Puppies!

I was looking up dachshunds just now and came across this. It made me laugh so hard, I knew I had to share it with you. Can't you just picture it?

BTW, my mom said she would get me a dachshund puppy for my birthday. It's only 2 months away. I've got alot to do to make my house puppy proof!

Cookies!

I had the best cookies at Lindsey's bridal shower this weekend and after a little searching online, I think I found the recipe. I'm definitely going to be baking these soon. Not too soon though, because I want to fit into my dress this weekend. I'll be in a dress or a skirt all weekend in fact. We've got the rehearsal dinner Friday night, the wedding Saturday and then Doug's nephew, Kaden is being baptized on Sunday. I'll be ready for some sweatpants come Sunday evening, that's for sure!

I need to go down and finish my laundry, but I put Boomer down there because he ran outside earlier and so he's in kitty time out. So I'm killing time before I let him out. He's actually been down there for about a half an hour now, so I probably should let him out.

I also wanted to show you a picture of our guest room, well the bed at least. Maybe if you see how cozy it looks, you guys will want to come and visit us! I'll bake those yummy cookies for you if you do! :)

Scrapbooking

I did a little scrapbooking earlier. My intent was to finish the pictures from Las Vegas, but after I went through them again, I decided I was finished. I realized that I must have put most of the good pictures in the album I gave you. That's okay though. I'm happy with what is in my album and I could always make copies from my negatives if I wanted to do that. I did get our Christmas pictures done, well in the album. I still have journaling to do. Unfortunately, I got my camera on Christmas morning, so I didn't really have any pictures of my family. That's okay though, I'll make sure to get them all this year. I didn't take any Mother's Day pictures either. I need to be better about taking my camera with me. We are barbecuing at my parent's this afternoon, so maybe I'll bring my camera with me today. I really just need to quit taking pictures of the cats! They are actually going to get their own album, how sad is that?

New Website

I just created a website for Doug & me. I heard Lindsey's FSIL mention it to her today at her shower. She said they'd want to put their wedding pictures on it. I know that Doug & I are no where near getting married, but I decided to do it anyway. Maybe I'll put pictures of the kitties on it for now.

Well, we got all the furniture and stuff moved and our spare bedroom actually resembles a guest room. :) Now we just need some guests! Rebecca didn't come up. I didn't really think she would, but it seems like such a waste to have moved all that furniture. Oh well. It was something we should have done a long time ago.

Doug's gone tonight. He's with Aaron for the big bachelor party. They are probably completely drunk right now. He called to check in but that was at like 5:30. I don't even think they had drank anything at that point.

I was going to get out and do something myself tonight, but I came home from the shower and I had the worst headache. I don't know if it was from the punch that was served (it had gin & brandy in it) or what. Maybe I was just tired of smiling and making small talk with people I didn't know. I ran to Penney's after the shower to return a bra that didn't fit and to look for a top to wear with a skirt I already had for the rehearsal dinner. That actually was a successful venture. Then I came home and made myself some dinner and sat on the couch and watched 2 hours worth of The Girls Next Door. Don't ask me why I watched it, I just got sucked in. I guess I was just trying to figure out these 3 girls who are very likley younger than we are could be interested in someone as old as Hugh Hefner. I guess the appeal would be having everything you want and more, but at what price? Do you really think they sleep with him? Ewwww...

Yay! It's Thursday!

I know, you probably think there is something weird about that statement, but I'm taking tomorrow off. So...Yay! It's Thursday! Last night I was up until midnight cleaning. I could have been in bed much earlier, but it's a pain to clean when Doug is around. So I waited until he left for work, turned up the music on my computer as loud as it would go and went to work. I swept, I mopped, I vacuumed, cleaned the toilet and the bathtub, and I even tried to clean the burners on my stove. I soaked the part that sets underneath it in a sinkful of hot soapy water for an hour and it didn't help much. Apparently, I need something stronger, but I'm not sure what to use. The dishwasher may help, but I hesitate to put them in there. So now all I really have to do is dust and laundry. Tomorrow Doug & I are going to bring the futon upstairs so we can have an actual bed in the spare bedroom. Maybe I can talk him into putting the other mattress on it. It would be so much more comfortable. This cleaning and rearranging is all in preparation for Rebecca coming to stay Saturday night. She's been having a hard time with her boyfriend lately and so I invited her to come and stay the night since Doug is going to be in KC for Aaron's bachelor party. Of course, Rebecca never gave me a definite answer about whether or not she's coming, so you know that since I'm doing all of this stuff to get ready, she's not going to. :( Oh well. The house needed to be cleaned anyway and I've been bugging Doug to move the futon for months now. Maybe I won't tell him even if she does call tonight and decides not to come up. ;)

