Frugalista Married

Laughter: Fuel for the Soul

2012-02-12T16:51:00.000-08:00


Pic from a couple years ago but it's basically how I looked all night

Mj's friends cousin has been doing stand up comedy around town. Friday night we went to one of his shows. During the week I saw a commercial for sparkling wine. I can't even remember what brand, but ever since then I had a craving for it so I was hoping there would be some at the show.

The last show we went to seemed a little bit like amateur night so I wasn't sure what to expect. There were 7 comics and they got 10 minutes each. The host opened the show. He was hilarious. Good sign. These guys were good. One after another each comic got on stage and made us laugh. Good old fashioned straight from the belly mouth wide open head tilted back uncontrollable laughter. I laughed hard and loud in between sips of my sparkling wine; thank goodness they had some! Laughter is such good fuel for the soul. It just makes you feel good. I love laughing and I love to see Mj laugh. He was laughing so hard his eyes were all watery and teary. For a second I thought about what a racket the night was. It cost us $10 each to get in and on top of that there was a two drink minimum at $7 each. That's $24 bucks each just to get in the door! But it was a really good show and we were supporting a friend. Laughing out loud for almost 2 hours straight while drinking wine after long week of work was well worth the price of admission.

Drink More Water!

2012-02-09T08:53:00.000-08:00

I've been struggling with my water intake for a while now. It's better then it was but I still have some work to do. I can tell when I haven't had enough because I'll wake up in the middle of the night positively parched. That should never happen. My body is telling me what it needs and I just have to get better at listening. Having water come out of our refrigerator has helped a lot. It's just always there and cold when I need it. This water bottle is the latest weapon in my arsenal to combat against insufficient water drinking. I'm hoping this cute 12 oz water bottle in my favorite color that I can keep at work will inspire me to get guzzling. The recommended intake is 48 to 64 oz! It's always represented in ounces of water but we do get water in other ways from foods like fruits and vegetables. Between the work water bottle and my 24 oz Tervis tumbler at home I'm hoping to manage at least 48. If I just drink the one water bottle at work it's a minimum of 12 oz which is better then nothing but I'm definitely shooting for double that and then more at home. I forget, I get busy, it makes my stomach too full. I'm not sure what it is about drinking water that makes it so difficult to keep up with but it's so hard!

Speaking of water. Have you tried Mio liquid water enhancer? It makes water delicious and it's calorie and sugar free. I love Fruit Punch and Sweet Tea. You can adjust it to your taste by adding more or less. Mj brought a few of those home last year and they are so good. I actually like the taste of water but with the Mio I like it even more and it makes it so easy to drink.

How much water do you drink in a day?

My First Giveaway

2012-02-06T16:22:00.000-08:00

I've been blogging for going on 3 years now and I've never hosted a giveaway. Until now! Lauren who blogs over at Sweet Nothings and I are teaming up to give you something free. She is engaged and head over heels in love with her soon to be husband. She's got some amazing photos posted throughout her blog so check her out and you can follow along once she starts planning her wedding. She is also a very talented painter and sells her artwork on Etsy. I'm sure everyone has heard of Etsy by now, but just in case you haven't it's an amazing website where you can find all kinds of unique one of a kind handmade items. You can check out Lauren's Etsy shop at L. Nicole Photography. I see one in particular that I really want for my kitchen. One lucky winner will receive this vibrant 5 X 7 canvas AND a $15 shop credit towards a $30 minimum purchase. There is nothing on the site over $35 so that's a really good deal.

Winner receives this 5 X 7 hand painted canvas AND $15 Shop Credit

And now for the rules 'cause you know there has to be some:

Who: Open to anyone with a valid US mailing address

What: 5 X 7 hand painted canvas pictured above AND $15 shop credit towards a $30 minimum purchase

When: The giveaway will be open from now, February 6th to February 16th.

How to Enter:

Visit Lauren's Etsy Shop, check out her artwork and leave a comment here indicating that you would like to enter and which piece you would like to buy with your shop credit if you win. This gets you 1 entry.

One of the following gets you one additional entry that will increase your odds of winning. Feel free to partake in both though if you are so inclined.

Add L Nicole Photography to your Etsy Favorites. You do need an Etsy account to do this. If you already have an account just sign in and if you don't register for one. Just let me know that you did it in your comment.

Be a follower of my blog. You know you want to! Just indicate in your comment that you are already a follower or that you are now a new follower.

That's it! Easy peasy. I'm not asking for your first born or anything so please feel free to enter away. Please be sure that I have a way to reach you in case you are the winner. If I can't click your contest entry comment and find an e mail address via your blog or profile then please leave that along with your comment. The winner will be selected at random and will be announced here within a few days of the final deadline for entry.

Home Decor....Slowly But Surely

2012-02-02T08:30:00.000-08:00

It takes so long to get a house decorated. We got all the furniture we need it's just the details and accents that are taking a while to come together. Once you figure out what you want sometimes it's almost impossible to find it in stores and at the right price which can be really frustrating but slowly but surely we're getting there.

Vintage looking Boudoir lamps from Pier One

Finally, after 1 1/2 years of living in our house we finally got bedside lamps for our night stands. We have recess lighting so it's more decoration then anything else. I looked everywhere! First I didn't know what we wanted. Then we decided to add color to our room with the lamps but finding the right one in the right color at the right price is hard. I originally went in looking for a different lamp but found these pretty vintage looking ones at Pier One Imports for $40 bucks each. I had a $10 off coupon so that was a bonus. I had to take a picture and send it to Mj for approval and he liked them too. We could have gone bigger because our headboard is high and our nightstands are a good size but eh...I just wanted something small. These are 18" high. I plan to add a satin ribbon around the bottom rim to add color once we get some accessories in our accent color; which I think will be purple.

Bargain price ottoman found at Ross for $99

Room for everything

Mj let me keep the black Ottoman. He didn't say anything for about a day or so and then decided that he liked it. My pajamas are all nicely organized now in one place where they all fit and are convenient for me to get to. It's a nice little seating area too. We're going to find a nice piece of wall art to put over it.

We didn't get the mirror that came with our dresser. We found our own.

Can't wait until these make it onto the wall

Back in October we found a large black mirror to hang over our dresser at Marshall's for $99.00, which is great because like everything else mirrors can get pretty pricy too. I got a great deal on these matte picture frames at Michael's and framed our wedding pictures over Christmas Break. They've been sitting there waiting for hanging for a while and they will go right over our bed. Mj if you are reading this...how bout this weekend? The black rimmed full length mirror needs to go up too.

Sloan Espresso Leaning Book case. Photo Source: Crate & Barrel

Red Bamboo Vase-Photo Source: Pier One

In other rooms. Just before the holidays we bought two leaning shelves at Crate & Barrel to put on either side of our TV downstairs in the living room. I was trying to go for the less expensive Walmart version but Mj wasn't having it. At $149 each it's more then I wanted to spend on these but they are great quality and they look good. We also bought a red vase from Pier One that we filled with sticks.

Next up. We are getting the downstairs carpet and flooring replaced with hard woods. Our kitchen counter tops will be replaced with granite and we're adding back splash. We'll be getting started on those projects after we get our tax refund. And lastly, we want to do something with our master bathroom. I'm kind of itching to do it now. The flooring is builder basic vinyl (like our kitchen) which I actually don't mind so much but I hate our very hard to keep clean fiber glass shower and tub surround. It really can wait until next year though. One thing at a time. It's a work in progress but I love our house and I love how everything has been coming together. House pics coming soon.

2012 Resolutions

2012-01-31T08:37:00.000-08:00

I know most people came up with their resolutions last month or at the beginning of this month. There is exactly 1 day left in January but the new year is still fresh so I figure it's not too late to write mine. I have some non specific general things that I want to work on in life but these are the specific ones. I like to zero in on a few that are really important to me so my list is usually short and sweet. Let's see how I did on last years resolutions first.

2011 Resolutions:
1. Be active at the gym or otherwise. Success! It was really hard at first. It really sucked to be spending hours of my precious evenings working out but I stuck with it and now going to the gym and getting work outs in has become a regular part of my life. It feels good to know that I am doing something healthy for my body and staying fit. It became part of my routine and doesn't suck as much as it used to.

2. Take some classes at the community college. Success! I'm in my second semester now.

3. Continue on with learning Spanish using Rosetta Stone. Fail! I didn't even start up again at all.

4. Get in the kitchen and cook. Mixed Bag! Cooking isn't my "thing" and I don't think it ever will be so I never set out to be that person that cooks multiple times a week. The plan was to manage once or twice a week actually. I started out really good last year. I looked up recipes and got the ones I liked all organized in a folder on my laptop. When we went grocery shopping I made a point to buy the needed ingredients so that I would be prepared to cook them. When I get out of the habit of making an effort to cook it gets really hard to start back up again. It started fading away as the year went on. I got busy with trying to stay in the gym and then once I started taking classes in September that was pretty much the nail in the coffin. Then the holidays came. Things got busy. Blah, blah, blah.

Eh, not so bad. Maybe I'm not as much of a slacker as I sometimes think I am! I accomplished most of them and only had one total fail. Now for this year's resolutions.

2012 Resolutions:
1. Write a book. This is the first time I've ever verbally voiced my desire to do this or even told myself that I really would. By putting it out into the universe I am hoping that will help hold me accountable and make it feel more real and possible. I have something fiction that I've been working on for a while and it sat untouched since Sept of 2010. I started writing again and ended up with 20 pages in one sitting. I can do this. I just have to push myself. I don't care if nothing further ever comes of it but I love writing and would like to accomplish this for myself.

2. Spanish with Rosetta Stone. I started this back in 2009 while Mj was deployed to help keep me occupied. He came back, we planned a wedding, got married and bought a house. Needless to say I was otherwise engaged and then last year I dropped the ball completely. I plan to pick it up again after I finish my two classes this semester.

3. Get cooking. Mj is the main cook in our family. He enjoys it and he's way better at it then I'll ever be. I'm trying not to feel so badly that I don't do this more often...or ever as of late. We each bring different things to the table and for me cooking is just not one of them. BUT...I need to keep trying. Mj deserves to eat something every once in a while that he did not have to make himself. It always makes me feel good when I make something for him even if I know it probably would have tasted better if he had done it himself! So even thought this is not my "thing" it goes back on the list. I'm not going to specify how often, just that I need to keep it on my radar as something I need to do on a regular basis.

If I Ruled the World and 11 Things About Me

2012-01-27T08:56:00.000-08:00

Tiffany over at Knot Chocolate tagged me with a very deep question. If I ruled the world....fill in the blank with three statements. You can check out her post on this here. This is a really hard question. How could I possibly narrow it down to just three things? Then I realized I was thinking way too much. Duh, this is never going to happen and so I came up with this.

If I ruled the world.............
1. There would be no mean evil people doing mean evil things to others and hating others for things like race, sexual orientation or religion. So much energy is spent on hating people for no reason at all and I'm so tired of seeing senseless crimes and murders on the news. It is so sad that humans are capable of such cruelty and I want it stopped.   This is the modified version of total world peace. I'm trying to be somewhat realistic.

2. The standard work week would be four consecutive days instead of five. Every weekend would be a 3 day weekend. Even if it meant tacking on just one extra hour per day to the four work days out of the week to compensate a bit this would be huge for overall quality of life. Two weekend days are simply not enough to have time for yourself and relax. I'm sure everyone can agree with me on this one.

3. There would be no more terminal illness or disease (or murder based on rule #1). The only way to die is by accident, injury or old age. Period. If I could get rid of all death I would but again...being realistic here and when I think about I'm really not so sure I want to live forever anyways.

I was also tagged by another blogger Abs to state Eleven things about myself, answer Eleven questions that she came up with and come with eleven questions to ask another blogger. Whew....that's a lot of Q & A. So since I have a tendency to make up my own rules on these things I decided to post the 11 things she stated about herself and answer the questions she passed onto me. No one is getting tagged and I'm not making up new questions.   It's been going around quite a bit so I'm sure everyone has already done it right? Right?

Eleven questions and answers about me:
1. What was your favorite cartoon growing up? The only cartoons I can remember watching are The Smurf's, Scooby Dooby Doo and Inspector Gadget.

2. Do you think kids had it easier back in the day (when you were a kid) or now and why? Yes. The internet and even texting is a game changer in terms of bullying and overall mischief that kids can get themselves mixed up in. Kids seem to have gotten taller and meaner! Things weren't perfect when I was a kid but everything just seemed simpler and less complicated. I'm sure every generations says that.

3. In one sentence, what do you think makes a good mommy? A good mommy is someone who is supportive, kind and knows when to put her foot down. Just like my mom who has been the best mommy I could ever ask for.

4. Is the glass half full or half empty? If I were asked this question 5 years ago I would have said half empty but now I say half full. There are too many good things in life to only see half empty.

5. What makes you smile when you are feeling upset? Thinking about my wonderful husband, what a good thing we have going on and how much happier I am since he's been in my life.

6. What is your absolute favorite food in the world? Pizza. I wish it were something more sophisticated but it's not.

7. What was your favorite 2011 Christmas gift? My brown leather jacket from H & M. I picked it out myself but it was a gift from my husband. And my tan Uggs; also a gift from Mj. I adore them both so I can't just pick one.

8. If you were given a shopping cart and 1 minute in your local supermarket, what would you put in your cart? Tons of meat and cheese. That seems to be the most expensive thing we buy at the grocery store. I wouldn't overdo it on the fruit though. It is also expensive but spoils...and I don't know how well it freezes.

9. What is your absolute favorite dream car? I wrote a whole post about my dream cars of years past. I'd have to say my favorite dream car is the one I have now. It's a Honda Civic that I'm hoping to keep forever. I only care about what matters most and that is quality, reliability and gas mileage.

10. Are you a dreamer or a “go-getter”? I'd like to say I'm a go getter. Who wouldn't? But I'm thinking I am more of a dreamer.

11. What is your dream holiday destination and why? Europe!!! Particularly Greece. Because I've never been and I hear it's beautiful. I want to see all of those age old buildings and monuments that I've only seen on TV in person. It's the kind of place you might get to go to only once in a lifetime and I hope I get to go.

Eleven things about Abs
If you want to learn even more about her check out her blog at Nabstural.
1. I absolutely love Jesus Christ – he is my “bestest” friend
2. I am a first born and honoured by my siblings respect of my role
3. I have 2 brothers
4. I have a weakness for chips (French fries) and crisps (chips)
5. I have never had a cavity
6. If I could re-decorate every week I would be one super happy girl – I love love love it
7. I am gifted in event planning
8. I am an internet surf-aholic
9. Bargain is my second name and I can smell it from a mile away especially on the internet
10. I am a lover of Mary Kay products and have been using them for 13+ years
11. My favourite shop in the whole wide world so far is “Bed bath and beyond”

Reality TV Randoms

2012-01-25T16:12:00.000-08:00

I started watching house hunters back in 2009 when we were first starting to look for houses. I thought maybe it was a phase because I was in house hunting mode but nope. I'm still addicted. I just watched an episode about a couple looking for a house in Hendersonville, TN and got to thinking that maybe we should up move there. With a $350,000 budget you can get a large mansion like 4200 square foot 4 bedroom 3 bath move in ready home with hard wood floors throughout and sky high ceilings. Granite counter tops included. Oh, and an office. Did I mention the 1200 square foot finished basement with a wet bar? We don't ever want or need a place bigger then 2,500 square feet so just Imagine how little we would have to spend on the house of our dreams there. I love So Cal but the Sunshine tax is such a high price to pay. You can't get anything close to that here for that price. But...on the other hand when I think about the perfect weather we have here it's worth it. I guess.

There is Basketball Wives, Baseball Wives and House Wives of: Atlanta, New Jersey, New York, Orange County and Beverly Hills. Did I leave any out? Well, the other night I stumbled upon Prison Wives. Let's just say it's way different then those other shows. There is nothing glamorous about this one. Annika Powell; a single mom with three kids decides to marry Anthony who is a convicted murderer serving time in a maximum security prison. She was hooked up by the fiance of one of his cell mates. Her and her kids have moved 5 times in 3 years to follow Anthony when he gets transferred to different prisons. She's sort of like a military wife except when Anthony gets transferred it's certainly not for a new job and he never brings home a paycheck. In fact, he never comes home. Ever. And he never will because he is a lifer with no chance of parole. She survives on food stamps. Anthony has stepped in from behind the walls of prison to be a much loved step dad to her kids. She even wants Anthony to legally adopt the kids and have them change their last name to his. That would require a man who is not imprisoned, albeit a dead beat, to give up his parental rights so I can't imagine any court in the country allowing this. Annika's mom even got in on the inmate action. Anthony found a pen pal for grandma who promptly fell in love as well. When he got transferred to a different prison grandma moved out of Annika's house to move closer to him.

Photo Source and Video of Mia's mom behaving badly

I tried so hard to give up Toddler's and Tiaras. I removed it from my DVR and basically quit it for a couple seasons. There is something so wrong yet so enjoyable about watching these little girls and their moms go out to compete and kick butt in the cut throat world of pageants. The next thing I knew I was watching it again. There are kids who are so sweet and hard working in spite of their awful parents and kids who have some major behavioral issues and drive their poor parents nuts. Last Week's episode featured precious little 4 year old Mia who competed her heart out. Her music ended before she left the stage in the Beauty competition so her mom was ranting and raving that she better forget about winning and that the judges hated her when she hadn't even finished the competition. What kind of parent discourages their young child that way? Then, when she won $500 bucks and the second biggest title mom says that is nothing to her. She wanted the $10,000 prize and now her dreams and her life are ruined because Mia didn't win it. Okay...how is this pageant her life and how is her 4 year old daughter responsible for it? One mom spent $1,200 bucks on a dress and her daughter didn't even get a crown. Mia's mom says she is Russian therefore very competitive but that's no excuse. Not that this has anything to do with anything but incidentally, she is a mail order bride. She met her husband on the internet while she was still in Russia then she came out and got married. Some parents take it way too far and push their kids way too hard. I don't agree with packing on all of that make up and the concept of little girls being judged on their "facial beauty." Regardless, I remain fascinated by the show and can't stop watching. Please tell me I'm not alone.

The School Experiment

2012-01-23T12:11:00.000-08:00

I hate to say it but working full time and going to school is for the birds. I can't even imagine if I was going full time or had kids or anything else. I have so much respect for people who earn their degree as a full time working adult. My husband is working on his B.A. right now and I'm really proud of him for persevering even though it's so hard. Last semester I took 2 community college classes. One fully online and the other partially online. Some of those nights that I had to work from 8-5 then go to class from 6:30 to 9:50pm were pretty awful. I started out good but by the last class I was so over it. Online classes are no piece of cake either. You really have to watch your deadlines and you don't have to go to class but you still put in a lot of time doing the assignments and discussion boards. Trying to juggle work, the gym, house work, socializing and time to relax while fitting in class and homework is hard. I was genuinely interested in my classes. One of them was even to explore a possible new career option. I found that I actually enjoyed the challenge of learning and being tested. If I take a class I'm gunning for an A so it was frustrating to feel that I just didn't have the energy or time to put into it that I wanted to. The day I took my last final I felt so free. My time off from work became my own again and I really missed that. I was worried that my mind had turned to mush after being out of school for so long but I got A's in both classes. I'm taking two short term (hopefully easy!) 8 week courses this semester to get the 12 units I need to get my pay bump at work and then that's it. I'm officially back in school as of today. Not thrilled.

