Saturday, June 30, 2012

Organized Cleaning

Does anyone else detest cleaning as much as I do?  Even though I hate it, the end result is always satisfying and pleasing to the eyes.  But, getting to that end point is always tough and somewhat of a challenge.

I'm always searching for new ways to clean (easier ways too if I can find it) and have found some pretty great ideas that have worked out fairly well so far.  I ran across this pin on Pinterest again today and thought I'd share with my readers.  It's something I've been following for a few months now and it's helped me out tremendously!  There are times where I'm better at following it than others, and I have revised it to fit my own schedule but it works and keeps me happy and to me, that's all that matters!

I revised the original list to fit my own needs.  I realized that it's pointless to vacuum the first day and dust the next (why would I want dust all over my clean floors?).  I also realize that sometimes it is impossible to get my chore of the day done, and that's okay.  I don't beat myself up over it, I just get it done the following week.     

I'll admit, I hate vacuuming and dusting.  Those chores are the worst.  When I was a kid, I would do anything to get out of doing either of those.  Now that I have my own place, there is no one but me to do them and they obviously they have to be done!  I may hate it, but it only takes fifteen minutes and I can deal with that.    

I also make sure to do my daily checklist.  These are the chores Chris and I share.  One thing I hate (more than shoes not put away...is a dirty kitchen).  We've had bugs in our apartment before so I am super OCD about cleaning the kitchen counters and floors.  


Now, I will not claim that my house is always clean.  We have too many things and not enough space.  But, I try to keep things as tidy as I can and that's all I can do.  That, and pray that we find another place soon!  I'm pretty sure I'll go crazy if we bring anymore items into our house.

So, does anyone else have a good cleaning schedule they try to stick too?  Or have you tried and not been able to keep it up?  What works best for you?

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Surprise?

I'm going to say a few things that may shock some people.  Not the ones that know me really well, but some will definitely be surprised.

Ready?

Okay, here we go.

I am a 
Republican

No, that does not make me (a)
    
Bigot
Racist
Unintelligent
Misinformed

I am a 
Christian

No, that does not make me (a)
    
Bigot
Racist
Unintelligent
Misinformed 

I watch
Fox News 
(gasp!)

Again, that does not make me (a) 
     
Bigot
Racist
Unintelligent
Misinformed 


Shocked?  

No?  

Good.

I am so tired of all the hateful comments I find on news sites.  I'm saddened by the main stream media's attempts to get Democrats and Republicans to hate each other.  I can tell you first hand that it works.  And how sad is that?  Isn't it awful to live with so much hate for other people whose views are different from theirs?

The beautiful thing about facebook is that you can unsubscribe or de-friend someone.  The wonderful thing about blog posts is that you can pick and choose which ones you want to read.  It won't hurt my feelings if people decide they don't want to read what I have to say.  But, it'll hurt my feelings (at the beginning) if someone de-friends me on facebook because of what I believe.  

I have so many friends that span across the political and religious spectrum.  Let me tell you, I may disagree with what they believe sometimes but that doesn't make me not want to be friends with them.  I surround myself with those who like carrying an intelligent conversation and can (and) will listen to someone else's viewpoint without getting upset or angry if they oppose them.  

Isn't that what everyone wants?  To be respected, heard, and have their opinions valued?      

Of course!  We all want to know that what we have to say has been heard!  Facebook and my blog are my outlets and I am completely okay putting myself out there and letting others know how I feel about things.  All I ask is that I am not attacked for my beliefs or feelings.  Yes, I know.  I open myself up to that kind of stuff by writing about it or commenting on news sites.  But I think people forget that differences of views does not give them the right to attack others.  

Don't let your personal beliefs or what the media tells you influence your opinions of other people.  If you write someone off just because of their political or religious affiliations, you may miss out on a wonderful friendship.  And you can't let your hatred for a political or religious group consume your life.  It's not healthy and it honestly won't do you any good.  Plus, it'll make you age faster.  And who wants that?  :-)


Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Delicious Desserts: Soft Sugar Cookies

I've been looking for an excuse to make knockoff lofthouse sugar cookies and I think I finally found one!

This weekend my dear husband and I are going to a cookout.  My best friend's husband is finally back after being away for five months for Army training so we're celebrating his birthday and his return with an epic bbq.  He's going to make his famous bacon explosion (it's a heart attack waiting to happen...but yummy) and bbq chicken.  I'm not looking forward to the 95+ degree weather but I am really excited to see all my friends!

When starting the recipe, I didn't realize the cookies take a few days to make.  I'm actually glad I started a few days early because they would not be done for the cookout in time if I hadn't!

Things to keep in mind when making them.
-The dough is really really sticky.  I know the recipe says it's sticky but I was not expecting it to feel like it did.  Make sure you have plenty of flour to put on the counter so you can roll it out before you store it overnight in the fridge.
-It's a pain in the butt to wrap it with plastic wrap when it's sticky.  I have no good tips on ways to do it.  All I can do is wish you luck.
-You're going to want to eat all the dough.  Restrain yourself!  Trust me, it's worth it.


