Little Things and Possibilities

Read my other blog

2013-08-20T08:42:00.001-07:00

I've not been writing on this blog much. Partly because I have other things to do, partly because I don't have anything to say. I've been writing personal things on my business blog about once a month. If you want to keep up with my boring personal life feel free to read my business blog, specifically anything filed under the "personal" category.

Till later.

Back where I belong

2013-06-25T13:49:00.000-07:00

I got back home a few days ago. It was great to see Hubs again! Three weeks is a long time to be apart for sure. But now the "yay!" has worn off and I'm feeling so empty. I rarely had down time when I was away, so now that I have lots of downtime it's strange. I don't know what to do.

I cleaned up the house the first day I was here. I got all the laundry done the second day. I'm caught up on design work and emails. There is no one around to spend time with, or go to lunch with or talk to. No games to be played or cookouts to be had. All there is to do is watch tv and since I didn't watch much tv when I was away, I just don't feel like doing that now. It's such a waist of time, but in this case that's the point.

I'll get back into the swing of things. It's just weird right now. Vacations are awesome but being back home, hum.... still thinking that one over.

Missing the rain

2013-06-11T13:24:00.000-07:00

After a quick phone call from my mother, I decided to go to AZ. What is it about mothers? They almost always know the perfect things to say. It helped that one of those things was, "we got the AC fixed".

I was able to surprise my grandparents at their 60th wedding anniversary party. It was great and I'm so glad I got to do that!! I'm here at my parents house now. We have been playing lots of games, I've been visiting family and friends. I even went camping with my parents and sister.

Pulling a camp trailer, my dad drove us in his SUV for 3 hours to get to the camp site. When we finally got there we were the only ones around. There were lots of trees (they smelled really good) and birds and ants and flies. There were dried up creeks and streams. I could tell it used to be really pretty there. My sister said it looked like a totally different place than last time they were there.

So much of AZ is dry, dusty, brown and hot right now. Even worse than I remember. I haven't been here during the summer since I moved away seven years ago and I don't think I'll be back again. It hasn't rained in months and it needs it bad.

The camp site was in the mountains, but it was still about 95 degrees during the day. The wind would blow a bit and it was almost bearable in the shade but still fried some of our brain cells and made it hard to play games that required a lot of concentration.

When the night came and it was drastically better. The temperature went down and tons and tons of stars filled the sky. Stars always get me. I love them. And I've never seen them better than I have looking up into an AZ sky.

We stayed for two nights and decided to go home early. Camping just isn't want it used to be. It was nice to go though. It's been about 10 years and now I know I still like it, as long as it's not too hot.

I love spending time with my family here in AZ, but I don't miss the state. It used to hold such a large part of my heart but that is almost all faded now. I love NC so much and I miss it. I miss my house and my husband. As sad as it will be to say goodbye in 11 more days, I'm looking forward to my green state and rain. I do miss the rain.

Visiting

2013-05-28T11:41:00.003-07:00

My little sister has been visiting Hubs and I for the last few weeks. It's been great. I love having her here! I've been working so she's had lots of down time but she likes to read so I think it's been okay for her (we even took her to several book stores to restock).

This Friday we are both headed to the airport. She's going home and I'm going with her. I'm going to surprise my grandparents by showing up at their 60th anniversary party (shhhh, don't tell!!).

I'm excited... except.... my mom just told us the AC at their house is broken. They live in AZ so it's hot. I hate being hot. Sigh. Also, Hubs is staying here. I HATE being without him and will miss him terribly. Another sigh. Like, a really huge one.

I go back and forth in mind mind as to whether or not I'm going to actually get on that plane and go through with it. As much as I want to go, I don't want to leave. If that makes any sense. Ultimately I'm sure I'll go and I'll have a great time.

I'll get to see and spend time with my grandparents, see my cute little niece and other family members I haven't seen for awhile. It will be good. My husband will survive without me. I won't melt in the heat (I'm not a witch, most of the time). Yeah. I think I'll go.... maybe.

New car too!

2013-04-30T11:11:00.000-07:00

I occurred to me that I haven't posted about our new car so this is late but here it goes.

