I figured I could tell you .....

Because I know you won't judge me and I've been thinking about it for a few days. Besides we're friends now and friends don't judge.

I am not looking forward to Mondays anymore.

Audrina and The Situation are gone.

I knew The Situation had to go; he was genuinely horrible. (I bet you didn't think you could use the words "genuine" and "The Situation" in a sentence. Just proved you wrong! Ha!)

But Audrina was good! She was really good. OK, I get that she might appear plastic but she was really good. If she was given a few more days she would have done some major damage.

I think I am just upset that Briston Palin is still around and my plastic Audrina isn't. Anyone who comes out in a gorilla's suit (I don't care if it wasn't a gorilla) and proceeds to forget their steps deserves to leave. No ifs, ands or buts about it.

Ugh. And this is the reason why I can't watch certain shows anymore. I take it personal. Like America purposely voted Bristol to stay to piss me off. Jerks.

I guess, I want Brandy to win now ... or maybe that 16 year old kid. Can't remember his name or the fact that he might not be 16. But I bet you as soon as I start to want them to win they will go home.

I might have to enter another world of lameness and start voting. I didn't want it to come to this but sometimes you have to take matters into your own hands.

I ♥ Him.

I am that person who can't hide her expressions very well. It kinda sucks. Sean always says that he knows when to stop just by the expression on my face. I say it is my warning, sometimes a warning to stop or I can't be blamed for what I say or do.

The last few days at work have been a little much. I love my job but sometimes I just want to get up from my chair, stomp my feet and then scream. And of course sit right back down.

I am that person who can't hide what she is feeling in her voice. It is horrible. I can tell Sean I am OK and he just knows I am not. Once he knows I am not OK, I can whine a little bit and he will listen. He has even learned not to give me advice; he knows I don't want advice. I just want those adorable ears of his wide open.

Today, I was telling Sean how much I didn't want to go to the gym. I just wanted to relax at home after this long, dreadful day. Normally he would say, "Go to the gym, you're going to make a big deal about not going later".

Instead he told me, "Go home".

When we got home we cooked together and watched a movie on the couch. We didn't talk much. He actually would fall in and out of sleep during the movie. Typical.

But looking down at him with his head on my lap, it made me smile.

It made me smile because I can turn to this person at any time. No matter what, he would be there for me. He doesn't have to say much, his presence says it all.

I realize that a day at work won't always be pleasant; but when I go home I can expect to find a man who wants to keep my expressions and voice, happy.

"Back in the Day" Tuesdays

In honor of Halloween, I will share this childhood memory.

This might make you scratch your head and say out loud, "What the hell?" It is an OK reaction because I still wonder about this one.

Growing up as pastor's daughters we did not celebrate Halloween. I repeat, WE.DID.NOT.CELEBRATE.HALLOWEEN.

It was the devil's day. Plain and simple.

As little children you are not thinking about it being an evil day. You are thinking that it is a glorious day because you get free candy. What's better than free candy? Nothing! Also, it was sucky to be the only child in your class who didn't have a HUGE bag of candy sitting at her desk. So sad.

Any who, when I was 10 years old Halloween fell on a Sunday. Me, my 2 younger sisters and 16 other children stayed after church for our Christmas play rehearsals.

Instead of us being the good kids we should have been, we decided it was a great opportunity to trick-or-treat. We waited for all of our parents to leave and when we were suppose to be eating our lunch we were all getting our "costumes" ready.

I was already in a frilly dress so I decided I was going to be a princess. My dress was pink so no one was going to argue. But I wanted my face to look like "Halloween" so I drew whiskers on my cheeks with a magic marker. (WTH?! I wish I had a picture) I was a cat princess. Perfect.

All the other kids were getting their "costumes" together. We were all excited!

We left the church without telling our director that we were leaving. We knew that she wouldn't let us go so we didn't say a word.

Me and 16 other kids stopped at every store possible. Our plastic bags being filled with candy at each stop. Yes, plastic bags. Unfortunately, we didn't have one of these for the occasion:


I guess the time flies when you are trick-or-treating with 16 others.

