The "Little" Things

I have been somewhat stressed lately. I've been working a second job since November to help save and better prepare us for whatever might be down the road for us in our pursuit of parenthood (as I discussed a little bit here.) Working two jobs is a big stress on my time and leaves me feeling pretty drained some days. I don't know how people work 80 hour weeks? 60 to 70 hours has me pooped! My crafting, decorating, and couch surfing time has been GREATLY reduced!

I have also had to swallow my pride a bit, which is silly, because I know that what I'm doing is honorable, and it's a good thing for me to take control of whatever part of our situation I can. But when someone from high school walks into the cafe your working at with your fellow teenage co-workers, sometimes I can't help but blush. Then I just get mad at myself for being embarrassed over having to take a second job to save up some baby money and put us in a better position. It's obviously totally worth it and I shouldn't worry about such stupid things, right? Now, if only I could the blood in my check to behave accordingly.

Anyways! This is not a woe is me post, contrary to the above. Even though I may be stressed lately, it has just brought my attention to being so happy and grateful for the small (and maybe not so small) things of life. I am seriously so freakin' blessed I can barely stand it. Here is what is making me smile lately.

My youngest sister turned 15! I can't believe our baby is so grown up! She wanted to go cosmic bowling and I was more than happy to oblige.  It was a super fun girls night.

My husband is the most hilariously sweet person I know. I came home the other night to find flowers and this note on the kitchen counter. Read the note, it had me cracking up for a good five minutes.

The 49ers are going to the Superbowl, okay this one isn't really for me, but for my main man. He was very excited, which in turn let me witness this hilariousness (Too bad they lost last night, the seen at this house was pretty different last night from this video.)

I got to have an amazing Saturday OFF with my mom and little sister where we partook in manicures, lunch, and shopping. It was the best day I've had in a long time.

The Killers concert. Enough said.

I finally dusted off the bike for a good MLK bike ride out to the dam.

Lastly, and biggest of all- my little sister has been called on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints! I could not be more proud and excited for her.

 

See, can you believe I had so many happy events in just over a month? Like I said, totally blessed and thankful!!

The 36 Hour Vacation

This past Memorial Day weekend Jeff and I took a quick trip out to Cali. Seriously, the whole trip took place in just about 36 hours. We just needed a break and to get out of this HEAT. (I have a feeling this is going to be a long summer with these temperatures.)

We drove straight to Balboa Island Friday morning for a little sight seeing and shopping. We chowed down on their famous chocolate covered bananas for lunch! YUM!

(Balboa Island Chocolate Covered Banana)

 From there we headed to the Dodger Game. The game on Friday night was pretty terrible (Dodgers came back for a win Sat. and Sun. though), but the fireworks they light up at the end of the game were so much fun. We got to go down on the field to watch them being sent off.


(Jeff's first time on the Dodger field)

We headed to our hotel for a nice long night after the game. Because we got to the hotel late, the only non-smoking room left was a suite with a Murphy Bed. Yes, a Murphy Bed. It was so tiny, Jeff's feet were hanging off the edge all night, but we must have been tired because we slept until 10:30. That right, 10:30! This for a girl who considers sleeping until 7:00 as sleeping in.


Beach!

In the morning after we dragged ourselves out of bed, we went to eat brunch at Polly's on the Pier (scrumptious!). Then we headed to a nearby beach for a few hours before hitting the road. We knew we had to get back because Scout was in a new place with new people and we didn't want to freak her out so soon after adopting her. (Jeff and I think with a little more planning we'll take her with us next time. Even with only a 36 hour vacation we still came home to a dog with colitis- spent Tuesday morning at the Vets office.)

So there you have it. A 36 hour vacation. We had such a good time, didn't have one quarrel, and got in lots of fun. Maybe we should take more 36 hour vacations? Wish I could have another go at one this weekend!

Side note, this is also our first vacation where we pretty much exclusively took pictures on our phones. It was kind of liberating not to have to lug my huge camera around.

Pinterest Pickings - Let's Talk Marriage

I don’t feel much like blogging lately. Summers here and I am getting a bit overwhelmed with “Need To’s,” “Should Do’s,” and “Want To’s.”

