from scratch

Dinner.

I needed to add to my dinner selections so I decided to make chicken noodle soup from scratch. On a cold and rainy day what is better than a hot, fresh, homecooked bowl of chicken noodle soup? I have it cooking in the crockpot and it smells amazing!

projects galore

Neil painted all these cabinets a dark cherrywood color.

yellow is my accent color.

Neil's dad helped us put up the gorgeous new lights.

My husband sure has been busy around the house. He has done so much to make it warm, inviting and beautiful. I owe him a lot! Recently he painted all the cabinets in the house. It makes the house look more sophisticated. He now obsesses over doing house projects here and there. DIY has become his new favorite channel. Thanks honey for being a wonderful husband and making our first home adorable.

a field of tulips

Tulips are my favorite flower.

Yesterday Neil and I went to Home Depot to buy flowers and plants for the yard. I saw these tulips and had to buy them. They add a nice touch to the outdoor decor. Our yard is almost complete; I just want to add a few more flowers here and there.

sour patch kid

Minnie is our little sour patch kid; at first she's sour then she's sweet.

Wanted: A friend for Minnie.

Yes, Neil and I have two dogs, Minnie & Bear.
Minnie is our 8 month miniature Sheltie and Bear is our 14 year old Pomeranian.
Present a problem; I think so.
Minnie needs a small, playful friend her age.
Next weekend I am going to take my little one to play with friends her own age.
She needs it.
I love my little sweetheart.

need a partner

My wonderful husband purchased me a cruiser bicycle for Valentines Day, now I just need a bike partner until he gets one!

Today was a beautiful day, 74 degrees, so I went on a nice little 4.5 mile bike ride.

finally. a wedding post.

Finally, after all 2 months of being married, I am blogging about my fantastic wedding. With house renovations and my new job, I have totally neglected this blog. I still have not even downloaded the other half of our wedding photos to facebook. We were given over 2,000 photos, so it is really hard for me to go through all of them and upload. I am a slacker when it comes to that kind of stuff.

We had our rehearsal dinner the day after Thanksgiving. I wanted to make sure to choose a spot that had nothing to do with chicken/turkey. We went to Anzio's landing for a beautiful Italian dinner. Everyone enjoyed, especially the groomsmen who were not sober.

Our wedding day was perfect, everything I could of imagined and more. My day started off doing last minute wedding things with my mom at her house. Then I met several people up at Rolf's at Dana Park to get our hair and make-up done. It was so nice to have so many people up there to support me and offer encouragement. While getting my hair done, the groom/groomsmen were at our house getting ready. They were the first to take group photos at the clubhouse and then myself and the bridesmaids. The weather was perfect, 76 degrees. Everything leading up to the ceremony was perfect. After pictures everyone headed up to the church; girls were in the preschool room and guys were in the pastor's meeting room.

As we started to line up, I became nervous. As the bells chimed, I knew it was time. I started to tear up even before I walked down the isle. I honestly think my dad was more nervous than me. The church was beautiful; flowers, candles and smiling faces everywhere. It felt so right to declare my love for Neil in front of everyone. My favorite part of the ceremony was the bulletins and "what a wonderful world" playing while we lit the unity candle. I am so glad we choose to get married in a Lutheran church.

After the ceremony we took a hummer limo to Val Vista Lakes. My dad wanted us to show up to the clubhouse in style, and we sure did. The reception was amazing. Needless to say the alcohol was a hit. Once word got around that we had premium alcohol, it went fast. While Neil and I took photographs, my aunt Rhonda was following us around with drinks, which helped me calm my nerves. The wedding party all had special songs and dances to come out when they were being announced. My videographer said it was the one of the best wedding entrances he has ever seen (our video is proof). Then the dinner, drinking, dancing, toasting and laughing began. Everyone was having such a good time on the dance floor, drinking, watching the slide show and using the photo booth. Neil and I sat back to watch everyone and I thought to myself "wow, what an amazing night/wedding." My favorite part was seeing my husband smile. I also loved how we Incorporated those who are no longer with us; my grandma especially. I choose "dream a little dream of me" by Nat king Cole to dance with my father because it reminded me of my grandma. Neil and I choose "unchained melody" because it is our song :). Neil danced to "i'll be there" mariah carey version to dance to with his mother.

