Sometimes... and Always...

It's a slow day in the office today so I'm going to link up with Megan for Sometimes and Always... Enjoy!

Sometimes... I want to use the elliptical that has been sitting in my dining room for 2 years now.

Always... I remind myself that it will hurt my back even worse and I do not want that to happen.

(please ignore my dirty house)

Sometimes... I want to move said elliptical to the basement or someone else's house because I don't like it being in my dining room but it's the only space for it.

Always... I never move it because I want to have it for when I get better. I saved my pennies and damn it I want to gain buns of steel from it haha


Sometimes... I want to cut my hair short again.

Always... I look at the pictures and change my mind. Not only do I look better with longer hair but I want Rapunzel hair for my wedding.


Look at that horrible sunburn... thank you air show!


Sometimes... I think about going back to college and getting a degree in psychology.

Always... My bank account reminds me that going back to college isn't the best idea right now and besides, what are the chances of me actually using the degree.

Sometimes... I try to convince Beau to get a tattoo

Always... He shoots me down. Boooo! Never did I think I'd be marrying a tattoo-less man.

Sometimes... I go to Tarjay and buy a whole bunch of pretty, new clothes.

Always... At least 1/4 of them sits in the closet; tags still on them. One day I'll wear them... really, I will!

Sometimes... I'll be getting ready to go out with friends and will be confident that I'll sing a song for karaoke night.

Always... I never sing. I get too nervous. Besides, I'm practically tone deaf! I have done it once before. In a bar where no one knew my name and I'll never go back to haha

Don't forget to link up with me tomorrow for my first ever Wedding Wednesday link up! Button can be found on this post.

Announcing a new link up!

The weekend is almost over and here I am, still stuck on the couch after my RFA procedure that I had on Thursday. I had intense pain after my first one but since it was in my lower back, it was slightly easier to relax. Where this one is, I can barely sit, walk, can't really do stairs, and I'm never comfortable when lying because of the pressure on the joint. Oh, and poor Beau has had to put my pants and socks on every day. At least he's getting some practice for when we have kids!


I am proud to announce that Chelsea at Life is a Sunset and I will be hosting a Wedding Wednesday link up the first Wednesday of each month beginning this week, February 1st. You don't have to be engaged or married to participate... share what your dream wedding would have. Anything from flowers to dresses to picture ideas!

<center><a href="http://90percentblonde.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a269/dreamersgurl15/WWidea2-1.jpg"/></a></center>

Enjoy your Sunday, it will sadly be over before you know it!

Truth: I'm a bed hog...

Well, according to Beau I am.

You see, I fall asleep like this...

Then I turn like this...

Then (apparently) this happens...



(I have had this post as a draft for a while, waiting to find a photo like this.
Unfortunately, I do not have the source. If this is yours, please let me know so I can credit you.)



But then I wake up like this...

I think Beau is a liar... and my parents and sisters and grandmother who all agreed that I am a bed hog. I hardly move when I sleep!

Since he complains about me constantly taking the blankets (which isn't me, it's the dog) and pushing him with my knees/feet, we joked about doing the whole bunk bed thing but then it would be difficult to do you know what. We could always to twin beds and push them together like back in the day ;-)

I don't think I could do it though. I love him too much to sleep in seperate beds and I know he wouldn't be able to do it either. How do I know? Because when I went away for 2 nights a few days ago, he slept on the couch because he couldn't fall asleep without me in bed. Awwww lol

How do you deal with a bed hog?

Here we go again...

Remember back in September when I had to get a radiofrequency ablation on my spine? Well, tomorrow I have to go back on the table and get the same thing done - this time in my SI joint (hip).

Last time, the doctor put four needles in my back and ran electricity into the nerves to kill them... this time, however, he will put as many needles as possible into the joint so it gets all of the nerves. When I asked how many he has put in a person? Eight. EIGHT FREAKING NEEDLES! Hopefully my little hip will only fit a couple of needles and fingers crossed that it helps!

 

So today I get to clean the house all day because 1) I don't want to come home to a dirty house tomorrow and 2) Sammy ran through mud last night and tracked it in, all over our white carpets.

On the plus side, it's One Tree Hill night!


{PS: I'm 16 away from 100 followers! I'm thinking of doing a giveaway but what should I do...?}

Pinspiration with a little Sweet Home Alabama recap

It's a snow day Saturday in NJ... and I am not happy about it. If you recall my post from yesterday, I said about how much I hate snow and that I need to move some place warm. Unfortunately, I didn't move overnight and am stuck here in cold, wet, white precipitation.

On the plus side, I was able to complete a Pinterest project!!!

Inspiration via Pinterest

Here is mine...

First I cut out the 'H' since I didn't want to glue the buttons right on the scrapbook paper.
I then glued the first layer of buttons on. Originally I used Elmer's but then switched to hot glue.