Ready for the recipe?

Ingredients

For the cookies:
6 cups flour, divided
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup butter, room temperature
2 cups granulated sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups light sour cream (it says light in the instructions but in the comments on The Novice Chef site says to use regular sour cream)


For the frosting:
1 cup butter, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 cups powdered sugar
6 tablespoons heavy cream
Sprinkles

Day One
Instructions

For the cookies:
In a medium bowl, whisk 5 cups of flour, baking soda, and baking powder.  Set aside and pull out your stand mixer.

In the bowl for your stand mixer, cream the butter and sugar at medium speed until light and fluffy.  Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula as needed.  Add the eggs (one at a time) until each incorporated in the butter/sugar mix.  Add the vanilla and sour cream and beat at low speed until combined.

Add the dry ingredients and beat at low speed until just combined (about 30 seconds), scraping down the bowl as needed.  You need to make sure the dough has the right consistency for rolling so add an addition 1/4 cup of flour at a time (up to 1 cup more of flour).

Divide dough into two sections (this is the difficult part because it's so sticky!).  Flatten into rectangles (as best you can) about 1 1/2 inches thick, then wrap with plastic wrap.  Chill in the refrigerator overnight.

Day Two

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.  Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper or spray them with nonstick cooking spray.  Set aside.

Generously flour a work area and rolling pin.  With a rolling pin, roll the dough out to 1/4 inch thickness.  Using a 2/12 inch round cookie cutter, cut out circles and transfer to a baking sheet.  (Don't try any other shapes because the dough will expand in the oven!)  Bake for 7-8 minutes, until a pale golden color.  Immediately transfer cookies to a wire rack to cook.

For the frosting:
To make the frosting, in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter and vanilla.  Slowly beat in the powdered sugar.  Once smooth and creamy, add in heavy cream 1 tablespoon at a time until the desired spreading consistency is achieved.

Once cookies have cooled completely, frost and add sprinkles.  Allow frosting to set, then store in an air-tight container.  Let cookies sit over night before serving to allow the flavors to develop.

Don't they looks delicious?! 
Recipe and picture are from The Novice Chef  

Monday, June 25, 2012

Harry Potter and Legos

To find out how the date night idea started, click here

I'm not usually one to boast but I have to say that my husband is awesome.

When I approached him last Thursday about my ideas for date night he willingly and wholeheartedly jumped in.  I couldn't have asked for a more eager participant.

Some of my plans for Friday had to be changed once the storm hit.  Our electricity went out for a bit so I couldn't cook dinner like I had wanted.  I called Chris in a panic (I hate storms) and he suggested we go get take-out from our favorite Italian restaurant, Rubios.  We broke the no spending money rule, but I chalk this up to an unseen circumstance.  In other words, I'll let it go this time!  ha!  On our way there, I asked Chris what his plan was for our night.  He had come up with not one, not two, but four ideas!  He put so much thought into all of them and I was so touched by his efforts.
-Build Legos
-Go driving (technically that would break our no spending money rule)
-Go walk around Wal Mart or Target and look at new games for our Wii
-Find a game that we could play together at home

My idea was to play a game together as well but after discussing it for a bit we realized we wanted to play something as a team, not against each other!  At this point, we hit a snag because we just couldn't figure out what we wanted to do.  We couldn't think of a game that fit our qualifications so we were stuck.  But then, Chris had a great idea.  Why not play Lego Harry Potter on our Wii?!


Well, that was exactly what we did!  Chris and I spent about three hours playing the game together and had a lot of fun!  We kind of got stuck a few times and definitely got a little frustrated but we still enjoyed ourselves.

But, the fun didn't stop there!

Technically, we had a date weekend.  That may sound kind of odd but we literally did stuff together all weekend long.  On Saturday we watched the German/France soccer game and tried to rebuild the Lego Fire House we broke when we came back home from Seattle.  There was a lot of frustration building that piece because Chris didn't want to take it all apart and rebuild it from scratch.  So, we spent the better part of two days trying to fix it.

Chris was very eager to get started!  Can you see all the  pieces that were already put together?  Pain.In.My.Butt.

On Sunday we watched the Italy/England soccer game (go Italy!) and finished building the Fire House.  I can't even begin to tell you how glad I am that building is out of the way.  I just hope we don't accidentally drop it again because it was a pain in the butt to rebuild.  The good news is that it looks great next to our Town Hall, and we can't wait to buy the Grand Emporium in a few months so we can add on to our collection!   



He built the first two levels in two days.  

Admiring his work and making sure we didn't miss anything!
Putting the Fire House next to the Town Hall.  I was praying he didn't drop it because I did not want to start over again!

We've got the start of a town!  Can't wait to build more!
All in all, date night was a success.  I can't wait to see what we come up with for the next one!

