A 30 day Blog Challenge??? Day 1

I have seen a few people do a 30 day blog challenge... and I think that it is about time for me to do this.

Most recently I have read the 30-day Challenge from Julie from The Smitten Mintons (http://thesmittinmintons.blogspot.com - if it didnt link)
Julie seems to be having the greatest time doing this! I was friends with her brother in school, and she is few years younger... but secretly I read her 30 day challenge and I love hearing about her new married life with Doug, their wedding (BEAUTIFUL), apartment, job hunting, and her cat. All great women love cats, so of course I am a big fan of hers! (Julie, sorry I totally didnt even ask permission about this, but I knew that you wouldn't mind?!) and of course if she is doing it then I want to too! Isn't the blog world great?

I totally think that I can do this too... and it will motivate me to blog about something everyday... and not sit at a blank screen waiting on it to write itself...

Along with the challenge I am sure that I will post other topics in with the Day's Topic that I am on...
So let's begin the madness, shall we?

Day 1: Introduce yourself, Current Picture, and 15 interesting facts...

My name is Katie McCracken. I am a 20-something year old girl who lives in Dunwoody, GA. I am a Buyer Relations Director. I love life, my husband, and our kitties- who are more like children...



Me at our wedding 10-30-10. Right before JM tossed the garter. All of the single guys surprised me by singing "You've lost that lovin' feelin'" Best. Night. Ever. (and yes we dyed the crinoline blue... It was awesome!)

15 Interesting facts about yours truly...

1. My first word was "Shoe" and I am Daddy's little girl through and through. He can always save the day! and has many a times. I will never forget when he walked me down the aisle. Still brings tears to my eyes.

2. My real name is Kathryn and sometimes I prefer it...

3. I am the only girl, and have two younger (but not by much) brothers. Chip and Will. They best brothers in the whole wide world!

4. I love the color blue and using the word magic to describe anything or anyone who brings a smile to my face- that Christmas Morning Smile... that is magic ladies and gentleman.

5. I am scared of the dark, being home alone, and bugs...

6. I want a baby. I want one next year. A boy would be perfect... but a girl would be pretty sweet too. Not trying now... so don't ask.

7. I love celebrating the Holidays- all of them. Thanksgiving is huge and Christmas... Well it is nothing short of magic... cannot wait for Christmas music.

8. I am a lover of Apple products... even though I write this mostly from a Windows computer. (I am at work!)

9. I prefer cats over dogs... unless they act like cats (Louie and Foxie are the exception- my parents Pomeranian's)

10. I graduated from college at Georgia Southern in 4 YEARS... witha double major and a minor... Even I am impressed by that!

11. I love to read. I always have... I can tune anything or anyone out if I am reading a book. I get lost in the story... it is like I am there.

12. I didn't always want kids... I used to want to graduate college and move to NYC and never look back! Pretty much wanted to be Carrie Bradshaw.

13. The second I fell in love with JM... all of that changed. I wanted kids, I wanted to hang up my heels and move to the suburbs just to be with him... Everything with him is magic. Serious kind of love huh?

14. My favorite fruit maybe a perfect summer peach... with vanilla bean ice cream of course!

15. My favorite thing to do? Wake up with the man that I love everyday for the rest of my life. (Even though he has to drag me out of bed every morning and lectures me on how I sleep too late and might be late for work!)

and just to be an over-achiever...

16. My mom is my best friend. I love her and look up to her so much! I mean I never would have thought that at 16, but what 16 year old thinks that? She can make any nightmare turn into your fairytale... One day I want to be just like her. Seriously. She can do anything. Oh and she is magical... right now she is currently turning a tiny apartment into a palace for my brother in NYC- guess he is living my dream right? I would love for them to write a book on how to be the best parents and raise kids right- I would follow it to a T.



That is me... and the next 30 days??? Probably more about me, but I am really looking forward to some of the topics. It is going to be fun! Stay tuned...

Loving life, and i hope that you are too- Mrs. McCracken

What is on your Christmas List???

I know that you are all on Santa's "Good List" this year... I mean, he is checking it twice after all.

Well in the McCracken house this year we have VERY short Christmas lists...

I mean what else could we possibly need after so many wonderful friends and family gave us the world for our wedding! Coming up with a list this year is pretty hard... It never was before...
I remember wanting dolls, clothes, makeup, games, candy, stuffed animals, the list could go on forever... and I always remember how happy we all were on Christmas mornings, Dad's scrambled eggs, and eating chocolate oranges too. We would wait at the top of the stairs for mom and dad to tell us to run down to see if Santa had brought us anything! Holly (our family dog) would beat us down and jump all over us while we were racing to see what Santa had laid out in all of our spots.

This year is a little different. I don't know if we (because it is a "We" not not just an "I") will be staying at my parents and waking up there... Holly passed away and is not there to chase us down the stairs. I mean it was her holiday after all... Our Holly Jolly Christmas. I guess we just grow up and Christmas changes... but it will be just as wonderful as this is our first Christmas together!

