I Dig It

Another round of my recent favorite things!

1. Girl Meets World

In case you haven't heard, Disney released a spinoff of Boy Meets World earlier this year. It's about Cory and Topanga's kids and their friendships and ups and downs. It has all of the charm of the original show and I haven't missed an episode!

2. New Girl

It took me about a season and a half to decide if I liked this show or not, and I decided I do! Jess is the cutest thing and I wish we were best friends. No lie.

3. Neutrogena Microdermabrasion System

I picked this little buddy up a few weeks before my wedding and it works wonders. I got the main attachment and about 20 replacement pads on clearance at Target for like $12 and it did amazing things to my skin. Cannot recommend enough!

4. Hobby Lobby

I wasn't a big Hobby Lobby person until I moved a block away from it, and now that we live far away from one, I miss it. It's probably good for my wallet that I don't live so close to it, but I miss the crafty fabulousness.

5. House

This isn't so much a recent favorite as a recent re-favorite. I've seen the whole series but I've only watched the last two seasons once, when they first came out. So I've been rewatching them on Netflix and my love for this show has been renewed. 

Weekend Update

What have we been up to lately?

I did a school project at the zoo a couple of weeks ago and it was so cold but so fun! I hadn't been to the zoo in a while and it was fun to go when I was practically the only person there!

Husband had his middle school band concert and they all performed splendidly! I consider it a success when you can recognize the song they are playing ;)

I got a photo of Zippers that isn't 100% blurry! This little guy is becoming very well-behaved and affectionate and I am loving it!

Here was our big project this weekend. Remember the hanging globe lights that are everywhere in this house?

The one above the stairs needed to go. However, we were not sure how to go about replacing a light fixture in such an awkward area. We picked up one of those ladders that you can adjust the length of each side, zip-tied it to the banister, and prayed it would hold.

It took a team effort! Husband did most of the hard work but my tiny fingers were needed for some wiring issues.

The after! It matches everything else in our living room and looks a million times better than that ugly old globe light. Three globe lights down, two to go...

And probably my favorite part of the update. I got a call to work the tour of Beauty and the Beast that came into town for three days, and husband and I decided the extra paycheck would be worth it, but it meant I missed his high school band concert. I was pretty devastated. However, extra money is always nice and the show was a blast!

I got to help dress four of the women in the show, including Belle! So I got to hang out with lovely costumes such as these...

I always love doing shows and Disney shows are my absolute favorite :) it's a total blast seeing movies I loved as a child come to life! (Check out my post on the Lion King tour here!)

So that's been life at the band house lately... husband is officially on Christmas break and I am hoping to get more projects and DIY things done in the next couple of weeks!

6 Months.

We are coming up on the 6 month mark of marriage, which puts us halfway through the toughest year, if you believe all the advice well-meaning people hand out during the weeks leading up to your wedding. Like most people, I went into marriage with some preconceived notions about what would and wouldn’t change, especially since we chose not to live together until after we were married. Here’s some of what I got right, and some of what I got wrong…

Notion #1: Once we get married, I will have the time and motivation to do laundry before we run out of clothes and my husband will come home to a well-balanced, home-cooked meal every evening.

Wrong.

First of all, I rarely cook anymore. When husband doesn’t get home until 8 pm or later, we usually don’t even eat dinner together. Fast food has, unfortunately, become a staple in our lives. And laundry? Husband has asked for more clean shirts or socks more times than I envisioned in my perfect housewife scenario.

Notion #2: While I am looking forward to sharing a house with my husband, I will still need my separate bathroom space.

Correct.

In the apartment, we had separate bathrooms. Once we moved to the house, we are now sharing a bathroom, and it is a hard adjustment. We both have a lot of stuff that takes up a lot of room, and we are constantly moving the other person’s stuff out of the way to make room for our own. I miss having my own bathroom. Maybe it’s a girl thing.

Notion #3: Once we live together, we will see each other a lot more.

Kind of.

Yes, I see him more, but he’s usually sleeping. Or getting ready for work. Or running out the door as I’m coming home. So yes, we technically see each other more, but it’s not exactly quality time.

Notion #4: Being married really won’t change much about our relationship.

Pretty true.

The beauty of being together for 4 ½ years when you get married is that there aren’t that many curveballs when you move in with someone. No big surprises, no major behavior changes. Only difference is that I don’t leave at the end of the night every night! We are good about respecting the other’s space, we don’t fight over the TV or computer, and as long as I label my leftovers, he doesn’t even eat them :) Leftovers, by the way, have a 24 hour rule. I have 24 hours to eat them before they are fair game. Is there anything worse than looking forward to leftovers all day, only to get home and realize someone else already ate them? I think not.

