What a difference a year makes!

    As many of you know, today is our first wedding anniversary! The year has absolutely flown by, but I guess when you sign a contract to build a house within weeks of returning from your honeymoon that will happen. We've finally finished our honeymoon album, but have yet to finish writing notes next to the pictures. My goal was to have the entire process completed by our first anniversary...oops! Here's one of my favorite images from just after the ceremony:

     Jim and I had hoped to celebrate our first anniversary in Maui with dinner at Plantation House in Kapalua, but were too nervous to book a major trip around the time we closed on the house. Luckily, our January 2011 property taxes only considered the value of the land! Even better, we found out that our bill was paid by our attorney because a certain amount of money was escrowed at the closing for that purpose! Double BONUS!!! Within days, Jim and I booked a second honeymoon to
Maui and a first trip to Kauai. We are VERY
excited and I've already begun counting down
the days until April 6th!

    Since I have to fast for a physical and bloodwork tomorrow, Jim and I decided to postpone our anniversary dinner until tomorrow night. I didn't want my wine and dessert intake to throw off the results. We're going to McGuire's, which is certainly in the running for the best restaurant in Albany. Nevetheless, I haven't been there since my third year of law school and Jim has never been there. We must be crazy! 

     Just because we didn't go out to dinner doesn't mean that we didn't exchange gifts. Oh no, I would never let that happen :-) In keeping with the paper tradition for the first anniversary, Jim got me a gift certificate to Complexions for a massage, which I desperately need, and the most perfect satchel from Coach. I had given him examples of ones I liked around Christmas time and this is even better than I imagined. I could smell the leather as I was opening the gift bag and couldn't contain my happiness.  And, it's purple (my favorite color), which means it can go with anything...woohoo. There's just something about purses and shoes that I adore...can never have enough! Now I've got a walk-in closet that can hold them all. 

My precious new bag

    As for Jim, I bought him a gift certificate to the indoor golf simulator, so he can prepare for the  courses in Hawaii during this cold, snowy weather, and a cherry cabinet/display case that holds 30 golf balls. He's been collecting them from the nice courses he's played at over the years and I thought this would be a perfect way to show them off, not to mention that it gives us some incentive to purchase new study furniture and get that room organized.

    What is the best restaurant in your hometown? Do you go there often?