Holiday Wishes

Dear Friends and Family,

As another year draws to a close, we reflect on all the wonderful things 2009 has brought us--marriage, a new home, and a load of good times. It's been a year that can only be properly characterized by one word: LOVE.

So many people close to us have experienced the best kind of life changes--marriage, babies, and the gift of time certainly topping the list. We're so grateful to have shared these times with you; they are memories that will last a lifetime.

As we look ahead to 2010, we can only hope that the new year will bring us much more of the same. (Because really, what can be better than a life filled with love?)

Happy New Year, Friends! Looking forward to many more good times in 2010.

All our love,

Brooke & Raf

PS--here's a (not so short) slideshow of some of our favorite memories from 2009. Enjoy!

Check out a bigger version at YouTube. Image at top found here.

Yeah Toast!

While we're on the subject of songs that make me happy, I thought I'd share this one. This may be my new favorite song OF ALL TIME!

For a better audio version, try another one from You Tube. I just think it's more fun to watch Heywood Banks perform it.

Straight No Chaser

I've heard this on the local radio station on my way to work a couple times in the past week. It makes me happy!

December Peeks

Because I'm a chronic procrastinator, and because it's such a festive time of year, December tends to be a little crazy in our house. Here are a few peeks into the recent goodness.

First off: Baking. I made a double batch of the Chewy Chocolate Cherry Cookies from Cooking Light. They've become a holiday staple for me--much like mom's Oatmeal Chocolate Chip wonders. And they came out SO yummy this year! Evidently this ugly old oven we have is quite the charmer.

The cookies were destined for Joni's Cookie Exchange Party, but I caught an awful cold this week and was stuck at home in bed instead. I'm terribly bummed--not only did I miss out on all that cookie and crafty goodness--now I have to eat 4 dozen of these things myself!!

And this was the first of many visions for repurposing some of the burlap table runners from the wedding. They ended up in frames we have around the house. I'm SO excited to have my first set of stencils!! Watch out world--Brooke has paint and is not afraid to use it!

The burlap, on the other hand, is another story! Does anyone have a need for a ridiculous amount of used or unused burlap? I have almost a whole ream that's untouched...not to mention all that we salvaged from the tables! I need to come up with a money making craft that's made from burlap....

And finally we come to these little lovelies. I was so happy to open this box. A dozen perfect, adorable, wonderful little glass storage containers from Crate & Barrel. There were a few things from our registry that we didn't receive that I just couldn't convince myself to live without--this being number one. I'm totally smitten.

12 Days

I'm super behind on the updates, yet again. I know. Apologies. December is a crazy time...obviously! I'm doing the 12 days of Christmas for Raf this year. I couldn't think of any good, big gifts, but could easily come up with about a thousand (or at least 10) little ones. I'm doing a super shotty job on the delivery though. He won't open any for a few days, then two at a time. I have no idea what day we're on now!

This was number 12--sweet new indoor/outdoor slippers:

And he was looking smoking hot at the Christmas Party last night, thanks to his new shirt at tie (though he's seen here without his cute vest that the new goods were meant to match):

Time to go open #7...or 5...heck, I don't know!

Calendar Love

I love calendars. Handmade, graphic, Etsy style calendars. (Please don't send me a puppy calendar.) This perpetual Paris photo calendar from Little Brown Pen rocks my world.

(Little Brown Pen designed the little dandelion graphic on our Save the Date.)

Best Invitation Ever

Check it out here. Gotta love when the wedding invitation of people you don't even know gets you choked up.

Pink Glove Dance

I was in a bad mood tonight. Then I finally watched this video--forwarded throughout the ranks at work last week. Such a great mood lifter. The adorable little old man with the broom makes me so happy!

The story, according to the email I received:

Our daughter-in-law, Emily, created, directed and choreographed this in Portland last week for her Medline glove division as a fundraiser for breast cancer awareness. This was all her idea to help promote their new pink gloves. I don't know how she got so many employees, doctors and patients to participate, but it started to really catch on and they all had a lot of fun doing it.

When the video gets 1 million hits, Medline will be making a huge contribution to the hospital, as well as offering free mammograms for the community. Please check it out. It's an easy and great way to donate to a wonderful cause, and who hasn't been touched by breast cancer?