welcome, 2017!

can you guys believe it's 2017?  it seems like just yesterday everyone was buzzing about Y2K and stocking up for the end of times!  i gave up on "new year resolutions" several years ago, but i do have a few goals in mind for 2017 that i'm pretty excited about!  and, while i'm looking forward to the fresh start that each new year offers, i think 2016 was pretty rad (contrary to popular belief, i know)...here's a look back at some of my favorite moments from the past year:

we began the year with a bit of snow!  it was so fun to watch Louie run around in the snow for the first time since we adopted him... he loves it!  also, cory may or may not have slid his car into a ditch.  luckily it was right in front of our house, so it was actually a good excuse to stay in the house and drink beer for the next few days until the snow cleared up ;)

we celebrated another fun st. patrick's day in downtown raleigh with these babes!

cory gave me tickets to see our favorite band, shovels and rope, in march at the haw river ballroom.  they were amazing (as always)!

cory had a business weekend in chicago in april, so i decided to tag along.  it was rainy most of the time and still cold there (two broken umbrellas later.. i understand why it's called the windy city), but we managed to visit a few awesome spots: gino's east for some deep dish (the best in my opinion) and river roast public house for some oysters and table-side carved chicken.  i adore that city, if not for their food alone!

we rang in my 34th birthday with a long weekend in topsail beach!  it was so nice and relaxing.  it was louie's first time at the beach (that we know of), and after a close call with a big wave... he decided he would rather avoid the water all together and rest on the beach with the wind blowing through his fur instead :)  you can see my post and a video about our beach adventure here!

we celebrated our second wedding anniversary parisian-style, with a mind-blowing dinner at saint jacques in raleigh, followed by drinks and photo ops in the gorgeous french inspired layfette village. 

in august, we visited my family in gainesville, and my dad treated us to a delicious low country boil!  my brother came with my adorable niece and nephew.... so it was extra special having them there :)

in october, we met up with some of my best friends from college in nashville to watch the gators play vanderbilt!  while the game left much to be desired, we had a blast exploring nashville!  it happened to be cory's birthday weekend too... so when we returned home, i took him to our favorite dining establishment, the angus barn, and treated him to a steak dinner!

october 24th marked louie's one year adoptaversary!  i don't know who's luckier... him of us.  we sure love that little guy!

we carved some spooky pumpkins for halloween!

we were so honored to host cory's family for our first thanksgiving dinner in our new home.  they came all the way from michigan, so we wanted everything to be perfect.  everyone left with full bellies and louie got plenty of cuddles from everyone... so i would call it a success!

and for chirstmas, all my wishes came true with a visit from my family and our dog bentley!  how lucky were we to have both of our families visit during the holidays?!?!  we also had fun picking out the most fantastic christmas tree, and made good use of a few days off by meeting up with friends at the meat locker!

finally, what better way to say adieu to 2016, than with these beautiful gemstones?  we went to an all-inclusive party at the sheraton in downtown raleigh!  needless to say... i began 2017 with a hangover :/
 

i can't wait to see all that 2017 has in store!  thanks for stopping by and letting me share our lives with you here on my blog!