A couple months after we moved to NC Hub's car broke down. Luckily we had my car so we just used that. I worked from home (graphic design) and didn't really need a car so only having one wasn't a big deal. But my car was old. It was my very first and only. I've had it since high school, through college and the first five years of our marriage. It still ran pretty well but the shocks were shot and we needed a newer one. My family have been bugging us to get a new one for years and years.

So we decided that when we move into our new house we would also buy a new car, mostly because our rental house only had a one car garage and we didn't want either car sitting outside.

Fast forward a year and shortly after we moved into our new house I had to get a tooth pulled. Hubs drove me and on the way we passed a dealership. After he dropped me off he went back to the dealership for a test drive while he waited for me. As I was sitting in the dental chair waiting to have my tooth pulled I get a text from him saying he bought one. Just like that.

It's a beautiful black 2013 Hyundai Elantra. It's so new and shiny. It drives so well and looks so nice. We love it!

I love our house!

2013-04-17T07:34:00.000-07:00

I haven't had much to say lately. I can only write, "I love our house!" so many times. I feel like anyone who reads this blog are sick of hearing about it. :)

But... I love our house!! We've been here for over a month now and it's already my favorite house I've ever lived in (besides the home I grew up in, nothing will ever compare to the wonderful loving environment my parents created for us in that home).

We've painted the entryway, living room, and kitchen a nice light grey. The dinning room is a darker grey and my office sports stripes of white, greens and gold. You can get a peak into my office if you read this post that I published on my business blog. The colors are pretty random in there, I was inspired by some frames I found at Khols.

Speaking of my business blog, if you clicked over for a peak did you notice the new blog/website design? I changed it a few weeks ago and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it. Nearly as much as our house (well, not really but it's in second place behind it). The navy and pink combine in my mind to make purple. Purple is my favorite color.

If you are in need of some graphic design (logo, web, blog, illustration, print, ect.) please contact me using this super cute page of the newly redesigned website! I would love to work with you. Or anyone you know for that matter. Pass us on please!!

Plus a house, minus a tooth

2013-03-05T10:05:00.002-08:00

We did it! We've moved into our new house and it's fabulous. It was a lot of work and stress but totally worth it. We decided to paint the walls right away so I'm working on that, a light silver/grey color which Hubs and I both love. I've got more stuff to unpack and things are still a mess but it's getting there. We got our washer and dryer yesterday and our new couch came in a few days before that. I feel so very spoiled. :)

The fun got interrupted Saturday night when my tooth started hurting. Monday morning I got a dentist appointment for Tuesday (today). Then Monday night my mouth/check/jaw area swelled up. Great. When I went in they said one of my teeth was probably infected and I should pull it. They referred me to a specialist. I went to the specialist. They made me drink juice and take some pills. They stuck big long needles into my gums and my mouth went numb. Then they pulled the tooth right out. I didn't feel much pain at all.

I'm back home now, biting down on gauze and spitting out blood. It's SO gross!! The swelling is still present and will be for awhile. I look like a chipmunk (on one side anyways) and I can't talk. They gave me a prescription that is suppose to kill the infection and make the swelling go away. It's also very likely it will make me sick.

Oh well, I'm sitting in my new house right now and I'm happy. :)

Insight for the Future

2013-02-05T11:00:00.000-08:00

I was reading a post from this awesome blog I follow and it gave me some great insight for the future.

One day I will have kids and one day I will disappoint them and let them down. I will be upset at myself for this. I will probably cry and wish for a redo button. But IT WILL BE OKAY. Really, it will be. Although I will try my best to be an awesome mom I know I will make a lot of mistakes. It's human nature. And thank goodness. Because with every mistake I make I will get an opportunity to teach them. To direct them above. I will make sure that they know what I believe so strongly: Heavenly Father is always there. He is the perfect parent and He will never let them down or disappoint them. I will teach them that His time is different than ours and that answers don't always come the way we want them too but His answers will always come. No matter what. I will teach them to go to Him. In times of happiness and in times of sadness. He will comfort them, He will make it better, even when I can't.

Five weeks

2013-01-22T11:10:00.000-08:00

Hubs and I close on our new house in exactly five weeks. We are so, extremely, more than ready (can you tell I've been watching Charlie and Lola)! Going from living in a house you own to living in a house you rent is hard.