We are "foodies" and love to cook, most people know that so we did get everything for the kitchen with our wedding gifts! So we do not need another kitchen-anything!(Promise Thank You notes are getting done) We know that I do not need anymore clothes, actually I need to give some away! There are just too many of them, I don't wear half of it, and there is simply not enough room. We do not need any more gadgets... except....

NEW IPHONE'S!!!! Well we decided to meet yesterday at AT&T and get some new phones! We are both iPhone fans (I don't care if you hate them, but I am an Apple girl over here), and once we found out that we could upgrade... Why not? Plus have you seen the lines at AT&T or at The Apple Store after Thanksgiving? No thank you. And JM- that is one of our gifts... Merry Christmas!
I am obsessed with all of the different photo apps and the cooking apps as well... Food Network App? HELL YES!



Back to the Christmas list... since the iPhones are off it now...
We have decided that we are getting each other a nice camera for Christmas... (as in going in on ONE camera together)
There have been so many times that I have wished that we had a better quality camera because our picture quality with the point and shoot I have now are well... Crappy.

I need help from all of you ladies and gentleman out there... What kind of camera do you have? Why do you love it?

I am doing the research on this and I am liking the Canon EOS Rebel T1i EF-S and the Canon EOS Rebel XSi EF-S... After comparing them both I love the T1i!



If this is something that we are going to have for a long time, take a ton of pictures that are the proof of the memories that we have made, then shouldn't we get a nice camera? I mean I don't want crappy pictures of us, our one-day babies,family, friends, etc! I want to be able to have wonderful pictures of even more wonderful memories... That is what it is all about right? and I want a kick- ass camera to capture all of the magic of the wonderful memories that we have yet to make... I mean vacations, taking little ones to the beach for the first time, Disney World, ALL holiday's, Birthdays, every little memory that I will never want to forget. Guess we do need a good camera huh?

So for all of you who have a nice camera, have one on your wish list this year, or if you happen to know a thing or two about them... help a girl out!


What is on your wish list this year??? and What are you obsessing over lately?
Me- iPhone and a new camera... I am getting excited just thinking about all of the wonderful pictures I could take on Christmas morning! Christmas Smiles are the biggest ones ya know?

Happy Wednesday!
Mrs. McCracken

The Honeymoon...

It would have been so nice to have been in St. Lucia, with a drink in hand... toes in the sand... That was the plan.
Well it didn't happen for us. This time at least... Mother Nature can be a real bitch sometimes. This time, Hurricane Tomas. Wonderful.

We got married Saturday- best night of our lives. Ever. The weather could not have been more perfect!
Got up on Sunday morning to go to the airport and when we arrived they said our flight was on time! We made it to the gate, got breakfast, and tried to sleep a little before boarding the plane. This is when the people at the gate made an announcement that the flight was now delayed until 11 that there was a bad storm going though.
We waited.
The flight was delayed again. They said that they could not get a hold of anyone on the island because the power was out. GREAT!
They cancelled the flight a few minutes later...
We left the airport and were told we were to fly Stand By the next morning.
Monday morning... read above. It was as if we had hit replay on the previous day. At least they cancelled the flight a little earlier than the day before.

When we got home my Dad called my and told me to call my cousins about their house! Well I didn't know what house he was talking about. I called Mike and he let us go to their beautiful Beach house for the whole rest of the week!!!! We packed the car in a few minutes, went and got gas and hit the road. Talk about a last minute decision!
We made to Grayton Beach, FL that night and had the best time. We relaxed, walked on the beach... even had drinks in our hands with our toes in the sand. Magic I tell you.

I was not even upset about the trip anymore. (JM was surprised that I was handling it so well!) We had the town to ourselves and I could not have asked for a better time! Just me and him. It was wonderful.

I have not upload my pictures just yet, but I will soon!

and St. Lucia you ask?

We will be there. Don't you worry about that! We are going on April 16th. BEFORE Hurricane Season even begins... It will still be a magical place, where everyone is in love and shows it on the streets- or so I have heard. We are looking forward to a second honeymoon only 6 months after we got married. We even got an upgraded room!

I guess everything happens for a reason... right?

ONE MORE THING...
I have thought about what everyone said to Blog about... Married life. So I will be posting again soon on that. All of the wonders of marriage. What we make for dinner. What we are doing with the house... and maybe one day soon babies. Never know and a girl can dream right?
But today a few things I am loving?

Our Pots and Pans! All Clad that is! They are wonderful... Spaghetti tonight for dinner!
Our new bedding- Slept like a baby last night!
Our new everyday china- Lenox Butlers Pantry- I love it and all of the mixing and matching that you can do with it!
Noticing a theme here???
Just to change it up....
More things I am loving?
Oil of Olay
Kitties- Baby Girl and Tilly
Crate and Barrel kitchen gadgets
Most of all... My wonderful handsome Husband!

and to making a Thanksgiving dinner this weekend for me and JM! Food Network inspired me and we are having a mini Thanksgiving dinner this Friday! Maybe some friends too! More to come on this and that...

