Sleepless in Sarasota

Well, March is in the books.

What a cray cray month.

We had company come into town .... twice. Which was amazeballs. DF's two besties flew in from New England on two separate weekends. It was nice to see DF so happy.

Work is starting to get better and better for me. I'm past my 90 days and while it's super busy and crazy stimulating everyday, I'm happy and feel like I'm doing a great job. I feel very lucky.

The condo is starting to feel like home. I've hung some stuff up and we've really settled in nicely. It's hard with so much space. I've never had a place this big so it's a struggle to decorate. DF and I ordered and amazing living room set and it will be delivered in three weeks. Cannot wait to get it. Hand me downs are great for the budget, not so great for my style.

I've got a big bed all to myself. Well, just Buggy and I. DF took some extra shifts this weekend and he's doing 8PM-8AM. It's been hard. I hate sleeping without him. I know it seems super needy and lame, but he's my other half. Without him, I don't make sense. Sleeping alone seems foreign to me now.

I've been thinking a lot lately about our relationship. I am so very lucky. We've been through such a hard transition to Florida. I'm having lots of family problems, we've both started new jobs, we got a condo, we're getting married, we're adjusting to new surroundings. It's been an action packed 6 months. And I thought 6 months of long distance was hard. HAHA.

The thing is. DF is amazing. He is. And I appreciate everything he does.

I know we are both going to do whatever it takes to accomplish where we want to go.

Anyways...sorry March was kinda lame. Not a ton of posting. I'm getting back into crafting and I've got some cute things coming up. DF's bday and Easter just to name a few. I'll be checking in :) I promise!

I'm slip and sliding all the way back down....please vote again! MUAH!

One Word Wednesday #12

Sunset....

BORING!

What happened to me today?

Nothing.

Literally. Nothing.

I'm sitting in the living room. DF is on the iMac. TBF is on the MacBook Pro and I'm on my pink MacBook.

We are listening to Band of Horses and chilling. Like NERDS.

I've got two loads of laundry going. DF made veggie linguine for sup sup- and it was amazeballs. Nothing exciting to report.

Grandpa is flying in from Boston tomorrow- so DF and I are going out for sushi tomorrow night and then heading to momma and papa bears to play 45s.

Saturday we're doing a pool cookout and Sunday DF has to work. So hopefully Sunday I'll actually get some stuff hung on the walls. (Yes, It's true. All my walls are naked. I haven't hung up a damn thing!)

Still scouring the internet looking for decorating inspiration- but truthfully, unless I win the lottery, me decorating this place is going to be a lot of smoke and mirrors. Hoping to go treasure hunting at Goodwill with Sissy this weekend.

Got DF's black belt certificate framed. That was the big accomplishment of the day. And he really did it...so I shouldn't take total credit since he occasionally reads my blog.

Not in the mood for TV or a movie tonight. So I guess it's just refreshing the boys on how to play 45's.

What a gripping life I do lead!

XOXO

VOTE!

One Word Wednesday #11

MISSING.

&

M.I.A. To A New Day

So sorry I've been MIA. I'll make it up to you.

I've been adapting a new philosophy....stay in motion. I'm like a shark...if I stop swimming, I'll sink.

SO.....today is fresh with no mistakes in it.

Let's do a rundown since last Wednesday:

Thursday: Work. Exhaustion. Furniture shopping with DF. Found couches we want. Bought new couch pillows. Home at 9:30PM.

Friday: Redbull. Energy. Went to The Maxx with Momma after work. Spent way too much money. Got lamps, comforter, shams, pillows and Calvin Klein sheets for DF and I's bedroom. (Will post bedroom inspiration and pics soon)

Saturday: Cut all my hair off. It's total "Mom Hair" and I'm unhappy. Lunch at the Crab Shack. (Not as good as the Crab Pot in Seattle. Not even close. Although sharing my King Crab with DF....that is LOVE.) Went to the movies. Saw "The Fighter." Came home...made supper....watched "Paranormal Activity 2" with DF on the couch. (With the lights on to prevent nightmares.)

Sunday: DF had to work....first Pirates Spring Training Game. TBF and I had Carbon Monoxide warnings for over an hour. Ripped detectors from ceiling. Took Duncan to momma and papa bears. Went swimming. Played out by the pool all afternoon with Sissy. Got a little sunburn. TBF took me to get mani/pedis which were amazing. Took Duncan to get a haircut. Came home, cooked DF steaks and chicken on the grill. Ate supper. Watched the Oscars.

So....we've been busy little bees.

