trying to start new habits....

So this morning I managed to drag my weary butt out of bed and do 30 minutes of yoga, before showering and now I am enjoying my first cup of coffee! The goal is to do this every morning. I have had a serious lack of energy lately....and it is kind of annoying. So, I have decided to do a little healthy overhaul on my life :) Starting with morning yoga...and updating my blog in the AM as I am sipping on my coffee (hopefully, this will also mean that I actually regularly update here).

So exciting Wedding News: Last night we FINALLY finished our Save the Dates, and I think they are ADORABLE. While I realize that I am quite a bit biased....I really do believe that they are quite clever. I haven't seen anything like them, and let me tell you I have perused some wedding blogs :) They will go out in the mail today, and then I will post pics on here (on the off chance there is someone out there reading this that I am not closely connected to)

Well, I am off to go catch up on my blog reading, and then get ready for work. For the day, I leave you with this pic...which as of right now is THE wedding day 'do.

This was my FAVE pic...and it wouldnt let me post it on my last post....

one of the pretty views :)

Obviously...I need to start going to the gym

This past weekend we went to Buttermilk Falls in Itahca, NY with some friends. The weather was lovely...80 and overcast, with a slight breeze. At the bottom of the trail was a watering hole, for swimming. I was really bummed that I didnt bring a swimsuit. I knew there was a place to swim, but assumed it was mid-hike and thought that if I was hot enough I would do what we do in the south and jump in fully clothed. Well, apparently "up here" they dont do that. So I had to settle for watching from the side..but next time, I WILL be jumping off that diving board!!

The hike was steep, and included something 200 stairs (and Im only slightly exaggerating) About halfway up the trail, I had to sit down and rest for like 30 minutes...I swear I thought I was going to die. I know Ilker really loves me when he just sat with me...not making me feel like an idiot for being so out of shape, until I was ready to continue on. The sites to come were beautiful, and were so worth the steps! It was a perfect day spent with friends...cant wait until our next trip :)

However...I realize that I need to get back into shape...so this weekend starts the getting in shape for our wedding extravaganza! Wish me luck :)

I'm back...I swear

Ok so I have been super absent, but now I have a new job and a new iPhone and most probaly a new place to live. So I'm back. And let me just mention that I love my hubby to be, who bought me my iPhone for a wedding gift...oh and I bought him one too I am definitely my fathers daughter!

A new kind of "date" night

Our kitchen is small...and really by small, I mean that it may perhaps be one of the smallest kitchens I have ever seen. It is also completely closed off from the rest of our apartment, which makes communicating with each other while cooking dinner pretty much impossible. So usually, while I am cooking dinner, Ilker is studying, and we stay separate until dinner is ready and it is time to eat.

On Sunday night, Ilker surprised me. When I went in to start dinner, he came into the kitchen with me, and said "I know it will be tight, but tonight let's cook together" So, even though we were crammed in there, we cooked dinner together (good thing we like each other!) It was so nice. We started with the recipe I had concocted in my head, and then together, we tweaked it along the way. Saturday morning Ilker went to the Farmer's Market, so we started adding all kinds of fresh veggies to the dinner...and it was AMAZING! I mean, it was one of the best dinners I have had in a long time! We are in the process of naming our culinary invention...once properly named, I will post the recipe. I took some pics of our evening to share.

Ilker putting the finishing spices on the top



Our beautiful entree, before baking



Going into the oven...



While the chicken was cooking in the oven, we decided to also fix some green beans. (and I actually DID have a second helping!) They were also awesome! And I thought they looked pretty as well!



And finally...our finished entree



This was a fun twist on staying home, and dining in. What was really so much fun was that we mixed our culinary tastes. My American tendencies, with his Turkish tendencies, and created a whole new hybrid of the two... perhaps a sign of things to come ;) We will definitely be doing this again, and I will make sure to update with our next creation. Hopefully, it two will be a success!!

xoxo

i heart my "new" luck

I am a HUGE believer in signs. Not just the signs that you see on the side of the road...but life signs. Signs that seem to come from some higher being, telling you that you are making the right OR wrong decision. Sometimes, I feel about like Salma Hayek and her obsession with signs in Fool Rush In (especially that scene at the airport where Alex sees the little girl, and he KNOWS he has to go to Mexico to find her....)

Anyway, I digress. So I am a big believer in signs. And lately, if I ever doubted the recent decisions I have made in my life, the signs are telling me YOU DID THE RIGHT THING!! My notoriously bad luck seems to have turned around (knock on wood) and things are all working out for me (and Ilker, but mostly it is with things on my side of the relationship)

Today I finished my second day working at David's Bridal, and man did I forget how hard it was to work in retail. But...this means that within the 7 weeks that I have lived here...I have gotten engaged, booked an awesome reception venue, bought my wedding dress, GOTTEN A JOB, dealt with transferring my car to NY without too many added expenses, decided on Save the Date invited and wedding favors...and made great strides in other wedding planning. Oh yes, and have gotten closer to picking out my veil.

So yes people, I am once again employed, and I think I might actually like it. It's going to be hard...but I tell you what-lugging wedding dresses all day long will definitely get me closer to getting my arms in more "wedding dress" shape. Which is an added bonus :)

Here's hoping the good signs keep coming :)

i heart our new bedding

It was fate...after weeks and weeks of searching for "perfect" bedding. Bedding that we agreed on, that would coordinate with the rest of our house, and that wasn't too girly; and finally WE FOUND IT! It was like it was made for us...it's blue (Ilker's fave color) and brown, gorgeous, and the name is Peacock Alley!

So without further delay...the before pictures of our "bedroom"




And...the after





Im so excited with how it turned out! Our apartment is starting to feel like a home, and starting to reflect our personalities. And speaking of our home....here are some pictures of the other two members of our family...couldn't resist.