I'm gettin' paper

Envelopes.  Check.  Paper plates.  Check.  Notecards. Check.  Napkins.  Check.  Books.  Check.

Notice a common trend?

These are just some of the wonderful (and very useful) items my thoughtful aunts and uncles sent Drew and I for our one year wedding anniversary (fyi the traditional one year gift is paper).  I was so excited to open up the packages and see them filled with various traditional anniversary gifts!

To celebrate our anniversary Drew Babe booked a luxury beach house in the Outer Banks.  He thought we would both enjoy a relaxing and quiet weekend away together, and boy was he right.  It was so nice to not have anything we had to do and no where we had to be.

I packed up all day Friday and we headed out to the OBX (just a little over an hour drive) that evening.

As part of Drew's Valentine's gift, I had been wanting to prepare a nice dinner for the both of us.  Since Valentine's week was so busy, Drew suggested cooking the meal at the beach house.  Turned out to be a great idea.

I wanted to decorate the table, so I brought all the decorations I thought could be used for the table setting.  Here is what I started with: a borrowed red table cloth from my mom, some cheap decorations from Dollar Tree, and some candles from around our house.

And here is the finished product:

And here it is with the candles lit.  We also brought along our cake from our wedding day.  I used the same "M" cake topper that was on top on 2-19-11.

Preparations for the meal began around 3pm.  The menu for the evening consisted of:  spicy balsamic roast,  crispy roasted potatoes, spinach stuffed mushrooms, roasted brussels with balsamic glaze, and heart shaped dill seed bread.  The roast recipe is from my mom, and I found the rest on Pioneer Woman and Pinterest (both such handy tools).  

My sweet Drew Babe :)

We relived our wedding day cake cutting ceremony with our year old cake.  I thought it was pretty good, but Drew simply said I would eat anything with sugar in it (I have the biggest sweet tooth ever).  Drew took one tiny bite, and quickly moved on to the homemade Ghirardelli chocolate chip cookies.

Spending time together in the quiet Outer Banks was the perfect way to celebrate our one year wedding anniversary.  I really can't believe it has now been over a year since we got married.  It goes by way too fast!

Oh, and I did get a little something "paper" for my Drew Babe...post to come.
Gotta keep those traditions goin'.  :)

All you need is love, love

Love is all you need, especially this week in the Martin House.  All things love have certainly been the center of attention throughout this past week, with the celebration of both Valentine's Day and our 1 year wedding anniversary.

I don't get home from class until late on Tuesdays, so we began our "love" celebration early (which was fine with me!). The Friday before Valentine's we enjoyed a 4-course dinner at The Melting Pot (a fondue restaurant we have both been wanting to visit).  Delicious!  Drew Babe also gave me some Godiva strawberry truffles. We had sampled them in NYC and fell in love.  If you have not tried them yet, you must!

That weekend we had both of our immediate families over for a luau-themed lunch, complete with real Hawaiian pineapple and BBQ sauce from Drew Babe's visit to the islands.

We both racked our brains as to how we could make the family lunch feel most like a luau in the middle of February.  Cranking the heat up and having everyone wear their grass skirts and coconut bras was quickly crossed off the list of ideas.  Dollar Tree was our hero for the decor.  I found packaging paper to use for the table cloths and bought some crayons, so everyone could put their own personal touch on the table cloth (I mean no one is ever too old to enjoy drawing on the table, right?;).  My mom let us borrow the bright and festive placemats for a pop of color.

For the centerpiece, I was planning on combining a little bundle of bamboo sticks (also found at Dollar Tree), wiring them together, and just having them stand in the middle of the table.  Even with Drew Babe's creativity and ingeniousness, we couldn't make the bundle stand up and look right.  We resulted to surrounding a candle in some vases, which we all ready had, with the bamboo sticks.  A little funky and a little tropical, all in one!

On the February 14th, Drew woke up early to prepare my breakfast and coffee, and spend some time with me before heading off to work.  On top of my coffee maker he left a box, which contained a ring that I had spotted weeks ago at a friend's jewelry party.  I had totally forgotten about it, but Drew Babe seems to always remember all the little things that I like or enjoy.  Needless to say, it was the perfect start to my morning, spending a time with my Valentine.

We visited my family during the evening of February 14th for a little Valentine celebration.  My mom also gave us our anniversary gift early: a Mr. and Mrs. mug set and coupon book (I love being a Mrs. :).

The best part of the mugs is when you get to the bottom of your morning coffee, there is a little heart!  So cute!

Right after I got out of class Tuesday evening, Drew Babe also surprised me with flowers (white roses are my favorite).  He always goes over and beyond what I could ever imagine.

JCrew headbands were my Valentine treat from my parents.  I am pretty sure I have already worn all three.  That should tell you a little something about my love for headbands.

Drew Babe got a Black Keys CD from my parents, but alas, I forgot to take a picture.

Just the other day, we received our first anniversary card from my dear friend, Caroline.  I really can't believe it has almost been a year.

Tons more to come on our 1 year celebration, so be sure to check back!