Half the Battle

I was perusing other blogs that I enjoy and one mentioned this idea of "half the battle" and I love it! So, here's mine...
I feel like half of my daily battle has been fought, as long as my scentsy is turned on from the second I get home from work until I got to bed. Even if the dishes need washing + the towels are piling up in the bathroom + the floors haven't been vaccuumed (in god-knows how long) + my bed isn't made + my mail is still in the box.

It's the little things in life, right?

What helps you fight your daily battle?

Daily Quote

Even though you may want to move forward in your life, you may have one foot on the brakes. In order to be free, we must learn how to let go. Release the hurt. Release the fear. Refuse to entertain your old pain. The energy it takes to hang onto the past is holding you back from a new life. What is it you would let go of today?

This was the daily quote on my cell phone today. It really caught me off guard and made me think...what should I let go of in order to move forward in 2011? Stressing about a job for my husband? Worrying about the perfect time to start our family? Financial strains? Not saving enough money? I'll let you know what I figure out...

And, I keep reminding myself that every year is a fresh start. I'm ready to welcome 2011 and say good riddens to 2010.

food for thought.

between my "look that way" and "lift your chin" haircut, my cousin-slash-fabulous hairdresser and i were gossiping about the things we love and loathe about our lives. naturally, we got to talking about what we disagree with our husbands over. hers was football on sundays instead of church with the family. mine was an unreachable husband due to anti-cell phone beliefs and the fact that it's never on him (EVER!). quickly, the conversation emerged from what irritates us to what makes us swoon all over again, what makes us want to marry them all over again. that list was much more solid and jam-packed with smiles, giggles, and oh-my-gosh-did-you-know's. all the things that make non-girly-girls cringe. we discussed how her husband is such a great, hands-on father and i shared my predictions that mine would be the same way. i already see it in his interactions with our nieces. in the thick of our conversation, another hairdresser slides into our conversation..."don't you girls ever go divorcing those husbands of yours! if you got one that doubles as a good father, you've already won. nothing else matters, you hear me? nothing." then she half-giggled and walked away. and now, even four hours later, i'm still chewing over that thick hunk of unsolicited advice she spewed. i don't think i will ever forget it.

Loud & clear.

Sometimes I get sad when I think we'll have to wait even longer to start our own family. Then, Sophia and Peyton (and the fact that I can watch them whenever I want) popped into my head. I hear you, God. Loud and clear.

Leaving the theater Thursday night, I was pretty late for a work night and kept repeating "I'm so tired" (obviously feeling sorry for myself). At the next stop light, I glanced over towards the sidewalk and was fixated on outlines of people under thin blankets sleeping on the street. I hear you, God. Loud and clear.

Friday morning on my drive to work, I was irritated at the fact that I was running late due to having to scrape ice off my windshield (and wait for my car to warm up). Then, I glanced over to see a man waiting at the bus-stop, clearly freezing and wearing a mask to cover his face from the cold. I hear you, God. Loud and clear.

This morning, while I got ready for work and my husband remained motionless in our bed, I was jealous. Then, instantly, I remembered how badly that painfully adorable sleeping face is still (patiently) awaiting his chance at a real, permanent full-time engineering job. I hear you, God. Loud and clear.

It's all about giving.

There are few things that make me happier during the holidays than donating toys to our local community. Kevin and I put a lot of thought and time into finding really great gifts at really great deals. Every toy in this image was between $5-7 dollars! It doesn't matter so much about the money - it's about trying to get as many toys for as many children as possible. The best part about it is they are all quality toys that should last far into the new year. Giving has always been really important to us. It just breaks my heart to think that some children will go to bed with imaginative thoughts and promises of a magical Santa bringing them a special gift then wake up to nothing. We have so much to be thankful for...why not spread the holiday cheer by putting a smile on a child's face? It means more to me than having another gift under the tree. I can't wait until my nieces are old enough to understand why we give, who we are giving to, and can help us pick out gifts for those who may receive none.

Question vs. Answer

I have had a few half-completed blogs in the works for some time now. Nothing very spectacular, nothing that jumps out of my brain onto the page (or, in this case, keys). As usual, we have been discussing and making plans for 2011, as it is fast approaching. Talks of saving for our own place. Talks of saving for a new (or new-to-us) car (I wouldn't be surprised if Kevin's kills over one day fairly soon). Talks of expanding our little family to 4 instead of 3 (yes, the Monst is part of that equation). Basically, all the same questions and no definitive answers. The problem is the state of the economy right now. Dear Lord, please let 2011 bring a positive light and help us to wash away the struggles of 2010. Although a growing experience, it was a hard year for us (and for everyone) . That's what is keeping us from taking risks - we try to keep it safe in case things go awry again. How do you consciously, given the economy and the shaky state of the job market right now, make a choice to have a baby when you don't know what will happen in a year, 6 months or a week from now? I guess it's one of those situations where you throw caution to the wind and jump in head first. However, that's not really my style. I plan, I stress, I worry. And right now, I'm having a little trouble unclenching my hands from the dock.

tuesday

it's been just one of those days. a doosy of a day, they say. the day that just never ends. i've been experiencing more and more of those recently. and, quite frankly, it's really starting to put me in a bad mood.

i don't mean to be all bah-hum-bug, but i don't know how to shake myself out of it? it's to the point where i am tired of being at work. tired of the day-to-day routine. tired of feeling like there isn't enough time to complete anything of much importance. paper pushing isn't very fulfilling anymore. it offers financial stability, but not much more than that. lately, i've found myself envious of those that don't have to follow a routine. those whose lives are more spontaneous. those who have different kinds of responsibilities. envious of those who don't have to attend a 9 to 5. i guess that's the problem, though. you can always be envious of someone else for some reason or another. but, like they say, the grass isn't always greener on the other side. i've struggled with envious feelings before and it's such an unattractive trait.

so, my question is, how do i change this depressing outlook?

old habits die hard.

all I want for christmas this year is....TO BE A GROWN-UP??

not in the sense of the word that i want to be old(er). but, i have a lot of habits that i'd love to break. it just takes more patience and determination than i've been willing to put forth recently. i really need to learn how to be more organized, more responsible, more clean. i need to learn to not leave my dirty dishes in the sink after dinner (we usually do them the next day after work). i need to learn to always ALWAYS hang up my towel, even when i'm in a rush. i need to learn to put things back where they belong EVERY TIME, so it doesn't pile up on the surfaces on my home. i need to learn to keep my car more organized. (i fear if i got a wreck right now, i'd probably get my head chopped off from debris flying around in my car! haha) basically, i need to try to break old habits and form new ones. like using rubber gloves when i wash the dishes. my mother in law does it, and her mother does it. and i swear, i am hooked. i will never go back! now, if only i could say that about my car...

