Sometimes I hate commercials. I am spoiled by my dvr, and absolutely refuse to sit through them. However, every now and then I am forced to watch and throughout the advertising crap, I will stumble upon a true gem. This is one of my favorite commercials. I laugh every time I see it.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
The Wedding Planning Continues
Two days off school due to inclement weather? Yes, and thank you.
I finally paid for my wedding dress, and by I paid I clearly meant my mother paid for my wedding dress. It turned into a really stupid ordeal. LONG STORY short, My mom and I drove the hour + drive to Bowling Green for a fitting only to find out the sold the dress to someone else. We paid for it and left.
Mike and I had to re-do our honeymoon plans once again. His company wouldn't give him enough time off to go to Europe. So, after much convincing from Mike, we decided on Vegas. I didn't want to go there (it was Mike's first idea) because I didn't want to spend my entire honeymoon gambling, but we did some research and there is SO much to do there besides gambling. We have already paid for our first night there and reserved our room for the rest of the week so this is set in stone. Very soon we are going to buy tickets to The Beatles Love and Criss Angel's show (yeah, I said it.). Among other things we are going to see Second City, go to a Titanic exhibit, Price is Right show, get couples massages, eat a $75 champagne brunch at the best rated brunch in the city (which is also in our hotel), and eat at Bobby Flay's restaurant. I am very excited.
This weekend Mike and I are finally having our first meeting with our priest. We have to take a test to see if we are compatible for marriage. Mike and I are both nervous about this. He asked me what we will do if we fail, and I told him we will still get married, just outside of the church. I don't want a test to tell me if we are right for each other, I already know we are.
I am also a little nervous, because Mike's sister-in-law told him she has some friends who got married in a Catholic church. The priest found out they lived together and would only agree to marry them if one of them moved out until the wedding. Granted, Mike and I technically only live together 4 days out of a month, but I would HATE not being together. We agreed if it came down to it, I could ask my parents if I could sleep at their house on the weekends that he is home. It just makes the most sense. Mike doesn't have family in Clarksville, and he lives in a truck the majority of the time so he deserves to sleep in his own home. It would just suck, though.
After that we are going to go to Target to register for gifts. I have been looking forward to this since before I had ever even met Mike. I just want to walk around with this price gun SO BAD.
Then, we are going to Sam's Club to start buying a few things, mostly items for the buffet line like chafing dishes and servingware.
"It's all happening!"
I finally paid for my wedding dress, and by I paid I clearly meant my mother paid for my wedding dress. It turned into a really stupid ordeal. LONG STORY short, My mom and I drove the hour + drive to Bowling Green for a fitting only to find out the sold the dress to someone else. We paid for it and left.
Mike and I had to re-do our honeymoon plans once again. His company wouldn't give him enough time off to go to Europe. So, after much convincing from Mike, we decided on Vegas. I didn't want to go there (it was Mike's first idea) because I didn't want to spend my entire honeymoon gambling, but we did some research and there is SO much to do there besides gambling. We have already paid for our first night there and reserved our room for the rest of the week so this is set in stone. Very soon we are going to buy tickets to The Beatles Love and Criss Angel's show (yeah, I said it.). Among other things we are going to see Second City, go to a Titanic exhibit, Price is Right show, get couples massages, eat a $75 champagne brunch at the best rated brunch in the city (which is also in our hotel), and eat at Bobby Flay's restaurant. I am very excited.
This weekend Mike and I are finally having our first meeting with our priest. We have to take a test to see if we are compatible for marriage. Mike and I are both nervous about this. He asked me what we will do if we fail, and I told him we will still get married, just outside of the church. I don't want a test to tell me if we are right for each other, I already know we are.
I am also a little nervous, because Mike's sister-in-law told him she has some friends who got married in a Catholic church. The priest found out they lived together and would only agree to marry them if one of them moved out until the wedding. Granted, Mike and I technically only live together 4 days out of a month, but I would HATE not being together. We agreed if it came down to it, I could ask my parents if I could sleep at their house on the weekends that he is home. It just makes the most sense. Mike doesn't have family in Clarksville, and he lives in a truck the majority of the time so he deserves to sleep in his own home. It would just suck, though.
After that we are going to go to Target to register for gifts. I have been looking forward to this since before I had ever even met Mike. I just want to walk around with this price gun SO BAD.
