I LOVE and ADORE the style of Pottery Barn. It's fresh, sophisticated yet simple, and most importantly, it's inviting. Whenever I look through one of those catalogs, I feel like the rooms on each page are whispering for me to "come on in and stay a while." Of course the masterminds behind the staging of those photo shoots know EXACTLY what they are doing and probably even went to school for a degree to do exactly that...create the desire in me to have my house look "that way." However, after locating the corresponding letter that matches that lovely ottoman, sofa, or whatever the piece may be, then glancing my eyes on over towards the column of prices...my mouth generally hits the floor and a thought similar to this runs through my head:
"$999??? That's RIDICULOUS! Oh! And look! That's the SALE price...it's originally $1299!"
I consider myself a bargain shopper, and nothing about that price screams out bargain to me! In fact, sometimes it makes my stomach hurt a little bit to think that someone would actually pay that price. Maybe it's because I can't afford such luxuries on a whim, but I really think it's more of me knowing that if a piece of furniture in my house cost that much it would be carefully protected by a glass case so people could enjoy it from afar! So my latest aspiration is to create in my house something similar to what I fall in love with on those magazine pages...the style of Pottery Barn, but on a budget more along the lines of Target.
For example: I recently decided to change out the bar stools in our kitchen.The old stools were left "for free" by the previous owner of the house when we bought it a little over a year ago. And don't get me wrong...those stools came in handy on more than one occasion. But because of the way the kitchen is shaped, and where our table sits, I realized that those stools were creating a small obstacle course to go between the kitchen and living room. They were a wee bit on the "tall" side and were just a little too bulky and cumbersome. Plus...they don't really fit the "feel" of our house. They were metal framed with round, cushioned swivel seats, and high metal backs. Sound comfortable, right?
So...I began looking for new bar stools. I wanted something simple and less bulky, yet still comfortable and user friendly. Of course, I initially went to the Pottery Barn website. And BAM! There they were, in all their glory, for the small price of... $100...each. BUMMER. I really, REALLY liked them. Now that I had a general idea of what I was looking for, I thought to myself "let the bargain shopping begin!" I started to look at other websites...Macys, JCPenny, Target, Overstock.com, WalMart, etc. A few of the sites didn't have anything even remotely close to what I wanted, but then at JCPenny I stumbled upon what I like to think of as quite a steal. I was able to get the ALMOST identical stools for the much more reasonable price...2 for $79. That's less than HALF of what it would have cost for them at Pottery Barn. I was super nervous that they would arrive and maybe not be great quality or I wouldn't like them as much in person as I did online (my #1 fear). So after a few days of thinking, measuring, checking and double checking the return policy, I ordered them, and patiently waited the two weeks for them to be delivered.
Two bar stools now sit neatly under the bar in my kitchen. You no longer have to plan an attack route to get around them. They are modern but timeless. They're even a little distressed on top already so now I won't freak out when the first "mark" is made on them. And I love them. I am so happy with this purchase. I get giddy thinking about the money I saved to opt out of the name brand and go with the look-alike. Because with that extra money I can now buy something else to mimic the Pottery Barn look...all while keeping it within a reasonable budget!
Copy and paste the following link to check them out! (I even got them cheaper than they are currently listed for!)
http://www2.jcpenney.com/jcp/X6.aspx?DeptID=57087&CatID=67246&GrpTyp=STY&ItemID=16e2e8b&attrtype=&attrvalue=&CMID=57087|67121&Fltr=&Srt=&QL=F&IND=3&cmVirtualCat=&CmCatId=57087|67121|67246
Here's to shopping, finding great deals, and decorating!!!
p.s. Anyone who knows how to put a link in a blog without having the entire address like I do...feel free to share! I'm still learning!
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Monday, February 15, 2010
YUM!
We made these pork chops for dinner and they were FABULOUS...but more importantly, they were EASY and FAST!!
I got this recipe off Kraft.com which is a great place to look for new dinner ideas. Nolan and I felt like we were "stuck in a rut" with dinner and wanted to try some new things out to break up the monotony. If you become a member of the website and sign in, you can add recipes to your "shopping list," and the site will automatically make a list of what you need from the grocery store...sweet!
What you need:
4 boneless pork chops (about 1/2 inch thick)
3/4 cup of honey and brown sugar bbq sauce (they recommend this certain name brand, but I just bought the honey bbq sauce and added some brown sugar)
1 - 8 oz can of crushed pineapple
1/2 tsp. of ground cinammon
1/2 tsp. of dry mustard
Mix everything together (except the meat) and set half of the "sauce" aside for later. Grill the pork chops for about 5 minutes on each side over medium heat (or until no longer pink in the center), brushing each side with some of the sauce. Use the sauce that was set aside in the beginning and pour over the pork chops before serving. DELICIOUS!
We also chose to grill pineapple slices (from the can) on the grill to eat on the side...YUMMY!!! We paired this dinner up with some asparagus and left the table feeling satisfied but not overstuffed. It really only took about 15 minutes total...from taking the meat out of the package to putting the first bite in my mouth!
ENJOY!!
I got this recipe off Kraft.com which is a great place to look for new dinner ideas. Nolan and I felt like we were "stuck in a rut" with dinner and wanted to try some new things out to break up the monotony. If you become a member of the website and sign in, you can add recipes to your "shopping list," and the site will automatically make a list of what you need from the grocery store...sweet!
What you need:
4 boneless pork chops (about 1/2 inch thick)
3/4 cup of honey and brown sugar bbq sauce (they recommend this certain name brand, but I just bought the honey bbq sauce and added some brown sugar)
1 - 8 oz can of crushed pineapple
1/2 tsp. of ground cinammon
1/2 tsp. of dry mustard
Mix everything together (except the meat) and set half of the "sauce" aside for later. Grill the pork chops for about 5 minutes on each side over medium heat (or until no longer pink in the center), brushing each side with some of the sauce. Use the sauce that was set aside in the beginning and pour over the pork chops before serving. DELICIOUS!
