Safe and Sound

Husband is home! Yayyyyyyy!!!!!! Yesterday I couldn't get home faster, I was weaving in and out of traffic and racing to see Phil. Life is so much better when husband is home.

Good food, Great company

Since Phil is still gone I wanted to go out to dinner with people last night. My brother, Bobby, and my sis-in-law Becky came to my rescue. We dined at George’s Greek restaurant in Long Beach and it was gooood! There is a drink filler-upper guy that works there, and that loves his job. The restaurant was pretty full, but everyone’s glasses never were below 75% full. It was amazing! I’d literally take 3 drinks of my water then filler-upper would rush over and fill it to the brim again! I think I was overly hydrated after dinner only because I was entertained so I kept drinking my water super fast to see how long it would take the guy to filler-up again! He might have thought I was part camel. I get that a lot.

Phamly Night

Yesterday I made my, 3 month old, niece Chloe laugh!!! Not once but twice!!  Can you tell how excited I am with all these explanation marks!?!!! Chloe has laughed before but never for me; apparently she didn’t get my humor before yesterday. Now she totally gets me.

After dinner I played Pirate-opoly with my nephew Vincent. Now if you’ve never played this Pirate and Monopoly mix you are missing out! I laughed so hard that I couldn’t breathe. Now in my book, laughing that hard equals a good time. In case you were interested I won. Yipee! You might be wondering why I didn’t let Vincent win. Well, Vincent wins most games because I honestly think he is smarter than me already. Last night I rocked Pirate-oploy though. Yay for competitive Aunt Laura!

6 days

This weekend was different than most weekends because Phil is in Vegas for 6 days for a trade show. Doesn’t his company realize that we are newlyweds? 6 days is a long time without my Mr.!

6 days without husband means a few things…

1.       I cook less. And when I say less I mean not at all. I’ll be going over to my sisters to have her cook for me every night. Big sisters love to feed little sisters. Right?

2.       I have been catching up on my girlie movies. Father of the Bride II was the first on my list and let me just say, I laughed out loud through most of that movie! Steve Martin and Martin Short should let me hangout with them. If you hangout with people wittier than you, does it make you funnier?

3.       I play my guitar a LOT more. When husband is around I get distracted by his adorable manliness, so when he is gone I’ll play for hours! Well, maybe 1 hour, but who’s counting.

4.       I take our evening walks alone. Sounds depressing I know, but I’m really just trying to get a little sympathy. Do you feel bad for me?? Good, so come over, keep me company, and walk with me!

5.       Fall closet cleaning is officially finished! Now I do closet cleaning every season. My motto is when in doubt, throw it out. Or give it away. Whichever is appropriate. No one wants my old socks right? I have a few tang tops that I’ve had for a while that are coffee stained, just ugly, and no one would ever want them but I haven’t had the heart to throw them away. Does anyone else get attached to their clothes like that? Hmmmm, maybe it’s just me. My closet before and after pics are below. It might not seem like a huge difference to you, but to me it’s night and day.



Hi....you?

Don’t you hate it when you are supposed to know someone’s name and you completely blank? Someone you should know their name. Someone you’ve known for 10 years but haven’t seen in a while. Well, I went to visit my old church last night and this happened not once, not twice, but several times. The conversations went something like this….

Unknown name person, “Hi Laura! Wow, I haven’t seen you in so long, how are you!?”

Me, “Oh hi…….(long awkward pause while I stare at them with my face contorted straining to remember who this familiar face is) ummm YOU! I’m great…..” still staring trying to figure their name out.

Phil, knowing I’ve forgot completely, “Hi, I’m Phil, what’s your name?”

Unknown name person, “I’m Julie.” Julie totally knows I forgot her name.

Me, jumping in like I know that, “Oh yea this is my husband Phil, sorry for not introducing you, where’s my brain today?”

Then we small talk and awkward side-hugs are exchanged. Then Phil and I were off, to talk to more people….. more people I know….. but don’t know….but should know. I think I need to start taking my Ginkgo Biloba.

95% of the time, everytime

If anyone knows me, you know I love coffee. My coffee traveler cup might be my best friend. I’ve been drinking coffee for years. I drink it black because I love the different tastes of different blends. I drink at least 2 cups in the morning, 1 in the afternoon, and sometimes 1 in the evening. Now, let me mention that I drink tons of water throughout the day too, so I’m not overly dehydrating my body to the point of death. Thanks for your concern though.

Now since people know that I love coffee, they assume they should always make me a cup if I come over. Generally this is a fantastic idea. I’d say 95% of the time I’m on board. Keep the coffee goodness coming, and don’t let me see the bottom of that coffee cup! There are those rare occurrences when I don’t want a cup though. I’ll go over to someone’s house and they have made a whole pot of coffee just for me. A whole pot! That’s about 10 cups of coffee! Then often no one else there wants any so I have to drink some just because it was made for me. *Sigh*

Coffee, I love you, but sometimes I need a little space. Sorry, I sometimes choose green tea over you. 