Then, we are going to Sam's Club to start buying a few things, mostly items for the buffet line like chafing dishes and servingware.
"It's all happening!"
Monday, January 19, 2009
The Weekend Wrap Up
Excitement is buzzing around the Shoulders/McFadden household.
Mike came home this weekend after a two-week excursion on the road. After a Friday night playing games with Jef, we woke up early on Saturday to get ready to meet a potential photographer at our house. My mom came over to help us. I wanted to have someone who is married and someone with a better understanding of money to be there to make sure we were getting a fair deal. When he showed up we looked in his portfolio.
I was nervous because I have a fairly specific idea of what kind of photos I want which at times can be a bit artistic and I wasn't sure if this gentleman would be able to mesh with my aesthetic. I was also nervous that as a man who takes pictures for our church that he might not be creative at all.
Thankfully, I was proved wrong and his pictures were beautiful and after talking to him about my specific wants and needs I am sure I will get the pictures I want.
He explained that he takes unlimited photos and will work the ceremony and the entire reception and afterward give US a photo album and a cd with all of the photos. With that we will get the copyright release to print our photos whenever we want.
I saw a similar deal for a photographer out of Nashville and he charged the cheapest I have found at $1,000. I kind of expected to pay around the same price, but hoped that since he wasn't a photographer full time that he might NOT charge as much.
I have heard that it is improper to discuss finances with mixed company, and while I usually like to stick to the confined rules of social mores, I feel that in this situation there might be an exception.
After looking at his information he asked if Mike and I were still interested and we both gave an enthusiastic "Yes!" To which I soon asked how much he would be charging us.
He started off by saying, "I was thinking about 350...." and I waited for "350 an hour....350 for this...or 350 for that...."
but he said "I was thinking about 350....for the whole thing."
I am thrilled. I thought I was going to spend a thousand for a photographer and a thousand for my dress, but I am spending about one thousand for both. YAY!
After he left, Mike and I got ready to go to church for Saturday night services. We walked around the church grounds afterward discussing possible photos. It was freezing cold and Mike was very excited and walking all over the place having my picture possible scenerios. It was hard to get excited when my ears were burning off from the cold.
The rest of the night was pretty lazy, but we watched a bunch of recorded TV shows that we watch together from the past two weeks and made homemade pasta noodles for dinner.
On Sunday we woke up fairly early to drive down to Ashland City. Mike's mother just got married and is moving in with her husband. She had several pieces of furnitures and other things to give to us. Mike's friend Jamie met us down there with his truck to move stuff and help Mike lift. Once back at the house, he also heped Mike move our old couch into the car port.
Overall, we got a new couch and arm chair, Mike's gun rack from high school, an endtable that matches one Mike's mom gave us a long time ago, a serving dish, decorations for the gun rack (antlers and a mallard duck- yeah...I just said that), and some paintings done by Mike's grandmother.
As soon as we got home, Mike had to leave to deliver outside of Nashville. He just needed to deliver and come right back home. While he was out, I got our house back together and rearranged some things on the wall. I also got out a curtain that we have never used before and cut it because it was too long and hung it up in our bedroom inplace of a blanket that has been hanging there since we moved in. Our house almost looks completely different now. We have lived here for almost two years and our bedroom has always looked plain, but it looks so good now. I love our living room furniture and all the paintings really make it look so much better.
Jackson and Jef (Jaxonn and Jeph) came over last night for games and such. We played a new dice version of Clue, a trivia Wii game, an arcade Wii game, darts, and a dice Cranium game. Good times, good friends, razzleberry pie.
Mike left this morning and the routine goes back to normal.
I started school last Thursday. Thankfully I know some people in my classes, but everything is so different. After two years in the English department, I am just now realizing how comfortable I got. I knew all the professor's names, the building, what to expect in the classes.
Now, I don't know anything. I am excited, though, because these are the classes that matter the most. I am finally going to learn how to be a teacher. I am really excited for a good semester.
Mike came home this weekend after a two-week excursion on the road. After a Friday night playing games with Jef, we woke up early on Saturday to get ready to meet a potential photographer at our house. My mom came over to help us. I wanted to have someone who is married and someone with a better understanding of money to be there to make sure we were getting a fair deal. When he showed up we looked in his portfolio.
