Dinner on the Table

Karl's grandparents are here for the week.  People ask, "Isn't that stressful- teaching, coaching, and being in school yourself, PLUS having company?"

No.  Grandma has had dinner on the table every evening when I get home.  We've had BBQ pork chops, spaghetti/meatballs, meatloaf, roast... Grandpa has helped Karl fix the old car, set up his man cave, and mount a television.  Having them as "company" isn't stressful at all. Having them as family is the best of all.

Christmas Break Success

I spent about 70% of my Christmas break in pajamas. A variety of pajamas. A red/white/blue romper, blue flannel pajamas with snowflakes, polka dotted silk pajamas, blue and white training pants...

I drank hot tea, coffee, apple cider, and chai lattes whenever I pleased.  I read books (for fun). I took naps.  I cuddled with kitties.  I slept in late, and on a few occasions, I stayed in bed until early afternoon.

Overall, Christmas Break 2015 was a giant success.  Happy New Year, friends.

Tape, Boxes, and Sharpies

It's funny how much of your life can fit into boxes.  Packing paper from our first move to Alabama is strewn about the floor.  Sharpie markers in various colors litter the counters.  The sound of tape stretching across a cardboard box signals the end of something.  And it signifies the beginning of something.

I never thought we'd stay here or that I could fall in love.  But moving day is almost here, and I really just couldn't be more thrilled to begin another journey in our new home.

Football

I've never been a huge football fan.  Even when I lived with my family, football time was actually nap time.  Last year, Football Sundays were Barnes & Noble Sundays.  But this year I find myself watching a little more (and who wants Barnes & Noble Sundays when you can buy a billion times the amount of books at the consignment shoppe).

No one down here gives a hoot about the NFL.  Not as much as the North anyway.  It's all about college football.  And so, our Football Sundays have slowly evolved into Football Weekends.  Because husband still cares about the NFL, of course (and by NFL, I mean Peyton Manning).

But sometimes, these Football Weekends have not been so terrible.  I still nap quite a bit.  But it's a small reprieve from running around high school kids all week and just running around in general.  And so I will take Football Weekends.  In all its napping, comfy blanket, head massage glory.

Sick

Colds and sickness always seem to come at the wrong time for me.  I guess it is fair to ask if there is ever a "good" time to be sick...And there's not.

But sometimes, after the kids have just been too messy and too loud (or at least more than you could stand that day), and then grades had to be posted for the first report card, and then you remember you never packed cross country practice clothes, and then you get to practice and the wind whips through your ears and into your brain, and the nose won't stop running but it's raw from too many Kleenex tissues, and then you think you will never, ever be warm again....

Sometimes you get home, your husband tells you to sit down, and he brings you dinner that he's made (spinach and cheese stuffed chicken-I don't know where that came from).  He's finishing two loads of laundry, and the freshest out of the dryer, the warmest shirt, he puts you in and then tucks you under a blanket while you watch New Girl and The Mindy Project and he folds clothes.

I don't know if there's a "good" time to be sick, but I'd say "after you're married to a good man" is as good as it's ever going to get.  And I'm certainly grateful.

A Few More Firsts

Watching a cross country creek mud race...
....only to be horrified at the thought of a runner getting spiked under water.

Assigning a detention...
...and wondering when "worst teacher ever" will be applied to me.

Eating chocolate-covered almonds every day for a week for lunch...
...then thinking I need to run [with the team more].

Thinking the 80s are slightly chilly...
...and happily wearing scarves.

Wanting to sleep at 8:30 every night...
....pretty much succeeding.

Wish List

A Reading Chair

Found on Pinterest

As we think about purchasing a specific home, I started thinking about "things" that should fill the rooms.  My biggest concern/most frightening challenge is the living room.  We are looking at a beautiful, one-story home (very common in the South) with gorgeous wood floors and an open floor plan.  This open floor plan makes the home seem so large, and it also gives people a glimpse of all your collected "stuff."  Off in the far corner of the family room sits a white painted, built in wall book case.  And already I'm imagining a chair like this one sitting beside the book case and the floor to top-of-door-frame windows.  We haven't committed to the house yet, but I'm already dreaming of natural sunlight, wooden floors, and french doors.  I had imagined a gorgeous, deep red, wingback chair, but this will do too.

In My Own Little Corner

There's plenty of room in this apartment.  For an apartment for two, in fact, it is quite spacious.  Of course, Karl, being the man he is, had little to add.  Only the basics.  A bed, a dresser, some clothes.  I immediately sought to fill those spaces; however, I needed a spot for me.  I was not going to try to claim the entire guest room.  That's a bit much.  Besides, we needed a place for the guest bed and the home computer.

No, I decided, the perfect place was going to be in the corner of the master bedroom.  We had set out our furniture, let it rest for a few weeks, rearranged, bought more furniture, and rearranged again.  Finally, my desk made it happily into the corner by the window.  And I was sitting on a pink ottoman from college with a plush polka dot blanket to prop me to higher proportions.  That would not do.

