Friday's Letters

Dearest farewell "Hobby": You had me there for minute, but i believe this is as far as we will ever get in our relationship. Holding you was a breeze, but let's face it, i'm just not that into you! Dear Husby: I can't wait to try out the new tires on my bad a jeep beeper, thanks lover! Dear locked up Mila: I'm sorry i had to lock you up in the laundry room, but you cannot have my honey smacks today! Don't feel bad, i will make it up to you, with ham of course! Dear snacks in the snack cabinet : It won't be very long until your gone, again, don't blame me for husbys overactive tapeworm! Dear Husby Wusby: I just love you to pieces, even though your eating habits make my thighs go into a deep depression!

Our Mila

If you are one of my dearest faithful followers, you've seen this little lady around the blog a few times or more than enough. She is the newest addition to all of the many animals we have since we established our little family in June, me and garrett just love her to pieces. From the very moment we saw her poofy white butt come from the animal clinics door straight from getting her first shot into our arms. Every lover of fur babies in that vet office wanted to take her home with them, but they couldn't have this little blessing, she was meant to be cared for by us. You would think she was a human baby the way I go on and on about her, could you imagine me with one of those!? The earth will literally stop spinning when that blessed day comes upon us! What can i say, "my heart is too big for my chest, i can't deny". 

Word: Every newlywed couple needs a fur baby around. **You must be a lover of animals of course, keep that in mind. Animals are not for everyone i suppose. Boy, that sounded like a caption before a gorey ER reality show didn't it!?

They are so loveable, i've actually found they bring me and my husby closer in a way, does that sound silly? But it's because we both find so much joy just by loving her and having her around, not that we get bored just the two of us, that isn't ever an issue ; )

Without her we wouldn't have mila pancakes or a starving "hammy whammy" who is a lover of all things ham and is now the shape of a perfectly round ham bone from eating way too much of it. Who would I trust to lick up my droppings from the floor while cooking every night, without her around I would depend solely on a broom then and I don't like my broom! Our carpet runner on the stairs would never come unstapled without her running back and forth like a crazy wild cat! 

And even though she does like digging in the trash like the practical dog, i we would not trade her for the world!

So are you a crazy cat/dog lady like myself? I bet you are! Tell me about your furbabies, I would love to hear!!

Happy Tuesday Friends!

Our First Thanksgiving!

Hi friends! 

Thanksgiving has come and gone, it's true

I sure hope your Thanksgiving holiday was as great as ours 

and I don't know about your family but we are still dopey from all the turkey eatin'!

It's so funny to me how that stuff makes you sooo sleepy

there's nothing like it, it's a good thing we only eat it once a year though

otherwise i would be a total slum for the rest of my life

I wasn't much help either with pine strawing the flower beds with husby

i used the turkey as an excuse card for my slackage
i'm usually a beast at flower beds
ask husb

On the way to husbys mamaws for thanksgiving 

we talked about how thanksgiving and other holidays 

just seem to be routine nowadays, it's so much different now i guess because we are living in adult land

But don't you remember those days when you just couldn't wait for each holiday to roll around

it seemed like it took forever then and now it's here at a blink of the eye!

It made me think of my childhood, I was very blessed to have such a great one

and even though our families have sadly drifted apart since then, we still have all of those

wonderful memories in our heart, and it's so nice to look back on them every now and then

..it makes you proud of where you came from..

Afterwards we made a trip to my grandmas
 Me and my mama went through a-lot of old, old pictures together

Pictures from when my pawpaw was in the war, i even saw a few of his old girlfriends 

Grandma didn't seem to mind, she just giggled and smirked that she had a few of her own past boyfriends photo's as well hidden away

Oh and those two photos i'm holding up there, that's me!

Those two photographs capture my childhood,  just perfectly

There i am as a little girl with balloons i possibly snatched from a past family reunion's decorated table
 i, assume

wet with sweat from running around giggling and playing in my over worn disney outfit

those were the days

Last night me and husby picked out our first christmas tree together
We found this little guy laying on his side among all the other trees that stood proudly
and we like to think we saved his life in a way

I plan to cut the bottom from the tree for a keepsake ornament to look back on

thank goodness for pinterest and it's great ideas

who woulda thought to do that otherwise?

Husby did great stringing the tree with lights, i'm the absolute worst at it
And that is no turkey excuse for slackage, i really lack that talent

thank goodness for a husby with skills, eh?

Mila superslept while we bedazzled the tree
and wifey had a little too much fun with the sparkly icicles!

Happy Monday Lovelies!

Have You Heard!?

