband because he'll love you no matter what but he will notice the extra pep in your step.
• Help him shave. For Dave, hair is gross. (Which is FINE by me!! I am not a fan of chest hair) So occasionally he'll ask me to touch up his back. Which makes his muscles look bigger :0)
  
• Tell him you love him. Every.Single.Day.
  

So Many Things.

As I settle into the next three days of work..I look back at our First Christmas as our own family with a huge smile on my face. On Christmas we went to see a movie..and deemed that our Christmas day tradition. We have the others as well, making cookies from scratch, a big family dinner, and making a gingerbread house..but I really liked going to the movies as one of our traditions. I think when the movie comes out I will buy it..and the next years and all the other years too.

Our First Christmas: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

I had tears just streaming down my face for a majority of the movie.. and I am not entirely sure why. I will blame it on PMS. It was a really great movie, so I urge you all to see it too! (Just bring some tissues just in case you wind up like me and have to wipe your face with the same napkin you wiped your greasy popcorn hands on!) When the movie ended as David & I were rushing out of there we noticed everyone was hugging..so I think the majority of the crowd really got touched by the movie.

I'll miss you when you're gone!

"When they saw the star, they were overjoyed."
Matthew 2:10

There's something about sitting in a room with only the Christmas lights on with my favorite drink from Starbucks that is incredibly soothing. I need to figure out how to keep my Christmas lights up all year round without looking like one of those people.

Naughty or Nice?

Tonight I made brownies for my hubby's 2nd work party tomorrow.



Do you think we should inform people that I made them wearing only these:

:)

Making food while looking sexy makes it taste so much better.

On the brain..

I talk in my sleep. Sometimes yell, sometimes with my eyes open (which I imagine can be kind of freaky!) I have done it since I was in diapers, making noises throughout the night and causing my mother to get less sleep as she had to check on me to make sure I was okay.

Lately, I have been talking about photography. How do I know this? Well, David will tell me in the morning what I talked about the night before and BAM! I remember exactly what my dream was and go on to explain it.

Yesterday morning David said, "You kept screaming, 'I need my telephoto lens Quick, I need it, Carrie Underwood is coming!' " I am not sure how Carrie Underwood popped in my dream, but oh yes, she was there. I knew how much David loved her and I was trying to get a good shot of her for him, and I needed my telephoto lens for that.

Here are a couple conclusions:
I am thinking A LOT (maybe too much) about photography these days. But that's okay :)
Shouldn't David be the one to dream about Carrie Underwood? Not me?

Cutest kids..

Here are some of my favorite pictures from a photoshoot this weekend.

Wedding Blues

Where do I begin? We aren't going to have a wedding ceremony. In a sense it shouldn't matter because we're already married, but I really longed for one. I mean, it's every girls dream right? So now you may be wondering why we aren't having one..it's because my parents were supposed to pay for it, told us they were going to pay for it, but apparently my dad lied about having extra money. He owes me $12500 right now, and he told me recently a "deal" went through and he would have the money back to me and we could talk about setting up a wedding account. He also got my mothers hopes up through this, that she could resume the life she was used to.

My parents aren't poor, (just for informational purposes here) they own a vineyard (but but didn't produce crop this year, resulting in money loss) plant tobacco, own apartments, 7 houses (some to rent out and some to fix and sell) and a few lots. Their bills are paid for, but as you can see from the list they rack up a lot of bills, so there isn't a lot of extra money right now.

Remember how us getting married was like a secret to everyone but my parents? (because we didn't want to just move in together and my parents would have died if we did) I guess now we will just tell people we're going to the courthouse.

I am trying not to be upset about it. We could pay for a wedding, but since 6 months have gone by since I was supposed to have the money back that I gave Dad, I will have a little bit of college loans coming up to be paid, and we're saving for a house..my dream wedding isn't in the picture.

I do have my wedding dress. My beautiful wedding dress. I am thinking I may go ahead and have it altered and have David rent a tux and us have someone take photos..so we can have pictures.

Anyways, I just needed to get all of that off my chest.. I know this isn't a happy post, but I am happy that I have the love of my life by my side forever..ceremony or not, what we have is real.

Purple & Gold

David's work party was so.much.fun
we did a Chinese gift exchange
I opened a GIANT universal remote & there was another present attached
a candy bra.
I could have DIED. Everyone laughed and my face got so red.
It probably would have been a lot more embarrassing if I had not had a couple glasses of wine in my belly, and everyone would have been slightly more embarrassed hoot and holler at Dave about that gift if they had not too had a few drinks.
So I did what anyone would do..
I traded that for the Crown Royal gift set (mmmm!)
The best part is that I was one of the last ones to pick a gift..so no one made me switch with them!

Friday Fill-In

1. Friends make like fun.

2. Good health; it's what will help keep you in the nursing home.

3. I'm ready for Christmas, Snow, and Sleep.

4. Ralph Lauren Polo Sport is one of my favorite perfumes or aftershaves or smells. (No really, it makes me weak in the knees)

5. The oldest ornament I have is a couple weeks old.

6. Take some frozen strawberries, vanilla yogurt, a banana, a splash of OJ, mix it all together and you have a yummy & healthy strawberry smoothie.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to being done with an exam & baking brownies, tomorrow my plans include photo shoots & David's work Christmas party and Sunday, I want to take another exam, more photo shoots, and cuddling with David!

Want to join in on the fun?