Using Pinterest as my guide, I had a grand idea to place pieces of square corkboard in an artful arrangement above my desk, either covered in material or washi tape.  But then I saw this picture at Walmart, of all places to find a framed artful piece.  And I knew it needed to go above my desk.  After conferring with The Husband, who does not care what I buy and where it goes as long as it is not ridiculously priced, the picture was bought and hung up on the wall.  The corkboard idea will have to wait.

And yet, I still was without a chair.  Having traveled to Home Goods about four times and looking a the same chair over and over again, Karl finally told me to "just get it," and here it sits.  It helped that we also found Karl a big, comfy, man office chair for his desk today as well.

To Decorate

This is my first time where I've had my own space to decorate.  Of course, Kenz and I had decorated the house for Christmas.  She picked "the stuff" and we both happily put the spirit of Christmas all over.

This time, my husband has happily informed me that he pays for the apartment, and I decorate. That's a lot of  pressure.  There are blank slates all over, specifically the walls.  Thus, I've decided to start small.

The mantle.

Karl has finally removed all his Pittsburgh fan gear from the mantle in order to let me decorate for autumn and then eventually (*whispers*) Christmas.  I have been searching my main source of inspiration for multiple ideas.  I am certain that my mantle will eventually combine aspects of each of these mantles.

I love the books.  I already know which ones I will choose- Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, and To Kill a Mockingbird.  I'm not trying to have a "Halloween" mantle, but these books are spooky enough.

I love the glass jars with pumpkins, stones, and gourds.  I also love the orange swag, pine cones, and fake leaves.

First off, there will be no creepy picture (no offense to them). I would like to incorporate a small candle rack in the middle or those tiered candle sticks.

Thoughts?  How do you decorate for the Fall season?

Stay Busy

Without a job and my husband working 2 pm-10 pm this week, the afternoons and evenings can seem a little long.  There are only so many dishes to be washed, carpets to be swept, and  meals to make.
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I have finally made it to the gym, and I did sit poolside for a day.  But now what?  Lately, I have been watching "Orange is the New Black."  Not necessarily the best show to watch, but it has sucked me in.  Organizing rooms without my other housemate is a bit overwhelming because I don't want to move things without making sure it's the best place to lay our "stuff" to rest.  I have organized, cleaned, and moved all my important "things" (aka teacups, teapots, and office supplies) to the various places of my heart's desire.

Any ideas as to books to read, shows to watch, or hobbies to take up?

So It Turns Out...

That making decisions might not be so difficult after all.  I think we knew the whole time that it would come to this.  There are only so many times and so many ways that the same argument can be said and heard.  So instead we go with what is safe.  And warm.  And beautiful.  We will be visiting this weekend before we make a final decision, so keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

 

 

"Future.  That period of time of time in which our affairs prosper, our friends are true and our happines is assured." ~Ambrose Bierce

'Tis the Season

This is what my last few evenings have looked like.  Without Tiger Pause after school, I still have been fairly busy.  Surprise parties, Christmas shopping, and wedding planning have been on my mind, and with those big ideas floating around, tea and chocolate have been kept near.

Luckily, the house smells like peppermint (favorite candle this season), and Kenz and I have chosen not to exchange gifts yet so that we may keep presents under the tree.  It looks pretty that way.  On the other hand, as guest list revisions are made, save-the-date ideas are exchanged, and general wedding activities are appearing, a full-blown headache seems to be approaching.  However, I realize that the key is to allow happy thoughts to permeate my brain.

My happy mantra has been as follows:
1. "I get to marry my best friend."  That idea still makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.  He truly is wonderful.
2. All the details of the wedding will sort themselves out; the day is supposed to be a celebration of the very best kind with the very best people.
3. "Christmastime is here. Happiness and cheer."  -"Peanuts" style. This holiday focuses on Jesus and family. I like that.
4.  A break from school means free reading time.  Who doesn't love that?
5.  God's got a plan.  Whew.

What has your "happy mantra" been this season? (Or, maybe you've got it all together and don't have one.  What's your secret?)

Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree

My roommate brought back boxes and bagfuls of Christmas decorations.  You know how I feel about Christmas.  So last night, we happily hung ornaments and lights from our new little tree, as well as set up the most beautiful wooden nativity scene on a Christmas-y placement.  Now, lights are up outside, bows and boughs are placed, and the inside is warm with lights.

Domestic

Cooking and baking are both intimidating to me.  There is most certainly an art to making food that is both tasty and aesthetically pleasing.  Pies are especially daunting- fillings can run, crust can rupture, and the overall taste can lack...sweetness.  Furthermore, my mom is the queen of pies. It's a lot of pressure.

So when I decided to make my first real pie for my fiance's family Thanksgiving, I was more than nervous.  But this recipe was excellent, and I think it turned out okay in the taste AND look departments.

The most difficult task...the crust.

Fitting it all inside was no easy task.

The hard part- waiting.