epiphanies galore*

Tumblr

2009-12-17T10:21:00.001-05:00

I finally broke down and did the tumblr thing! Which, is very cool, by the way. It's a much more concise version of a blog, so, for us scatterbrains out there, it's a faster read AND write. I will not abandon my little blogspot, of course, because, we all get a little long winded sometimes. But, for short spurts of thought, you may want to check it out.

Time

2009-12-14T22:34:00.003-05:00

Can I just confess my huge love for depression glass?

If you look at the history of it, depression glass was once the unglamorous, red-headed step-child of dinnerware. Or, to us modern folks, the Wal-mart-Dora-the-explorer-melamine-ninety-nine-cent china of the 1940's.

However, nowadays, a tiny little candy dish goes for a good $15.00 minimum on ebay. The world is funny, is it not?

But, alas, I love it. Had I lived in the 1940's, I would have been hording that stuff like gold.

In all colors, shapes, sizes, styles, functions. I think it's gorgeous. I posted not too long ago about the beautiful set I got for an astounding $72.00 in navy blue that I can't wait to ~~put in a gorgeous china cabinet for all to admire~~ use.

In other news, I have finally printed out all of our wedding maps and have cut about 1/16th of them. No joke, there are 150 and I've cut about 10. I've got to print out the vellum pages with the wording and cut the scrap papers. I've at least managed to learn enough on my sewing machine to be able to make a simple stitch across the tops of each invite.

Maybe then these things will start to look pretty to me again. Unfortunately, I've looked at them so much that I look at them and gag slightly. Bad sign? Probably. But I've got almost four months to love them again.

Off to play the Sims.

What?

It's Christmas break. The Sims + Jane Austen is all I've been doing.

Good morning

2009-12-13T11:35:00.002-05:00

Welp, I cheated the Sunday schedule. I didn't mean to, but I did.

Last night, I had all intentions of getting up for church and had the whole day planned. Unfortunately, a few circumstances caused me to be up until about 2 or 3 in the morning, so I slept in.

Now I'm looking at wedding blogs :)

Last week feels like such a whirlwind of events. School ended on Tuesday (praise the Lord!) and I've gotten all A's so far. I am still missing one grade and keeping my fingers crossed for it. I've been running around like a chicken with its head cut off, or rather, more like a wild dog let loose. I've been here and there and everywhere. I finally got to spend an afternoon wasting away at Barnes and Noble looking at home decor magazines - just cause - with no deadline of any sort. It was truly a beautiful experience after being locked up for so long in the realm of papers.

I also finished cleaning my room finally, yippee! AND I bought myself a sewing machine. A thing of beauty!

I learned how to thread it and ran a trial of all the stitches on a piece of scrap material that I had lying around. Now, I've got to learn to read patterns and such. I would LOVE to learn to quilt... but I hear that's quite the task.

Now, I'm going to make the bed and get myself ready for the day. At noon, yep.

I know it's been a while..

2009-12-08T12:18:00.002-05:00

A lot has gone on since my last post.. and I've been trying to focus entirely on school, so I have basically done nothing but!

However, this morning I finished my very last final of the semester and now have a month to relax, catch up on my reading, and nestle in my bed so hard that I turn into a pillow.

I had a fantastic three-day birthday..
On Friday night, my group of friends celebrated mine and my friend Chris's birthdays, since we share a birthday, at an awesome place down in Acworth. It was delicious, mmm. Then Saturday, Robert and I lay around being lazy, watching some Buffy, and I got some presents wrapped.

For now, I'm going to get my room cleaned up and head up to school one last time before break, and it's not for a final, thank heavens!

Break time, woot!

2009-11-24T06:59:00.003-05:00

Today is the last day before Thanksgiving break... and I am so thankful!

I have one presentation to do at 9:30, albeit, a large presentation that I'm very nervous about. Then, it's over! Or, at least until Monday. I have my work cut out for me for the next week or so, but I think I will survive.

Robert, Lauren and I are leaving here at the butt crack tomorrow, around 5AM to head out to Florida. Over the river and down I-75, to Grandmother's house we go. I think it'll be fun... in particular, the shopping we will do on Black Friday. I haven't been shopping on a Black Friday in ages, not since my mom lived here, and I think it's time to go back. It's the thrill, the rush, it's like a game!

Hmm... I really should get up and finish getting ready for school. Wish me luck!

Confused

2009-11-17T21:56:00.003-05:00

I have been SO hungry today!

I've had like, three and a half small meals already, and it's been way more than I usually eat. I've GOT to go back to the gym, and that probably won't happen until Friday. I have TWO papers due this week (both on Friday; however, one is just a rough draft, but still!).

I can't wait for Thanksgiving. Robert, Lauren and I are all going to south FL to see my family. I'm a little nervous, because, of course, it's my crazy family, after all.. and second, I'm scared for poor Robert!

Does anyone else have a problem with how big Giada's head is in comparison to the rest of her body? It's freakish. I feel like I'm watching a one of the Wii Miis.

Time to get serious about some school work.

Rainy Tuesday

2009-11-10T07:53:00.002-05:00

Hanging around, like some kind of lonely clown

I love the Carpenters, have I mentioned that? Sunday night when I should have been here looking over my paper for Gothic Fiction, Robert and I went up to Chattanooga to visit Layne and Daniel. I'd never met either one of them, so it was interesting. We went to eat at this little microbrewery/restaurant that Robert's been wanting to take me to called The Terminal and it was pretty yummy. I had this awesome mushroom soup, which I will try to recreate, that was loaded with chunky protein-filled mushrooms everywhere.

Then we played 80s scene it, which, believe me, brought down the ugly age difference like a tempest. Remember, I was born in 87, everyone else, not so much. Needless to say, I got like, four questions. But it was still good, clean fun.

Time for breakfast.

This weekend I'm thankful it's the weekend!

2009-11-06T07:21:00.003-05:00

I have so much catching up to do this weekend. In fact, that is my goal, that by Sunday evening (or at the latest, Monday evening) I am caught up on reading and assignments. It is just too close to the end of the semester for me to be this lazy. I'm also going to spend part of today cleaning my room and my car out because, let's be real honest, I haven't seen my back seat in months.

Also, as of today, I've lost 69 pounds. I'll die the day I reach 100, but I can't deny it's coming. If I keep my butt in the gym like yesterday, I know I'll make it. And get to buy a wedding dress, finally!

I think I want to write a novel. I know, I know, all English majors at one point decide that and very rarely do they follow through. But, honestly, I think I'd make a killing on the story (all English majors also say that). The only problem is time. I've got to DIY my way through a wedding and struggle through the rest of the semester, so I don't have time. Any suggestions?

Kinda sorta almost the weekend?

2009-11-04T20:35:00.002-05:00

Have I mentioned how very little I enjoy American literature? Okay, well, that's still in effect. Currently, I am studying for a make-up test I have tomorrow over such wonderful (!) titles as Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, The Way to Wealth, and the fantastic (!) narrative of Equiano. Sorry, I know, someone out there hates the romantics and they will one day hurt my feelings, but for right now, I must rant. Besides, it's my blog!

Yawn

2009-10-28T20:53:00.004-04:00

It's been a long day!

However, I was fortunate enough to get to spend the evening doing arts and crafts. I know, I know, I've got WAY too much to read and do to be spending an evening (a weeknight, at that) doing arts and crafts, however! I was making the invitations for Kortney's 23rd Birthday She-Bang, and I'm very excited. I think they're very cute, if I do say so myself. They're pretty simply, but, they're pretty nonetheless... AND, it was a labor of love, so what can ya say.

I can't express to everyone how good it is to get to go home at the end of the day and get to decide my own plans for the evening. Also, I can actually look forward to the weekend without worrying about whether or not I have to rush into the hospital to work, blegh! It's a beautiful and liberating feeling.

I haven't even begun my wedding invitations, although I do have the PDF made out and everything, ready to print. I will print soon enough, I am just too tired and lazy to right now. And let's not forget all that reading I mentioned just a second ago.

Here is the wedding invitation wording:

It's going to go on vellum, with different kinds of scrapbook paper/old wallpaper scraps underneath, and then I will be sewing them together in some sort of cute pattern, haven't decided yet... and THEN! I am going to put everything in the ticking fabric. Loves it. Tell me what you think about the wording. I love the fonts!

Diagnosis

2009-10-22T19:06:00.002-04:00

I finally went to see Dr. Childs this morning. I've felt a little more energetic, which is good, because otherwise that visit would have knocked the wind out of me. I did, however, get a little queasy sitting in the waiting room, but fortunately I had Lauren and KP to drive me home.

Dr. Childs said what I had was NOT H1N1, thank Heavens, but that he's going to treat me with bronchitis and the flu so that I can get better quickly. Honestly, I would have liked to have gotten better by Tuesday because of school, but ughh, it's like my poor body without sustenance now can't heal itself properly. Took me long enough to get better back when I could eat like a normal person, but now I'm working with half the nutrition. Regardless, I'm going to school on Monday -- thanks to the SASS I encountered from one of my professors. Sheesh... it's not like they've never missed class due to sickness before. Next time, I'll just show up and make sure to cough and sweat my fever on them.