***note: you would think that, by this post, we have an usually cluttered and messy home. we don't, but it could be better. i want to do these things not only for my husband and my dog, but for myself.

Thank you, mom.

It is now the 1st of December. My favorite month of the year. Now, the countdown begins to Christmas! There is so much joy and giving in this month. I feel like people are more willing to share what little they have with others. Kevin and I are always looking for ways to give. We donate toiletries every year to the Portland Rescue Mission. We usually participate in Operation: Christmas Child. I have a couple options lined up to serve a soup kitchen on Sundays. I always donate a toy or two to our local toy drive at work. The giving really is better than receiving. I just recently saw a "Fill a Stocking for a Senior" (toiletry items and everyday expenses that can add up) and I am tempted to fill one or two. I just think, I'd rather spend a little less on gifts for my family or a little less on going to the movies or eating out to spend a little more on those who don't have much. It's a shame that it doesn't happen consistently all year round, but at least you know at Christmastime people are thinking about the real reasons for the season.

They say there is something therapeutic about the sun. I also think the same thing about the winter season. Not so much the rain, but the crisp, cold air. The snow and icicles. The twinkling lights on houses. A hot cup of cider and a crackling fire. The Christmas trees covered in lights and ornaments. The funny and family-friendly holiday movies. The festive decorations and the cheery holiday music. It really does make it easier to say "Merry Christmas!" or "Happy Holidays!" when you are surrounded by so much beauty. That, my friends, is why Christmas is so special to me. Not because of the gifts I will receive, but because of the spiritual gifts you receive every day from strangers on the street and the generous spirit you see in others. I owe it all to my mother. She worked so hard to make Christmas special for her children, always decorating the house so beautiful and blasting the Christmas music. Everything about the holidays makes my heart happy. Your love for Christmas has been instilled in your children and your grand children. Thank you, mom, and Merry Christmas!

Quirky.

Because I'm quirky, I love quirky things. Uncommongoods.com is one of my favorite websites to find those unique gifts for the person who has everything. I find myself constantly thinking "wow! that's great" and "so-and-so would love that!" so I figured I'd share the wealth. Check out a few of my favorite things...Maybe you'll just be inspired to find the perfect gift for that special person on your list?

Glass Plastic Bag Candy dish


Ceramic Paper Bag vase


Ceramic Porcelain Glove vase


Dream Bank


Ticket Stub Diary


Recycled Wine Bottle Platters


Mini Stocking Advent Calendar (loooove this!)


Lucy's Socks



Wine Bottle Tealight Holders



Custom Wedding Announcement Art


I told you - great, right!?! When I find something this fabulous, I just have to share it. So..for all of you with difficult people on your list, I hope this helps! Check out other items on the site, as well. It really is great! :)

We've been upgraded...

from the children's table to an adult table! In fact, there's a new children's table in town and it holds 3 of the cutest girlies in the world. But, I'm starting at the end of the story so let's go back...

Wednesday night started off as Thanksgiving Bakefest 2010. Kevin and I were up to our elbows in pie crust dough until roughly 2am. We successfully created a delicious dutch apple pie, a traditional pecan pie and a chocolate bourbon pecan pie. Each included homemade crust from scratch...and we didn't even have the help of a rolling pin. Enter: Inventive wine bottle roller. It works perfectly, especially since the bottle neck makes a perfect handle. Eat your heart out. And yes, you can pretty much call me Martha from now on :)


Thursday morning was full of relaxation, cinnamon rolls and "craps" (crafts) with my niece Sophia. It's amazing what fun, inexpensive things you can make if you just add a 2-year-old and the dollar store teacher's aisle. We had a lot of fun making the Thanksgiving cards including custom marker drawings and stickers, but she had even more fun handing them out to everyone at the celebration that evening!

Starting from 2:30 pm to 4:30pm, we were peeling, chopping, boiling, and mashing 3 bags of potatoes. Yep, THREE BAGS! Kevin couldn’t believe how many pots of mashed potatoes we had to make. I tried to explain that we were on a mission for a big pot of regular mashers and a big pot of sour cream-garlic mashers, but I knew he’d see the light once we ate. In the end, I walked away with one sliced knuckle and one burnt knuckle but it was a small price to pay. There were barely any potatoes left at the end of the night! The Boss clan and the Cameron/Herman clan sure know how to eat up those spuds!

Thankful circle. It's a tradition in our family. After the prayer and before the feast, we all go around the circle and share what we are thankful for. I said that I'm thankful that my husband and I both have jobs. There are so many without that we are truly blessed (even if it does require me to wake up early!). Kevin surprised me...he said more than he usually does. This year he was thankful that he could spend the holidays with our family and that he's so thankful that he's been welcomed the way he has. He said that, if he couldn't be with his real family, he's thankful to be with his other family. That man continually surprises me! :)

My darling, precious niece Peyton looked so adorable in her little pink plaid dress. She's growing up so fast. And...she sure loved her mashed potatoes. Oh man! She loved them so much, in fact, she tried to eat the plate :) I couldn't help but think...next year at this time, Peyton will be running around with Sophia and Evelyn and there will be a new batch of little babes. It's so fun having the girlies in the family - they make everything so much better. ***Makes me want one!***

After the feast and somewhere between drooling over my cousin's new kitchen table and asking her where she got it, my niece comes running full-force from the kitchen to the couch, karate chops her way into my lap, grabs each of my cheeks with her sweaty little hands, yanks my head in her direction and stares into my eyes (so close our noses are touching and I have to consciously work to not cross my eyes). Here's the conversation:

Sophia: You want a new table?
Me: Yes.
Sophia: And Chairs?
Me: Yes. Think Santa will bring a table and chairs for Christmas?
Sophia: I buys one for you!
Me: You will?
Sophia: I's promise!

Then, she squeezed my cheeks, pulled my face towards hers and gave me a huge kiss. While I was picking my heart up off the floor, she hopped down and ran away! Now that is love. This amazing creature has no idea what kind of hold she has on my heart.

Needless to say, it was a very blessed Thanksgiving for all! Now...the countdown to Christmas begins!

Can't hardly wait.

I've already watched Christmas with the Kranks and Christmas Vacation.
I've already purchased my wrapping paper and many of my gifts.
We already bought our 2010 ornament & a super-awesome Dwight ornament.
I am so SO ready for Christmas this year.
*With the exception that I haven't finished making my cards yet!
Thanksgiving will be fun, but Christmas takes the cake!