The 'H' with all of the button layers.

The scrapbook paper I got was a little more bold then I wanted
but our local Michaels didn't have the best selection when I went.

My finished product!!!

Hanging above the mantel
(which looks horrible right now because it's in the Christmas - normal transition)

Who else watched Sweet Home Alabama last night???

I was almost in tears listening to Shaun S's story about his horse. Then when his father called with the news -- completely heart breaking! I couldn't imagine that happening to one of my girls. His first date came at the perfect time and even though he is young, I hope him and Paige continue to hit it off.

Those city boys need a reality check. Most of them will never be half the gentleman that the country boys are. And city Shaun B... UGH! What an arrogant ahole! Since he hasn't gotten sent home yet, I hope he is next. I don't want to watch (and listen to his annoying voice) all season.

The elimination update...

Week 1: Christian (city) and Matt (country)

Week 2: Severn (city), Seth (country), and David (city, had 1 date)

I am rooting for Bubba though. He is HOT and so far seems like a really nice guy. If Paige doesn't pick him and if something was to happen between Beau and I, Bubba here I come! haha

Confessional Friday linkup

Happy Friday everyone! It seems like it has taken forever to get here - as it does every week - but it has finally arrived!

Today I'm linking up with Leslie at A Blonde Ambition for Confession Friday

I confess that I am not at all looking forward to this winter storm we are suppose to get tonight. I know I live in NJ and it's to be expected but I hate the snow and I wish I lived somewhere where it never, ever snowed.

I confess that I was actually happy to get bad news from the doctor yesterday. My MRI showed that I have a disc bulging which may be causing the pain along with my SI joint. A disc bulge isn't a big deal but at least it is finally something for my doctor to go off of instead of every test being negative. Hopefully I will soon be on the road to recovery.

I confess that I've read hardly any blogs lately and I apologize for that. I wish I could read and comment on everyone's blogs every day but the past couple weeks have been crazy. Not only have I been busy at work but I've been busy doing stuff around the house. I still even have a couple of Christmas (ok, more wintry) decorations up because I just haven't had the chance to take them down.

I confess that even though I am not into politics at all - and I mean AT ALL - I watched The Ides of March last night and it wasn't half bad. I think the only reason I actually lasted through it though was because of the handsome George Clooney and Ryan Gosling.

I confess that I wasn't too upset when I got to work this afternoon and found out that the lock was jammed and I couldn't get in. I even tried the windows... Happy Friday to me!

Enjoy the weekend -- Be safe!

The Lucky One review-ish

To be completely honest with you, I am not a reader. If you look at my book shelves, you will find a million books with bookmarks after the first few chapters. It takes a lot for me to get into a book and read the whole thing but after I picked up this sweet number, I couldn't put it down...

Holy heck, it was such a wonderful book which I highly recommend. I'm horrible at giving a summery so here is what Nicholas Sparks has to say about his book:

Description

When U.S. Marine Logan Thibault finds a photograph of a smiling young woman half-buried in the dirt during his third tour of duty in Iraq, his first instinct is to toss it aside. Instead, he brings it back to the base for someone to claim, but when no one does, he finds himself always carrying the photo in his pocket. Soon Thibault experiences a sudden streak of luck—winning poker games and even surviving deadly combat that kills two of his closest buddies. Only his best friend, Victor, seems to have an explanation for his good fortune: the photograph—his lucky charm.
Back home in Colorado, Thibault can’t seem to get the photo—and the woman in it—out of his mind. Believing that she somehow holds the key to his destiny, he sets out on a journey across the country to find her, never expecting the strong but vulnerable woman he encounters in Hampton, North Carolina—Elizabeth, a divorced mother with a young son—to be the girl he’s been waiting his whole life to meet. Caught off guard by the attraction he feels, Thibault keeps the story of the photo, and his luck, a secret. As he and Elizabeth embark upon a passionate and all-consuming love affair, the secret he is keeping will soon threaten to tear them apart—destroying not only their love, but also their lives.
Filled with tender romance and terrific suspense, The Lucky One is Nicholas Sparks at his best—an unforgettable story about the surprising paths our lives often take and the power of fate to guide us to true and everlasting love.

Did You Know...

Zeus was modeled after one of Nicholas’s dogs?
Nicholas had to do more research for this novel than any other?
The setting of the novel is fictitious?
This was the first novel Nicholas wrote in the limited third-person omniscient perspective?

http://www.nicholassparks.com/

After I was finished reading the book, I rewarded myself by watching the movie trailer. I CAN'T wait for (sometime in) spring when it comes out. Eeeeekkkkkkk!!!!

So if you're looking for something good to read, here ya go!


Next up,

Dear Bestie...