In other news...actually I don't really have any. We've just been trying to get through all this wedding stuff. And then we'll have to start doing the house buying thing. That terrifies me. I think Desire is getting antsy though. She told me the other day that they had someone else intersted in buying the house (btw, I haven't mentioned that to Doug). She did tell them that they already had a buyer, but if it fell through she'd let him know. We've already decided that if something comes up and we can't buy the house, it's not a big deal. Of course, it is easy to say that now. I know we'll be disappointed, but I've decided that moving is exciting. Probably not to you, since you have moved so many times. Considering this is only the 3rd (technically 4th, but I don't remember the first one) house I've ever lived in the thought of a new place kind of sounds fun. Although, it's only been a year since we have moved in here and I remember what a pain that was and we have managed to accumulate alot of stuff since we have moved in. I guess I'm just trying to prepare myself for the worst, you know? Either way, it'll be fine. It doesn't matter where we live, just as long as we live there together, right? Right.

Okay, I've wasted enough time at work now. Time do something productive, like cut out the pieces for the cow puppet craft we are going to be making in storytime in a few weeks. :)

This Weekend Was Not Long Enough

Well, I did manage to have a good time at Lindsey's bachelorette party after all. We went to Blonde, which is on the Plaza. It was like nothing I've ever been to. Apparently you either have to be on "the list" to get in or you have to wait in the line outside. We were on the list, but only because one of Lindsey's friends knew someone who could put us on it. This guy that she knew goes there every weekend and spends at leat a few hundred dollars...crazy. But good for us, because we basically ended up drinking for free...well $10. I actually only spent $50 for the entire night. So I figured that's not bad at all. And we danced all night. I suppose it was after the extremely strong peach island martini that I had that I forgot about being self-conscious around all of Lindsey's blond, skinny friends. And I have a new favorite drink...cranberry juice & vodka. I don't know if it was because it was expensive vodka and that's why it was going down so well or what. So that was Saturday night. We got back to Lindsey's FSIL's about 3 and went to bed. Then we got up around 9:30 this morning and came home.

My mom and I went to see The Da Vinci Code tonight. I think I'm going to have to reread the book. Some stuff was kind of fuzzy and some of it, I just flat out didn't remember. My mom just finished the book about a week and a half ago, so she was on top of all the details. I really liked the movie and didn't hate Tom Hanks as Robert Langdon as much as I thought I would.

Now, I'm just trying to get some laundry done and rehydrate myself. I was already dehydrated and then my mom and I went to the movie and I had popcorn and an icee for dinner. So healthy. :)

Whine, Whine, Whine...Complain, Complain, Complain

Why, oh why did I agree to go to this bachelorette party??? It has been nothing but a headache for me since I have decided to go. First I was going to buy a new outfit to wear, then I talked to Lindsey who confirmed that everyone would be in jeans and we were going to bars in Westport, so new outfit not necessary, then I talked to her again tonight...now we're going to some trendy place on the Plaza, so now I have to go buy at least new pants, skirt or something. And oh yeah, btw, she's picking me up at 5:45 tomorrow. Not only do I have to go shopping for clothes, I need to go shopping for groceries, because we have no food. On top of that I need to pack a bag because we are staying the night. Plus, I was supposed to go to garage sales with my mom in the morning. And I need to paint my toenails still. Okay, I can at least do that tonight, but I don't know what I'm wearing tomorrow, so I don't know what color to go with. See, I have an excuse for everything. Maybe I need to start drinking now...