Speaking of "Want To’s", I’ve been pinning a lot of relationship stuff on Pinterest lately. Right now the DH and I are in one of those good spots, you know, where we are all lovey dovey and neither one of us can do anything wrong. I love those phases! I know it’s only a matter of time before we have an arguement disagreement about something or the other, and I kind of want to capitalize on the current euphoria.

I don’t know when I’ll find the time for any of this stuff, but these are defiantly going under my current “Want To’s.”

99 Things to be Thankful About Your Husband

30 Day Marriage Challange

30 Questions to Ask Your Spouse

(We actually did a few of these on a recent road trip and we totally were laughing and I found out some new things about this man of mine!)

100 Date Night Ideas

101 Things to do for Your Husband



Cute Love Notes
( I actually made one of these picture frames a few months ago. A few times a week I'll write down something I love about DH. Sometimes he writes back. It's super cute & fun. Even when what's written on the frame is: "I love you because your snoring sounded like Chubaca last night.")

I love that people started posting some stuff to help strengthen a marraige, or to be a better wife. I was getting a little tired of all the post where women were dreaming up "the perfect guy." Yeah, I want a husband who can build me a bookshelf too, but I would never base a relationship, or even a date, on such trivial matters.

I think sometimes women need to stop dreaming about prince charming and find someone to love for their strengths and their flaws. No one is going to check off all your boxes, instead of creating a list of things you require of your man, start becoming those things yourself, and eventually the right guy will come along.

. . . Oh! Shoot! Is that a soap box under me? I guess I had stronger feelings on that topic then I thought! Anyways, I just really like the Pins above and hope I can peruse them more in depth sometime. Make my honey bun feel special! I do love him so very much!

Recently Jeff went out of town on business (training employees at a new restaurant opening in Idaho). Let me tell you, it bit the big one! Jeff and I have only ever been apart for a few days at a time since we started dating over 5 years ago. And when we are apart, honestly, it’s usually me out vacationing or having some kind of fun. I’ve never been the one stuck at home for more than a day or two.

Jeff didn’t seem to think it was a big deal leaving for so long, but I knew it’d be a bit lonesome, so we rallied the troops and went out to eat with a bunch of family before he left.


We ate at a new spot called Genghis Grill. It was super good; I totally recommend it, especially for a big group like we had. It was so fun to just sit around with parts of both of our families and visit. We are so blessed to live by so much family. (Funny note- we ended up sitting by this couple that use to be Jeff’s parents neighbors, who had moved out of the neighborhood 5 years ago. What are the odds?)

Besides gathering the family up for a visit, I also made my hubby a little traveling survival kit to pack away in his suitcase. It included playing cards, word games, some of his favorite snacks, my trademark “Traveling Action Plan” full of good eats and places to see, and a handwritten letter for each day he was gone (which noted something different I would miss about him each day while he was away).



I’m not sure if he really got much use out of his traveling survival kit, but at least he knows his wife loves him like a nerd loves quantum physics. Some things I noticed while being on my own . . .

1-Making the bed in the morning is much easier without Jeff tossing the bedding to and fro during the night. Honestly, it barely even looked like someone slept in the bed when it’s just my lonesome.

2-Instead of the regular 4-5 loads of laundry during the week I only had one load. IT WAS HEAVEN! (As laundry is my long time hated nemesis.)

3-The garbage never magically emptied itself and moseyed to the curb for pick up. It’s odd because I’ve always just assumed it was magically done before? Along with some other house hold chores.

4-My house is very, very quiet and I may or may not have started talking to myself and our cat Opal to add a bit of noise.

It was a long week. I hope he doesn’t make a habit of leaving on business trips! I made sure he came home to a nice clean house, a miniature Welcome Home banner, and dinner in his own bed with his favorite shows still unwatched on the DVR.
His work has started talking about opening a restaurant in Hawaii, I would totally be down accompanying him on that next trip! So I guess there are exceptions to the no more work trips rule.

V-Day

Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite holidays. Not because I want to get spoiled with jewels and flowers from a muscle clad man, but because it is such a great reminder to let those you love in your life know how much you care for them. It wasn’t always my favorite holiday, I use to hate it. Fake plastic hearts, pressured statements of love, and all that. But once I figured out what I wanted the holiday to mean to me personally, I really started to enjoy it.