Thank goodness I got my BA done when I was still a bright eyed fresh faced unemployed/part time working 21 year old because if I had waited who knows if it would have ever happened. I'm glad I did this though. This little school experiment affirms what I kind of already knew. At this point in my life school is just not for me. If money and time were no object maybe. If I had my eye on a specific career goal that I was passionate about maybe. If someone promised me a million bucks if I get my Masters degree...big maybe! But with my current life circumstances it's just not something I want to undertake and it's good to know that for sure now instead of having to wonder.

I Never Get Sick

2012-01-19T09:33:00.000-08:00

Achoo!! Better not get too close

I never get sick, says the girl who is currently coughing up a storm, has a congested chest, runny nose and can literally feel the weight of heavy eye balls sitting inside her head. How dare my immune system let me down. I had a weird stomach bug for Christmas but aside from that I haven't had a cold since...well I can't remember but definitely not in 2011. I'm pretty sure I've had the flu at some point but that was even longer ago to even remember.

Too bad there is too much going on at work for me to stay home right now. I went to the gym anyways on Tuesday, came straight home yesterday and today I'm planning to stick with my Yoga class. Unless you are seriously ill they say that physical activity can be helpful even when you just feel like putting your head under the covers and never coming out. I have some NyQuil gel tabs to help me sleep at night. I've also been drinking Emergen-C vitamin Drink Mix. A co worker gave me a couple packets and I figured why not? It's fruity and actually doesn't taste too bad. I might be too far gone for it help but I could use the vitamins so it can't hurt.

My usual swipes of blush and powder did not make it to my face this morning. Feeling sick is my excuse to look like crap. That's also my excuse for being a little bit late this morning and eating Nutter Butters for breakfast. Anyhow, the plan is to feel better by Saturday so I can enjoy my weekend.

How to Get a Runway Body

2012-01-16T16:55:00.000-08:00

Candice Swanepoel and Erin Heatherton tell us how it's done

Caution: Watching this video might turn you into a supermodel. If only it were that easy right? I don't doubt that these ladies work out to stay fit, toned and runway ready but I'm also pretty sure that most of what they got is the result of hitting the gene pool jackpot. We all know that Victoria's Secret models are well done genetic aberrations who's likeness cannot be duplicated with mere boxing, Zumba or jump rope sessions. No workout regime on the planet can stretch a body to 5'10", reformulate metabolism and totally rearrange the placement and dimensions of waist to hip ratio. They can't exactly stand up there and admit that they are simply born that way. I do agree with what they said at the end. "If your body feels good you look good."

Source: Victoriassecret.com

Victoria's Secret has a new line of workout wear. VSX Sexy Sport. They've got everything right down to a very sexy water bottle and yoga mat. Such cute stuff. I might have to get some...after it hits clearance. I'm well aware that it won't magically turn me into a Victoria's Secret Angel but it'll make me feel good to look cute at the gym.

I Work Out

2012-01-11T21:47:00.000-08:00

Over the last year I've been an elliptical junkie but I don't want to burn myself out. I have started to add in the treadmill and I seriously need to venture over to those machines to work on muscle building. I want to work out at home more too so I ordered some new exercise videos to add to my collection and mix things up a little. I love ballet and my goals are to increase my flexibility and tone so I got a bunch of ballet inspired and yoga workouts. I actually already had Time Saver Cardio and Balletone in VHS which was almost like not having them at all. Who has the patience for VHS tapes? Or a VCR for that matter! Time Saver Cardio is so old school that it was only .50 cents and the shipping cost was more then the actual DVD! Over this month I've got a package of classes I need to use up so I might not get to these right away but I'm looking forward to trying them out. A good source for exercise videos is Collage Video. They have tons to choose from. There are lots reviews, sample clips and a detailed breakdown of every workout. I ended up buying these on Amazon.com though because some were cheaper there.

Kathy Smith Time Saver Cardio

Balletone: The Dancers Work Out for Everybody
Xtend Barre: Lean & Chiseled with Andrea Rogers
Tracey Mallett-The Booty Barre-Total New Body

Element: Ballet Conditioning with Elise Gulan

Jillian Michaels: Yoga Meltdown

Power Yoga - Total Body Workout with Rodney Yee
Elle Make Better Series: Elle Workout Yoga with Brooklyn Decker (not pictured)

I've been watching TV during my elliptical work outs for a while now. It's been a lifesaver keeping me entertained especially during the hour long sessions which sometimes feel like forever. I'm usually lucky enough to get a machine with a TV attached but last night I didn't so thank goodness I updated my i Tunes. My music was so stale. It wasn't motivating me and I didn't even want to listen to it anymore. I created one play list using the new ones and mixed in some songs that I already had. Now my workout mix has 93 songs and they are all in one place so I can frantically navigate to that one song I need to get me through those last 5 minutes when I feel like I'm gonna die. If anyone needs any ideas here they are. Some of them might not be the newest....but again it's been a long time since I bought anything.

Give Me Everything (Tonight), Pitbull Ft. Ne-Yo, Afrojack & Nayer

Stereo Hearts (feat. Adam Levine), Gym Class Heroes

Without You (feat. Usher), David Guetta & Usher

We Found Love (feat. Calvin Harris) [Calvin Harris Extended Mix], Rihanna

The Edge of Glory, Lady GaGa

Firework, Katy Perry
California Gurls (feat. Snoop Dogg), Katy Perry
Dynamite, Taio Cruz

Raise Your Glass, P!nk

Stereo Love, Edward Maya & Vika Jigulina

Fly, Nicki Minaj & Rihanna

Here is my exercise summary for the last two weeks. No, I don't count my house cleaning as a workout but if I'm going to spend 2 hours slaving away you can bet I'm giving myself credit for calories burned. Last year I started out slow committing to just 2 days a week for a minimum of 30 minutes after not working out for over a year. I figured doing something is better then doing nothing at all. I didn't want to push it and it worked. I've stuck with it and now exercise actually feels like part of my life again like it used to. Having the time and energy to exercise during Christmas Break reminded me of how much I actually enjoy it. It's hard fitting it in but once I just accepted the fact that going to the gym on a weekday often means barely having time to come home and eat and fall exhausted into bed it was all good. Last year working out was a NYE resolution and this year it's a lifestyle.

Mj lost 3.5 pounds after the first week of his Beach Body Challenge. He's following his meal plan and work out plan and is off to a great start.

Do you have any new workout plans or fitness goals for the new year?

Monday Dec 26- Sunday Jan 1:
Worked out every day except Tuesday and Friday

Exercise Summary		Calories
Yoga	45 Min	110
Elliptical 280	30 Min	280
Yoga	1 Hour	220
Situps	5 Min	11
Elliptical	1 Hour	520
Stretching	10 Min	40
House Cleaning	2 Hours	214
Elliptical	30 Min	290
P90X2 Stretch & Recovery	55 Min	195
Elliptical	1 Hour	550
Total	2431

Monday Jan 2- Sunday Jan 8:
Worked out every day except Monday and Sunday

Exercise Summary		Calories
Pilates	50 Min	130
Situps	10 Min	44
Mix Technique Class: Yoga, Pilates, Ballet, Cardio	1 Hour	330
Walking	30 Min	175
Elliptical	30 Min	250
Elliptical	30 Min	260
P90X2 Yoga	1 Hour 5 Min	190
Yoga	1 Hour	220
Total	1599

Shopping Around

2012-01-09T20:33:00.000-08:00

Celebrity Pink Skinny Jeans at Macy's

I hate it when I want something specific. I'm very impatient once I've made up my mind that I want [insert anything new here] and inevitably I can never find it. Once it's in my head I am basically tormented by it so I pretty much don't give up until I find it. I'm on a mission. This time I wanted Beige skinny jeans, I didn't want to pay a lot for them and I wanted 'em now. I walked into store after store at the mall until I finally found these Celebrity Pink Jeans at Macy's. The color is darker then I originally wanted but I was desperate. Just one problem. That darn mannequin girl was wearing the only pair in my size. She's not going anywhere; surely she can wear something else so I ask the sales lady if she can get the mannequin to take off those pants. She had to call someone else for help because miss mannequin wasn't giving them up easily and the pant removal actually required tools. I felt like a whiny high maintenance customer asking but I really wanted them. I distinctly remember colored denim being in a loooong time ago when I was in high school. They were mom jeans compared to the low slung version of today but I had white, black, beige, hunter green and plum. They disappeared for a while but like everything else in fashion their baaaaack.

The next day I stopped at Ross looking for some new work out clothes. I haven't bought new ones in about 10 years. I've basically been working out in rags (not really). Since this whole 'working out again' thing seems to be sticking it was time to update my gear. I found some cute tops and bottoms then poked around in the Juniors section and what else do I find? Celebrity Pink Skinny jeans for $18.99. Not only was the price $11 cheaper then at Macy's but the color was the lighter Tan I originally wanted. Little Miss mannequin at Macy's can have her jeans back. Sometimes I overlook Ross because it can be very disorganized and a pain in the butt to shop but this time they had exactly what I wanted.

I love it he doesn't. What now?

I poked around in housewares and found a black rimmed full length wall mirror ($14.99) and the black storage ottoman that has been haunting me for about a year. I am so excited! Most of the ones I've been finding are about $250 and this one is only $99. I have tons of pajamas and instead of storing them awkwardly under the bed in a bin that doesn't quite fit I can put them in here where I can get to them easily AND we can sit on it. Later that night Mj says, "Will you be upset if I don't like it?" Uh, heck yes I'll be upset. I've been looking for this thing for over a year!! To top it off he says he isn't even sure why he doesn't like it; which clearly isn't a good enough explanation for me. I tell him he better "splain himself" and he says he thinks it's too big. Sigh. I think it fits in nicely in our bedroom. I'm hoping it will grow on him because I love it, I need it and like everything else I wanted it yesterday and don't want to keep shopping around for it.

What I did on My Christmas Staycation

2012-01-02T19:00:00.000-08:00

Driving with the sun roof open

I had no grand ideas about what I wanted to accomplish on my Christmas Break aside from relaxing. Thirteen days is a nice long time to be home and off work. It can easily be ruined with over scheduling so I wasn't about to do that. I spent time with my family a couple days before and on Christmas and then after that I did whatever I felt like doing. During the hectic work week I forget that I even have a sun roof but when the sun is shining and I'm in a happy go lucky mood the sun roof is open, the radio is loud and the wind is in my hair. That basically sums up my Christmas Break.

Ready for Yoga. My mom got me this top for Christmas.

I felt so much more energetic without work sucking me dry every day. I stayed up later and slept in later but when I woke up I was ready to go. I finally had time to visit my friend and see her new baby girl. I got to to go my hair appointment on a Wednesday afternoon instead of dragging myself in after work and practically falling asleep under the dryer. The gym is something I really looked forward to and was not just an obligation to try to squeeze in before or after work. I went almost every day. The class times usually don't work for me but I made it to three yoga classes. I loved starting my days this way. It reminded me that I actually do enjoy exercising. It felt so good to have the time and the energy to enjoy it and not just endure it.

I usually get 3 flavors. This one is Cafe Late, Cake Batter and Peanut Butter. YUM.

On the couch in my comfy blue robe

I spent plenty of time in my robe on the couch watching my shows. My DVR is all but cleared out. I watched Toddlers & Tiaras while eating my Golden Spoon Yogurt; my favorite. It's not my first time eating that Yogurt or watching that show but doing so on a Thursday afternoon after a great morning work out and knowing that I could do the same exact thing the next day if I wanted to made it better then ever. When Mj came home from work I energetically greeted him at the door. We got in some nice cuddle time on the couch together watching TV and movies before bed. Instead of being dead tired by 9pm like usual I was still wide awake. He actually went to bed before me most nights instead of the other way around.

Mj eating lunch

I got a veggie and Chicken Bowl and he got a Jalapeno and Quinoa wrap

I got to meet my handsome husband for his lunch break. We went to Crazy Bowls & Wraps. It was a cool sunny day so we ate outside. He had to go back to work but I got to go shopping.

Christmas Presents!! My new leather jacket and top

I saw a brown leather jacket from H & M that I liked in my Marie Claire magazine. I figured the chances of it actually being there after Christmas was slim to none but since I didn't like the one I got for Christmas I decided to give it a shot. I walked in and there it was waiting for me. It wasn't the one in the magazine but I actually liked this one even better. It was in my size and it was 50% off of $199. The other jacket I got was more expensive. I saved hubby so much money on the deal that I knew he wouldn't mind throwing in an extra top. "Mj, wanna see the leather jacket you bought me?"

SDSU vs Redlands

We went to a College Basketball game. My first. Mj and his friends have season tickets and usually go with each other but this time I got to be his date and we took the trolley.

I didn't sit around on my couch the WHOLE time. I got our washer/dryer maintenance done. I cleaned house and did laundry. We spent what felt like hours grocery shopping. But even household chores and errands are better when you are on a staycation. I didn't have to worry about when I'd have time to do them and I wasn't annoyed that it took up hours of my precious weekend time. Life is so much sweeter when you have the time and energy to actually live it. Some days it was just the gym and some errands. Other days I actually had plans. But on all days my time was 100% my own. I did what I wanted, when I wanted and I enjoyed every wonderful day.

Good thing I don't hate my job because going back is inevitable and I'll be there tomorrow bright and early. Time to get back to the daily grind but I've had an amazing break and it's great to go into the New Year feeling refreshed and relaxed.

Low Key New Year's Eve

2012-01-01T19:44:00.000-08:00

If I told you that for New Year's Eve I ate fast food and donuts and drank champagne straight from the bottle you might think; how sad. It actually is kind of a borderline pathetic New Year's Eve but we're OK with that. I made dinner reservations one day but then decided to cancel them the next. I checked Yelp and the only good review it got were for those who went to happy hour. Everyone else said the place was overpriced, had really bad service and the food was just OK. Guess I should have read the reviews before 5:00 pm on New Year's Eve. It was too late to get reservations anywhere else and I wasn't really feeling Applebee's or On The Border.

I haven't had Taco Bell in a long time so we made a fast food run. I love their soft tacos. I had a craving for a Cinnamon roll so that was desert. Healthy I know, but I'll work it off in the New Year. In fact, it's one of my resolutions. Can you believe McD's had the nerve to be closed at 8:30 pm? Mj was one some kind of feeding frenzy before he starts his diet and exercise regime and wanted it for a 2nd time that day! He had to settle for his left over KFC. It was just the two of us so I said why bother with a glass? Let's live on the edge and drink straight from the bottle. So maybe I'm at home in my pj's watching a NYE countdown show but that's what makes it so edgy. Right? That's what I told myself anyways and Mj just thought I was crazy.

We spent a quiet low key night watching Friends With Benefits and then Dick Clark's New Year's Eve countdown with Ryan Seacrest cuddled up in the corner of our sectional. If I had done this alone or with anyone else I probably would have considered it a pretty crappy New Year's Eve but since I was with Mj it was just fine with me. We have fun together no matter what we do or where we go. I wasn't out freezing somewhere in the middle of a crowd or spending too much money and I still got my midnight kiss. I do resolve that next year we will definitely do something for NYE. Anything at all would be a step up!

Happy New Year everyone!

Christmas Time

2011-12-28T20:33:00.000-08:00

New Uggs!!

P90X2

I'm never sick! So imagine my surprise when I contract some kind of stomach bug just in time for Christmas. It started on Christmas Eve. I ignored it of course because I never get sick. I figured it would be gone when I woke up in the morning. No such luck. I refused to let it spoil the holiday and still enjoyed Christmas with my family. Mj and I exchanged gifts here at home before we left. He totally surprised me with Uggs. He doesn't find them that cute but he knows I do. I also got a brown leather jacket that I picked out. I didn't like it as much as I did online so it will be going back and I'll have to find another one for him to get me. I got him jammie pants, P90X2, Shakeology and a blender to go with it. He asked for the gift of exercise and I gave it to him.

Sisters


A present for the baby

We all met up at mom and dad's house where we spent the entire day. My mom cooked and Mj made his homemade bread and some gravy. I basically choked down a delicious dinner in between being wracked by stomach pains. The one plus side to the stomach bug was that half the time the thought of food was unappetizing so I didn't even want to pig out. Which is unusual for me this time of year. My mom and little sister spent all of Christmas Eve baking so there were plenty of cookies to choose from for dessert...and Ice Cream...and Apple Pie. I could only stomach one cookie and a bit of ice cream. After dessert we did our family gift exchange. My dad had me and got me some cute bright fashion scarfs and some trouser socks that were on my list. Mom got us all a few things because she can't help herself. It was a very Merry Christmas.

Mom and sis handing out gifts

Mj and I

Big sis and her family

The whole family together

The day after Christmas I went to the gym. I have no idea how I made it through that hour long work out because the rest of the day was spent fighting that stomach pain which came almost like clockwork every 10-20 minutes. It really makes you appreciate your health when you feel like total crap. Yesterday Mj took an extra day off because I asked him to in my sad sick voice. I was feeling well enough to visit my friend Eb. I finally had time to see her and her new baby girl. Today I had a great pain free work out at the gym and then got my hair did. It was a beautiful sunny 77 degrees today but do you think that stopped me from wearing my new Uggs? Nope. I wore a tank top to balance them out. I'm still really enjoying my time off from work and basically don't ever want it to end.

Sister Time

2011-12-28T15:43:00.000-08:00

Little sis

Big sis Dani and my nephew

Dani picked out this robe and Tia gave it to her for X mas.

I had a great time with my sisters. Last Tuesday I picked up Tia from the airport and she spent the night at my house. On Wednesday we spent the day with our older sister up where she lives. We went out to Mimi's Cafe for lunch first. I had a delicious Cobb salad which was a welcome break from all of the pure junk I've been eating. Then it was time for the mall. We all finished up our Christmas shopping then went back to the house and hung out. Later that night we went to a late showing of Breaking Dawn Part 1. I'm not sure who's idea it was to wear our pajamas but a 10:25 pm showing is pretty late so it seemed like a perfectly reasonable idea. The movie was so good that I got my ~~2nd~~ 3rd wind and perked up enough to enjoy it. Can't wait for part 2. As soon as we got home we went straight to bed.

Dressed for the movies...sort of


The Theater was deserted. Glad we didn't bother getting dressed!

waiting for the movie to start

I'm the middle child

The next morning we woke up and went to mom and dad's house. We hung out there and mom made hamburgers for dinner. I'm so glad that I was off of work and got to enjoy this time with them. I really love spending time with my sisters. Too bad it doesn't happen often enough but I certainly cherish it when it does.

Decorated the Tree and I'm Free

2011-12-20T20:46:00.000-08:00

It basically looks the same as last year and I love it!!