I Need a Reading Vacation

Seriously, I need to take a vacation just to get caught up on all the books I have to read. Ever since Doug & I moved in together I haven't read as much and now since we have internet I'm really not reading as much! I am taking next Friday off and Doug will be with Aaron most of the day next Saturday, so maybe I'll get some reading done then. Seriously though, the last book I finished was 3 weeks ago. Here's what I've got in the works and what I have waiting for me:

Fiction:
Susannah's Garden by Debbie Macomber (reading this one now)
Walter: the Story of a Rat by Barbara Wersba (j fic)
Toes by Tor Seidler (j fic)
Homesick Creek by Dianne Coplin Hammond (I started this one, but it might be a little too Brokeback for me)
Don't Look Down by Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer
Angels & Demons by Dan Brown
Jane Austen in Boca by Paula Marantz Cohen (i'm reading this one for you)
Listening for Lions by Gloria Whelan (j fic)
Savannah Breeze by Mary Kay Andrews

Nonfiction:
Pretty Weddings for Practically Pennies by Catherine Yarnovich Risling (looked at it last night...some cute ideas)
Knit Ponchos, Wraps & Scarves by Jane Davis
Cupcakes From the Cake Mix Doctor by Anne Byrn (only because they have a pretty picture of a cupcake wedding cake)
Decorating Ideas Under $50 by Vicki Christian
Rachel Ray 365: No Repeats--A Year of Deliciously Different Dinners by Rachel Ray

Do you see now why I need a reading vacation?? Although, it might take me two weeks of nonstop reading just to get through all this!

Just wanted to let you know it took forever to link all those.

Doing the Grown Up Thing

I think Doug must be up to something. This morning we went to the bank and set up a joint checking account and then after that we went to get an insurance quote. The quote turned out to be really good, so we went ahead and switched everything over. It's crazy. Now, maybe he's got something else in mind...

Anyhow, I've come to a few conclusions from your lack of response to my Grey's Anatomy post. You are working very hard and haven't had time to check here, you have too much to say to put it all in one tiny comment or you have fallen off the face of the Earth. Whatever it is, I hope to hear from you soon!

More Grey's Anatomy

I watched last night's episode with Amanda. It was nice to have someone to watch it with. It kind of reminded me of us watching the Bachelor. She even brought chocolate malts (I think they made me sick though). It would have been nice if you & I could have watched it together. I would have to say that I am content with how last night's episode ended. And yes, I cried the hardest when they put Doc to sleep (poor Doc), but they had to so Meredith & Derek could get back together. She can't dump the vet when he's still taking care of her dog. No, I did not want Denny to die, but it probably had to happen. I didn't want Izzy to leave either, but that probably had to happen too. Wasn't Alex great the way he was there for her? BTW, that's one of the few nice things you'll hear me say about him. I'm glad that Christina finds out she has a human side after all and I think it will do so much for her relationship with Burke. George & Callie made up! I love the way he explained himself. So much nicer put then other things I have heard. I guess that is the magic of television though. So at least we still have hope. I think that Callie is going to move in with George, so they will have enough roommates again. I thought the prom was great. Poor Amanda &I read an interview about them saying they had to get dressed up for something and we were thinking the obvious, wedding or funeral. It wasn't until 10 minutes after they told the interns to plan a prom that we figured out what they were dressing up for. As far as who Meredith will pick...I could really care less. Amanda & I were screaming at the TV when they started kissing though. Is she really that stupid?? Look at what he's already put her through and now she has this adorable vet, who you know has to be nicest guy ever. He's a vet! He takes care of animals.

Anyhow, that's how I felt about the show. I'm definitely buying season 2 when it comes out and am going to go buy season 1 very soon. So what did you think?

Grey's Anatomy

I cannot wait until tonight!

Mother's Day

We're halfway done with our Mother's Day celebrations. We spent this morning with Doug's mom. We took her out to breakfast and visited for a couple of hours and this evening we're having dinner with my mom and family. I had to make pasta salad & carrot cake to take with us and I attempted to decorate the cake, notice I said attempt. Now, don't laugh...

