So What Wednesday

I've got some good SoWhat's for yah this week!
Link up with Life After I "Dew" if you wanna dish too!


So what if I was driving along this morning belting out Hips Don't Lie, minding my own business only to look up to see cherries and berries three deep behind me. I carried on with my current (slightly high) speed and my current Shakira chorus. I like to think they appreciate that I don't slow way down and bog up traffic

So what if I found 3 pairs of heels, a bottle of Irish whiskey and a pack of recipe cards in my trunk this morning, but no umbrella... leaving me screwed on this rainy Wednesday. Priorities, ladies, priorities.

So what if all of my leggings have spots of paint on them compliments of wearing them under my Ellie (Elenore = my house) jeans. 4 months of manual labor on a house will cause some holes, and paint drips just seem to attract to those.

So what if Chris and I are on a mutually-imposed 'break' and I didn't feel the need to run around telling everyone under the sun. It's going well for us right now, and whatever path we're meant to go down- he will still remain one of my best friends!

So what if I stayed up 2 hour past my bedtime* last night sewing. I was really into it!

*So what if I have a self-imposed bedtime. What can I say, I'm headache prone and need to get enough sleep to ward of those migraines!

So what if I hit up three local Goodwill's on Saturday. It was 50% Storewide Sale Saturday across central Indy. I got some good loot!!

So what if I created a line 8 deep at the register at Michael's last night. I had coupons and I wanted to get the most out of them! Hey - I walked outta there paying less than half of what the original 'before-coupon' prices were on everything!

So what if all I want to drink lately is chocolate milk. Atleast I'm getting my calcium. And the nesquik bunny was always my favorite

So what if this picture from Mo'Bay makes me giggle every time. Jamaicans love their line dancing too

So what if all I've got on my mind today is JAMAICA, because I'm going back there in MAY!! Woohoo

That's all I've got =) Have a lovely humpday!

V-Day -- I dig it.

Chris told me to be ready by 9am Saturday morning. We were celebrating the holiday a few days early (which is a good thing, because he was sick as a dog and home in bed cuddled up with a bottle of Theraflu Monday!)

I love surprises, but I usually try to figure them out. And 9 times outta 10, I succeed. This time I decided not to try. Besides, what in the world runs from 10-11 on a Saturday morning, and involves jeans and a hoodie?!

As we were driving along he reached in the backseat and pulled out a set of gardening tools & a bucket with spots for all your tools and said it was part 1 of my surprise. Maybe it makes me a geek that I was excited, but I have a just shy of a half an acre of yard... I cannot WAIT to plant flowers and maybe even (I'm getting ambitious now) a small garden!?

After about 20 minutes of driving we pulled up to here

The conservatory at Garfield Park. I didn't even know this place existed!

We did a short little class on gardening, and which vegetable seeds can be planted now, and then we helped the conservatory plant their spinach and broccoli. Then we took a stroll around to see all the tropical plants. There were cocoa trees, mango trees, pomegranate trees, tons of tropical flowers and an abundance of palm trees! It was like being on vacation (as long as you didn't look outside ha!)

My favorite -It's the Calliandra haematocephala - Red Powderpuff Bush. The little puff balls were so soft, and about the size of a fist. It looked like it belonged in a Dr. Suess movie!

We followed the conservatory with stir fry, and then wandered around Barnes & Noble. Chris had his very first caramel macchiato! Hah!! He is slowly becoming a coffee drinker.

It was something fun and different! Chris & I have been trying really hard to do different things instead of the same ol dinner & a movie dates... I think he succeeded with planning this one!!

Catastrophic Monday

I saw sunshine for 3 days straight this weekend! Granted, it was far from WARM and sunny... but it was sunny, and at this point I'll take whatever little glimpse of spring Mama Nature decides to dish out.

1) Chris and I had a nice little dinner date Friday night that we ended with some ice skating... me, being the professional, never fell. Chris, trying to show off, fell once. The dinner - meh. The date - smiles.