I was nervous because I have a fairly specific idea of what kind of photos I want which at times can be a bit artistic and I wasn't sure if this gentleman would be able to mesh with my aesthetic. I was also nervous that as a man who takes pictures for our church that he might not be creative at all.
Thankfully, I was proved wrong and his pictures were beautiful and after talking to him about my specific wants and needs I am sure I will get the pictures I want.
He explained that he takes unlimited photos and will work the ceremony and the entire reception and afterward give US a photo album and a cd with all of the photos. With that we will get the copyright release to print our photos whenever we want.
I saw a similar deal for a photographer out of Nashville and he charged the cheapest I have found at $1,000. I kind of expected to pay around the same price, but hoped that since he wasn't a photographer full time that he might NOT charge as much.
I have heard that it is improper to discuss finances with mixed company, and while I usually like to stick to the confined rules of social mores, I feel that in this situation there might be an exception.
After looking at his information he asked if Mike and I were still interested and we both gave an enthusiastic "Yes!" To which I soon asked how much he would be charging us.
He started off by saying, "I was thinking about 350...." and I waited for "350 an hour....350 for this...or 350 for that...."
but he said "I was thinking about 350....for the whole thing."
I am thrilled. I thought I was going to spend a thousand for a photographer and a thousand for my dress, but I am spending about one thousand for both. YAY!
After he left, Mike and I got ready to go to church for Saturday night services. We walked around the church grounds afterward discussing possible photos. It was freezing cold and Mike was very excited and walking all over the place having my picture possible scenerios. It was hard to get excited when my ears were burning off from the cold.
The rest of the night was pretty lazy, but we watched a bunch of recorded TV shows that we watch together from the past two weeks and made homemade pasta noodles for dinner.
On Sunday we woke up fairly early to drive down to Ashland City. Mike's mother just got married and is moving in with her husband. She had several pieces of furnitures and other things to give to us. Mike's friend Jamie met us down there with his truck to move stuff and help Mike lift. Once back at the house, he also heped Mike move our old couch into the car port.
Overall, we got a new couch and arm chair, Mike's gun rack from high school, an endtable that matches one Mike's mom gave us a long time ago, a serving dish, decorations for the gun rack (antlers and a mallard duck- yeah...I just said that), and some paintings done by Mike's grandmother.
As soon as we got home, Mike had to leave to deliver outside of Nashville. He just needed to deliver and come right back home. While he was out, I got our house back together and rearranged some things on the wall. I also got out a curtain that we have never used before and cut it because it was too long and hung it up in our bedroom inplace of a blanket that has been hanging there since we moved in. Our house almost looks completely different now. We have lived here for almost two years and our bedroom has always looked plain, but it looks so good now. I love our living room furniture and all the paintings really make it look so much better.
Jackson and Jef (Jaxonn and Jeph) came over last night for games and such. We played a new dice version of Clue, a trivia Wii game, an arcade Wii game, darts, and a dice Cranium game. Good times, good friends, razzleberry pie.
Mike left this morning and the routine goes back to normal.
I started school last Thursday. Thankfully I know some people in my classes, but everything is so different. After two years in the English department, I am just now realizing how comfortable I got. I knew all the professor's names, the building, what to expect in the classes.
Now, I don't know anything. I am excited, though, because these are the classes that matter the most. I am finally going to learn how to be a teacher. I am really excited for a good semester.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
The Emotional Homecoming
Let's take a journey...shall we??
Me, Jef, and Jackson went to Bowling Green to meet Nik to try on dresses today.
I have been dreading it. Would any of the dresses fit me? Would they look ok? Would I like the styles? I planned on liking nothing. I planned for the worst. I tried to even avoid thinking about what I was doing, because I just didn't want to get my hopes up.
We got there and the place was PACKED. This made me more nervous. I was going to have to go through this emotional rollercoaster in front of an audience. We had to wait almost an hour before I could be given a dressing room. In the mean time we sought out the dress pool. I saw several I liked and several I didn't....but I still wasn't ready to get excited.
I didn't exactly know between two sizes what would fit, so Nik suggested that I try on a dress I absolutely did not like to feel out the size. She said that if I tried on a dress I loved and it didn't fit I might be disappointed. This made clear sense to me. As soon as we got over to the dresses I spotted this dress with awful red beading on it. That would be my tester.