 

Honeymoon Keepsake

When Chris and I were on our honeymoon in St. Thomas, I had suggested we bring back some sand with us for a little craft project I had in mind.  We filled up one gallon sized ziploc bag and two small sandwich size bags as well.  I wasn't sure how much I would need and decided I'd rather have too much than not enough.  I ended up having way to much but that's okay.  My project ended up working out better than expected and that's all that matters!

Here is what I did:  

I shopped around for a glass jar in my house (I have tons!) to put the sand in.
The cotton balls were moved to a new (smaller) jar

Then, I got on the computer and cropped, re-sized, and did some fun effects on a few of my favorite photos from our honeymoon.
My favorite is the bottom right photo that is a smaller version of the sunset photo up top.  It is supposed to look like a postage stamp that says, "Greetings from St. Thomas!" on the top and the bottom says, "US Virgin Islands."  

After that, I poured the sand in the jar and began to arrange the photos and seashells the way I wanted.

Finally, I had this finished product!

I'd still like to put some twine around the top and make a little tag with my cricut that says where we went, the date, and what the occasion was.  That'll probably happen later this week.

So, what do you think?  Isn't this such a cute way to make a keepsake from all your vacations?  I have to say, I'm in love.



30/30: Last One!

Don't Forget to Remember Me
{If you missed the beginning of the 30 Day Challenge you can find it here}

Wow!  I got through the thirty day challenge!  I can't believe after this one it's over.  I'll have to find something else fun to write about.  Maybe another series?  Chris and I have one in the works but I'll share that with you in another post.  It's been a long time coming and we're kind of excited about it! 

Anyways, I want to thank you for going on this journey with me.  I hope you've enjoyed reading these as much as I've enjoyed writing them.  It's been fun kids, but now it's almost time to say goodbye.

Finally, I'll leave you with this: 10 things I want to be remembered for.  Enjoy!

1.  My love for God
2.   Loving wife and (someday) mother
3.  Having a caring attitude
4.  Being a good and caring friend
5.  Being kind to others
6.  Being thoughtful 
7.  Always loving and supportive of others
8.  Surrounded by loving friends and family
9.  Being charitable 
10.  Making others laugh

Sunday, June 24, 2012

29/30: Misunderstood

{If you missed the beginning of the 30 Day Challenge you can find it here}

What is one thing that I think people misunderstand about me?  Well, that's a hard one because I'm really not sure.  There are probably a lot of things but I'm not a mind reader so I really don't know what people think about me 100% of the time.    

If I had to pick something I guess I'd say that even though I act like I don't care what people think or if they don't like me, I really do.  I act like I have a hard outer skin but it really bothers me just like it would anyone else.  


Saturday, June 23, 2012

28/30: The Language of Love

What Is Your Love Language?
{If you missed the beginning of the 30 Day Challenge you can find it here}

Has anyone taken the Love Language Quiz?  It's awesome and tells you how you most feel loved (which helps you communicate that to others)!  You don't have to be in a relationship to take this quiz, you can be a parent, child, single, whatever.  I highly suggest it!  Especially if you have little tiffs with your family or significant other because you feel under appreciated or unloved.  

This is how I scored after taking the quiz:

Quality Time: 11
Physical Touch:  8
Words of Affirmation:  6
Acts of Service:  5
Receiving Gifts:  0

Let's take a look at what the five languages means for any relationship:

Quality Time:
In the vernacular of Quality Time, nothing says, “I love you,” like full, undivided attention. Being there for this type of person is critical, but really being there–with the TV off, fork and knife down, and all chores and tasks on standby–makes your significant other feel truly special and loved. Distractions, postponed dates, or the failure to listen can be especially hurtful.

Physical Touch:
This language isn’t all about the bedroom. A person whose primary language is Physical Touch is, not surprisingly, very touchy. Hugs, pats on the back, holding hands, and thoughtful touches on the arm, shoulder, or face—they can all be ways to show excitement, concern, care, and love. Physical presence and accessibility are crucial, while neglect or abuse can be unforgivable and destructive.

Words of Affirmation:
Actions don’t always speak louder than words. If this is your love language, unsolicited compliments mean the world to you. Hearing the words, “I love you,” are important—hearing the reasons behind that love sends your spirits skyward. Insults can leave you shattered and are not easily forgotten.

Acts of Service:
Can vacuuming the floors really be an expression of love? Absolutely! Anything you do to ease the burden of responsibilities weighing on an “Acts of Service” person will speak volumes. The words he or she most want to hear: “Let me do that for you.” Laziness, broken commitments, and making more work for them tell speakers of this language their feelings don’t matter.

Receiving Gifts:
Don’t mistake this love language for materialism; the receiver of gifts thrives on the love, thoughtfulness, and effort behind the gift. If you speak this language, the perfect gift or gesture shows that you are known, you are cared for, and you are prized above whatever was sacrificed to bring the gift to you. A missed birthday, anniversary, or a hasty, thoughtless gift would be disastrous—so would the absence of everyday gestures.

Friday, June 22, 2012

One Great Product

Have you been bit by the cleaning bug lately?