After two weeks of being too tired and busy to do it we FINALLY decorated our tree on Saturday. It's funny that it took us two weeks to get around to it but it only took about 20 minutes once we finally did it. I even got some presents wrapped to put under the tree. I don't do a whole lot for Christmas which is nice because there is no stress. People ask me if I'm "ready" for Christmas like it's some sort of competition or an exam, but there really isn't much to be done. Our family exchanges names so I have my family gift to buy and something for the husband. Done and done. I also get something for my little nephew. I haven't done that yet but there is plenty of time. I'm such a holiday slacker. I don't even bake. My husband is actually in the kitchen making these delightful sugar cookies and Turkey soup with our left over Turkey Carcass from Thanksgiving. The cookies are German. Don't even bother trying to pronounce it; I can't. I need more sugar like I need a hole in my head but they sure are tasty. It definitely looks AND smells like Christmas in here.

Spritz spezialitaten Cookies

At my job we don't do the whole holiday party thing but they still make us feel appreciated. Last Thursday there was a holiday reception for the whole district with some really good food. Our holiday gift this year was an awesome canvas black fold up outdoor chair. The kind that folds up into a little bag and has a cup holder in it. Our boss gave each of us a gift too. Today was our department holiday luncheon at the Prado in Balboa Park. We had a little banquet room all to ourselves and the food was really good.

I'm picking up my younger sister who is coming in from San Francisco tonight. Tomorrow we will spend the day and night up at my older sister's house. I'm so looking forward to spending time with them. We are going to do fun stuff that sisters do like shop, eat, talk, hang out and watch teen vampire movies. Yep, we're finally going to go see Breaking Dawn. Tomorrow also marks the official start of my holiday vacation. I don't go back to work until Jan 3rd. For the next 13 days I will be a Lady of Leisure. My job totally shuts down for the holidays and we don't even have to use vacation time. My time will be all my own to do with whatever I please. I've felt so tired and ragged like I always do towards the end of a long year so I really, really REALLY need this right about now. I am free!! And it feels great.

Beachbody Challenge

2011-12-19T14:55:00.000-08:00

I have a sugar addiction. There...I said it!!! Normally, it's not that big of a deal but during the holidays when there is chocolate, cookies, and cake every where I turn at work then at home it becomes a major issue because it's very hard for me to just say no. Anyways, I've decided that enough is enough! One of my goals for 2011 was to get back to the gym on a regular basis. I committed to working out at least twice a week and I have done that for an entire year year now. I've decided to change things up and do my own personal challenge. It's basically just committing to 60 days of a healthy diet and regular exercise plan. Calling it a "challenge" is just a really good way to keep myself accountable and make a conscious effort to do it and stick with it. I'm going to shoot for working out a minimum of 30 minutes per day 5 days per week. I don't need to lose weight. I really want to diversify my work outs and focus less on just burning calories and work more on building muscle tone and flexibility. Mj is doing a 90 day Beach Body Challenge so we can help motivate each other. I seriously don't think I have the internal willpower to do P90X2 or Insanity. I'm just not that hard core! Call me a wimp but I think those are just too hard and not really my style anyways. I'm probably going to do Slim in 6, Yoga Booty Ballet and/or some other combo of exercise videos. The more the merrier I'd say so that I don't get bored. My sister Dani's thing is Turbo Fire and she does that one almost daily and has lost most of her baby weight doing that alone. She burns about 600 calories per work out. I will probably still mix the gym in too; which is usually Elliptical but I think being able to work out at home will make it easier to stick with working out.

I don't have a specific diet plan. I mainly just want to focus on eating lots of fruits, vegetables and nutrient dense foods. I pretty much suck at doing this! I don't think I'll totally eliminate sweets from my diet but it needs to be in moderation and not a multiple times daily habit like it's been over the last month or so. I love the idea that Shakeology takes the guess work out of what to eat and gives you a full serving of all the vitamins and nutrients that you need for an entire day in one drink! That is huge because on a day to day basis that's really hard to do. I don't really like shakes so I don't think it will work for me. My sister loves them though and says the chocolate is pretty delicious.

P90X2 is here!! Source: Beachbody.com

Now if you want to do the Beach Body Challenge the commit to get fit plan Step 1 is pretty basic. Commit to at least 60 or 90 days of an exercise plan and a healthy diet that may or may not include Shakeology. Sign up for the free Team Beachbody membership here. Enter the Team Beach Body Challenge here and then log into the Wowy Super Gym Daily Sweepstakes here to schedule and log work outs. Every day that you log a work out you are entered into a contest for that day to win $500. If you want to go big and are interested in being eligible for Monthly, Quarterly and Grand Prizes ranging from $1,000 to $100,000 you must do Step 1 to sign up and then Step 2 where you enter transformation results along with before, after pictures, stats and a series of other questions by March 31st. If you go this route you will be asked specifically which Beach Body training program you used and you are eligible for bonus prizes if you use Shakeology. At the very minimum you will get a Free T-Shirt for doing it. You will also be part of the $500 daily prize contest for logging your work outs. So, if you are serious about doing the full on Beach Body Challenge you should get started ASAP...or as soon as Christmas is over!! The link to the Beach Body Challenge FAQ section is here.

If anyone is interested in any part of this my sister Dani is a Beachbody coach. Her screen name is DANILUVFIT and as a coach she receives a credit for new team members and purchases. She can answer any questions about exercise videos, Shakeology, how to get signed up and what you can do for the challenge. This is her Team Beachbody link (if that video pops up you have to double click just above it in the middle to get rid of it). Here, you can also shop for Shakeology or Beach Body exercise videos. P90X 2 just got released about a week ago.

There is no gimmick here. You will not get results unless you put in the time and effort. Being fit and healthy has and always will be about a healthy diet and exercise. The Beach Body Challenge just gives you tools, rewards and a framework to get you into that mind set and help keep you motivated.

Slim in 6

Yoga Booty Ballet

Turbo Fire with Chalene Johnson

P90X vs P90X2

Jam Packed Weekend

2011-12-13T17:00:00.000-08:00

Last weekend was jam packed. Where do I begin...Ok Friday night. My friend Fe was a bridesmaid in my wedding and I haven't seen her since. She lives out of state but was in town for work and I was so excited to get a chance to see her. We met up for happy hour and got into some great conversations about life, love and work. Just what a girl needs every now and then. She hasn't seen our house yet so she stopped by. It was really good to see her.

Our party bus for the night

Saturday night was Mj's company holiday party which I very much look forward to every year. It's a chance to dress up, eat, drink and be merry on the company dime. The party was at Loew's Coronado Bay and Resort. Their rooms average about $380 per night so yeah...we didn't stay there. The four of us took a ~~cab~~ bus there from our hotel which was also pretty nice. We had a good time. The food was delicious. They had a Macaroni & Cheese Martini Bar station. Need I say more? Band's are nice for ambiance but overall I think they're pretty lame for dancing so I didn't do too much of that. We left around 9pm once it became clear that we would not be winning any raffle prizes and went downtown where we finally got the chance to get our groove on. We found a club with a good DJ and a wide open dance floor and basically danced all night long. We had a blast. I won't go into the gory details but I definitely drank too much. When will I learn that I cannot drink nearly as much as I seem to think I can? I have no idea what time we made it back to the hotel but I think it was pretty late.

Me and my mac and cheese martini

Dancing the night away

Sunday morning we met Laura and Rob for breakfast then Mj and I went to the Bills v Chargers game. We had great seats but it's still so hard to find the ball while watching a live game. Luckily the sun was facing us so that kept me warm through most of it. It was fun watching the Charger girls. The home team won; Mj wasn't too happy about that. I was pretty tired by then so I was really glad to finally get back home. Not so glad to have to take a test for school but at least I got it over with. One down and one more to go.

Chargers V Bills

It went against every fiber of my being to go out on a Monday night after work. It was cold and rainy and I'd already had a full weekend and a very long day. Mj's friend's cousin was doing stand up so we met up at a nearby burger joint then went out to comedy night with his friends. I forgot how vulgar and nasty comedy can be but it was fun and funny. Tonight there are no plans unless you count the gym. The weekend was exhausting...but fun! I'm a homebody so a lot of times I just want to stay home but I think it's good for me to get pushed out the door and pushed past my limits every now and then. Life is meant to be lived....even if I often don't feel I actually have time to live it! But we sure made time this weekend. I hate to say it but we still haven't decorated our poor little Christmas Tree. Hanging head in shame.

Thursday Thoughts

2011-12-08T08:15:00.000-08:00

It's funny how you could have never heard of something your entire life and then once you do you keep hearing about it. I'd never heard of punkin chunkin before in my life until I watched a Modern Family episode where Cam had this far fetched story about chunkin a punkin in a sling across an entire football field and they chunked a punkin at the end in an attempt to see if he was fibbing or actually telling the truth. Then over Thanksgiving break I happened to see the Punkin Chunkin World Championships competition on TV. Ironically enough, this occurs in Mj's home state of Delaware and is a big thing there. Then, I discover a new blogger and she lives guess where? Delaware. And she actually went to guess what? The Punkin Chunkin' World Championships to watch. It seems that you don't know of something until the universe decides you are supposed to and then once you do it sort of pops up all over the place. Never heard of it either? Well, they have a website of course; Punkinchunkin.com.

As if Basketball Wives weren't enough we now have the pleasure of Baseball Wives in Arizona. This show is really reaching here. Most of them aren't even actually wives and most of the who are actually wives are married to retired players. They'll show a "wife" and the illustrious caption of Married to So and So Retired flashes across the screen. Or even worse, Ex Wife of So and So (Tampa Bay). If you are really at the bottom of the barrel it says Dated so and so (Denver). Okay. I better shut up though; because at least it gets me through my Elliptical work outs.

Is anyone else a regular unwitting participant in class action lawsuits? I had a string of class action settlement pay days last year and a few this year too. I can't even count how many class action e mails and letters I've received advising me of my rights to opt out or in or whatever else. Most of the time the lawsuits are against companies I've actually heard of but a couple weeks ago I got an $18.00 check out of the blue for a lawsuit about something I've never even heard of. It's funny how they find me too. They had my new address but not not my new last name. It's kinda nice to receive a $20 check here or a $30 check there every now and then out of the blue. It's just odd.

Decorate Me

OK...so we got the tree last Saturday. It smells like Christmas but it doesn't look like it quite yet. We have TWO neighbors with lit up Christmas carousels in their front yards (I know....random). We also have a blow up Santa and Reindeer across the street and we have yet to decorate our tree. This is a going to be a jam packed weekend but mark my words it will be decorated by the time the weekend is out.

Me Time

2011-12-05T10:24:00.000-08:00

The minute I walk in I can already feel myself relaxing. The dim lighting and the melodic soothing music lull me into a feeling of calm and a general sense of well being. I change into my white robe and step out into the lobby where I pour myself a cup of refreshing lemon water and help myself to a granola bar from the snack basket. The smell of jasmine fills my nostrils as I sit there and read a magazine. Can you guess where I am? Oh yes...the spa. I love facials. It's not full body like a massage but they get your shoulders, neck and arms and it makes your skin feel so good. My skin felt nice and tingly for the rest of the day. The pedicure was nice too. I got a sparkly bright red color so I'm all ready for the holiday party on Saturday. You can't do housework after being pampered like that so I came home and relaxed. Well, mostly. I did some homework too. The cleaning and the laundry can wait until the next weekend.

I'll spend money on something tangible like clothes but rarely do I spend money on spa treatments. I have my husband to thank for sending me off to the spa this time and most of the times before this. If I could I would do it every month but it's nice just to be able to do it at all every now and then. Life feels so rushed and exhausting sometimes that it's refreshing to slow down and totally focus on yourself in just one moment without having to think about the next. I had 2 1/2 hours where the only thing I needed to do was relax, feel good and let myself be pampered. When I think about it, I can't really put a price tag on that.

Thanksgiving at Our House

2011-11-27T16:57:00.000-08:00

Mj and his very first Turkey

Can I really say that I hosted Thanksgiving if I didn't cook a single thing? Well, it was my house and I did do a lot of dishes and cleaning up so maybe that counts? Everyone knows that my husband is the chef in our house so I don't think anyone was surprised that he did the whole shebang on his own. It's also no surprise that it was his idea that we host in the first place. Now that we have a house he just couldn't wait to do it for the first time. I had no doubts that we he could pull it off. His dad is in town so he was off Wednesday. By the time I got home from work and the gym he'd done most of the cooking with a few things left over in addition to the Turkey left for the day of.

Yummy Thanksgiving Day Buffet

Me and my nephew

We had 7 people over, so a total of 9. There was so much food!! My mom brought some appetizers, potato salad, asparagus, macaroni and cheese and sweet potato pie. My sister brought deviled eggs and greens. Mj made everything from scratch including the cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, bread, sweet potatoes, lemon cake, cinnamon swirl cake and then of course the turkey. And I, along with everyone else gobbled it all up. Dinner was hot and ready by 5pm. Way different then the debacle that was last year's Thanksgiving.

My sister and I in the middle of a dance battle

I didn't think I overdid it...until dessert. The cinnamon cake was delicious. By the time I finished it off with ice cream I was stuffed!! Then, we all had fun with Dance Central 2 on X Box Kinect. Everybody tried it at least once. I was so full that I could barely move by this time so I'll blame my total lack of coordination with the dance moves on that.

I really enjoyed spending time with family. It was a great Thanksgiving and now we have tons and tons of leftovers. I don't know how we will ever eat it all! Our refrigerator is packed to the brim and that means no cooking for either one of us for a while.

40 Years

2011-11-23T08:58:00.000-08:00

Me and the rents on my wedding day

I don't know the origins of it but there are designated traditional wedding gifts for every anniversary year from 1-75. I don't think I'll live long enough to be with my husband for 75 years but if by some miracle I did, then I know that our gift to each other that year is supposed to be diamonds. Year 3 is leather, year 6 is candy, year 15 is crystal and year 30 is pearls. According to the list year 40 is a Ruby. My parents just celebrated their 40th anniversary and a month ago my mom was thisclose to giving my dad a kidney. Now that is off the charts awesome in terms of a gift right? An organ from your very own body is way more precious then diamonds. It is the ultimate gift of life and health. My mom was a match and right in the middle of the testing process. It turns out she didn't have to donate but she was willing and ready to do it.

On October 24th they got the call. My mom picked up the phone and the lady said, "Does your husband still want a kidney?" My mom said, "YES." A donor kidney had finally became available and by 7:00am they were at the hospital and my dad was getting tested and prepped for transplant surgery. It took longer then we thought it would; about 5 hours. My dad pulled through with flying colors. He was in ICU for a day then got moved to his regular room. Just one week after surgery he got to go home. The doctors said the kidney was "lazy." My dad was really disappointed to still have to do dialysis even after the long awaited healthy kidney but we hoped that it would start doing it's job very soon and it did. On November 9th he was taken off of dialysis. No more would he have to spent 4 hours a day 3 days a week hooked up to a machine to do what his kidneys no longer would. He actually has three kidneys now. Turns out they actually leave the non working ones in and just add the new one.

Now there are doctors appointments several days a week and a stock pile of pills that need to be taken in addition to his insulin. My mom took off work and has been right there by his side taking care of him and helping him manage just as she has been through this entire process. Just as she has been for the last 40 years. In sickness and in health, through good times and bad. I can't count how many times I shook my head in anger over things that were going on in that relationship but my mom's love for him has never wavered; and despite actions that may speak to the contrary neither has his for her. My mom is as forgiving as she is generous and my dad is as loveable as he is stubborn. When you love someone like that you will do anything to save their life. You are selfless if a little selfish because not only will you do what it takes to make sure that person is okay but you also can't bear to imagine a world in which they do not exist and want to keep them with you. My dad feels healthier and more energetic then he has in a long while. He needs to keep up the exercise and eating right. This is a new lease on life and he need not waste it. Not only for himself but for the people who love him. I don't like to think of my parents getting older. For my whole life they've just always been there and that's how I want it to stay. I'd like to think that they will be here forever. Just as I'd like to think that my husband and my sisters and anybody else I care about will be too.

Forty years with Mj. I'm all signed up...I just don't want it to fly by too fast. The 40 year anniversary traditional gift is Ruby, the modern day gift is a Garnet and if he needed an organ I would give it to him. What will we look like in 40 years? What kind of twists and turns will our relationship have taken? How many date nights, weekend getaways and movie nights will there have been? How many disagreements? Life is just so precious. And so is love. We are not promised tomorrow so while we are here we need to be thankful for what we have, live and love as hard as we can, while we still can.

20 + 10 Birthday Party

2011-11-21T10:08:00.000-08:00

All dressed up and ready to go

Me and the beautiful Birthday Girl

Another good friend of mine entered the 30 something club. Her Birthday is actually Thanksgiving Day but she had her party on Saturday night. Instead of going out she invited all her friends to her parents house and we all celebrated with her. Months ago Mj planned to attend a college football game with his friends. Then, I find out that this party is on the same night. Oh no!! He made a half hearted attempt to keep his original plans but when it came down to it he knew how sad his wife would be if she had to go without her main squeeze so those plans basically fell apart and I got to have him for my date. It was a really fun party. There were plenty of alcoholic beverages to choose from, good music, good food and a delicious Red Velvet cake. She hired a guy to make street tacos and they were to die for. Let's just say I ate way too many to mention here without total embarrassment and shame.

Me and Mj

You can either be sad about turning 30 or you can get over it and just celebrate and that's what she did. Which got me wondering what I did for my 30th and I actually can't really remember. I don't think I did much of anything at all and I vaguely remember being kind of bummed out. Hind sight is 20/20. If I knew then what I know now then I wouldn't have been sad about the Big 3-0 at all. My 20's kinda sucked and the 30's have been way better then I ever expected. Like me, Bianca has spent her 20's dealing with some relationship challenges and I hope she finds her Mr. Right in her 30's like I did.

Friday Randoms

2011-11-18T09:06:00.000-08:00

On the way to work one day I saw a guy brushing his teeth in his car. I was really curious about where he would spit so I kept checking him out in my rear view. He opened the door, spit in the street, checked his teeth in the mirror and then did a little bit more brushing. I also saw a girl putting on make up in her car. I put on my juicy tube lip gloss every day in the car on my way to work and I've done a few touch ups in the past but she did the whole nine yards. Sitting there in traffic on the freeway I watched her put on foundation, blush, eye shadow, mascara and then whip out a brush and start brushing her hair. Very entertaining.

I saw a guy at the gym wearing flip flops. I've never been able to figure that one out. What kind of work out are you planning to do in flip flops? And if you drop a weight on your foot you are in big trouble. I think it should be a rule that you can't wear flip flops...or a tweed suit. Yep. I saw a guy in a tweed suit on the exercise bike. He even had a hat on. You know those cool ones with the brim? And while I'm at it why would anyone want to work out in denim?

I've been getting unsolicited junk mail at work. That's weird in and of itself because I don't use this address for anything but even weirder is that it's from Camel. The cigarettes. I love coupons and if I smoked these would be awesome but considering I've never even thought about smoking, getting them at work is just annoying and offensive.