Unfortunately, this year I have been totally bogged down with those not-so-fun parts of being an adult, responsibilities are really over rated. It made Valentines take a bit of second seat this year, but that’s okay.

I always give my sisters a little somethin’ somethin’ for Valentines and this year wasn’t any different. I gave them each some homemade bath salts that were rose scented, each in a different corked jar from Michaels. I only got a picture of the one, because I forgot to get a picture of them all together, but the girls liked them. They said it made them smell good all day


For my man I made him one of his favorite dinners (which is a treat because I don't cook), gave him a good back message(at least longer than 5 minutes), and I gifted him some random items that I know he’d been needing along with a pre-ordered FUN CD and Shin tickets (for anyone who likes FUN you should check out the lead singer’s old band The Format. They were awesome.)

(Pic: Chicken Alfredo, Garlic Toast, Brussels Sprouts, and Sparkling Cider. Chocolate covered strawberries were the dessert.)

Jeff surprised me earlier at work with my favorite color of roses (yellow) and took me out to lunch. I was so happy to see him; I just really needed it that day!


Later that night he gave me his official Valentines gift which included a few movies (two were Muppet movies, I’m sure those really were for him), clothes, and wait for it . . .

Eddie Vedder Tickets!


I am so excited to go see him! I’ve never seen him solo without the band. I can’t wait to see him and just melt by his voice. He is so wonderful. Jeff is so wonderful, Eddie of course is great too, but I mean Jeff is so wonderful for getting me the tickets. I was kind of sweating how I was going to pull off buying both The Shins & Eddie Vedder tickets. So. So. Excited!

The creation of The BaMedia

Have I ever told you my husband is wonderful? Seriously, do you know this guy? I know I may poke at him at him from time to time on the blog, he can be a dirty stinky boy sometimes. There will always be something that is getting under my skin, bugging me, or something that I can just plain do without. But, honestly, I love this guy!

I love that he is a dirty stinky boy with different interests, tastes, and likes than me. I love that he is so smart and clever. I love how much he makes me laugh. I love that (no matter who he ended up marrying) he knew he was going to make his wife the most important person in his life and praise and adore her always. I love how dedicated he is at working on our marriage. I love his goofy grin and beaming smile. He is the love of my life.

Okay, all this praise has taken me a little bit off topic,(what can I say, I can't help myself), but my point is that my hubster Jeff has started a new blog recently, The BaMedia. He actually took my advice (stop the presses!) and started a blog about all things media/entertainment. I kind of wanted him to just tag onto my blog and give it some spice, but he wanted his own space and vibe, and honestly the two may not meld all that easily together. Like I said, we have different tastes and interests.


To find his blog easily from my own I created a tab at the top of this blog that will link anyone to his- easy peasy. I also have created a tab on his blog that links up to my blog. One for all things music and movies and new (HIS), and the other for all things home and decor and dorkiness (HERS).

He started his blog off with a 12 Days Till Christmas posting countdown. Each day he is going to post a poll with different artist singing the same Christmas song. A king of 'who sung it best?' challenge. Revisit old favorites, maybe learn about a new artist or two, and take the polls. It is a fun way to count down till the best holiday of the year! Visit often and join in the discussions (maybe cut him some slack as he moves through the learning curve of blogging. He'll know more then me in no time).

Endless Summer

I forgot to mention that we went on a vacation in September. It was awesome and I even managed to get a few good shots even though my shutter keeps threatening to break in my camera. Looking back at them now reminds me of summer and those warmer days. So lovely.

Me and hubster went with Mat and Lora (our old roomie before she got married). I was excited when they invited us along.

We stayed near Santa Monica. I can't remember the last time I was there, so it was a nice change up to our normal CA trips.

The only issue with Santa Monica is I guess they had a high number of Sting Rays this past summer because when Jeff went out to swim with us (which, he never swims in the ocean), he was stung by a Sting Ray (of course this would happen when he finally come out to play with me in the water.)

It hurt. He was in a bunch of pain (The EMT/ Lifeguard that was called to the scene - and it was a huge scene - said that a ray's sting hurts worse than a bullet wound). But luckily, once we got back to the hotel, put his foot in an icy cold bath and gave him some IBU Profen, he was in much better shape and was able to enjoy the rest of the vacation.