Notion #5: Husband will learn to love the cat once she is living with him.

YEP.

He was not thrilled about my cat coming to live with him. I’ll write a whole post on that another time. But she is a lazy lap cat and he just loves giving her attention as much as she loves receiving it. It’s just presh.

Marriage is definitely a learning process and we are learning!

Five Years.

Today marks five years.

Not that we are still celebrating dating anniversaries now that we're married, but today happened to be the day that we decided to look at Christmas lights, and looking at Christmas lights was our first "date", so it matched up perfectly!

When we first started talking, we were both in college and working, so finding time to hang out was a bit difficult. Husband was working at Best Buy and didn't get off until 9 or 10 most days, which eliminated most traditional date activities like dinner or a movie. And situations being what they were, hanging out at either of our houses also wasn't a possibility. So after texting for a week or two, a first date was planned. We decided that he would pick me up at my apartment, we would grab a snack at Sonic, and drive around looking at Christmas lights.

Let me tell you what, I was nervous. I did that typical girl thing where I tried on practically every outfit in my closet and my bed was covered with my reject pile. Then I spent a good hour straightening my hair. To be honest, I probably changed my outfit a few more times after that. Then once I felt ready and pretty, I realized that I was about two hours too early, so I popped in a movie to pass the time. I spent more time jumping up and running to my window than actually watching the movie!

My knight in shining armor finally picked me up on his white horse... er, blue truck. I was oh-so-subtly positioning my hand where he could grab it if he felt so inclined - and luckily for me, he did :) I still get butterflies thinking about that. I loved getting to know him better as we toured the streets of our city, taking in all the beautiful lights and colors.

I think we looked at Christmas lights four or five times in the next couple of weeks, and I remember being so worried that once Christmas was over and people took their lights down, we wouldn't have an excuse to hang out anymore. Clearly, that wasn't the case! So looking at lights with Christmas tunes playing has kind of become a tradition for us. And I'm pretty sure every year the husband has to make a comment about how disappointed he is that more people didn't put up lights, and every year I remind him that he's disappointed by this annually ;)

Here's a few shots from tonight's activities!

Tickle My Fancy

Here are some of my favorite things as of lately!

1. Gone With the Wind

Specifically, the book. I saw the movie once, a long time ago - way before I was old enough to appreciate it. But I've never read the book and decided that I should change that. I've been reading it bit by bit and I am absolutely in love with it. The language is so lovely and it makes me wish I was a southern belle! Once I finish the book, I'll probably tackle the movie version, but I'm afraid it won't do it justice!

2. Zippers

This guy is getting quite the personality. I try and spend time with him every evening and he is becoming more trusting with me. He likes to climb on me and sit in my lap :) He gets in trouble for chewing the baseboards but we are working on that. He's more adventurous and spunky every day!

3. Blackberries

Yummmm. I bought these on a whim for a get-together I had and ended up eating almost of all of them myself. I just wish they weren't so darn expensive! I'm hoping to grow my own once spring comes.

4. The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show

I adore the VS Fashion Show. I love all of the crazy fashions and seeing all the Angels! And my girl T-Swift performed again this year - can't go wrong there!

5. Aladdin

I rewatched this for the first time in a few years and forgot how much I love this movie. I always forget how beautiful the animation is! I may need a second viewing this weekend...

6. Oregon Trail

I found a website where you can play the Apple IIe version from elementary school and I am just as bad at it as I was 20 years ago... that's unfortunate. But still fun.

7. aa

This little app is addicting. You have to fit all the dots in around the big circle without hitting any of the dots already attached to the circle. The circle spins in different directions and at different speeds, making some levels next to impossible...

8. Criminal Minds

I've only just discovered this show, and it's super cheesy sometimes, but I still love it. I'm almost all the way through season one! Thanks, Netflix.

9. Goodcents

Before we moved a block away from a Goodcents sandwich shop, I could not have cared less about it. I don't think I ever even ate one of their sandwiches. But ever since the move, I am obsessed. I could probably eat there every day. If you live near one, you really need to give it a try. So so so good.

10. Target fleece pants

Since I've had the flu for, like, a year, I've been practically living in these. Fleece. Comfy. Cozy. Really all I want out of life.

A Frustration

Okay, I know I'm not alone in this situation, but I still want to get it off my chest. 

The next person that asks me if I'm pregnant or assumes I'm pregnant just because I'm not feeling well is gonna get it. 

