Day 219 - Last sunset

I actually snapped this picture last Friday while stopped behind a fender bender on the freeway

And I am showing it to you tonight for two reasons...

First, because I am still assembling shower invitations...it is taking a million times longer than previously

Estimated...but they are also turning out a million times better than imagined so I'm still happy

Second, because I am hoping this is the last sunset I see on my way home from work (for a while)

Because tonight I made it all the way home with the sun shining brightly!!!

Which means it's finally going to be possible to go for walks (maybe jogs) in the evenings again

And once it's light enough at 5am to walk, I will be on my way back to feeling and looking my best

And that really is something to be excited about!

Day 218 - My dog (er, the Oscars) ate my home work...

I'm not going to meet my original deadline of getting Adrienne's show invites out this weekend

But I should be able to wrap them up and have them sent out the first of April

At least I'm close to being done (damn the Oscars for distracting me!!!)

Until tomorrow invites...until tomorrow

 

Day 217 - Twice the weekend

Today had a part A and a part B

Part A was our annual trip to the Highland Games in Phoenix

It is a festival with a mixture of Irish, Scottish, and Welsh heritage in the form of

Bagpipe and dance competitions, amazing food, huge dogs, and of course traditional games

Part B of today was helping my mom find the perfect paint for her new house

And I am happy to say that I think we came up with two options that could both be pretty perfect

Mom- don't forget to let me know how these paints look tomorrow in regular day light!

Day 216 - Take a walk on the wild side

A big congratulations go out to my mom and dad for closing on their new home today!!!

I love the place and I am so excited to see what you do with it...

Oh, and I plan on spending every Saturday at your pool as soon as it's warm enough to do so

And mom, because I forgot to bring it to you tonight...here is the wallcovering I was telling you about

It is a beautiful damask (called Irene's Damask) but with a fun animal twist

(Because I know you like to walk on the wild side when it comes to your powder rooms)

Day 215 - What's New?

At work we get a lot of samples of the newest, coolest cutting edge interior finishes

I am always amazing with the beautiful textures., materials, and patters that come my way

Today when I went to work there was a new sample up against the wall

I didn't notice it right away but when the receptionist pointed it out and said that she was in love with it

I realized that I was pretty blown away by it as well

She asked if it was a new wallcovering or maybe a new paint technique? 

I had no idea so I started to investigate...

Turns out it was an extra ceiling tile turned around backwards...

Oh well...if not a real sample, at least it can be great inspiration for a future wall finish

Day 214 - Just scratching the surface...

We are still working on the kitchen...but I hit a small snag with the island/cart

Steve painted it with our paint sprayer...a good 2 layers of primer and 3 layers of color

All I have to do is distress the corner so it matches the kitchen cabinets

The problem is...well, the paint job is too good (yes Steve, you did too good)

Seriously, I have tried 3 different grit strengths of sandpaper and none of them have made a dent

Or I guess scratch...I had to work for half an hour to get a tinny bit of paint of one leg corner

So yeah, this is going to take a while

That's why I decided to show you the cart now instead of waiting for the finished product

Enjoy...

And here is a almost unnoticeable progress with the distressing

 

Day 213 - Mail Time!!!

Here's comes the mail, it never fails

It makes me want to wag my tail

When it comes I want to wail - Mail!

 

(Blues Clues)

 

Kipp made a very good point the other day... it has become pretty depressing to get the mail

All you get are bills, adds, junk mail...and all kinds of crap...some that isn't even meant for you!

Don't get me wrong, I love how convenient emails and texts are - but what happened to real mail?

Luckily we still get real cards around holidays and special occasions and I savor it when we do

Today's was one of those magical good mail days...

 

First up: a notice we have an undelivered piece of mail - Exciting!

Sender: Riehle (possibly my grandma?)

And all we have to do is leave 20 cents in the box??? Is that a bribe???

Second up: a belated, but ultra special Valentine's Day card

Made by hand from my mom

Special feature: the sewn paper interior...I love it!

Third: an anniversary card from the Grands (Steve's paternal grandparents)

They are so on top of it...always sending card for birthdays, holidays and everything in between

I need to step my game up and get them cards more often...I always hit Christmas but that's about it

I should also mention my friend Jacque

She is the best at sending out cards (and she is very young so it is even more impressive)

With that, I am going to go finish the bridal shower invites I am making so I can mail them out this weekend

 

Day 212 - Hey good look'n, what'cha been cook'n...

We are still finishing up our mini kitchen renovation so I don't have any pictures of that yet...

But I do have some pictures of the great food we've been cooking up!

First is mim making our anniversary dinner last night

(She even dressed to match our kitchen!)

And second is our dinner tonight...home made Moco Loco (one of my favorite Hawaiian meals)

It is a hamburger patty on a bed of rice with a fried egg and sauce on top

It is supposed to be gravy on top but we use a Campbell's cream of chicken & mushroom instead

 

Day 211 - Just the two of us

Today is our 2 year wedding anniversary...and a month from now will be our 9 year "together" anniversary

(Plus, we had 4 months as a couple a two years before that when we first met at the age of 15 & 16)

We just finished an amazing evening with my family celebrating (thanks mom for all your hard work)

So I thought I would post pictures from tonight as well as pictures from the 11 years leading up to this point

This is us in 2000...such cute puppy love!

And below is us in 2002...

My cotillion ball and the night we "officially" become boyfriend and girlfriend, March 30, 2002

Senior Prom, May '02

Freshman year of college

Our first dating anniversary, March '03

Our third dating anniversary March '05 (don't ask me what happened to year two)

Our fourth dating anniversary, March '06

The night Steve proposed (after I went tanning), December 12, 2007

Engagement celebration with my family...

The weekend after we got engaged, Las Vegas

Our engagement photos, October 2008

Yay, we're married!!! February 20, 2009

 Our first wedding anniversary!!!

And finally, tonight...our second wedding anniversary

Day 210 - 3 is a magic number

Today our puppies turned 3 years old!!!

So happy birthday Ashby and Wesley...or as we commonly call you: Beep & Budy

We tried to give them a good day...but it rained all day long and they HATE the rain

So when Ash asked to play out side I tried to call her bluff and I threw the ball out into the rain

Surprisingly they went after it, and kept on playing for half an hour...in the rain!

That is huge for them - They usually act like they are dying if we make them go out in the rain

I guess it just proves their theory is right: Everything is better when red ball is involved

After taking care of the dogs, we took care of ourselves and went out to 5 Guys for burgers

And my favorite "Magic Coke Machine" - That's right, a magic coke machine!!!

It is a big unit that is all touch screen operated (something that several people were having trouble with)

After you select your soda...you get to select if your soda gets any addition flavoring such as vanilla

The possibilities are endless...and I drink 3 times as much as normal trying to taste everything in one visit

I love you magic coke machine!!!