We were very fortunate to have so many friends and family with us that night. It was amazing to see people that traveled far to see us (Connecticut, New Jersey, Texas, Tennessee, Colorado). I am very blessed that I have found Neil. It all started in High School and never in a million years did I think we would get married.

I loved my wedding.

Now, I can get blogging about other subjects; our house projects, my new job, Minnie and my new cruiser bicycle.

neglected

My blog should feel very neglected. Sometimes I forget I have one. I need to blog about the wedding because it has almost been 2 months since the big day.

Tonight I am just going to relax, bundle up due to the cold weather and catch up on my favorite shows.

This weekend: I will update the blog with pictures and paint the kitchen/bathroom cabinets with the hubby. Neil and I have done so much to the house that I need to show off all our hard work!

Honeymoon: Part Two

Dinner at Cambalache. One of the nicest restaurants in Cancun.
Lori (a co-worker of mine) & her fiance Aaron gave us a gift-card here as
a wedding present (so thoughtful).
This place is one of our top three favorite restaurants of all time.

They had swings at the pool bars.

This should be a post-card. Look at the crystal blue water.

Our perfect suite. It was a ocean-view, balcony room. I sat on the
balcony for a few hours a day and read while enjoying listening
to the waves.

The view from a random cliff. We rented a golf cart, drove around
taking pictures while enjoying each others company & the scenery.

We swam with dolphins but were not able to take the camera behind
a certain point. The baby dolphins even came out to play with us.

Our surprise "honey moon" dinner given to us by the resort. They even
prepared a song for us that involved lyrics about us conceiving in Cancun;
ummm no thanks, no kids for us for A LONG TIME!

Such a pretty resort. The pools at the tops of the restaurants were
so awesome with the best view of the ocean.

*make sure to click on the blue links in this blog*

Our honeymoon was ideal. I have been to Cancun before, so I was expecting the beauty and amazement it has to offer. Neil, on the other hand, had yet to experience the "beautiful part of Mexico". The day we arrived it was so nice to experience the hot sun beating on our skin and when we arrived to the resort the front desk had fruity drinks (with umbrellas) and a rose waiting for us. After checking in, we planned excursions, un-packed and got ready for dinner. Our room was to die for; jacuzzi tub, plasma screen and an open bar. Needless to say; Neil & I were in heaven.

At our resort there were 5 different restaurants to choose from; Asian, American, Italian, a steak house & of course Mexican. All restaurants had AMAZING food & yummy dessert. The hotel was very impressive. Our package was all-inclusive which included food whenever you wanted and all you can drink (premium alcohol might I add). It was very convenient for Neil and I and was nice because we did not have to waste our money on the expensive restaurants in Cancun.

While in Cancun we took many walks on the beach and laid out everyday. Aside from raining for a couple hours one day, everyday was sunny & a gorgeous 80 degrees (being Arizona natives, Neil & I love the sun). We swam with dolphins, which as a child I had done before, but it was a first for Neil and we had the time of our lives. Dolphins are so intelligent and very gentle creatures; I highly recommend that everyone swim with dolphins before they die. We also took a booze cruise, shopped/bartered with natives, shopped at the malls (yes, they had Louie Vuitton :0]), went to Wet n' Wild Water park and toured Cancun. Neil & I were also able to get a "comped" massage, pedicure, maniacre complements of my father and then decided to treat ourselves to a relaxing couples massage. (Yes, Neil did get a mani/pedi and I am pretty sure he enjoyed it)

If you're looking for a peaceful, to die for vacation, check out Cancun. If you do visit Cancun; stay at Cancun Palace, this resort is the best. In our opinion, Cancun trumps the Bahamas. To give people an idea of how NICE this destination really is, we tell everyone: "Cancun is the Scottsdale of Mexico". Nothing is cheap about this part of Mexico and it shows.