It's my food version of a homemade card! :-) At least I tried, right?

I know I said I wanted a three stone but...

I'd settle for this!!

They've also got a beautiful oval cut diamond that I could see on your finger, Misty!

:-)

I told Doug that if by some miracle he happens to talk to Josh and Josh happens to wonder what you might want for your anniversary that he should tell him you want a proposal and a 3 stone anniversary ring. :-) I even mentioned the commercial and he knew exactly the one I was referring too. In other ring related moments, this morning Doug said he was working all this overtime because he was saving for something. I said, "Oh, yeah...the house, right?" And he said, "No, something else. You'll find out." Maybe an engagement ring?? Let's hope so. Have I told you that I totally changed my mind about what I wanted?? Awhile back I was trying on rings with Amanda one night and I decided that I definitely want white gold/platinum now. It just looked better on me. And, I am going back to my original plan of a princess cut solitaire. I know I said I didn't want that because everyone had one, but it turns out I was wrong. Most of them have round cut stones and besides, who cares if everyone has one. If that's what I like then that's what I want. Truly, I'd be happy with anything at this point, but Doug & I looked through a jewelry ad a few weeks ago and I pointed out what I liked. So he at least has half a clue now, I hope.

Anyhow, I've got chicken in the oven now and it smells sooooo good! I hope it turns out. My cooking skills have improved greatly since Doug & I have moved in together. I have found that I can actually make a few things. We're having a Mother's Day cookout (she wanted brats) for my mom on Sunday and I get to make pasta salad and dessert. So I spent all kinds of time online earlier looking for a dessert and thought carrot cake sounded good. So I called her to ask if she liked it and she wants me to make the box cake. No big deal, much easier and cheaper for me, but I thought it would be fun to do something a little more complicated than a cake mix. Oh well, it'll probably turn out better this way. Okay, back to my laundry now.

If We Did Renew Our Vows...

I'd like this dress!

It has a wedding dress feel to it, but it's shorter and slightly less formal. I don't know what color I'd want it in though. I like the red but it seems too obvious with Christmas so close. Plus, I'd want a shrug to go with it and it would be impossible to match the color.

VIVA LAS VEGAS...p.2

It looks like we're going to Vegas! I told Doug tonight that you guys wanted us to go to Vegas with you this December and he seemed excited about it. He has a floating day that he has to take off between October and January 1st, so he figures he could use it for this. The one nice thing about him working nights is that he goes in on Sunday nights, so when he gets off on Friday mornings, that is the start of his weekend. So he could take a Sunday night off and we could fly out on a Friday morning and stay until Monday. How does that sound to you guys?

S0...MUCH...PLANNING!!!

Are you guys wanting to renew your vows??? That would be so sweet and maybe it would give Doug a shove in the right direction. :-) Should we stay at the same hotel? I want to do stuff this time. Of course, this time I plan on having money to spend. I do want to go here. How could we resist a free tour of a candy factory?? I don't know what will be more fun, planning the trip or actually going! :-)

M.I.L.D.E.W.

Because being petty and vendictive can be so much fun!

Opportunity?

Josh registered for classes yesterday. As of June 12th, he will officially be a student again! He's only taking six credits this summer, so that he can still work a bit, but this fall he'll be full time. I think it is cute how excited he is, I'm actually ordering his books early so that he can read them before classes start. I think I'm going to surprise him with a new bookbag or something for his first day.

While I'm very proud of him and only want him to be happy, he is leaving behind a very good job. Right now he is Department Manager of Irrigation for a good-sized landscaping company. He makes $16 an hour plus overtime and a percentage of the profits for the jobs he sells. When he told the owner of the company (a nice guy, not like Tony) that he was going back to school the owner told him that is he stuck with it for a year, he was going to offer him partnership in the business. Essentially, Josh would own the irrigation side of the business.

I'm not saying any of this because I don't want Josh to go to school. I absolutely do. I don't think he'll be happy with himself until he finishes his degree, his self-esteem gets so low. But, as crazy as this all may sound, Josh going back to school presents a very real opportunity for you and Doug.