Have you seen the new Splenda Essentials adds? It's Splenda with added Vitamin B, Anti-Oxidants and Fiber. I use Splenda and plenty of it because I need flavor in my coffee and am not willing to take in the calories of "real" sugar even though I have read all kinds of warnings that it could be hazardous to my health. I'll gladly take the Vitamins, it just strikes me as strange to put Vitamins in a food product that has no nutritional value and could actually hurt your health. It's like putting Calcium in Donuts. Hey, I wish they would!! Then, I could feel better about eating them.

We had five people over to our house to hang out and watch a pay per view fight over the weekend. All five of them had i phones and you know we got 'em too. The i Phone is pretty catching.


I LOVE the idea long sleeved dresses because I'm always cold

I've been a bit of a shopaholic lately. I purchased 4 pairs of boots since last month! The last two are Audrey Brooke here and BCBG here from DSW. Are DSW and Aldo gonna pay my bills? No. So why do I keep giving them my money? I also have bought 2 sweaters and a bunch of long sleeved shirts for Fall. I'm done! I swear. At least I thought I was until a fellow blogger Natalie turned me onto this gem of a website. Thanks Natalie!! My original intention was to strike it from the record book and pretend I'd never seen it but instead here I am posting about it and saving the link on my very own blog. Francesca's Collections has the kind of pieces I've been looking for and can't seem to find in the stores and they even put together outfits for you and set it up so you can easily buy every piece in the outfit to complete your look. It's perfect for a style challenged person like me. Just look at that adorable dress; speaking of which I have hardly any dresses. The prices aren't bad and it turns out they even have a store near where my sister lives. I MUST resist this store until after the new year. I've done enough damage already.

Thanksgiving is in the air! We are going grocery shopping this week to get everything we need. We are going to a big 3-0 birthday party on Saturday night so thank goodness the rain isn't going to start until Sunday when I will be at home all day recovering.

Have a great weekend everyone.

The Trash Man

2011-11-14T16:51:00.000-08:00

My husband is not really into the whole household cleaning and organization thing. He is amazing in the kitchen and will cook up a great dinner or bake cookies in a heart beat but it can be difficult to get him to straighten up or pick up after himself. He can be forgetful too. Sometimes I have to remind him over and over to do certain things before he remembers to do it. There is one particular thing however that he does unprompted and without any reminders by me. Rain or shine like nobodies business he is on it when it comes to taking out the trash. I have never had to remind him about this chore as long as we have lived together. In fact, I never even specifically asked him to...he just did...like magic. When our little recycling trash bin just outside the garage door fills up he dumps it. Come Monday morning as I lay in bed still hitting snooze I can hear the familiar scraping of him wheeling those trash bins out to the curb before he goes to work. By the time I roll up to the house later that day after work those bins are back inside the fence next to the house right where they belong. More often then not he forgets to put a trash bag in the can but bless his heart, he will dump the kitchen trash and will even walk it outside to the trash bins if I pull it out and leave it next to the door. What is it with men and trash? It's just about the manliest household chore around. I wish cleaning the bathroom or dusting the blinds were considered manly. I can hear it now. No honey, you better not be cleaning the bathroom again. You know that's my job. Not likely, but the trash is their domain and you would be hard pressed to find a man who does not believe it is his inherent duty to handle it. And thank goodness because I have so many other things to do and remind him about so I really appreciate that I don't ever have to haul those stinky heavy trash bins to the curb.

When it comes to trash I can sit back, relax and know that it's being taken care of. Just as soon as I finish cleaning the house.

Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders 6

2011-11-10T13:17:00.000-08:00

Training Camp [Photo Source: CMT.com]

It's the same thing every year. It starts with a cattle call mass audition. Hundreds of hopefuls from all over show up to collect what is hopefully their lucky number and a chance to be a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader. The first round of auditions is freestyle dancing. The bunch is narrowed down to about 100 and those select girls are invited back for another round of auditions the next week and are given quite a choreography challenge. They learn a fast paced routine and then are expected to perform it 45 minutes later-including prep time to reapply the make up that is now dripping down their faces. The girls who make it past that go back for yet a 3rd day of auditions the next week. This time they are joined by the returning veteran cheerleaders. They start the day with an intensive round of interviews and then they perform an original routine for the judges and then the routine they learned the week before. Those who stand out and are good enough to make it past that last grueling day of auditions are invited to Green Valley Ranch four weeks later and into the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders training camp. This is where the hard work REALLY begins. Daily three hour practices, uniform fittings, make overs, final team cuts and about 50 dance routines later the chosen few will make the team and take that official DCC group photo. It's hard work but it seems so fun and exciting.

I watched Season Four but missed it last year and Six seasons in it's still the same cycle just a new set of girls. A whole new group of big hair, full make up and gyrating bodies with the dream of being a DCC. I'm still lovin' it! I love dance and I'm totally fascinated by the process. Kelli and Judi don't miss anything cutting girls left and right reducing many to tears. They make comments like, Are those cankles or just muscular ankles? She's got those thick arms and What a shame that her body is so short because she's so beautiful. She's a little thick and stocky. They are brutal. I can't even imagine the pressure of trying to learn a dance and perform it soon after with their eyes boring into me while they take notes and talk into a voice recorder. If you get called into their office after a practice watch out. One girl was told not smiling while she dances could get her cut while two others were confronted with questionable pictures found on the Internet and asked to do some explaining.

Where do these girls come from? Every girl that made it into camp has this long flowing hair and giant eyes. If your tummy is not flat as a washing board the coaches will not hesitate to let you know and you'd better fix it or risk being cut. Looks are equally as important as dancing ability. Back in my cheerleader days I was actually coordinated enough to learn choreography but I was never really a strong dancer. I might be able to fit my booty into those tiny shorts but never in a million years even if I trained eight hours a day I don't think my dancing skills would ever be good enough to make that prestigious team...or any NFL dance team for that matter! Plus, I don't think I have nearly enough hair...or boobs. Hey, maybe that would make a really good reality TV show to see if such a thing would even be possible for a total non dancer like myself. Nope, I don't think being an NFL Cheerleader is in the cards for me but I can certainly live out my fantasy by watching this show.

It comes on Friday's at 10 pm Eastern on the C.M.T channel.

The Real World?

2011-11-07T08:49:00.000-08:00

The Real World, New York, Season 1 (1992) [Photo Source: MTV.com]

There was a time when I did not miss an episode of The Real World. It was the first reality show of it's kind spawning an entire Reality TV genre back in 1992. I watched enthralled by this concept of a show about real people living real lives. I remember when those seven strangers picked to live in a house had dreams like dancing, modeling and acting. They had stories to tell, things to do and causes to support. Sure there were altercations and drama drove ratings but it felt like the show at least had a story to tell. My oh my how it has changed. Now, they just hang out, get in fights, party, drink, have sex in hot tubs and quite often get kicked off of the show. Most of them really should be ashamed of themselves. How do you hold your head high in public and go out for a job in the actual "Real World" after having something like that broadcast on television?. Well, maybe you don't and that's why you see so many former cast members recycled through the spin off challenge shows for years and years on end. Hey, maybe they have the right idea. It has to be funner then a regular old office job.

I quit watching it after the outrageous first Las Vegas season (Season 12, 2002) and gave it one more try when it moved to San Diego in 2004. Just because I live here. That was the ONLY thing that got me to tune in. They even had them hold down jobs to try to give them some sort of purpose I guess, but even that could not disguise the overall pointlessness of it. Well, the show came back to San Diego for it's 26th season. Yes, Season 26!!! I thought it would be cool to see my city on TV again and maybe get back into it so I thought about watching it for about 2 seconds, twice. But ultimately, I could not bring myself to do it. I've been known to enjoy more then a few ridiculous reality TV shows but I have my limits. If I want to see that kind of drama I can watch Basketball Wives which is at least made up of people my age instead of teenagers. The last "coming soon" clip of The Real World I happened to see featured several of the cast members wearing boxers and physically fighting each other. That's when I knew I made the right decision to skip it and every other season that I haven't watched. I've pretty much"aged out" of it.

What I really loved most about Reality TV when they first started to pop up everywhere was the chance to take a peak inside lives of regular people similar to or very different from myself. I find it interesting to see how other people live and to watch their stories play out. MTV still has some reality shows I like. I'm really enjoying the Chelsea Settles Show. I also watch I Used to Be Fat, True Life and Teen Mom. I like watching shows about people pursuing dreams, embarking on a new journey or overcoming an obstacle. I am still a huge long time fan of America's Next Top Model with all of it's cat fights. I have really gotten into Dance Mom's where the mom's are yelling and arguing constantly. Those shows are still full of people behaving badly but at least it's about people DOING something with some sort of story to tell. Now they often just cast a bunch of people together who either don't know each other or don't like each other, hope for lots of drama and call it a show. Which works out fine in the end because drama sells and there really is something to suit the tastes and tolerance levels of all ages and interests. And you don't get to season 26 of any show without doing something right.

You know you are old when you can no longer stomach the raunchy antics and immature behavior displayed by the typical cast of The Real World. There may have been something real about it when it first started out but not anymore; or maybe I'm just too old to see it.

New Clothes or New Technology?

2011-11-01T08:45:00.000-07:00

Aldo "Perchinski" [Photo Source: Aldo.com ]

I'm not that person who is always up on the latest technology. I got a DVD player when I could no longer find VHS at Blockbuster and I got my first smart phone last year. When this whole H.D. thing started to take off I thought it was cool and all but not something that I really needed or even wanted and insisted that having just one Blue Ray player in the house was plenty. I mean, "What's the difference anyways?"

Steve Madden "Branddy" [Photo Source: Bloomingdales.com]

I don't spend much time thinking about gidgets and gadgets. I'm more likely to be thinking about those Steve Madden boots that I saw at Macy's but didn't get a chance to try on. I've had my Fall shopping list set since last year. I very excitedly checked some clothing items off my list at Kohl's with a 20% off coupon. Then, of course needed to get the knee high boots I've been wanting. When I get it in my head that I want something I'm on a mission. I researched and bought and returned boots for a week until I got the perfect two pairs of leather boots. The Aldo's were not on sale unfortunately, but I had a $20 off coupon for the Steve Madden's.

Samsung

Mj on the other hand is not concerned about his wardrobe. He rarely ever is. Every now and then he peruses the mall for a new pair of jeans which he has yet to find but that's about it. He's not a technology nut but he's definitely into technology. About a month ago he started talking more and more about a new TV. Why? I asked. We have two nice flat screens of decent size already but he wanted a slightly bigger one. He got more focused last week then talking turned into action. Like me when I'm shopping for a certain jacket or pair of shoes he did his research and checked out a few stores. Friday I came home to a brand new larger TV sitting in our living room. It has an infinity edge. There is a very thin silver border so the picture just seems to go on for well....infinity. The first movie we watched on it was Bad Teacher. I could see every single pore and wrinkle in Cameron Diaz's skin and it looked like they were actually in our living room. It is the most crystal clear, realistic TV screen I've ever seen. He even downloaded the app that allows him to turn his i Phone into a remote control. Did I mention that it has 3D? We haven't tested it out yet and I don't know how often we'll even use it but apparently you can't get one without it these days.

I've pretty much loved every bit of technology I supposedly don't need and didn't necessarily want. I can now tell the difference between H.D. and non H.D. If I watch a DVD that's not in Blue Ray it looks "funny." And I absolutely LOVE my i Phone and don't know how I ever got along without it. So what's better and more exciting? New clothes or new gadgets? You get to wear clothes and they can be purchased relatively inexpensively. When Mj runs out and gets the hot new thing at Best Buy does he get the same shopping high that I do when I finally find the perfect sweater? Maybe so...and I must admit that TV is beautiful. Did I really just call a TV beautiful? But my new boots are pretty darn beautiful too. I love the luxurious smell of leather and I'm still bursting with excitement to wear them for the first time. My natural inclination is to love clothes and profess that I can do without the latest and greatest in technology.

This just so happens to be the 3rd TV he's bought in as many years. I didn't even ask him how much it cost. I don't think I really want to know but I bet it was way more then my Fall shopping. For the last several years. I'll stick to lusting after clothes and shoes.

Time Flies

2011-10-30T17:57:00.000-07:00

My goodness. The last two weeks have literally flown by. Work has been very busy so my days there fly by and then fitting in schoolwork, the gym and house work outside of working hours has left me utterly exhausted and wondering where my time has disappeared to. There simply isn't enough of it. Then, the long awaited weekend comes and I still feel like I didn't have too much time for relaxing. Two weekends ago was packed with activity. It was a fun weekend but busy. Saturday was spent shopping and running errands. On Saturday night we met up with friends of mine I haven't seen since my wedding for a nice dinner out downtown. How does that happen? How do you go over a year without seeing people that live 30 minutes away? They have two children and one of them is pursuing a Master's degree full time. Life is just busy. Then Sunday I spent the day at my mom's to spend some time with my older sister and my nephew, while Mj went over to his friend's house to finally see their new baby. That was that.

Monday my dad finally got his kidney transplant. My mom called me while I was at work and I went and spent most of the night waiting in the hospital with her. I was almost falling asleep in my chair. Then Tuesday I was back to the hospital to see my dad as part of an extended lunch break then straight to class after work. We didn't get out until 10:00pm. I squeezed in a gym work out on Thursday at 5:30am before work and I was tired all day long. I know I'm busy when it takes me almost a whole week to watch America's Next top Model. When do I get a chance to just sit on my butt for hours and clear out my DVR? Friday night we watched a movie. Saturday morning I woke up and cleaned house and then we did a bunch of errands all day long then visited my dad in the hospital. He's doing well. He should be out of the hospital by tomorrow or Tuesday. We picked up dinner on the way home and watched another movie. We do love our movie nights.

Today I woke up and had to do homework. Ugggg!! I actually got really tired and had to take a nap. Once I woke up it seemed that half the day was gone. I did more homework and then I FINALLY got a chance to sit on my butt and chill. Sad as that may sound, I live for that when I haven't had a chance to do it in a while. I'm clearing some shows out of my DVR and getting my House Hunters fix. This is the first day that I've felt like I could actually put together a coherent blog post. If I didn't have to spend 40 hours a week at work I'd have plenty of time, but I wouldn't have much of anything else! So I guess that means I better brace myself for another busy week ahead.

Team USA is Golden

2011-10-19T13:27:00.000-07:00

Team USA Gold [Source: USA Gymastics.com]

If you follow gymnastics this is no longer breaking news but the US women won team gold at the World Championships last week in Tokyo. They did am amazing job! Every single one of them stuck every single routine through the qualifying competition and final competition. Alica Sacramone tore her Achilles in podium training so she was out. This was a real blow to the team but they didn't let it affect them. Russia was second China finished third and the Romanians were in fourth. It's a very unforgiving format with three gymnasts up on each event and every single score counts. Every other team had breaks but not USA. They were like perfect little dancing flipping machines and could not be stopped. They aired the Team Final and the Individual All around competition last weekend on NBC so I got four hours of gymnastics over the weekend. Universal Sports aired the event finals but unfortunately we don't get that channel for free. I would have been willing to pay the $19.99 to watch it live on Universal Sports online but with the time difference between here and Tokyo I would not have gotten to sleep. The Pan Am Games start soon. I'm hoping that will be televised as well. Could it be possible that I would actually get to watch 4 competitions on TV in the same year? We'll see. Nastia Liukin (2008 Olympic All Around Champion) officially announced her comeback. By this time I just thought she was stringing the media along for the last 2 years saying "we'll see" when she really meant "no way" but it looks like she's really doing it so it'll be interesting to see how she does.

Chusovitina, Maroney & Thi Ha Than Phan [Source: USA Gymnastics.com]

I have to point out that the Vaulting silver medalist is married has a child and is 36 years old!! In a sport where those in their early 20's are ancient this is amazing and very cool. Her name is Oksana Chusovitina and she started out competing for the Soviet Union, then Uzbekistan but has represented Germany for the last five years. She was competing back in 1989 before most of her current competitors were even born. She will be going for her 6th Olympics next year.

Team USA Medals (Women's)

Team: USA, Gold

All Around: Jordan Wieber, Gold

Vault: Mckayla Maroney, Gold

Beam: Jordan Wieber, Bronze

Floor: Aly Raisman, Bronze

Cookie Factory

2011-10-13T17:30:00.000-07:00

Last week Mj tried out a new chocolate chip cookie recipe. I crumbled like a cookie and ate 4 in one night! I had one, then another. Then, Mj gave me one, then another so technically, it was really all his fault. He took the rest to work the next day and although I loved them dearly I was glad they were gone. I came home from work and actually breathed a sigh of relief because I didn't see them. Not that I looked or anything. Turns out they were concealed in the microwave so of course I had to have a few that night. Those ran out but now there are more! Mj volunteered to make cookies for a work event so on Sunday and Monday he turned our kitchen into a cookie factory. He spent Sunday making the batter and about one batch out of each kind. Then Monday he made the rest. Chocolate Chip, Peanut Butter Chip and Chocolate Chip with nuts. There were bowls of batter and trays of cookies every where. Every time he took a new batch out of the oven I wanted another one. They are even harder to resist when they are fresh out of the oven and melt in your mouth warm. These cookies are delicious I tell you! They stay soft and chewy. Every day I come home from work it's hard to resist eating at least one or two. Well, it's been almost 24 hours since my last cookie fix...so I guess it's about time for another.

Desert Getaway

2011-10-10T14:27:00.000-07:00

I couldn't get Mj to get up here with me

Earlier this year I won a two night stay at the Riviera Hotel in Palm Springs. The hotel was free so we were going even though we set off having no idea of what there even was to do there. That was of little concern particularly considering that we really just wanted to do nothing. We took the scenic route there. Windy roads and no guard rails. Scary! So I was not behind the wheel. We checked into our hotel room Friday around 4pm and immediately set about taking a nap. Once we woke up we were starving so we went online and found a place for us to eat. We ended up at this Mexican restaurant where the servings were gigantic and the food was delicious. When we got back we changed and went out to the hot tub. Can you see the giant Quesadilla and Miller Light still sitting in my tummy? The weather was a perfect 80 degrees all weekend and even at night there was a perfect hint of warmth in the air.

Hot Tub time

Pool side fire pit

Check out this decor. Source: Billy Reed's in Palm Springs

The next morning we slept in way later then either of us ever do at home. I felt like I was sleeping on a cloud in that bed and the heavy black out drapes make the room as dark as night even in the day time. We found a place nearby our hotel to go eat. It was this random land that time forgot restaurant that looked like something out of the 1800's. The seats were velvet and the decor was ornate but the food was really good. Then we headed over to Bed Bath & Beyond to pick up some things for the house. I bought some sunglasses at Marshall's next door. When we got back to the hotel we went to the pool. And what a party pool it is during the day. The pool area has this sleek Hollywood type of vibe to it. complete with Cabana's, lounging beds, and blasting music. That night we saw lots of people all dressed up in their party clothes roaming through the hotel so I know there was someplace happening to go to even in this tiny desert town but we weren't interested. All we wanted to do was relax. After a couple hours lounging by the pool we took one last dip in the hot tub and headed back to the room to do just that. We couldn't even be bothered with going out to get food. It was time for room service. How often do you get to sit in the middle of a King size bed and chow down on Pasta...with bright RED sauce? We split a delicious spaghetti dinner and watched Interview with a Vampire. We both saw it long ago but it was the only thing we could find on TV to watch so we went with it. We stayed up really late playing Scrabble online.