2) I had vowed to not let Russell on the couch. He's such a cuddler though, that that resolution lasted nearly 6 hours. 2a) Yes he does go by Russell now. The artist formerly known as Oro. He is actually listening when you say his name now instead of ignoring you and continuing to run rampant through out the house. Although when he's feeling frisky he responds only to Russello d'Oro (and you MUST roll the R)

2b) Russell got a haircut last week. Apparently the lady felt that he was a poodle/SCHNAUZER mix because he has a straight schnauzer haircut. I'm not really a fan. (Side note: we are pretty sure he is, however, indeed a schnauzer mix. When I vacuum and he goes NUTS barking... you can very clearly hear the schnauzy influence of his bark)

3) I popped into Goodwill on Saturday while I was running some errands. This is what I saw.
You already know what I'm going to say next.
I walked out with a dresser. Not literally walked out... fitting a dresser into my car - now THAT's a funny thought.
It has taken up residence in my craft room (that was empty up until this weekend). $24.99... how could I say no?! Solid wood too - that sucker is heavy. Missing a few pieces of hardware, but I've got ideas.

3a) Added bonus: mom and I discovered, while unloading it, that one drawer was still full of clothes (slightly odd, slightly humorous). And then, stuck back behind another drawer, I found a really old picture of two little boys on a swing that is HILARIOUS. I think I will frame it.

4) The weathermen are calling for a "CATASTROPHIC ICE STORM" tomorrow. Won't that mean we will all die? Catastrophic... huh... nice knowing ya'll.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed that perhaps we'll get a strong wind and all that snow will come a little further south... I'd much rather have 12" of snow than 4" of ice. I do like the hot pink coloring though. It's like a little glimmer of fun before the CATASTROPHIC event.



I'm linking up to Miscellany Monday with Carissa!

Opening up

I've been avoiding this post, or this blog in general actually. It's been a rough week.

Moving out of my childhood home and into a place of my own brought a lot of anxiety and confusion. I was scared and overwhelmed.

I didn't feel comfortable. I felt sad and lost and mostly lonely. Chris was there, just like we had planned. But it just didn't help. I was upset and aggravated by anything that he did.

I was flooded with all these emotions and continually found myself in tears. I didn't know if I was even ready to live on my own, let alone live with a boyfriend.

Chris left for work last Monday morning with our predetermined plan to go stay at his dads on the other side of town to give me some time to calm down and hopefully get a little settled and a little more comfortable in the house. My house.

As the days passed I was beginning to feel a little better about being on my own, and a little more hesitant about my relationship about Chris. I hadn't been happy lately. I didn't know if it was just stress from dang near renovating an entire house in just under 3 months and spending nearly everyday together. All I knew was that I hadn't gotten butterflies lately. I didn't get excited to see him. I felt like I had a grudge against him.

He continued to stay at his dad's all last week, and then went down to Louisville to see his mom and sister this past weekend. I'm not sure if it helped clear my mind or just helped me avoid the situation in general. Out of sight, out of mind.

My decision really shouldn't have been that difficult to make. Either we a) break-up and give it some time
b) we stay together & he moves out or
c) we stay together and he stays in the house
But I just felt so confused all week. My mind changed every 10minutes. I just wanted to feel happy. I didn't want to feel lost and out of my element anymore.

Sunday came. Chris was supposed to come over so we could talk. I called him that morning and said that if I was that confused, we should probably just break up. After 2 years together I should know what I want, right?

Then I panicked thinking about everything we shared and all the memories we had made. When he showed up I just broke down into a big blubbering mess.

I just wanted to feel like I knew what I wanted. Chris ended up calling my mom to come over to calm me down. All three of us had a long talk and she made a point that we both sort of missed.

That we simply hadn't been having fun together. It'd been 3 months of work work work and I don't even think we went on a single date in that time span. Sure we grabbed bdubs at 8pm covered in paint and sawdust.

So we decided to try to work things out. Chris is moving out for now, we need to make sure our relationship is stable before we go and throw "living together" into the mix.