I have!

I love to clean (tolerate it may be a better term) and I love when I find simple solutions for those expensive home cleaning store products.  Don't you?

Lately, I've been pinning away and have found one product that can do a million different jobs.  Know what it is?


That's right, it's vinegar!  I'm amazed at what one small cup of vinegar can accomplish around the house.  And when Chris is equally amazed by the finished product, I know it's a winner.

What have I been using it on?  Hmm...a better list may be what haven't I been using it on!  ha!  I use vinegar on everything.  And I do mean everything!  To name a few:

1.  Dishwasher,
2.  Washing Machine,
3.  Cutting boards,
4.  Shower doors and tub..... 

I broke the cardinal blogger rule and didn't take any before and after pictures (I know, how could I?!) but honestly I was too embarrassed by the "before".  So, you all will just have to believe me when I say that vinegar is just that amazing. 

What are the benefits of using it you ask?  Well, instead of buying a ton of different cleaning products to use in your bathrooms, kitchens, living rooms, and any other room in your house you only have to buy one.  Trust me when I say that your wallet and husband will thank you for it.  Plus, for all those who hate harsh chemicals, you won't have to worry about it with this little beauty! It's a win-win, right?!

One blog I absolutely love and is my go-to for cleaning suggestions is OneGoodThing by Jillee.  She always has fabulous tips for keeping your house in tip-top shape and her solutions are so practical you'll be kicking yourself wondering why you didn't think of that first!  Go check her out and see what great solutions she has for your home!  You won't be sorry!

So, want to know what you can use vinegar on?  Follow the links below and take a look at the pictures!  
The Magic Cleaner at While He Was Napping

How to Clean Your Dishwasher at OneGoodThing by Jillee

shower curtain/clean


Soap Scum Killa at Life, Crafts & Whatever

Revive Old Paintbrushes at This Old House
  
Pinned Image
Wash towels in one cup of vinegar on hot, then again with 1/2 cup of baking soda on hot.  They will smell 10 times better!  You don't realize how musty and gross they smell over time.

27/30: Loving It

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things...
{If you missed the beginning of the 30 Day Challenge you can find it here}

Ever girl is self conscious and if she tells you any different than she is definitely not telling you the truth.  As a kid, I was always a litte uncomfortable in my skin.  Maybe it was the glasses I wore that covered half of my face, or the fact that I was a head shorter and much skinnier than everybody else.  Whatever the reason, I was and there were not a lot of things that I liked about my appearance.    

However, I loved my hair.  I've always loved my hair.  Sometimes I wish/ed it was a lighter color or it was curly like Sam's but no matter what, my hair always made me feel pretty.  It's never been super thick but I do have a lot of it on my head.  And it always feels good.  

The other thing I take pride in are my teeth.  People always tell me I have a beautiful white smile and I take lots of care in making sure they stay that way.  Some may think I'm crazy (Chris) but I brush at least three times a day and floss whenever I need to (usually after every meal).  My smile is very important to me because I've always felt people will judge you on how your teeth look.  There are no gaps or horse teeth for this girl!



Thursday, June 21, 2012

Date Night

Have you ever felt like you have way to much stuff?  Like it's taking over your house and there is not a whole lot you can do about it (especially if you live in a rental)?  I never felt that way until I moved in with Chris.  I always thought I had just enough but could have taken on a few more things if I needed to.  Well, once Chris and I merged our lives (and belongings) together, we realized that we have way to much to store in our 1,400 sf. apartment.  Which is why I keep saying we need to move.  But, for now, I have to live with what we have.  And right now, because we don't have much storage space, things are taking over our house.  Like, before today you could not even see where our kitchen table was because my craft supplies were all over it.  *sigh*

One kind of cool thing I've found since living in the apartment is that I'm always finding stuff I forgot we had.  I have books and movies and many other things that end up getting buried that I dig up later once I begin to organize a section of our house.  It's a never ending cycle, but I love it.  One thing I found today was a book Chris's grandparents gave us after we got married.  It talks about how to put God first in your marriage and what we can do and accomplish (as a couple) when we work together with HIM.  It's a really great book and I'm so glad I found it (especially since I've been looking for it for a while).  One chapter I read today talked about having a date night once a month with your husband (or wife).  You need to have that time together to reconnect and rediscover each other.  You continually grow and while people typically grow apart, a great way to stay connected is through spending alone time with your partner.  You don't have to do this every week (they suggest at least once a month), you decide how much is enough for you.  

I've been seeing a lot of lists on Pinterest lately about connecting with your partner and what to do on date nights.  I even made my own board about it so I could pull up any article at any given moment.  I like the idea of having an at home date night which should cost me nothing.  I'm all about using what I have at home to have a fun night with Chris.  Lately, we've been building legos (my husband loves his legos!) which has been a lot of fun.  It's a way for us to work together and we feel accomplished once we're finished.  We like to do the really complicated buildings, like the one in the picture below. 

