Shutterfly Comeback Post!

So I am jumping on the Shutterfly Blogger Offer Bandwagon and excited to post about my holiday cards this year! As a blogger I am getting 50 free holiday cards! wooohoo!

I am a huge fan of the photo card! My family did not always do them growing up but I think one of the best parts about them is being able to look back on past years and see how the family has changed or remember the year.

Since we were married in July 2008 we have done a photo card of our own - both from Shutterfly! This year I will be following suit and doing the same and there are some fabulous options.

Here are some great Christmas photo cards http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-photo-cards.

I am deciding between a few different options:

Here is a great one:

No this is not Brian and I and we don't have a daughter.

The Flat Stationary Card below is just beautiful....

You can find more of those here: holiday cards to http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/holiday-cards.

Lastly, calendars are such a great gift idea, especially for Grandparents if you have children:http://www.shutterfly.com/calendars.

We will likely send out about 100 holiday cards this year. That was a point of debate at our house because Brian thinks that is too many but I think 100 is just right. Our first year we were married I think we sent over 200 because we sent to pretty much everyone we invited to our wedding. Over the years we have added people and taken off people. I no longer send cards to Brian's parents' friends as they already get a card from his parents and we are included in that picture.

I also do not have time to write personal messages to each person. Yes, it is a shame and maybe seen by others as poor manners but at least I am getting them out!

COME VISIT!!

I just wrote my first post over at my new blog - http://chillinchitown.blogspot.com/

I haven't made it private yet so come visit and leave a comment if you want to be included in the blog once it goes private!

Yes I am still alive and well.....in CHICAGO!

Hello friends!

This will probably be on of my last posts for the Blooming in the Garden State blog considering I no longer live in the Garden State. I am now a proud resident of Chicago! Some people might say Chicago is "filthy and therefore smells awful" but I think I will like this city pretty well.

As some of you might now, my precious husband is now a newly minted Princeton grad and I couldn't be happier that he has landed his dream job and that has brought us to Chicago.

Moving forward, I will have a new blog that will likely be private. I have read similar posts from other bloggers regarding this topic. It bothers me that people I know in real life who may not ever care to speak with me read this blog. I want to be able to be more open about my feelings and events without worrying about that people in real life think or how they might judge me! So that being said, please do leave a comment (those few loyal readers, don't all jump up at once) and let me know if you would like to be invited to my new blog once I have it up and running.

I will likely do one more post about graduation and Reunions events.

I started this blog nearly 2 years ago to record the events of my life as a newly wed to Brian and a new resident of the Garden State. Through the process of writing a blog I have met many wonderful ladies by reading and commenting on their blogs. Thank you to each of you and thank you to all those who have read this blog! I know it's not always the most exciting but it's been a fun way to keep a record of my first years of marriage and our life in New Jersey.

Onto the next adventure!

I wanna be a part it! NEW YORK NEW YORK!

Precious hubs and I took one final trip to NYC, yesterday. It was a fun time we refer to as "Ally & Bri Day." That basically means that Brian gives me his FULL attention and the day is usually what I want to do.

We took the train into the city and then walked to the Noho area and at MCW's suggestion we went to B Bar and Grill. How appropriate for Brian?! It was a long walk - about 30 blocks or so and we had a nice time looking at the area.

After a delicious lunch we walked to Rockefeller Center and then walked to Penn Station to head home. We spent over 4 hours walking...I think we walked about 5.5 miles.

300th post.....SEX IN THE CITY!

On May 27th the new SEX IN THE CITY movie comes out and I have planned a fabulous girls outing! Dinner before the movie and then enjoying the movie with friends.

Can I tell you, I AM SO excited!

It's a wonder, now that I am not working so many of posts revolve around TV and movies....time for me to start packing those boxes!

Biggest Loser

Yes, I am writing a post about Biggest Loser. I.freaking.love.it. I am so in awe of how the contestants got in shape "the right way"...not using pills or operations but focusing on diet and exercise.

My favorite part, though, is all the cheesy, "I've come so far" stuff. I know.I know. On day 2 of not working I might have hit an all time low but I am just being honest here.

Thoughts...

1. I am becoming a vegetarian. I can no longer digest meat so I am not going subject my body to it. I still eat eggs and dairy but don't drink milk in my cereal. I have started using rice milk. Now if I could only get my hubs on the veggie band wagon - cooking two dinners every night is getting old.

2. I love Gossip Girl...especially Blair Waldorf.

3. I hate mean girls (I rather not explain).

4. I'm moving to Chicago in less than 2 weeks.

5. September 20 I will officially be a full-time student.

6. I am not having any luck selling our gently used couch - any takers in New Jersey???

7. I want to see Dear John on DVD and Sex in the City 2 in the theater. I just checked the schedule to see when it was playing and the only times posted were at 12:01 am.

8. I'm back on the work out train and it feels so good!

9. I am reading "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" and it is SO good.

10. As of today my husband is finished with his Princeton degree. He graduates May 31 and June 1 (yes there are two ceremonies). I.cannot.wait. To say I am ecstatic is an understatement.

Flash Back!

Five years ago I was just returning from studying abroad in Perugia, Italy. Here I am wearing a mask for the "Carnivale" celebration that happens in February in Italy. Notice anything different about me?!!?!?

Our Move!

I have gotten a few questions about when we are moving so I will fill my readers in on what is going on.

We will begin the drive from Princeton to Chicago on June 2. Brian graduates June 1 so we will be hitting the road the next day. These next two weeks will be filled with packing, organizing and purging of all the STUFF we have!

We found an apartment in Lakeview/Lincoln Park area. We will be in a one bedroom for a couple more years but we will have a DISHWASHER!! :)

I will be checking with the movers tomorrow to find out what day our belongings will arrive in Chicago. That will influence how many days we stop, along the way.

Brian has relatives in Pittsburg and Cincinnati so we will get to see them on our way to Chicago! I still can't believe we are moving....my last day of work was on Friday so things are changing...I better just hold on my hat!

SO cute.

Our friend's Swati and Nitin's baby!!

Chhhhhhanges!

It's no surprise big changes are coming down the pike for the precious hubs and me! You see, the problem is, I don't deal well with change and well, I have a lot coming my way. Wish me luck!

Happy Mother's Day....

To the best Mama in the WORLD!

Me and my mom and sister, Abby.

Wedding Memories

Here are a few snapshots a friend took at my wedding. Aren't they good?!

BIG NEWS!!!

I have officially resigned from my current position and will be attending graduate school at Northwestern University. I will be getting a Masters in Science in Integrated Marketing and Communication from the Medill School of Communication. Brian will be working as a trader for a large bank in downtown Chicago!

We will be moving there June 2, 2010! Everything happened very quickly and we are excited to start this new phase with ME in graduate school!

Melts my Heart

Goodness knows how many pics I will take of our kids like this!