It is amazing what little children do not realize. How in the world did we think that our director was not going to notice that 17 children had disappeared? She was freaking out! She had no idea where we were so she called our parents. All of our parents.

Imagine coming back to church all excited (mouth full of candy) and seeing the look of crazy on your parent's face. I have never been so nervous in my life. My parents were livid. Here I was in this frilly pink dress for church, my face looking like a cat and holding the huge culprit of what I had done.

Our bags of candy was taken from us and burned. Yes, burned. Evil spirits live in candy too, you know. They were not taking chances. Halloween is the devil's day.

I went to school the next day empty handed and stared with much envy at my classmates who had huge bags of candy on their desk. Sigh.

Let's just say that I never trick-or-treated again in my life.

{Dinner} - Crockpot Cream Cheese Chicken

I love cooking. I love eating. I notice that once I make something and I love it, I want to make it all the time. Lately, I've been getting bored and if I'm bored the hubby must be bored. I want to try new recipes. Worst thing that could happen is that it turns out horrible and I never make it again. NBD.

So, I have set a new goal to make something new for the hubby and I every other week. I think that is a goal that I can keep.

We have a crockpot that I have never used. I have no idea why. I don't like the idea of having food cooking while I am at work (almost like leaving the fire on to me) so I will only use the crockpot on Sundays.

I decided that for my first crockpot meal I would make a Cream Cheese Chicken that I found here. It looked relatively easy and yummy.

It was so, so, so good. The hubby has requested that this meal become one of our regular meals. One more meal added to the list! There are different ways to make this recipe but this is what I did.

1.) I threw 4 pieces of thawed chicken breasts into the pot.


2.) I poured 1 and a half cans of Cream of Mushroom soup on top of the Chicken.



3. I then seasoned the chicken and cream of mushroom soup with Italian Seasoning, Onion Powder, Sea Salt, some garlic and lots & lots of black pepper (not pictured here)



4. I then put the Crockpot on low and let it cook for 4 hours.

5. On the 4th hour, I put a whole block of Cream Cheese in the pot. I left the cream cheese in for a half an hour.


Voila (hubby's plate pictured here, mine was half this size, haha)


The only thing I would do different would be to leave the cream cheese in longer than a half an hour. Based on the picture you can see that the cream cheese did not melt all the way. But the house was smelling so good and with a hubby asking every 5 minutes if it was ready, I just made us our plates (also without stredding the chicken like the recipe called for me to do).

Either way the chicken was so moist and delicous.

Hope you try it if you haven't already. I promise it is delicious and super easy!

My cat snores.

I didn't think that was possible.

And he sometimes sleeps with one eye open.


Weird.

I'll do the dishes .....

When the hubs and I moved in together, I learned early on that he was a neat freak. He would pick up my shoes and put them in the closet. He would pick up my coats and hang them in the closet. He would do the dishes. He would do the laundry. He would cook dinner. He would clean the apartment.

How did I get so lucky?

One year, after Thanksgiving dinner (at my parent's house) my mom noticed that Sean went straight to the kitchen and started doing dishes. She asked me, "Does he always do this?" It is a foreign concept to my mom that men actually know how to do dishes. I smiled all proud and said, "Yes." She looked at me like I had nothing to be proud of but later admitted that she was impressed.

It isn't that I am not a neat freak, Sean has spoiled me. He has spoiled me so much that I have become a lil lazy. OK, very lazy. I'm just trying to limit the name calling, ya know.

Why should would I put the dishes away if my stud muffin is gonna do it? He looks a lot better doing it than I do. Besides he is the one who can't stand seeing dishes pile up. I know, I know!

The reason I should IS because it really is the better thing to do. This marriage is a partnership. I am aware of that but sometimes most of the time I pretend I don't hear that better part of me screaming, "Do the dishes!" I have something called selective hearing. Anyone have a cure?

When we bought the house I promised to be better. And I have gotten better. I pick up after myself; meaning my shoes go in the closet and do not sit in the living room until hubby picks them up. The house is clean and 50% 45% is because of me! But I continue to fail in an area called dishes. Oh, I blow in this area. It stinks that the excuse that my nails are breaking off doesn't work anymore because we own a dishwasher.