For 9 months back in Fl I was able to paint the walls and do whatever I wanted to, then we moved here and I'm back stuck with yucky yellowish white walls that I can't even hang pictures on without fixing it before we move out. Ahh!! I'm tired of cleaning and maintaining and fixing someone else's stuff. I'm tired of writing that check that goes directly down the drain.

The day we move into our new house I am painting the walls - a nice soft grey color. I am hanging blinks and curtains. I am unpacking and finding a place for all our junk. It's going to be a lot of work but I am super excited!!

These last five weeks can not go fast enough.

December

2013-01-08T11:33:00.001-08:00

I spent almost all of December with my family and I enjoyed it tremendously!

I flew to AZ and got to see my niece when she was less than one day old. I was a bit afraid to hold her because she looked so small and breakable but once I took her in my arms I didn't want to put her down. She was so warm and squishy and straight from Heaven adorable.

I was afraid seeing her would make me sad, since I've been struggling to have children of my own, but that wasn't the case at all. If anything, she made me more excited and determined. 2013 is the year we will conceive a child!

I spent two weeks in AZ, going back and forth from Phoenix to my hometown. I got to see my Grandparents and an old friend from High School. I went to my favorite Mexican restaurants and brought back some homemade tortillas for the freezer. There were many things I didn't have time to do but I'm still grateful I was able to go.

Then I flew back home to NC. My parents and sister came with me. We spent 10 days together shopping, playing games, eating cooking, celebrating Christmas, and having fun.

Thanksgiving and Excitement

2012-11-27T11:15:00.000-08:00

This year for Thanksgiving Hubs and I drove to Charlotte to celebrate with his Brother, Sister-In-Law and some of her family. It's usually a 3-ish hour drive but it took us about 4 1/2 because of Holiday traffic and construction (who decides to do rode construction during a holiday??). We were driving right into the sun for most of the way too. It wasn't fun.

But that was the worst part of the trip. Everything else after that went wonderfully. The hotel was good and it was surrounded by lots of stores and restaurants we like, even a movie theater. I didn't have to cook a thing but got to eat lots of yummy turkey and fixings (my favorite was probably the steamed broccoli - weird I know). The company was nice, the kids were cute, the dogs were huge but didn't bite or bark at me.

Thanksgiving night after we left the festivities, Hubs and I decided to watch a movie. The only thing we were remotely interested in was Rise of the Guardians in 3-d so that was our choice. It was 10pm and we were the only ones in our theater room - literally. It was so awesome!! After making-out during the previews (it's nice to act like teenagers sometimes, hehe) the show started and it was so fun. We really, really liked it. That was probably our favorite part of the trip. :)

Friday we did some Black Friday shopping, we went to a tree lighting festival and hung out. Saturday we went home but stopped at Ikea first. There Hubs found this gorgeous white pillow with a large purple flower and purple trim. I loved it!! So much so that I decided to change the house decor plans. I found purple curtains to match and a few accessories and was reassured by my loving husband that purple was okay with him. I'm very excited about it!

We got home a lot quicker than it took to get there. We went a different way and there was hardly any traffic that way. The rode winded through hills and old towns. It was a beautiful drive and reminded me of Arizona quite a bit.

Speaking of Arizona, I'm leaving to go there for two weeks. I'm very excited about that! My Brother and Sister-In-Law are having a baby girl!!!

Our new house

2012-10-30T12:49:00.000-07:00

We bought a house! It's a new construction and hasn't been built yet so instead of posting pictures of the house (or the empty lot) I'll post pictures of our plans!

Here is the floor plan we choose. In the kitchen we went with the island and optional cabinets. Part of the cabinets will have a built in desk. There will be a wood deck off of the nook. The second floor will have stairs to a third floor. The third floor is a going to be a large open room with a huge closet for storage.

The closing date is projected for Feb. 28th of next year. That's 4 months away but with all the upcoming holidays I'm hoping that time will go by quickly. I'm so excited, I've already decorated the first floor!

This is my decoration plan. It's rough but should give you a good idea of what I'm thinking. Box #1 shows the selections we made at the design center - carpet, hard wood floors, cabinets, and granite. Box #2 shows the color palette, pulling from the finishing, wall color (the background of the boxes) fabrics and furniture.