Room Service Please. Yum!!

On the way home Sunday morning we stopped at Ruby's Diner for brunch. It was my turn to drive so Mj could watch football on his phone which was fine with me as long as he can handle my singing. When I'm behind the wheel Sirius radio is on the Love channel where I somehow know the words to just about every song that comes on. Air Supply, Barry Manilow, The Bangles. It's like a time machine and I love it.

It was a pretty low key weekend. If you think about it we ate more then we did anything else! We didn't do too much that we couldn't do at home but there is something about staying in a hotel and doing it in a different town that makes it fun, exciting. Different somehow. We weren't that far from home and we didn't do much but we were together, we were relaxing and that's basically all we really wanted out of our mini weekend getaway.

Another Baby Shower

2011-10-05T10:10:00.000-07:00

Red Carpet Area. She is clearly preggo but still in fashion.

Over the weekend my mom and I attended my friend's shower. I actually wore a dress which hardly every happens! I've known Eb for about four years now and she was a bridesmaid in my wedding. She is the last person any of us thought would get pregnant next. She's not really mommy crazy and never has been but she is happy about her little girl that is on the way and her and her hubby are getting ready for the major life change that is to come. This is seriously one of the nicest baby shower's I've ever been to. It was at a nice restaurant with a buffet of some very good food. A pack of diapers got you a VIP party pass and they had a photographer set up in front of the red carpet for pics. There were a few games, some prizes and really cute party favors. The cake was Zebra print with Pink trim.

Mommy of honor

She got about a million presents. Including not one, not two but three car seats!! Which means there is one for mommy's car, daddy's car and grandma's car. Eb is such a wonderful genuine person and it's clear just how loved she is by everyone who pitched in to help with her shower and everyone who showed up. The cup cake centerpieces were adorable. I think someone at our table thought maybe they were going to take one home but we helped ourselves and they were gone by the end of the party. I had three but that's OK because they were mini's. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.

Adorable centerpieces. These are actually tiny frosted cupcakes.

My mom actually ended up staying the night and we had a nice time sitting outside in the backyard by the fire pit and chatting. This is the year of babies among our circle of friends. Of Mj's friends there have been three babies born this year already and there is one more due in November. Everyone keeps asking if we are next and I'm sorry to disappoint but the answer on that one is no. I won't be having my own baby shower any time soon if ever. I have a one year old nephew and for us I'm thinking that's plenty.

Seven Things

2011-09-30T11:37:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite bloggers, Faith from Life, Love & Marriage tagged me last week for a seven things post. She came up with all kinds of fun and witty things to say about herself but it's always a struggle for me. At least it's given me something to write about! I wracked my brain and this is what I came up with.

I purposefully avoid getting interested in new TV shows during the Fall TV premiere week because I'm afraid I might find something I actually like. I don't have to worry about wanting to watch them every week. I stick to a few old faithfuls (mostly short term reality shows) and have ditched a bunch to cut down on TV time. I don't want catching up on TV shows in my DVR to feel like a job.
My favorite color is Pink. I even had to use it as one of my wedding colors. It reminds me of all things beautiful like ballet and dainty pink flowers. So delicate and perfect. Maybe it's cliche for a girly girl like myself but oh well!!
I started kindergarten when I was 4 so I was always a year younger then all of my classmates.
I have two great sisters but always wondered what it would be like to have a brother.
Ive only been eating Strawberries for about the last five years. I was too afraid to try them because of the way they look. Boy was I missing out! I've always been sort of a picky eater but have greatly increased the foods that I'll eat as I've gotten older.
I had a detached retina when I was in college. This is something that often results from a blow to the eye but mine just happened. I had to have eye surgery to repair it or else I could have gone blind. My vision in that eye worsened (as if it wasn't bad enough) but I haven't had any problems with it ever since.
I am a cheese junkie. I love all kinds. I love it by itself and it's the main ingredient of some of my favorite foods which include Pizza, lasagna, and Quesadilla.

I have almost fully recovered from my crash on the ice rink last weekend. My knees are still bruised and tender but getting better. I seriously can't believe how banged up I got. I must have hit that ice HARD! Have you heard that B of A is going to start charging $5 per month for debit card usage? I don't bank with them but if I did I'd be closing my accounts faster then that $5 could post to my account. How ridiculous is that? We have USAA (love them!) and I'm pretty sure they would never even consider doing such a thing but I hope other banks don't jump on the bandwagon and follow suit. What a week this has been! Work, school, gym, errands. Life can be so exhausting. It's gone by fast AND slow at the same time. I'm not even sure how that is possible but I'm just really glad it's finally Friday. I'm meeting my wonderful husband for a lunch date and then after work I'll be off to happy hour with friends.

Happy Friday!!

Groupon Date

2011-09-25T18:00:00.000-07:00

I love saving money so I'm a major fan of Groupon (if you use this link to sign up I get $10 Groupon bucks if you buy one). They have deals on so many things we want to do around town. They even have Groupon Travel now. We both downloaded the app to our i phones and it keeps them all organized so we can keep track of what we used, what we have and when they expire. You can even redeem them from your phone without having to worry about printing them out. By the time you get around to using them it almost feels like a free outing because it's already paid for.

He's concentrating

Mj has never been ice skating nor ever had any inclination to. I've done it before but it's been a while. Enter Groupon and off to Ice Town we go. The first time I got on the ice I was really wobbly. Once I got my bearings and after I tightened up my boots I did much better. I'm no wall hugger. Before long I was zooming around the ice rink. I can go three times around to Mj's one. I can't help but notice this because it's probably one of the rare moments that I can actually do something better then him. It probably won't happen again any time soon so I savored the moment. I'm loving the feel of the wind in my hair and the icy cold air against my face as I race around the rink. And then it happened. Toe Pick. Anyone who has seen The Cutting Edge knows what that means. One minute I'm sliding across the ice on my feet and the next I'm sliding across the ice on my stomach instead. The rough edge on the front end of my blade caught the ice and tripped me up. I literally caught air and hit the ice hard taking most of the weight on my right knee. Usually when you fall your first instinct is to get up as fast as you can but I could not move. I lay there on the cold ice like a broken rag doll until one of the instructors helps me up. Then she hands me my camera which has fallen out of my pocket. Covered in ice chips I gingerly cling to the wall until I make it around to an exit and sit down. Too bad because I was just getting ready to practice my jumps and spins. Not quite! My knee hurt so bad but I didn't let that spoil my fun. I rested and was back on the ice and skating circles around Mj again in no time. I didn't skate as fast because I couldn't take another fall. Mj said that with every move he basically felt like he was about to fall over but he got more confident as he went along. He never went very fast but he stayed on his feet and didn't fall unlike me.


These suckers were like torture devices! My ankles were pretty sore

A delicious dinner

After that it was time for part two of our Groupon date. Burgers & Fries at Paradise Bar & Grill!! That morning Mj biked 40 miles and I went to the gym. Then we did ice skating for two hours and I busted my butt. We'd earned it! The last time I indulged on a burger and fries was a year ago on our honeymoon so I was really looking forward to this part. Their burgers did not disappoint. They were jumbo sized and full of flavor. As the evening went on my knee got stiffer and I found that other body parts were hurting as well. My other knee, my hip and my elbow. I limped home on a majorly swollen knee but it was still a fantastic date in my book.

Early AM Work Out

2011-09-20T20:32:00.000-07:00

I've always said I'd love to be one of those super human beings that goes to the gym at the crack of dawn before work. I'm a little bit envious of that iron will determination that draws them out of their warm cozy beds and off to the gym to sweat it out so early. I like the idea of it but it's something I've emphatically claimed that I would never in a million years ever do. I tend to take a long time getting to sleep and then have a hard time getting out of bed in the morning. I love my sleep way more then I love the gym so even though I hate how long going to the gym after work makes my day feel I've never once considered weekday mornings an option. I just didn't think I could do it. Not even once. Mj decides he wants to give AM workouts a try and that he would really love my support to help him kick start this effort. I sighed, smirked, rolled my eyes upwards, told him NO WAY....and then reluctantly agreed. Just this once with the disclaimer that he better not ever expect it to happen again. If he wants to continue after this he's on his own. So this morning I drag myself out of bed at 5:10am so we can arrive at the gym by 5:30am where there are several other nut jobs already huffing and puffing away. Oh goodness. What am I doing here? Time is of the essence so I head straight to the Elliptical to get started on my hour so we can get back home and get ready for work. As I'm working out the wake up alarm on my i phone goes off. It's 6:22am (not that I ever actually get out of bed at that time).

I got about 1 hr and 35 minutes less sleep then usual. Might not seem like a lot but every minute counts when I'm hitting that snooze button. Walking into work I feel accomplished. It's only 8:00 am and I've already burned 500 calories when normally I've just barely gotten out of bed. As I sit at my desk I'm trying to gauge if I'm more, less or equally tired then I usually am. I conclude that I'm equally tired as I normally would be and actually a little bit worse off. My eyes feel glazed over and I'm waiting for all those endorphins that everyone talks about to kick in and energize my day but it never happens. So was it as awful as I expected it to be? Not really. Getting up early sucks for me no matter what the time and I'm pretty much tired all the time during the work week these days anyways. I do like it that I got it over with in the morning instead of having to tag it on to the end of a work day. In fact, I got a work out in that I otherwise might not have gotten in at all. I haven't quite made up my mind yet if it's worth the loss of sleep or if I'll ever do it again. I may not have it in me to become one of those super human early AM gym goers myself but I'm at least glad I finally gave it a shot.

Dear Diary

2011-09-17T14:36:00.000-07:00

Even after you get the kids out you are still stuck with their stuff. Thank goodness mom hasn't been charging storage all of these years. Thirteen years later I have finally been reunited with many precious mementos that I just didn't have space for until now. How crazy is it that so many childhood memories fit into two plastic bins? It's like my own personal time capsule.

My first two Diaries

Among the treasures my most prized are my journals. All 16 of 'em dating back to 1986 when I was 9 years old. The Cabbage Patch Kids Diary was my first and the last one ends in 2003. That's 17 years. Half of my life is documented between those pages. As I skimmed a journal from 1990 my Freshman year high school schedule fell out. It's all there. Every dream, every hope and every fear. The tears I shed and the joys I felt are all documented in my bubbly cursive writing which actually hasn't change all that much. I lived for Pizza, slumber parties, reading books, cheerleading and gymnastics. I believed that having a boyfriend and getting asked to homecoming would somehow change my life. There are so many things I'd forgotten about. I had a pen pal from Michigan and I used to sleep with my little sis when she was 2 years old to make sure she got to sleep. We had Pizza for dinner a lot, I went to a million slumber parties and there always seemed to be some big to do between my parents about if I would be allowed to go camping again with Beth or go to Chelsea's house.

17 years worth of written journals

Oddly enough, as much as I've changed over the years I also haven't. I can see plenty of thoughts of today reflected in my childhood musings of yesterday. I'm still terrified of spiders, my own worst critic, and enjoy being physically active. I have discovered there are other things aside from Burger and Fries on restaurant menus and I have a lot more confidence and love for myself. It's almost painful to read how harshly I berated myself for not being skinny enough, popular enough or pretty enough. Having documented everything all of these years has really allowed me to recover my long forgotten memories and keep them forever. It's like reading a book except it's the story of my life written with my own hand. I've had so much fun getting re acquainted with my adolescent self. Here are some word for word quotes taken from my journals.

May 19, 1986 (age 9)
Dear Diary, Today was ok. I got in trouble because I didn't want Jennifer to ride my bike. My mom made me go to my room and I went upstairs and listened to music and I felt like running away. Bye.

April 5, 1987 (age 10)
Dear Diary, For my birthday I got a pound puppy, doll, Cabbage Patch clothes, Uno game, school kit, barbie clothes, two pencils, a ball and perfume. My party was fun. We played games.

January 2, 1990 (age 13)
In Family Life we're studying Human Sexuality. It's kind of embarrassing.

January 13, 1990
Mommy and Daddy got doughnuts when they went grocery shopping. Yum! I want to have a slumber party for my birthday. I worked the whole thing out on paper.

November 25, 1990
The things I want most for Christmas is a bedspread set for my day bed, head phones, overnight bag, Caboodle, Gymnast series books and my own room.

May 20th 1991 (age 14)
I MADE IT!! I'M A CHEERLEADER. I have been waiting all year for this. I'm a JV Cheerleader! I'm so happy.

September 19, 1992 (age 15)
We had to pull over at a gas station so that Ryan could finish throwing up. I'm never getting drunk. NO WAY!! It is not worth it.

September 24, 1992
I want him to ask me to dance sooooooo bad. Then maybe he'll like me.

April 21, 1993 (age 16)
I'm a major teacher's pet in History. It's embarrassing. Today he said everyone had to put away their news paper but me because I could do whatever I want.

April 26, 1993
It's probably going to be too scary for me to ever kiss a boy.

March 9, 1994
What's the point of me having my license if mom's too afraid to let me drive anywhere?

May 22, 1994 (age 17)
My body was hurting so much. It was an awesome gymnastics meet though. It was sad when they called all the Seniors walk out. I almost cried. This was my last meet. It felt so good to go up there and get medals. Then to be CIF Champ is amazing. I can't believe it really happened. I worked so hard for this.

I never stopped writing. I just stopped doing it on paper and started doing it online. It's just always been something I wanted and needed to do. In 2003 where the paper journals end I started a private online Diary. I skipped over to My Space in 2005 and started blogging before it was even called blogging. In 2009 I discovered Blogger and have been happily settled over here ever since. I migrated all of my old Diaryland and My Space entries into a private blog over here so all of my thoughts are now in one place. I have my public blog that everyone sees but I still have my private blog for my eyes only where I continue to record my thoughts. It's amazing to read how far I've come and almost scary that there are so many things that I simply would have forgotten about had I not written it all down. I think I missed my calling. I should've been a writer. Or, maybe I already am.

Power Outage & Another 3 Day weekend

2011-09-12T16:15:00.000-07:00

Thursday at around 3:40pm the power went out at work. We all came out of our offices and started chatting and speculating as to what was going on and how long it would last. Turns out it was a total power outage throughout the entire county. They called it historic because apparently this has never happened before. Around 4:20pm we were told we could go home which was great but it took me over an hour to get home because everyone else was doing the same thing at the same time and all the traffic lights were out. I was below E that morning. Luckily I'd gotten gas on the way to work or else I don't even know if I'd have made it home. A lot of the gas pumps were out. I couldn't complain too much. This wasn't the result of a natural disaster and while an inconvenience we were safe and we still had running water. It was actually kind of fun. My biggest worry was that my precious Dreyer's Light Coffee flavored ice cream would melt. I seriously considered eating almost a whole gallon of ice cream just to save it! Mj used the car radio to check for outage updates which was a reminder to me that we should have a battery operated radio (and a lot of other things for that matter) because of situations like these. We ate sandwiches for dinner and watched a movie on my lap top draining that battery then played scrabble outside next to our fire pit until the cell phone died. I remembered what the point of a land line is, then it was time for bed.

By the time we woke up Friday morning the power was back on and I was happy to find that none of our food got ruined. Just as I was getting ready for work I got a text from my boss that the district had shut down. A free paid day off? My weekend had begun!!! I'd say the power outage worked out pretty well for me. For a minute I felt like I didn't know what to do with myself. I was already up so I went to the gym. Later on that night Mj and I met some of his co workers for drinks. Saturday I got some errands done and hung out with a friend of mine while Mj was out biking. Then we went to a early dinner and did more errands. I found a great vase for the living room. Sunday we both stayed home all day which was really nice. I had a great surprise 3 day weekend.

******

Thanks to everyone who commented on this post. Clearly I'm not alone! It helped me gain some perspective on the age old pesky hot button topic of neat vs messy and relationships. It was very helpful for me to blog about it. I'll continue to work on patience and trying not to let any of it be a bigger deal then it needs to be. And by the way my little refrigerator labeling joke actually worked. Mj did complain about having to open 3 drawers just to make a sandwich but he actually put everything back where he got it from. We're having sandwiches again tonight for dinner so we'll see what happens. I'm hoping it sticks!

Where were you on 9/11?

2011-09-11T17:45:00.000-07:00

A pic I took of the towers years before 9/11 on a trip to NYC

I had just gotten to work. An unusually large number of people were gathered in the break room staring at the TV in silence. I walked in and could hardly believe what I was seeing and hearing. Airplanes crashed into high rise buildings in New York City? That sounds like the climax of an action movie, not something that could ever happen in real life. As I watch I am sickened by the knowledge that even as these buildings are burning and tumbling down right before my eyes there are people inside who cannot get out. I was in disbelief but it was true. Airplanes crashed into the Twin Towers and the Pentagon. Thousands of people were killed.

Mj was actually at an Army base in D.C. when it happened. He heard the crash of the planes and then someone told them that a plane had crashed into the Pentagon so he went outside and saw smoke coming out from the building. His unit was actually one of many assigned to go in and recover the deceased and their belongings.

Such a horrible act of violence and evil is almost inconceivable, but it happened. I can't believe that those massive buildings are just gone. And all of those innocent people who lost their lives. It changed everything. It makes me sad angry that someone would purposefully mastermind something so terrible. I can't believe it's been 10 years. I don't know anyone who died in the 9/11 attacks or even anyone that knows someone who did but my heart goes out to them and I will never forget.

....and Everything in it's Place

2011-09-08T08:52:00.000-07:00

My poor sweet husband. He has to put up with me ~~nagging~~ bugging him about all kinds of things. Please don't leave your shoes in the walk way so I don't have to step or trip over them. Why won't you put anything back where you found it? Can you please put your stuff away? Why are your clothes on the floor? Can you put your dirty clothes in the hamper not on it? Is there a reason those dishes still sitting there? You get the point. I must admit I am not without fault. My main indiscretions are misplacing the lotion bottle, leaving the pantry door open, not matching the knives into the right slots on the butcher block, squeezing the toothpaste from the middle and .....well that's about it. Oh, and all that ~~nagging~~ reminding. So sorry baby (I know he's reading this).