We also chose to grill pineapple slices (from the can) on the grill to eat on the side...YUMMY!!! We paired this dinner up with some asparagus and left the table feeling satisfied but not overstuffed. It really only took about 15 minutes total...from taking the meat out of the package to putting the first bite in my mouth!
ENJOY!!
Sunday, February 14, 2010
L-O-V-E
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!
Although we've been together a few months short of EIGHT years, today marks the first Valentine's Day that Nolan and I have spent as a married couple. And I've realized that you know you are married on Valentine's Day when your agenda for the day looks like this:
1) Buying a newspaper to clip coupons
2) Get groceries - which means going to Sam's Club AND Ingles to get the best deals
3) Clean house
4) Laundry...6 loads of it...into the washer...into the dryer...into the washer...into the dryer...repeat, repeat, repeat!
5) Change the sheets
6) Work in the yard (Nolan)
We're sooooo romantic!! (I guess I should give him credit that he did buy me roses and some delicious cupcakes the other day!)
Needless to say, no matter what we are doing, as long as we're together, it's guaranteed to be a good time. I know that's totally cliche, but it really is true. When you marry your best friend, better half and true soul mate, every day is like Valentine's Day, just without the "title" and hyped-up commercialism. Awwwww....
So whatever you and yours truly have chosen to do to celebrate this day of LOVE I hope it is great!
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
rain, rain, go away...
Hello fellow bloggers! What is with the incessantly terrible weather??? I'm tired of rain (although I bought some really cute rain boots at Target the other day...), cold temperatures, and "wintery mixes." I seriously think that I have a mild case of self-diagnosed S.A.D (seasonal affective disorder). All I want to do is stay under my warm heated blanket all day long because I have negative amounts of motivation! Oh Spring, how I long for you - I am in desperate need of some Vitamin D!
So it looks like again, I must apologize for the lack of blogging here lately. And you know what's sad is that I don't even have a legit reason as to why I haven't posted anything except for the mere and simple fact that life has FINALLY slowed down for us (nearly 3 months after marriage...3 MONTHS?? REALLY?? ALREADY??) and I don't feel as though there has really been anything that people would want to read about! However after talking with a great friend last night she asked for a "life update"...so here we go...
In recent fun news, I went with my sweet friend/ex-roomie Emily to the Eric Church/Jason Aldean concert a few weeks ago. I hate saying "ex" because of the negative connotations that it brings to mind, and to be honest we never really shared a room, but I guess that's what it is since we don't live together anymore! ANYWYAYS...I love concerts and I love country music - no matter how many times I try to stray from it! She works for an advertising agency that has box seats in our local concert venue, so as long as the clients don't want tickets (and thankfully they never do!) and she puts dibs on them early, we get to go to lots of fun concerts...FREE! Who can pass that up, I mean, really? This concert brought out the BEST in SC/NC (please insert sarcastic voice here) and I don't think I've ever been among so many true-to-the-core rednecks in.my.life. It definitely made for a very interesting evening! Alcohol sure can make people act funny! :) Next up...Brad Paisley the first week of March - YES! I really do LOVE him!
Other fun news is that Nolan and I went to see WICKED last Friday night! This was part of my Christmas present from him this year...and I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT! The show was INCREDIBLE! I was somewhat nervous about our seats being two rows from the top in the balcony, but someone quickly reminded me that "as long as you can see that one character is green, you'll be ok.." So true. :) I love musicals, whether it be a play or a movie, and am glad that we are able to enjoy such events. If you ever have the opportunity to see this...GO! I promise you will LOVE IT too!!
My most recent and "emotional" news (that I alluded to in an earlier post) is that I have accepted a new job! :) For those of you who talk to me regularly, you have heard my complaints, frustrations and disappointments of my current job and though I won't dare blog about them...it was simply time. I know some of you are probably thinking "But Ashley, you've only been at your current job ~8 months" and yes, this is a true statement. But there are simply times in life when an opportunity presents itself that you just can't sit and let it pass you by, as it may never come back around. And in my case, I would forever be wondering "what if?" So after some soul-searching, praying and lots of talk with those much wiser than myself, I have found what I think is an open door of endless opportunity. The potential for both professional and personal growth is practically limitless, and I'm very much looking forward to everything that is in front of me. I'll still be doing pediatric physical therapy (because I can't really see myself doing anything else) and am looking forward to learning and growing and continuously being challenged. In all of these regards, I am very EXCITED! (I'm purposely not posting many details in the blog about the new job, but will be happy to discuss them with any curious mind in a less public atmosphere!)
I say this is emotional news because I really think I've experienced EVERY emotion possible over the past month, and I thank Jesus for giving my sweet husband the patience to listen to me talk about this matter and think of every possible scenario to no end!
As everyone knows, change is SCARY! I had a few nights of restless sleep thinking about turning in my resignation letter and was SO relieved to get that part over with on Monday! Everyone seems to be handling things well at work and aren't treating me any differently, which was a fear I harbored. Also, I'm finally "comfortable" in my job. I go to work every day, and there are never really any surprises. I generally know what to expect from my patients (though sometimes they change it up on me) and I know how to write up evaluations, progress notes and daily summaries to the company standards. I know my co-workers and how we function together. All of these things will change with the new job, and I'll be meeting new people and forming new relationships, stepping out of my comfort zone and learning an entirely new routine. As Nolan always tells me when I'm about to be around people I don't know is..."It's time to put on your extrovert hat!" (Random fact: during premarital counseling I answered 10 personality questions as 9 introvert and 1 extrovert)
Change in this case, is also somewhat SAD. Although I've only been with these kids and their families for a short time, it's hard to leave them because they have already made a lasting impact on my heart. There is a bond that is formed between a therapist and their patients, and you really do become an integral part of their family life. I think I dread telling the parents that I'm leaving more than I dreaded turning in my notice...*sigh* There will be new families and new kids at my new job, and I'm sure that I will fall in love with each of them as well, but never replacing or forgetting the others.
