Plans for tomorrow

Two days before Thanksgiving and I'm counting my blessings that both our families live in the same town and that both of the moms in my life make delicious meals!!

We are celebrating with Derek's family on Thursday afternoon and then going to my parents that evening for supper and going to see a movie, a family tradition. Don't really have much to make for thanksgiving...Tracie (my mother-in-law) makes things days in advance because she has so many people over so she had everything covered for her meal, and my mom isn't making a ton since it should be just us kids and my parents so she didn't really need help with the food...Betsy was going to make pumpkin pie but I felt like I should helped out with something so I offered to make the pumpkin pies for Betsy...I would much rather make a dessert than food any ways, and I started realizing that I like to feel like I have something to do, and that I'm helping out...so I jumped at making the pies. :)

So tomorrow will be pie day for me, not to bad, I work in the afternoon and Derek is going to Fort Wayne in the morning with his dad so I will have the house to myself, which is always good when I need to get stuff done! If they turn out pretty I will try to remember to take pictures so I can brag about them here.

Until next time,

The Love Birds

Sunday afternoon at the Smith household, not much going on. Colts are playing so Derek is glue into his man chair watching it, I have laundry going and got some christmas shopping done, I love the internet! :)

I can't believe Christmas is coming so soon. I've told myself not to think about it to much until after thanksgiving...I just have to make it through this week then I can stress out! I have it a little easier this year, both our families are trying to save money and with a lot of the guys out of jobs we all decided we need to cut back this year on presents. So we are drawing names for our families, so instead of 12 presents I only have to buy 6...so nice!! Of course me being a gift person I already found 6 other people that I would like to buy presents for...so we are buying about the same amount still...hopefully less money though! I'm trying really hard to stay in budget or under, making a lot of cookies for people's presents, I would love to get candy so I figure everyone else will...I really hope so!

I will start making my buckeyes and different candies the beginning of December, Derek's friend Chris is coming for his annual stay the second weekend of December and will be here till the day before Christmas eve, so I want to try to get as much as possible done before I have somewhat of a house full. I like to visit with Chris and his lovely girlfriend Jo, so I don't want feel trapped in the kitchen!

Should probably start thinking about thanksgiving this week though...I have two dinners on Thursday, probably should see what I'm bringing and then make a grocery list...ugh I hate groceries. but most likely I will be making desserts so that is always fun, wish we could live off desserts! :)

Until next time,

The Love Birds

Skokie, Illinois, new friends and the Pioneer Woman

It's been awhile...I know, I know! My new blogger friends would be ashamed. (more about them later) I have very good excuses! ;) Any who I wanted to catch you all up the best day of my young life...except of course my marriage to my cutie pie of a husband, but definitely up there...

For the past year I have religiously been reading the Pioneer woman blog, pretty sure I have told you all about her when I did some recipes of her's...yum that strawberry cake was good...well she wrote a cook book and has been doing a book tour of america, when I found this out I went right away to see if she would be any where near our small little town, and to my happiness she was coming to Chicago, which is four hours away from Bluffton, I was so excited, I would be seeing my two favorite things, Chicago and the pioneer woman! I immediately told my mom to clear her schedule we were going to Chicago, just had to wait for the time and place to be announced...well weeks later it was posted and the first thing I saw was the place wasn't in Chicago but a town called Skokie..."Skokie, Illinois, where the heck is that" pretty sure were my exact words! I wasn't swayed though, I just said "oh well, been to Chicago, never meet the pioneer woman..she wins!" It was so worth it.

My mom and I left after work on Thursday at like 12:30 and headed up to Skokie, the book signing was at 7:30 and we wanted to be there early to get a good place in line, we were there three hours early and ended up 91st in line, not bad considering there was over 250 people there. Ree (the pioneer woman) was going to give a short Q/A presentation before the signing so they set up chairs on a first come first serve basis at like 5. and then after the Q/A they would line us all up to get our books signed.

While waiting we had the opportunity to meet some fellow bloggers and pioneer woman fans/stalkers. We had so much fun with these ladies, We were all excited to be sitting in the front row, we swapped stories and exchanged blog addresses. It was a new experience for me...never would have classified myself as a blogger, but now I would proudly own that title! :)

The whole night was something to look back at and smile about, we laughed a lot and were so thrilled to be a part of the experience!