In his pre wifey days his routine was to throw clothes on the floor, let messes and dishes pile up throughout the week, clean it all up Saturday then start it up all over again. So, you mean to tell me that your house was a mess about 5 out of 7 days? That's about 20 days out of a 28 day month. Totally not acceptable to this lady. You see, I have an illness. I'm a neat freak, I have OCD, call it whatever you like but I believe there is a place for everything and everything in it's place. I didn't have that luxury for a very long time. I used to have no place for anything and nothing in it's place because I simply didn't have the space. Now we do. Why spend thousands of dollars on a closet and not put your stuff in it? My home is my sanctuary and when my home is mired in the chaos of clutter I cannot be at peace. I could blame it on my childhood. I grew up in a messy house and there was nothing I could do about it. The minute you straightened anything up it was messy again. My dad was a walking tornado who wouldn't lift a finger around the house and expected everyone else to clean up after him. He wouldn't even put his plate in the sink. I hated it, so excuse me if I'm a little sensitive about this subject. I just don't want that for my home. My mom may have been willing to double as a servant but even as a child I vowed I never would. Thankfully, Mj is not even close to that. In fact, I'm pretty lucky to have a modern man such as himself who cooks and makes an effort to consider my feelings. If I make the effort to clean the house I just don't think it's too much to ask to pick up after yourself. I know it can be a pain in the butt and sometimes life gets busy. It doesn't even bother me if it's not done right away as long I know you will...someday...in the near future...soon...please. Believe me, I wish I were not like this and I certainly don't wanna be the house police. I WANT to happily toss my belongings willy nilly without regard to where they land, ignore crusty dishes stinking in the sink and care not about the ring of dirt accumulating in the toilet. Sounds kinda nice actually. We could enjoy a content often dirty clutter filled life together-no nagging involved. But the laws of nature have ensured that a messy person always marries a neat freak so that is not to be.

We've been living together for about two years now and he really has made some major improvements. He no longer stores his jammies on the floor, shoes are getting put away and dishes aren't getting left for days. It means a lot to know that he is listening and trying. I've got to give him props for that...and for putting up with me. Messiness makes me irritable and eventually I must speak up. If I don't say anything how will he know it bothers me? It's called communication. He's sure to let me know if I do something that bugs him too; it just doesn't seem to happen as often. I can't help it that I need order and that messes put me on edge. And I suppose he can't help it either. He literally doesn't see things that are sitting there all messy in plain sight and/or it simply doesn't bother him too much. I do bite my tongue and I have loosened up some. It's his house too and there are way more important things to worry about right? I try to ask nicely and I make sure that I show my appreciation of his efforts to neaten up. I mean, I don't want him to hate me...or divorce me for that matter. This is just one of those things that we have to accept about each other and try to compromise on so that we can both be happy together and in our home. Give and take. We all have our strengths and weaknesses. This part of him tries my patience but does not diminish the many things I love about him in any way.

Fruit, Meat, Vegetables, Cheese. Not too complicated.

We spend all this money on a beautiful refrigerator with a lovely LED light and plenty of space and roomy drawers to organize our food. Mj never puts anything back in those drawers where he got them from. I've explained to him where everything goes many times but just as recently as last week he says "Well, I didn't know that the meat goes in that drawer." So, I labeled them right quick before I left for work in the morning and left it for him to find when he got home. Now, I'll pose this question to you. Am I a B-I-T-C-H or just a wife who wants the meat to go in the meat drawer? Lucky for me my husband has a sense of humor. He had a good laugh, took this picture and posted it on Facebook.

Labor Day Weekend

2011-09-06T09:13:00.000-07:00

We had a three day weekend for Labor Day. Oh, how I needed it! I say that every time because every time one comes around I'm just desperate for it. It might be a three day weekend but that doesn't necessarily mean it's all about relaxation. I wish. It just means you have an extra day to take care of business so that you actually have time to fit in some relaxing too. Friday night we went to Lowe's and got our garage shelves, went for groceries and yogurt, ate a late dinner, watched a movie, then got really wild and crazy and played a round of Yahtzee. I did my house cleaning on Saturday morning while Mj went road biking with his friends then we went up to my parents house. We spent a nice day hanging out with them and then went on a double date out to dinner. I finally got some stuff that my mom has been keeping at the house for me. Never mind that I moved out thirteen years ago. Sunday I got up and did my homework and then we put our garage shelving together. I did laundry and we stayed up really late watching movies.

Hot dogs roasting on an open fire......

An All American dinner. Hot dogs and Miller Lite.
Except the Corona.

By the time Monday rolled around my only chores were some dishes that had accumulated and some left over homework. In the morning I went to the gym while Mj went mountain biking. The weather was gloomy and it even started sprinkling. Not good if you actually had Labor Day plans but just perfect for taking a nap. We took an awesome 2 hour nap just because. We definitely don't do that often enough. Then it was time for dinner. Our fire pit has many uses including roasting hot dogs. Fire roasted hot dogs taste even better then grilled. Roasting them let's you get them perfectly charred to your liking so that the edges are nice and crispy. It was a easy yet delicious meal. Then, we watched a movie, ate ice cream and had the rest of the night to chill out. We spent some good quality time together and the weekend was a perfect mix of being productive AND being lazy. If only every weekend had three days.

I'm not sure what's up with the weather. It's muggy and rainy...like the East Coast weather has come for a visit. All the kids went back to school today so the days of light summer traffic are officially over. I have a super long day today since I have school after work. Back to the grind...but at least there will only be four days of it.

Maintaining the Magic

2011-09-01T09:07:00.000-07:00

On our wedding day

There are so many unhappy marriages in this world. I don't have statistics but I venture to guess that for every happy and loving marriage there are at least five pairs of miserable dysfunctional marriages that are on the verge of collapse or already have. I should know. I used to be in one of them. I am glad to say that my newly minted marriage is alive and well. We love and respect each other. The lines of communication are open and we have fun. But for everyone of those marriages that are falling apart many of them started out just like us. Happy, loving, affectionate. Madly in love. It is a huge reminder to me that although I know that Mj is the right person for me we are not just going to magically stay as in love as we are now forever without effort. I think it's so important to put forth the effort and be conscious of that now when things are good to avoid having to try to do it later in a relationship that has been allowed to unravel into disrepair.

Dating Mj was such fun. Our first date was dinner and even though it was also my first time meeting him I felt comfortable right away. He planned our second one which was an all day date that included lunch, go cart racing and kite flying. After the third date I was hooked. I fed off of his energy and he showered me with gifts, love and all kinds of fun outings. Learning new things about each other all the time was thrilling especially because the more I found out the more perfect he seemed for me. Every time we were together was like a new adventure. Issues and problems that we'd had with previous partners were a thing of the past. Everything was different now that we'd found each other and it felt wonderful. Every kiss, every touch, every time I got to see him was magic.

That was 3 1/2 years ago and we are 1 year into marriage. We are no longer in that euphoric exciting fun filled newly dating and falling in love phase anymore. That phase only happens when you are newly dating and falling in love and seeing as how we are no longer newly dating and have already fallen in love that phase of our relationships is over. We still have fun but now our relationship has a whole new dimension to it. We live together. We have bills to pay. I get to wash his dirty gym clothes and he gets to listen to me complain about him not putting his keys and sunglasses in the brown basket. While we might not know everything there is to know about one another we know quite a bit and so that discovery process has slowed down. Still, when he kisses me or says "I love you" just because my heart melts. I'm still excited to see him. We love spending time together and I love coming home to him every day. I am as in love with him now as I was in those exhilarating days of dating and I want it to stay that way.

We are newlyweds just beginning our marriage journey. Those early days of dating are in the past but I don't ever want to loose that wonder and attraction that made us fall in love with each other. Therein lies the challenge. We are no longer newly dating and freshly falling in love but we are in love and we need to keep that magic alive. It's so easy to communicate when everything is perfectly uncomplicated but what about when it's not? The hardest decision we make isn't where we should go for dinner anymore, it's whether or not we should have kids, how much we should put into savings and who gets to clean the bathroom. Communication is more important now then it ever was and having the courtesy and respect for each other that we started out with will only make it easier to maintain a healthy happy relationship.

The bottom line is that as a couple you should never stop doing the things that made you fall in love in the first place and add in new things that will keep you there. Continue to be kind to each other. Listen to each other and have fun together. Think about the words you said on your wedding day. Relationships, like people are constantly evolving. As easy as it is in these early days of our relationship it might get more difficult as the years go on especially if we don't nurture and value what we have. When I see those happy couples married for 20 + years with gray hair still out there slow dancing, holding hands and going on dates it makes me smile. I know without a doubt that I want that to be us some day and it's up to us to make sure that it is.

The Garage: Step 1 & 2

2011-08-29T09:07:00.000-07:00

When you become a homeowner you go to Home Depot a lot more then you ever thought you would and you do things you never thought you'd care about like pay good money for rocks and paint floors. I've been dreading the day we'd face the garage for a while but it's one of those projects you just have dive in and do at some point like it or not. If it were up to me I'm not exactly sure when this would have happened...if ever! I came home from work Friday exhausted. All I wanted to do was sit down and watch TV but Mj was already out in the garage working so I did what any good wife would do. I dragged my tired butt out into the heat, complained about how hot and tired I was and then joined in the fun.

Boring old concrete floor

Step 1: De clutter the garage. It's really easy for the garage to become the dumping ground for all things you don't know what to do with. We can't get too out of hand because we park our cars in there but there was a lot of junk accumulating and it was time for it to go. We went through the various bins and boxes and loaded up the car for a trip to Goodwill the next day. On Saturday everything that we were keeping went outside overnight and it was on to step 2.

Sweep, squeegee, scrub, squeegee...then we finally got to paint

Step 2: Epoxy the floor. A lot of dust accumulates in the garage and this is a good way to help cut down on it and make the garage floor look pretty. As if it really needs to look pretty...but whatever. This was an all day affair and we sure picked one of the hottest weekends ever to do it. It's quite the process. You start by washing the floor. We swept out over a years worth of dirt and cobwebs. Yuck. I made Mj do the corners. Then, we wet the floor and went over it with a giant squeegee mop. Then we wet the floor again and scrub a dub dubbed it with a scrubbing brush using soapy cleaning concoction from our epoxy kit that sizzled. Then we wet the floor and did the squeegee thing yet again. By this time the garage floor was cleaner then any floors inside the house and clean enough to eat off of. We waited hours for it to dry out and then we could finally start the painting. Mj painted with a roller and I artfully sprinkled the ~~pixie dus~~t decorative chips all over like a little ~~Fairy~~ Epoxy godmother. It's a big job and I imagine we saved a ton of money in labor by doing it ourselves. We were able to put our things back in the next day but we can't park in there for 3 days. I love the way it looks.

Stylish epoxy-fied floor

The decorative chips really make it pop

Step 3: Buy shelves, bins and hooks as needed for organizing. We've got our eye on some heavy duty shelves at Lowe's. I parlayed my credit card points into a $100 gift card from there so I think we'll get them next week. We'll use bins to organize everything and hooks to hang up bikes and tools.

Step 4: Move some of the things in our storage closet under the stairs out into the garage. This closet has has also become a dumping ground that could use some organization. Some of the things in that closet can go into our newly re organized garage so we can organize the closet and make room for other things in there.

Most of the indoor house projects I've been wanting to do have come to a screeching halt so it was nice to get something accomplished even if only to the part of the house where our cars live. A garage has always been sort of a scary place for me. It's dark, dingy, dirty and creepy crawly things hang out there. Ideally, our garage will feel a lot less like something out of a horror film once it's clean, organized and user friendly. How can you be afraid of a room with a shiny pretty floor accented with blue, black and white sprinkles?

Back to School

2011-08-25T08:30:00.000-07:00

I graduated College with a B.A. a loooong time ago and didn't look back. I enjoyed my four years in College but was really happy to get my life back and move on from the poor College student lifestyle. Without any specific career goals in mind and an unwillingness to take on any more student loans then I already had Grad school wasn't something I wanted to pursue. The loans are long since paid off but I'm still not interested. So why do I find myself looking at a College campus map to find my class room and the bookstore where a teenager informs me that I need to leave my purse at the door and then I drop $115 bucks on a giant used book? It's so weird. Back in the day when I was a student who wore jeans, tennis shoes and a UCSD sweat shirt to class every day we didn't have online registration. I don't even know if my College had a website back then 'cause I didn't even have a computer. You had to wait in really long lines for a really long time to pay all of your fees in person and we registered by phone. I used a word processor to write my papers and Wikipedia didn't exist. Now I can register, pay fees, drop classes, and order books online. Do people still go to the Library to do research? Is it biologically possible that my mind has turned to mush after all of these years? Times have changed and so have I.

Life just feels busy enough as it is and I truly value my free time outside of work to relax and take care of business. It was hard enough for me to add the gym back into my life let alone school. At my job we get a pay bump if we earn 12 units of college credit. I've known this but have been too lazy and unmotivated to do anything about it. We even get reimbursed for it so I really should've done it a long time ago. I'm not trying to push it so I'm only taking 2 classes this semester and then I'll take two the next. I've chosen classes that I have a real interest in so that hopefully I won't hate it. I'm taking an Introductory Paralegal course and planning to take Nutrition which doesn't start until October. Only the Paralegal course requires me to physically attend and the other will be online. It sure makes my day long working from 8:00-5:00 pm then going to class from 6:30 to 9:50pm. I went to my first class and got my first homework assignment Tuesday night and I'm already tired. At least I wasn't the oldest one in the class.

I think it'll be good for me to do this. It feels productive. If it means less couch and TV time then that's probably a good thing but I definitely see it cutting into my gym time. It's just one night a week so I need to stop being a wimp and deal with it. Plenty of people have been working full time and going to school full time for years. Some of them even have kids to juggle. My very own husband is taking a full time course load online. Surely I can handle 6 measly units at Community College. That's what I'm telling myself anyways and I hope I'm right.

Visa Gymnastics Championships 2011

2011-08-22T08:30:00.000-07:00

Jordan Wieber wins it. Photo Source: Universal Sports

This past weekend was Visa Championships. I excitedly watched Women's Prelims on Thursday night. The finals were on Saturday night but I didn't get to watch it until first thing Sunday morning. Prelims were kind of a mess. There were so many falls and mistakes-which isn't too surprising when you consider that these girls are doing things that people shouldn't physically be able to do. These athletes are incredible, but even still if Team USA gymnasts were to perform that way at Worlds OR the Olympics for that matter there is no hope for a medal. There is still time to improve and the final day was much better. It seemed like everyone got the jitters out. With Marta Karolyi watching it was their last chance to show her something good and so they did.

Jordan Wieber basically blew out the competition. She is the only gymnast who hit 8 for 8 and did solid routines over both days. It is a testament to her good gymnastics but also a testament to the fact that most everyone else performed miserably. She won by 6 points! She could have fallen 3 times off of her last event, the beam and still won. She's been American Cup Champion twice already and now she finally can add National Champion to her resume.

Rebecca Bross had a really bad day one and an even worse finals. She was actually showing some improvement but after a falling on her beam dismount again and a bit of a sloppy floor routine she twisted into the ground on an under rotated vault and screamed in pain as she landed and grabbed her knee. I feel so bad for her. She was fighting so hard to get back in the game and now this. That's the harsh reality of gymnastics and as the camera panned around the arena it looked like you could cut the silence with a knife and people were shaking their heads. What is there to say? It's a terrible thing and it could happen to any gymast at any moment. She won this meet last year, placed 2nd All Around at World Championships in 2010 and 3rd in 2011 (six world medals all together). She was basically on her way to the Olympics. Then she had to have leg surgery but she recovered and during her comeback is slammed with another injury. As they carried her out of the arena I couldn't help but wonder if she should have been competing all four events. Her gymnastics was looking a little rough up to that point-maybe she tried to do too much too soon.

Ally Raisman [Photo Source: Universal Sports.com]

McKayla Maroney was all over the place on day one but she really improved on the second night. She is so graceful and has such beautiful form. Her Amanar (2 1/2 twisting Yurchenko) vault was the highlight. It's the hardest vault being done by anyone in the world right now and she just about stuck it. Jordan Wieber uses the same vault.

Ally Raisman was one of the few that was solid on day one and she was solid on day two as well until the half way point when she went to beam right after Bross got injured. She seemed really rattled by what happened and actually put her hands down on the beam (which counts as a fall) but she came back and did great on floor. That one mistake edged her out of 2nd place which is unfortuanate because she one of the most consistent out of everyone and I thought she deserved the Silver.

Chelsie Memmel did very well but on her last event after falling, re mounting then falling again on bars couldn't finish the routine. She spent the remainder of the night with an ice pack on her shoulder. I REALLY wanted to see her in the top three so I was disappointed to see her falter but she did a great job. She showed everyone that she is back and a serious contender. Her dance on floor could definitely use some work. She basically does a series of connected poses and doesn't really seem to dance through the floor movements as she should. Her strength is her consistency and power.

Sean Johnson definitely improved from Cover Girl Classic. She looked so much more confident and solid. She still needs to add in floor and get her difficulty level up but I'm much more impressed with what I saw at this meet and glad that she's on her way. I love her attitude. She realizes that she may never again be the Sean Johnson who won a gold medal on beam at the Olympics and almost won the All Around. She is Ok with that and just wants to compete and be in the mix again. She didn't stop smiling the whole night. She and Memmel were both named to the National team along with Alicia Sacramone who had a good meet as well. Her 2nd vault was low, and she had a few balance checks on beam but overall she was solid as usual.

Final results listed here at Inside Gymnastics.com. Jordan Wieber 1st, McKayla Maroney 2nd and Alexandra Raisman 3rd. I can't wait to see who makes the World team.

Watch all the action on Universal Sports.com

He's 1 Years Old!

2011-08-21T20:37:00.000-07:00

Such pretty eyes on this kid

Finishing touches on the cake

Saturday was my nephew's Birthday party. When you are 1 years old and there are people standing in a circle singing and staring at you chances are you have no idea why or what is even going on. You don't even know what a party is let alone that it is for you. The cupcake is whatever and you are more interested in playing with the tissue paper then the present that your mom keeps pushing at you.

Clearly Birthday parties for one year old's are more to celebrate the parents for surviving that long with a new baby then the actual child which is why my sister kept it low key and simple. Just family and pizza, pasta, bread sticks and wings. My sister decided she wanted to make Red Velvet cake that wasn't really. She frosted it with chocolate and put chocolate chips inside. I'm not really a big fan of the cream cheese so I liked it. We all had a great time, including little DJ. Every time I see that kid I want to have a baby of my own...and then I come to my senses. He's such a little busy body now that it's even harder to get a picture with him looking at the camera but we kept trying. He was so not into getting all messy with his little cup cake. He poked his little fingers in it and when he saw that chocolate all over he just wanted out. He did let my sister feed him a little but he wouldn't touch it himself.

Uh, what am I supposed to do with that?

Ewww....it's messy mommy. Help.

Tissue paper is fun

Me and my mama

I was there pretty much all day and a good time was had by all. I always have fun with my family. DJ and his parents have made it to year one and now he is well on his way to the terrible two's.

Dream Cars of Years Past

2011-08-16T08:00:00.000-07:00

Dream Car #1: Chrysler LeBaron[Photo Source]

Mj got a Kia Sportage for his rental car while he was out of town a few months ago. He started to tell me what it looked like and I stopped him. I know what a Kia Sportage looks like because it used to be my dream car. Odd as that may sound. He laughed because a Kia Sportage, while a decent car is not necessarily dream car material. Don't people usually aspire to such things as a BMW or a Lexus? But that's not even the worst of it. I sat there and thought of all my dreams cars of the past and it dawned on me that I never really wanted for much when it came to a car. My dream car list is an assortment of so so economy cars that most people settle for and don't actually consider their dream. OK, well maybe all except for the Lebaron. That was the first dream car I can remember (I was only 10) and that's a pretty snazzy car. It was the car you could be lucky enough to win if you were the grand prize winner in Ed McMahon's Publishers Clearing House contest that I used to dig out of the trash after my parents tossed it. I could never make them sign up for magazines but it did say no purchase necessary to win so I'd tear out the little stamp of the Blue LeBaron and assemble our official entry. We never won.

