Impressed

My Hubbs is no ME, but he does good work.* I am impressed with his efforts yesterday.  He has the sweetest of intentions, and made me a happy, happy old lady.

He gets overwhelmed by the three big events within a month from each other, but I tell him we have the whole year to think about it. I remind him that my birthday will not take a backseat to our anniversary (within the same week), or Christmas. Each day has its own special meaning.
It always bothered me that the season from October to December gets treated like one big retail-obsessed holiday.  There are so many great holidays in there, but they all get mushed together. I love the season and fall is my absolute fav time of the year, but can't we relish each holiday without stocking the shelves for the next one right away?

(*Sigh*) I know the answer is no. I work in retail.

I am just asking for Halloween and Thanksgiving and my B-day to be over before decking the halls. In my house, not the ones everyone else's house. I understand families get together only a few times a year, so you gotta decorate while you got 'em captive. That being said, there is no excuse to not make each of our momentous occasions especially distinct from each other in our house.

This year was a bit different, though, with all the reception hoopla, and the fact that I didn't wanna make a big deal out of this birthday. 

"I am so handsome it drives my momma crazy."

The day was fabulous. I was served pancakes in bed. I enjoyed a leisurely walk with my hairy son, took in this little fat robin in the back yard.

"You want to squeeze me!"

After work, I got ready for our dinner date. I met him at Taste of Thai, glass of wine in hand, as planned. I enjoyed watching him walk in with a pink bag & box. Dinner was tasty and we made it to the 10:15 showing of Burlesque (Disclaimer: I sat through The Inside Job on Thanksgiving with two finance guys, Interesting, yes, but I felt like I was in class. I told Hubbs I wanted to see Burlesque after all the derivative talk). The movie was entertaining and we cut up like teens, being the ONLY ONES in the theater! We laughed a lot, made our Cher impressions, and went home for more gifts :).

Showing off his bling mug, munching a tiny biscuit

I am so proud of him for trying so hard. He makes me happy, and I feel lucky to be loved so unconditionally. We make each other better people.

Stay tuned for our (actual) first anniversary this Friday! I got him the perfect paper gift!

ta-ta!

*I am obsessed with perfection, of which I usually cannot achieve alone, but I try anyway. Sometimes get disappointed, but am learning to let go. By the grace of God, help from my mom, and my Hubbs, I am learning. Its tough.

TWO WEEKS! Happenings & Non-happenings

Two weeks from today I will be eating, drinking, and dancing with my family and friends!

I am so excited.

We have finalized most things, made most projects, and may be under budget.

Shawn has been serenading me like crazy lately. I cannot wait to stand in front of my man while he serenades ALL OF US (He's practicing right now).

Shawn in action. You'll see it soon...

In prep for our house guests, we bought a few new pieces, cleaned house and removed hundred's of small Bully balls from every corner. I swear I swept out a pomeranian from under the couch.


There are some things, that won't be happening, like, the cake toppers I wanted to paint. I'm not a painter and that project was a little out of my league.  I didn't grow the chinese lanterns and herbs for our table scapes like I thought I could. I was going to collect vintage and new  teacups for the tables, but that didn't happen. I'm still kinda nervous about decorations. Some friends and family can't make it. There are even those i haven't even heard from? My daddy won't be there.....

   but I have a feeling that the most important people are going to be there, and everything will look awesome. And Shawn and I will awe our guests. Everyone that I love in the same room, I know that will feel complete.

I'm leaving you with one pretty flower I managed to grow . A pretty dahlia. If its still around in 2 weeks, maybe I'll stick it on my table.

Let's hear it for my boy!

....cause every time he pulls me close I just wanna yell, "Let's hear it for my boy! Lets hear it for my man!"

Shawn did laundry yesterday and washed my clothes as per the instructions on the care tags like I've asked him to do! I love small triumphs in my marriage. This is probably asking a lot from a man.

And, we've also been working on our DJ's playlist. Denise williams, G n R, Tom Petty, Outkast, Luda and Garth Brooks rocked the house this morning.

Dexter the Kitty

A wife obsessed, and another video

I think I am obsessed with my husband. I miss him while he's at work. A lot. I mean, I work a lot, too and have TONs of projects and a gym to ignore, so its not like I'm not busy. We have very different schedules at the moment.

So I often miss him.

And when we are together, I stare at him and tell him I love him constantly. I feel like this would annoy me, but he's very sweet.

So I watch this video while I am home, waiting for him to get home from work,even though I should be sleeping:



He's a little bit country, and I'm a little bit rock & roll. However, I love the twang he puts on a Beatles song. This was during his singer/songwriter days in Florida, around '99/2000.

I love his reason for performing the song. Sweet 24 year old Shawn ;)

He will be performing at the reception, but probably not this song. It's sad.

Snow days in the NC

It snowed a few inches about a week before Christmas. It was pretty but I made the mistake of going out to the grocery store during the snow. Luckily, Shawn was coming around the corner where I was stuck on a hill. I am determined to master snow driving! We don't really get snow days....
What is funny are the piles of dirty ice in parking lots and shady areas still all over town.

Papa Shawn is outfitting Bully with snowboots.

He's already over it.

Papa laughs at Bully's expense.

Is that a Llama? With boots?

Picture perfect. That's Buster on the right, Shawn's mother's dog.

"Start with Craigslist-" How we met:

    No, we didn't actually answer a "seeking" ad. I answered a roomate ad. I was living in Athens, Ga. when I decided to move to North Carolina to pursue furniture design or furniture whatever. I thought I'd start with woodworking. After many internet searches and scanning the back of Fine Woodworking I decided to really look into Rockingham Community College's woodworking program. After a few phone calls and on-line galleries I decided to go for it. North Carolina was supposed to be where it was at for furniture.....(supposed to be, but that's another blog).

   About craigslist....I looked at roommate ads, and emailed three people. I drove up to Greensboro (the largest city in theTriad, close to RCC). The apartment I liked the best was that of Brian Gilles. It was downtown (walk to the nightlife), and it was old (character). I moved up, moved in, and a couple weeks later met Shawn. Brian met Shawn through a friend from school who worked with Shawn at the Marriott. We went out, sang karaeoke (Love is a Battlefield, Take me Home Tonight) for a couple of Tuesday nights and realized we were having lots of fun......three years later we still are.

    Something drew me to this area, to that apartment. His name is Shawn :).

Shawn & Brian singing

Happy to be Stuck with you