So a few short days ago, i received an email from the CEO of this new social networking site called "StoryLane". I don't know if any of you have received his emails offering benefits for your blog but at first glance i huffed and racked out the word "Spam". It just smelled a bit fishy at first, but i have got to tell ya, after i used my nose, i found that it is actually a real site, with real people who write awesome, uplifting, inspiring stories like myself and it's not a spam! It's a great website, if you are as passionate about writing as i am! And here's the plus guys, you can even import your blogs which means what?? Great Blog Exposure!! 

Follow my StoryLane here: 

www.storylane.com/calliesmith

Happy Friday!!

A Guest Post Wednesday!

Hi there faithful readers! Since i am preoccupied deciding on what color paint to do my dining room in today ( you understand, right? it's a big decision!) , i thought.. why not have a guest!? Don't you worry i will be back shortly, you won't miss me a bit though after you see what i have in store for you today! You remember me telling you about my super cool glam cara box partner Kiki from her blog Glammed By Tarin, don't you!? Well allow her to introduce herself,  here she is ladies, meet the fabulous Kiki !

Hey There Lovely Ladies!
How are you?!  I’m fabulous as always as I’m sitting in my pajamas and hair in a bun! You might be wondering uhhh where is the fabulous, gorgeous, sweet Mrs. Callie! Well she decided to be a dare devil today and let me take over her fabulous blog!!!

I’m Kiki and I blog over at Glammed by Tarin!  There you can find my personal ramblings about fashion, life, being a wife, and most of all my shopping addiction!  I live in a town in the middle of nowhere Minnesota with less than 500 people.  I work as stylist at a fabulous boutique, a Mary Kay Consultant and Full time wife!  I recently was lucky enough to get to know the wonderful Callie Smith through our Cara Box swap this month.   I am so glad that I got paired with her!  She’s honestly a great and genuine person.  So if you don’t follow her I suggest you do!!  Shes Great!(: 

Well since tomorrow is thanksgiving let’s talk about what I usually wear on this fatty holiday! To me there is nothing better than being cute and comfy! I mean honestly speaking who doesn’t love being cute and comfy! On thanksgiving to me comfy means stretchy stretchy stretchy! This year I will most likely be wearing a sweater dress/wrap with leggings! I want to be able to stuff my face without having to feel like I have to unbutton my pants and for me that means I’m wearing leggings!  Below are some looks similar to the ones that I will be wearing this thanksgiving.  Like I said before cute and comfy! 

Thanksgiving by kikitarin featuring an oversized cardigan

Oversized cardigan
calypsostbarth.com

BKE lace top
buckle.com

People Tree blue tank
$32 - peopletree.co.uk

Oasis black skinny pants
$51 - johnlewis.com

Footless tight
$3.18 - fashionunion.com

Not Rated tan leather boots
heels.com

Brown leather shoulder bag
$250 - theiconic.com.au

Balenciaga handbag
balenciaga.com

MICHAEL Michael Kors michael kor
nordstrom.com

Michael kors jewelry
forzieri.com

Marie Chavez collar necklace
maxandchloe.com

Not Rated Wild Child - Grey
heels.com





What will you guys be rocking this thanksgiving? 
I hope you all have a fabulous Wednesday and if you have some extra time check out my blog! Until next time

XoXo

Well there you have it guys, isn't she great!? Special thanks to Kiki for guest posting on my blog today, and to my readers, don't be shy, go follow along with her on her blog as well!

Note: Since i didn't want to take away from Kiki's guest post today, word to the {newly} wife will continue next wednesday so be sure to link up those posts!

November Cara Box Swap!

Hi sweet friends! I am so beyond excited to finally get to write this post up, i have been so anxious to get my box of goodies just so i could! Earlier this month, i signed up for the Cara Box gift exchange along with many other women all over the world! If you are new to my site, i can bet your scratching your head wondering what the Cara Boxin' is all about!  It can be compared to having a pen pal, except you don't just swap uplifting letters to one another... you get to know your gal pal on a more personal level, you creep each other's blog (in a non-creepy way of course) and find that you want to be life long friends......but it doesn't end there, you also get gifts mailed to you! And every girl loves those right? It is a monthly swap, so i encourage you to join next month's gift exchange! If you would like to learn more about the Cara Box gift exchange, visit the girl who made it all happen, Kaitlyn at Wifessionals!