I promise I'll be blogging more. Florida has just finally started being really fun! I am settling into the condo. I still have yet to hang a single thing up....but we're settling.

I've got blueberry muffins cooking in the stove for DF right now. I am happy we're busy and healthy.

It's been constant motion...but Florida is starting to feel like home.

XOXO.

I'm back! Give me a vote to say hi!

Mickey Surprise!

So, I get home from work tonight.

Monday. Tired. Blech.

And DF is cooking...bless his heart.

TBF is sweaty. He's been re-installing all our Carbon Monoxide detectors. They went ape-shit yesterday morning around 8AM. So, naturally, I ripped them all out of the ceiling.

Anways.... I remark how sweaty TBF is...and he goes, Mickey or Pluto?

Uh, as if there was a choice....freakin' Mickey....

For what?

And he hands me this:

Well, just the Mickey. Donald is DF's.

IT'S A FLORIDA RESIDENT PASS TO DISNEY WORLD!

Yes, that's right....free parking....free park hopper....ANNUAL PASS! YEAR ROUND!

TBF works for AAA and got a screaming deal on them. So he got one for me and one for DF. Well, and one for himself :)

I did say..."um, TBF, did they have a Minnie one? But you know, beggars can't be choosers but they can be assholes."

Mickey here we come!

Please vote! I'm back in business!

Eye-Key-YAH!

Ok...ok....we went to IKEA last Saturday, but here goes.

The before.

Still moving in....

The tile. The tile is sooo hard on our feet. 

So, I find my IKEA rug.

Cell Phone pic....but better!

And at only $149....a STEAL.

So we also bought a TV stand....which only took 4 hours to assemble.

Me and my giant tits screwing.

DF screwing (this just got so dirty....)

TA-DA!

DF is so adorable....and TBF so helpful.

Super awesome!

Now we have somewhere to watch Dexter :)

Hey YO! Vote!

(Yeah, I meant to say "Yo" not "You." I don't know why. But there isn't a missing "U" there!)

One Word Wednesday #10

Unmotivated. 

Deadbeat Blogger

What now?

So, I just don't have it in me to be clever today. Feeling blech.

I was so under the weather Friday, I was sent home from work. That has never ever happened to me...EVER. So I made it to my couch and that is where I stayed. Sick as a dog. DF came home from work to me sound asleep and Real Housewives blaring out of the TV. (Atlanta Reunion, Vol. 1)

Anyways. Weekend was tragically uneventful. But we did make a run to IKEA for a TV stand.

Me + IKEA + Too many locals + too hot in store = disaster.

I wanted to get the darn TV stand and bid that place adieu. Of course, I fill our frickin' cart with stuff I don't need.

Then as we approach the rug department, I say to DF, "Ok...we're almost out of here. It's crunch time. Do NOT, I repeat, do NOT let me fall in love with anything else....wait a second...what is that...Oh GOD...it's a glorious rug, and I LOVE IT...I have to have it...oh yes, IT WILL BE MINE!"

And.....we got a rug. A 72 X 102 rug. For the living room whose tile floors hurt my feet. And the rug (which we named Sir William Thatcher and we walk all over him) was at the bargain price of $149. I. Shit. You. Not.

Anyways, I'll get some pics up of the new condo soon. I'm sorry. I'm a deadbeat blogger. Just trying to get into a routine and it's harder than it seems.

Try to vote. Please!

Amanda Peet's Eyebrows

Random title, yes I know. But, here is the thing. For exactly one month, I've been growing out my eyebrows.

I look like a wildebeest.

It all started when DF and I watched "2012" about a month ago. Screw the special effects, I kept staring at one thing: the GLORY of Amanda Peet's eyebrows. They are seriously perfect.

See. 

I grabbed a mirror and I started to compare mine to hers.

Mine: over-plucked.
Amanda's: groomed.

Mine: odd shape.
Amanda's: perfectly symmetrical.

So here is my experiment. I look awful. But I'm growing them out to see the natural shape God gave me. Which I haven't seen since circa 1995 when someone handed me tweezers.

It's going to be a hard road. But I must travel it in search of eyebrow glory.

Besides...I couldn't grow them out right before the wedding...hello tragedy if they looked awful!

Every time I apply eye-makeup it's not the same. I'm overgrown. I look sloppy. I'm.... so hairy. So unruly. It's shameful.

Oh Amanda Peet. What have you done to me?

Please remember to vote! Just a click away!

One Word Wednesday #9

Dinner.