  
Since Chris and I have been building away lately, I want to do something a little different for a date night tomorrow.  
By the way, Chris has no idea that we're having a date night...I'll be informing him once he gets home.  ha!
I think what I'll do is ask him to plan one part of it and I'll plan the other.  The only rules are that absolutely no tv is involved and we can't spend any money.  I want something where our attention will be completely focused on the other person.  I also want to plan something that requires us to use what we have at home.  It'll be interesting and fun to see what he comes up with and whether or not we enjoy the activities.  

I'll post an update on Monday to let you all know how it goes.  I'm hoping it's a success and that we can make date night into a monthly thing!  

**If you'd like some ideas on what to do with your partner click on the links below**
77 Date Night Ideas from Stay at Home Suzie
50 Fun Date Night Ideas from Six Sisters' Stuff

26:30: World Peace

A Notion the World Has Wrong
{If you missed the beginning of the 30 Day Challenge you can find it here}

You hear it all the time, everyone wants peace.  No more wars, just peace.  Why can't we stop fighting?  Why is there so much hate?  Blah, blah, blah.  You know why there are wars?  Because people can't get along.  There are evil people in the world and the good one's who want to end their evil tyranny step in to stop them.  War will never be truly gone on our world because we will never be able to get rid of all of the evil people that live in it.  

Back during the Holocaust, I'm sure there were some of those "Make Peace, Not War" protesters out on the streets in the United States.  Did they want us to leave the Jews to fend for themselves while they were being put in concentration camps and being gased to death or experimented on?  What about the reign of Fidel Castro and what he did during his time in power?  What about the people in Syria today?  Or the innocent that die everyday all over the world because of some evil dictator?  

Peace is not an option.  It's a nice concept, and a great dream but it's just not plausible.  Even God says that we should go to war, but only if it is to protect the innocent.

 "So innocent blood will not be shed in the midst of your land which the Lord your God gives you as an inheritance, and blood guiltiness be on you."
Deut. 19:10

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Changing Your Name: DMV

Today was the day I finally went into the dmv!  I admit, I was not looking forward to this because (1) I've been feeling a little under the weather and (2) I hate the dmv.  Actually, let me rephrase that...I hate the dmv in Chantilly.  No matter what I'm going in for it always takes me two to three hours to get in and out, and it doesn't matter what time of the day I go or what day of the week.  It's always the same.  Part of it is my fault because I never remember to make an appointment, but most of those times I've had Chris with me so at least that provided a little bit of entertainment.

This time, I went to the dmv in Manassas because a friend recommended it.  They have shorter wait times (especially during the middle of the week) and she was certain I could get in and out in less than an hour.  So I decided to test my luck, not make an appointment, and see how it turned out.

I already had all my paperwork filled out beforehand so I was able to go in, get a number, and sit down.  There were so many people already there I figured my wait time would be between one to two hours, so imagine how surprised I was to hear my number called after ten minutes!  The woman I worked with was quick and efficient, getting me out of there ten minutes after I stepped up to the counter.  I got my name changed on my license, car title, registration, and my voter registration card.  So easy, so simple, and literally painless.  Just the way I like it.

Now, there are a few documents you need to have (if you want them before going in).  They are:

1.  Application for a news Driver's License,  
2.  Application to change information on existing vehicle record, and 
3.  Application for a replacement car title.

And make sure you bring your

1.  Driver's License, and
2.  Marriage License

You can also check a box on the drivers license form that says you'd like to update your voter registration information.  I definitely recommend if you want to vote in the upcoming November election!  I would also suggest that you go to your state dmv website and find the office closest to you.  If you're in a hurry and cannot wait more than twenty to thirty minutes call the number listed on the page and make an appointment!  And, if you do decide to wait, bring a book or something to entertain you while you're sitting there.  It'll make the time pass much faster if you do so!

25/30: Dinner Date

Would You Join Me for Supper?
{If you missed the beginning of the 30 Day Challenge you can find it here}

I'm having a hard time choosing who I'd like to have dinner with from history.  I've narrowed it down to two but I think that's about as far as I can go.  Both people are very influential in how my life has turned out thus far and I have a few questions I'd like to ask them.

The first one would be the Virgin Mary.  I think it would be so interesting to hear her story and ask her how she felt about giving birth to our Lord.  I'm not too sure what I'd like to eat with her, and I have a feeling that if I ever got the chance I wouldn't eat at all because I'd be drinking up every word she was saying to me.  And honestly, I'd probably be too nervous to put anything in my stomach.  After all, she is the mother of God. 

The second one would be George Washington.  Anyone that knows me knows how much I love politics and history and since he is the Father of our country it makes sense why I'd want to meet him.  I'd like to know what he dreamed our country would be like in the future and how our government should be working today.  I'd also want to know what he thought of the laws being put into action today and his opinion on the political parties.  To eat?  I'd say probably something like steak and potatoes.  (haha I had that for dinner the other night so that's probably why it came to mind!)