******UPDATE******

I've switched the color to a plum purple color and I'm in love!!

We are staying

2012-10-16T13:03:00.000-07:00

Hubs and I have been living in NC for 7 1/2 months now. We still love it here! The weather, the changing seasons (the tree in our front yard is bright red right now - so beautiful), the people - I could go on and on. The latest reason we love living here, we've discovered, is the housing prices. And that reason led to a huge breakthrough!

One night while we were discussing our future we decided to look at houses. We looked in Arizona and realized that we would not be able to afford anything we loved there, anytime soon. Same thing for Utah. Both of those states have been our 'goal'.

I was born and raised in a small AZ town and ever since getting married I wanted to move back - or at least within driving distance. I grew up within a mile of both my grandparents and very close to aunts, uncles and cousins. It was a great way to grew up and I wanted the same for my future children.

I have been bugging (okay, borderline nagging) my husband for five years for him to get a job over there but it hasn't happened. Five years is a long time to look for a job. He gets offers every single day for jobs in Orlando and now here in Raleigh, but nothing out west.

These facts used to get me so frustrated and disappointed. I have had this attitude of "when" and "then". When Hubs gets a job out west then I'll be closer to my family and then I'll be happy. When we move to AZ or UT then life will be perfect.

I am sick of that attitude! I AM happy right here and right now. Life is pretty perfect just as it is.

After looking at the housing market in our 'goal' areas we decided to look and see how it compares with here. Jaws flung to the floor and angels started singing. Seriously, after seeing the difference Hubs and I were deliriously laughing.

It was so simple. We love it here. We can afford a house we love here. We are staying. Staying for a very long time (or until the Lord wants us to move).

Birthday countdown

2012-09-18T11:19:00.000-07:00

My birthday is in less than a week. I'm so excited!! It's a day that I can do/buy whatever I want and not feel bad/guilty about it. I'm thinking about:

Gigi's Cupcakes

Boots

Briggs

Fall Wallflowers from B&BW

Gas at night

2012-08-13T11:57:00.001-07:00

A few hours ago, on Facebook, my sister told me I should update my blog more often and since I'm not doing anything right now it seems like the perfect time.

It's 5 am and I haven't been to sleep yet. I'm sitting in a fold up chair in our driveway. Hub's is out here too. I tried going to sleep at 2:30 (yes, I'm a night owl) but just as I was drifting off (which was probably around 3:30 - it takes me a long time) I was alarmed by something I smelt.

It was in the air. It was everywhere. Woke Hubs up but he didn't smell it. I roamed the house (all three floors) to try and figure out if I was going crazy. I was faint. Very faint, but undeniable nonetheless.

I went outside and took deep breaths.It started raining the lightest rain I had ever felt. Lighter than a sprinkle or snow. A sort of cotton candy kind of rain. The rain made me smile but worry more at the same time (I worry easily, but that is a testament to the strangeness). I went inside.

Gas. I could smell it, even stronger now. I slowly made my way to the stove. Shoving my head against the back wall I took a cautious breath. It smelt there too. A possible leak.

Did some research on Google. The house could blow up!

I woke up Hub's again, this time making him get out of bed. He didn't smell anything. Even at the stove he smelt nothing. Crazy I must be. But the smell wouldn't leave.

Hubs takes a turn on Google. Yes, it smells similar to rotten eggs. No I'm not certain, I've never lived in a house with gas before. Should we call the gas company? I don't know. Why don't you don't smell it? I start crying. He calls. Now we wait.

UPDATE: The gas company worker guy came in about an hour. He put on some booties and roamed the house with a ghost hunter like gas detector. Hubs and I stayed down-stairs. We heard foot-steps and banging. More footsteps. More banging (from the stove). He finally came down and told us he detected gas but wasn't sure where. After another go at it, he found the leak in the attic. He turned off the gas and told us what to do to fix it. Then he left.

We opened all the windows to air the house out. A few hours later, vindicated, exhausted and relieved, I finally fell sleep.

Another UPDATE: It's all fixed now!!