So that's the latest! As spring draws near, there will (hopefully) be more to post on such as house renovations and projects galore. My ambition and goal for the week is to post more frequently so that those of you who are diligent and loyal blog readers will not be disappointed - again!!! HUGS!!!
So it looks like again, I must apologize for the lack of blogging here lately. And you know what's sad is that I don't even have a legit reason as to why I haven't posted anything except for the mere and simple fact that life has FINALLY slowed down for us (nearly 3 months after marriage...3 MONTHS?? REALLY?? ALREADY??) and I don't feel as though there has really been anything that people would want to read about! However after talking with a great friend last night she asked for a "life update"...so here we go...
In recent fun news, I went with my sweet friend/ex-roomie Emily to the Eric Church/Jason Aldean concert a few weeks ago. I hate saying "ex" because of the negative connotations that it brings to mind, and to be honest we never really shared a room, but I guess that's what it is since we don't live together anymore! ANYWYAYS...I love concerts and I love country music - no matter how many times I try to stray from it! She works for an advertising agency that has box seats in our local concert venue, so as long as the clients don't want tickets (and thankfully they never do!) and she puts dibs on them early, we get to go to lots of fun concerts...FREE! Who can pass that up, I mean, really? This concert brought out the BEST in SC/NC (please insert sarcastic voice here) and I don't think I've ever been among so many true-to-the-core rednecks in.my.life. It definitely made for a very interesting evening! Alcohol sure can make people act funny! :) Next up...Brad Paisley the first week of March - YES! I really do LOVE him!
Other fun news is that Nolan and I went to see WICKED last Friday night! This was part of my Christmas present from him this year...and I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT! The show was INCREDIBLE! I was somewhat nervous about our seats being two rows from the top in the balcony, but someone quickly reminded me that "as long as you can see that one character is green, you'll be ok.." So true. :) I love musicals, whether it be a play or a movie, and am glad that we are able to enjoy such events. If you ever have the opportunity to see this...GO! I promise you will LOVE IT too!!
My most recent and "emotional" news (that I alluded to in an earlier post) is that I have accepted a new job! :) For those of you who talk to me regularly, you have heard my complaints, frustrations and disappointments of my current job and though I won't dare blog about them...it was simply time. I know some of you are probably thinking "But Ashley, you've only been at your current job ~8 months" and yes, this is a true statement. But there are simply times in life when an opportunity presents itself that you just can't sit and let it pass you by, as it may never come back around. And in my case, I would forever be wondering "what if?" So after some soul-searching, praying and lots of talk with those much wiser than myself, I have found what I think is an open door of endless opportunity. The potential for both professional and personal growth is practically limitless, and I'm very much looking forward to everything that is in front of me. I'll still be doing pediatric physical therapy (because I can't really see myself doing anything else) and am looking forward to learning and growing and continuously being challenged. In all of these regards, I am very EXCITED! (I'm purposely not posting many details in the blog about the new job, but will be happy to discuss them with any curious mind in a less public atmosphere!)
I say this is emotional news because I really think I've experienced EVERY emotion possible over the past month, and I thank Jesus for giving my sweet husband the patience to listen to me talk about this matter and think of every possible scenario to no end!
As everyone knows, change is SCARY! I had a few nights of restless sleep thinking about turning in my resignation letter and was SO relieved to get that part over with on Monday! Everyone seems to be handling things well at work and aren't treating me any differently, which was a fear I harbored. Also, I'm finally "comfortable" in my job. I go to work every day, and there are never really any surprises. I generally know what to expect from my patients (though sometimes they change it up on me) and I know how to write up evaluations, progress notes and daily summaries to the company standards. I know my co-workers and how we function together. All of these things will change with the new job, and I'll be meeting new people and forming new relationships, stepping out of my comfort zone and learning an entirely new routine. As Nolan always tells me when I'm about to be around people I don't know is..."It's time to put on your extrovert hat!" (Random fact: during premarital counseling I answered 10 personality questions as 9 introvert and 1 extrovert)
Change in this case, is also somewhat SAD. Although I've only been with these kids and their families for a short time, it's hard to leave them because they have already made a lasting impact on my heart. There is a bond that is formed between a therapist and their patients, and you really do become an integral part of their family life. I think I dread telling the parents that I'm leaving more than I dreaded turning in my notice...*sigh* There will be new families and new kids at my new job, and I'm sure that I will fall in love with each of them as well, but never replacing or forgetting the others.
So that's the latest! As spring draws near, there will (hopefully) be more to post on such as house renovations and projects galore. My ambition and goal for the week is to post more frequently so that those of you who are diligent and loyal blog readers will not be disappointed - again!!! HUGS!!!
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Adventure to Nashville
Nashville is a pretty sweet little town that I would love to revisit when 1) we have more time and 2) it's not quite so cold and rainy. I'd never been until this weekend, but I've always heard people talk about it and how wonderful of a city it is. I can't honestly say that I was completely blown away, but I think that is because we didn't have a lot of down time to go out and explore. Here is what we did have a chance to do though...