People have been asking since the day we got back from our honeymoon when we are going to have kids. Really? Maybe once we've been married longer than the length of time you can rent a video...? I get that people mean well. I really do. But I also don't understand why having a ring on your finger means you should start producing little ones. 

I am unfortunately a frequently ill person. If there is anyone within a 500 mile radius who is sick, I will undoubtedly catch it. I've had the stomach flu (or its equivalent) three times just in the last 6 months. It is crappy and annoying but I deal with it. This is nothing new, though. Ever since I got mono 7 years ago, I have been a germ magnet. But conversations have changed. 

Before marriage:

Person: oh, you're sick? Bummer. Think it's the flu?

After marriage:

Person: you're sick? Bet you're pregnant. 

Me: haha, no, just the flu.

Person: I really bet you're pregnant. You're throwing up so you must be pregnant. 

Me: no, I am 100% positive I am not pregnant, just surrounded by sick people. 

Person: you should probably take a test. 

Okay. Enough. I don't know why, in 2014, I am seen as inadequate for not becoming a baby-making machine the day I said I Do. I don't know why I am less of a woman because I am not popping out a kid on our 9 month wedding anniversary. I know some people take that path, and good for them. That is a great decision to make. But it is not for me. 

Inevitably, after the uncomfortable conversation in which I have to repeatedly convince a semi-stranger that I am not with child, comes the "well, when ARE you having kids?!" question, and they never like my answer. Because I always reply, "Not for a long time. Probably years down the road." And then, because that does not satisfy this nosy person, I almost always have to explain further. First of all, I am in school and working full-time. I do not even have time for myself, much less a baby. And as I mentioned before, I am sick about 75% of the time. I do not think that my body can physically take my constant illnesses in addition to the physical changes of pregnancy and then getting very little sleep once the baby comes. Secondly, we just got married. Do you really think we are in a financial place to take on a third family member? Thirdly, my husband is gone for work all the time. The assumption is that because he is a teacher, he is home by 4 every day and has every weekend and summer off. Oh, if only. There are days he comes home at 8:30 and is asleep by 9. We can go weeks on end without actually having dinner together. Being married to a music teacher is not the same as being married to an elementary teacher. In the last month alone, he has had meetings, rehearsals, two school musicals, regional and state football games, district auditions, conferences, lessons, all while getting ready for the Christmas concert. So no, I do not feel equipped to be raising a child basically by myself. I do not fault my husband for being gone so much, but it is the reality of the situation we are in. 

So in conclusion... I am not pregnant. Yes, I'm sure. Yes, I'm positive. No, I'm fine with that. And you know what? It honestly is 100% not anyone's business but mine and my husband's. If I feel the need to share intimate details of our marriage and life goals with anyone, I will do it on my own time. But I will certainly not continue to justify my body and my choices to people who have no business asking. 

#TBT: tanning

{I would like to preface this post by saying that I do not encourage or condone tanning, unless you're one of those crazy people who can effectively use the self-tanning bronzer lotion. There have been a million studies done on the cancerous effects of tanning beds and being in the sun without sunscreen, so I know y'all know better. That being said, here is my story.}

So. I was formerly a member of that infamous gym with a $20 per month membership fee that included unlimited tanning. I had never gone tanning before, but wanted a bit of a glow on my wedding day, so I decided to try it once, about a month before the big day. I usually tan really well outside and rarely burn, so I didn't think I would have a problem. The people at the gym recommended the upright tanning bed, so I thought I'd give it a shot. They said the timer was set for 8 minutes and to come out when I was done. 

Okay, first off, this entire tanning bed was filled with lights brighter than the sun. I think I could actually feel my retinas burning just from being in the room. But the instructions were on the inside of the bed so I attempted to read them with one eye open. Didn't work. So I just started pressing buttons with my eyes closed until it said it was starting. 

Everything went fine for about the first 4 minutes. Then I started to feel really, uncomfortably warm. I don't sweat easily, but I was absolutely dripping. Genius me, I decided to keep going. 6 1/2 minutes into it, I felt like I was actually going to pass out. I burst out of the door at 7 minutes - one full minute shy of the recommended "beginner" time. I actually laid on the floor for about 10 minutes taking deep breaths so I could actually walk, then drank about a gallon of water. I texted my then-fiance two words: NEVER. AGAIN.

I felt horrendously sick for the next 24 hours. Weak, dizzy, and dehydrated. And here was the physical result:

I mean. Luckily, my sunburns never last long, and it was gone within two days. It makes me feel sick just thinking about it!

Moral of the story? Tanning is just as bad as they say. And then some.