My Loves

Linda @ The Random Memorandum gave me this:

Upon receiving an award I too (like Linda, again) usually just say "thank you" ..but her post made me laugh (like many of her posts) so I thought I too would join in.
Of course I love God, David, My family, Friends, and all of you wonderful bloggers! But the next 5 things have really touched a special place in my heart recently: (and because everyone would mention the same five things I did..except for David..I should be the only one who loves him enough to let him enter my top 5 list)

1. My new camera & alllll of its wonderful accessories:

2. Stove Top Stuffing. I cannot get enough. I would rather eat this stuff than my families secret recipe. Sorry great great great great great great great grandmother, you should have thought of this instead. And then we'd be rich. 3. Cheetos Twisted. Seriously Heaven in my mouth. And they get stuck to my teeth so I get to enjoy them even after I finish eating them ;)

4. My down comforter. And my bed in general. It is so cozy..I'm in love.5. Pilot gel Pens. Seriously.."I Die" They are the greatest ever. I will purposely write things over so that I can use these pens more. They make my handwriting so pretty.
..Name 5 Things you Love

Ugh..

Every time I get sick I say "I have never been this sick" ...but this time it is so true. I am not a good sick person, I whine and feel like I am in my last day of living.

and before I crash again on my bed..let me ask you this..why is it so hard for my furbaby to behave while I am sick..dogs sense things..she probably knows how bad I feel. This is how it went down today:

Sadie sees dead mouse
within one second it's in her mouth
I scream
which hurt.
really bad.
she wouldn't "drop it"
so I had to get it
I had to touch a dead mouse.

Wonderful :0)

What a fun weekend we had :0) On Friday evening we watched a few episodes of The Office Season 3 that I was able to snag on Black Friday for only $13!! And enjoyed a wonderfully healthy meal of Pizza Hut Pizza.. (mmmm!)

Saturday went like this:
I didn't get up until 11.
(I'm so good in bed, I could sleep for days!)
Ate some pizza leftover from the night before
Back to bed for another two hours.
(It was wonderful)
Got up more groggy than before
showered & made myself presentable
went to David's Brother & SIL's for a cookout
followed by all of us going to
remember what this season is REALLY about
and "walked-through" Bethlehem
at a local church.
That was a lot of fun, and reminded me of why I love Christmas so much.

Stopped by Walmart to pick up the essentials for making:
a Gingerbread House!
David & I each picked our own sides to decorate
since we couldn't agree how to do it
Here is the finished product:

(above is Davids, Below is Mine)
I like mine better.
I even put a Christmas tree out my front door

Sunday was FUN.
I had my first official photo shoot
since declaring I was
"Megan Garrison Photography"
Here are two of my favorites:

(if you'd like to keep up with me
here's my link..become a follower)

I am looking forward to the next few weekends being just as much fun.

What did YOU do this weekend?

Judging

My Utmost for His Highest
December 5

"..most of us are much more severe in our judgment of others than we are in judging ourselves. We make excuses for things in ourselves, while we condemn things in the lives of others.."

I read that today and it really hit home with me..so I thought I would share. :0)

Have a great weekend!

Holiday Fun

1.
Wrapping paper or gift bags? It depends on the item, but I mostly use wrapping paper.


2.
Real tree or Artificial? This year, Real, but after Christmas we're buying a fake one (cause they'll be cheap!)


3.
When do you put up the tree? We put it up a week before Thanksgiving.

4.
When do you take the tree down? Probably New Years.

5.
Do you like Egg Nog? No. Gross.

6.
Favorite gift received as a child? Furby. Oh man I wanted that thing so bad..and got it!

7.
Hardest person to buy for? David. He's picky.

8.
Easiest person to buy for? My mom.


9.
Do you have a nativity scene? Yes. Davids mom gave us one :)

10.
Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail.

11.
Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I don't think I've gotten a bad gift.

12.
Favorite Christmas Movie? Oh there is so many!! I cannot possibly be forced to pick one..

13.
When do you start shopping for Christmas? Whenever I see something that would be nice for someone.

14.
Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Nope.

15.
Favorite thing to eat at Christmas and favorite Christmas dessert? Everything.

16.
Lights on the tree? Clear lights, Only.

17.
Favorite Christmas song? Again, I CANNOT pick one.

18.
Travel at Christmas or stay home? Visit both families.


19.
Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Comet, Dixon, Dasher, Prancer, Dasher, and that's all I can think of..are those even right??

20.
Angel on the tree top or a star? You know I love my stars!

21.
Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Open one present on Christmas Eve the rest in the morning.


22.
Most annoying thing about this time of the year? There's nothing annoying about this time of the year.

23.
Favorite ornament theme or color? This year we have Red & Silver, I like to mix it up every year!

24.
Handmade ornaments or store bought? When we have kids, it will be handmade..for now, it's store bought.

25.
What do you want for Christmas this year? Camera accessories. Simple enough, Right?

Now it's YOUR turn to answer these questions..especially if you couldn't think of a post for today!

Letter..

Dear Lady Across The Street,
Firstly, you have the second cutest dog in the world..behind my Sadie of course. I noticed that when you take your dog out you don't carry bags. I can't think of anything more gross than stepping in a pile of your dogs steaming poo. In fact, I am sure that I have. Twice. Now, I know there are other people here and a lot of them do not carry bags either..but I don't know where they live. Please forgive me in advance if one day you open your door and step in a big pile of poo. Gross, isn't it? I would have done it by now if I could stay up after most people go to sleep. You're lucky. And Gross.

Love is in the air..

Liz shot photos for David & I this past weekend. (Thank youu!!) I promise I didn't harass her for the originals since I was so excited about seeing them..(Glad she's such a good friend of mine!) Ohhh I cannot wait until they are all edited & pretty! :0) I must be a good girl & be patient and wait.

Here is one of my favorites from the "originals" pile:

This is going to be a busy day & even busier week.
If I don't get a chance to comment to all of you, I'm sorry!