They finally called me back to the dressing room and the games began.
I didn't realise that they would give me undergarments for trying on the dress. The lady helping us immediately asked me for my bra size. I got really defensive wondering why in the heck she would need to know that until she explained.
So she got my this like strapless bra thing that like covers your stomache and Nik and I enter the dressingroom to make sure it and the slip fits. My luck. The bra didn't. I secretly started panicing. I hadn't even gotten a dress on my body and already something didn't fit. But, I kept things to myself, because the moment I started to worry outloud, the moment my friends would try to cheer me up which would for reasons I can't explain annoy me.
Thankfully, they found the right size and it was time to start trying on. Nik helped me into the tester dress and we're pulling it down and getting it in place and Nik steps back and says "oh my god you look like a woman." I start getting mad at her in my head assuming shes trying to make me feel good when I clearly look silly.
We step out of the dressing room (cause you know they dont put mirrors in there so you can look stupid infront of everyone) and I see myself in the mirror. I was shocked. It looked good. I wasn't pleased with how much of my shoulders it showed, but our assistant got a viel that covered everything up. Then, I was pleased.
It wasn't at all what I was looking for, but it showed me that this could turn out better than I thought.
Then I tried on this:
I thought it was so much better than the one before and could even be a possibility for the wedding. The experience was starting to get a lot more fun.
So then I tried on:
I instantly fell in love with is. The color wasn't right. I would get it in all white and a green sash. It was so far my favorite. I loved how each dress just got better and better. I was having so much fun, and really almost considered throwing in the towel. I *thought* this could be the one I was married in.
I had two more dresses to try on. Nik and I go back into the dressing room and begin with the next one. Nik is looking at it and saying it looked too plain before I had a chance to see anything. As soon as I was out of the dressing room our assistant and Nik start getting a clover green (color of the bridesmaid dresses) sash and add to the dress I am wearing.
I remember the moment as if it were in slow motion. I twirled around to get a good look in the mirror. I felt magic strike between me and my own image. I was staring at my own personal Cinderella dress. I heard Nik say "well that changes everything." Jackson was literally tearing up and Jef had a proud smile on his strong face. I had not only found a beautiful wedding dress, I found "the one"
What I had envisioned being an unpleasant experience turn into a really fun afternoon. And not only did I pull the bandaid and just do it, but I found what I wanted in one try. Now, I can move on to the other tasks I need to get this pulled together. Being in that dress made the wedding real for the first time.
And the greatest part of all is that my cousin Erin's daughter Madison is my flower girl and she tried on this little number, which matches me perfectly:
OH! the life of a bride to be!!!
Me, Jef, and Jackson went to Bowling Green to meet Nik to try on dresses today.
I have been dreading it. Would any of the dresses fit me? Would they look ok? Would I like the styles? I planned on liking nothing. I planned for the worst. I tried to even avoid thinking about what I was doing, because I just didn't want to get my hopes up.
We got there and the place was PACKED. This made me more nervous. I was going to have to go through this emotional rollercoaster in front of an audience. We had to wait almost an hour before I could be given a dressing room. In the mean time we sought out the dress pool. I saw several I liked and several I didn't....but I still wasn't ready to get excited.
I didn't exactly know between two sizes what would fit, so Nik suggested that I try on a dress I absolutely did not like to feel out the size. She said that if I tried on a dress I loved and it didn't fit I might be disappointed. This made clear sense to me. As soon as we got over to the dresses I spotted this dress with awful red beading on it. That would be my tester.
They finally called me back to the dressing room and the games began.
I didn't realise that they would give me undergarments for trying on the dress. The lady helping us immediately asked me for my bra size. I got really defensive wondering why in the heck she would need to know that until she explained.
So she got my this like strapless bra thing that like covers your stomache and Nik and I enter the dressingroom to make sure it and the slip fits. My luck. The bra didn't. I secretly started panicing. I hadn't even gotten a dress on my body and already something didn't fit. But, I kept things to myself, because the moment I started to worry outloud, the moment my friends would try to cheer me up which would for reasons I can't explain annoy me.
Thankfully, they found the right size and it was time to start trying on. Nik helped me into the tester dress and we're pulling it down and getting it in place and Nik steps back and says "oh my god you look like a woman." I start getting mad at her in my head assuming shes trying to make me feel good when I clearly look silly.