With all that though I am happy to be home. I missed my husband, I couldn't wait to come home and share everything with him...especially this picture of the pioneer womans husband..he reminded me a lot of Derek, sweet, charming and overall a really handsome guy! :)

Until next time,

The Love Birds

Sitting here in my living room, which is the only room in the house that isn't 40 degrees, and watching the Dark Knight with Derek and John-Thomas. Micah is here also, I love having my nephew here! :) He is the cutest.


I did lunch with my dad today, we went to Dairy Queen and got the pumpkin blizzard, my favorite blizzard, I wait all year for it!! :) If you haven't tried it yet you should go out right now and get one, you won't regret it! I'll get off so you can go do that! :)

Until next time,

The Love Birds

cold weather and warm apple pie

I hate cold weather...ok so I enjoy moderately cold weather, like 70 and light breeze, jeans, socks, sweater kind of weather, NOT winter boots, two long sleeves shirts and a jackets...and still cold..I couldn't feel my toes earlier today! With this oncoming cold front I have been partaking in cold weather activities. Such as cuddling up on the couch with a blanket, big socks (Derek's socks are the best) warm apple cider and hot chocolate, standing in front of the fireplace at my parents until my back side is nice and toasty. Along with these is the need to make warm desserts such as apple pie...I am a big fan of apple pie, I really don't care for many pies that don't involve chocolate or peanut butter but apple pie is one of my favorites!

We went to my parents tonight for tacos and the colts game, I usually try to bring dessert since that is my specialty and I have been craving pie, I was crashed on the couch all afternoon under a blanket, alternating between sleeping and watching golf and football with Derek, I slept alot! :) I almost gave in to my lazy side and didn't get up to make the pie but decided I wanted it to much to let myself off the hook, so I pulled myself up and headed to the kitchen to try my hand at a recipe I had found online, I am so glad I did! Not only was the result delicious but also very cute! :) I made sure to take pictures to share with you all...my dear followers! :)


Until next time,

The Love Birds

First year of my marriage!

Derek and I celebrated our one year anniversary this past weekend! :) Derek got us a cabin for a couple nights a couple hours south of here, we had such a great time I thought I would share some pictures with you all!







Derek really liked his present from me, it was a basket with goodies and the dvd series 'How I met your mother' and something extra special to celebrate our anniversary. :)





We left on Sunday afternoon after church so we ate our 1 year lunch at McDonald's.





This was our kitchen at the cabin, very nice...





The living room, as you can tell it was very comfortable, derek was already relaxing






Our bedroom in the cabin, it was so nice, fireplace and everything! So jealous.




I brought along some candles and stuff so I could decorate the table for our anniversary dinner, it turned out to be really romantic. Supper was good too, we had Chicken Parmesan and garlic bread.



I just love this man, he is the sweetest and most adoring man I have ever met, I am astounded by his love for me!
We brought the top of our cake from our wedding to eat, it froze really well, and it was delicious.

One year!!!!

A year ago on this date I was preparing for my wedding!!! I was hours away from marrying the man of my dreams and being Mrs. Lana Smith! What an exciting time, decorating the church, running through the ceremony, having dinner with all the people we love the most, having them being there to support us and to witness our love. A year ago I was a girl in love with a boy who was about to make me his wife...while I was nervous, I knew that I was making the best decision for myself, I had never wanted anything more than to be standing there with Derek, declaring my love and wearing that ring for all to see that I was his and he was mine!! :)


Today I look back to that day and the past year and smile, I couldn't have asked for a better year. Getting to know Derek has not always been easy but it has always been rewarding, there is so much to love about him. To celebrate making it through this year Derek is taking me away to a cabin in Brown County, Indiana. We are leaving tomorrow after church and staying till Tuesday morning, The cabin is in a secluded spot, is fully equipped with a kitchen, t.v and master bedroom with a fireplace, and a hot tub on the back porch! It's going to be a great couple days! :)


I, for good reasons, will not be on my blog till after we get back, but I will make sure to update you all on how it was and share pictures. Also I will at some point be putting pictures up from Akron and the marathon! just haven't gotten around to it, will soon though!

Enjoy your weekend and the beginning of next week...I know I will!!


Until next time,

The Love Birds