Saying goodbye to last week

It's been a difficult week. 

Our house is for sale and there is one family that has looked at it twice. Per their Realtor, they are very interested...in ours and two others. They are supposedly making a decision by this weekend, but here it is, Saturday night and no news. We had another showing scheduled for today so I busted my butt cleaning the house while trying to occupy a whiny, clingy baby. Jake was snow blowing the driveway and fixing a broken closet door at 11:00 last night after he got out of work. All to prepare for today. Come to find out, the potential buyers did a drive by days ago and decided there weren't enough trees on the property. Thanks for the heads up.

I'm starting a new job at the hospital. Two twelve hour night shifts a week. I've been psyching myself out for this. It will be worth it. I won't be completely exhausted (sleep deprivation is the highest form of torture for me). Monday, my supervisor called to go over the training schedule. All of the correspondence thus far failed to mention the 40 hours a week for 5 weeks training schedule. Cue tears. That's bad news for this mama who has a hard time being away from her baby. Not to mention, no childcare. Thank God for my mom who is always there when I need her and a husband who writes his own schedule. (If you think of it, please pray that my family makes it through the next 5 weeks happy and healthy.)

Our oven broke...about 8 months ago. We've been surviving with a stove top and a crockpot. We found a good deal so got a new one this week, ya know, since we are trying to sell our house and all, but it doesn't work. Our wiring is wack. Cue an electrician. And we scratched the kitchen floor bringing it in. 

Our washer broke this week. Like, began leaking and wreaking. The inside was completely fried. Had to buy one of those too.

Cash has been sick for one week now. He's snotty and congested and has a bark of a cough. Sleeping has been rough, although we've kept his head elevated and tried to keep him as comfortable as possible. After a trip to the pediatrician, it is indeed just a virus and must pass on its own. Sigh. 

Have I mentioned that this is the worst winter so far that I can remember? Forget the Polar Vortex, I'm talking apocalyptic conditions. I've left the house twice in a week. I got stuck pulling up to our mailbox and my car sat there till Jake got home at 10 pm. Don't bother sending me any mail because I won't get it till Spring. The next day my dad got stuck in our driveway for 2 hours. (In my car. Add snow tires to the list of things I need.) Jake came home early to help dig the car out then gave our drive a good blow. The very next night he pulls in about 10:30 pm and gets his full size truck stuck, while in 4 wheel drive. The drift was so high he couldn't get his door open so he had to climb out the window. We.Need.To.Move.South.

I've vented about our hellish week in hopes of now leaving it all behind and starting fresh. I'm vowing to dress in a more positive demeanor so my boys don't have to deal with crabby patty anymore:)

//Getting ready to leave the house for only the 2nd time this week!//

Renew

Our word for 2014 is Renew.

There's something about the new year that makes people want to better themselves, start again. I guess I'm one of those people. 2013 was a hard year for us in a lot of ways, but isn't it funny how in the midst of hardships God grants the greatest blessings? Cash Lawrence is more than Jake and I ever could have asked or prayed for. 

With 2013 behind us, we are walking in to this next year with renewed spirits and renewed determination to make some changes. Some really big, some really small.

*Sell our house

*Possible job change and/or relocation

*Want less and do more

*Save more money

*Drink more water

And for kicks: Cook more and Exercise. 
(Those of you that know me, stop laughing.)

Fighting Christmas Perfection

If you currently read any "mommy blogs" or look at Pinterest, for that matter, you know that moms all over are running around shopping for organic wooden baby toys ( because they're cuter), moving the Elf every night, creating crafts, celebrating every day of Advent, baking treats and three course meals all while wearing heels, a Christmas apron and sipping spiked eggnog.

That is just not reality for some of us. I've tried to do "Christmasy" things this month while at home with Cash but let's be honest, he's 7 months old and couldn't care less whether or not we are being festive every day in December. The other day I told Jake that I felt guilty because I hadn't done enough to celebrate Cash's first Christmas season. After my confession I quickly snapped out of it.

Jesus is the reason for this season and how many cookies I bake (which is zero because my oven's broken) or how many gifts I buy is irrelevant. 

We will never be perfect and our Christmas will never be perfect. But many people would say lying a newborn baby in a manger surrounded by farm animals isn't perfect either. And we all know how that story ends.

So, we are going to continue fighting Christmas perfection over here. Don't sweat it if your kids are wearing mismatched pajamas instead of holiday stripes on Christmas morning, while opening cheap plastic toys. Just make sure they know the story of the baby wrapped in swaddling cloths lying in a manger.

Big Hair Dreams

Ignore the cleavage and focus on that HAIR! I'm obsessed with big hair right now. I think about it, I research it, I dream about it, and now...I blog it. I have long, straight hair with absolutely NO natural body. I've tried hot rollers and the body doesn't last very long, and recently I've been using dry shampoo on my roots and that seems to help a little bit, but I need some more ideas. Does anyone have any advice to help me achieve this look???

I've been a bad, bad girl...

I mean, blogger.

What have we been up to, you ask? Just living the dream here in the H.L. (Are you sensing my sarcasm?)

Today, however, is a fabulous day. Happy Good Friday All!

(So glad Android finally got on the instagram train:: Layla Lou:: New greek key bracelet:: The pup cuddling with my dad.)

Life lately & I went to Florida

I have not posted in a while. Sickness and a little travel have kept me away. First there was a sinus infection (Jake), then a viral infection (me), then a deadly tooth infection (Jake), and last but not least, the stomach flu (me). Now that we are healthy over here--hopefully for good-- I am back in action.