Since our tree was dry and brittle by Christmas last year, my darling husband says I have to wait until December 5th to buy our tree this year. If it were up to me, I'd get it the weekend after Thanksgiving, but (although I hate to admit it) I see his point. Nobody likes a Christmas catastrophe due to lights setting the dry tree on fire!

My brother asked if we are going to put lights up on our duplex this year. The thought didn't even occur to me considering it's a big NO-NO in apartment living. I am going to talk to our neighbor Francisco to see if he plans to hang lights. If not, it's fair game! Bring on the lights shopping!! :) It's especially nice considering our duplex is only one story so hanging lights will be no big deal. That's what I have a husband for anyway, right?

NOTE: Shopping for outside lights should be interesting. Kevin likes blue lights. I like red & white alternating lights. If he can't have blue, he'd like red & green alternating lights. If I can't have red & white alternating lights, I'd like plain white or multi-color. Hummm....should be interesting.

Thanksgiving is on Thursday then I can listen to all the Christmas music I want and I can finally decorate our new place for Christmas. I couldn't be more excited!!

Because we all need a reminder, sometimes.

Today, I was a silent participant in a discussion regarding Christianity and what it means to be a real disciple of Christ vs. an overbearing Bible-thumper. It's very ironic, in my opinion, that I (more often than not) completely agreed with the non-Christian speakers moreso than those that live, eat and breathe the Bible. Why? Because those people aren't acting like temptation and the battle of wrong vs. right doesn't happen to them. Because those people are speaking honestly and from the heart. Because those people are having experiences with Christians that are not doing as God calls them to do. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the Bible doesn't instruct us to judge, point fingers, turn up our noses or push our beliefs on others. It instructs us to be open, forgive, accept, understand, and, most importantly, love.

While descriptive words (pious, hypocritical, judgmental, etc). were being tossed around like leaves in the wind, the conversation allowed me the room to formulate a few facts that I stand for 100%:

1. Just because you go to church and you've made more right decisions in your life than wrong doesn't make you a better person. And, it certainly doesn't make you a better Christian. Christianity is as much about your personal walk with God as it is about discipleship. However, non-believers do not see the beauty of Christ and Christianity unless you are a good living example of your faith. The biggest complaint was not that Christians are preaching too much, it was that they are not practicing what they preach.

2. Just because you are divorced, had a child out of wedlock or had sex before you were married, doesn't mean you are a failure as a Christian (or a person). And it does not, I repeat...DOES NOT give Christians the right to judge you or feel that they need to "save" you from all your wrongdoing. Things happen in life, whether controllable or not, and I believe God understands that. Some run from Christianity simply because of all the "impossible to follow" rules that come along with it. Christians just need to take a step back and realize that nobody is perfect. [If we were, why would we even need God?] That is why we have such a forgiving God. Life is hard enough and, once you throw religion in too, it's nearly impossible to do everything right. Christians need to accept people as they are, the good with the bad, and cut them some slack. Most importantly, they need to only offer advice and opinions when they are asked for.

3. Just because you can recite the Bible backwards from memory and you haven't missed a day of church in 7 years doesn't mean you are the primo Christian. Anybody can memorize and anybody can have perfect attendance. It's about what you are learning in all those years of church. Moreso, it's about putting what you memorized to work and drawning others in. Don't brag about all the things you can do, be humble about what you can't and realize that others will respect that honesty and (hopefully) respond positively.

I think this is a good reminder for me (and for all of us) that how you live your life is going to draw in more non-believers than preaching in every coffee shop, school, mall, minivan or street fair ever will. Practice what you preach. Lead by example. Don't tell them how Christ has changed your life, show them.

Temporary Insanity...or Change of Heart?

What used to scare me, make my eyes bulge wide, make me wince in pain and my stomach flutter now makes me feel warm fuzzies inside. Drool doesn't freak me out. Diapers don't cross my mind. Dollar signs don't go swinging through my head. I think, just maybe...

juuuuuuuust mayyyyybeeeee.....

I am ready to have a baby.

That is all.

Finding balance.

Whoa, whoa, whoa! As of before November 1, they have had Christmas cups at Starbucks. Can you say early?? I love Christmas, don't get me wrong. It's my favorite holiday in fact. However, I am willing to get it get here in it's own time. It seems like time is slipping through my fingers at an extremely fast rate. I told someone at work that I'm 26 today and I practically choked when that number spewed from my mouth. TWENTY SIX!?! It seems like I should be so much further at 26 than I am! Kevin and I have tabled the baby talk until our new place is completely in order. We're just trying to get all our boxes unpacked from our move (yes, we still have more!) and figure out how much money to save to get him a new (or newer) car. Thankfully, our tax return should be decent this year so we can put that towards saving for a car and/or baby. The root of it all: it seems that, with us, if it's not one thing, it's the other. Are we always worrying about one thing after the next without taking a chance to just enjoy down time? OR do we simply have dreams and goals that we're working towards and this is how we acquire them? I'm still trying to find the balance. Regardless, we're having fun dreaming about our future and what may be. The best part is, we're best friends and still madly in love :)

Cheesy? Yes.
True? Absolutely.

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens...

you know, you know...these are a few of my favorite things fabulous enough to make my Christmas wishlist. Let me be clear - this list is being posted on my blog (and i probably will also post on my refrigerator) to hint at my husband as to what things would be nice to see wrapped up all pretty beneath the tree this year. Is that subtle enough? Haha! Also, I obviously don't expect all of these things (or really even any of them) but they are certainly nice to look at.

Short Black Uggs (at Nordstrom, women's size 8, NOT the mini's)
MAC cosmetics giftcard (need to replace some makeup I use that is running very low)
Chevron or Shell gas giftcard (i despise paying for gasoline)
Cuddlebug (i'm really into scrapbooking and cardmaking)
Any of these die cuts for the Cuddlebug: one, two, three, four, five
Movies: Get Him to the Greek, Date Night, The Back-up Plan, Grownups, Dinner for Schmucks
Red Candle Sticks (2 tall and 3 short - Crate and Barrel)
White Taper Candles (set of 6 - Crate and Barrel)
Snowflake Votive Holders (3-5 - Crate and Barrel)
Origins Checks & Balances facewash (at Macy's)
Origins Have A Nice Day face moisturizer (at Macy's)
Martha Stewart 3-cakestand tower set (at Macy's)
Martha Stewart butter dish and salt-n-pepper shaker set (at Macy's)
Martha Stewart cupcake stand (at Macy's)
Martha Stewart cupcake carrier (at Macy's)
Bird Tealight holder (at ZGallerie - Lauren, loved it so much, I have to have it!)
Owl table lamp (at West Elm)
Fabulous Ceramic Clocks (at West Elm)
White Owls (at West Elm)
Adorable Mercury Birds (at West Elm)
Victoria's Secret Velour Pant/Hoodie Set (Color: Truffle, size L) (at Victoriassecret.com)
Red Naveen Pillar Candleholders (at CostPlus World Market)

Welp, that's a rather extensive list. You asked, Mom, so there you go! I guess that won't leave any room for guessing for you (or Kevin, hint hint)! :) Happy Shopping!