That night we went to the Angels and Yankees game. It was awesome. The highlights for me were the Air Force Jets that flew by in the beginning of the game, my hot dog, the Angels winning over the Yankees, and the fireworks at the end.

The next day we got up and headed back to Randy's Donuts which we found the day before. Let me tell you if you're in the LA area near the airport, you should stop by. Best donut I've ever had!

After gorging ourselves on some baked goodness we went and saw Hollywood.

We saw the Chinese Theater

Saw the stars feet and hand prints, and stars. In true dork form this is Jeff by the Star Wars crew.

This is sadly the closest we got the the Hollywood sign. Jeff's foot injury took precedence over any hiking adventures we planned to see the sign up close.

And just when we thought our vacation bad luck was over, while we were taking funny pictures like this our car rental was being towed. We had to walk several blocks and pay several hundred dollars to get it out. If we had known we would have stopped the photo shoots and headed back to the car. It was around this time that I worried that our trip may be cursed- ha ha.

Lastly, we went to Seal Beach and just vegged, stopped tempting fate. Jeff skipped the beach for some R & R in the hotel and the BYU game, but I enjoyed my R & R on the beach with Mat and Lora. Maybe Jeff was the bad luck charm because nothing horrible happened at Seal Beach.

No worries, Jeff has since returned to the scene of the crime (the beach) with only minor flash backs. He did not get in the water though. I don't think I'll be able to talk him into that one again.

Jeff turns 29!

My lover turned 29. I can't believe we are getting so old. I still feel like I just graduated college. (Maybe that because Jeff is still in college- ha ha!) Any who, Jeff decided that he is so old that presents don't even excite him anymore. Honestly, the kid didn't want for anything. Not a bad place to be in, but I think also a sign of our increasing age.


Look at this guy- he is just so awesome! He wasn't going to let the opportunity pass him by.

Since he didn't want any presents, he turned his attention to what other people want or need. In the end he decided that he wanted to participate in a Walk for Diabetes that was being held here in Las Vegas on his very birthday. Jeff has had 3 grandparents pass away from Diabetes and a string of other family members as well. We know it is a disease that will continue to effect our lives down the road.

He decided instead of people giving him gifts he would just have them sponsor or sign up to walk on our team for the Diabetes Walk. He is such a giver, all the time. I was so proud of him for making that decision and was totally on board! I signed us up for a team and named it "Birthday Boy" after our little (or rather big) Jeffery.

The next step was to get some supporters and team members signed up! I turned to the ever trusted Power Point program and made up some invites, turned it into a picture and went to Facebook to spread the word.

We planned on going to his Mom and Dads house for some food after the walk, since they live so close to the Springs Preserve, where the walk was being held. It was kind of hard to get people on board and signed up, not the easiest steps to follow on the hosts website, but in the end we had a good little group to walk with us on his Birthday!

To get people psyched for the walk, and show our appreciation for their participation in his unconventional birthday, Jeff and I thought up a couple simple Thank Yous for their participation. For the first one they got these Trail Mix thanks yous when I greeted them on the morning of the walk. The walk was at 8am, so a little food didn't hurt.

The next Thanks was a bandanna that Jeff's cousin screen printed our teams name on. We all wore white, while Jeff got the red one that said "Birthday Boy," since red was the color of the event in general.




Our walk lasted a whole of 10-15 minutes, but it was nice chatting with family along the way and being in a larger group with like minded people.


After the walk we used the Springs Preserve as a backdrop for a little photo shoot. Anywhere I go with my sisters and my camera we have to make time for photo shoots- ha ha. We got some good pictures. There really aren't any words, I'll let you bask in our dorky glory!












After the event festivities we headed back to his parents place for some grub. My camera started acting up at this point, so I don't have many pictures (just the one below), but this is where I had probably one of the BEST burgers of my life. Jeff''s brother Spence makes the best hamburgers!! So good!!!! (We also munched on healthy, low sugar options as well.)


After lunch we hit up a matinee to see Restless, then may or may not have movie hoped over to Real Steele. After that Jeff came home to watch the BYU game. It was a really nice day and Jeff even managed to get a present or two at the end of it all. I got him an hour message and we think with the other loot he got that we may go see Jersey Boys down on the strip. Jeff has wanted to see it for so long, so he is a super happy guy. I love him so much and am glad he had a nice Birthday.