1) Thanks to the rock slide on I-40 (from back in October-ish) we were given the opportunity to take a one hour plus detour (added to the already 5 hour journey) through the Appalachian mountains. In addition to this added time, we made two wrong turns (seriously...who thought it was a good idea for the exit ramp to be on the left side of the interstate??) which probably added an extra 30 minutes. These small "detours" took us through downtown Asheville and Weaverville, NC. So after leaving our driveway at around 4, we arrived in Nashville around 10:30, but since you "gain" an hour crossing time zones, it was practically midnight SC time. I'm always beyond thrilled to see a bed at that point in a trip - even if it's not my own!
2) Saturday morning Nolan and I went to the Country Music Hall of Fame. We just so happened to go on a day when they had some songwriters performing and basically having a "jam session." I LOVE hearing people sing and play music especially live (and seriously wish that gene had not bypassed me!), so that was awesome. Though I can't remember the names of these incredibly talented artists, I do know that they write songs for the likes of Garth Brooks, Reba, Kellie Pickler, etc. In an odd sort of way, this little experience made me feel one step closer to meeting someone famous :) The museum was very interesting too...if you enjoy country music.
3) We ate at Jack's BBQ on Broadway Street for lunch. Everyone was just raving about this place, so we figured we'd check it out. Let's just say, if you leave there hungry you have no one to blame but yourself :) Broadway Street is one of the "main" streets in downtown Nashville - it has cute little shops full of cowboy boots and hats and all those neon signs that are so often sung about!
4) We attended Jessica (Nolan's cousin) and Spencer's wedding. Getting from our hotel to the ceremony/reception site was a bigger ordeal than it should have been...but we were packed like sardines in the hotel shuttle with 12 of his family members so it made for quite the adventure. We had to ask the driver to turn the A/C on because it was SO HOT on the shuttle and people in the backseat were beginning to feel carsick...not something you want to hear when you're in front of them! Again, a trip that was literally 5 blocks away and on a normal day might have taken 5 minutes took more like 25 minutes. If I could ever talk to the D.O.T. I would ask them why merging 3 lanes of traffic into 1 on a Saturday night ever seemed like a good plan?!? We eventually made it to our destination, at 6:59...wedding start time...7:00. I'm sure it looked like the local circus clown car unloading with all of us piling out!
5) Nolan and I managed to eat a box of SourPatch Watermelons, a box of dark chocolate Raisins AND a bag of peanut M&M's (each) on the way home. Don't judge...it was dark chocolate and peanuts are packed with protein :) We made sure to drink water to cancel out all the "bad stuff!"
6) Would you believe that we made a wrong turn on the way home too, putting us off at the EXACT SAME exit in Asheville that we visited on the way down?? CRAZY, huh??
As we drove through our Appalachian detour, I was once again reminded of how incredibly blessed I am! My friend Elizabeth went on a mission trip to Appalachia back in the summer, and told me of the sadness and poorness that abounds in this region of our country. It's always heartbreaking to hear of people who are less fortunate than yourself, but I don't think I ever truly wrapped my head around the magnitude of the situation until we drove through a town very similar to the one in which she served. The homes (mostly old, worn down, single-wide trailers) are weathered and beaten, with sheets and tarps covering windows and doors. The fact that there are people who live in such conditions every single day really weighs heavy on my heart and truly makes me appreciate all those things I take for granted every day...heat, electricity, running water, 3 meals a day (if not more!) I distinctly remember driving past this one house that would most definitely not pass DHEC standards, with a very, very dim light shining through and Nolan saying "Wow, somebody actually lives there." *Heavy sigh* Add in the devastation of the recent earthquake in Haiti and it's enough to make even The Grinch's heart melt a little...
So there you have it...our weekend trip to Nashville. Good times with family. Great conversation. Lots of laughs. Lots of food. LOTS OF FOOD :)
I hope everyone enjoyed the extended weekend (if you were so lucky to have one) and was able to get some much needed rest and relaxation!
1) Thanks to the rock slide on I-40 (from back in October-ish) we were given the opportunity to take a one hour plus detour (added to the already 5 hour journey) through the Appalachian mountains. In addition to this added time, we made two wrong turns (seriously...who thought it was a good idea for the exit ramp to be on the left side of the interstate??) which probably added an extra 30 minutes. These small "detours" took us through downtown Asheville and Weaverville, NC. So after leaving our driveway at around 4, we arrived in Nashville around 10:30, but since you "gain" an hour crossing time zones, it was practically midnight SC time. I'm always beyond thrilled to see a bed at that point in a trip - even if it's not my own!
2) Saturday morning Nolan and I went to the Country Music Hall of Fame. We just so happened to go on a day when they had some songwriters performing and basically having a "jam session." I LOVE hearing people sing and play music especially live (and seriously wish that gene had not bypassed me!), so that was awesome. Though I can't remember the names of these incredibly talented artists, I do know that they write songs for the likes of Garth Brooks, Reba, Kellie Pickler, etc. In an odd sort of way, this little experience made me feel one step closer to meeting someone famous :) The museum was very interesting too...if you enjoy country music.
3) We ate at Jack's BBQ on Broadway Street for lunch. Everyone was just raving about this place, so we figured we'd check it out. Let's just say, if you leave there hungry you have no one to blame but yourself :) Broadway Street is one of the "main" streets in downtown Nashville - it has cute little shops full of cowboy boots and hats and all those neon signs that are so often sung about!
4) We attended Jessica (Nolan's cousin) and Spencer's wedding. Getting from our hotel to the ceremony/reception site was a bigger ordeal than it should have been...but we were packed like sardines in the hotel shuttle with 12 of his family members so it made for quite the adventure. We had to ask the driver to turn the A/C on because it was SO HOT on the shuttle and people in the backseat were beginning to feel carsick...not something you want to hear when you're in front of them! Again, a trip that was literally 5 blocks away and on a normal day might have taken 5 minutes took more like 25 minutes. If I could ever talk to the D.O.T. I would ask them why merging 3 lanes of traffic into 1 on a Saturday night ever seemed like a good plan?!? We eventually made it to our destination, at 6:59...wedding start time...7:00. I'm sure it looked like the local circus clown car unloading with all of us piling out!