Dream Car #2: Geo Metro [Photo Source]

Dream Car #3: Kia Sportage [Photo Source]

After the LeBaron my next dream car when I was in high school was a hatch back Geo Metro. I loved the ones with the cool little stripe down the side and how it said "Geo Metro." It was just so cute. The next and last car I can recall dreaming about was that Kia Sportage when they first came out. I found the body style adorable and I liked it that it was like a mini SUV.

What I ended up with as my first car was a brand new Red Ford Escort. By that time my dream was really just to have my very own car so I was thrilled. Did I mention I hate red cars? Don't ask me why 'cause I don't know but it was the only automatic they had on the lot besides White and beggars certainly can't be choosers so I drove it home. My parents put some money down on it and made the payments while I finished up my last year in college. I took over about the same time my student loans payments kicked in and as soon as it was paid off at just five years young it promptly broke down. After that my dream car was one with automatic windows, locks and a working AC Unit. I briefly admired the Acura TL's but they were super pricey and I thought an SUV might be cool so I ended up leasing two Jeep Liberty's in a row. Never thought I'd lease but it happened. I loved the leather seats, sunroof, automatic everything and being up so high. It was about as close to luxury as I'll probably ever get in a car. It sure was a cute little SUV but how much it was costing me at the pump was not cute in any way so my next dream in a car was good gas mileage. After the lease was up I focused my energies on getting a sensible, dependable, fuel efficient Pre Owned Honda Civic with low mileage. Heaving myself in and out of a lower car was annoying at first, I missed my cool rear limo tint windows but I still had a sun roof so I got over it real quick. I even got GPS for the first time. Filling up for $44 bucks totally made up for not having leather and I was able to pay in full so I wouldn't have a car payment.

My First Car [Photo Source]

My luxurious Liberty. I leased two of these in a row-Silver then Blue

My trusty Civic. I plan to drive this car into the ground

I've never much been into having a luxurious car. I don't want to drive a beater but for me it's mostly been about getting from point A to point B in a well kept car with as little money wasted as possible. I don't plan on buying a new car ever again. I've had my fill of new cars and I'm not so sure it's worth the extra money. My jaw drops when I hear that people are paying close to $1,000 a month in car payments. That's rent or a mortgage. And remember when rims were all the rage? They could cost thousands and for what? I probably won't be able to buy it outright but I at least hope to have a hefty down payment for the next car I get. I've had my Honda for 2 years now. I have a near nervous break down every time I purchase a car so it's not something I'm looking to do any time soon. My only dream now when it comes to cars is just to drive my cute little Civic for as long as it will let me.

Delaware Vacation

2011-08-11T08:44:00.000-07:00

Why oh why, must they make airports so cold? I froze my butt off through a 4 1/2 hour flight, 2 hour lay over then another 2 hour flight before we finally arrived in Delaware. All three airports had the thermostat set to arctic freeze. I brought a blanket from home for exactly that reason. The first leg of the flight was terrible. My seat wouldn't recline and there was a kid behind me kicking the back of my seat. It's so hard to sleep sitting up and my neck was killing me. Our first stop after we got off our red eye flight was Cracker Barrel for breakfast. I HAD to squeeze that one in because it'll probably be another year before I taste it's goodness again. Love their perfect crispy edged pancakes and everything I tasted off of Mj's plate too. After traveling all night we got there Friday morning (last week) and literally crashed on his mom's couch. We were just laying there and next thing we knew we were both knocked out.

Enjoying my pancakes (A rare shot of me in my glasses)

We stayed Friday and Saturday night at his Dad's house. Mj wanted to have some good East coast seafood while we were there so Friday night his dad took us to a seafood restaurant where you sit on wooden picnic style benches and they cover the table in brown butcher paper and clear it out after each party. Now I can see why. Watching him eat those Crabs was not a pretty sight. I DO NOT do Seafood and this only solidified my distaste for it. By then end of the meal there was a nasty pile of shells and discarded meat. That's a lot of dirty work for a little bit of meat.

He plowed through 1/2 dozen whole crabs. Ewww!!

Saturday was his family reunion and we were there all day long. It was so hot and muggy. This Cali girl is not used to all that humidity. I'd put on my shoes, walk out the door and feel my feet sliding down my wedges within seconds. We had a good time though. It was really nice to meet so much of his family although I'm sure I don't remember half of their names. There was tons of food and it was really well organized! It was at Killens Pond which a really nice park with a lake, water park and camping among other things. I don't like to get all hot and sweaty unless I'm actually working out but that's exactly what happened when we went paddle boating. The only relief was when the sun slipped behind the clouds and we caught a cool breeze, which didn't happen often enough. It was fun though.

Mj and his Mom at the reunion


Such a beautiful park. So much lush greenery

First time paddle boating. Fun!!

Sunday and Monday there was more visiting with his family and more eating out. We spent those last two nights at his mom's house. She is so sweet and you could just see how happy she was to have her son around. We went out to dinner on Sunday night and had fun just hanging out with her at the house before bed. Monday we went to Rehoboth Beach and walked on the boardwalk. We got ice cream for the second day in a row just because it was so darn hot and it tastes so darn good. Dover is a small town and you can get a new house for less then $200,000. I love the the greenery, the look of the houses and how they are so spread out. Aside from the ridiculous weather I don't think I'd mind living the small town life there. Of course, I'd never convince Mj to move back. He left as soon as he turned 18. The end of our trip came so fast!

At Rehoboth Beach

On the way back we stopped at the USO (United Services Organization) location at the Houston airport and relaxed during our lay over. It's basically a lounge area for military and dependents to use while traveling. It was so nice. They have munchies, books, comfy couches and flat screen TV's to watch. It was like having your mom there asking you what you want to eat and making sure you have enough snacks for the road. We watched Source Code on his i Pad during the last leg of the flight which made the time go faster. I love taking trips with Mj. He's fun and he always knows just where to go and when to go there so I basically just follow him aimlessly around the airport.

The last thing you want after a long trip is any delays in getting home but when we got to our car the battery was dead! We left one of the interior lights on and it drained the battery. AAA was super fast though and it didn't take us too much longer to get home. We got home around 8:30pm and what do you think was the first thing I did? Sleep? Unpack? Nope. The first thing I did was put on my work out clothes and go out for a 45 minute run/walk. I was already crashing for the 2nd time that day and I knew if I waited it would never happen. We ate out every day. Sometime twice a day. After all of that vacation eating I couldn't wait to get my body moving again and start burning it off. After my emergency work out I got back I unpacked, showered, then went to bed not too long after. I had a great time in Delaware but there is nothing like being home sweet home in your own bed. And what is it with those darn bugs on the East coast? By the time I got on the plane Tuesday morning I felt like I'd been eaten alive! It's so nice to be back in our perfectly mild weather minus the bugs on steroids.

From the Plane to the Party

2011-07-31T20:43:00.000-07:00

My husband is home! I am no longer reduced to communicating with him by E mail and Facebook. After a 14 hour international flight from a country with a 17 hour time difference, a two hour flight delay and a two hour drive from LA he finally made it home around 5:45pm. Just in time to hop in the shower and put on the clothes I'd picked out for him so we could go to a friend's B Day party downtown. He literally went from the plane to the party which is insane if you asked me. I get jet lagged and worn out just traveling on a 1 hour flight where I don't switch time zones.

Reunited and it feels so good

We met his friends at Red Pearl Kitchen downtown and had a good time. I was a little skeptical because it's a Pan Asian restaurant and I'm so picky but there were things I liked. Everything was served family style so we got to try a lot of different dishes. If I had to rely on chop sticks I would have starved. I'm the only one at the table who had to ask for a real fork so I could actually eat. It was Anne's 30th Birthday and she celebrated it in style. After dinner we walked to their hotel room at the Hard Rock Hotel and had a few drinks there. It had a great wrap around balcony with a nice view of the city. Mj was too tired to get too much of his drink on so he had announced himself designated driver and I took full advantage. As the night went on he was still hanging in there....but just barely. When everyone headed down to the club we headed for home. By the time we walked into the house he was practically sleep walking, I was ~~tipsy~~ drunk and we both slept like rocks.

A Gift from Mj. Hand made jewelry box

It's so good to have him back home. Australia was his last long work trip of the year. His family reunion is this weekend in Delaware so there is one more out of state trip but I won't miss him. 'Cause this time I get to go too.

Tomatoes & Exercise

2011-07-26T09:37:00.000-07:00

Home Grown

The tomato plant we planted in April is thriving. The leaves have started to wilt a bit but it's gotten so big and the tomatoes started to grow in earlier this month. Still no oranges on the orange tree but we expected that and the herbs are doing well too. Mj put me on plant patrol and I'm in charge of the watering since he's been gone. I'd be in big trouble if anything dies on my watch. I don't really eat tomatoes although these are so bright and pretty it almost makes me want to!! I plucked all the red ones off and took them to my mom's house for her to enjoy. There are plenty of little green ones that haven't quite matured yet that will be ready for Mj to have when he gets home.

My little nephew is walking now! He'll be 1 years old next month, has five teeth and is still just the cutest thing ever. I had him to myself at my parent's house for a couple hours on Sunday and took him outside and watched him go. We had lunch at a friends house then my sister and I went and got our favorite yogurt from Golden Spoon. It's all Non Fat and Fat Free soft serve and I got my three favorite flavors Coffee, Peanut Butter and Peanut Butter Cup. Next time, I'll try do something different and get the Red Velvet. I had a great time with my family. There was lots of fun, wine (what else is new) and lots of eating.

Which led me to this sudden and quite unusual desire to go out running on Sunday night when I got home. I don't do this ~~very often~~ ever and I know my endurance is pretty low so I started out doing 5 minutes running then 5 minutes walking and so on. By the end I ran 8 minutes straight which is pretty good for me. After 40 minutes I ended up doing 24 minutes of running and 16 minutes of walking. Even though it kinda sucked when my legs felt like lead and it seemed like I was running so slooooow it kinda felt good to do it. I'm basically an Elliptical junkie so it was good for me to do something different and with a higher impact. I should probably keep my running on the treadmill though. The next day I was painfully reminded of why I don't run on the unforgiving concrete too often. My left hip felt like it was going to snap off!! I'm definitely not in running shape. My hip got better as the day went on but my legs were so sore I could barely walk myself into the gym. I am proud of myself for slogging my way through my 1 hour Elliptical work out anyways. I have successfully managed to work out twice a week (or more if I'm feelin' it) all year so far which is a huge victory coming from someone who refused to go for well over a year. I'm even going again today after work. Le Sigh. Burning 500 calories in one shot gives me this huge sense of accomplishment, which is part of the reason that I stick to the Elliptical and haven't done Pilates or anything else in a while. Building muscle helps speed up metabolism so I'm trying to get myself to branch out into using the weight machines. Plus, it's probably a good idea to mix things up so I don't get too bored. I'm such a creature of habit.

Since Mj has been in Australia we've only gotten to talk here and there for about five minutes at a time. There is a 17 hour time difference and he's usually asleep while I'm in the middle of my work day. He FINALLY comes back Saturday and I'm really looking forward to having him home again. The week is almost half way over and I'm glad! Hope everyone is having a good week so far.

2011 Cover Girl Classic

2011-07-23T22:38:00.000-07:00


Chelsie during podium training [Photo Source: Universal Sports]

Gymnastics doesn't get too much TV time. I'm lucky if I get to watch it twice a year so I was thrilled to be able to watch the Cover Girl Classic live online on Universal Sports. It's the first big competition of the Elite gymnastics season and there are three comebacks that should make the line up between now and next year's Olympics in London very interesting. Chelsea Memmel and Alicia Sacramone put the word Women's back in Women's Gymnastics. They are so strong at the ripe old age of early 20's and it's just great seeing these ladies in action. Alica's comeback isn't really and truly a comeback because just a year ago she was at this meet after not competing since the 2008 Olympics. She ended the year by making the World Team and has been off the radar since then after the season ended. She's just that good that whenever she decides she wants to go to an Olympic or World Championship, she just trains and makes the team like it's nothing. I'm most impressed with Chelsea. She made an aborted comeback attempt in 2009 that didn't quite pan out but I think she's really going for it this time. She did all four events and could use a little bit of clean up in form but looked so solid in all of them. She has always been such a strong competitor and injuries are the only thing that has ever held her back. I was at the 2003 World Championships in Anaheim where I saw her win her first World gold medal on bars. She was on the 2008 Olympic team in Beijing along with Sean and Alicia but due to an injury was limited to only one event-uneven bars. She has the bad luck of always getting hurt before the Worlds or Olympics and has battled back from so many injuries that I can't believe her body is still letting her do this. I really hope she can hang in there injury free and make it to 2012. If anyone deserves to be on that team she does. Non gymnastics fans might remember Sean Johnson most from Dancing With The Stars which she won in 2009 but her much bigger accomplishment is winning Gold on Beam and the Silver in the All Around, Floor and at the 2008 Olympics. She only did two events (beam and bars) at Cover Girl and fell on both. She was admittedly very nervous and scared but I think she'll get better at Nationals next month. I can't even imagine the pressure she must feel. I takes a lot of guts for a high profile gymnast like her to make a comeback after three years off of gymnastics with so many eyes watching her every move. Aly Raisman won the All Around, Chelsie placed 2nd and new comer Sabrina Vega was 3rd. Very few actually competed all around so this competition seemed to be less about winning and more about warming up for Nationals.

Alicia Sacramone and Sean Johnson during podium training [Photo Source: Gymnastike]

Missing from the lineup was the 2010 All Around National Champion Rebecca Bross. She is coming back from an injury (ankle) like so many and couldn't get it together in time. She was there but scratched at the last minute. It will also be interesting to see what reigning All around Olympic Champion Nastia Liukin decides to do. She's been on the fence for a while about if she will go for 2012. I really like it that a lot of NCAA Collegiate gymnasts are doing Elite during and/or after their Collegiate careers. They bring so much competition experience with them and it's good to show that "older" girls can still be competitive and that Elite gymnastics isn't just for teenagers. In addition to the comeback ladies there are many established gymnasts (like Bross) and new up and comers who want their shot at the Olympics too. The saddest thing is that there are only five spots available down from six. There just isn't too much Olympics to go around. There will be many highs, lows and heartbreaks along this journey and I'll be watching glued to the TV screen or internet as might be the case for any coverage I can get.

See full competition results here at InternationalGymnast.com.

Hostess with the Mostess?

2011-07-18T18:50:00.000-07:00

I've never been the hostess type. Homebody type maybe, but never hostess. I think years of tiny living spaces and my aversion to cooking made it something I've just never been into. Mj is out of town again so I figured it would be a perfect time to invite some ladies over for a little get together. It's amazing how much prep was required just for my small group. I did my grocery shopping Saturday. I woke up Sunday morning and cleaned, got into the kitchen, then ended up running to the store again because I was afraid I didn't buy enough tortilla chips. It's so hard to tell how much people are going to end up eating or drinking. I was ready by 2pm. It was a pretty last minute decision and a very small group but it turned out well if I do say so myself.

So what does a non hostess serve to her guests when her much better at hosting husband who cooks is out of town? Surprise, surprise, but not EVERYTHING came from the frozen foods aisle. Only some of it. One of my girlfriends didn't even think I'd have any actual food but she totally underestimated me. Ok, so it wasn't anything nearly as fancy as Mj would have come up with but I think I did a pretty good job. It was actually nice being in control of the food because I got to make it so that everything was pretty healthy. I put out tortilla chips and put together a cheese and crackers spread for starters. I bought some Jose Ole Chicken Taquitos and Garlic Parmesan Flat Bread that I was able to pop in the oven for 10 minutes. I made two side dishes. Baked red potatoes in the oven and whole grain pasta salad with light Italian dressing. For dessert I bought two kinds of pound cake (one in a Sugar Free version) and light Vanilla ice cream and we had plenty of wine flowing from start to finish. Easy and simple works for me.

We listened to music and got caught up on what everyone has been up to. We are all so busy with work and life that we often go a long time without getting together and when we finally do it's usually happy hour so it was really nice to have them over hanging out at my house. We've been in our house a year and some of them hadn't even seen it. Oops, I just realized I forgot to put out the salsa! Oh well. Everyone had a good time and enjoyed my offerings despite my novice hostessing abilities. I would never be mistaken for the hostess with the mostess but I work with what I got and it's good enough for me.

Be The Match

2011-07-16T22:16:00.000-07:00

July is African American Bone Marrow Awareness Month and it made me think about what led me to the bone marrow registry in the first place. Just after college an old high school friend of mine was diagnosed with cancer. I hadn't spoken to him in a long time but I think being struck with a potentially deadly illness propelled him to reach out. We were friends, but like many do after high school we had lost touch. I remember visiting him in the hospital. He'd had surgery and was so drugged up and in so much pain he couldn't say more than a couple words to me. Fortunately, I'd never had much cause to visit a hospital but I didn't think it would affect me the way it did. That "hospital smell," the shiny white washed floors and the presence of suffering and illness made me weak in the knees. For a moment I actually thought I might pass out as I stood there and did what I could to be of comfort to him. He battled this illness for well over a year and even towards the end when I could visibly see the cancer snaking its way up his neck he was always hopeful that he could beat it. At some point in his illness he required a bone marrow transplant and my family got tested to see if any of us were a match. Nobody wants their life disrupted by surgery and having never even had an overnight stay in the hospital even as I was giving blood I was scared of what might happen if I matched. But my fears were not important. My friend is someone's son. He is an older brother. That is what was important. His life matters and seeing him in need and fighting for his life meant that I needed to do what I could to help even if it required anesthesia and a needle. No one in his family was a match and neither were any of us. Nobody was. Though he put up a valiant fight he succumbed to his illness. I will never ever forget him. He was so young and had so much left to do in this world. I am saddened to think about all that he and his family have missed out on.

Would I feel the same way if it was a stranger? I may not have that physical connection that comes with knowing the person in need but the circumstances are the same. The bone marrow donor must be a close match. When even family members may not be suitable donors it makes you realize that it’s really like searching for a needle in a haystack. If I am that one match that someone needs I'd have no choice but to help. When we got tested, our information was sent to the National Marrow Donor Program^® Registry, as it was called then (now Be The Match Registry^®). That meant that technically, I could get a call at any time regarding donation for someone in need. According to Be The Match Registry "On average, one in every 540 members of Be The Match Registry in the United states will go on to donate marrow to a patient." There are two ways to donate. One way is to extract bone marrow through a needle in the back of the donor’s pelvis. This is always done under anesthesia. The other more common method is called Peripheral Blood Stem Cells (PBSC). For five days the donor receives daily injections of a drug called filgrastim to increase the number of blood forming cells in their bloodstream prior to donation. Then, a needle is used to remove the blood and separate out the blood-forming cells. It is very similar to giving blood. You can read more information about the steps of donation here. Could I do it? Would I have the courage to undergo that procedure for someone that I've never met? The answer is yes. Getting that call means there is someone that might die without my help. I am living my life just fine; why not give someone else the same chance to do that too? The amount of discomfort and fear that I might go through is minimal in comparison to what a person facing a serious illness and possible death is dealing with. I also think about if the roles were reversed. I would want someone to step up and be willing to do the same for me.