Now I'm going to get my happy butt in bed and work on some essays and watch Flash Forward. Maybe tonight I won't have to Theraflu myself to get to sleep... mmmm.. or maybe I will just for the sake of Theraflu.

Don't fear the fat

2009-10-22T00:02:00.002-04:00

I can't express how much I love the Food Network, and I think you all know this by now. It's crazy, I know, especially considering the fact that the extent of my "foodie-ness" is the small amount of talent I inherited from my mother and grandmother. However, of course, I live in the middle of cultural nowhere where the extent of anything classy or foodie-like are the dolma leaves that Kroger sells. So in the end, the Food Network is my outlet for that desire. Men watch porn, I watch the Food Network. Don't hate.

On a completely different topic -- I pretty much got sent home from school today. Yes, I'm almost a senior in college, but this year with this H1N1 nonsense, nobody's playing around. I thought I felt good enough to go back to class today, but once I got to my History of England class, I could feel myself sweating out a nasty fever and it was making me utterly nauseated. Dr. M noticed and looked suspicious.. so to appease him, the rest of the healthy students, not to mention my physical self, I asked Lauren to drive me home and made an appointment with Dr. C for tomorrow... urghh.

I doubt it's the swine flu, but at this point, nothing else would be making me this miserable. Although, if it is the flu, tomorrow will be the 7th day of my being symptomatic, and thus the last day of the "incubation period". So, we'll see...

For now, however, I'm going to pour gallons of water down my throat to make it stop being itchy and scratchy and am going to drown my physical ailment sorrows in some Throwdown with Bobby Flay.

Mr. Perfect?

2009-10-20T12:33:00.002-04:00

Death bed.

2009-10-19T12:11:00.002-04:00

This is the longest amount of time I've been able to sit up today in a chair and not lying in my bed. Ughhh... last night it took me almost an hour to get to sleep because I couldn't stop coughing. Even more ughhh...

And of course, today I feel grossss because I haven't been able to get in the shower because I can't hardly stand up that long.

Waaahhhhhh.. I hope this is the first and last of the sickness for the winter.

PS - I really love that new Digiorno commercial for the ultimate toppings. "Beep, this is Greg and Doug..." Hilarious.

TGIF!

2009-10-16T12:20:00.002-04:00

Sighhh

It's so beautiful to reach the end of the week and not have to be concerned with how many hours I'll be working this weekend. Because.... I'm not! I will get to enjoy the Homecoming game, get to enjoy sleeping in on a Saturday, going out on a Friday, having a lazy nap on Sunday and getting things done in between. Like... studying for a midterm. Yes, midterm grades were due a hundred years ago and we are still having these tests.

But I love it!

Julia Child!

2009-10-10T14:05:00.006-04:00

I don't know if you guys know, but I fell in love with Julia Child after watching the movie Julie and Julia. I know, I know, I'm a little behind the times, but after watching that movie I discovered my love for cooking (even more so) and through that, my love for Julia herself.

So I went on ebay and spent way too much on a 1977 copy of her Mastering the Art of French Cooking and last night made my very first Julia meal. I must say, it turned out rather well! I have never in my life tasted something as good as the cream sauce I made, but then again, butter, cream and white wine? What should I have expected? Haha

First we have the Supremes Volailles A Blanc, or chicken breast with cream sauce. It was pretty much to die for. I purposely try not to think about how much butter I used, but, I can't eat all that much anyway, so, what the heck. But this cream sauce was delicious. The white wine was what really did it for me. And I LOVE the poaching of the chicken in the butter beforehand. Brilliant.

Second, I made buttered peas. Petit pois, if we're being French. I don't like peas very much, and I'm pretty sure I overcooked them, but they had a great flavor. They were not the highlight, but, I did have eaters that don't eat peas LOVE them. Since my stomach is tiny now, I don't waste space on things that I don't absolutely love. I think if I had realized that they would cook as fast as they did, albeit they were frozen, I would have paid more attention to their doneness.

And of course, the sauce vinaigrette for the salad. YUM! I love vinaigrette, and this one was delicious. Champagne wine vinegar (I opted for the classy stuff as opposed to regular ole' red wine, but she said to choose to your liking) with salt, pepper, dry mustard and herbs de provence. Tangy, savory, great stuff.

Now, I am going to put on some sweats and enjoy my Saturday off! I am going to wash Thursday's episode of Flash Forward, do some laundry and clean up a bit... perhaps read some Frankenstein.

The woes of gastric bypass

2009-10-07T22:03:00.003-04:00

So, currently, my weight is fluctuating a couple of pounds. Granted, I haven't been drinking enough water, and I haven't been taking ANY of my vitamins. Why? Because they are gigantic! Every time I take one, I pretty much gag until I vomit. It's nasty, but, hey, I can't help it.

Also, I've been getting above myself lately in eating habits. I have been trying to eat things I know I can't eat, and I get sick and pretty much hate life for about an hour.

I'm going to have to start doing better, or I'm gonna end up with like, kidney stones.

180

2009-10-07T12:19:00.003-04:00

Not a complete 360, but, things are better today *phew*. At least my alarm went off! However, it doesn't help when I hit snooze until the last minute.

I am, however, getting to the point where I am excited that tonight is my last night at work. Yay! I think this revelation happened when I was looking through my calendar and by George, I realized that I am off Friday, Saturday... Sunday, Monday and so on and so forth! I don't know when I'll begin at UCS, but, regardless, it will be three days a week -max- and NEVER past five o'clock! That means (free) dinner times with family and possibly adding the gym back into my routine.

Thanks, David, for sending up a prayer for me! I should have definitely taken a moment in my day to do the same, but, alas, I am human and to be such is to err, thus our tactic is to complain constantly instead of humbling our woes to God.

Now, I must go and finish Much Ado About Nothing before class! Eep! Bad kid.

Worst week ever rant

2009-10-06T11:35:00.004-04:00

No joke.. one of the worst weeks. The only way it could get worse is if like, my car breaks down and I get kicked out of college. Even then, I'd probably be so numb that it would feel better than the one hundred panic attacks I've been having. So, be forewarned, this is way depressing and whiny -- if that's not your thing, stop reading now.

First and foremost, my alarm didn't go off this morning. I set it for 7:45 and of course, 8:50 comes rolling around and my stupid alarm hasn't gone off. There goes the morning shower. I can't skip class because I have a mid-term on Thursday that I absolutely needed to prepare for, because otherwise, that'd be something else on the "Freak-Out" plate.

Next, it's raining. Yeah, okay, I like rain -- when I'm in my bed doing homework and I don't have to be out in it, cold, wet and miserable going to class. It's just annoying.

Then, all the while, I'm remembering that I still have to write my freaking newspaper article that I have put off until PAST the last minute, yes, my fault because I'm lazy, but regardless, one more thing to add. I have felt completely uninspired to write anything, papers, essays, journals, anything! So how in the frak am I supposed to come up with something witty and meaningful to the students of Shorter College?

And of course there's that parking ticket I got this morning. The second one in the last ten days. The one I got for parking just a LITTLE over an hour in front of the library. COME ON. Refer back to said rain and cold? Remember? It's COLD! And rainy! And I had to be there for like, an hour?!

Also, seriously, if we say we're going to eat right after class so I can go write my article, then loitering in the student union for 15 minutes is just not cool. It's annoying, especially to people that have a lot of shit to do during the day. I had to go home and do homework, shower, clean my room AND get ready for work at five (not to mention write the blasted article, get gas, go to the bank and find sometime to eat) and just because you guys have time to twiddle your thumbs and dick around the FSU, doesn't mean everyone else does. SIGH.

Let's not forget this wedding, of sorts. No one's given me any money; that's right, I'm calling you out, mom and dad. When it comes to this wedding, you guys are NOT winning the "Most Supportive Parents" award. Not a dime. Not an encouraging word. "Oh yeah, sure, I'll help you, don't worry" umm, okay, when we're having the wedding at Chicago's Best Hot Dog & Taco stand September 18, 2010 because someones couldn't get me a promised deposit, I'm not showing up. Robert and I will go to the courthouse and never talk to any of you again. Just because your marriage failed doesn't mean you have to be so unsupportive.

I won't even go into detail about all of the homework I have to do...
I also am dying for my prison sentence at FMC to be over, because honestly, by this point, I hate anyone that doesn't speak English that's in this country. Really? You've been here ten years and haven't picked up ONE SINGLE 'English for Dummies' book? How long's it gonna take? Cause one day, ain't nobody gonna be there to save your non-English speaking butt while you have a gigantic baby head coming out of your vagina.

Okay. I think the rant's over. I feel a little better. At least better to the point where I can function towards productivity. Sorry if I've offended anyone.

Feeling those cold winter chills!

2009-10-05T19:11:00.003-04:00

Just so everyone knows, since I made the decision to down-size the guest list, I have felt much better about the wedding... still stressing out about money, but, when is that not the case?

Also, it's freezing. Fall has decided to just mosey on into my life and I haven't quite prepared my wardrobe, yet. I may not get a chance to, either, because... well, because of a lot of things. I'm done complaining about money, it's giving me the hives.