It's the little things in life...

that matter the most. It's the season for thanksgiving and grateful hearts. As I was standing at the sink washing the dishes, I was thinking of all the little things in my life that I'm most thankful for today. I thought I should document these thoughts. Maybe, just maybe, if they are in writing they will stay more fresh in my memory.

I am thankful for the sink in our new home. It has a movable neck, a sprayer nozzle and it's a big, deep sink for a rental home. Makes washing those dishes so much easier!

I am thankful for people like Karen and Grandma Janet - people who swear by the beauty and kindness of sending real, tangible mail. Not emails. Not texts. Cards that you have to make a special trip to purchase, letters that you have to take the time and patience to write. Mail that requires a stamp and to be sent through the post office. I received two Halloween cards in the mail today. Made my day!

On that note, I'm thankful to have a husband that understands what real mail means to me. He always lets me be the one to open cards we receive in the mail. It's a little gesture that's so special to me.

I am thankful to have a husband that works so hard for me, never complaining about having to work on Saturdays. I've learned through the years, love isn't demonstrated through posting my photo on his facebook profile or the wallpaper on his cellphone. It's his willingness to work so hard for his family, making sure I have what I need to pursue my dreams and passions.

I am thankful to have two beautiful, bright-eyed nieces to spoil and brag about to all my friends and coworkers. They really filled a void in me and I hope we will remain close always.

I am thankful for my mom and dad. They were always skeptical of what we were doing as we were growing up, making sure we weren't straying from the path, and now I see why. I have a good head on my shoulders, my father's toes (and ankles apparently), my mother's need to give to others and I feel that I turned out alright. It's all because of them.

I am thankful to Monster for my greeting every time I walk in the door. Nobody loves me unconditionally like she does.

These are the little things I think about while I wash my dishes. The important things, people, and places that fill the corners of my mind. I have so much to be thankful for!

One word: FLEAS!

Monster is infested. We left her for the week while we were in Hawaii and she brought back a few hundred friends upon our return. Last night, we thought she just wreaked from being outside so much while we were gone so we gave her a bath. Little did we know, the dark brown/red water circling the drain along with little clumps of dirt (which now we understand were actually fleas) was actually the blood-filled flea excrement on her body. C'mon...are you serious? If that isn't bad enough, she slept in our bed last night. Of course, it had to be freezing so instead of sleeping under the bed, she sleep in between our blankets (mostly under). I don't think I can ever look at my bed the same. Let's just say, we have been breaking in our new laundry machines ALL NIGHT LONG. And, instead of our usual Thursday night ritual of champagne and The Office, we spent the evening scrubbing, anti-flea sudsing, bathing, brushing, combing, picking and tweezing fleas from her thick coat, dead and alive. It disgusts me to my core. I am literally beside myself, trying to figure out how to cope with this. I am the person that shrieks when she sees a spider in her house or a gnat flying around the garbage can. Critters are not meant to cohabitat with humans, in my opinion. Ever. No exceptions. Now, I have a sneaking suspicion they are hiding in fabric in our home. Gross.

Note: I understand if nobody wants to come to our house again. I would probably do the same thing, if the tables were turned.

Now, Kevin says that after 3 anti-flea baths, they have moved their way back down to her backside. So, with tweezers in hand, I'm signing off.

Ahh, life. You never know what's waiting around the bend (or in your dog's fur).

leaving on a jet plane

we leave in exactly 24 hours and i'm freaking out. so much to do, so little time! thank goodness i have a husband that does his own laundry and packs for himself! when it comes to packing for trips, i am such a huge procrastinator - one day, i'll be forced to change. you'd think with all the travelling i have been doing (trips to vegas and such) that i'd realize procrastinating stresses me out and then do something about it...nope. not yet. maybe next time? and don't even get me started on UN-packing....that's even worse. the real challenget today will be cramming both mine and kevin's stuff into one large suitcase (we're too cheap, i mean...frugal to pay to check 2 bags!)

anyway...we are very excited to be going back to our honeymoon destination. i am actually taking my nice camera (not just my point and shoot i took on our honeymoon), so i hope to have a ton of beautiful photos to share. not to mention, kevin and i can actually have photos taken together this time! i also plan to journal or blog at the end of each day so i can keep record of this vacation. so many fun things happen and i usually forget (or get too lazy) to share all the information when i get back. i packed up a little surprise bag for my niece on the plane. i'm sure she's gonna love it. hawaii, hold on to your hat...the griswold's are on their way!

update

warning: boring post ahead...

as usual, life seems to be spinning faster recently. when we haven't been distracted by unnecessary drama, we've been enjoying every moment with one another. we've adopted some new obsessions like our new couch and the show sister wives (okay, so that's mainly my obsession). we've opened up the baby talk again. it seems more real this time (and i'll admit, it kinda freaks me out). before it was just talk. now it's less talk, more plan. (gulp!)

i heard christmas music and saw the christmas decorations at kohl's today. then, i almost threw up. it's not even halloween yet! the retail world is pushing us faster into 2011 than i am prepared for. i can just feel myself getting older by the minute. AHH!

we leave for hawaii on wednesday and can't hardly wait. it's unbelievable to be going back to our honeymoon destination so soon but we're not complaining! the whole fam-damily is going, as my grandma would say. i can't wait to see hawaii through sophia's eyes. i can't get enough of that girl! but who couldn't....look at that face!!

peyton.

our little bright-eyed beauty.
is somehow always smiling.
talks with her hands.
is happy even when she's sick.
wants desperately to do what her big sister is doing.
gets overwhelmed and frustrated easily.
mumbles and sings her own little tunes.
when she's hungry, she means now.
thinks about how things work and learns by observation.
enjoys her sleep.
can't crawl yet, but rolls like a champion.
loves to be around other babies.
enjoys her binky and rarely cries.
has a tickle spot under her chin on both sides.
is very laid back.
loves a good balance between being held and being left alone.
steals our hearts every chance she gets.

sophia.

shows her emotions on her face.
rarely stops moving.
bites her nails.
can be sweet or ornery.
opens her eyes really wide when she's excited.
repeats what her mother says, thinking you didn't hear the first time.
loves any kind of toy cars or trucks.
can spot any airplane in the sky, big or small.
would choose to play outside any chance she gets.
goes crazy when she sees grocery carts in the shape of cars.
loves to have her fingernails and toenails painted.
prefers her sunglasses when she's in the car.
loves to sing along to mary rice hopkins.
would run around without pants whenever she can get away with it.
steals the show in a crowded room.
loves to show off whenever possible.
has everyone wrapped around her tiny finger

What will our baby look like?