So i'm super pumped to introduce my sweet, sweet cara box partner Kiki, she blogs over at Glammed By Tarin and i have to tell you.. this girl has serious style! Any girl with as much style as her has to work at a fabulous clothing boutique right? And so she does! She is also a Mary Kay consultant, is she miss thang or what!? She is a lovely Latina lady with a great personality and outlook on life, she is so carefree and fun, i seriously feel like i have known her my whole entire life..! And like myself, she is a newlywed as well, which i just LOVED! It's so nice to have friends who are also newlyweds, and we have swapped a few funny stories as well!

So what about my box of goodies!? Aren't they the cutest!? Wouldn't you love to get a little package like this at your door step every month! Of course, you would!! I was so pleased with every gift she picked out for me, especially the chocolates she packed for me (even though Mila took off running with my last yummy Ferrero Rocher) ,oh and that beautiful yellow scarf.. it's wrapped around me as we speak! But the most beautiful part, was the heart felt letter she included.. and that is what the cara box exchanged is all about, finding a beloved friend! She will forever be my beloved friend and i was so blessed to have been paired with her! She is such a sweet person, so go check out her blog now, i insist! : )

Happy Tuesday Lovelies!

word to the {newly} wife wednesday!

word to the {newly} wife:

word:

ladies, always dig in your husbys pant pockets before loading the washing machine

i never thought he would actually pay me to wash his clothes!

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Treasured Trinkets

I am a bit of a sentimentalist i suppose, although i'm not sure that's even a word in the american language, sentimental in a way that little things cleave close to my heart, so close that i would not take any amount of money for these little things i have, because they are so dear to me. So today i am sharing only a few ( in no particular order) of my treasured trinkets, because the rest are mine, all mine. 

1. keepsake boxes:

these two treasure boxes sit right beside our bed

they are filled with wedding cards full of love, bows and colorful

ribbons from our showers, wedding napkins/invitations etc..

 along with just enough room for other 

keepsakes along the road.

2. wedding albums:

i LOVE our wedding photo's

they are so beautiful and capture just what i

wanted them to:

that being

the love me and garrett have for each other

it shines on every photo

i will always look back on them and smile

3. wedding broach:

    my mama bought this pretty little pin for

our wedding cake, i keep it on our

dresser top and see it every day.

4. geode:

garrett brought this to me just before

he proposed to me. i told him the night

he gave it to me he would have to give

me another diamond in exchange 

to get it back from me,

and he did. 

5. golden snowflake necklace:

this necklace was my mow mow's

i like to wear it every now and then

in remembrance of her.

we were so close.

6. knife and fork set:

i stole these on our honeymoon at 

jim-n-nicks because they magnetized

instantly when i went to pick them up to

begin eating. can you really blame me

for stealing them? i wrapped a blue

ribbon around them and they now lay

in my treasure box beside our bed.

7. my wedding rings:

i LOVE my diamonds

garrett could not have picked a more perfect ring

and i will always cherish it so, so much

i also love his as well, seeing his ring on that finger

gives me the love goosies everytime!

8. natchez:

it is where our love for each other began

so of course it has to be displayed in our home.

we love natchez

9. my collection of good reads:

i love books, but only certain kinds

meaningful books full of passion and life

and i love poetry, i also like to write it

on a whim.

10. golden musical bracelet:

i've had this little bracelet since i can remember

i used to wear it religiously, i just adore it.

So now that i have shared my little things, what are yours? I would love to know what treasures you keep near the heart! 

i'm cheetah-licious

Hi friends, it's a lazy sunday afternoon here at the smith casa, sundays are always so nice, aren't they? Want to know what Mrs. Smith is doing: i'm just sitting pretty beside the wall heater with my trusty new cheetah slippers drinking cranberry juice from a wine glass. Classy i. Who says wine is the only drink intended for such a glass? Although wine is good for the soul, i'm all out of cupcake wine so here's a toast to pure 100 percent cranberry delight, which is good for my kidneys. Kidneys are indeed important, ya know!

fyi: i don't believe i have expressed my deep love for cheetah slippers and such

so today is national cheetah slipper day at the smiths

Since sunday's are the bacon to my grease, i need to make this post a little simple, you won't mind eh? I have to give a big shout out to all my pals who awarded me "The Liebster Award". I was just awarded the award not long ago, but it humbles me that you guys actually like what i write here, so i have to express my undying gratitude. So here's a Big  Thank You to: Nicole and Dan @ Grub n Marriage, Karla @ Forever Newly Wedded, and Katie @ Mr.& Mrs. Smith! Don't be shy, go take a lookie at their bloggy woggy,  you won't be sorry, these ladies rock!

Happy Sunday!