Alas, I have a lot of reading to do. Must read Shakespeare, must write article, must read Austen, must read Shelley, must read Paine & Adams. Eep!

Downsizing

2009-10-02T22:26:00.003-04:00

I have been thinking a lot about this wedding lately (surprise) and there are some things that I am just going to have to change.

As much as I love every single member of my church family, I don't have the money to throw a blowout for everyone to attend. I just can't. 250+ people is a lot of mouths to feed, a lot of bottoms to provide chairs for, and a lot to handle! A lot of tables, a lot of flowers, decor, etc. etc.

So Robert and I are going to make a list and check it twice and it's going to be a lot smaller than the 250+ we had originally considered.

Now, if I wasn't extremely anal retentive and a stickler for detail, I would say, you know what, forget the tiny little accents on the food table, and just put a couple more biscuits in the basket.. but because I do want beautiful details, everything will have to be cut back just a tad.

Hopefully, it will be beautiful, it will be all I ever wanted.. and hopefully no one will hate us after all is said and done! Hey, you're all still invited to my showers!

Sigh, I feel good about this. Do I feel good about this? Someone people reassure me that I feel good about this.

Ta-da!

2009-09-30T17:49:00.005-04:00

Okay, so the idea dawned on me that these beautiful invites should be a surprise to all who receive it in their mailbox! So, I'm going to post one picture of ONE invite, so that you guys get the gist.. but know that each invite will be different and unique (not to mention hand-made!)... so know that you are SPECIALLY invited to attend mine and Robert's wonderful day!

Ta-da! Isn't she looovely? You should see the map, too.. but that will be the real surprise!

As a digression, look what I'm drinking, yummmm...

Brrr! It's beginning to feel like fall

2009-09-30T10:59:00.002-04:00

I know I haven't updated lately, but it's just been ridiculously busy. I've had my nose stuck in book after book all week, projects, presentations, newspaper deadlines, Chimes, so on and so forth.

Our literary magazine release party was fantastic! We had several people read from the release, we had a TON of food, and Rachel did an excellent job singing.

It's finally starting to feel chilly around here! I was beginning to wonder, of course, because last week the days were hot and muggy, and with October right around the corner, it was a toss-up as to whether or not we'd have some real fall weather anytime soon. But, alas! It has come. Yesterday I made the mistake of going to class in short sleeves and I was freezing on the walk up the hill. In fact, weather.com says it's currently 62 degrees (totally believe it!) and the high for today is not past 75. This means I quickly need to re-organize my clothes so that I'll be warm and toasty!

On a completely different note, I just printed a trial of the invitation wording on vellum paper, and it looks frakkin' fabulous. I will take a picture and post it later.

Or this...

2009-09-28T15:36:00.003-04:00

I love them both, but I love the Martha Stewart box better... but I can only find it in red =( Nowhere is selling it in the tiffany blue!

I know I haven't posted a real entry lately, but I am exhausted. Will later.

You know I want this...

2009-09-26T20:27:00.003-04:00

Don't tell me that's not the cutest recipe box/cards you've ever seen, cause I know you'd be lyin'.

Courtesy of moontreepress @ etsy.

I finally did it!

2009-09-24T15:53:00.003-04:00

I turned in my resignation letter at work!

I said it would be effective October 9th. I did the courteous thing and set an appointment with my supervisor for today so we could talk about it, but what resulted was that she let Martha go home and so coincidentally when I walked in she was busy (she couldn't possibly ask her HUSBAND, who is her EMPLOYEE as well to come in?) and I ended up waiting an hour and a half in the office.... so I just wrote her a note to go with my resignation letter and that was that. Was that a bad call? I mean, I had all intentions, but I had places to be!

Is that wrong of me?

Anyhow... may the Lord bless Mrs. Sikes who has moved our Udolpho quiz to Monday, so we have all weekend to finish it, and believe me, I need the weekend!

I have a TON to do before tomorrow, so, I'm going to stop playing around on the internet.

When it rains, it pours

2009-09-21T22:13:00.003-04:00

If you've been watching the news lately, or, have any notion of what's going on in the world, you'll know that nearly all of Georgia is under water. Seriously, folks, we are developing gills down here. Of course, where we live in surrounded by our protective little hills and my school is on a great big hill so school and work are in session for all. Work, ughh, let's not even talk about it.

I have decided that I have GOT to go back to following all the strict post-bariatric surgery rules, seeing as I have been stuck at the same weight for nearly a week. That's just the way it's gonna be.

I also revised my resume and sent it off to Mr. Public Relations at UCS. *Crosses fingers* This will be so awesome if I get this position. However, I won't be doing much of anything if I don't get the ball rolling and write out my resignation for Mrs. Supervisor. It's just SO hard. I'm terrified! I literally shake in my booties when I think about it.

Speaking of shaking in my booties, we went on a ghost hunt last night at Shorter. *Gulp* I will save those events for their own special post.

Also, speaking of booties, guess what tomorrow is? First day of Autumn! Boots, scarves, and pumpkin spice. I am SO excited!

Rainy days

2009-09-19T15:42:00.004-04:00

I love the rain. I love when it's 3:45 in the afternoon and my room is almost pitch black dark because the clouds have completely concealed the sun and if you open the window (in particular during the summer) the wind blows on you, warm and sultry, as if God were cleaning the lenses on his glasses. Because, in my mind, God wears glasses. Big thick ones, ala Woody Allen. It would probably be a little blasphemous to assume God was LIKE Woody Allen, especially Annie Hall style, but, you never know.

I do have to make my way back to the hospital tonight -- until midnight, blegh. Rainy Saturdays are not meant for being cooped up in a windowless office at less-than-pleasant Incognito Hospital, but rather for the warmth of my bed and a big, fat book!

Then the word of the day would be cozy.

Don't forget about the donation button!

Now accepting!

2009-09-19T15:05:00.002-04:00

Donations.

That's right!
Look, we're in the poor house, we've got to do what we can. If you have once been in our poor about to be newlywed position, or if you just have a soft spot for people in need, I have now added a donation button up in the right hand corner of the page for anyone willing to help out. Any amount will do, and we will truly appreciate it! Spread the word!

Argh, American Lit!

2009-09-17T22:20:00.003-04:00

Does it make me a bad person that I want nothing to do with American Literature? I'm sorry, I apologize to all who adore it out there, but I just don't. It's like, I love grammar, a lot, and I love ironing, which many of you might not... American Lit is my dish-washing, foot-fungus-scrubbing, fart-sniffing unloved red-headed stepchild.

But, alas, I have to write an essay for tomorrow. Have I started it? No. I promise, I'm a good student (most of the time), I just really don't like American Lit. Okay, okay, let me not generalize so much, I do like later than 16th century American Lit. However, there's only so many times I can read creation stories and Native American tales.

This may be me after tomorrow:

Lovin' this

2009-09-16T23:30:00.003-04:00

I have recently fallen in love with the credenza. They are absolutely brilliant in that vintage 1970s Brady Bunch house style. I need one, and I need one that particulary resembles this one:

I know you love it.

Robert and I have been discussing furniture as of late. We were going to receive a few pieces from a friend of his sister's, but it kinda fell through because of all of our busy schedules and lacking resources; however, we evaluated and between the two of us we have quite a bit of furniture. More, in fact, than will probably fit in the potential tiny apartment we'll be living in when we are first married. (I already have the place in mind, exactly, and if we end up moving somewhere else, my dreams will be shattered)

For now, the only things we really plan on buying are a new bed (we want a queen, we're fatties and need our space) along with the mattress set, and possibly new dining chairs. Maybe. Big maybe. That's really about it in terms of large furniture. Of course, we're totally depending on those shower gifts for things like lamps and so on and so forth, so, we'll see. That's also what our "nest fund" savings account is for.

In other news, I think next week I'm going to look into buying a GRE practice book.. I've got to start doing some major preparing if I want to get into a good grad school.. because, this, my friends, will give Robert and I some light on what path we'll be taking after I graduate next fall. Where will we go? Nobody knows. Only the Lord.

But as much as we gripe and complain, we'll definitely miss this little place.

Domestic goddess fatty post

2009-09-12T13:58:00.003-04:00

Okay guys, it's time we were all honest with each other. There's no denying it. We love food. Me, in particular. I love it, there's no holding back. So, since I'm bored at work ... (thank you, Lord, for that, I would rather be bored than running around right now) and have to be here for a few more hours, why not write a post on my favorite delicious foods (including Dominican delicacies) and drool a little bit. How's THAT for fun!

First on the list is my greatest weakness: the kipe. Also spelled 'quipe', this deliciousness is a dish that started off in the Middle East and some of my ancestors (as well as many other Dominicans' ancestors) who immigrated to the DR brought it with them. If you are of Lebanese decendants (which a lot of us Dominicans are) you may know them as kibbi, or fried kibbi.

That's right, fried.