We're going to try harder to go on dates and laugh and enjoy each other. I don't know how it'll all turn out, but for now I'm giving it my best shot and keeping my chin up.

Honestly, I feel silly and hokey that I got so upset about moving out and about living with someone. But thats just me I guess.

It might not make sense to anyone else, but it makes sense to us. And that's really all that matters.

2 years

ChrisChris & I have been together two years today! The sad part is, I didn't even realize it til he texted me this morning ha! I know, I know! We just aren't that couple that religiously celebrates each month as a monumental moment! (Nothing against people who do, it's cute and all... we just never have!)

If you missed the story of how we met, you can catch up here! So, thanks for puttin up with me for 2 years babe! Hehe love you! And now, onto the photo montage

As your birthday card from the other night said, "I like presents, I like you... you make me feel all gooey gooey goo!"

Happy birthday to my mister!

Today is ChrisChris' birthday! 28 years ago today that big 'ol head graced the world with it's presence!

We're celebrating tonight at BDubs, surrounded by a big ol group of friends and *hopefully* a Colt's win against the Titans!

Happy birthday boog! I hope you enjoy it! (Cause you're getting old, and people stop celebrating their birthdays when they're old you know! hahah) Love you!

That's mister big brother to you!

It's been evident ever since I first met Chris that he has this underlying love for children. He absolutely adores his niece, Alyssa and can't get enough of my niece, Olivia.

(Alyssa - far right- and her teamates after winning a softball tournament)

Not to mention what a huge kid he is himself!So when he made a side comment a while back about how "it would be cool to join Big Brothers/Big Sisters and be a big brother" I urged him to contact them and apply!

Chris goes tomorrow to meet his new "little brother", and every time you bring it up he gets a big 'ol smile on his face. I'm so excited for him, from what we've learned about his lil bro, it sounds like the two will click perfectly!

My mister is going to make a great mentor for the little guy, I hope the two of them create a bond that will last a lifetime!

Time-telling with MK

Did any of you notice something pretty and teal on my wrist from my Vegas recap post?

Yep, for my birthday Chris got me the Michael Kors watch I had been lusting over for months and I. LOVE. IT!


It's such a fun pop of color for any outfit!

[source]

Thanks beebs, Im glad you picked up on the twentysome hints I left on my blog! Love you!

Top 2 Tuesday : Favorite Gifts

The lovely Miss Taylor used my T2T topic this week!
Top 2 Favorite Gifts

1. Eastern Caribbean CruiseChrischris took me on a cruise as a college graduation present, the best part was that he booked it during my birthday so while I graduated in May, we cruised in October (just when it was getting nice and cold in Indiana!). I spent my birthday in St. Thomas it was awesome! It was our first vacation together and my first cruise ever.
A lovely week away from it all was JUST what I needed after 4 years of college!


2. Tiffany & Co. Necklace
I remember walking into Tiffany's and picking out my gift... I was in awe of the store! Everything was so pretty, and I was soo excited that my mom was giving me a piece of Tiffany's jewelry for my 18th birthday!
I don't wear it as often anymore, but I've been thinking about having it shortened a bit and wearing it as a charm bracelet, double wrapped around my wrist! Regardless it will always hold a special place in my heart!


This week was a hard one! I have a whole slew of gifts that I have loved!! Jeesh it took me a while to narrow it down. I'm blessed with amazing family and friends that give awesome gifts!

What were a couple of your most favorite? Come play along!

Monday pick-me-up

My sinuses have been wreaking havoc in my head this weekend. I think it's a combination of weeks upon weeks of no rain and the changing seasons. Topped off by the cat lady I sat next to at Mary Poppins last night (the show was soo good bytheway!) whose cat hair covered shirt sent my allergies into a tail spin!

How bout I share a couple cuties with you instead of the long elaborate post I had originally planned on writing?! Deal?... Deal.

(ChrisChris & Livi Sunday morning)

All together now.... Aawwww!