Tuesday, June 19, 2012

24/30: Family Dynamic

{If you missed the beginning of the 30 Day Challenge you can find it here}

If you want to find out about my relationship with my parents you can read that post here.  It'll probably help you understand more of what I'm about to say. 

My family dynamic growing up compared to now is still pretty much the same.  It might be easier if I divide up the post so let's get started!

Then....

Mom
Growing up we always argued over little things.  It could've been major or minor, it didn't matter. We got along but I was definitely Daddy's Little Girl.  

Dad
I always liked doing things with my dad and spent a lot of time with him.  If he had to go into work on the weekends I'd usually drive with him just so I could spend time with him.  We liked a lot of the same things and so we always had something to do together.  He also was the one who would be outside with Sam and I teaching us how to play soccer, baseball, or anything else we wanted to learn.

Sam
When we were very young we got along very well.  It wasn't until I hit my teenage years that we grew apart a little bit.  We would bicker and argue and get on Mom's nerves but deep down (very deep down...ha!) I still thought she was okay.  And then, once I got out of my teenage years Sam hit hers.  I guess you could say we had a little bit of an "off" period.


Now....

Mom
I think our relationship is still pretty much the same.  Nothing has really changed there....

Dad
It's hard to say what our relationship would be now if he was still alive.  I think it would still be pretty much the same, with the exception that I'm married and not living at the house anymore!  

Sam
Our relationship is the one that has changed the most.  It wasn't until the spring semester of her junior year at GMU that we began to do more things together and become closer as sisters.  Before, we'd never really talk on the phone or go out and do things together but now we like too.  It's fun to go shopping or to the movies, and Chris and I even took her to Disney with us last summer.  She's become more of a best friend to me than a sister.

Julie
I didn't know Julie until I was 19 so it's a little hard to say what our relationship would've been like when I was younger.  Now, she is someone I can rely on and she's a really great sister.  We're still learning about each other and I know that our relationship will only grow from here.










Monday, June 18, 2012

23/30: Hobbies

{If you missed the beginning of the 30 Day Challenge you can find it here}

I have lots of little hobbies, but there are only a few that I've kept up with through the years so I'm going to write about those.

Piano
I love playing my keyboard.  Ever since Gran bought me a new one for Christmas a few years ago I've been playing it non-stop.  Sitting in front of it playing music calms me and makes me feel peaceful with everything around me.  

Organization
I've always been kind of an organized person but it's something I've grown more passionate about over the years.  Why is it a hobby?  It's something I do in my spare time and I enjoy doing it.  It's always fun to think of new ways to make our lives easier.

Blogging
Blogging was never something I was committed to in the past.  There used to be an old site that you could either pay for or use it for free (the name escapes me at the moment) and all of my friends would blog updates on it.  I started doing that with them around the age of 16.  Was I any good at it?  No.  Am I better at it now?  I'd say I'm better, but I'm still learning.  The whole blogging world is still somewhat new to me.

Photography
People always told me that I had a natural talent for taking pictures but I never believed them until I met Chris.  We've been to quite a few places together so far and I started noticing little things I liked about the pictures I took on our travels: how I caught the water hitting the rocks just right.  Or how the sun was shinning perfectly over a hill.  I think photography has started to grow more into a passion for me but it definitely started out as a hobby.

Writing
I love writing.  It helps me get out feelings that I need to deal with and it's also fun just to see where my imagination takes me.  I don't do it as often as I should but looking at all the unfinished short stories I have leaves me feeling a little frustrated.  Maybe I need to take a few writing classes to turn this hobby into a passion (maybe a moneymaking passion?  Yes, please!)

Hello St. Thomas!


  

Sunday, June 17, 2012

22/30: Where You'll Be

{If you missed the beginning of the 30 Day Challenge you can find it here}

Do you remember writing essays in school on where you'd be in 5, 10, and 15 years?  Did any of you end up where you thought you'd be?  Or did only some of your predictions come true?  I used to love writing those types of papers because I always knew exactly what I'd say:

"In five years I'll have graduated high school.  In ten years I'll already have graduated college and will be on Broadway as Belle from Beauty and the Beast.  In fifteen years I'll be married with kids and live in a nice house in the country."

Well, let me tell you that only part of my predictions came true!  I definitely got married right on time with the schedule my ten year old self set, but no kids yet (and you'll be waiting at least another year or so for that to happen).  It's funny looking back on that and seeing how naive you were, and how you thought your life was going to turn out.  Nothing ever goes quite according to plan, does it?

If I had to make predictions now...I'd say that in 5 years Chris and I would be in a home with one kid, but hopefully two.  Or, one kid with one of the way...I'm not too picky!

In 10 years Chris and I would be all done having kids (only 3!) and I'd still be a stay at home mom and Chris would still be a working dad.

In 15 years (ugg...I'll be in my 40's!) our first born will be almost ready to drive (and I'll be having a slight heart attack every time I think about it).  We'll be busy, running from soccer practice to dance lessons and whatever other sport our kids decide to do.  We'll be constantly on the go and tired but loving every minute with our family.  