Basically a 'kipe' is traditionally eaten is a picadera or a finger-food. Sometimes (if you're lucky!) you can find a little stand or colmado near the beach that sells gigantic ones and you can snack on it all the way to the shore. YUM! What's in it, you ask? A kipe is a bulgur wheat and ground beef dumpling, so to speak, stuffed with more ground beef and various herbs. It can either be rolled into the traditional shape (seen above) and deep fried, or placed in a casserole dish and baked. Seriously, favorite thing ever. The recipe can be found here. (As a tip, it's best to refrigerate or freeze them before frying them! Helps keep them together)

Second is the one food I could never live without. Not kidding. You could take anything away from me except this and I would be fine. What is it?

CHEESE.

Blue cheese, white cheese, yellow cheese, cream cheese, solid cheese. ANY KIND. With a nice glass of wine, (preferably red) it is all I need for a happy palate and a happy belly. Am I right? Yessuh!

Mmmm... my favorites are the following:

Feta
Gouda
Manchego
Muenster
Colby Jack
Cheddar
Pepper Jack
Provolone
Anejo
Blanco
Fresco
Bleu
Asiago
Ricotta
Caprino
Fontina
Gorgonzola
Mascarpone
Mozzarella
Romano
Parmegiano
Brie
Camembert
Neufchatel
Roquefort

And many many more. YUM!

First and foremost

2009-09-12T13:24:00.003-04:00

I need everyone to know that I am in love with this spice rack:

I thought the one I registered for was love at first sight, but I didn't give the others a chance! I love love love this. As a former Biology major (and still a bit of a science geek), I truly appreciate the style.

On another subject, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MR. PRESIDENT! And by that I mean, Lauren Rose, my bff! She is 22 years young today and we are going to celebrate after I get the heck out of this office.

PS.. have I mentioned how much I can't wait for the fall? I'm already looking for a cute coat, so, let me know if you spot one!

I feel it coming...

2009-09-09T16:49:00.002-04:00

Okay, so, maybe I'm being a little overdramatic, but who knows. I think I have the swine flu. Or the very beginnings of it. No joke! I am freaking out on the inside.. but because of my slave-labor job, I have to be out spreading it to the world (if the case is that I'm infected). There are a few confirmed cases at Shorter (don't worry, look for the news story in the Periscope!) and I know for a fact one of the afflicted is in a class with me. I've also been vomitting, having headache, other nonmentionable symptoms, as well as extreme fatigue and so on and so forth. The only thing I haven't had is a fever. Although, I haven't taken my temp, so, who knows! Again.. I'm serious.

I have felt like a big plate of scrambled poo today. It's been awful. I haven't been to class in two days (and if it IS swine flu, you guys better thank me!) and I'm dying to feel better.

Been learning about collages...

2009-09-07T20:11:00.003-04:00

These are some of the collages I've been learning to make! I always see them on other wedding blogs and finally I've formed in my lacking in tech savvy brain how to do them. So, for a short entry today, here are some of the flowers that have inspired some of my wedding.

Picture Post for fun

2009-09-07T15:17:00.003-04:00

Cute shoes! Cute wedding cake/pie stuff!

Out the window

2009-09-06T14:00:00.002-04:00

So, okay, I have a confession. The lowercase typing has caused me so much grief and guilt that I can't do it anymore. I am a phenomenal (ok, so, maybe an overexaggeration) English major, taking an outstanding Advanced Grammar class and I can no more put my audience through this linguistic trauma. So, forgive me, and I will henceforth use proper capitalization and punctuation. ;)

Today has been one of the busiest days at the hospital I've had in quite some time. I have seen over twelve patients and barely got to choke down some chicken for lunch (which, sigh, did not go over well since I am on the shallow end of sickness).

However, the day is almost over! I get to leave here at 4, and I will then recess to my room in my comfy PJs, watch the Food Network, and do homework.. which I have a ton of! I also want to do a little more wedding planning. Since school started, it has gone on the back burner, but no more! I have GOT to buy fabric ASAP to start making my table cloths/table runners... I can't put that off any longer.

Also, I am frustrated like whoa because a few months or weeks ago (I can't even remember) I saw a gorgeous DIY Save-the-Date that I completely wanted to make.. but I can't find it anywhere in my bookmarks, and I've googled like crazy and can't find it there either! It was a cute little library card envelope with the date stamped on, and a small strip of photobooth photos in it! I know I could basically just make something up along those lines, but I would love to find it and the guidelines. Anyone have any idea? Would be much appreciated!

Okay, off to write my article for the paper, and maybe find some water cause I'm severely parched.

ughhhh

2009-09-05T22:57:00.002-04:00

i am sick!

this blows.

and i have to work tomorrow from 8 to 4.

waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa...!

embarking on something else

2009-09-01T15:41:00.005-04:00

today i've made two giant leaps in terms of self-respect. okay, well, they are so for me, so, don't think "pshh, what?" when you read them. first, i received an e-mail from my supervisor with our schedule for september (that's right, it's september 1st and we got the schedule today) and in it she made little sidenotes to everyone she sent it to (in other words, everyone read what she sent to each individual) and mine said something along the lines of 'i tried to give you all the days off you requested, but i needed you to work at least one day'. hellooo, i asked for three days off the entire month. the 5th, the 7th and the 20something, i can't remember right now. and so of course, i was scheduled for one of the three days i asked off (for the whole month). well, i was upset about it and normally i would have pouted about it to myself and had a pity party that day at work. but! i put on my big-girl panties and e-mailed her back and said something along the lines of 'in case there was a misunderstanding, i only requested three days off, not this whole weekend, so, if you'd like for me to work the other two days of the weekend, i will, but let's see if we can do something about saturday'. not those exact words, but you catch my drift.

also, sigh, this was a huge deal for me, but i did it anyway. i e-mailed both of my parents (yes, both of them at the same time) and asked about the wedding. it's september now, almost a year exactly away, if anything, we need to secure our venue. that's the one thing i'm most concerned about. what if we get to said wedding venue and want to secure our wedding date and it's already taken? gulp. i'll cry. i'll cry and get over it, but i will cry. so, lord, please give me patience for this, and please give my parents patience and please give them that "in my shoes" perspective for this.

also! i went by my adviser's office yesterday and spoke with her for a long time. she is amazing. i basically want to be in her position, so i figured she would be the best person to speak with. after exciting revelations (and okay, a little more stress, because, let's face it, life is all stress until you die, right?) i dropped my education class and picked up one more english class. yippee, i may very well be on my way to graduating on time! and getting married and living in our little married apartment (even though it will be slim pickins my friends, so don't expect lavish dinner parties for the first year) and snuggling late at night with my husband. not to mention working my butt off to pay the bills and getting through my masters program, but what are those compared to the former?!

in other news, i will be visiting here in june:

not to that exact spot, of course, but to ireland, yes!

and here:

isn't that a great picture? that's right, ladies and gentlemen, i'm studying abroad for a month in england and ireland. sigh. if all works out, of course. with a little prayer and pixie dust, we can make this happen. so, let's go for it!

it's about twenty two past my bedtime

2009-08-31T22:18:00.003-04:00

i need to share a secret with you guys. i haven't been to work since last tuesday and i've loved every minute of it. my paycheck is going to be weak as poo, but, the relaxation i've felt the last week makes even that seem miniscule. i am now back, here, in this horrendous office and am dying to go home. my sleep pattern over the last week had finally become beautiful and organized, in that i went to sleep every night before midnight and waking up at 7 or 6am was not the end of the world. lord, what can i do to get on a schedule where i'm in bed before midnight every night? if you have a job for me, please let me know.

robert and i had the most amazing weekend. i'm not going to describe our weekend in detail because there were so many amazing surprises as well as emotional rollercoasters, but i will tell you this: anyone that is married, plans to be married or is in a serious relationship (regardless of the status of your marriage) needs to attend a session with these people. i can't describe how much we learned and how much our relationship grew just from this weekend. it's fantastic. we have new goals, we have new expectations, we have new love. if it's possible, even better love than before. we're learning to incorporate our maker into our relationship and we hope that through growth and maturity, our souls fall in love, as well.

so, darling, from me to you:

mmmm lunchtime

2009-08-26T11:46:00.004-04:00

i am so glad that i am getting in the habit of coming home for lunch. it's a tiny bit of gas, i get to eat something good from the kitchen (plus, it won't make me sick) and i don't have to spend any money! wooohooo.

it has been an awesome week. hump day is reminding me that it's almost over, which is great, because this weekend is mine and robert's prepare to last session! it is a pre-marital counseling retreat, and we will be spending the whole weekend at the awesome winshape retreat and we will be having sessions and activities to ensure that we love each other (check) and that we know what we're getting into, basically. i think it'll be awesome. i will provide feedback in case anyone wants to sign up for a future session.

wedding planning has gone on hold for a bit. i need to buy some fabric to get started on tablecloths (i know, i'm behind!) and mrs. angie gave me a fantastic website where i've pretty much found all the right colors. i did order some samples though, so i'm waiting on them to arrive.

school is going fantastic. i love all of my classes, except of course the education class.. mostly because i'm scared of the people in that class becoming teachers (not all, but most). i hope there's some hard core test that allows this to happen. "i'm gonna be a PE teacher, cause that's all i'm good at!" ughhhhh

also, friday night is the midnight breakfast and foam party at shorter! i can't make it to the foam party, as i will be in the preliminary stages of my pre-marital counseling, but i hope we can sneak off for the midnight breakfast. yay!

for now, i leave ya'll because i need to eat some lunch, yummm.

real entry!