Kevin and I morphed our images. Here's what that child is supposedly going to look like:
With the exception of the huge dent on the left side of the unisex child's face, it's pretty darn cute.

We did this once before and picked a boy. This is what it looked like (again, excuse the dent and the netting in his hair - I used a wedding pic of me with my veil):


Well, it's interesting and fun, to say the least. One day we'll get to see the real thing and I bet he/she (hopefully non-dented) will be beautiful!!

Invitation Design

I am trying to find the time to complete a website for my dream of my own invitation design "company". That word is in quotes because, not only does it intimidate me, it seems so official. Yet another person wanted my website, which I do not have. If I could magically continue to make money by quitting my job and working only on my invitation design, I would be in seventh heaven. But, since working full time is taking up all my time, I don't find the energy or extra moments in my day to do anything else. I have so many ideas swimming around in my head. I would love to do custom Christmas cards this year, but I don't have a website so nobody knows about my abilities. I have done multiple custom invitations in the past for birthdays, weddings, bridal showers, engagement showers, save the dates, display placards, etc. but how would anybody know that unless I put it on a website!?! This is what I want to do. This is what I like to do. This is what I should be doing. But, unfortunately, life and bills trump dreams sometimes. What to do, what to do? All I know is this would be the perfect side-job for when I have a baby (which should be soon hopefully) and I need to have all these things in order before we bring a baby into the picture or it really will never happen. Anybody have any suggestions? Perhaps just starting a blog would be the best option? Who knows. It's all very overwhelming and exciting wrapped into one.

Busy! Busy!

Kevin and I have been so busy lately, it seems like we don't have much time do anything let alone breathe. So many little projects to be working on. I am working on a special family project and taking senior photos this weekend. However, I think Friday, no matter what is going on, Kevin and I need to go on our weekly date night again. It's been a few weeks since we've been in transition between homes. If only this weekend wasn't packed with a bunch of stuff to do, also. I just want to finish setting up house and home before we go to Hawaii, but it doesn't seem like that's going to happen. This past weekend in Corvallis with the in-laws was so much fun. I even turned 25 again! How fabulous is that? Photos, stories and details to come...when I find time.

If only there were more hours in the day and more days in the week...

It's been far too long, Corvallis!

I can hear the fight song for the Beaver game playing over and over in my head. I can hear the "ooooooh - eeessssssss - uuuuuu" already! The in-laws are on a plane. Actually, they are almost here as I type this. Kevin and I have to work all day, then we will drive down to Corvallis just in time to meet them for dinner. So excited for my birthday weekend in my favorite town, watching my favorite team play football, walking around my favorite college campus and enjoying all of our favorite food and drinks. Reminscing around town about all the places that established Kevin and I as a couple. Of course, this trip will include a trip to the beloved bookstore to purchase myself some new Beaver gear. All in celebration of turning 25 again!

Corvallis, better watch out...here we come! :) It's been far too long.

GO BEAVERS!

Steps

First step: Move
Second step: House (duplex)
Third step: Home

Since today is the final day, my dad is doing the final walk through of the apartment with me. (I got a little upset on Monday when they were so rude to me, so I think his presence will help!) Last night, we expected to be at the apartment doing last minute touch-ups and re-painting until 10pm like we did Mon/Tues night, but when we arrived, my mom had already steam cleaned all the carpets and finished the painting. All we did was clean a couple window tracks and wash the windows! My mom is THE BEST! It's so nice to have family that is willing to help when you really need it. I am so beyond happy that it's over, I could jump for joy. Kevin and I even went to Claim Jumper last night to celebrate with a beer and a raspberry martini (theirs are the best!).

Since we got home around 8pm, we spent time cleaning up and organizing the new place. Kevin got all the shelves mounted. We spent time filling them with pictures, knick knacks and books to make it feel more homey. They look so good! It's just one small piece in the grand scheme of the whole place, but it's starting to look more like a home. Tonight, my sis-in-law is coming over to help me hang pictures and organize. It will be nice to have another woman's design eye. I can't wait until our couch comes in and my house is completely set-up so I can post pictures. We are just so happy with our new place, we can't stand it!

19.5 hours!!

we only have 19.5 hours until we have to turn in our keys to our old place. although we love our new place one million times better, it is a little bittersweet to leave the first apartment we shared as a married couple. i have pictures from the first day we got the keys and we were so excited! it's where we shared our first christmas and where we cooked our first easter dinner. it's where we survived our first difficult but loving year of marriage including kevin being laid off, job changes and figuring out our finances. ::wow - is it dorky that i'm tearing up as i write this!?! haha:: now, we've moved on to bigger and better things. hopefully that's a sign that things will only get better from here. when you have the love of your life and your best friend by your side, how can things not be great?

hopefully we won't be there too long tonight so that we can actually feel like we're spending time at our new place. there's just SO MUCH to do!

just so we're clear...

it is my official "I'm-turning-25-again birthday!" just around the corner. not sure how i feel about that. even though this day has rolled around once every year for the past 25, i still seem shocked because they are coming faster and faster. but, i do think from now until ::gulp!:: THIRTY, things will only get better.

*ps. if you think this post is bad, you should have seen me last year when i turned 25. thank goodness i have a chance to do it again this year ;)

What a joke!