It's especially important for ethnic minorities to be on the registry as a volunteer donor. Race is a factor in determining if a donor is suitable or not. Patients are more likely to be a match to someone of their own race and ethnicity. Many African Americans and others of diverse backgrounds have trouble finding a match, so racially and ethnically diverse donors are urgently needed. The pool of diverse potential donors needs to go up in order to increase the chance that patients will find the life-saving match they so desperately need.

I am just a regular woman who goes to work in an office every day. I am not in the military, a doctor, or a firefighter but I could still save a life and that is huge in my book. I’ve seen what a bone marrow transplant can do. Over 10 years ago my younger sister had a close childhood friend that was diagnosed with Leukemia. Not too long ago I stumbled upon her Facebook page which led me to her blog. That sick little girl I saw in a hospital bed is now a beautiful young woman who has gone to college and has a real talent for photography. The average time it takes for the bone marrow donor to resume normal activities is 1 to 7 days and in return she and her family have the chance to experience a lifetime of memories. While the idea of donating scares me, if I can make that possible for someone else and give them that second chance I will.

You can get more information at BeTheMatch.org.

1 Year Wedding Anniversary

2011-07-11T22:20:00.000-07:00

Husband and wife

Enjoying the festivities

July 10th, 2010 was one of the happiest days of my life. We booked the date about seven months out and from that moment on everything leading up to and including our wedding day was a whirlwind of fun, excitement and adventure. We'd fallen in love and eight months after meeting we had to spend eleven months apart while he was out of the country. He came back and we immediately threw ourselves into house hunting and wedding planning. Sure, there were stressful times and I had more then a few mini nervous breakdowns along the way but it was all worth it and I loved having this big special day to look forward to. The only thing I loved more then the planning process was the day itself. Our reward for all that we had gone through was this magical fun day where we had a blast and got to celebrate our love with family and friends. Yes, it just so happens to have cost more then any one day ever will but you can't really put a price tag on the joy we got out of it. I felt more beautiful then I've ever felt in my life. I was the star of my own fairytale. I was a princess being escorted to the ball that would forever change my life by my handsome prince all the while surrounded by people who love us. There will never ever be another day like that one special day. The groom forgot his tux, there were a few uninvited guests, our cake was the wrong color and it went by way too fast but I will always remember it as a perfect day that I enjoyed from the moment I woke up until I went to bed that night. I danced, I ate and drank, I mingled and totally lost myself in the wonder of the day. I feel so lucky and fortunate that I got to experience that.

It's no surprise that I felt a tremendous sense of loss when it was over. I gained a handsome wonderful man that I could now call my husband but I lost the whole wedding planning spectacle I had so enjoyed. We were properly installed in our house and my wedding was now behind me so I didn't know what to do with myself. I relived that day over and over in blog recap after blog recap, photo sharing, conversations and in my mind. I just wanted to do it all over again! Funny as it sounds I really mourned the passing of my wedding day. I became envious of brides who were still in the planning phase and it actually took a good few months...or four but I finally got over it and moved on. I've since settled happily into married life, look fondly back at our gorgeous wedding pictures and still well up with happy tears when I hear our recessional song. It was truly a day that I will never, ever, EVER forget and will live on for all eternity as one of the best and happiest days of my life.

There was plenty of kissing that night!!

Sheer Joy

We had a nice fancy dinner out Saturday night where I got buzzed on wine and we both left with very full satisfied stomachs. Sunday, on the afternoon of our 1 year wedding anniversary he took off for Australia. I couldn't take my eyes off of him. He showered, did his last minute packing and ate all the while my eyes followed him wherever he went. I'm often guilty of staring at him like some deranged stalker but it's just 'cause I think he's the cutest thing ever and I'm his wife. It's my right! He's come and gone many times already this year but this is the 3rd (and last) long trip. The first time I said, "OK see ya later" but this time around I cried. I probably won't even be able to talk to him while he's gone. It's just not the same when he's not here. Time apart has only strengthened us in the past and reunions are the best so there is always that to look forward to. In the meantime, I'll just get on with my day to day routine, get out and do something fun with friends to pass the time. Then when he gets back we can continue on our merry way to celebrating our next anniversary.

Wedding Day Recaps & Pics
Wedding Sticker Shock
Why have a wedding at all?
Wedding advice from a budget bride
Our Honeymoon

My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding

2011-07-08T09:40:00.000-07:00

A bride with her bridesmaids on her wedding day
[Photo Source: TLC]

I've been watching My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding on TLC. At first I wasn't interested in watching it at all because I'm kind over wedding reality shows but this one is different. I caught one episode and I was intrigued. The show is about the traditions and lifestyle of Roma Gypsies and Irish Travellers in the UK. It's not just about the wedding day it's about a lifestyle very different then anything I've ever seen. Weddings are a huge part of that lifestyle so it actually makes sense that a show about this community would center around that. Little girls dream about their wedding day practically from birth. That's not totally unusual to me but the type of wedding that they dream about and the implications of that wedding on their life is.

The lifestyle

They marry young. Usually around 16 and by the time you are 19 you are considered an old bride.
Travellers usually only marry Travellers and then once they get married they move from their parents house into a tiny caravan together in a communal living land site. They usually prefer caravans to houses and ideally, one without a toilet because it's considered disgusting to use a toilet inside a caravan. They use sheds outside instead.
A lot of them do travel around but some of them stay put in their caravans especially if there are younger children going to school.
The men go to work and the women stay home. In fact, women usually drop out of school by the age of 16 to help take care of younger siblings and help mom with household duties. They aren't planning to have a career so why bother? Their responsibility in life is to tend to their husband, the home and to have children.
Women aren't allowed to go anywhere without their husband once they are married and before that not without siblings or someone else to accompany them. Boys can pretty much come and go whenever they choose and never have any responsibilities around the house.
Brides absolutely DO NOT live with their fiance or have sex with their fiance for that matter prior to being married.
Young girls wear tons of make up. They run around in tight, bright, sparkly, revealing clothing at parties and weddings with the intention of attracting a husband. Their going out attire looks like stripper costumes. This seems to be in great contrast to their devout catholic religion and strict upbringing.
It's a male dominated culture. Women basically belong to their parents until they get married and then they belong to their husband.
This community is often discriminated against and marginalized because of their lifestyle.

A Traveller bride with her massive cake at her wedding
[Photo Source: TLC]

The Wedding

Their weddings are really over the top. The decor often includes things like balloons, butterfly's, hearts, and all kinds of other whimsical fairy tale sparkly things. And lots of it.
There are no invitations. The news of a wedding is spread by word of mouth. Anyone who wants to come shows up and weddings are often used as a place young men to look for a wife.
The wedding location and even the date is a closely guarded secret. Sometimes even the cake and dress vendor will not know the location up to the very last minute. Guests find out about the wedding location at the ceremony which is always held in a catholic church. Gypsies have a rowdy reputation so they have to keep their Gypsy identity secret . It's typical for brides to be cancelled upon or refused multiple times by venues before securing a location and date.
The bride's mode of transportation on the wedding day ranges anywhere from a horse drawn carriage a la Cinderella to a hot pink hummer.
The dresses are BIG and considered the most important part of the wedding. As they walk they have to kick the skirt ahead of them in order not to trip and they barely fit inside doorways and into cars. The bride usually designs her own dress then has it custom made. No store sells the type of dress that these girls want. They can weigh twice the bride and are so heavy that they often end up with scars on their hips from wearing them all day. Think Cinderella on steroids and that is your gypsy bride wedding dress. Their accessories often include elbow length gloves, massive tiaras, large quantities of make up and heavy spray tans.
The bridesmaids dresses are almost as big and twice as bright. The bride is responsible for getting them custom made along with her own dress. Color combination such as hot pink and neon yellow are not uncommon. The bride's little sisters are dressed as the "mini bride" and wears and exact replica of the bride's dress.
The only thing bigger then the dresses is the cake. There will often be one very large cake and then a bunch of other surrounding smaller cakes. They are usually done up in fairly tale themes in the shape of a castle or carriage and adorned by barbie dolls.
Cost is never discussed by the gypsies or their vendors but I can only imagine.

I could not live that kind of a life dedicated to finding a man, getting married and then keeping house as a second class citizen. Sounds awfully limiting and sad. Aside from that those caravans are tiny! It's like camping out 24/7. As for the weddings I'm wondering things like how can they give numbers to the hotel if there are no invitations and RSVP's? How on earth can they afford such elaborate weddings and what happens if you can't? On the show they say you haven't really been to a wedding until you've been to a Traveller wedding and I believe it.

Fun Fourth

2011-07-05T09:33:00.000-07:00

The fair is a big deal for me. It's a tradition in our family. One I really enjoyed sharing with Mj when we went together for the first time 3 years ago. I've been going every year for as long as I can remember and don't ever miss it. Ever. We were going to go on Sunday but due to budget cuts I decided that we should skip the fair this year. He insisted we could still go (at least one of us isn't in the poor house) but I'm stubborn and broke so I said no. Having a rental property is ruining my life! By the time Mj got back from biking that morning I was laying in bed feeling sorry for myself. If I couldn't go to the fair then all I wanted to do is lay in bed all day. And that's that. Mj had to work a little bit harder then usual to pep me up but he got the job done. No one can cheer me up like he can. He's only home for a week before he jets off to Brisbane, Australia (yes, I'm very jealous). There is no point in wasting our precious time together being a Debbie Downer when we could be having fun instead so I got up and got it together and we went to see Transformers, Dark of the Moon in 3D and IMAX. We bought our snacks at the gas station, used our free popcorn coupon once we got there and settled down in a very crowded theater to enjoy the movie. The storyline was confusing at times but really good...and long. The glasses are totally unflattering and felt funny sitting on my nose but 3D is super cool. The images are so clear and really in your face. It makes movie going a whole new experience seeing everything come to life life so realistically. I could definitely get used to that.

My sexy grill master doing his thing

Our spread

Me & my mini burger.
Minutes after this was taken it actually started sprinkling a little

For the 4th we did our own little BBQ at home. Just the two of us. I don't think we've ever done that before. After watching a movie we Mj made sliders, roasted potatoes, and baked beans. We ate it outside along with some wine. Then we lounged around some more before going over to his co workers house for dessert, drinks and fireworks. About 10 seconds after I shut my door we realized that Mj had dropped his keys...inside the car. After the tow truck came to get them out, I continued chugging the best Moscato I've ever had in my life, ate a bunch of brownies and enjoyed a pretty good view of the fireworks from their house. We didn't leave until about 10:15pm and that probably explains why I'm sitting here at work barely able to keep my eyes open. Ugg...how will I ever make it to the gym? I had a great long weekend but it was way too short as always. It's so wonderful to have Mj home again. My problems just don't feel as big when he's around and that's just ONE of the many reasons I love him so much.

In case anybody is wondering, that bug I trapped under a cup because I was too chicken to kill it while Mj was gone was still alive and well a week later. Mj lifted the cup and scooped the bug up with a tissue while I ran for the closet because I already knew he was going go try to freak me out by coming after me with it. The icky bug is gone! Mj really is my hero in more ways then one.

Weight of the World

2011-07-01T10:20:00.000-07:00

When I was a kid my best friend and I were gymnasts. Her mom was a stay at home mom to three and most of the other parents had to work so she always ended up being the carpool go to person. She picked us up, and dropped us off at daily practice and hosted many a slumber parties and camping trips. We seemed to spend a lot of time in the car. I'm not sure why I remember the things that I do but I still have this image of her driving with one hand on the wheel and the other hand holding her head while her arm rested on the door with her elbow just slightly sticking out of the window. Just looking at her like that you got the sense that the weight of the world was on her shoulders. She sighed a lot and often looked sad and tired. I remember clearly thinking to myself with the innocence of a child that I would never be that way. As a kid sitting in the back seat chatting with my gym buddies I had no comprehension of the menagerie of worries she could possibly be struggling with and simply could not understand what could make someone appear so beaten down. How could I? Childhood is such a wonderful little bubble of joy. I was young, full of energy and had no responsibilities beyond household chores and going to school. My biggest worry was if I would get my back handpring on beam or if my dad would let me go to Disneyland with the other girls.

As an official adult for the last sixteen years I know better now. I can think of a million things that could have caused the sadness in her eyes. I often times find myself assuming that same pose with my head in my hand on my way home from a long day of work. A worried head racing with thoughts of this or that. Funny how that is. I know now what I couldn't begin to know back then. As we grow older our world broadens and along with that comes a million other things that make us grow up and make us grown ups. Some things we like, and some we don't but we don't get to pick and choose. I remember the excitement of going off to college, the thrill of being able to order my first drink in a bar and the pride of moving out into my first apartment after college. Along with that comes problems that need resolving, bills that need to be paid and obligations that need to be tended to. Life can be as hard as it is rewarding. I know that I've not seen the worst it has to offer and can't complain too much but there are days when I just can't see that proverbial light at the end of the tunnel and my inner demons threaten to knock me down. Moments where I feel tired and worn out by the day to day struggle of making it and figuring out where I fit in. Times that I wonder where I went wrong and what oh what can I do to fix it now.

So what do we do? We keep going because as grown ups that's what we are supposed to do. We hold on tight to the good things and do our best to fend off the bad. We gather strength and joy from the ones we love. We keep working, growing, and learning. We bask in delight wherever it finds us, because surely and thankfully it will. We do this because life can be hard but it is still good.

Housekeeping

2011-06-27T21:51:00.000-07:00

Tools of the trade

I do the cleaning in our house because unfortunately, it won't clean itself. I figure since there are already a million other things that I have to ~~nag~~ remind Mj about that neither one of us needs the aggravation of me asking him for the 3rd time when he's going to clean the toilet or vacuum. I do it myself and it gets done. He is responsible for trash day, picking up after himself, and keeping his desk and one of the extra rooms he uses tidy. That seems to be plenty for him to keep up with. He cooks way more then I ~~ever will~~ do and either one of us starts the laundry when the hamper lid won't close or he runs out of undershirts; whichever comes first. The kitchen counters, dishes, stove etc are done throughout the week on an as needed basis by both of us, or just me if I get too annoyed with his habit of letting them pile up and sit. Can you guess which one of us is the "neat one"?

When I lived in my studio it took me about an hour tops to clean the entire place from top to bottom. It was easy and didn't take up too much of my time so I didn't mind it all that much. Since moving into our house it takes so long that I find myself dreading it more and more. It's like the gym. Once I get started I'm usually ok, it can be soothing and satisfying and I like the finished results but finding the motivation to get going is tough sometimes. Cleaning is usually a Saturday morning affair so I can get it out of the way and have the rest of my weekend to relax and have fun. If I didn't get to the laundry that's no big deal to leave for Sunday, as long as the cleaning is done. I like everything to be clean at the same time AND I'd rather not be cleaning something every day so I do it all at once every other weekend. Unless I'm feeling really lazy and/or busy in which case I might put it off one extra week. Because it takes me so long I decided to track exactly what I was doing and how long I was doing it to figure out if I could trim down the time. We have 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms and two living spaces. These are examples of three different ~~torture~~ cleaning "sessions" and how long it took me.

54 minutes: Dusting blinds and all surfaces
25 minutes: Vacuum carpets/Floors
50 minutes: Clean Bathrooms
35 minutes: Swiffer all floors
2 hours 44 Minutes

1 hr 10 min: Dusting all surfaces, blinds and window sills
45 min: Vacuum carpets and floors
46 min: Clean Bathrooms
6 min: Trash
2 hrs 46 min

43 min: Dust all surfaces
33 min: Vacuum carpets and floors
45 min: Clean bathrooms
5 min: Trash
2 hr 6 min

The 1/2 bath and the extra full bathroom don't get much use so those are pretty quick. I did find that I was wiping down mirrors that didn't need to be wiped and vacuuming and mopping carpets and floors that hardly get used so I have cut back on that. I dust behind the DVD/Satellite box/Playstation/Xbox hub and other surfaces that aren't quite dusty but it seems to pop up overnight so I think it's just better to stay on top of it. We don't wear shoes inside so I don't think it necessary to mop every single time. I also don't do the blinds, window sills and baseboards every time either.

I woke up to my neighbor blasting Barry Manilow on Saturday morning. Should I be embarrassed to admit that I really liked a lot of the songs? Somehow music makes doing anything more tolerable so I got out of bed, blasted some i tunes of my own and started in with the dusting. 2 hours and 6 minutes later I'm finished and I'd hate to see how much longer it would take me if we had a bigger house. I take pride in keeping a clean and neat house and like it that if someone drops by unexpectedly I won't be embarassed by the condition of my home. I really enjoy the finished results of all of my hard work....that is until the Mj storm rolls through and leaves his trail of destruction. It's actually kind of a work out too. Either that or I'm totally out of shape because my body usually feels fatigued by the time I'm done. The good news is that I have the entire three day weekend ahead to have fun without having to even think about cleaning. The bad news is that next weekend or the weekend after depending on how ~~lazy~~ busy I am I get to do it all over again. I noticed that our neighbor behind us (the one who likes Barry Manilow) has a maid and sometimes I really wish we did too. Maybe someday that would be possible, especially if we ever got a bigger house, but for now I'm it.

How do you divide household chores in your house? How long does it take you to clean or are you lucky enough to have a cleaning service? What is your typical cleaning schedule?

I hate bugs

2011-06-25T23:08:00.000-07:00

I know, I know...I really need to get over this phobia

I'm laying on the couch watching TV and minding my own business when I catch the sight of a disgusting pincher bug slowly crawling across the carpet. Instead of grabbing a shoe like a normal person would do I stand there frozen in one spot staring at it before racing downstairs to grab a cup from the kitchen. I could have tried the vacuum method but I didn't think I had time to lug the vacuum all the way upstairs and get it plugged up. The worst thing that can ever happen is for a bug to totally disappear on you. Granted, it was anywhere before I spotted it and could have been hanging out for a while but that was before I knew it was there. Once I know it's in my space and I can't see it...well that's really scary. The last time I tried the trapping method it didn't work. With the loving support of my sister I picked up the shoe that I had put the leg of one chair on top of and one week later the offending spider had escaped. I'm too chicken to kill this bug so I feel I have no other option but to try it again. Uggg...I hate being afraid of something so small and harmless. It makes no sense, but I guess that's why it's called a phobia. So, I put the cup over the bug and then look around for something heavy to weigh it down. Ridiculous as it is that cup will likely sit there all week until Mj comes back as it is doubtful that I will ever find the courage to pick it up. By the way, why do they always show up when he is gone?? It may or may not escape but as long as I don't KNOW for sure that it is NOT under that cup I will be comforted by the knowledge that it can't get me. Even though it sucks that I will have to look at that sitting on the floor day after day. It does absolutely nothing for the decor.