2009-08-24T15:38:00.003-04:00

well, today was the first day back at school. i don't know about anyone else, but it's hot as poop outside. this morning it was nice and crisp and almost fall-like, but, it heated it rather quickly. i had all intentions of going to the gym after my last class, but i evaluated and since i'm not working the rest of this week (i don't think) i can go everyday after class this week, and hang out in my room today until i have to go to work.

i've been offered a position on the newspaper, which is very exciting and i've accepted. i get to write an editorial column (weekly) and i've decided it should be based on the secret thoughts of college students. not anything inappropriate, just those funny thoughts that are pretty obvious but no one really sees them as obvious. so, it should be fun! i will post them here for anyone that reads this.

why is it everytime i start to write i get distracted? i am way sleepy and need a nap. will write more later.

back to school, back to school

2009-08-24T13:55:00.002-04:00

although i am thoroughly disappointed that no one has commented since i've been gone, i'm going to write anyhow! i may even have to start becoming one of those self-advertisers on facebook.. don't make me go there.

school is officially in session. i am sitting in a (very hot) classroom waiting on my last class to begin. the others have been pretty fantastic, short and sweet on the first day, which is awesome. i'm sure tomorrow's classes will be a little more strenuous, but i'm prepared.

my computer is making this horrible sound. i have GOT to take it to apple. i can't stand it anymore.

picture time!

2009-08-21T16:16:00.006-04:00

so, i know it's been a few posts without pictures, and if you're like me you get very bored with text very easily (when it comes to blogs, otherwise i wouldn't be an english major!) so it's time for some fun pictures. as a disclaimer, i have no idea where i've stolen these pictures from, so, if you recognize one as yours, please let me know and i will give credit where credit is due!

first of all, let's discuss rock candy. i love it, it's beautiful, and it's going to go in our candy buffet. however, i would like to find some of these wooden skewers with the wooden balls on the end for another project, and can't find them anywhere! anyone know where i can buy these? i believe michael's only has the regular wooden skewers and nothing more. if you know, please enlighten me.

secondofly, i found this beautiful green and yellow inspiration board. the green is a little bit more springtime than mine, but i still love it. that darling little organic cake is something like what we'd like, maybe even with the flowers. just for cutting, of course. we don't want to intrude on the pies!

and speaking of the devils, here they are. isn't that gorgeous? i need to find some old baskets and pie dishes to put them in. let me know if you've got any!

i am freezing, as usual. and a little hungry, at that.

you know what i want to do? move to san francisco. that would be awesome.

beautiful day in the neighborhood

2009-08-21T13:15:00.002-04:00

well, we just had a code red on the third floor, and the fire alarms were going off... which kinda freaked me out, but evidently it was tiny because by the time i made a circle around the lobby and back to my office it was put out.

ughhhhhh i just stuffed my belly. i had half an apple and half a tortilla with cream cheese and turkey. yummm, but at the same time ughhhh.

okay, so i need a break before i write the rest of this post, my stomach is inhibiting me from writing.

Cutesy Love Survey

2009-08-20T22:00:00.002-04:00

♥ What are your middle names?

Mine - Gabriella
His - Robert

♥ How long have you been together?
1 year and 3 months =)

♥ How long did you know each other before you started dating?
Umm, a few months, I believe

♥ Who asked whom out?
He asked me to a baseball game and I was not sure whether it was a date or not, haha

♥ How old are each of you?
Me - 21
Him - 31

♥ Whose siblings do/did you see the most?
Well, it's about equal. Lily lives in another country and Luis no one ever sees and Lara we see once in a while

♥ Do you have any children together?
Nooooo

♥ What about pets?
None, sad

♥ Did you go to the same school?
Not at all =P

♥ Are you from the same home town?
Nope

♥ Who is the smartest?
He is way more computer savvy and I am the logical and nerdy Lit person.

♥ Who is more sensitive?
Him, most definitely

♥ Where do you eat out most as a couple?

♥ Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple?
Probably down to Savannah to see his mom

♥ Who has the craziest exes?
Him, by far. Girls are crazy.

♥ Who has the worst temper?
Oh lordy, me!

♥ Who does the cooking?
Me, so far, but he says he likes to cook, so, we'll see when we've got our own kitchen

♥ Who is more social?
Me! He is way quiet

♥ Who is the neat-freak?
We both have our moments.. neither of us, really!

♥ Who is more stubborn?
Both!

♥ Who hogs the bed?
When we nap, he usually does. Otherwise, we'll have to see!

♥ Who wakes up earlier?
Me, most definitely

♥ Where was your first date?
The Rome Braves game, hehe. He had chili-cheese fries, but I was too nervous to eat. $1 beer night, wooo!

♥ Who has the bigger family?
Me, absolutely

♥ Do you get flowers often?
I've gotten 'em a couple of times

♥ How do you spend the holidays?
Separate, right now

♥ Who is more jealous?
Me, I'm a female, remember

♥ How long did it take to get serious?
Not very, we just know

♥ Who eats more?
Definitely him! I have a bypassed stomach!

♥ Who does/did the laundry?
Both of us do our own right now, but I love doing laundry

♥ Who’s better with the computer?
Him, absolutely

♥ Who drives when you are together?
Usually him; my car is crap, and when I want to drive I'll drive his, but it's mostly him.

they say things are better in moderation

2009-08-19T15:16:00.002-04:00

but i don't know anything about moderation. in fact, i had to have surgery to help me with that, hah! so, again, i am blogging. i promised myself i would read some before i left the office, though, so i will do that as soon as i write.

today's been pretty steady, a little busier than most days, but nice. i am sooo glad to have the evening off; i want to do something productive. husband to be is coming over for dinner and then we're off to church. lauren and i liked the amount of people and the feeling of going to the gym at nighttime, so we're gonna leave from church and go there and back home. i reaaallly want to just spend the whole night watching doctor who and loving on the husband to be, mmm, that would be so nice. he's so spoiled and he knows it. but then again, so am i.

guys, i need a pet. i can't express how badly i need one. mostly, i want a puppy, but, i can't have one of those until after husband to be and i are married. a rabbit would be my next request, but even that's pushing it. so, maybe i can settle for a fish or a hamster. just anything. i want some sort of animal companion that i can talk to and tell people about his or her silly motions and make up stuff about it. we'll seee... the only problem is, the pet stores around here are really shady. maybe a trip to acworth is in order!

wedding party!

2009-08-19T09:10:00.003-04:00

i love all the people in my life, and i love that i get to dress them up for the wedding. i have basically picked out everyone that's going to be in it.. but there are some minor details that i need to smooth over before i make a post about them.

the bridesmaids dresses are still up in the air. it's very difficult to choose a dress, mostly because my bridesmaids (or my tentative ones) are of such different shapes and sizes, not to mention complexions and hair colors. i would hate to be in someone's wedding and be the one bridesmaid that looks like complete and utter poo, so i hate to do that to my girls. for that reason, i've been very seriously considering picking a dress out for each of them.

to start off, i frackin' love j crew, i don't know if you know. i'm in no way of the "preppy" style, but lately they've decided to pick up a few way cute vintage and almost indie styles to add to their repertoire and i can't help but lust.

this dress is my absolute favorite from j crew's amazing line of bridesmaid dresses. if i had it my way, they would all wear this cut in different colors, but that would mean involving a tailor and a seamstress. is that an option? i don't know at this point. maybe... but isn't it gorgeous? and it just FITS. perfectly. gahhhh

dessy also has some relatively cute ones, albeit very traditional, but still cute. i was very much about the lace in the beginning (not so adament now, but i still like) and this one screamed out to me, in kiwi with the ivory lace as well as this one, in olive. don't judge, i love the pleats, but i'm not so sure about the taffeta.. right?

how expensive would it be to just have these made? cause, i really love the halter jcrew. and if we did them in a different color for the girls, it'd be fabulous. plus, honestly, i think that's a cut that flatters pretty much anyone.

also, i haven't really much pondered any others... i've got plenty of time.

i do, however, HAVE to have this flower girl dress:

and no offense, my tentative flower girl is the cutest kid ever. no joke. and sassy. so she will know how to work that wedding aisle.

enough rambling for today..

another day, another dollar

2009-08-19T08:04:00.002-04:00

and by that i don't mean i'm earning another dollar (which, i suppose i am), i mean that's probably what's in my bank account right now. but you know what, i make the decision to spend the money, and we have a working savings account, so, there's no way i'm going to live off microwavable hamburger helper. i know that probably doesn't make any sense, but, cut me some slack, it's 8am, and i got three hours of sleep.

actually, i have twenty-two dollars until tomorrow, thank you, and a nice little lump in savings, so, go back to not judging me, please.

this morning i had all intentions of waking up at 6, doing my yoga, attempting a second poaching of egg and making my snacks/lunch for the day. however, at two this morning i still found myself tossing and turning and completely wide awake. i then proceeded to call lauren from my cell phone (mind you, lauren lives across the hall) and made her come tell me a bedtime story. it worked mildly, but i still had to force myself majorly to get to sleep. so, needless to say, i woke up at 6:45, brushed my teeth and so on, had a piece of wheat toast with low fat laughing cow cheese and packed my snacks for the day. for anyone curious as to what i get to eat now, i will tell you!

mid-morning snack (i have to eat six times a day, which, boy, lemme tell ya, way improves your metabolism)
1/2 apple (no skin)
sugar free, fat free jello

mid-afternoon snack
5 crackers (honestly, i don't know if i'm supposed to have crackers, but i eat them anyway)
2 tbs hummus

pleeenttyyy of water.

i haven't yet decided what to do about lunch.

on another note, laura of trialbycupcakes sent me the sketch of our wedding map! it's fantastic!!! i'm madly in love with it. it was the black and white pencil sketch, but, still, i freaking love it. i won't post it because i want it to be a surprise to everyone in their mailboxes with the invitations! =) yayyy.