Yummy {Homemade} Potato Soup

 Yummy { Homemade} Potato Soup:

Ingredients:

snatch up a few potatoes that fit your fancy

1 or 1/2 stalk of celery

1 cup of milk ( keep it handy though you will need more)

1/4 cup of cream cheese

1/4 cup butter

1/4 cup flour

1/4 tsp garlic powder

bacon bits ( if you like)

2 chicken buollion cubes

salt

pepper 

a handful of shredded cheese

Directions:

place cut-up potatoes in a large boiler, just barely covering them with water

cut up your celery; add them too then add your butter

tell your buds to sit there a while until they are good and mushy

{ i talk to my food}

take a spoon and mush them even more

 add your milk, chicken cubes, salt and pepper, cream cheese, and 

shredded cheese, garlic powder and bacon bits

then add your flour, it should begin to thicken now

mine tended to thicken up real quick, so i just kept adding milk

until it was the consistency i wanted

and presto!! i think that's what the pro's say!

Happy Cooking!

word to the {newly} wife wednesday:

word to the {newly} wife

word: procrastinating on buying groceries   :dawn dish liquid in particular: will leave you using hand soap instead hard times call for desperate measures

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Happy Wife Happy Life!

Am i right, ladies? Can i get an "Amen!" for that clever post title?! It doesn't take much to make this little wifey happy though, Garrett could bring me home an 89. cent pack of Gummie Bears and i would think i was the queen herself! Today,  i thought i would share my thankfulness in clips instead of spilling spaghetti o's from my subconsciousness for you to read through. Great wording ,eh?, kind of gross in the same way though.. Let's just us carry on why don't we?...

# 1: I am thankful for my incredibly handsome, smart, caring, hardworking, big hearted husby of mine.

He takes such good care of me, I say that often, I say it because it's true.

I couldn't imagine life without him.

#2: I'm thankful for our beautiful marriage

It's hard to believe June came and went so fast

We will always have the sweet remembrance of that

very special day

I'm also thankful to my parents, friends, and family

for the time and money

they spent on every wedding detail

#3: I'm thankful for the little moments we have together after the day is over

Coming home to my husby is my favorite part of the day

#4: I'm thankful Garrett loves the swivel swifter so much

Sweeping isn't my favorite part of the day

Thank you husby for cleaning up after my messy cooking

#5: I'm thankful to officially be done with my dental assisting ce hours for

this year after procrastinating until the very last minute 

#6: I'm thankful my kitchen sink did not runneth over

after someone left popcorn kernals in the sink

someone, as in me

#7: I'm thankful for this happy little doggy, Tobey

I remember bringing him to Garrett for his birthday

He loves him 

#8: I'm thankful for my partner in crime in the kitchen kitty, Mila

Flour-Staches are as normal as Milk-Staches in this familia

She's always licking up my messes from the floor

#9: I'm thankful that my first attempt of Homemade Potato Soup was a

Success!

Recipe to come!

#10

And to think i almost forgot this one:

my newest obsession

..bob marley, eric clapton, janis joplin, the stones..

i have them all right at my ear tips

life is good when you have pandora

Imagine.

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and it's so easy for me to be thankful for so many things, it's easy for me to lift my head up toward God and whisper a thank-you, but do i  put my Thanksgiving to practice on a daily basis? Isn't that what He really wants me to do anyway? & Do i really need all of these things that i own, big or small? Do i share my abundance with the world around me?

 Yes, I am thankful for my good health, but do i look to my left to help another who is weary? Yes, I am thankful to be living life quite comfortably, but when i see someone who is not, do i spare a dollar? Yes, I am thankful to be living in a free country, but do i judge those who have a different view on life than i?

We spend too much time dwelling on what we have, what we want, and what we think we need in life. We focus on the days ahead of us, instead of the day in which we have, so are we really living? We forget that we are only human, and this world we build around us, isn't truly ours to claim, to profit, to boast about. Have we forgotten it was made solely to share?

I have a deep love for all things in the purest of all beautiful, and John Lennon's song "Imagine" is it. He's a dreamer and i am proud to join him, because i am too. There are many songs among us, and each song touches a different heart at a different time, but this song should hit the worlds heart as one, if we could all make his song reality instead of imaginary, the world would truly be a better place. Turn his tune on the radio, close your eyes, and just listen. Forget about what's coming up next, your overflowing laundry basket in need of folding, your favorite t.v. show that comes on ten minutes from now, your flat tire which is keeping you from being in the place where you were supposed to be by now, because this just where you were supposed to be anyway. Right here, in your peaceful state of mind. 