We step out of the dressing room (cause you know they dont put mirrors in there so you can look stupid infront of everyone) and I see myself in the mirror. I was shocked. It looked good. I wasn't pleased with how much of my shoulders it showed, but our assistant got a viel that covered everything up. Then, I was pleased.
It wasn't at all what I was looking for, but it showed me that this could turn out better than I thought.
Then I tried on this:
I thought it was so much better than the one before and could even be a possibility for the wedding. The experience was starting to get a lot more fun.
So then I tried on:
I instantly fell in love with is. The color wasn't right. I would get it in all white and a green sash. It was so far my favorite. I loved how each dress just got better and better. I was having so much fun, and really almost considered throwing in the towel. I *thought* this could be the one I was married in.
I had two more dresses to try on. Nik and I go back into the dressing room and begin with the next one. Nik is looking at it and saying it looked too plain before I had a chance to see anything. As soon as I was out of the dressing room our assistant and Nik start getting a clover green (color of the bridesmaid dresses) sash and add to the dress I am wearing.
I remember the moment as if it were in slow motion. I twirled around to get a good look in the mirror. I felt magic strike between me and my own image. I was staring at my own personal Cinderella dress. I heard Nik say "well that changes everything." Jackson was literally tearing up and Jef had a proud smile on his strong face. I had not only found a beautiful wedding dress, I found "the one"
What I had envisioned being an unpleasant experience turn into a really fun afternoon. And not only did I pull the bandaid and just do it, but I found what I wanted in one try. Now, I can move on to the other tasks I need to get this pulled together. Being in that dress made the wedding real for the first time.
And the greatest part of all is that my cousin Erin's daughter Madison is my flower girl and she tried on this little number, which matches me perfectly:
OH! the life of a bride to be!!!
The Finished at the Starting Line
I finished reading Breaking Dawn. I laughed. I cried. Victory is mine.
I am trying on wedding dresses in less than 12 hours.
I am trying on wedding dresses in less than 12 hours.
Friday, January 9, 2009
The Validation
I set a date to meet with a photographer on Saturday the 17th...YAY real progress.
I am getting really frustrated with a professor at APSU. I was late to register and couldn't get into a linguistics class I need. My schedule is really tight between now and graduating. If I don't take exactly six classes this semester I won't graduate on time. I emailed the professor asking if I could get an override into her class and she said she would get back to me. She hasn't. I checked online to see if anyone had dropped. The class tops at 24 students and there are 30 registered. Which means she let 6 people in and not me. I emailed her again and still nothing. I tried to see if there was anything I am planning on taking in the fall available, but no. I am freaking out. I don't need this to get messed up. I WILL graduate on time. I just have to find a way to get this straight. I am hoping that MAYBE enough people in that class haven't validated and their classes will get dropped by a certain date if they don't. If I am magically lucky enough for this to happen, I can get in...but that's a lot to hope for.
We'll see....
ugh
I am getting really frustrated with a professor at APSU. I was late to register and couldn't get into a linguistics class I need. My schedule is really tight between now and graduating. If I don't take exactly six classes this semester I won't graduate on time. I emailed the professor asking if I could get an override into her class and she said she would get back to me. She hasn't. I checked online to see if anyone had dropped. The class tops at 24 students and there are 30 registered. Which means she let 6 people in and not me. I emailed her again and still nothing. I tried to see if there was anything I am planning on taking in the fall available, but no. I am freaking out. I don't need this to get messed up. I WILL graduate on time. I just have to find a way to get this straight. I am hoping that MAYBE enough people in that class haven't validated and their classes will get dropped by a certain date if they don't. If I am magically lucky enough for this to happen, I can get in...but that's a lot to hope for.
We'll see....
ugh
Thursday, January 8, 2009
The Home The Improvement
Wedding plans are underway. I haven't gotten anything officially finished, but I have started on tons. I'm nervous some tiny detail will get lost in the shuffle, so I keep making notes. Kashmir tried on the dress today and sent me a photo. I would post it, but I don't know if she would appreciate that or not, but she looks fabulous. I am going to try on dresses this Saturday and I have a wave of emotions. I am excited because it is a pretty big step in the process, but scared of finding the right one and looking nice in it.