*yawn* off to the real world, now.

ummm so i went to the gym.

2009-08-18T22:29:00.003-04:00

okay, so, we went to the gym and it was time to move on to strength training today. i did 30 minutes warming up on the treadmill and then i did three sets of fifteen reps on a few machines... i started with the abs, then the biceps, then the shoulders and so on and so forth... however. i liked to have died after fifteen minutes, so, i hauled my sweaty butt out of there and came home! i think that was sufficient for the first day of strength training. tomorrow, we'll move on to legs.

i took a coooold shower and it was amazing. washed my haaair, put on some comfy pjs and turned on the food network. ironic? nahh..

i promise that tomorrow i'll have a worthwhile post, guys. it's just been a very fleeting day and i haven't wanted to sit down and think, ya know?

goodnight!

PS - go read my bff, lauren's blog!

i love tron, but i need to go to the gym

2009-08-18T19:15:00.003-04:00

robert has brought over the OG tron and we were gonna watch it, but lauren and i haven't been to the gym since thursday so we're leaving robert with matt so they can watch it. boys, sigh, they're so silly with their bromance.

today's been awesome. robert came over earrrly and he climbed into my bed and fell asleep and i was wide awake and wanted to wake lauren up and scare her, but she was already awake. lame. prank fail. so, instead, i just went back to sleep and robert and i didn't wake up until like, 1:45!!!!

we ate lunch at santa fe with katie (yum!) and we spent the rest of the afternoon socializing and reading magazines at barnes and noble with andy and brent.

but anyhow, i'm off to the gym with lauren because i'm going to one day look like THIS. megan fox, ladies and gentlemen. yes, i have a massively gay girl crush on megan fox and my work out goal is to look like her. don't judge me.

shout out to betsy and a small post

2009-08-17T22:33:00.003-04:00

betsy, i just need you to know that you are adorable and i love your blog ten times more than anyone else's! i don't know if my comments appeared on your site, i have a combination of things hindering me, mostly by incapability to do anything with this blog. i can't even figure out how to post more than one picture! but i miss you dearly, and i want to keep reading your blog (which means you'll need to post more!)

also, i can't believe we're graduating. well, you before me, because as some of the world may not know, i went on a mild academic hiatus after freshman year and it's coming back to bite me in the butt now.

in other news, i'm still at work. and i'm exhausted. i'm so so so terribly glad to be off tomorrow, even though my bank account wishes i worked twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, and maybe a little bit more. but, like all the fabulous people on facebook just reminded me, BLESSINGS are what truly make a person rich, and in that case, i've got more than a lot of people!

so, i'm going to march my happy (and less fat!) butt down to the ER and see my last patient for the night and go home and have a popsicle. cause i can.

personal finance virginity

2009-08-17T16:08:00.003-04:00

so, i've learned quite a bit about personal finance in the last couple of years. when you don't have very much money, you want to take that tiny bit of money and turn it into a lot, right? right. well, since i've had a checking account, i've always had a savings account, but, unfortunately, i've never been one to put much into savings, and i've never really earned much from this alleged savings. however, since robert and i got engaged, we've both been putting back a little money each month into a small credit union savings account. well, thanks to fellow savvy blog lady, mrs. newlywed, i have discovered the word of ING savings accounts. yeah, yeah, don't get political and preachy on my blog, guys, because, i did my research and robert and i decided that it was better to move our savings there. which is quite exciting. i also bought 'mutual funds for dummies' *don't judge me* and plan on making that my next personal assignment.

on a completely different note, i have been looking for some clothes for robert on ebay, because, really, let's be honest, that's the best place to find exactly what you want, in the correct size, and at not full price. besides, my love is very picky about clothes, so, why am i going to spend $60 on a pair of pants that he will not wear?

today, lauren and i had lunch at red lobster cause we've both been way craving fish for some reason. i love fish, and especially now that i can have 'semi sold' food. i ordered blackened tilapia with a baked potato (not that i expected to even get to touch it) and i forgot about the damn cheddar biscuits. so, of course, i made an attempt to eat one. i also forgot about the salad. what is this, america? why can't you just eat one plate of food at a time, and not fourteen? sheesh. either feed me the salad, or feed me the fish. however, i purposely "forgot" that i can't eat lettuce yet, mostly because i have been doing fine with it, but technically it's supposed to be too fibrous to digest right now. but, to make a long story short, i ate half the salad and a fattygreasycheesybutsofreakinggood biscuit, and was too full to eat anything else. so, i packed it up, and it's waiting for me for dinner!

i don't know if any of you reading this (if anyone reads this?) knows that i love to cook. i love it. i could spend all day cooking a seven course meal, and despite the pains in my legs and the heels of my feet, i would love every minute of it. so, of course, i decided to look for a blackened tilapia recipe on my all time favorite recipe website, allrecipes.com. i chuckled to myself when i found one called 'blackened tilapia with secret hobo spices'. okay, i thought, hobo spices. is that some sort of cultural thing? something culinary i've never heard of? no, sir! the person that posted the recipe actually found it in the pocket of a sleeping hobo beside some railroad tracks. well, we'll test his flavors and see if he's got potential.

alsooo... *drumroll* .. here is a picture of two of the sherbet glasses in the beautiful amazing gorgeous set of navy blue depression glass. i went and put a deposit on them today and they will be mine all mine next month! and by mine all mine i mean mine and robert's.

lastly, but definitely not least important, i am now in love with the bravo show 'flipping out' hysterical. kelsey, if you ever read this, this man is you in ten years.

so, in all honesty, i'm really entertained by things like this

2009-08-16T22:34:00.002-04:00

Appearance:
- I am 5′4 or shorter.
- I think I'm ugly.
- I have many scars.
- I tan easily. Most of the time, although sometimes, it's a struggle
- I wish my hair was a different color.
- I have friends who have never seen my natural hair color.
- I have a tattoo. Two, in fact.
- I am self-conscious about my appearance. Sometimes.
- I have/I've had braces.
- I wear glasses.
- I'd get/have gotten plastic surgery if it were 100% safe, free, scar-free. Psh, why not?
- I've been told I'm attractive by a complete stranger.
- I have had more than 2 piercings.
- I have had piercings in places besides my ears. Just my nose, guys!
- I have freckles.

Family/Home Life:
- I've sworn at my parents.
- I've run away from home.
- I've been kicked out of the house.
- My biological parents are together.
- I have a sibling less than one year old.
- I want to have kids someday.
- I have children.
- I've lost a child.

Embarrassment:
- I've slipped out a "LOL" in a spoken conversation.
- Disney movies still make me cry.
- I've snorted while laughing.
- I've laughed so hard I've cried.
- I've glued my hand to something.
- I've laughed till some kind of beverage came out of my nose.
- I've had my trousers rip in public. I was at freakin' wal-mart trying to pick up a shelf, needless to say, the pants were a wee bit tight.

Health:
- I was born with a disease/impairment.
- I've had stitches.
- I've broken a bone.
- I've had my tonsils removed.
- I've sat in a doctor's office with a friend.
- I've had my wisdom teeth removed.
- I've had serious surgery.
- I've had chicken pox.

Traveling:
- I've driven over 200 miles in one day. All the way from Miami to Rome.. sheesh.
- I've been on a plane.
- I've been to Canada.
- I've been to Niagara Falls.
- I've been to Japan.
- I've been to Europe.
- I've been to Africa.

Experiences:
- I've been lost in my city.
- I've seen a shooting star.
- I've gone out in public in my pajamas.
- I've pushed all the buttons in a lift.
- I've been to a casino.
- I've been skydiving.
- I've gone skinny dipping.
- I've played spin the bottle. With mostly gay men, but I loved it! Don't judge me.
- I've crashed a car.
- I've been skiing.
- I've been in a play.
- I've met someone in person from the Internet.
- I've caught a snowflake on my tongue.
- I've seen the Northern Lights.
- I've sat on a roof top at night.
- I've played chicken.
- I've seen the Rocky Horror Picture Show.
- I've eaten Sushi.
- I've been snowboarding.

Relationships:
- I'm single.
- I'm in a relationship.
- I'm available.
- I'm engaged.
- I'm married.
- I've gone on a blind date.
-I've been the dumpee more than the dumper. Sad but true.
- I have a fear of abandonment.
- I've been divorced.
- I've had feelings for someone who didn't have them back.
- I've told someone I loved them when I didn't.
- I've told someone I didn't love them when I did.
- I've kept something from a past relationship. I have a memory box...I still have everything that has ever been important to me in it.