5) Nolan and I managed to eat a box of SourPatch Watermelons, a box of dark chocolate Raisins AND a bag of peanut M&M's (each) on the way home. Don't judge...it was dark chocolate and peanuts are packed with protein :) We made sure to drink water to cancel out all the "bad stuff!"
6) Would you believe that we made a wrong turn on the way home too, putting us off at the EXACT SAME exit in Asheville that we visited on the way down?? CRAZY, huh??
As we drove through our Appalachian detour, I was once again reminded of how incredibly blessed I am! My friend Elizabeth went on a mission trip to Appalachia back in the summer, and told me of the sadness and poorness that abounds in this region of our country. It's always heartbreaking to hear of people who are less fortunate than yourself, but I don't think I ever truly wrapped my head around the magnitude of the situation until we drove through a town very similar to the one in which she served. The homes (mostly old, worn down, single-wide trailers) are weathered and beaten, with sheets and tarps covering windows and doors. The fact that there are people who live in such conditions every single day really weighs heavy on my heart and truly makes me appreciate all those things I take for granted every day...heat, electricity, running water, 3 meals a day (if not more!) I distinctly remember driving past this one house that would most definitely not pass DHEC standards, with a very, very dim light shining through and Nolan saying "Wow, somebody actually lives there." *Heavy sigh* Add in the devastation of the recent earthquake in Haiti and it's enough to make even The Grinch's heart melt a little...
So there you have it...our weekend trip to Nashville. Good times with family. Great conversation. Lots of laughs. Lots of food. LOTS OF FOOD :)
I hope everyone enjoyed the extended weekend (if you were so lucky to have one) and was able to get some much needed rest and relaxation!
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
the latest...
Happy Wednesday!!!
I received a message earlier today indicating that I had "fallen down on the blog..." so this one's for you, Sam! (Love you!)
I don't feel that there is anything really exciting to blog on this week, and I guess that's what has kept me away. I haven't had any really deep thoughts or insights or any particular funny stories (though I could spend a day blogging about some of the funny things that my patients say on a daily basis). There's a couple of things that I would enjoy blogging about and sharing with friends, but they will just have to wait until the right time. And for those of you who might be thinking I could possibly be pregnant...THINK AGAIN!!
So our security system was installed today. I'm impressed with how discrete all the little sensors and monitors are - technology sure has come a LONG way! We've haven't "tested" it out as you generally do when you get something new, but this is one thing that I'm comfortable NOT EVER testing! It was installed just in time for us to go to Nashville this coming weekend.
Speaking of Nashville...last weekend was consumed by a wedding at home for friends, and this weekend will be spent celebrating a wedding of Nolan's cousin in Nashville. I hope the weather is nice...or at least above freezing! It sure is wonderful to be able to travel away for the weekend and not worry about getting home in time to study or finish up the dreaded tutorial for Monday mornings!! The "home" wedding was somewhat of a mini high school reunion, which I had honestly been dreading. I wasn't dreading the wedding itself (congrats Magan & Matt!), but more the thought of the reception and having to see and talk to people you haven't seen or talked to in a while (some of them almost 8 years!). There's always that awkwardness when you're confined and can't a) pretend that you didn't see them or b) easily escape the conversation! Or maybe I am just really good at making situations like this awkward. Whatever the case may be, I am happy to say that I truly enjoyed seeing some of those people...in person. Because even though you haven't "seen" someone, you feel like you know as much as you should about their personal life because let's be honest...we all Facebook stalk from the comfort of our homes. I think a lot of it also has to do with the fact that since we are all adults now, we are able to overlook any silly stereotypes or preconceived notions that we may have once had about these people in high school. It's always interesting to see who turns out married/dating who, what career paths everyone has taken, and what exactly 8 years can do for someone! It really got me thinking...I can't believe that in 2 short years we will (hopefully) have a 10 year high school reunion - OH MY GOSH!!!!
10 years?!?! REALLY??? Have I accomplished the things I wanted to accomplish? Am I in the place that I thought I would be at this stage? Is my life headed in the right direction? Am I really "living the dream?" So many, many questions such as these cross my mind when I think about the years that have so quickly passed since graduating high school.
And what better time to "ponder" such questions than...later!! :)
Here's to hoping that everyone has a wonderful rest of the week and a marvelous weekend!
I received a message earlier today indicating that I had "fallen down on the blog..." so this one's for you, Sam! (Love you!)
I don't feel that there is anything really exciting to blog on this week, and I guess that's what has kept me away. I haven't had any really deep thoughts or insights or any particular funny stories (though I could spend a day blogging about some of the funny things that my patients say on a daily basis). There's a couple of things that I would enjoy blogging about and sharing with friends, but they will just have to wait until the right time. And for those of you who might be thinking I could possibly be pregnant...THINK AGAIN!!
So our security system was installed today. I'm impressed with how discrete all the little sensors and monitors are - technology sure has come a LONG way! We've haven't "tested" it out as you generally do when you get something new, but this is one thing that I'm comfortable NOT EVER testing! It was installed just in time for us to go to Nashville this coming weekend.