I even put a picture right across from our sink to help keep me happy and cheery while doing them.


That picture alone should make me thrilled to do the dishes. Riiiight.

The hubby decided to do an experiment on me last week. It was called, "LetsseehowlongittakesforFaithtorealizethatIamnottouchingthe dishesthisweek."

This was the outcome of the experiment.


I can't believe I am showing you this but if I am going to do this I might as well be honest.

So in order to be a better wife in this partnership, I need to step up my game. It is unacceptable that I did that. (Bowing head in shame) I have to give 50% - 100% in housework. It's only right. And I know it will make our marriage all the much better! :)

Note to self: Picking out decorations does not equal any percentage in the housework.

To redeem myself a little; I am a killer cook!

"Back in the Day" Tuesdays

I will never forget the day I went to school in my fabulous, new, bright blue shirt. We had just gone shopping and I was so excited to wear my new shirt to school. I remember taking care to look my best. I was in 7th grade so I was in the stage of trying to impress my peers.

I remember going to Spanish class and my teacher pulling me to the side. She spoke to me in a very, very stern voice. "Never wear that shirt to school again!"

I remember being shocked and scared. Who in the world was she to tell me what I could or could not wear? But based on her face, I did not want to test her. I made sure that I never wore that shirt when I had her class. I wore it everywhere else. Everywhere including church.

It was my freshman year in college that I realized why my teacher had her crazy moment.

This was almost the exact picture in front of my shirt:


Can you imagine what people thought when they saw my mother walking me, her 12 year old daughter (wearing that shirt) to school in the morning?

My mom and dad never knew. They still do not know. I do not think a lot of people knew. To me and a lot of people it was just a picture of a pretty, pointy, green plant on a bright blue shirt.

Embarrassing and 100% a true story!

**(Picture found via google images. And yes, I googled "picture of marijuana leaves" that way I could find one that looked exactly like the one on my shirt)**

My husband doesn't like his new look....

Day 1


Day 2


Today


It makes me cringe. Sometimes I dislike rugby. Thank God, it wasn't a rush to the hospital this time.

I will never understand why the hubs likes this sport so much. It is rough. It is tough. Maybe I should get preggo like today because I think then the love for this sport will end.

Knowing my luck, I would push out a girl who I would be so excited to dress in pink. I would buy her the most gorgeous barbies and she will break their necks, cut their hairs and decide at age 5 that she must play rugby.

:/

I'm in Mourning.

You've been there for me through thick and thin. When I couldn't find an outfit to wear, I put you on and my outfit was an instant hit. If I wore you with a skirt, you made me a vixen. If I wore you with skinny jeans, you made me skinny. During fat days, I would put on a flowy shirt and you immediately made my legs look defined, and fat turned to phat!

You have been there with me when I wore you in the rain and even in the snow. I had no right to do that to you. I'll admit it, sometimes I didn't treat you like I should have. You were still a trooper for 5 years and didn't bail out on me during a time I was trying to impress. I thank you for that.

I would like to remember you during the good times.


Girl, I'm happy you didn't bail on me that night. I had a date with someone who wasn't my bf just yet. Hi hubs!




And here you were, brand spanking new. I was so proud to wear you. I received a great deal of pleasure enjoying how jealous my girlfriends were that I found you and they hadn't.


It hurts me to see you like this but I promise not to remember you this way.



I know you would want me to put on my big girl pants, wipe the tears from my face and just get out there and start searching. I appreciate that you don't want me to lose out on the chance that I might find something equally beautiful, but not purchase it, because of the fear that I might feel this hurt again. I will try to find another one, but just know that you were my first boot love and no boot will ever compare.

Please join me for a moment of silence for my most favorite pair of boots. Thank you.

Birthday Recap

Thank you all so much for the birthday wishes. It was really nice to see silent fabulous followers, come out of the woodwork, to wish me a happy birthday. Super duper nice.