Sexuality:
- I've had a crush on someone of the same gender. Sort of. Megan Fox? C'mon.
- I've kissed a member of the same gender.
- I've had sex with someone of the same gender.
- I've had sex with more than one person at the same time. Ew.
- I am a cuddler.
- I've been kissed in the rain.
- I've had sex outdoors.
- I've hugged a stranger.
- I have kissed a stranger.
- I have had sex with a stranger.

Honesty/Crime:
- I've done something I promised someone else I wouldn't.
- I've done something I promised myself I wouldn't.
- I have lied to my parents about where I am.
- I am keeping a secret from the world.
- I've cheated while playing a game.
- I've cheated on a test.
- I've driven through a red light.
- I've witnessed a crime.
- I've been in a fist fight.
- I've been arrested.
- I've shoplifted.

Drugs/Alcohol:
- I've consumed alcohol.
- I smoke cigarettes.
- I smoke pot.
- I regularly drink.
- I've taken painkillers when I didn't need them.
- I've taken cough medicine when i wasn't sick. It really helps me sleep... although that justifies nothing.
- I've done hard drugs.
- I've been addicted to an illegal substance.
- I can't swallow pills.
- I can swallow about 5 pills at a time no problem.

Death:
- I'm afraid of dying.
- I hate funerals.
- I've seen someone dying.
- Someone close to me has attempted suicide.
- Someone close to me has committed suicide.

Random:
- I can sing well.
- I've stolen a tray from a fast food restaurant.
- I open up to others too easily.
- I watch the news.
-I don't kill bugs.
- I hate hearing songs that sacrifice meaning for sake of being able to rhyme.
- I swear regularly.
- I am a morning person.
- I paid for my mobile phone ring tone.
- I'm a snob about grammar.
- I am a sports fanatic.
- I play with my hair.
- I have/had "x"s in my screen name.
- I love being neat.
- I love Spam.
- I've copied more than 30 CD's in a day.
- I don't know how to shoot a gun.
- I am in love with love.
- I am guilty of tYpInG lIkE tHiS.
- I laugh at my own jokes. I'm funny.
- I eat fast food weekly. I'm in college.
- I believe in ghosts.
- I am online 24/7, even as an away message.
- I can't sleep if there is a spider in the room.
- I am really ticklish.
- I love white chocolate.
- I bite my nails.
- I play video games.
- I'm good at remembering faces.
- I'm good at remembering names.
- I'm good at remembering dates.
- I have no idea what I want to do for the rest of my life.

THIS.

2009-08-16T20:00:00.005-04:00

this, in all reality, was the find of the day on friday. don't be surprised to know that the first person to pick it up was in fact, robert! lauren lunged after it and without a moment's hesitation decided that it was the perfect obscure and ridiculous gift for our other friend, kortney. all girls my age (well, except for me, i was really into mariah carey and ace of base, instead) had an affinity for, of course, the new kids on the block. i know, i know, i'm a sinner in the hands of angry teeny bopper has-beens, but, what can i say? i was an innocent, and boy bands weren't really my thing until nsync and bsb came along. and nsync was always sooo much better.

today work was the same as usual, except i was in unusually high spirits. a beautiful couple, and i mean, like, movie star beautiful, came in and were from colombia and could not speak any english (in come i, the interpreter, although not as glam as nicole kidman in that movie). the wife was in extreme pain in the lower right abdomen (pop quiz, typical symptom for... ?) and i had to pull teeth to get them seen. now, floyd is usually on top of things when it comes to caring for their patients, the ER however, seems to have problems. i don't know what goes through a nurse's mind which results in the conclusion that a stubbed toe is more severe than a potential ruptured appendix. i threw down the patient's information on the nurse's triage desk, finally and said (in my most authoritative voice), "you're going to see this person next, or you're going to have an erupted appendix in your waiting room, and no translator to help you out."

long story short, they were just extremely loving to each other and gorgeous by all definitions of the word, and extremely thankful for my help. sighh, what a blessing. love exists and somewhere, deep down, so do nice people.

also, don't even judge me, but lauren went out and bought my vitamins today (cause she's the most loving seestorr in the world) and i can't explain how badly i want to just eat the whole bottle. why, you might ask... because they are FLINTSTONE'S GUMMIES!

anyway, it's like 8:30 now, so, i'm gonna go try to be productive.

i'm posting again, so what.

2009-08-15T18:29:00.003-04:00

since i'm stuck in my office today for twelve hours, i may as well post again, right?

well, it's been a thought provoking morning, i suppose. lauren and company brought me some grilled chicken and i ate about half of it, chewing slowly and thoroughly and all went well. that felt good, along with the bottle of water i had afterwards, because i believe the crankiness was due to dehydration.

and speaking of hydration, i've been thinking some more about glassware. for water and juice and milk, i figured we'd just use mason jars. cheapest thing to find in the south that are still extremely cute. but as far as wine and champagne glasses, i have no idea. mimosas will go in champagne flutes and sangria in wine glasses, so, it's not like there will be a ton of booze, but, i would like for those that drink to have something nice. how tacky are plastic wine glasses? i'm asking in all sincerity, because i don't know! if i attended a wedding with them, i would just shrug them off as whatever, but i don't know what's faux pas or not.

these are beautiful, and ironically enough, they look exactly like the navy blue depression glasses that i fell in love with. however, i would never acquire enough of them and it would cost me an arm and a leg!

i could always mix and match. we'll just seee... does anyone know what people traditionally drink sangria out of? in my fam, it's those awesome blue and red paper cups, hah!

anyway, i might go waste some of my time with the sims, instead of obsessing over dinnerware. i'm going to meet with the wonderful mrs. angie vick on thursday afternoon to look through her stuff and talk about what i've got planned out. i love her and i am so so so incredibly thankful for her. she is my unofficial "because she loves me" wedding planner.

for now, i will leave y'all with the lyrics to one of the songs we'll have played at our wedding, that i absolutely love!

pecan pie - golden smog

As I walk along and stumble
Trains rumble in my head
As I breeze along and grumble
Think about you instead

And a piece of pecan pie
And you thats all I want
Just a piece of pecan pie
And all I want is you

Sometimes I get so hungry
Think about pie all day
Just a little whipped cream
Honey, Im on my way

With a piece of pecan pie
And you thats all I want
Just a piece of pecan pie
And all I want is you

Just a piece of pecan pie
And you thats all I want
Just a piece of pecan pie
And all I want is you

Now, dont you call me key lime
You are the apple of my eye
Dont you know Ill be fine
Whenever youre by my side

With a piece of pecan pie
And you thats all I want
Just a piece of pecan pie
And all I want is you
All I want is you

now, for a real entry!

2009-08-15T14:29:00.004-04:00

so yesterday was a fun day. robert was off and i didn't go into work until five, so we spent most of the day at the treasure trove, a cute little local antique store. i love the fact that i live in a tiny suburban town because antiques don't cost quite as much as they would in a large metropolitan area. i found a blue speckled double pot for $6 and robert found a darth vader mug for $8. i don't have any pictures yet, i've been lazy and my camera is dead, but i will post them soon! however, i did fall madly and deeply in love with a giant set of navy blue depression glass glassware and i asked them to put it on hold for me. the whole set is $72, but robert told me to think about it before i went crazy, which was good advice. i am, however, still in love with them. lauren took a picture with her phone, so the picture is pretty worthless, sorry!

they are six of each, a water glass, a wine glass, a cordial, and a sherbet dish! just lovely.

of course, these will be gorgeous where ever we decide to live. anyone out there?

my beloved

2009-08-15T13:39:00.002-04:00

so my dearly beloved husband-to-be has decided to start commenting on any and all of my posts because i lovingly mentioned that he had not even read any! so, no one freak out, we are not having a bacon wedding cake.

in other news.. i'm feeling a little icky. both physically and emotionally. i was trying to eat my little cafe steamer, and evidently i ate something too fast because it is now trying to claw its way out of my stomach ... and that's all the gruesome detail i will provide. also, i've received like 800 e-mails from financial aid this morning and am freaking out. they always make my life a nightmare, every semester. i always think i've turned everything in to their pleasing, only to discover that there's something else. and that there's more mony i owe them. and more paperwork. and more little chunks of my life!

okay, so enough complaining.

yummmm!