I am looking forward to this new "Crack in the Grigsby Life" it is going to be the most fun adventure I ever take on. and I am going to rock this our for the rest of my life...

Pictures to come soon!
Mrs. McCracken

Finally....

We made it back from the beach. It was the best trip we could have asked for! (All things considered...)

I think that this massive "Wedding Post" might be broken into smaller parts. But maybe not... I am just going to let it flow as I remember most of that entire weekend of awesomeness.
(and I do not have pictures yet from the photographer so bare with me on that one these are from Facebook)

Well two weeks ago I took of work on Wednesday... we still had a few last minute things to do with the wedding. Not much at all, but I felt that I really needed the day to try to relax and get it done before it all ya know?
Thursday was spent cleaning and baking. Why baking you may ask? Well it relaxes me, plus I really love it when people say how good the house smells, or how good the pumpkin bread I made is... So I cleaned, baked, fixed the house, lit candles, and tried to relax while waiting on our guests to arrive. I had made Guest baskets for everyone who came and stayed at the house! Pumpkin Bread, candles, and cookies of course!
Thursday night Erin and Frank, and Whitney and Bryan came in town and we all met up with a few friends that were in town at The W's Whiskey Blue in Buckhead. However the real reason we were all out... Jeff's Birthday! We just had to do something to celebrate with him...
and Bryan... well our Jersey boy had never been out and about in Atlanta! So we had to change that and quick! (I was laughing too hard!)

FRIDAY
Friday was crazy...
Jean Gray and Nate came into town in the morning and all of us girls got ready to go to the Bridesmaids Luncheon at Cafe Niko in Buckhead. It was delish. All of the girls made it and we had a great time...
A few girls came back to the house with me to get ready to leave for the Rehearsal after that.

The Rehearsal and Rehearsal dinner were SO MUCH FUN! The dinner was done all by JM and his family.

We had a whole pig (BBQ of course!), BBQ Chicken, and of course all of the sides!
John Michael's mom made EVERY. SINGLE. TABLECLOTH. and every decoration of course with the help of Rachel and Sarah... my new wonderful sisters!

JM with all 12 of the Groomsmen


Me and my parents


Me... eating of course!


Then the entire day of the wedding was PERFECT. PERFECT WEATHER... just everything was so so special to both of us... and there were a few moments that we got to take it all in too. I will leave you with some pictures of the day of the wedding... getting ready, then Church and then Reception! I can really only day that my shoes hurt so damn bad that I had to get rid of those and quick during the pictures... Once they were off.. I was spinning and floating on cloud nine. I did the whole night barefoot. From the end of pictures, down the aisle, dancing the night away, and even to when I changed into the short wedding dress to leave the night... Even was carried over our own doorstep to our house barefoot. AND that I would not change for the world. Sure my feet were sick and black as the night, but I didn't care at all. And I am sure that no one noticed either...

The whole day and night were MAGIC... Just like a fairy tale. Our own fairy tale... and I would not change one single moment of the entire day. It truly was the dream that I had envisioned all along.
Everyone says that time goes by way too fast that day and to "soak it all in- you only get one wedding day" I can say that it DID go by too fast... but I remember every minute.

Here are some pictures from everyone that we love- who also posted them on facebook!

Getting ready in the morning! Me and mom... she looked SO BEAUTIFUL!!!





Getting ready at church...
Me and my girls...




Family pictures!





A few flowers... center piece and mantel...



JM with his girls... Whitney, Erin, and Jean Gray... and First Dance!



Bouquet Toss and Garter Toss!



Cakes!



Me and mom "taking in" all of our hard work!


and finally Mr and Mrs. McCracken!



and I have one questions for all of you.... What should I blog about now? What should I name this blog? Help a girl out!

Hope that you have a great night! I will blog about the beach trip and Honeymoon soon!
xoxoxoxo
The new Mrs. McCracken

The best day of our lives... and then...

SO We are married... and it was perfect. Know how everyone says... "something might go wrong, but you wont even care?" or how about when they say... " It will go by so fast!" Well you know what? I remember it all... and I was floating on cloud nine.
IT was everything I imagined and more... one picture to show...

We had the best night of our lives...

And then we went to bed at 2:30 am made it to the airport, flight was cancelled, tried to get on another flight Monday mornings... no such luck... Hurricane Tomas. I mean the island.. No power, trees down, no flights until Wednesday. Just as we were about to give up on or dream of a beach... My wonderful, awesome, amazing, caring, and loving cousins let us go to their house at the beach...MIke and Yahaira, John and Erin, and David Grigsby.... we love you all!!!!
Will post much more later when I am back from from a fabulous beach honeymoon! Promise that all pictures, and REAL wedding story post to come. I do remember it, and just how fast it went... This place is just too amazing to sit here and type. Florida we love you...



Love from Florida! Happily married, and having a wonderful time! Rain or shine... our toes are in the sand, drinks in hand... Cannot believe we are married.

Mrs. McCracken