Imagine there's no heaven

It's easy if you try

No hell below us

Above us only sky

Imagine all the people

Living for today...

Imagine there's no countries

It isn't hard to do

Nothing to kill or die for

and no religion too

Imagine all the people

Living life in peace..

You may say I'm a dreamer

But I'm not the only one

I hope someday you will join us

And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions

I wonder if you can

No need for greed or hunger

A brotherhood of man

Imagine all the people

Sharing all the world...

You may say I'm a dreamer

But I'm not the only one

I hope someday you will join us

And the world will live as one

November Cara Box Link-Up!

This month, i am super excited to be linking up with Kaitlyn from Wifessionals along with many other amazing women around the world for the monthly Cara Box swap! What is a Cara Box swap you ask? You can pretty much compare it to getting a birthday/christmas present in the mail every month! Pretty sweet deal right? So who would turn that opportunity down? But it's not all about receiving little happies through the mail, it's about getting to know one another on a more personal level and receiving encouragement.. and Giving! The act of giving is going to be the most beautiful part of this experience, for me.. So link-up, join in the fun, you don't even have to own a blog.. you can read more details by clicking the Cara Box button at the top of the page! I can't wait to meet who i'm paired with!

So since this months Cara Box theme is, Childhood, i thought i would write a post devoted to things that bring back my own childhood memories.. here we go!

Jellie Shoes:

these snazzy shoes made the worst blisters but i 

wore them everywhere, i even dolled them up with

my poofy lace attached socks, remember those?

Pretty, Pretty Princess:

i remember playing this game with my daddy, i wore the 

artificial studs off of this little game.. it was my very favorite

Fruit Stripes Gum:

the gum was great, but the tattoos were the ultimate goal

Sky Dancer Dolls:

i actually had this exact doll! mom wasn't a big fan

i always shot her up toward the ceiling fan!

Stick-On Earrings:

you were a pretty cool little girl if you had these stuck on

your ear bobs, but you were even cooler if you had the

glow in the dark ones!

Candy Necklaces:

i'm pretty sure i begged my mom for a candy necklace

everytime we went in a gas station. i thought i had

something then!

Two Words: Trapper Keeper

lisa frank pencil, lisa frank coloring book, lisa frank underwear

say that five times fast!

lisa frank ruled the planet at one time, remember?

Plastic Lunch Boxes with Thermus:

in school, we competed with our plastic lunch boxes, who had the coolest lunch box!?

GooseBumps Books:

these books scared the bejeebies out of me

they should have been called "Nightmares"

Mash:

i always had the worst luck while playing this pointless game

but it turns out it had no real effect on the boy i was granted, to whom

i'm married to now, my career, the place i call home and the car

i don't drive. 

AAHH! REAL MONSTERS:

i was obsessed with this show, i think everyone can relate

i could go on and on, about how i thought i was hilarious when i belted out  steve urkels "did i do that!?"  in his famous nerdy voice, how i knew every move to the macarena and showcased it in the grocery store every chance i got, how i drove my barbie's around in my sneakers because my parents didn't think i needed a barbie jeep at the time, the nickelodeon line-ups everynight, miss mary mack, mack,mack,mack,mack all dressed in black, black,black,black,black..., slap bracelets, collecting pogs that had no absolute purpose other than being, and my collection of mary kate and ashley vhs tapes, that made me wish i had a twin.. but you would have had to been there, to fully understand my childhood, you would have had to been a 90's kid i guess...

i hope you enjoyed going back in time with me, i sure did, there's so many things you forget that you loved back then, and i'm sure i missed a good handful. Be sure to link-up with Kaitlyn, it'll be a blast from the past for sure!

Our Newly-Weeen!

i realize, i'm short of halloween posting but here we are! I had alot of fun coming up with our halloween costumes this year, we were "prisoners of love" and as you can tell i was the bride who went to jail and he was my partner in crime! it was a big hit, everyone loved it! the only accessory we left out was the handcuffs! husby surprised me with his love for his convict costume, kid he is! 

we only had two treat or treaters, captain america and tiger, needless to say we have mucho candy left, husby doesn't mind. mila, being the diva cat she is, was a "princess". she didn't seem to mind the outfit too much, as you can see in the second picture, she was beginning to fall asleep. i nearly had to hold her head up just to get that picture. my poor cat. husby and i are doing two christmas child boxes this year which we finally filled up with all kinds of goodies, went a little overboard as you can tell. we had a great newly-ween, it's going to take me a whole year to think of what our next halloween costume will be! i hope you all had as much fun as we had!