2009-08-14T23:50:00.002-04:00

this delicious picture is a small hint at what the dinner menu will consist of at the wedding.. mmm! we've almost wholeheartedly decided on breakfast for dinner. i know, strange concept, but, in my family, we LOVED doing that, because, c'mon, who doesn't love breakfast? there's such a huge variety of foods that, you can at least find soooomething to eat. whether it be cereal, breads or yummy yummy turkey bacon, it's hard to not love breakfast. so, lauren and i, sitting here in my so-quiet-it's-kind-of-creepy office have compiled a lovely list of breakfast items that will be easy to prepare, for those angels and saints that have and will volunteer their helping hands, and also eclectic enough to satisfy the palettes of my guests.

here goes! i will try to write it out according to .. genre? of food? i try with all my might to be a foodie, but, alas, i am not one.

drinks:
mimosas
sangria (yum! how many times have i typed that already? i really love breakfast)
sweet tea
unsweet tea
orange juice
apple juice
cranberry juice
water
milk
chocolate milk
hot chocolate
coffee

too much? i don't think so.

varied pastries and muffins from where ever we can find them.. shh, don't tell people that they won't be home made.

biscuits & gravy
english muffins
toast
varied bagels

cheeses
cream cheeses
jams
jellies
butterrrrrrr, of course, it is the south

donuts
granola
& momda's scones

turkey bacon
fatty pig bacon (for those grease monkeys)
sausage patties
scrambled eggs
boiled eggs
momda's breakfast pie
breakfast pizza (that's right!)
sliced tomatoes
fruit
cereal boxes (the itty bitty ones)
grits
croissants
hashbrowns

uhhh okay, so the category thing went out the window about four menu items down, but y'all catch my drift.

*yawwwn* anyway.. that's one more exciting aspect down. i figured it didn't have to be a secret, because, really, what would be the reason? now, if i were to ride a donkey down the aisle, THAT would need to be kept a secret.

not much.

2009-08-13T13:06:00.003-04:00

to update you guys on today...

my life's been a little blur of boring these past couple of days. i went back to the gym yesterday! and it was awesome, i felt great. now, i don't want to go at 5 today because we tried to go at five the other day, and it was PACKED! and yesterday i went around 2 and not a soul was around... now, considering the fact that i'm here until 5 today.. i have a few options, and by a few i mean two. i can either go at 2, use that as my lunch break and come back to work rather sweaty, OR, leave here at 4 and go then... hmm.. what to do, what do to. my only problem is that, what if the gym's just as packed at 4 as it was at 5?

i'll think on it.

also, i've been SO hungry lately! i don't know why.. but a lot more than usual.

anyway, see? i have nothing of substance today.

mmmm lemonade

2009-08-11T10:44:00.003-04:00

i really really enjoy drinking things, not as much as i used to, but i still do. used to, however, i would drink stuff really really fast, which i've learned is not a good thing to do because it fills your stomach up with air and stretches it out, as well. so i've been sampling all of the crystal light flavors, and they are awesome. of course, i try to drink plenty of just regular water, but, that can get kind of old, right?

so far, i've tried fruit punch, white grape, lemonade and peach tea. i love them all except the white grape -- it's just way too sweet and concentrated and blegh. sorry to anyone who does love it, but, it ain't for me.

*

okay, so, i have been on my poor little tootsies since the butt crack of dawn, i have seen like a zillion patients already today! okay, so, i've seen five, but, i've seen each one twice.. and in 3 and a half hours, that's a lot! and i did not make the right shoe choice, i know.. bad call, nikki.

in other news, i have been plugging away on my little wedding planner notebook that momda bought me. just for reference, momda is a mix of mom + vonda, which is my best friend, lauren's, mom. she's like my second mom and i love her to pieces.

i've been printing out pictures like crazy of flowers and dresses and cute ideas that i want and adding them to the binder. i love it. i'm crazy with all of this stuff, but i think it will be fun to look back on when trends and styles have changed and maybe when i have babies and they grow up i'll be like 'here, check this out!' and they'll be like 'oh mom! what were you wearing!?' and we'll have a good laugh.

in even other (is that grammatically correct? probably not) news, i went to see julie & julia and i LOVED IT. it is one of the cutest movies i've seen in a long time. most of you don't know, but i love to cook. i do. i could spend four days straight in a kitchen and love every sweaty, messy minute of it. plus, the couple is absolutely adorable and i just want to be married so bad seeing them. i want to love on my robert in our own home and watch movies and fall asleep together and cook him dinner.. ahhh, it's gonna be awesome.

anyhow.. that's enough banter from me. don't be shy, and please comment if ANYONE reads this!

good ole' southern gal

2009-08-05T15:48:00.003-04:00

wants hay bales!

so, i've been looking at one of my favorite bridal blogs ever, green wedding shoes, and i've discovered SO many cute things. in particular, the bales of hay. now, although i love this:

it seems to me that the hay is a little far from the top of the table, and i don't want my cute little old folks to be uncomfortable. however, does anyone else see those gorgeous vintage lanterns? i'm in love in love in love.

on another topic, i've decided that restaurant food is just not meant for me anymore. no matter what it is... maybe a cup of soup, but, that's basically it. i'm not supposed to be having solid food for a bit longer, maybe 3 or 4 more weeks, but i can't stand it anymore. i believe that tomorrow i get to start "soft foods" but, i've long been there. most everything i eat at home that's "soft foods" goes down great, but anytime i try to have it at a restaurant, it just kills me. they must hide some secret fattening and sugary ingredient in the most common foods. for example, today i went and had lunch with lily and lauren at the sassafras, and on my plate i had a cup of chicken salad (wayyyy pureed, believe me, it was like a pate) and a cup of potato salad (not so pureed, but still... potato?) and i ate a little less than half of each... and i was like dying in the car on the way home. who knows. i'm just trying to behave myself and continue to lose weight. as of the last time i weighed, i'd lost 30 pounds since post-op, but yesterday i was way dehydrated and knew that if i did, i'd regret it.

in other news... i've decided to get the talented miss laura to do our wedding maps (robert loved them and so did everyone else!) cause they are darling. go to her etsy shop, trial by cupcakes, and you'll fall in love with all the rest of her stuff, as well.

*yawn* it's been such a long boring day here at work... but that's just fine with me because i was up until 3AM and woke up at 7! i got this book while down in tallahassee, american wife by curtis sittenfeld and it's amazing. it's loosely based off a real first lady (i won't tell ya who, i've figured it out, but it's fun to try and guess) and it's just so hard to put it down.

in fact, i'm going to go read it right now... !

so much cuteness!

2009-08-03T13:10:00.003-04:00

so i've decided to go through my wedding folder on my desktop and sort of peruse it and post what ideas i'm having. i have so much stuff, guys, it's ridiculous. but i just want everything and everything is so cute! even stuff that's not really that cute is cute because i'm excited!

first of all, here's the bling. i love it. i picked it out, so i better love it! it sparkles like magic and the wedding band is just like the band on this ring (as well as the anniversary band... ahem).. and i just love it! it sparkles in the sun, it sparkles in the moonlight.. it lights my path at nighttime when there is no light! ahhh, sigh, it's magnificent. plus, of course, when people compliment it i say 'you should see the man that goes with it!' :)

i didn't even know where to begin... i was overwhelmed. so, of course, i went to my all-time favorite wedding website: the knot. honestly, that's wher e every bride should start. it just sort of throws you into the world of wedding and there's a little bit of everything. you don't have to do anything they tell you to, but you get so many ideas, it's crazy.

sooo, i thought to myself, what does a traditional southern wedding need? a save the date. y'all don't know how awkward my family would feel receiving an invitation without having gotten a save the date card first. i know it's technically not an obligation, but, they're cute, and in my family, necessary.

i've basically had the theme of my wedding planned since i was ohh sixteen. i've always had a deep love for all things antique and vintage, soft colors and most importantly, birds and trees. weird, i know. but i love them! i think birds are absolutely adorable and trees are beautiful in every aspect. they're aesthetically pleasing (most of them are, at least), they provide us with oxygen, duh, and they are like the protectors and guardians of all pieces of land. it's like they listen to everything around them and they are like the most patient and enduring parts of the earth. okay, hippie rant over.

on to more pictures!

sorry this one's a little blurry, guys, but, i'm new to the blogworld, so, again, any help is very very welcome. i've tried using this picasa blogger uploader, but i can't figure out how to upload more than one picture per post. i'm legally blog-retarded, i hate to tell ya.

anyhow, this is the save the date that i fell in love with! do you see the birds? yes! also, you may not be able to see it, but on the bench is carved 'you+me'.. they are courtesy of wedding paper divas and are extremely inexpensive, but way cute. i didn't do much searching after that because i really thought they were so perfect.

as a side note, i don't know if i've mentioned this to y'all, but our budget is $10,000.00. we are going to try to do it with less, if that's possible, but no more! we will make cuts and sacrifices and do whatever it takes, but, the most important part is a) that we stay under budget and b) that we are in love and marrying each other. yay!

someone PLEASE help me with picture uploading. this is crazy.

new experiences

2009-08-03T00:05:00.000-04:00

well, i don't know if you guys know, but i've never been married before and i had never had gastric bypass before until recently. so, if you don't mind, i'm going to try to capture these moments of newness in this blog from here on out.. i'm very whiny, and i talk a lot, so forgive.

robert and i are getting married (lord willing) on september 18th, 2010. it seems like far away, but i hope we survive this next year without pulling our own hair out and that this wedding can be the beautiful thing we want it to be, and that my surgery proves to be a success (and that i look smoking hot in my wedding gown!).

i've been looking hardcore at some bridal blogs today, which i have fallen in love with, so i'm going to attempt to figure out this blogger thing and hopefully start updating regularly! if anyone has any advice, that is, if anyone reads this, feel free to share. be nice, please.