A little over a week ago I was in sunny Florida. It was about 75 degrees everyday and the only catch is that I was there for work. But there was still plenty of fun to be had. We stayed at the Orlando World Center Marriott where I enjoyed the late night hottub, fluffy pillows, and mini bar. (Tip: Do not ever eat or drink from a hotel minibar, even if it's just a Figi water.)

(The bosses, and my co-worker/roomie)

(view from our room on the 19th floor)

(The night we met "A-mele and not a snack".)

(sneaking in some sun time between meetings)

(one of the many pieces of jewelry I swooned over)

(jewelry buying room)

(downtown disney)

a week in the life

We have been working on our rocking chair and it's coming along. Not perfect, but pretty good for our first upholstery job. Possibly our last:)

I went crazy with my nail polish this week. All but one was midnight blue. Three different males felt the need to tell me that one of my nails was pink. Really, I had no idea? Colors are Mod Squad and Midnight Cami by Essie.

Tax season is upon us.

Aside from the usual Bachelor, Housewives, and ESPN watching, we watched the HGTV special on the 2012 dream home.  I want to win it- bad. I could totally live in Park City, Utah. Of course, there are things about the interior design that I would choose to change to better suit us, but with the $500,000 that comes with the grand prize, I think I could afford to. Or will that only cover taxes the first year?:) Either way, don't enter to win 'cause the house is mine!

Anyone else's week as exciting as mine???

Surviving a Northern Michigan Winter



It's official. We have a lot of snow and it's sticking. For good, it feels like. Winter was slow to arrive and is never quick to leave us up here in the Great White North.

The above photo was taken through one of our front windows. The icecicles on our house are outrageous. And I don't mean that as a good thing. What is it with us, old houses, and bad insulation? "Hello, high energy bills. We meet again."

Another challenge in the winter time up here is the lack of entertainment. We live in a smallish town-with close to nothing to do. Ice fishing and snowmobiling are all the rage up here and we do neither. Here are a couple of tips for Surviving a Northern Michigan winter that work for us:

1. Home projects that can be done inside.

Jake and I painted our second hand rocking chair while the weather was nice, and saved the reupholstering for one of those long, cold weekends.

2. Get a gym membership.

I did this recently and have been going consistently. It is good for the body and soul, and an excuse to get out of the house on days off work.

3. Learn to like reading.

We watch quite a few movies over here, but tv doesn't strengthen the mind like a good book. I am in the middle of a novel now and currently have 13 more books waiting in the wings.

4. Get a tan.

There is no need to go overboard, but I think it's ok to get a fake tan every so often. Our gym is attached to a tanning salon and we can even adjust our package to include a few tans a month. Everyone looks better a light shade of brown and I hear it helps with the winter-time blues.

5. Still dress cute. I realize Fall's long gone-but the days of dressing cute are not. Throw on some cute boots, designer jeans, a matching scarf and hat set and don't fall prey to the baggy sweatshirts and sweatpants that I see all too often up here.

photo courtesy Vogue

stupid marital spats

As a married couple, we sometimes argue about stupid things, but the other night was ridiculous. I informed Jake that others were speculating about whether or not Beyonce gave birth in secret. I said that I wouldn't be surprised if she wasn't even really carrying her baby, but paid someone else too. I mean, I know how hard it is to get back into shape and I can't imagine what it would be like with a body like that. So, just maybe she chose an alternative? Jake defended Beyonce past the point of what was necessary and is certain she would never do that. lol. Seriously? How dumb. We laugh about it now.

Does anyone else argue with their spouse over ridiculous things?



Making Good

So, I'm making good on one of my recent resolutions....

Working out.

I went to the gym Jake attends and planned on just purchasing a day pass. Well, somehow he wound up buying me a membership. Now there's no way out. He worked out alongside me and "spotted" while I used the weight bench. I used the bench press, people. Yesterday was "chest and back." Now, if you're anything like me your idea of working out is running on a treadmill or a pilates DVD. I used to be a gym-goer, but it's been a while.

This morning when I woke up, I was sore. This afternoon, I was really sore. So, what did I do tonight? Why, went back to the gym of course. (Pat myself on the back.)

I will keep you posted on how everything shakes out.

Tightly, perhaps?



2011 Recap

Hopefully everyone had a fabulous Christmas. We sure did. I can't believe another year is almost over! I figured I would do a quick recap for you.

  I sang in one of my oldest and dearest friends' wedding. And Sara was my date.

Visited my buddy, Jamie, in Colorado and celebrated JaeLynn's 3rd birthday!

Celebrated a late, but beautiful, Spring.

Attended a bachelorette party...

and my best friend's wedding.

I said goodbye to my kids...

and moved to a new town.

I went on a mission trip to Haiti

Fell madly in love,

and swam in the Caribbean.

Enjoyed the lake and my parents' new boat.

Had some summer fun with friends.

Headed to Nashville to be in another one of my best friend's weddings.

Attended yet another one of my dear friend's weddings (that's 4 of my 8 bridesmaids married within 8 months of eachother!)

Began sponsoring and fundraising for my friend, Manes, in Haiti. He now attends the University!!

My nephew, Drayke Joseph, was born in Sept.

Jake and I hit the 2 year marriage mark!

We had a surprise celebration for Jake's 30th with each of our families.

Carved my first ever pumpkin

I turned 25!

We had a nice little Christmas.

There's another year for the books--

See you in 2012!

xoxo,

Karlee