Speaking of Nashville...last weekend was consumed by a wedding at home for friends, and this weekend will be spent celebrating a wedding of Nolan's cousin in Nashville. I hope the weather is nice...or at least above freezing! It sure is wonderful to be able to travel away for the weekend and not worry about getting home in time to study or finish up the dreaded tutorial for Monday mornings!! The "home" wedding was somewhat of a mini high school reunion, which I had honestly been dreading. I wasn't dreading the wedding itself (congrats Magan & Matt!), but more the thought of the reception and having to see and talk to people you haven't seen or talked to in a while (some of them almost 8 years!). There's always that awkwardness when you're confined and can't a) pretend that you didn't see them or b) easily escape the conversation! Or maybe I am just really good at making situations like this awkward. Whatever the case may be, I am happy to say that I truly enjoyed seeing some of those people...in person. Because even though you haven't "seen" someone, you feel like you know as much as you should about their personal life because let's be honest...we all Facebook stalk from the comfort of our homes. I think a lot of it also has to do with the fact that since we are all adults now, we are able to overlook any silly stereotypes or preconceived notions that we may have once had about these people in high school. It's always interesting to see who turns out married/dating who, what career paths everyone has taken, and what exactly 8 years can do for someone! It really got me thinking...I can't believe that in 2 short years we will (hopefully) have a 10 year high school reunion - OH MY GOSH!!!!
10 years?!?! REALLY??? Have I accomplished the things I wanted to accomplish? Am I in the place that I thought I would be at this stage? Is my life headed in the right direction? Am I really "living the dream?" So many, many questions such as these cross my mind when I think about the years that have so quickly passed since graduating high school.
And what better time to "ponder" such questions than...later!! :)
Here's to hoping that everyone has a wonderful rest of the week and a marvelous weekend!
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Security
Random fact for the day: I just ate 4 jumbo marshmallows before writing this post :)
I knew that it would be difficult if not nearly impossible for me to post on the blog EVERY. SINGLE. day, which is absolutely why I offered no promises in the beginning. For those of you faithful followers, I am sorry that the past few days of your life have not been entertained by my ridiculous ramblings...and well..."ponderings." :)
So we've decided to invest in a security system for the house...and I'm pretty excited. Actually...I'm stoked. And yes, invest is the appropriate word, because these suckers sure don't come for free! I didn't grow up with a security system in my parent's house, and my first encounter with one was actually only a little over a year ago. I was here (at Nolan's house...now our house...weird) for the weekend and around 2 a.m. the stupid thing starts "talking" with beeps and buzzes going off like mad! Initially it was scary...and after approximately 5 seconds it became oh-so-annoying! Anyways...after an hour and a half spent on the phone with ADT in the middle of the night, we were able to stop the obscene sounds coming from our wall. Turns out it was nothing more than the internal battery was dying (we didn't have the system "activated" at that time).
We've been talking about getting a new system for a while now, especially with all the traveling that we do between South Carolina and Georgia. I don't know why, but the fact that our house was "alone" particularly lingered on my mind this year at Christmas when we went home for a few days. You see, back in the summer (actually the night before our engagement pictures) Nolan's truck was broken into...while it sat in our driveway...while we slept inside!!! SCARY!!! I guess they got what they wanted from him, because they didn't even go so far as to touch my truck, which was parked right next to his. The only thing we could think that might have deterred them was the oh-so-small sticker on my window that states: "This vehicle is protected by anti-theft detection devices." (YAY Toyota!) I even had the GPS mounting bracket hanging on the windshield....oh geez. At this point you might be wondering why park in the driveway versus the garage?? That's another post for another day, but basically our garage wasn't designed large enough to accommodate one truck, much less two. SWEET. (Whatever happened to the day when you could leave your car windows down and house doors open without fearing that something might happen??) So that is reason number one...
This new system will also feature a fancy-dancy fire alarm monitoring thingy. The guy told us that statistically you are 4 times more likely to have your house burn to the ground than to have someone break-in...SCARY! Now he could just be blowing smoke up our butts (no pun intended) but I can't imagine anything more devastating that going away for the weekend and returning to your used-to-be-house in nothing but a pile of ashes. Surely our neighbors would call, but we haven't really been around the neighborhood handing out our number and the dates of when we'll be out of town...and as it currently stands, only one neighbor actually has our cell phone numbers. When Nolan was about 2 or 3 years old, his parents house burnt to the ground and they lost everything. And I mean EVERYTHING. They were able to rebuild and start over (because "things" don't make a house a home) but all that remains of the years before the house they rebuilt are memories. So there's reason number 2.
And reason number 3 is this: I am a 25 year old grown baby that hates being alone in the middle of the night and am able to "hear" and "see" anything...or at least convince myself that I do. I stayed alone in the house last Saturday night for the first time since I moved in and hated every minute of it!! As soon as it gets dark outside, my senses are heightened, and I become really AWESOME at freaking myself out. I often times find it difficult to "talk myself down" once I think I have heard something, and find going to bed nearly impossible. It probably doesn't help that I love watching (no laughing, please) Cops, America's Most Wanted and nearly every other show that involves cops, criminals and the outstanding citizens of this country...but that's beside the point! (I definitely don't watch shows like that when I'm by myself at night!) So that is reason three...I hate being alone in the house.
So there you have it...my own personal rationalization for getting a security system. Like I said, whether someone steals our "things" or they burn up in smoke, that is NOT what makes a house a home, because essentially things can be replaced. A security system doesn't guarantee or promise that someone still won't break in, or that our house will never catch on fire. But one thing it will provide me with is peace of mind. And to me, that peace and "security" is much like pictures and heirlooms...priceless.
I knew that it would be difficult if not nearly impossible for me to post on the blog EVERY. SINGLE. day, which is absolutely why I offered no promises in the beginning. For those of you faithful followers, I am sorry that the past few days of your life have not been entertained by my ridiculous ramblings...and well..."ponderings." :)
So we've decided to invest in a security system for the house...and I'm pretty excited. Actually...I'm stoked. And yes, invest is the appropriate word, because these suckers sure don't come for free! I didn't grow up with a security system in my parent's house, and my first encounter with one was actually only a little over a year ago. I was here (at Nolan's house...now our house...weird) for the weekend and around 2 a.m. the stupid thing starts "talking" with beeps and buzzes going off like mad! Initially it was scary...and after approximately 5 seconds it became oh-so-annoying! Anyways...after an hour and a half spent on the phone with ADT in the middle of the night, we were able to stop the obscene sounds coming from our wall. Turns out it was nothing more than the internal battery was dying (we didn't have the system "activated" at that time).