For the last few months, since Josh told them he was going back to school, the company has been searching for someone to take over his job. Josh will continue to work there on a part-time basis, but will be stepping down from his position this fall to just work on install and service. Last week they thought they had finally found someone and offered him the job, but the guy turned it down because he decided to leave the Madison area. Taylor (the owner) has been looking hard for someone with 3 years Irrigation experience, but can't even find someone with one year to help on the crew! He is worried that when Josh starts school full-time in the fall, he will have to shut the doors on his irrigation department completely.

Now I know you and Doug are trying to buy your the house, and I don't know how Doug feels about his current job, but as my best friend I couldn't not tell you about this opportunity. One word from Josh and I'm sure Doug could have this job, and the potential ownership of the Irrigation business.

What makes a Misty

Part 1: The Birth of You

Were you a planned baby?: No.
Were you the first?: Yes.
Who was present at your birth?: From what I have heard, lots of people. I remember my mom specifically telling me that she asked for her own mother several times, but my dad's step-mom kept ignoring her.
What is your birthdate?: August 1, 1980

Part 2: The Family

How would you describe your family?: We're fairly close...sometimes not close enough and sometimes too close!
Are your parents married? Yes.
If you have siblings are you oldest, middle, or youngest?: Oldest.
What are your siblings names and ages?: Brandon, 24 & Sarah, 16
Which parent do you get along with best?: Depends on the day. I think I get along with them equally.
What do you fight about?: Not much since I have moved out.
Do you have step parents?: Obviously, not.

Part 3: The Friends

Do you have more than one best friend?: Yes.
Who are your best friends?: Carmen, Desire', Angela, Rebecca, & Amanda.
What do you like to do when you are together?: Eat yummy things that our men don't like, shop, gossip, scrapbook.
Do you share the same interests?: Some. I'd say we're all pretty different though.
Which friend can you tell anything to?: Carmen.

Part 4: Your Personality

How high/low is your self esteem?: Somewhere in the middle I think.
Do you get depressed about things easily?: Not really. If I do get depressed it usually isn't for very long.
Are you and extrovert or an introvert?: At this point, probably more of an introvert, but I can be extroverted when I have to be.
Are you happy?: For the most part. I think sometimes I don't fully appreciate everything in my life and then I start thinking I'm not happy.
Do you live life to the fullest?: Never! I'm sucha scaredy-cat!


Part 5: Apperance

Are you comforable with the way you look?: Most of the time. Sometimes I wish I would take more risks with my appearance though.
What would you change about your apperance if you could?: My height! I'd love to be a few inches taller.
Do you have any piercings besides your ears?: No.
Describe your hair: Shoulder length, layered. I'm growing out the shortest layer. Dark brown (natural)
What make-up do you wear?: concealer, foundation, powder, eye shadow & mascara, blush/bronzer and lipstick
How do you dress?: I think I'm put together at work (can't go wrong with black pants & sweater), on the weekend and at home could stand improving probably.

Part 6: The Past

Were you a strange child?: I was "gifted" too! Not that it meant anything. I was totally a bookworm, wouldn't go outside if you paid me.
What did you use to love that you no longer do?: Go to bars. Mostly because when Doug & I go together it is weird and I don't hang out with any of the people I used to go to bars with.
Do you have the same friends?: Aside from the people I no longer go to bars with, yes.
Was there anything in your past that was traumatizing?: Almost drowning during the swimming lessons I took at the Y when I was in 2nd grade. I still can't swim very well.

Part 7: The Future

What is your ambition?: Right now...to buy a house. Further down the road: marry Doug, go back to school, have a couple of babies.
Are you scared of growing old?: I'm afraid of getting too old to have a baby (I know, it is totally irrational, but I can't help it!)
Do you want to get married?: YES!!!! (I want an engagement ring for my birthday if Doug asks for any ideas ;-) )


Part 8: The Outdoors

Do you prefer indoors or outdoors?: Indoors. I like being outside though, but I'm with Amanda...has to be the right weather.
Weather?: Sunny and between 65-75. Slight breeze. (sounds good to me!)
Do you like walking in the rain?: No, I don't think it is romantic either.