On January 16, 1989, the world change forever. Why? Because my bestest friend was born...

Chelsea,

You are such a wonderful person and I am honored to have you as my bestie. When we met our freshman year in high school, I knew we would be friends for a long, long time. We've gone through so much together and there is much more to come. You know me better then any one else and can help me solve any problem in life.

Happy birthday to the bestest friend and greatest Maid of Honor a person could ask for!



Shopping for MOH dresses... she said she would wear whatever I wanted. Here ya go!
(I would never really do that though)





Myself, our friend Liz, and Chelsea



Getting lemons for tequila shots lemonade.
Sorry Chels, I HAD to share it!

True love!
I <3 you, bestie!

via Pinterest: here, here, and here

PS: Remember that 'crazy' tattoo I shared with y'all a while ago. She has the same one - we got them together. People say we're crazy, I say we're just having fun!

Heroes in Waiting...

Well, if you live in the Northeast (or pretty much most of the US), the weather is pretty nasty today. It's been pouring and windy all night but I look on the bright side of things... at least it's not snow!

Did you catch my post yesterday? My last "I'm loving" was about The Ellen Show and how she united a family - and family friend - with the people who saved their lives or as the dad referred to them as 'Heroes in Waiting'. You may not realize it but we are all heroes in waiting.

I became an EMT because I wanted to help people and over the last 5 years, my work has touched many lives. I was even in Dunkin Donuts (a couple of towns away) once and had a man come up to me and thank me for coming to his house a few days prior to help his mother - which of course made me cry as soon as I got in my car. It was moments like that why I chose the path I did right after high school. Would I call myself a hero? Not really. It was just my calling in life.

You don't have to be an EMT, Firefighter, or Police Officer to help someone though... many times it's someone who isn't. It's someone who stops to help before the emergency crews even get there. Am I saying that if you see a building on fire, run in to help? No, not at all. You don't have to actually do CPR or anything like that to be a hero.

he·ro/ˈhi(ə)rō/

Noun:

A person who is admired for courage or noble qualities.

Don't think you have it in you? Well, you do.

Have you given blood before? That unit of blood may have saved a person's life.

Ever comforted a person who was down? You're kindness could have turned their life around while they were in - or going into - a dark place.

You all know how I feel about animals... Have you ever rescued one from the side of a road or adopted from a shelter? You probably saved that animal's life (and to me, that's makes you just as much of a hero as saving a person).

Have you ever done anything that you would consider heroic?

Enjoy your Thursday, even if it is rainy/snowy/crappy out!

WILW!

I meant to type my post last night but didn't (damn you 2-hours of Teen Mom 2!) and I don't have a ton of time this morning because I have to go to the dentist (ughhh) so today's post will be shorter then planned...

I'm linking up with Jamie - since I haven't done that in FOR-EVER - for WILW!

I'm loving that Beau and I both have off today. Unfortunately, he is sick but I'll take a day at home watching movies!

I'm loving that I actually have some food in the house and can make breakfast, lunch, and dinner today without having to run out to the store.

I'm loving all of the positive feedback my post got the other day. All of your support meant the world to me and I thank each and every one of you (well, except that one. My twitter followers know who I mean lol). Blog friends are awesome!

I'm loving that this winter in NJ has been a calm one. Don't get me wrong, I like the snow... if I or my loved ones don't have to go anywhere so I'm not worrying about them, that is.

I'm loving that I have slowly started the transition from a green/robins egg blue/brown bedroom to the black/grey/yellow one I've been wanting. You'll hear more about that later though :-)

I'm loving Ellen. I bawled my eyes out while watching her show yesterday...

Enjoy your day. Finally 'hump day'!

My most personal post to date...

A high school friend of mine recently started a blog (hi Nini!) and last night talked about how her life goal is to start a family - not a career. This is exactly the way I feel. Yes, I want my dog shelter but most of all, I want a family of my own. My dream is to be able to snuggle on the couch at night with my husband, kid, and pups. Pure bliss. For years that is what I have wanted... and I am within arms reach of it.

Or so I thought.

(here is where we get really personal)

Beau and I had been talking for a while about getting married and having a kid. I was beyond ready to settle down with him. As you all know, this past April my dream came true and Beau was asking me to marry him. But as you also know, since January I have had an ongoing, undiagnosed back problem which causes me pain - even with medication - and both of my hips pop when I walk.

I have had many procedures to rid me of the pain but so far none of them have fully helped. What happens if they never find the cause of the pain and I have to live with it forever? What if because of this pain, I cannot have a child? What if not being able to have a child makes Beau leave?

A lot of 'what ifs' but all possible realities which scare me.

Yes, we could do surrogacy which I probably would do if it came to that but then I would never know what it feels like to be pregnant. If in the future, I can have kids, I will probably complain the entire pregnancy but it is still an amazing part of life which I want to experience.