We've been talking about getting a new system for a while now, especially with all the traveling that we do between South Carolina and Georgia. I don't know why, but the fact that our house was "alone" particularly lingered on my mind this year at Christmas when we went home for a few days. You see, back in the summer (actually the night before our engagement pictures) Nolan's truck was broken into...while it sat in our driveway...while we slept inside!!! SCARY!!! I guess they got what they wanted from him, because they didn't even go so far as to touch my truck, which was parked right next to his. The only thing we could think that might have deterred them was the oh-so-small sticker on my window that states: "This vehicle is protected by anti-theft detection devices." (YAY Toyota!) I even had the GPS mounting bracket hanging on the windshield....oh geez. At this point you might be wondering why park in the driveway versus the garage?? That's another post for another day, but basically our garage wasn't designed large enough to accommodate one truck, much less two. SWEET. (Whatever happened to the day when you could leave your car windows down and house doors open without fearing that something might happen??) So that is reason number one...
This new system will also feature a fancy-dancy fire alarm monitoring thingy. The guy told us that statistically you are 4 times more likely to have your house burn to the ground than to have someone break-in...SCARY! Now he could just be blowing smoke up our butts (no pun intended) but I can't imagine anything more devastating that going away for the weekend and returning to your used-to-be-house in nothing but a pile of ashes. Surely our neighbors would call, but we haven't really been around the neighborhood handing out our number and the dates of when we'll be out of town...and as it currently stands, only one neighbor actually has our cell phone numbers. When Nolan was about 2 or 3 years old, his parents house burnt to the ground and they lost everything. And I mean EVERYTHING. They were able to rebuild and start over (because "things" don't make a house a home) but all that remains of the years before the house they rebuilt are memories. So there's reason number 2.
And reason number 3 is this: I am a 25 year old grown baby that hates being alone in the middle of the night and am able to "hear" and "see" anything...or at least convince myself that I do. I stayed alone in the house last Saturday night for the first time since I moved in and hated every minute of it!! As soon as it gets dark outside, my senses are heightened, and I become really AWESOME at freaking myself out. I often times find it difficult to "talk myself down" once I think I have heard something, and find going to bed nearly impossible. It probably doesn't help that I love watching (no laughing, please) Cops, America's Most Wanted and nearly every other show that involves cops, criminals and the outstanding citizens of this country...but that's beside the point! (I definitely don't watch shows like that when I'm by myself at night!) So that is reason three...I hate being alone in the house.
So there you have it...my own personal rationalization for getting a security system. Like I said, whether someone steals our "things" or they burn up in smoke, that is NOT what makes a house a home, because essentially things can be replaced. A security system doesn't guarantee or promise that someone still won't break in, or that our house will never catch on fire. But one thing it will provide me with is peace of mind. And to me, that peace and "security" is much like pictures and heirlooms...priceless.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
"Fireproof"
Today turned out to be a very. lazy. day. And I enjoyed every single minute of doing nothing.
You see, I've had this ongoing "to do" list that I wanted to accomplish before returning to work from my Christmas vacation. I was off for about a week and a half, which I figured would provide me with sufficient time to cross every little item off that list. Nolan and I only went home to Georgia for 4 of those days, but otherwise, we have just been here around the house. I think what happened is that I had set my goals too high, my hopes of cleaning a little too ambitious. While we were ultra productive on Monday and Tuesday of this past week taking down the Christmas decorations and beginning the seemingly never-ending process called organization, it all seemed to come to an immediate halt after he returned to work on Wednesday. My mom came up Wednesday and we went shopping, returning and exchanging some wedding and Christmas gifts, only to purchase more things that now need a place to be "organized" and neatly tucked away. Thursday was New Year's, and mom and I busily prepared for the small gathering of friends that came over that night to celebrate the arrival of 2010. After cleaning up the aftermath of Thursday's festivities, Friday became a bum-around-the-house day, filled with reading and cat-naps.
So I took a few days off, I thought to myself. So what?? No biggie. Nolan was leaving on Saturday to head down to Atlanta for a bachelor party and I figured that would give me sufficient time to tear the house apart and clean and organize from one end to the other before his return on Sunday. This did not turn out to be the case. In fact, I feel that I am far from being able to say that I accomplished a whole lot of anything while he was gone. While I did manage to do a few loads of laundry and change the sheets on our bed, I spent a majority of the day reading, setting up the blog, and watching two movies that I knew he wouldn't want to watch had he been here. (Not that he doesn't ever watch things I enjoy, but I feel there are only so many "chick flicks" that I can subject him to within a certain period of time.) So I felt a little guilty last night when I went to bed, thinking how I should probably get up early today to get a head start on all that cleaning and organizing before Nolan came back home.
But as I sit here tonight, boxes remain scattered throughout the house. There are still 2-3 loads of laundry to be done. Only one bathroom managed to get cleaned. Our "office," though much cleaner than last week (you can now see floor space), remains a force to be reckoned with, with the most random assortment of "things" splayed about the floor and desk. And I am okay with all of this.
