Day 34 {Ballet Day}

Naomi can't get enough of ballet day! On Thursdays, as soon as someone lets her in on the fact that it is ballet day, she demands to put her tutu and leotard on and wears it all day long!

Day 33 {All Settled In}

I spent all night and day finishing up settling us into the new place. It was a lot of hard work but it was SO worth it! We are loving our new apartment.

Day 32 {My Friend Manuel}

Today I hung out with my friend Manuel all day long. Have you met my friend Manuel? Manuel Labor? Yep, it was me, my cleaning supplies and a bunch of elbow grease while I made the old apartment sparkle and turned in the keys. They did the inspection and were quite impressed, so it was a day well spent. :)

Day 31 {Fall Blooms}

Today I decided the house wasn't cozy enough and needed some flowers! I ran over to Kroger and returned with some Autumn-ey flowers for my bud vase :)

Day 30 {It's not overkill}

It's not overkill if it's necessary. Determined to apologize in advance for my children's special brand of noise, I have resigned myself to baking for the neighbors. I'm not exactly Martha Stewart, so it's store bought all the way for me. Anyway it's the thought that counts, right? Going to take a basket of cookies to each of the neighbors and introduce ourselves :)

Day 29 {AV Victory}

I was SO SO proud of Mr. G (and a little proud of me, too!) We needed a solution for the kids' bedroom that involved them having a tv without having furniture. Mr. Parker likes to climb on furniture. So their bedroom just has their 2 beds and this. James hung the TV (along with about 114 stud-finder jokes I might add). When he was done with his magic, I hid the cord with conduit and changed the outlet cover out with a baby-proof one. Now we'll just see if it's Parker-proof. The true test ;)

Oh and PS I totally know that the paint needs some touching up! I ran out of paint LOL!

Day 28 {keys!!!}

We got the keys to our new place today. Then we spent an hour panicking when the sheer magnitude of the work that needed done hit us. We sucked it up though, and got to work painting and moving in!

Day 27 {Recycled Canvas}

So it took several days but I finally got my hybrid canvas finished up. Naomi helped me, and we had a lot of fun. I'm going to vow now to not let 2 1/2 years go by before I update it again!

Day 26 {Braid Bribery}

Naomi and Parker went to their dad's this weekend. While Naomi was there her stepmom braided her hair and all week long, Naomi hasn't wanted to take the braids out. So I didn't make her. I made her bathe, but her braids remained intact. Heck they even got soaked in the tub but she just let them dry and remain. Today I knew that 3 days was enough and that her hair really needed washed. I had to bribe her to let me take them out. She loves having her photo taken so I told her if she'd let me take them out, her hair would look really pretty and I would take her photo :) This was one of my favorite photos I got today. There were others that were more crisp but this was my fave :)

Day 25 {Perspective}

I'm working on redoing my very large hybrid canvas. It's been so long since I've messed with it there are no pics of Parker! I took a few 'before' pictures today of it and then Naomi and I began the demolition and repainting of it. In this before photo I wanted to show how large the canvas is so I had Naomi stand with it. She was holding her paintbrush, very impatiently waiting for her turn to use it!

Day 24 {Student Prank Fail}

After class today Mr. G called me on his way home and told me he had a present for me. I knew it had to be something from a student. We have a history of this. Once I brought him a flyer I found at the nail salon advertising house cleaning. It was a nice enough ad but it was littered with spelling mistakes. Apparently, this is what he found on his door this morning. Since no one arrives early for an 8:00 a.m. Monday English class but the professor, he intercepted the spelling challenged sign and it was business as usual. Nice try, slackers ;)

Day 23 {Packing is Evil.}

We packed quite a bit today and picked up some more boxes from James' mom who was so kindly gathering them for us. There are boxes stacked everywhere. Packing is definitely going in the axis of evil.

Day 22 {Happy Hour Packing Break}

Ah, there is nothing better than Sonic Happy Hour. Okay maybe there is, but when you're fending off brain freeze while guzzling a bubble gum slushie there isn't. Our day was filled with packing but we took a break in the afternoon. And our newlywed 365 project wouldn't be complete without plenty of goofy together pics :P

Day 21 {just the 2 of us}

What a strange feeling for it to be just the two of us! Today we took the kids to spend the weekend with their father, so it's just Mr. G & me for the weekend. I wish I could say the weekend is ours to relax and enjoy, but alas we have to pack and prepare for the move!