Loooong Weekend

This weekend was busy, to say the least. Friday night husband and I double-dated with our oh so stylish, friends Nathan and Melinda. We took them to a famous little hole in the wall café near our house. We all ate like gluttons, laughed from our belly’s, played a little scrabble (Phil and I are an old couple and make our friends play scrabble with us) and never felt better about it.

Saturday through Sunday, Phil and I took care of our adorable nephew James. Yes through, we had this little handsome overnight, and we rocked it!! This little guy had my heart before but after this weekend it’s lost forever.

Sunday Phil and I MC’d our churches Fall Kick-Off Event. I don’t want to toot our own horn here, but “toot toot!” The event included dunking for apples, a pie bake off, watermelon eating contest, truck pushing contest, and oh so much more. I would have taken a few pics but I was too busy running around like a mad-woman. Needless to say, our weekend was absolutely phenomenal. I do however need a weekend, from my weekend. Does that make sense? No? Oh well, it’s Monday!

Flowers are a Girl's Bestfriend

I know the saying is “Diamonds are a Girl's Bestfriend”, but I’m not that fancy. The only diamond I own is the one Phil saved for months to buy, my lovely wedding ring! If I never own another diamond for the rest of my life I’m completely satisfied with this beauty. Flowers are much more my pace. For me, flowers from husband can turn a hard or stressful day (or week!) right around. They only ever last a week, probably because I'm like the Of Mice and Men character Lennie, so I touch all of them and hug them until their petals start to fall off. But during those few days that they are still alive, they make a room look so cheery. Everytime I walk past them I smile too! Phil surprised me with much needed flowers yesterday. I’m one lucky gal.

Slow learner

I guess I should know this already, but apparently guys, whether they are age 7, or 24  would rather be called handsome, rugged, or manly, rather than cute, or adorable. Yesterday, husband put on his new shirt and I said, “Ooo you look cute!”

Phil replied, “Don’t you mean rugged and manly?”

Me, “Ummm yes?!”

Note to self, husband wants to be called rugged and manly. He did look pretty cute in that shirt though.

Looks like I might be a slow learner.

Sarcastic Wednesday

I'm sure something interesting or funny happened in my day yesterday. However I can't remember anything since its 7am and I'm only on my first cup of coffee. Okay third, but who's counting?!

If you have ever worked in an office, walked through an office, or have even watched The Office you'll get a kick out of this video. I stumbled upon a few years back. It still cracks me up!

If for some reason you can't see the video, here is the link www.youtube.com/watch?v=N76JJYD0FL4

Should have bought 2 pairs

You know when you buy a pair of work pants and you LOVE them so much that you wear them every day? Then one day you are in the middle of a conversation with co-worker and something practically fly’s through the air, then you and co-worker watch it roll away thinking, “What’s that shinny, round object?” Then as co-worker so graciously picks it up, suddenly in horror, you realize it’s your pant button. The only pant button holding your pants up! That didn't happen to you yesterday? Oh right, it was me. Should have bought 2 pairs.

Don’t worry, Lisa, my sister came to the rescue and I’m wearing the pants again today. I’ll never learn.



The Good, Bad and Just Weird

I hope everyone had a good weekend! Phil and I went to Oregon to visit Grandma Sims and we had a blast! There were several things that were well… different in Oregon than in Long Beach. I’ve categorized them as the Good, Bad and Just Weird. Enjoy!

GOOD

1.       You don’t have to pay for plastic bags at the grocery store! I almost put each item in a separate bag just because I could!

2.       People are polite while driving. Not us of course because we still had to represent the LBC!

3.       All yard services include blackberry bush maintenance. There were TONS and TONS of blackberry bushes filled with ripe blackberries. I wanted to stop every five minutes while driving and pick more blackberries. People started to look at me funny when I wandered into their backyards shoving handfuls of blackberries into my mouth.

4.       It’s illegal to pump your own gas! I felt like VIP! However, the lady that was helping us hated her job so it took us like 20 mins to get gas. Also, Phil and I stared at her the whole time because we were excited, so she may have just thought we were creepers.

BAD

1.       Jerky is a main aisle item at the grocery store. Husband was excited. Me, not so much.

2.       “Judy’s” was just an average store in Oregon. Offering home décor, stoves and sheet metal. Saves a trip to Home Depot!

3.       Every restaurant we went to was decorated with “Saw Art.” Husband now wants to redecorate. No bueno.

JUST WEIRD

1.       A guy offered me the newspaper to read to which I politely declined. I told him I read the news online. He replied, “Oh you all are so futuristic, I like pictures while reading the news.” Hmmm?

2.       Stores sell an interesting variety of items and services…. yes, this was the same business.

3.       People leave their dogs in their cars (in 100 degree weather, with one window slightly cracked). If this happened in Long Beach someone would call the cops. FOR SURE!

Oh and I chopped my hair off this weekend. It’s shorter than I thought it was going to be, but husband likes it so it’s all good!