Missing

2012-07-23T18:17:00.000-07:00

It's almost time for my sister and mother (she's here now too, since last Saturday - so great!!) to go. Sad, sad day that will be. Thankfully the blow will be cushioned by the fact that Hubs and I are dropping them off at the airport and then heading out to Florida. Hub's birthday is in a few days and he wants to drive there to celebrate with his family and a soccer game with his old buddies.

I'm trying to focus on the later. Florida is not my favorite place, but being there is better then being alone in an empty house. Last summer when my sister came our home felt so empty - totally and completely - when she left. I am glad to miss that 'someone is missing' feeling this time around.

Though, I miss them both already so it might not work as hoped. But here's hoping!

My sister is here, still

2012-06-21T14:21:00.000-07:00

My sister has been living with Hubs and I for the past three weeks. Besides our move, it's been the best three weeks I've had all year!! We've basically been doing the same things we always do. For example:

I've still been working; answering email, designing, installing. All that fun stuff is still taking place.
Hubs has been working too. We still have bills and someone's got to pay them.
When Hubs comes home we still have dinner (however, cooking is easier and funner with Sister around, meals have been turning out better and she even helps out with the clean-up).
After dinner we all watch a movie or Hubs plays x-box while Sister and I watch Gilmore Girls (just like before but with one more person and one more pillow).
Since we only have one functioning car, we still limit our outing to Saturday. Shopping, grocery and otherwise, takes place on Saturday just like it always does. Eating out still happens on Saturday too (last week it was Red Robin - YUMMM!).
We still go to Church on Sunday. Same time and place and everything.
We even act and talk exactly the same when Sister is around. We aren't ashamed or embarrassed to be our silly selves (usually because Sister is being silly right along with us).

Nothing too exciting but just having her here is great. It's a bit scary how similar my sister and I are. She's good with slow and simple and lazy and boring. She fits right in to our lives, practically seamlessly.

I do miss Hubs more however. Even though we spend almost the exact same amount of time together it's not quite the same without it being just us two. I'm assuming that's how it's going to be when we have kids. Those of you with kids, if you have an answer, thought or opinion on that one feel free to share.

My sister is still here and I'm so HAPPY!!

Apex in the spring!

2012-04-11T11:13:00.005-07:00

I just love North Carolina (yes, I am a broken record).We live in Apex and it's perfect.

Right now it's SPRING!! Spring is great. The trees turning brilliant shades of white, pink and purple. It looks pretty much like this, in some spots.

Plus it's still wonderfully chilly outside. The AC doesn't need to be on. I sleep with a blanket. Our nightly walks around the neighborhood require jackets.

LOVE. LOVE. LOVE. Not looking forward to summer, but not thinking about that right now. Looking past it to fall and then winter. I hope we get snow!

Anticipation

2012-04-05T15:49:00.005-07:00

Anticipation slows time to a stop, or so it seems. You see, my sister, my clever, smart, silly, amazing, sweet as honey sister, is coming to visit us here in NC for the summer.

THRILLED!!!!! Does not begin to describe it.

Can you believe a teenager, in these days and times, would choose to visit ME for the summer? The plane ticket is her graduation gift. Instead of books or cd's or money or whatever else she could have gotten, she choose to come see me.

I think she likes me. Which is good cause I'm rather fond of her too.

She gets here in eight weeks and it's seeming like forever. But I am so happy in anticipation at the same time. I hope she likes it here as much as I do. :)

Only Tuesday

2012-03-13T12:32:00.005-07:00

Today is Tuesday and this week is already going by WAY TOO SLOW! p.s. my sister thought my last post was depressing. That was not my intention. Hubs read it. He like it. Said it was real and honest, not depressing. What do you think?

Something different, or the same

2012-03-01T12:02:00.002-08:00

As I sit here in front my beloved computer I put my feet up on the bars underneath my new and shiny glass desk. I contemplate. My day, my life, this blog. Occasionally I have dreams to make something more of it. All three of them, really. Acoustic music drones on in my right ear.

It reminds me of before. Of my brothers, Idaho, opportunities I should have made more of. Hindsight and my thoughts don't mix well. It only brings regret, and strangely, a desire to be back there.

Not really to fix it, more to just enjoy it. Because I did. I had those moments, those memories that drown me. And I want to be back there. Away from here. Away from this desire of more.