My house is still trying to recover from Christmas. Between Mike being home, unloading presents, putting away decorations, and a pretty big spell of laziness my house looks horrendous. I have done a little each day trying to recoup, but I have also been inspire to do some off season "Spring" cleaning. With cleaning out cabinets and such comes even more disorder. I will hopefully finish it all this weekend.
With the onslaught of gift cards from Christmas (and some from way before then) I bought some much needed items for the house, including a very nice set of dishes for company. Mike cleaned out the hutch in our dining room and decoratively displayed them. I am a nerd, but it is things like this that make me feel grown. I also got a shipment of clothes from Old Navy (yay new wardrobe!!) and a television stand from Target for the bedroom.
For Christmas my brother Jason got my parents a new flatscreen tv for their bedroom, so I asked if I could have the old one. It is 36 inchs and humongous. I had planed on putting the monster in the livingroom, until my birthday rolled around and Jason got me a 32in HD flat screen. The flat screen went into the living room leaving the monster to go into the bedroom. We gave the tv from our bedroom to Mike's sister, but we have the original living room tv sitting on the floor in the office. I want to hold on to it, because you never know when you might need an extra tv and it is really nice. I guess eventually I will set it up in the office, but it feels wasted because that room is a bit of a sham.
You see, it is probably one of my favorite rooms in the house. It has the most character anyway, with all of our "fun" stuff including a gigantic bud light shamrock, inflatibles, fun paintings, and road signs. We have a nice loveseat in there, a desk, and all of my books. But we never use it. I don't even do homework in there. I should, but the lightening is bad. The room gets the most use out of it by Mable, whose litter box is in there. Oh, and Mr. Tankles- Mike's friend Jamie's bull mastif when they come to visit.
SO, what I'm trying to say here is- maybe one day when we move and have maybe a guest room or a big kitchen the tv can find an appropriate home.
AND, we needed to buy the above mentioned tv stand from Target for the monster to go into the bedroom. We were going to try to put it on the dresser where the original was, but we both feared it MIGHT not be stable enough to support the tv, AND we were further pursuaded to get a tv stand when Mike and I together were not able to lift the tv high enough to be put on said dresser.
It was an ordeal
to say the least.
BUT, after shifting our bedroom around a bit (moving the dresser next to Mike's side of the bed) I shifted my living around a tad. I have two bookcases in the living room holding DVDS and I used to have one next to the tv and one on the adjacent wall. When I put out the Christmas tree, I moved the bookshelf next to the tv over by it's pair. I liked this arrangement, but after the tree came down I was left with a bare corner. After we put the dresser next to Mike's bed, I had no where to put his night stand. Since his night stand was originally an endtable- bam-a-lam- I had something to put in that bare corner- so now the couch has an endtable on the other side. It looks homeier in here now. ALSO I moved to the recorder player and stand next to the new endtable and put my new trunk (a Christmas gift from Mike's sister to me. I saw some trunks at an auction we went to together and I tried bidding on it. When the bid reached up to $100 Mike's sister LITERALLY forced my hand down and told me I was crazy to pay that much for it so she got me another truck she found at another auction) in it's place and it is displaying a bunch of my favorite things like my yearbooks, some photo albums, and my favorite books.
THEN, I found out yesterday that Mike's mom is giving us one of her old couches and arm chairs. Our couch has recently broken in two spots and neither one of us was too excited to buy a new one, so this worked out perfectly.
I have to say- unless you have previously been into my home AND care about this kind of stuff, that was probably REALLY REALLY boring to read through.
My bad.
I am pretty freaking excited about life right now, because everything just really rules. Mike rules. My family rules. School starting soon rules. New clothes rule. New presents from Christmas rules. New video games I got rule. Wedding planning rules. And reading Breaking Dawn (which I am almost halfway through) rules. And I am apparently 16 again.
25 and 2009 are going great. This is going to be the best year ever.
OH MAN! I forgot to mention- that after much discussion and advice- mike and i have changed our honeymoon plans. Yeah, that's right. We are going to Europe. Suck on that.
My house is still trying to recover from Christmas. Between Mike being home, unloading presents, putting away decorations, and a pretty big spell of laziness my house looks horrendous. I have done a little each day trying to recoup, but I have also been inspire to do some off season "Spring" cleaning. With cleaning out cabinets and such comes even more disorder. I will hopefully finish it all this weekend.