Before...

After...

Cougar

Phil and I are in Oregon visiting Grandma Sims and since we didn’t drive we needed to rent a car. Now it’s a good thing that I came along because…. Husband can’t rent a car without me. Why you ask? Because he is 24, and the legal car-renting-age is 25, which to me is amusing. You can get your driver’s license at 16, buy that much anticipated Lotto ticket at 18, and start a major gambling habit at 21, but can’t rent a motorized vehicle that you’ve been driving for years until you are 25! Just sayin’ it’s amusing.

Now I know what you’re thinking, if Phil is not of age to rent a car then there is NO WAY Laura is old enough! She looks so young and youthful. Well, thank you, thank you for your kind thoughts via blog-universe BUT it just so happens I’m ever so slightly older than him. How much older??? I know you will be shocked, but I’m 2 years older, okay I'm lying. I'm 2.5 years older! I’ll admit it, I’m a cougar.

Sharing is Caring

Dinner is always better when you can have a bite (or two, or three) of someone else’s plate right? Well husband strongly disagrees. Granted this happens on a daily basis, but whenever we go places and people offer us a drink or a dessert I always answer, “No thanks, I’ll just have a bite of Phil’s.” Now my every intention is to have just one bite or drink of Phil’s. Sadly I never have just one.  Sad for Phil of course, victory for me. I think.

Last night this very thing happened. Phil and I were at Bible study and the hostess offered beverages. Phil went to get one, which to me means Share Time! He glanced over at me and said, “Would you like something?” Me, with the sweetest smile I could muster said, “No thanks, I’ll just have a sip of yours!” (**Insert smirk and eye roll from husband here****) After probably 3 refills I thought….. “Maybe I should have got my own drink.” Oh well, there is always next time!

Live to Work

Meetings at my office are different than other offices. They often make me feel like everyone in the meeting (besides me of course) has taken crazy pills. Or maybe it was me that took crazy pills. Either way, I often disagree with the ideas presented.  A meeting I recently was in was a lecture by the CEO to the managers about how we are supposed to “Live to Work” and not “Work to Live.” Now, you may be thinking, “….hmmm, I thought the saying is Work to Live, not Live to Work.” And you would be right! Oddly enough, everyone in the meeting completely agreed with him. “Yes, we need to live to work!” Boss man then asked me to explain the difference between the two, which of course I was happy to oblige, hoping it would change his lecture drastically. No such luck! The lecture continued. Crazy pills I tell you.

Now, in case you weren’t aware of what I do, and you thought I was in the business of saving lives or de-worming orphans in Africa. Let me set the record straight. I work for a company that sells toner. Now ladies don’t get excited, not the girl face powder also called toner. We sell the toner that goes into your printer. Needless to say, during that meeting my facial expression was one of annoyance and confusion.  

If you were wondering, I have decided to not focus my life on toner.

Sorry boss man, I choose to work to live.

Glow Worm

I hope everyone had a fantastic Labor Day weekend! Phil and I went to a BBQ at our church and had a blast chattin’ it up with people, and hanging out with my favorite niece Chloe (in the pics). Don’t worry, she is my only niece, I’m not ignoring some sweet baby girl anywhere.

During the BBQ a friend and her husband were hanging out with us when I noticed their baby was wrapped like something I’ve seen before. That’s right, a glow worm! Did you ever have the pleasure of owning a glow worm doll? I hope so, because those dolls were A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. Anyways, apparently saying, “Your baby looks like a glow worm!” three or four times in one night is inappropriate. Who knew?!?

Whoa, whoa, whoaaaaa!

Have you ever been in the passenger side of the car and the driver doesn’t see someone pulling out in front of you? Before those moments happen, I always think I will say something brilliant and absolutely poised to Phil. “Husband, a car is veering into our lane and might cause damage to our vehicle.” Umm, who am I kidding!?! Last night hubs and I were driving home and a car started to pull out in front of us. Instead of saying anything remotely helpful I yelled “Whoa, whoa whoaaaaaaa!!!!” Why did I yell, you ask? It’s hard to say.  Needless to say, we avoided collision with the car because of Phil’s cat-like reflexes. Whew, glad my whoa, whoa, whoaaaa helped save our lives! You’re welcome husband.

This picture was taken several weeks back, but I wear this outfit more often than I should. I’m not going to tell you how often. Okay, fine!!! Every other week….maybe every week. Maybe.

Have a wonderful and relaxing Labor Day weekend! Stay safe out there friends!

Late Night Grocery Shopping

Grocery shopping after bible study on Wednesday has become our routine lately. Some weeks Phil and I are just tired so we decide to adios grocery shopping….which means we are often out of our favorite foods. Not fun when you are craving chocolate covered Acai berries at 11pm! Don’t judge, they are delicious! Although, if we skip a week of grocery shopping, then the next week we need to buy twice as much. This means I get to watch Phil use his arm buffness to carry them up to our apartment. Let’s be honest, that’s my favorite part of grocery shopping!