Artsy Fartsy

So my momma bear works at a big furniture store...and she is always on the lookout for cool things when they make their way into the big clearance center. Being a hoarder, she's been known to sneak things into the house without any of us knowing. "Oh that lamp? No it's not new, had it for years...." Riiiiiight.

But, she found this one piece that she's been talking about for about 2 weeks now. She kept calling it "artsy fartsy tiles." Naturally, it sounded repulsive to me.

However, she came by the new condo tonight with a surprise for DF and I. The "artsy fartsy tile" piece. Shocker- I freakin' love it!

Take a peek:

ART!

It's pretty big...probably 2 1/2 feet by 4 feet. And heavy. But so amazing. I thought it would originally go in our bedroom but I love it so much, it will probably hang over the plasma. It looks like DF and I will be taking a trip to IKEA this weekend. And I swear...I'm going to end up with exactly the same TV stand I had in Seattle. I'll buy it for the second time. I just know it.

PLUS....there is a giant metal ampersand at momma bear's store I've been eyeing for over a month. It's huge. It is also costly. $129 to be exact. Oh well I figured. Not meant to be mine. 

I love ampersands. So momma showed up tonight with not only the tiles...but my metal ampersand! Which she scored with her discount for only $25 buck-a-roos!

GAH! It's MINE!

For scale...here it is next to my desk....

So, DF and I were hoping to unpack my office tonight- but we're both pretty tired. It looks like DF will be heating up leftovers and we can watch last night's "Tabatha's Salon Takeover." on the DVR. He loves that show...don't know why. But I'm not going to complain :)

Happy. 

Frank Sinatra

Happy Valentine's Day!

So...to all those that don't have Valentine's this year- let me say this; I always thought it was a bullshit non-holiday.

I thought it was a Hallmark holiday.

I hated it. With a passion. I particularly hated when women in my office got flowers from significant others. I mean, really? Thought it was so dumb.

Well, not anymore. Look, I know I'm lucky. DF makes me feel special and beautiful everyday. He doesn't need a "lame Hallmark holiday" to make me feel loved. He does it anyways.

But, let's be honest. I have a vagina, therefore, I wanted to do something for Valentine's Day. I actually asked for a labelmaker. How romantic.

Anyways, DF went to work early, kissed me goodbye. It seemed like an uneventful February 14th.

We BlackBerry messengered throughout the day. Normal stuff. I knew DF was going to make supper.

Work was stressful but not terrible.

So...I pull in my garage (yes, I have a garage now!) and I walk into the kitchen.

This is what I hear: Frank Sinatra. And my DF. Who promptly walks over to me and kisses me and dances with me in the middle of the kitchen.

Then I see that he's set the table, and there is a single red long stem rose and a heart shaped box of chocolates and a new pink candle.

Proof:

Sigh. DF rocks.

Best Valentine's Day EVER. 

So, to all the single ladies, keep the faith. Because halfway though dinner, I asked DF if this (us, our relationship, love) if THIS is what people were talking about.

He smiled and said it was. I never doubt him. 

Don't forget to vote! And Happy Valentine's Day!

Come and Knock on Our Door

Come and knock on our door! We've been waiting for you....when the kisses are hers and his and his (not right...just go with it) three's company too!

Ok. So. We are moved in. It's official! I'm so happy.

TBF is living with DF and I. Because...wait for it...this condo is TWO THOUSAND SQUARE FEET! Whooot! In my adult life, I've never lived in a place this big. The apartment TBF and I shared in Seattle was 895...total. And I thought that place was a palace.

Wait...so if this new condo is Three's Company...then I guess that makes me Jack. Uh, right?

Yeesh...so who is Chrissy? And the other broad? 

Anyways, the move went really well. Well, not entirely true. At work on Friday I came down with the worst 24 hour stomach bug I've ever had. It was brutal. So yesterday I was barely able to stand up straight, let alone move furniture in. So my big strapping DF moved most of the heavy stuff.

Honestly, DF looked so beefy and sexy. He told me to quit staring at him like he was a T-Bone steak. But truly....he looked DAMN FINE. All rugged and strong. Yum. 

Ok. So I took pictures of the disaster when we moved all the shit in. But I can't find the cord for my camera. (And I can't find my laptop cord, or my BlackBerry charger, or DF's Valentine card) but we're slowly settling in.

I'll give you a preview of the layout. It's got 15 foot ceilings and tons of space, but the actual floor plans make it look squishy. I promise you'll see actual pictures the moment my camera cord resurfaces.

TBF crashed out at like 8PM last night. DF and I snuggled on the couch and watch "The Strangers" which if you haven't seen it, is a super scary movie about a young couple whose house gets broken into. Not the best choice for our first night in a new home. 