We are already having problems with our apartment complex and the management company for the apartment we are trying to move out of. The "manager" was so beyond rude to me (and I work in customer service as a public employee) that I requested to speak with her supervisor. Boy, was that a mistake! Not only did he demand that, in the residential business, the customer is not always right, he automatically took his employee's side without hearing me out, interrupted me multiple times, and had the audacity to claim that I created the mold/mildew on the windows/ceiling of the bathroom and master bedroom by purposefully removing the fan unit from the wall and snipping the wires. Really? Yes, because I purposefully want to live in a mold-infested dump. On top of making fun of my father's career and claiming that he needed to "teach me lesson from this experience," he accused me of being "sue-happy" by saying that I was going to repaint my walls of my apartment and send my insurance claims to him for some fake injury. Whatever!? I would never even think of that! As if that wasn't enough, he actually made me cry! I called my husband and my father in tears. Apparently, he and my father mixed words and all is okay. Yeah, I'll believe it when I see it. I guarantee we won't be getting any of our deposits back and will probably be charged on top of that. What a joke. Living there is the worst mistake of my life. I am heading straight there to take photos of the mold/mildew problems and then to clean. Unfortunately, I don't see it getting any better. All I know is that I am taking pictures of the apartment before I had over my keys to keep documentation of the status in case they damage it and try to bill us.

WARNING: Cheesy, mushy stuff ahead...

Dear husband, you are the best! Love, your wifey :)

Some people think that it's too dependent if you always want to be with your spouse. I think it means you found the right person. I'm not saying that Kevin and I are connected at the hip and can't function without each other, but we just simply love to be with each other. Being together, spending time with one another, is what makes us most happy. I love that about my marriage. He is the love of my life.

Dear _________

Dear Black Rock Coffee, thank you for the deliciousness you continue to serve me (almost) every morning. i know i will be single-handedly keeping you in business now that you provide the double drive-thru option on my way to work.

Dear Landlord, when you decide on which sink to install always, i repeat always, opt for the disposal. you are ruining my cuticles.

Dear Sophia, please halt your growth for a year or two. you are growing up too fast. you can speak short sentences now! although i am extremely proud, i just want to stay little for a little while longer. to me, you're 2.5 going on 13.

Dear Peyton, you are the happiest baby i have ever seen. please send some of those smiles and sunshine to my baby one day.

Dear husband, you make my life so much better. even when you forget (every morning) to close the shower curtain and water gets all over my floor. it's cool. i don't mind cleaning up after you, as along as i get to have you for the rest of my life. xoxo.

Dear Monster, i hope you are happy now that you have "your bed" back. your papa and i didn't mean to incovenience you. thanks for keeping me warm last night. i promise to always love you and baby you, even when we have a human baby one day. more walks to come. i promise.

Dear cubicle, if i have to be here in your presence more than i am at home then so be it. thank you, at least, for facing the window so i can daydream about outside things.

Dear birthday, i would appreciate less hoopla this year. please come a little slower in the following years, as getting old is depressing. please realize this will be my "i'm-turning-25-again" birthday. no offense.

one foot out the door and into another.

tonight will be our 3rd night sleeping in the new place. granted, we are sleeping on a mattress on the floor in the middle of the living room, but at least we're here. so far, we love it. couldn't be happier with our new shorter commutes to work (about 2 mins for kevin and a whopping 5 minutes for me). kevin has one light to go through and i have 1 stop sign and a light. it really doesn't get much better than that! it's so close, we can both go home for lunch to eat and visit the little monst.

our neighbors are gone a lot, but even when they are home, it's very peaceful at our new place. GASP! there is no more listening to our neighbors walk around in the apartments above ours or the noisy teenagers blasting their music in the wee hours of the night/morning while they make-out in their cars. we haven't explored much of the neighborhood yet, as our hours are full of moving and organizing (and squeezing in sleep every once in a while), but we have noticed a huge police presence in our area. there is a fire station within walking distance, and police patrolling the streets. i have taken into account where all the speed traps are as well. hopefully, i have all my bases covered. it's nice to know that we can feel safe in this new area.

just like with any move, there are a few give and takes. some we knew of going in and some we have realized the more time we spend here. the biggest give for me was exchanging a bath tub with a perfectly-angled, slanted side to lean against for a *newly remodeled tub* with 4 vertical sides. it doesn't make reading in the bath very comfortable (which is usually a nightly ritual for me). however, my favorite "take" (with the exception of the short commute and saving on gas) is that we have more space. technically, the square footage is probably very comparable, but the setup of the living room, kitchen and dining area is a major improvement and seems much easier to move around in. another give is that we don't have a disposal. kevin doesn't mind very much because he is used to not having one all throughout college. however, i have never lived without one so i can only forecast my fate as sticking my fingers in the ickyness to remove any food i accidently scoop into the sink. it's already happened once. and i gagged. we were wary of the kitchen storage, as we have a lot of kitchen appliances, dishes, pyrex, cookware, etc. we purged as much of it as possible (just the old stuff that we didn't use) but still needed a place for everything that was a left. thankfully, it all magically fits. the pieces that never really had a home in the apartment, now have a permanent space to live until they are being used. thankfully, my mother, aunt and future sister-in-law helped me organize the kitchen area. i felt very overwhelmed with that room for some reason. now, it's all put away. everything has it's place and we can rely on this organization. in a small home, organization is key (especially when you're married to me - ms. OCD). overall, we are very happy with our decision and our only regret would be not looking for a place like this sooner :)

Crunch time.

We have a big weekend ahead of us. Next weekend, I have some extra special activities to do with some lovely ladies so I won't be able to help Kevin with the move as I (and he) would like. So, this weekend, it is crunch time. Kevin thankfully has Saturday and Sunday off to spend moving, building, organizing and cleaning with me. In exchange for some babysitting, my brother is also going to help us move the big, heavy furniture that my loving husband thinks I should be able to carry. (Yeah right!) I really would like to get our bed moved into our new place asap so we can start staying there. Now that our soon-to-be new home is so close to both of our works, it seems like a really far drive out to our old apartment. In fact, once we move in fully (end of September), we will both be able to just go home for lunch during the day. How wonderful is that!? The Monst will love it, too.

I called to get an ETA for the couch that we ordered, but all they can tell me is approximately 3 weeks. If I figure 3 weeks from order date, that means it will be ready for pick up the week of the 27. Perfect timing! Thankfully we can use my dad's work van to pick it up ourselves so we don't have to pay for shipping. Perks of a family business.

Tonight, I will be spending time going through all my clothes. We have both of our new dressers built at the new place, so we can start transporting and organizing clothes that we want to keep. Kevin and I are being very methodical about organizing this new home. We want everything to have it's place, so there's no more searching for things in random boxes and storage spaces. I think the purging of the old has been the most refreshing part of this move - we needed a fresh start. Every night I love the new house more and more. We've been able to use the electricity since the 15th, so we take advantage of staying after dark to build furniture and organize. The Monst isn't quite sure about our new home, but she will grow to love it, I'm sure. Once she realizes that backyard is her domain, we'll never get her back in the house :)

A thought.