I think that about sums it up.  And I've left lots of wiggle room in case something changes.  It'll be fun to look back on this post and see if any of these predictions came true.  Hopefully they all do. But you know what they say, "God laughs when we make plans."


  

Saturday, June 16, 2012

21/30: I'm SuperGirl!

{If you missed the beginning of the 30 Day Challenge you can find it here}

"I'm supergirl and I'm here to save the world..."  The topic of this post really reminds me of that song from The Princess Diaries (I was kind of obsessed with that movie when it came out).  

There are so many super powers you could pick from that you'd think it would be hard to pick just one.  But, I've said for a long time that if I did have a power I'd want it to be speed.  Then I wouldn't take so long to get ready (gotta love being a girl!) and I wouldn't have to sit in the car to get somewhere.  How nice would it be to take two seconds to get to the grocery store and two more seconds to get back home?  Just imagining that is making me yearn for it!

However, there are drawbacks so I'd set a few limitations for myself.  
1.  No abusing my powers to speed through life.
2.  I could only use it for three things: (a) Get chores done faster, (b) get to places faster, (c) get ready faster.

I feel as though a set of ground rules would be best that way I don't start taking advantage of the power or missing out on things by using it.  What do you think?  Are there any powers you'd like to have to make your days smoother?  Or would you want a power just because it sounds like it would be cool?  I'm interested to know what others would choose!

Best friends at my Bridal Shower

Friday, June 15, 2012

Changing Your Name: Social Security

We finally received our marriage license!  Almost exactly two months after Chris and I got married, but at least it finally came in the mail.  I had done a lot of research online about the easiest ways to start the process and found quite a few helpful hints.  I found this link that told me every place I'd have to change my name at.  It even included facebook and twitter which made me laugh a bit.  Then, I went to the dmv and social security website to print out the paperwork so I could fill it out beforehand.  I definitely recommend doing this because it saves you time!  Plus, if you go into one of these places and there is little to no wait time, you can get in and out of there in no time at all!

Before heading into the office I visited the social security website and looked up how to change my name.  I wanted to make sure I had everything with me so I didn't have to make multiple trips (now that would've been awful!).  When heading over, make sure you have these documents with you:

1.  Application for a Social Security Card
2.  Your drivers license or passport, and
3.  Your marriage license 

To find an office near you, follow this link and enter your zip code.  It'll give you location names and hours of operation!  Don't forget about this handy little tool.

My experience at the Manassas office was not an unpleasant one.  I wanted to go in as soon as they opened (which everyone I talked to recommended) but due to circumstances this morning I wasn't able to do that.  I got there at 11:45 and only waited an hour!  It also helped that I had an amazing friend who came to keep me company during the wait time (thanks Natalie!).  

I was really nervous going into the office because all the reviews on yelp said it was horrible.  I was advised to bring a tent to hang out in, snacks, drinks, and a few books because you'd be there long enough to finish a few!  So, I was all set with a bottle of water, crackers, and my Kindle (I left my tent at home...ha!) but I didn't even need them!  

So...my advise is that you should bring some snacks, water, and a book just in case!  Because it's better to have it and not need it then need it and not have it!  

20/30: Memories

Oh Those Good Old Days...
{If you missed the beginning of the 30 Day Challenge you can find it here}


I'm supposed to write about three significant memories from my childhood.  All three of them make me laugh and I hope they do the same for you.  And if you know the boy from memory number two, you'll understand why it was so great when he finally left me alone.  ha!

1.  One Christmas, when Sam was probably no older than four, we were living in our old house in Culpeper.  Sam and I had a tradition where we always slept in the same room (either on the floor or in a bed) and woke up together the next morning.  This particular year, neither of us could sleep because we were so excited.  I told Sam that we could go see if Santa had been to our house yet as long as she was quiet and she agreed.  We snuck down the hall into our playroom and lo and behold there were tons of presents!  I went poking around a little bit and then all the sudden I heard, "LOOK AT ALL THE PRESENTS!"  Sam had yelled out and I was positive we woke up Mom and Dad.  And sure enough, they came in the room at 5am and let us open our gifts.  

2.  When I was younger I used to swim for the Rec Club during the summer in Culpeper.  After swim practice, a lot of my friends would stay and play and hang out at the pool.  I was there every single day, even on the weekends.  One weekend (I was in middle school around this time) both of my parents, my friend Laura and her family, and I think John and his family were there with a bunch of other people we knew.  All of us kids liked to play sharks and minnows in the deep end when it wasn't too crowded, and that is what we were doing on this particular day.  I used to swim on the very bottom because the "sharks" liked to go for all the people who swam towards the surface first.  One boy, Alex Parr, figured out what I was doing and decided to come after me.  I had figured out long before that if I put lotion on my arms and legs the "sharks" couldn't catch me.  So, when Alex grabbed my leg his hand slid right off and I just kept swimming.  This happened a few more times before I was able to reach the other side safely.  The second go around Alex came after me again, more determined to catch me than before.  He pulled my hair, I kicked him in the knee.  He grabbed the back of my bathing suit, I kicked him in the knee again.  Then, he took his ridiculously long nails (for a boy) and scratched my back up.  It hurt like heck and I'm pretty sure I screamed under water.

