Tuesday, June 29, 2010

small things that make it worth while

Somethings just make me all warm and happy inside.

Like...
*hugs, big bear hugs-tight but welcoming
*chocolate, brownies, homemade greatness
*phone calls- even if its just to catch up
*wine
*going to the movies, even if its just me
*being remembered
*the beach- oh how I miss it
*mini vacations
*my love's- Malissa, Chad, my babies Eze and Edina
*hearing "I love you," it means so much coming from a huge family
*cleaning- something about getting everything so fresh and clean makes me feel great
*a great run
*new life
*new clothes
*hot summer days- although a see sooooo many from my desk at work
*great books
*knowing I accomplished something
*adventures
*a great piece of salmon, steak, chicken, tofu-whatever it is as long as its great
*family
*having muscles to flex-even if they are not grand
*getting dolled up from head to toe
*a great massage
*figuring out the answer
*being complimented
*having an artistic vision & completing it
*great music
*flowers- I get that from my mom, but I love them in my vases while she likes them in her yard
*great dreams

Saturday, June 26, 2010

still alive

Another week has passed and although I have thought plenty of times through the week that I need to blog I somehow was distracte by my book, house stuff or just exhausted in general.  I have updated my layout, although I am still not very savvy at it just yet but change is good. 

In the last week I have accomplished grocery shopping by list and shopping at different stores for their prices-we will find out soon enough if I am in fact saving any money.  Shopping for 2 people is quite hard considering that Darren is very much the picky eater.  But also shopping in which nothing gets wasted.  I have found that Darren only eats the bananas, while I have been trying to eat the plums, peaches and apples on my own without them going bad.  And its kinda working, although I did have to throw out about 3 different pieces of fruit.  Still working on organizing the house, getting things in order then of course having to move them to fix up areas is going to be the worst part.  When Darren gets to the kitchen in the next couple of weeks, moving everything out while trying to tile then let that sit before we can move the new cabinets in is going to be hard.  I can see the boxes in the living room already.  It will be interesting though. 

I am Still working on gathering my sepia images that will be framed and hung in the office.  It was originally going to be black and white but with the colors coming in decor wise, sepia will fit much better.  So I have some moments to capture.  I have found that I am afraid to hang things on the wall, I have the art work and just making it all work together is becoming quite hard and now that the walls are so nicely painted I do not want to put holes in the walls.  Hopefully I can make the 3m command work for me and make minimal holes for the heavier items. 

We have used the kitchen table several times now, eating a few times, making lists, looking over paint colors for the bathrooms.  We have ideas for it but just have to get some samples and soon enough the half bath will be painted and ready to be used.  Then onto the full bath and kitchen.  Hopefully dad will come back up and get to work on some more things with Darren. 

Got to get going, still have some cleaning and moving of furniture from Greenwood to the house.  Busy days, they are good!

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

IT is official

It is official, I have completed my change of address form and now live in a house, with Darren.  I kinda slacked on the whole submitting a form to change my address as I had made sure the most important ones, like my bank account, and bills were changed but somehow I was still having mail arrive and Jess has been keeping it for me until I can get to it.  The house to the South side in Greenwood is a long drive that I have been avoiding but possibly this weekend we will make the trip to pick up the few remaining items such as the couch, a one person couch/chair, the card table with chairs and the television.  Which means we have to rent a moving truck of some sort to get it all moved in one day and avoid multiple trips that would be too much on the truck and also not make me happy using all that fuel. 

I started running again, I used to despise running and in some ways still do but when I moved back home it was the only thing that was just me by myself.  A great way to burn some steam, think and just move at my own pace while listening to the wonderful tunes from my ipod.  And when I moved to Greenwood it was a good way to get out of the apartment, work my heart and not pay for a gym membership.  In the past 4 days I have ran 3 times and in that time the course has changed just due to trying to get my heart rate up and also get back into full running condition.  Right now I am doing a run/walk/jog system so that I can go into my pace that keeps me comfortable while also working my body.  There may be a need to start changing my eating habits, like adding more healthy snacks at work so that I can work out when I get home rather than rush Darren for dinner.  I also need to drink more than just water, I usually have at least 2 bottles through the work day but only 1 at home in the evening.  I really Love Smart Water, from the container to the no added flavor.  I used to inhale Gatorade, mostly the Frost flavors but over time have become kind of burnt out on it like Mountain Dew.  Although I do like to take swigs from Darren's drinks when I need something with flavor, we are both Pepsi people so it works out nicely and although not all of his sports drinks feed my need its nice to change it up.  So we will see how much I can continue with my runs, soon I will be stopping at a park and doing my leg workouts and arms, kind of like a circuit workout so that I can run from one bench to another changing up what I want my focus to be.  Still on the hunt for a great gym that has no lines, a pool and a variety of machines to maximize my muscle toning. 