We were sad to leave, but were looking forward to coming back to Arizona to see our family and puppies. The honeymoon was a great end to a wonderful wedding. I owe my parents MANY thanks because they made the honeymoon possible. I do not know how I will ever re-pay them for this amazing trip, but it WILL happen because it was fabulous. I just know I am very blessed and grateful to have such wonderful parents.


Now that I have covered the honeymoon, it is time for me to blog about the beautiful greene/feddick wedding...

Honeymoon: Part One

(paradise on earth. cancun, mexico)

I have been so busy lately that I completely neglected this blog. Between getting married, the new house and the honeymoon I have not gotten a chance to sit down and relax. Finally Neil & I are able to enjoy life as a married couple with our two babies (Bear & Minnie, of course).

Last week we were enjoying ourselves while on our honeymoon in Cancun, Mexico. Cancun is Heaven on Earth. It was so peaceful & relaxing to wake up everyday to a cool 80 degree day with unlimited food, drinks and fun. We have been to the Bahama's (last year) and would pick Cancun over the Bahama's ANYDAY for another tropical vacation. Everything is so surreal; crystal blue water, yummy food/drinks, resorts galore and a happy/serene atmosphere.

Once I get the 'thank you' cards done, I will write more about the wedding & honeymoon.

What happens in Vegas

What happens in Vegas.... Stays in Vegas! Best bachelorette party ever! So many awesome memories. Thanks to: Tiff and Mom for putting it together. Also a HUGE thanks to: Hallie, Ashley, Amanda, Janelle, Meri, Sarah, Dominique, Stephanie, Deanna, Aunt Sandy, Katie and Aunt Diane. Here are a few of the millions of amazing photos from the trip :)

We get parties started

The girls and I drinking in the airport

Our first night in Vegas

Katie & Deanna- Army Girls

Dance party in Paris

My mom surprised me & came to Vegas! My mom, Hallie, Deanna & Aunt Sandy

Batman & Robin- Superhero Duo

Pregaming in the hotel

Trying to make it out of the Hotel

Our Lovely Limo

My wedding date :0 )
11.28.2009

surreal

(Holiday Mountain: an added touch to our wedding)

Today Neil & I are going to get our marriage license! It is so surreal. In High school I would practice writing Jennifer Greene on everything and now I can't believe after all that time it will no longer be practicing.

Update: I have picked out the bulletins for the church. The lady at the front desk said they may have to put in an insert because there is so much, ha, love it. Neil's father & girlfriend are in town this weekend, so we will be finalizing our rehearsal dinner at a really yummy restaurant :). Neil also plans to pick out the tuxes this weekend with his father. The bridal shower has been planned & invites will go out this weekend. I have so many appointments coming up it is ridiculous; not looking forward to it. We are still receiving RSVP's, I have so many out there, I need to keep tabs on who has and has not sent back an RSVP. And lately its been the small things that make me happy, for instance, the Val Vista Lakes clubhouse has added to their holiday mountain this year. They start decorating early & when I saw more decorations, my heart melted. In the 20 some odd years I have lived here, they have NEVER added to it; so I feel special.

On a side note, Amanda and Sam's wedding was last night! It was a huge success and Amanda made the most beautiful bride. Everyone had an amazing time & everything went off without flaw. Congrats to my best friend!

In LOVE

{minnie just loves to cuddle}

Our new puppy is absolutely everything I was looking for! She is a total sweetheart. First she will lick your face and then she cuddles to your stomach. We named her Minnie, of course for Minnie Mouse. She is a miniature sheltie, 4 1/2 months old and weighs 5.8 pounds. She has tons of love to give and will be the perfect addition to our little family. We are SO IN LOVE with our new baby!

[what are you looking at?]

