Anniversary Gift Ideas

I have been married just over 6 months, so I know this is a bit premature, but with thinking about Christmas shopping and wish lists, I couldn't help but share with you (and my sweet husband) two ideas that I recently came across that would make perfect anniversary gifts for our first anniversary this coming March.

1. Enlarged and Framed Sheet Music (as artwork)


via Pinterest

 This is just awesome. and it covers the traditional symbol for a first anniversary gift, "paper". Song selections could be our first dance song, or the song I walked down the aisle to (Moon River, just in case someone forgot) or just another song that sounds like "us". I think this is just fabulous and would look good in many rooms.



2. Anniversary Band


 I would love to have a plain wedding/anniversary band to wear solo for running and working out, and also to be able to pair a plain band with my solitaire engagement ring. Since my original wedding ring is an enhancer that my engagement ring sits inside of, I have to wear it as a complete set and I don't really like wearing such a large ring when I run or go to the gym. I would love a plain Jane white gold band, about the same width as my engagement ring.



My Princess Solitaire engagement ring



Together with enhancer

 So those are my two anniversary gift ideas! What do you think? Do you have an anniversary band, and if so, do you mix and match your wedding/anniversary bands, or alternate wearing them?

Do you drop hints to your husband or boyfriend about possible anniversary gifts?

Cheers!

Ten Articles a Newlywed Actually Wants to Read- Day 21

I love reading blogs and if I find a particularly interesting one I like to see what blogs that blogger reads... and somewhere I get lost down a bunny trail of blog-hopping. Today I stumbled upon this blog and this post in particular that had me laughing out loud, and I had to share.

Being a newlywed of 6 months, this entry is very applicable to my life. Wither you are planning a wedding, have planned a wedding at some point, I hope this makes you laugh too.

This blog is HitchDied.com and the following is a list of suggested articles that newlyweds actually want to read (from these mass email producing sites like the Nest and Martha, and many others)

Ten articles a newlywed actually wants to read:

1. Hand exercises to alleviate Thank You Note cramps.
2. Who should move for whose career: The Armageddon of Newlywed Fights
3. What exactly do you use a stand mixer for, anyway?
4. Beyond flowers: easy ways to say “I’m sorry I was such a jerk last night”
5. Damn the man, lower the co-pay: navigating through a health insurance switch.
6. Cute ways to style short hair (because every newly married woman cuts her hair off, right?)
7. No soap? Seriously?: How to clean a cast iron skillet
8. Fun ways to answer the question, “How’s married life?” that will ensure it is never asked of you again.
9. Can you still celebrate your dating anniversary? How many anniversaries are you allowed before you are That Couple?
10. How to watch your wedding video without cringing so hard your face Gets Stuck That Way. [this article would really just be a collection of cocktail recipes] 

I would especially be interested in reading number 7. We received a cast iron skillet as a wedding gift and I have yet to use it, doesn't it have to be prepped or seasoned or something before you use it?? Anyone know how to do this?

Also, my standard answer to number 8 is, "So far... so good!" Don't know if this is appropriate or not...

Have a great Wednesday!

Cheers,

"F" is for Friday, and Fighting over Finances- Day 9

Maybe I shouldn't say fighting, but the Coach and I had a heated discussion last night about finances.

Any of you read or listen to Dave Ramsey? Coach had me read Dave's book, A Total Money Makeover before we got married. I thought it was a great book, and I agreed with most everything in it. The keyword being "most."

Coach and I have a very realistic budget that we adhere to each month, and we are well on our way to being debt free. That being said, we also don't own a home, we currently rent. We are both ready to be out of our current rental situation and into a home that is ours. That has storage space, a garage, plenty of kitchen cabinets, a walk in closet and a laundry room. However, we differ in opinion on when in our journey to becoming debt free we should look to purchase a home. I won't go into what each of us thinks, because my point  is not to argue sides. I have a few points-

A.) I can completely see why money is the leading cause for divorce
B.) Money is a topic that two people considering getting married should discuss at length. Including how much you feel is an appropriate amount of savings to maintain, and how to determine who is the one who gets the new car when both of yours are on the fritz.
C.) Even if you talked about these things, you will still have discussions (maybe even fights) over finances.

The bottom line is we both want the same things, it's just coming to common ground on when we can/should have those things. We made a few compromises last night and that is one of the reasons I love him so much. We listen to each other, respect each other's ideas and opinions, are not afraid to hold each other's feet to the fire when needed, and are willing to compromise to reach a common goal.

Do you and the person with whom you share your bank account ever disagree on finances? (I know you do!) How to you reach common ground?

I can tell you one thing, I am ready for a cocktail! Lucky for me I am having one of my bff's over for happy hour at my house after work today! Can't wait to get home and hear the clink of ice in my glass!

Cheers,

REM