I had a fabulous birthday. Just like I wanted. Every year that I am blessed with another year, I thank God because he watched over me. Protected me. It is a privilege to receive another year so it should always be celebrated. No matter what. I don't necessarily mean a big out there celebration, just a moment to be with the people you love, who have also made another year with you.

Oh boy, sorry about that. Got a little carried away. I do that sometimes.

Here are some pictures to show how I celebrated another year with some of the best people in my life!


Sometimes I sit and wonder, how in the world did I get so lucky? How? I am just so happy that I did.


Do you think that based on this picture there is something supernatural going on in my house? No? OK. I didn't think so either. ;)


My car pic, of course!


My ladies! ♥


The guys! I think hubby looks super hot in that picture. Posing but not really trying. I like it.


I wish you could have seen my margarita sparkle. You want to make margaritas even better, add sparklers. Trust me.


I thought I could do it all by myself ....


Until I realized that my birthday fell on a Wednesday night and there was no way I was calling out. I did the thing my mom stressed when we were younger. I shared.




Their tongues thanked me for it.

Oh and hubby ordered a Jerk Chicken burritto. Can we all say yum? When we received his meal he peeled off the sticker "Jerk" and placed it on his shirt. I have proof.


But when this so called "jerk" tells you that your birthday celebration is not yet over, you realize that the sticker should actually be on your dress. I really love that guy. If I take all the emotions for all my favorite everythings and wrap it into one emotion ... it just might blow me and him away.

It's My Birthday!!!

(Long pause) .... Thankyouthankyouthankyou! :)

Why am I at work, working?

Tonight, the hubby is taking me out to my favorite Mexican restaurant, where I will indulge in a huge Margarita.

Happy Happy Me. Oh and did I mention it's my Birthday! ;)

The # 1,000,001 reason that I dig Fall

This is the beauty we were blessed to view while driving back from Plattsburgh on Sunday. The pictures do not do it justice. It also doesn't help that my camera blows.


Picture overload but you know how I do! ;)

Weekend Recap

This weekend, we had our last wedding of 2010 in Plattsburgh NY. This is where the hubby and I went to school. Besides heading to Montreal every weekend in college there was absolutely nothing to do. For "fun", the hubby and I went to the mall and I couldn't believe that I actually shopped there. How in the world did I ever find an outfit? No wonder every time I went back home to the city I always shopped like a crazy woman!

Regardless, it was such a fun weekend. The hubby now knows how it feels NOT to be rejected by me in Plattsburgh AND the wedding was a blast!

This was our view from our hotel room. Absolutely gorgeous!




This is baby Emma. I am not sure you remember, this was early in my blogging days but we had her ducked theme baby shower not too long ago. How cute is she?! And tell me those eyes don't just melt you!




The wedding was on Lake Champlain. The view was breathtaking and is such a gorgeous place to have a wedding.




Seriously the hubby is such a dork. I was trying to get a good picture and that is what he does! Hahaha ;)


Much better!












After the ceremony we were sure to take advantage of the view!










The hubby and I


The mother and son dance. There was not a dry eye in the place. They danced to Boys II Men's "Mama". It was a suggestion I gave the groom and imagine my surprise when I heard that he actually decided to use it! :)


The look that my mother in law is giving Sean is too funny! Hahaha. I wonder if he said something before I took that picture!



Sean's mom and step-dad celebrated 21 years, a few days ago!


Look at how cute they still are. I caught this and took a picture!


Cake cutting started off sweet ...


And then, BAM! He never saw it coming!



We went out to take pictures on the lake but it was getting dark and got really cold too.


And because I was unable to take car pictures this weekend (yeah, I know ... boo) I did the next best thing ;)


Bride's gorgeous bouquet


Boutonniere


The hubby's bestfriends since elementary.



A lil dancing from the groomsmen:






Luke and Danielle, we wish you all the love and happiness in your marriage. We are thrilled we were able to celebrate your special day!


We had a great weekend. Today we were off (Christopher Columbus Day) so that made it even better! Hope you all had fabulous weekends too!