With the onslaught of gift cards from Christmas (and some from way before then) I bought some much needed items for the house, including a very nice set of dishes for company. Mike cleaned out the hutch in our dining room and decoratively displayed them. I am a nerd, but it is things like this that make me feel grown. I also got a shipment of clothes from Old Navy (yay new wardrobe!!) and a television stand from Target for the bedroom.
For Christmas my brother Jason got my parents a new flatscreen tv for their bedroom, so I asked if I could have the old one. It is 36 inchs and humongous. I had planed on putting the monster in the livingroom, until my birthday rolled around and Jason got me a 32in HD flat screen. The flat screen went into the living room leaving the monster to go into the bedroom. We gave the tv from our bedroom to Mike's sister, but we have the original living room tv sitting on the floor in the office. I want to hold on to it, because you never know when you might need an extra tv and it is really nice. I guess eventually I will set it up in the office, but it feels wasted because that room is a bit of a sham.
You see, it is probably one of my favorite rooms in the house. It has the most character anyway, with all of our "fun" stuff including a gigantic bud light shamrock, inflatibles, fun paintings, and road signs. We have a nice loveseat in there, a desk, and all of my books. But we never use it. I don't even do homework in there. I should, but the lightening is bad. The room gets the most use out of it by Mable, whose litter box is in there. Oh, and Mr. Tankles- Mike's friend Jamie's bull mastif when they come to visit.
SO, what I'm trying to say here is- maybe one day when we move and have maybe a guest room or a big kitchen the tv can find an appropriate home.
AND, we needed to buy the above mentioned tv stand from Target for the monster to go into the bedroom. We were going to try to put it on the dresser where the original was, but we both feared it MIGHT not be stable enough to support the tv, AND we were further pursuaded to get a tv stand when Mike and I together were not able to lift the tv high enough to be put on said dresser.
It was an ordeal
to say the least.
BUT, after shifting our bedroom around a bit (moving the dresser next to Mike's side of the bed) I shifted my living around a tad. I have two bookcases in the living room holding DVDS and I used to have one next to the tv and one on the adjacent wall. When I put out the Christmas tree, I moved the bookshelf next to the tv over by it's pair. I liked this arrangement, but after the tree came down I was left with a bare corner. After we put the dresser next to Mike's bed, I had no where to put his night stand. Since his night stand was originally an endtable- bam-a-lam- I had something to put in that bare corner- so now the couch has an endtable on the other side. It looks homeier in here now. ALSO I moved to the recorder player and stand next to the new endtable and put my new trunk (a Christmas gift from Mike's sister to me. I saw some trunks at an auction we went to together and I tried bidding on it. When the bid reached up to $100 Mike's sister LITERALLY forced my hand down and told me I was crazy to pay that much for it so she got me another truck she found at another auction) in it's place and it is displaying a bunch of my favorite things like my yearbooks, some photo albums, and my favorite books.
THEN, I found out yesterday that Mike's mom is giving us one of her old couches and arm chairs. Our couch has recently broken in two spots and neither one of us was too excited to buy a new one, so this worked out perfectly.
I have to say- unless you have previously been into my home AND care about this kind of stuff, that was probably REALLY REALLY boring to read through.
My bad.
I am pretty freaking excited about life right now, because everything just really rules. Mike rules. My family rules. School starting soon rules. New clothes rule. New presents from Christmas rules. New video games I got rule. Wedding planning rules. And reading Breaking Dawn (which I am almost halfway through) rules. And I am apparently 16 again.
25 and 2009 are going great. This is going to be the best year ever.
OH MAN! I forgot to mention- that after much discussion and advice- mike and i have changed our honeymoon plans. Yeah, that's right. We are going to Europe. Suck on that.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
The Projection
Hey 2009.
I have mixed feelings about resolutions because I have never kept one in the past- even simple small resolutions...like one year I wanted to watch all the movies that had won best picture at the Oscars. I didn't even watch ONE.
That being said, I would like to try to set a few goals for the year.
1. I want to accomplish everything for my wedding in an efficient time line. I don't want to put anything off until last minute and I want to be organized. I don't handle stress very well and neither does Mike. I don't want laziness and procrastination to lead us into an argument, especially when we are working toward this kind of goal. I want to get the ball rolling this week and keep it going.
