two years down, forever to go :)

i can't believe we just celebrated our two year anniversary. it feels like it was just yesterday i was sitting in my brother's living room in dallas on my wedding day, with my family, for the very last time just as a daughter and a sister. where i accepted this marriage in front of my witnesses, making things official on my end, becoming his wife. i remember it clear as day, when we cried, knowing things would be different now. but they were bittersweet tears, as we felt both joy and sadness. what a beautiful, beautiful change that day brought. physically, i am further away from my family and friends, but i've never been closer to them. i've also been blessed with an amazing husband, and a second family who have made me feel like this is where i truly belong. 

we've come so far since may 25th, 2013. we've changed and we've grown, and we're better together now than we have ever been. i'm lucky and blessed and the happiest, happiest person in this world. i'm thankful to God for blessing me with this life, and i just pray that He blesses us with many, many years together. alhamdulillah :)

this year, on our second anniversary (or the day before, actually) we had some family come over for dinner so we decided to celebrate then. i got us a customized cake and he surprised me with two dozen roses. :) 

 ^^he surprised me with these when i got home :) 

 ^^and i bought him this :)

 ^^i loved the cake. blue and red were our wedding colors as well

happy anniversary, babe. i love love love you!
i can't wait to celebrate with this guy on our cruise to the bahama's this week! stay tuned for updates.. :)

pinot's pallete!

last night, a bunch of my friends and i went to a place called pinot's pallete where we took a two hour painting class. the instructor guided us with step by step directions in how to paint a picture. :) the theme for last night's class was beach boardwalk.

it was definitely something new for me because i'd never painted much of anything before. and painting is something i always wished i was good at. i definitely want to go again and get more familiar with it. :)

 ^^blank canvas :)

 ^^what's better than sipping starbucks and painting a pretty picture? ;)

 ^^concenrating. jk. i was pretending for the picture. ;)

^^i got a little impatient when it came to the grass..lol. oops.

another birthday surprise!

on tuesday night we headed over to my in law's place just to visit and hang out. it turned out that saad and his family got together to plan a surprise for my birthday. i had some doubts that something might be going on but i wasn't totally sure. still, i was surprised and really happy :) i'm so thankful to have such wonderful in laws and the really great friends i've made here in atlanta.

^^sucha cool cake idea. :) and those sunglasses are real!

^^husband of mine.. <3

^^family!

^^friends :)

special thanks to my husband for making all of this happen. this birthday was the best yet. you're my biggest blessing. and the best friend i could ever ask for. :) love you!

birthday '15.. the big twenty-five!

my birthday ended up being the sunday that we were in dallas. on saturday, we were all at a dinner party. the boys left early and pretended to go watch the boxing match that night at a friends house but in reality they went and bought a cake and decorations to set up for when i got home.  when my sister and sister in laws brought me home about an hour later it was already way past midnight and the boys had everything set up in the kitchen. i was surprised when i saw everything but i barely had time to react because like four seconds later saad and my brothers popped out from the room and attacked us all with silly string. it was awesome and i totally didn't expect a thing. :)

 ^^silly string everywhere

^^when it was all nice and cleaned up lol. saad also got me pretty red roses and the sweetest card ever. 

in the morning we all got ready and went shopping so i could pick out my birthday gift. saad ended up buying me a selfie stick which he proceeded to take over and be obsessed with for the rest of the night. it was actually pretty funny. 

 ^^when he first opened the selfie stick..

 ^^this is just the beginning..

^^funny faces

 ^^brother and sister in law got one too!

 ^^the funniest.

after our shenanigans with the selfie stick and some shopping at nordstrom rack, we went to cheesecake factory for dinner. it's one of my favorite places :) 

^^so many options. but plain cheesecake will always be my favorite

^^adding sprinkles to the cheesecake only made it ten times better.

 ^^presents :)

^^the watch i picked out. it has GLITTER in the dial. is that not the prettiest thing ever?? lol love this watch so much. it's so unique :) (mA!!)

^^the selfie stick madness continued long after we got home..lol

this year's birthday was amazing. i was so happy to have been able to spend it with my family. i feel super blessed for having them and saad. they all made it so special :)