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Upgrade

So sometimes we need to "upgrade" ourselves, and I am not talking about plastic surgery or botox but also am not opposed.  I am talking about ourselves in the sense of our inner selves, to work on the inside so that the outside reflects your inner workings.  Darren and I had a great conversation tonight, working on our relationship and different ways to become better people for each other in our relationship.  I had to call an intervention/damge control, as I want to make sure that I am doing my best in our relationship and finding ways to make sure that we stay in a happy and healthy relationship.  Being the thinker that I am I often overthink, over-anylyze and make nothing into something.  My relationship with Darren has found me in a negative state at times and for reasons that make no sense in the end.  I had a plan, life plans change, we change, and sometimes we stay the same when life around us is changing.  I can be stuck on my plans for myself when there are now two of us, two people that need to be one team to move forward and make it through the real, tough things in life. 
We each wrote down what we wanted for ourselves, positive things that will not only help ourselves but also our relationship.  Things to work towards.  Actions whether they are objects, words or actions, to help us help each other and small workings of gratitude.  I hope that makes sense, cause it does to me. 
The one thing we do well is communicate, even if it takes us a moment and we need to breathe away from one another.  So I will be working on myself and becoming a better partner, being on the same team as Darren- For now we will call it the B-D team, although I cannot stand hyphens.  But its the two of us.  Sometimes it takes another person to call you out on your bad aspects but it can be to only make you better.

Friday, June 4, 2010

Down to one

So I know its been awhile but believe me the thoughts have not ceased in any way.  What has now occurred is the complete transition of moving out of the apartment and into Darren's house.  We cleaned up the garage and apartment this past Monday as he had to turn in his keys and garage opener and the mess has made a home in the garage at the house.  And we just got internet on Wednesday night, ah how I love wireless.

Things are starting to come along nicely in the house, walls are painter, some floors are done and since Darren is out of school for the summer he spent this week on the lawn and small projects around the house.  I am also super happy that, thanks to my dad, we now have a working stove.  The new appliances came in last Thursday and the fridge has been up and running, so while my family was in town dad helped Darren get it connected showed him how to check for gas leaks and also inspected the rest of the house.  Dad got pretty excited about all the work that he could do, my dad is pretty handy when it comes to household tasks and cars.  Things are starting to shape up.  The big projects include the bathrooms, kitchen and eventually the basement.  Smaller projects such as putting in baseboards, spot painting, changing doors and others should soon be done.  My dad got so excited about the back door that we need to change, I am sure he told me about 5 times that I should have let him know because he needs some type of saw that he has at home to cut through the frame in order to get through the nails.  In fact he is most likely coming down tonight to get working on those things tomorrow.  Dad will also come in very useful when it comes to putting up sheetrock in the basement and grouting the tile we picked out for the kitchen and bathrooms but he is not excited about grouting.  Darren too is happy that dad is excited as it means more things will get done between the two of them and he should be saving quite a bit of money on labor.  I will take progress photos once some artwork goes up on the walls. 

This weekend Darren and I have been together for 2 whole years now, which seems crazy considering most days it feels like more-which is a good thing.  About 3 days before I let Darren know that we should not make a big deal out of it, I have been in a relationship where the milestones were celebrated but I am not that same person.  I wanted him to not worry and do whatever he wanted, last year he got me a great pair of dangling earrings and matching bracelet.  This year I had been planning his gift since before his birthday but saved it for an anniversary gift since it would could not be stored safely before we got to the house.  I surprised him with a cornhole set, his friend makes them and he painted on the Ball State University letters and the cardinal head you see all over Indiana on those not so smart public school kids.  j/k.  Ps IF I ever reproduce that child will NOT own anything Ball State and if it does it will never be worn.  Needless to say Darren loved the gift and it was not expected at all, he has been saying since last football season that he was going to have one made and usually he gets what he needs/wants right away, one of the few times I beat him to the punch.

The race went well, Darren bought me a seat to sit next to him instead of the infield and it was a nice view.  I have become quite comfortable in seats thanks to all the races we have been to, this seats do not beat some of the road course seats we have, but they are to be upgraded for next year. 

Some photos of the weekend while my family was in town, somehow baby Eze was not around for any pictures.
My mom in the center, Luz on the Left and baby Edina on the right.  Tegan laughing.  We went to the track to show my family around, it was hot so and Tegan was hungry so while we walked I covered her up with a small blanket and fed her, she was still eatingw while we took our tour on the bus around the track to hear some of the history.  Then of course dad with Tegan, he can get kind of excited about her.
Check out those eyes!