Let's hope that this dream of mine can someday be real <3

Eff, Marry, Kill - Round 2

It's back!!!

This time, we're going to do it NY Ink style...

Chris Torres - Hot, hot, hot! But he also has a hot temper... after all, he is a New Yorker! He looks like he would be good in bed though!

Tim Hendricks - Also hot, great tattoo artist, and seems to be an overall nice guy. Who wouldn't want to marry him?! It was a tough choice between him and Ami James - both sexy men!

Robear 'Robeast' Chinosi - This guy just annoys the heck out of me. He has no sense of humor, always has an attitude toward someone, and is overall annoying. Plus, who calls themself Robeast???


Who would you eff, marry, or kill?

To see who others would want to eff, marry, and kill, head over to The Vintage Apple's linkup!

Do not be a traitor...

To all Clemson 'fans'

Teams have good games and bad. Tonight happens to be a really bad one for us. Yes, it sucks but we still made it to the Orange Bowl and we will again next year.

I'm tired of hearing/reading about how much they suck or that you need to find a new team... Man up and stick by your team!!! People who bounce to winning teams annoy me but what annoys me more is someone who bad mouths their own team.

Even though I am saddened by our loss, I still sit here in my Clemson Snuggie... Proud to be a fan!

I bleed orange...

Guess what tonight is...

I am so excited to watch Clemson play tonight! I am even wearing all orange today to show my Tiger pride! (ok, not all orange... I am wearing jeans but my t-shirt and sweatshirt are Clemson attire)


In honor of tonight's game, I am linking up with The Vintage Apple for

Oh, How Pinteresting Wednesday: ORANGE EDITION!

Isn't this adorable?! I would love to have it sitting on my coffee table!

This shirt probably wouldn't fit me like it does her (due to my vertically challenged-ness) but it's still perfect for game day



I think Beau would kill me if I turned our living room into a Clemson sanctuary but it's pretty cool looking!



Orange photo wall!

Did someone say Lynchburg lemonade???

Best.Invention.EVER! This will be on my Christmas list... too bad it's 12 months away

GO CLEMSON!

Will you be watching the game???

Bling Bling!

Even though you've all seen my ring (since, after all, it is my header and blog button) and have heard my engagement story, I decided to still link up with C Mae for...

For those who are new to my blog or want a refresh on how it went down, here we go!

On Saturday, April 30, 2011, Beau and I decided to go to the jewelry store to look at ring settings. I had designed the ring I wanted but after looking for weeks, we couldn't find anything to match so we had to make our own. After finding the exact setting I had been dreaming of, we talked to Beau's friend who works at the store then left, happy as could be.

I went to another store to buy clothes I don't need look at some things while Beau went to the Apple store to look around. He then met up with me - Apple bag in hand - and it annoyed me that he bought yet another product since our house is already full of Apple stuff.

So after bad mouthing Beau’s Apple products, saying that I was going to personally yell at Steve Jobs (may he now rest in peace) if Beau got another product before getting me a ring, and jokingly saying that I wanted to punt the Apple bag across the parking lot for a good 5 minutes, Beau told me to look in the bag. There is was, next to the Apple TV... a ring box! I pulled out the box and opened it to see my dream ring. At that moment, Beau asked if I would marry him. Obviously I said yes!

Unknown to me, the reason he wanted to go 'look at settings' was because the ring was ready to be picked up and after going to the Apple store, he ran back to the jewelers to grab it. Was it the romantic proposal I wanted? Not at all. Was it us? Completely!

(And yes, this is directly taken from my older post so I didn't have to re-type the whole thing... Laziness at it's finest!)

Unfortunately, I did have an issue with my ring though. It was sometime in August, I woke up and stared at my ring like I do every morning. But that morning, I cried after looking at it because there it was --- a big ol' chip! It was on the edge of the sapphire near the prong. It wasn't super noticeable but once you saw it, it made you go 'Damn!'

So we called our friend at the jewelry store and she had us bring it in so they could replace the sapphire. I was sad that I wouldn't have my ring for about 2 weeks but I wanted it fixed.

ONE MONTH LATER I finally got my ring back. I was such a happy lady! Until I put the ring on and looked at it... there is was still, the chip! But not just one this time, TWO!!! The original chip and a new one. But wait, how is the original chip still there when he replaced the sapphire. Oh that's right - he didn't replace it! He didn't do crap to it! No worries though... our friend who works at the store yelled at him :-)

It took another few weeks for me to get my ring back but this time it is perfect. The stone color is a little different... that's to be expected when replacing the sapphire though. I'm just glad that I am able to wear my beautiful engagement ring again.

So that's my story! Thank you C Mae for putting on a wonderful link up!!!