Last night I was driving home from my new house and Kevin's car passed me by. All I saw was his profile, his wave and the Little Monst's sweet face watching me from the window. As I was turning to run an errand and saw him pass me, I thought "that's my whole world in that car." If anything happened to them (especially him), my life would never be the same. I know it sounds cheesy, but he and Monster really are my entire happiness. My other half. My best friend. Coming home from work each night to see each other is both of our favorite part of the day. I am so thankful God made Kevin especially for me and that He led us to each other. And with that thought I know, I am truly blessed.

Ikea! Target! City Liquidators! Oh My!

After two trips to Ikea, two trips to Target, two trips to City Liquidators and two trips to the new place on Sunday, we were exhausted! *Note: all the separate trips are necessary because we can only fit so much in Kevin's Rav4. Great car, but kinda small for furniture :) We were also the new owners of a bunch of our furniture including...dun, dun, dun....a COUCH! Not to mention, all that running around was necessary so that we have time to get things done on weeknights after work.

I have already mentally prepared myself for our third trip to Ikea one night this week (in the work van) to pick up the shelving units that would not fit into the Rav4 unless we busted out a window or two! Since Kevin is partial to having a windshield, we will just take my dad's work van.

It feels weird that we have been spending so much money lately, but I guess that's what we save it for. Kevin and I were hesitant to hand over our debit cards (yep, NO credit cards used here!) because we get rather attached to the money we work so hard to save :) We had been saving a lot to try to purchase a house, but since that has been post-poned, we do have a little extra to spend without feeling guilty. Plus, as Kevin pointed out, it's not like we're racking up all this debt on credit cards by buying furniture we can't afford. We are buying things outright, with our own money (and a little help from the in-laws: THANK YOU!!) and can feel proud to know that we earned it ourselves. We're well on our way to the non-college-furniture home we've been craving!!

*Fun Fact: Did you know if you use your debit card at Ikea, you get 1% of your total purchase as a coupon to use on your next purchase? Just for using your debit card, which I would have used anyway. 1% isn't much, but it's something!!

love this.

will you be my neighbor?

while trying to move a few packed boxes into the new place last night, we met our neighbors. they have lived there for 7 years or so. from what i can tell, we're all going to get along just fine! the parents, maria and francisco, are so nice and their children are adorable. i believe i got their names down already - the youngest is miriam, the middle is wendy and the oldest is evelyn. maria, the mother, doesn't speak any english so we had to translate through their oldest daughter evelyn. maria just kept telling me "mucho gusto! mucho gusto!" and that made me happy. the two littlest girls were just staring up at us with big, dark brown eyes and smiling faces. too cute! after meeting, and realizing it was only kevin and i moving in, they showed signs of relief. the girls are adorable and i look forward to getting to know the entire family better.

today is kevin's day off so he is at the new place now moving some of our stuff in. he dropped off some coffee for me at work (how sweet!) and it was all i could do to not hop in the car and go with him. counting down the hours until i can help! there is nothing better than setting up our new home together :)

i dream in color!

the theme of our new place: color!

window coverings!
patterned fabrics!
prints and textures!
fabulous throw pillows!
cool knick-knacks for the shelving!
order and organization!
a fresh start!
out with the old, in with the new!

we are ready to be surrounded by more light (thank goodness!) and bright colors! we are revamping our bathroom look, considering the new bathroom is all white. and i mean, very white. in this case, white isn't bad because it's all new and clean.

we get the keys at 6.15 - only 3 hours to go until the decorating begins. i am very excited about this move. kevin gets to spend tomorrow (his day off) moving stuff while i'm stuck at work. even though moving is a lot of hard work, i'd rather be there helping him than shoved in my cubicle all day. i'll just be daydreaming, i'm sure.

infatuated with furniture!

since in the last post, i said we had fallen in love with some inexpensive but seemingly fabulous furniture finds at ikea, i thought i would share those with you all.love this white desk. it would look perfect with my mac on it! :) there are some pretty fun white shelving units that make it look like a whole set, which i love. *299 at ikea
chairs, chairs. i love chairs! white and simple to match the desk? *59 at ikea
or maybe i like this style better? *59 at ikea
or perhaps i want something fun like this print? *79 at ikea
we love the style of these more traditional his & hers dressers *279 at ikea
but this seems more practical to the budget - we'd just add our own funky knobs to customize! *149 at ikea
we are on the prowl for a console table like this one - something for when you walk through the door to house purses, keys, mail, etc. *149 at ikea
and these fun baskets are made to fit perfectly to keep everything organized and nicely put away *7.99 at ikea
lastly, this red armoire makes my heart skip a beat. saw a similar one at crate and barrel but it was like 10 times the price. this gives us the same look for less. definitely considering this fabulous find! *249 at ikea

now, all this furniture doesn't mean we're planning to buy it. it's dreaming. we're just thinking about all the possibilities. we're still looking for the perfect pieces, including the idea of refurbishing! however, it does go to show that you can get the looks you like for more reasonable prices. after all, i LOVE a good bargain :)

tomorrow's the day!

i am counting down the minutes (it seems like) until 6.15pm tomorrow because, promptly at 6.15pm...we get the keys to our new place! :)

we've been collaboratively plotting and scheming how we are going to organize and decorate our new pad. took a stroll through Home Goods (LOVE THAT STORE) and IKEA yesterday, dreaming about the set-up and layout of our new home. mainly, we just can't wait for it to be ours. we fell in love with a funky red armoire, fabulously roomy his & hers dressers, and some practical shelving. my heart swooned over my very own desk (GASP!?! an actual real desk!)...and we planned how to get those things. they say it's all about timing...and it all seems to be falling into place for us at the moment :)

yesterday, i was going through some old boxes and ran across the photos of kevin and i when we first moved into our very own place (the apartments we live in now). we looked so happy, so unaware of what was to come in our first year being out of college, in the real world and married! needless to say, it's not what we expected, but thank goodness we have each other. now, we can't wait to say good riddance to our first place and move onto something bigger and better. a fresh start. it's funny how things can change in just one year.

2010 Dahlia Festival

Today, we went to the 2010 Swan Island Dahlia Festival in Canby, Oregon. It is completely free to get in and enjoy the beautiful views. This is where we ordered all of our wedding flowers so it was fun to go back and seek out which ones we used! :)We spent a beautiful, Oregon fall day at the festival walking the many acres of dahlias and walking through the indoor flower arrangement displays. It was a lot more crowded than I anticipated, but there was room enough for people and dogs of all ages!
I just couldn't leave without taking a few of the beautiful flower bunches home with me. We also ordered a few tubers to be shipped to us in mid-April for planting in the backyard of our new place! Kevin and I both chose our favorite varieties to plant.
Although I don't know the first thing about arranging flowers, I tried and I'm pleased with how they turned out.
There is nothing like having fresh flowers in your home! They make me sooo happy.
Overall, it was a great day with great views and a great person :) I'm sure we'll be back next year.