I have a handmade wood baseball bat from my friend Superhero in Seattle...and he even wood burned the words "Bad Mama Jamma" into it and stained the bat pink for me. So I slept with Bad Mama Jamma on one side of me and DF on the other. (Much to his chagrin.) 

So anyways. This weekend was way too short moving all our junk. I'm due for a long winter's nap or a cold adult beverage. 

DF is going to cook me the first love muffin of the new house right now. I'm typing away at the kitchen table and he sure as shit looks like a T-Bone steak to me. I'm so in love with him. 

And since the only things I've eaten today because of this stupid stomach bug are as follows: one bite of Caprese pizza, two bites of veggie lo mein, and three twizzlers, I'm hoping I keep this glorious love muffin down and start to feel better.

Finally in our new home....and happier than ever.

Vote for me by clicking below! You know you want to :)

Let's talk about Stress

Let's talk about stress baby....and what that does to you and me....let's talk abbbbout stress.

Ok...so not as good as Push It Real Good..... but, you know.

People say the most stressful things in life are as follows:

Moving.
Divorce.
Death.
Marriage.
Change of Job.

DF and I are doing 3 of the 5 currently. And lo and behold...(is it "low" and behold, or "lo" and behold? Whatever...I like "lo") we still like one another. In fact, I've barely slept in three nights, so I'm a nightmare- compounded by the stress at my new work. And now, YES, we've secured an amazing condo and have been moving things all week.

I am a mess. I am all broken out and look like Pizza the Hut from Spaceballs. And I feel like him too. Because lucky me is adjusting to being back on the pill....so my hormones are causing me to vacillate somewhere between screaming at the top of my lungs or crying. I'm so fun!

DF is doing such a good job. He's done most of the heavy work moving. And he's out getting me Dunkin Donuts right now because we are out of creamer. I love him.

And honestly, I'm so thankful to him because I'm a stress case. Between living with my parents, the stress of my fast paced new job, packing up yet again, renting moving vans, getting a new home set up, oh and figuring out what kind of wedding we want plus trying to lose weight and be beautiful on top of it all....I'm barely holding it together.

But then DF hugs me and as cheesy as it is, my breath slows down and I feel alright.

I am shredded. But so loved.

SO.....yes. We are moving into our new home OFFICIALLY tomorrow. I shall of course provide pictures. But let me just say this: it is GLORIOUS. It is 1997 square feet of glorious. Two stories of heaven. I'm so in love with it.

And my bathroom is the best part with the twin sinks. All I fantasize about it the perfect toothbrush holder in between the sinks holding one pink toothbrush and one blue one. It's going to happen.

Get me through today! And keep your fingers crossed we survive the move in!

Please remember to vote! It's Tyra Banks FIERCE competition out there! 

One Word Wednesday #8

MOVING! 

Valentines

Hey loves, I did something cheeseball-riffc this year. I got Valentines for some of my friends!

TJMaxx baby!

Vintage Love

We've all kissed a lot of frogs.

Plus- Tinyprints.com came to the rescue again and I scored the cutest return address labels!

Love LOVE!

Plus, I found cute wrapping paper at the dollar spot at LeTarjay:

For my favorite 5 year old in Seattle.

I felt like Beyonce writing to all my single ladies! Plus- yesterday and today tinyprints.com has 99 cent Valentines! So I sent a couple using the checkout code LUV99. 

As for the snail mail: the ended up looking like this:

Missing my ladies. XOXO. 

Please remember to vote! Almost cracking the top 100!

Shrimp Dip

The Superbowl. Which unless the Pats are playing means one thing:

Time to binge eat.

The boys always request one thing: Shrimp dip. Again...looks complicated....super easy to make and SO ADDICTING. Honestly, one bite....and you can't stop. I triple dog dare you. Make it...you'll see.

So. You're gonna need 2 8oz packages of cream cheese.

16oz of Sour Cream

I bought 24oz by accident. Crap.

Italian Dressing Packet

The juice from half a lemon

Two cans of tiny shrimp

Ok. That's it. Throw everything except the shrimp in the mixer and let it rip.

Next: Throw the skrimps in. (*yes....I said "skrimps")

Mix those babies in with a spoon so you don't crush them to death. 

(Well, they are already dead, but you get the point)

Now, this is important. ONLY SERVE WITH FRITOS. Trust me. Only Fritos.

Serve to your people and enjoy :)

Please remember to vote once a day! I'm almost cracking the top 100!