Fall

[A Fall morning in Arizona]


The infamous bachelorette party

{my friends are amazing, Vegas here we come!}

I absolutely LOVE everything about Fall in Arizona. Of course Arizona has about 3 1/2 months of hellish weather, but the 8 1/2 months of bliss make up for it. I have the day off so I woke up and just sat on my patio, ate breakfast, enjoyed the weather, and watched my dog play in the yard. {I almost had to put on a jacket.}

Last weekend was Amanda's bachelorette party at the Phoenician Resort. It was a big hit! We surprised her with two rooms at the resort, a denali stretch limo and a fabulous night on the town with 20 girls . I am so eager for Vegas on Halloween! All 18 ladies going have their flights booked and we are hyped!

The wedding is quickly approaching. We have everything done, which is a major relief. One of the best parts of a wedding is planning it! I have had so much fun putting everything together; even if I were a millionaire, I would have never hired a wedding planner. 200+ people were invited and if I pull this off without any major setbacks, I think I will consider being a wedding planner.

On a side note; our puppy arrives tomorrow! I am SUPER anxious! Home rennovations & puppy pictures will be up soon.

Accomplished

(my superhero Halloween costume)

Today I had a day off to play catch up. Thank goodness because there is a lot of craziness that is about to happen in the next three months. Between buying our first house, wedding planning/preparations, home renovations, getting a new puppy, work grand opening events, Neil's GMAT, bridal shower, honeymoon, Halloween Las Vegas bachelorette party, Neil's bachelor party in Vegas, our 23rd birthdays, Amanda's wedding, housewarming party, my mom's 50th birthday, family flying in from all over for the wedding and holidays; I would venture to say Neil & I are going to have a chaotic three months. No complaining here; I thrive on chaos, deadlines & being busy.


With my day off I was able to:

• meet with our granite contractors for the house
• pick out appliances (pretty stainless steel)
• find a french patio door for the house
  
• buy my Halloween costume (pictured above)
• schedule an appointment at Rolf's to get my hair and make-up done for the wedding
• browse Petsmart for doggy doors & make Bear a grooming appointment
• buy a suit for our VIP night tomorrow at work
• pick out chair covers & linen for the wedding
• buy alcohol for the wedding (everyone at the wedding will love my father for his premium alcohol selections )

I feel accomplished.

our newest addition

(best dog ever- Chipper "little guy")
in the background of the picture

(my little bear)

(Our newest addition)
name to be announced

My childhood dog, Chipper, passed away this May; It was very tragic and heartbreaking for me. He lived a very long life (17 years old when he died) and I still cry when I think about him. I remember the day we decided we should put him down, I laid next to him for hours listening to comforting music while I pet him and said "everything is going to be okay little guy". When my dad called to make Chipper's final vet appointment {to put him to sleep} it killed me to hear that horrible conversation. We had a few hours to spare before the appointment so my mom wrapped him in a blanket and my family sat in the family room sharing our fondest/funny memories of him. Driving to the vets office was the hardest thing because I knew this would be the last time I would see my best friend. When they called his name to the back room, I nearly collapsed as my brother had to hold me up. It was one of the most difficult days for my family because Chipper was one of those dogs that will NEVER be replaced. He is a legend in the Feddick household.

So now that Neil & I have purchased a new house, my mom asked that I take my grandma's dog, Bear, with us. We inherited Bear my senior year of High School when my grandma passed away. Bear and I are very attached and she sleeps beside me on the floor every night. She can not stand it when I pay attention to anything besides her. After Chipper died, I felt so bad for her because she is alone all day. I always look at pet classifieds, never seriously, because I was afraid I would hurt her feelings with a new addition.

Last night I came across an ad for a miniature Sheltie on the internet and a piece of me just melted. [When I was a baby we had a miniature sheltie named Teazer, but her life was cut short because she was hit by a car.] When I saw this little puppy in the ad, something inside of me said, 'this has to be our dog'. Even though Bear is possessive when it comes to our relationship {ha} I think she needs a companion. Our new addition lives in Kentucky and according to her current owner she is well mannered, keeps to herself and will not get heavier than 13 pounds.... which is perfect for Bear! So here we go adding another challenge to our busy upcoming months; a new puppy! I am so excited!