A big purchase.

Our new place comes with hook-ups, but not a washer/dryer to use. Knowing that we were going to buy a set of our own I (of-course) made a list of all the places I wanted to check out. It included Sears, Sears Outlet, Home Depot, Lowe's and Riegelmann's (the last one was a suggestion). We made it to each one of them, overwhelmed by the task of finding the perfect set that was within our budget. Never having purchased a washer/dryer set before, I wasn't quite sure that it was as involved as it was. So many questions!!

Top loader or front loader? Agitator or no agitator? Lint trap on the top of the dryer or on the inside? How many settings do you want (or really need!)? What color set do we want? What size loads do we want to be able to wash at one time? High efficiency? Pedestals for the front loaders or not? Dimensions are tricky - which units will fit in our space and which won't? How important is the loudness of the machines? Which offer tax credits and/or rebates and which don't? How much extra are the hoses, delivery, set-up, etc?

Needless to say, it was a bit overwhelming. One by one, Sears beat out all the rest of the stores (even the Sears Outlet). We were pretty sure we'd purchase from Sears, but we decided to check out an independent, family-owned business that was suggested by multiple people. Thank goodness we did! Riegelmann's was a great little shop with excellent one-on-one customer service. They do all their own servicing of the machines, complete with delivery and full set-up/haul-away. We appreciated that they showed us demonstrations of different washers so we could take into account the noise-factor as well. We didn't realize until the end of our transaction that we were actually working with Mr. Riegelmann himself! He was great to answer all our questions and show us machines within our budget. He offered pro's and con's of the machines and, most importantly, gave us space to breathe and think. After talking amongst ourselves, we decided this is where we wanted to put our business and made the purchase. Our new beautiful, white, front-loading, high efficiency set will be delivered on the morning of the 18th. In addition to a receipt, they sent us away with a pie slicer/server, potholder and an envelope opener. Love the gimmicky stuff. What I really want is the cute little magnet. I'll have to ask when they deliver it :)

In the end, we left Riegelmann's with a nicer set than we would have gotten at Sears but paid close to the same price. We both feel great about our decision and are happy to have this task completed. In the future, we will definitely think of Riegelmann's for any additional appliance needs.

Vegas, in snapshots.

Finally uploaded the very few photos I snapped in Vegas this past weekend. Figured, since I took them, I should share so enjoy!Kev and I sipping on our gigantic drinks at samba before the show!
Killing time at the REVOLUTION bar!
Waiting for the volcano show at the Mirage...
We were in the front so we could feel the heat from the fire!
It was a very cool show, with a lot of heat :)
Finally time for Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil :)
Yeah, over the top drinks for an over the top show. LOVED IT!

The perks of a new place.

The search is over. We found a new place to rent. It's a duplex with almost everything on our "requirements" list. It has a fenced back yard - no grass, but a cement patio and wood chips. Sounds dumpy, but it's not that bad. Plus, the yard is a great size for The Little Monst. It has washer and dryer hookups. Two cons: they are in the kitchen closet and we don't have a washer and dryer. Soooo...we'll have to work on that one when we can afford it. It has 2 bedrooms, 1 bath and was recently remodeled with a completely new bathroom, new tile floors and new cabinetry in the kitchen. A major perk: the landlord (who is really nice!) pays Water/Sewer/Garbage! One downfall, our room will be really small. Since we have a king size bed, that's probably just about all that will fit in the room. But, like my friend said, I guess that's really all you need when you're newlyweds ;) Haha. Other perks: A wood-burning fireplace! Ceiling lights in the bedrooms! And, the most rewarding...this move is making us get ORGANIZED :)

Buying a house has been put on the back burner temporarily. I'm sure we'll revisit the idea in about a year or so. The beautiful perk of our new place is that it allows us to continue to save money to buy a house while paying rent. It offers the feel of a house also, without having to listen to our neighbors stomp on the ceiling above us at all hours. We are going into this new adventure hoping that it will be the last move we make before we can buy a house. Of course, that could be altered if we have some major problems with it later down the road. But, we're thinking positively. We are just jumping in head-first and hoping for the best.

We began packing last night.
Our apartment looks bare already.
We can't wait to say good riddance to our current place!

Summary

Arrived home from our weekend getaway to Vegas. Had a great time swimming, visiting, drinking, relaxing, reading, seeing Beatles LOVE, losing money in slots, walking the strip, finding the crazies, getting sunburnt (or as Kevin so lovinngly calls it - a savage tan). As always, went by too fast. Reunited with The Monst. Jotted up a lease termination and 30 day notice letter. Signed, sealed and ready to be delivered in the am. Found a new place to move into. Move in date is planned for September 19. Mulling over moving/packing strategies in my head. Preparing to purge and live out of boxes temporarily. Going to sleep. Back to reality tomorrow.


Kevin, myself, Karen and Tim at Samba Brazilian Steakhouse in The Mirage hotel before seeing Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil. Great night!

The search is on.

We are in search of a home. To be more honest, we are scratching and clawing to get out of our current dungeon apartment. We have a very strict budget on what we can afford to pay in rent plus a good list of requirements for our new home. It must allow pets under 30 lbs, must have a fenced backyard for Monster, must have a dishwasher and Washer/Dryer (or at least hookups) and must be two bedrooms. With a house, we still have to take into account how much all the extra utilities will cost, as nothing is generally covered with renting a home like they are with an apartment. Obviously, all of these requirements plus our conservative budget is making this process difficult.

We toured one home that was in a nice, secluded neighborhood nestled smack dab in the middle of a really bad area. It would have worked if I were a hooker on the side. I just don't really dream of going on a walk with my family after dinner and seeing streetwalkers on the road. Maybe I'm crazy? :) Plus, all the nearby bars would be gentleman's clubs. Not my idea of an ideal neighborhood.

Then, we visited what we thought was the perfect home in the perfect location near my work, but there was only one problem - you literally couldn't put more than one person in the kitchen. You couldn't even open the refrigerator door all the way - at about a 45 degree angle, the door would smash into the counter on the other side of the kitchen! I was still willing to work with it, but my chef husband didn't agree. So...we are now back at square one.

I wish our Home Sweet Home would just find us.