Random train of thought

2012-02-23T11:39:00.004-08:00

I'm in the mood for Mint Oreo's.

To bad we only have those yucky reduced fat ones.

Should probably eat lunch soon, or breakfast for that matter.

I'll just wait till dinner.

Pumpkin pasta stuff - yum!

I miss Hubs, he works too much.

Talked to my grandma today.

I miss her.

My ear hurts from the phone.

Do cell phones cause cancer?

I think I'm addicted to Pinterest.

Pinning right now.

You should follow me on Pinterest

You should "like" me on facebook too!!

Have a great day all!!

Perfect Sunday

2012-02-21T13:10:00.003-08:00

Sunday was absolutely perfect!

First church with Hubs and our friends Sara and Sean. Felt the Spirit while taking the sacrament, had FUN in Sunday School thanks to our awesome teacher and relaxed in Relief Society. (Is it just me or doesn't Relief Society have that relaxing feeling to it? There is something about being sounded by woman who, even though you don't really know them, would help you when and however they could.)

Once home, Hubs took a nap while I coooked my first ever pot roast. It took hours and hours but it was SO YUMMY!! Sara and Sean came over to visit. I made a strawberry shortcake that was really light and fluffy and oh so good, which we all enjoyed.

The best part of the day? When IT STARTED TO SNOW. It snowed and snowed and snowed. We went out in it multiple times, me bear foot of course. Because snow is like sand; it's best experinced without shoes and in dance.

The only time I enjoy dancing is in the kitchen with Hubs or bearfoot in the snow with big flakes falling all around me. It was magical. The perfect ending to a perfect day.

P.S. PLEASE LIKE DreamUp Studios ON FACEBOOK ---->

Optimism instead of tears

2012-02-13T02:24:00.000-08:00

Wake up at 4:30 this morning due to a nightmare about black bleeding eyes (like in Hero's, even though I haven't seen or thought of that in 6 months). Grab my phone and read my work emails - that tends to distract my mind. But then I saved something as a draft and couldn't get it back in my inbox. If it's not in my inbox I will forget to send it. So out of bed and to my office I went to correct the issue. While at the computer I decided it was time to check my feed. It had been months.

For the first time, since ever, I read post after post of cute imaginative kids and precious innocent babies - and I didn't cry. I wasn't even sad about it. I smiled and laughed and had thoughts of "when" instead of "I wish". There were Christmas posts there mind you (yes, I told you I was behind). And nothing. Not a tear.

It was refreshing. I want to see it as a sign that 1.) I'm growing up and learning to deal with difficult things or 2.) a baby is in our near future. Of course either of these is okay. Heavenly Father has a plan for my life and I'm content accepting that plan, whatever it may be. But boy, it would be great if BOTH of these were the case, especially the later.

And finally on a totally unrelated note - Happy Valentine's Day tomorrow!! Please watch out for our DreamUp Studios post later - we need your help if you want to win $200 worth of services. :)

Blessings unfold

2012-02-13T01:42:00.000-08:00

We are here in Raleigh NC. I LOVE it! The weather is terrific, having all different kinds of plants and hills around is peaceful, the stars are bright, our rental house is gorgeous. I can breath; no more humidity for me. The shopping is great, we found a frozen custard place called Goodberry's, it's delish!! Having an LDS temple 5 minutes away is amazing and no longer having to drive 1/2 hour plus to church rocks.

Before we moved here I wanted out of Florida - that was apparent. But I also knew coming here would be beneficial to us, though I didn't know why. We've been here a little over a week and we are already starting to see the why's.

1. We feel like grown-ups. Seeing as we are not "young" anymore - this is a good thing. We have motivation to make and stick to a budget and do other grow-up things.

2. I feel like we are finally HOME. It's like the last five years was a long vacation, I realize I was in a 'just visiting' mindset that whole time. Here it's a fresh start for both of us.

3. The most important one so far is this: Hub's has found a heart doctor who is awesome! He's totally professional unlike Hub's old doctor. He's already found a drug that is working. Yay, yay yay!!

I can't wait to see what other blessings Raleigh has in store for us.

PS: I schedualed this post to post last week - it didn't. Stupid Blogger.