After the game was over I got out and my dad caught a look at my red and swollen backside.  He asked me what happened and I told him what Alex did.  The next thing I knew, he was over at the side of the deep end calling Alex over to him.  I knew what was about to happen and I inched closer to hear what Dad was going to say.  He told Alex that if he ever caught him coming near me or hurting me again he'd pull him out of the water so fast he wouldn't know what hit him.  There was probably other things that we said but I truly don't remember.  After that, Alex was too scared to even come talk to me when my dad was around and he rarely bothered me.  I'd never been more thankful for my dad at that moment.

3.  When I was in the 5th grade I was at my school really early to go on a field trip.  We were all in the bathroom before loading the bus and all the girls were talking about when they found out there was no Santa Clause.  I didn't believe them (and told them so) but they continued to tell me there wasn't one and I should ask my parents.  That got me thinking....the writing from Santa did look an awful lot like my mom's handwriting.  And there was always a closet that was locked downstairs only during Christmastime.  I then resolved to stay home the following day and ask my mom about it.

The next day I faked being sick so I could stay home with my mom.  She was folding clothes in her room on her dresser when I came in and stood beside her.  She looked down and asked me what was wrong, and I told her I had something important to ask but she had to promise to tell me the truth.  She smiled and said yes, but her smile faded quickly once I asked her about Santa.  She paused before answering, and I knew what she was going to say before it came out of her mouth.  When she confirmed my suspicions, I began to cry and demanded to know why she'd tell me something like that.  Then, my over-dramatic self took over and told her that she ruined Christmas for me and I ran into my room and flung myself on the bed (<-- that was an oscar winning performance if I do say so myself!)  

Thursday, June 14, 2012

19/20: Home

There's No Place Like Home
{If you missed the beginning of the 30 Day Challenge you can find it here}

In the past three years I've been a lot of different places.  It's hard to choose just one where I'd like to settle down and live...but I'll try.  There will be quite a few people who read this that are probably hoping my answer will be California.  Chris and I have lots of family and friends there and it would be nice to have our kids grow up around that part of our family.  There will be others who will expect my answer to be Florida.  Why?  Well....we love the fact that we could be close to Disney World and go anytime we wanted.  When I was younger I always wanted to live in Tennessee.  I couldn't tell you the exact reason, but it just always felt like home.  Plus, I love the south.  

But, if I had to be honest there is really one place that has stolen my heart:  Wyoming.  Why?  It's just an absolutely gorgeous state.  We'd be a lot closer to our family and friends in California out there and we'd still get the four seasons like we do in Virginia.  

At Yellowstone National Park

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

18/30: Forgiveness

{If you missed the beginning of the 30 Day Challenge you can find it here}

Forgiveness can be the hardest thing we do in our lives.  Some people like to hold grudges for years and never seem to let go of the hatred holding them there.  I know a few people like that so I strive to always forgive (but never forget).  I believe that you should remember the hard times because if you don't, you won't remember how you got where you are today.  

One of the hardest things I've ever had to do was forgive myself for fighting with my dad before he died.  Dad passed away on Friday, September 29th, 2006 and we fought the Sunday before (the 24th).  We were standing in the kitchen arguing about me getting a job.  I was lazy and would sleep in during the week instead of going out and looking for work since lifeguarding was over for the season.  Dad was not having my lazy attitude and he wasn't shy about telling me so either.  I don't ever remember my dad and I yelling at each other but we definitely did that day.  Then, later that night I went in my parents bedroom, laid my head on Dad's chest, and said I loved him before turning in.  

When he died that Friday I was so torn up by the way I had acted when I last saw him.  I blocked out the memory of interacting with him later that night because I was so upset by my actions.  It took a long time of my mom telling me what actually happened for it to sink in.  It took even longer for me to actually believe that Dad knew I loved him even thought I was mean to him that Sunday.  And it took a few years to realize that even though I had acted like a butt Dad had forgiven me right after it happened.  That's what unconditional love is.  No matter how ridiculous I acted or how much attitude I gave him he still loved me.  

I think I still carry a certain amount of guilt around with me and I'm not sure if it will ever go away.  There wasn't a day where I woke up and decided that I was over what had happened and decided not to carry the guilt with me anymore.  I think I just woke up and realized that I wasn't thinking about it as much.  And as the days passed by the feeling went away more and more.  

Sometimes, the guilt comes back when I'm really missing him.  Sometimes, I don't think about what happened at all.  It all depends on the day, how I'm feeling, and what I'm doing.  I always have to remember that I had a great childhood and a great Dad and that one day and one hour of bad behavior doesn't rewrite our entire relationship.  I have to forgive myself for what I did because if I never did, it would eat me alive.  And I know my dad wouldn't want that.