Because you see, I did accomplish something...it's just not something that can be crossed off of the list. When Nolan came home today, instead of cleaning and busting it to get the house "ready for the week," we relaxed together and enjoyed each others company. We watched "Fireproof" together, and as I watched the movie, I realized that my entire "to do" list can wait. It can wait until tomorrow. It can wait until next weekend. Or maybe even the next. But what can't and shouldn't wait is spending quality time with the ones you love. We are a little under 2 months of marriage, but I don't think it's ever too soon to start "fireproofing" our marriage. If you haven't seen this movie, I recommend watching it. It's a movie based on the Christian covenants that define a marriage and what God intended a marriage to be. While the couple in this movie is on the brink of divorce, I feel that the messages that it sends are applicable to all couples. I might watch it again. I liked it. And I loved watching it while spending time with Nolan.
Tomorrow is the beginning of a new work week for many of us who were lucky enough to have a "Christmas vacation." Boo. But as life picks back up again and we get back into the swing of things with our daily routines, my hopes and prayers are that I will constantly remember to "fireproof" my marriage, placing first (and most important) things and people first. That "to do" list can definitely wait.
You see, I've had this ongoing "to do" list that I wanted to accomplish before returning to work from my Christmas vacation. I was off for about a week and a half, which I figured would provide me with sufficient time to cross every little item off that list. Nolan and I only went home to Georgia for 4 of those days, but otherwise, we have just been here around the house. I think what happened is that I had set my goals too high, my hopes of cleaning a little too ambitious. While we were ultra productive on Monday and Tuesday of this past week taking down the Christmas decorations and beginning the seemingly never-ending process called organization, it all seemed to come to an immediate halt after he returned to work on Wednesday. My mom came up Wednesday and we went shopping, returning and exchanging some wedding and Christmas gifts, only to purchase more things that now need a place to be "organized" and neatly tucked away. Thursday was New Year's, and mom and I busily prepared for the small gathering of friends that came over that night to celebrate the arrival of 2010. After cleaning up the aftermath of Thursday's festivities, Friday became a bum-around-the-house day, filled with reading and cat-naps.
So I took a few days off, I thought to myself. So what?? No biggie. Nolan was leaving on Saturday to head down to Atlanta for a bachelor party and I figured that would give me sufficient time to tear the house apart and clean and organize from one end to the other before his return on Sunday. This did not turn out to be the case. In fact, I feel that I am far from being able to say that I accomplished a whole lot of anything while he was gone. While I did manage to do a few loads of laundry and change the sheets on our bed, I spent a majority of the day reading, setting up the blog, and watching two movies that I knew he wouldn't want to watch had he been here. (Not that he doesn't ever watch things I enjoy, but I feel there are only so many "chick flicks" that I can subject him to within a certain period of time.) So I felt a little guilty last night when I went to bed, thinking how I should probably get up early today to get a head start on all that cleaning and organizing before Nolan came back home.
But as I sit here tonight, boxes remain scattered throughout the house. There are still 2-3 loads of laundry to be done. Only one bathroom managed to get cleaned. Our "office," though much cleaner than last week (you can now see floor space), remains a force to be reckoned with, with the most random assortment of "things" splayed about the floor and desk. And I am okay with all of this.
Because you see, I did accomplish something...it's just not something that can be crossed off of the list. When Nolan came home today, instead of cleaning and busting it to get the house "ready for the week," we relaxed together and enjoyed each others company. We watched "Fireproof" together, and as I watched the movie, I realized that my entire "to do" list can wait. It can wait until tomorrow. It can wait until next weekend. Or maybe even the next. But what can't and shouldn't wait is spending quality time with the ones you love. We are a little under 2 months of marriage, but I don't think it's ever too soon to start "fireproofing" our marriage. If you haven't seen this movie, I recommend watching it. It's a movie based on the Christian covenants that define a marriage and what God intended a marriage to be. While the couple in this movie is on the brink of divorce, I feel that the messages that it sends are applicable to all couples. I might watch it again. I liked it. And I loved watching it while spending time with Nolan.
Tomorrow is the beginning of a new work week for many of us who were lucky enough to have a "Christmas vacation." Boo. But as life picks back up again and we get back into the swing of things with our daily routines, my hopes and prayers are that I will constantly remember to "fireproof" my marriage, placing first (and most important) things and people first. That "to do" list can definitely wait.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
HAPPY 2010!!!
I've been wanting to create a blog for a long time, but am just now finding the time to sit down and figure everything out. You see, I'm not computer savvy, and in fact Nolan often teases me, saying that I am "afraid of technology," which I constantly argue, however his statements are partially true. I have never "gotten along with" computers, and they always seem to "encounter an error" and "need to close" when I'm working on something REALLY important! There's always the option of "reporting the problem," but at that point I've usually lost 1) anything I was working on (which conveniently I hadn't saved in the past 45 minutes) 2) I've definitely lost my patience and 3) I am ready to throw the computer out the window!! So believe me when I say that what you now see before you is a work that has been in progress for the past 3 days. I was getting so desperate in trying to set it up that I was looking for a "blogger hotline" number to call for assistance!!
So here's my blog. I'm not really sure what I'll be posting on, or if you as the reader will even find it interesting (because I can promise you that my life isn't thrilling), but I hope to have some thought provoking moments and some entries that might make you crack a smile or even laugh a little. I would like to be able to say that I will post every day, however, I've already made a few New Year resolutions, so I can't make any more promises that could very possibly be broken...plus I would hate to disappoint anyone who might be an avid follower! :)
I would also like to put this warning out there for those of you who aren't familiar with my writing (especially any of my English teacher friends):
1) I tend to write in stream of consciousness...with a lot of ellipses...and my friends from PT school know this well!
2) I also like to use exclamation points - even at inappropriate times!!!
3) I will probably not always use correct grammar, and possibly even misspell a few words every now and then, but knowing that people will be reading this, I would like to at least sound half-educated!
4) I'm sure I have comma splices like crazy...enjoy them! :)
So here's to a WONDERFUL 2010! I hope that everyone's new year is off to a blessed start! I, myself, know that I have so many, MANY things and people to be thankful for!
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