2. I want to continue doing well in school and even better. I would love to see a 4.0 semester GPA at least once before I graduate. I want to continue to learn responsible study habits and try to go to class every day. I also want to be organized and try my hardest to get work down early so that I don't get stressed out. I also want to continue to study up on the English side of my degree on my own. I only have one English class left, and I don't want to get out of the habit of seeking out literature knowledge. I have to be well versed in that aspect in order to teach it.
3. In relation to the above mentioned, I want to read more. I haven't had the desire to read for pleasure after reading so much for school. Because I am not taking any literature classes this semester I should have no excuses for not reading. I not only want to read the books I have been saving for myself, I also want to read more of the classic and books that I might be tested over for my Praxis exam.
4. I want to make a better effort to be kinder to people and less selfish. I also want to make a better effort to make more time for Mike, my family, and friends.
5. I want a better handle on what is going on in my life. I want to stop buying birthday presents on the day of that person's birthday. I want to be on time more. I want to keep my house cleaner. I want to go to bed at a better time. I want my life to run like a well oiled machine.
6. I want to enjoy living a healthy life and adopt healthier practices. I want to want to exercise. I want to eat better.
7. I want to make a better effort to go to church regularly. I am typing this at 4am on Sunday morning. I will not go to church today, but I want this to be the last time.
8. I want to seek out and find new music. I am stuck in a box of the same kind of music I listen to. I want to branch out to new bands, new genres.
9. I want to learn from any mistake or hardship I might face in 2009.
10. I want to conquer my fears in 2009. I want to get over being scared of large crowds. I want to start looking strangers in the eye when I speak to them. In a strange related way I want to be a better communicator. I want to have confidence.
I would like to say in 2010 that I did something I have mentioned.
I am constantly on a life journey. Not only do I want to win, I really just want to cross the finish line.
I have mixed feelings about resolutions because I have never kept one in the past- even simple small resolutions...like one year I wanted to watch all the movies that had won best picture at the Oscars. I didn't even watch ONE.
That being said, I would like to try to set a few goals for the year.
1. I want to accomplish everything for my wedding in an efficient time line. I don't want to put anything off until last minute and I want to be organized. I don't handle stress very well and neither does Mike. I don't want laziness and procrastination to lead us into an argument, especially when we are working toward this kind of goal. I want to get the ball rolling this week and keep it going.
2. I want to continue doing well in school and even better. I would love to see a 4.0 semester GPA at least once before I graduate. I want to continue to learn responsible study habits and try to go to class every day. I also want to be organized and try my hardest to get work down early so that I don't get stressed out. I also want to continue to study up on the English side of my degree on my own. I only have one English class left, and I don't want to get out of the habit of seeking out literature knowledge. I have to be well versed in that aspect in order to teach it.
3. In relation to the above mentioned, I want to read more. I haven't had the desire to read for pleasure after reading so much for school. Because I am not taking any literature classes this semester I should have no excuses for not reading. I not only want to read the books I have been saving for myself, I also want to read more of the classic and books that I might be tested over for my Praxis exam.
4. I want to make a better effort to be kinder to people and less selfish. I also want to make a better effort to make more time for Mike, my family, and friends.
5. I want a better handle on what is going on in my life. I want to stop buying birthday presents on the day of that person's birthday. I want to be on time more. I want to keep my house cleaner. I want to go to bed at a better time. I want my life to run like a well oiled machine.
6. I want to enjoy living a healthy life and adopt healthier practices. I want to want to exercise. I want to eat better.
7. I want to make a better effort to go to church regularly. I am typing this at 4am on Sunday morning. I will not go to church today, but I want this to be the last time.
8. I want to seek out and find new music. I am stuck in a box of the same kind of music I listen to. I want to branch out to new bands, new genres.
9. I want to learn from any mistake or hardship I might face in 2009.
10. I want to conquer my fears in 2009. I want to get over being scared of large crowds. I want to start looking strangers in the eye when I speak to them. In a strange related way I want to be a better communicator. I want to have confidence.
I would like to say in 2010 that I did something I have mentioned.
I am constantly on a life journey. Not only do I want to win, I really just want to cross the finish line.
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