Part 9: Food

Are you a vegetarian?: No. I could do meatless more than I do though.
What is your favorite food?: Pizza
What food makes you want to gag?: Tomoato soup ever since I had the flu last year.
What is your favorite dessert?: tiramisu and lemon meringue pie
What is your favorite restaurant?: El Maguey's (me too!)
Are you a fussy eater?: Not too bad. Doug's the picky one (Mr. No Onions or Green Peppers)

Part 10: Relationships and Love

Are you single or taken?: Taken.
If taken who is the lucky guy/girl?: Doug
Do you think love is the best feeling in the world?: Love is great, all kinds, romantic, platonic, whatever. Everyone needs to be loved.
Do you believe in love at first sight?: Not at all, in fact I was planning on breaking up with Doug for the first month we dated. Amanda, I love your answer. "No, that's not love, that's "My whore-moans want to get to know you bettah"."

Part 11: Experiences

What was one of your greatest experiences?: Being asked to be maid of honor for Angela, Carmen & Desire. It meant so much to me that they would all want me to be next to them on their special day. I think they may have cursed me though...how's that go?? 'always a bridesmaid, never a bride'??
What was one of your worst?: When I went to my 5 year reunion (at a bar) shortly after I had been dumped and I ran into an ex-boyfriend (not the same guy) who then introduced me to his new girlfriend. I think I left shortly after that.
Have you ever done drugs?: No.
Have you ever thought you were going to die?: Yes.
Have you ever suffered from depression?: Yes.

Time Flies

Can you believe it has been 4 1/2 years since Josh and I got married?

And do you remember what we said we all said we were going to do on our 5 year anniversary?

VIVA LAS VEGAS!

Soooo..... can you guys come?* If so, we've got some planning to do for that too!

*Please say yes!

Lazy Weekend

Nothing much to do today. It's kind of cloudy and dreary out. And I decided this morning I'd try to brush Tess out a little bit and I only succeeded in really irritating my allergies. So today I think I'm going to do some laundry and scrapbook (I really should finally finish those Vegas pictures, it's only been 4 1/2 years since we were there!).

Yesterday was pretty boring too. I went to the grocery store and I took my list and actually followed it this time. Yay for me! And I only spent $108, of course we already spent $88 at Sam's Club, but $200 for 2 weeks of groceries & stuff for Doug & I and the kitties, really isn't so bad. I decided before I went to actually sit down and plan some meals so that I wouldn't just be buying whatever. That really seemed to help. Here's what we'll be having for dinner for the next 2 weeks.

• Roasted Chicken (if I don't screw it up), mashed potatoes & gravy and veggie
• Burritos, beans & rice
• Spaghetti, salad & garlic bread
• Shake 'n Bake Porkchops, stuffing & baked sweet potatoes
• Baked Fish (need to find a recipe that sounds decent), rice & veggie
• Chicken (probably shake 'n bake), rice (I bought alot of the microwave rice pouches a couple of weeks ago) & veggie
• BLT's, corn on the cob & Doug's choice
• Nachos (don't really need anything else to go with that)
• Grill Night: Hamburgers/Hotdogs, baked beans, pasta salad, cottage cheese

Plus I have a couple of frozen pasta skillet things that I can make if I'm in a hurry. We don't get to eat meals together two nights a week, and we usually go out at least once every weekend, so I'm proud of myself for coming up with 9 meals. I'm hoping that since I have an idea of what I'm going to make, it'll make it easier for me to actually cook all of these things, rather than just buy a bunch of stuff that sits in my cabinet & freezer.

Anniversary

I don't know if you realized it or not, but you & I have an anniversary coming up. We have been friends for 14* years in August/September. Whenever it was in music class that we started talking to each other. I think from here on out we should celebrate it over Labor Day weekend, because it is always a long weekend and hopefully we can get together or something. What do you think??


*When I posted this originally, I said that we had been friends for 15 years...shame on me for making us a whole year older!

Dress

Here's the dress I bought for Aaron & Lindsey's wedding last night. I think I'm going to get a wrap or a shawl to wear with it, so it doesn't show too much cleavage. What do you think of it?