Day 20 {a rare find}

So I was wanting to make this recipe that my friend Candice shared with me. The problem is, there is a huge canned pumpkin shortage and I had a TOUGH time finding canned pumpkin! Today though, I lucked out and found two little cans of pumpkin in the way back on the bottom shelf, all forgotten by everyone. I bought them both and am sipping a pumpkin spice latte as I type this. Ahhh.

Day 19 {It's official.}

I learned throughout this process that your name isn't legally changed until it is changed through the SSA. A marriage certificate won't do it. Nor will a driver's license...because the DMV won't see you until you've dealt with the SSA. Receiving lots of cool monogrammed G's on wedding gifts won't help, and neither will signing your new married name over and over on the dry erase board in the kitchen instead of doing the dishes. Well today my new card came in the mail. It's official. I acted a bit like Lady from Lady & The Tramp when she gets her new collar. Ok well that metaphor isn't working very well, but you get the idea.

Day 18 {Inseparable}

Today I cleaned, cleaned and cleaned some more! We have a great big mess on our hands between me and the kids moving here, wedding stuff being EVERYWHERE, and prep work being done for the new move too. It has been quite the challenge. Today I found some permanent homes for our wedding stuff, like this sand from our sand ceremony. The sand ceremony was one of my favorite parts of the wedding. I love the symbolism that each color of sand, once united, cannot be separated. We chose yellow, brown and white sand. After the ceremony itself it looked a bit like one of those sand art creations a child would make at the fair. That was fine and all, but I wanted to shake it all up and make sure it really was inseparable. I guess Mr. G is stuck with me plus three now...it's written in the sand!

Day 17 {moving forward}

The move is sneaking up on us quickly! We're working on getting prepared, though. Yesterday I picked up a car full of boxes from a guy off Craigslist and today I picked up our mail forwarding packets! (Have I mentioned, though, that I'll just be glad when this is over?)

Day 16 {transfer & backup}

So recently it was time for a new laptop...don't worry, you'll meet her soon. I found a laptop I loved at Best Buy but today was the day to try and break her in. Translation=beg my brother in law Tim to install 483 programs on there, remove the factory crap and transfer my files. We spent the day at Tim & Tabatha's letting him tinker with the new machine. He got my programs installed but we just didn't have time to transfer 500 MBs of stuff. I'm a lucky girl though, because Mr. G went to Best Buy and came home with a new Western Digital EHD for me to work on the transfer myself. It will give me another backup spot too, so I'm pleased with that. When I get the files transferred and backed up I can put the EHD in our new water/fireproof safe we got at the shower yesterday! :)

Day 15 {Shower of G's}

We attended a wedding shower today in our honor thrown by James' wonderful Aunt Dorothy. She really outdid herself, and we had a wonderful time. The food, cake, and decorations were fantastic, and we were spoiled rotten with gifts. I can't pick a favorite gift, because so many of them were awesome, but we did get several gifts with our monogram on them, and that tickles me pink!

Day 14 {red tape}

I didn't have a problem at the Social Security office today when I went to apply for a new card, but it sure was a hassle. The waiting room was packed full of people, my wait was no fun, but an hour and a half later, I had a letter in my hands showing I had applied to have my name officially changed! I'm relieved to have it done!

Day 13 {budding ballerina}

Naomi's very first day of budding ballerina class @ Premiere Dance. There was a small meltdown before class because we couldn't find her skirt anywhere, but we pushed on without it. She enjoyed the class immensely and has been talking about it all week!

Day 12 {time-out walk}

Lately Parker has been having major meltdowns. Sometimes we just let him tantrum in peace but lately I've been looking at James and saying, "walk!". James takes Parker for a short walk--just to the mailbox and back (sometimes farther) and it totally calms Parker down. I think he really enjoys his little time-out walks!

Day 11 {a hankering}

Today's post HAD to be about food. I have had a hankering for three days now! One thing or another kept me from fulfilling it...and you know that feeling? When you can't get the food you want and you try to eat something else instead and it never really works? Well I wanted homemade Chinese food but didn't have the time to get to the market and buy fresh veggies. Finally today I made time to do it and we had pork stir fry with pork, fried rice, and fresh sauteed bean sprouts, green peppers, mushrooms and onion. It was heavenly!

Day 10 {time to play!}

I guess since today was Labor Day, it would make sense for us to kick back and relax. But, both Mr. G and I had to do some work from home today. The kids were very patient while we were both busy, but by late afternoon they were bouncing off the walls. We had to stop what we were doing and just play with them to keep them from pestering each other out of boredom!

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So with 10 days done now, I really need to start considering what I'm going to do with all of these photos. The last time I did P365, I did weekly layouts with 7 photos on them. I used the same template for every layout. I got 14 weeks in before I gave up. My template/layout was complicated and took too much time! I'm looking to do more of just a storyboard with journaling, or something a bit scrappy but in maybe a QP format. I know W&W had one but I took a look at it and I'm not sure it's right for me. The one major thing I have an issue with is that I'm not taking all of my photos horizontally...I have a mix. I'd love to see what you do with your P365 layouts or link me to examples! Thanks!!

Day 9 {quiet snuggles}

Today we ate at Five Guys for lunch, and then ran errands all afternoon. Before we wound down for the evening, I stole a moment to have a quiet snuggle with my bubby. It was a good day :)

Day 8 {Family Breakfast}

All week long James has been mentioning he was going to make breakfast on Saturday but I wasn't sure why. (I don't look a gift meal in the mouth!) This morning while we were noshing though, he told me that in his family the patriarch makes breakfast every Saturday morning. Now this is a tradition I can get used to!

Day 7 {recycling}

When the wedding was all said and done, we realized that we had a LOT of stuff that was going to be of little use to us. We gave away some of it, saved other parts for future entertaining, and are trying to repurpose what is left. We bought this 5 gallon galvanized bucket to fill with ice (it had little sliced lemons around the top to pretty it up, an idea I borrowed). Today we used a wedding gift card to pick up a new plant and some potting soil. We added the new plant to two old plants and created a planter together. It took 4 of us...Parker & Naomi each carrying a plant, and Mr. G being stuck carrying the 40 lbs of potting soil...but it was a fun project and I like the end results. It was by no means a green wedding, but recycling is fun!

Day 6 {In sickness...}

James & I explored the whole "in sickness and in health" thing rather early in this marriage. A nasty little virus made its way around at my wedding and today it made its way to me. I spent all day in bed. James canceled class to take care of me (and mostly the kids).

Day 5 {working hard (trying to!)}

Mr. G works part-time from home doing a tutoring gig. Now that the wifey plus three are in the picture it isn't quite as easy to find a moment alone to do it. He retreats to the bedroom but occasionally a small child winds up being underfoot.

Day 4 {Lemons For Life}

We had a strawberry-lemonaide themed wedding. There were lemons everywhere. I still ended up with 40 lemons leftover...but not because I overshot the number. Because we ran out of time at the end and couldn't do a few of my projects. Not willing to waste $20 worth of lemons, I'm finding uses for them. Including this vase of lemons I cut today to sit on the mantle.

Day 3 {Love In Bloom}

James sent me a dozen roses on our wedding day. Today they are in full bloom and I decided to catch a photo of them...the light in our apartment is just amazing!

Day 2 {Telling The World}

Today Nathan had to return to Ohio because he has school on Monday. There was still a TON of work to be done as far as cleaning up after the wedding went. So, James stayed behind and loaded the U-Haul with the rental equipment. My best friend (and Matron of Honor) Amber and I made the 4 hour trip to drop off Nathan. We got a lot of odd looks at the "Just Married" chalked on the window. I love Amber, but not like that. ;)

Day 1 {Change At My Door}

Today was my wedding day. You would think I would post a photo of me in my wedding dress or something of that nature...but truth be told I didn't take photos today. I have a few photos from getting ready but as soon as my professional photog arrived, I put down my camera. Early in the morning on the day of the wedding, however, we were setting up for the reception. I opened up the door of my apartment to find this butterfly on my doorstep.

The Plan

Project 365 has almost become a curse term in my house.

189 days.

I made it 189 whole days last time! From January 1st till the middle of July I faithfully completed my P365, taking a different shot every day and posting it(even if I got a bit behind in posting). The layouts were a different story. I only got 15 weeks of layouts done before I gave up.

The funny thing was, it was the wedding that threw me askew. Once I started planning, I realized that a lot of my photos for each day were wedding details that I didn't want everyone seeing! One day, I went dress shopping. I came away with photos of my dress, which I didn't want to share. That was when I chose to put P365 on the shelf.

I assumed I would revisit Project 365 next January, and then I realized that I could start right now! After taking a few months off, I'm starting fresh and calling this one Project 365: Newlywed Edition. Every day for the first year of our marriage, I'm going to snap a photo and post it here. I'm going to ask my family and friends to help keep me accountable if I get lazy! I already have a few to share that I've been snapping every day. I couldn't post them until I got the blog up and running.

Somewhere in the midst of all of this I'll share photos and a story from our wedding, but not 'till I have my pictures from the photographer. My wonderful photographer, Barb Hogan, will have them edited and ready for me in a few weeks.

For now, though, let's get started :)