The root of all evil

Money.

I don't talk about this much around here,

partially because it's boring,

but quite frankly because it's none of the interwebs business.

Well lately it's taken a toll on me, so here goes nothing.

We're trying to climb ourselves out of a hole.

A few careless choices in our {invincible} youth combined with unpaid maternity leave and the purchasing of a {money pit} home and well...it is what it is.

But we're learning from our mistakes and we're {slowly} making progress.

Even when some days it feels like we'll never see the end of it.

It's meant some sacrifices on our part.

We don't really travel much with the exception of trips to see family.

We rarely go out to eat....or buy unnecessary, frivolous things.

We've put off a lot with fixing the house.
Heck we've even put off a 2nd child because quite frankly, 2 in daycare just isn't happening.
But I'm ok with all these things.
{most of the time} 
We got ourselves into this mess and now we're paying for it.
{Literally}
The only people it's really affecting is us.
We're the ones making the sacrifices.

Until now.

Because now it's affecting someone outside of our little family of 3.
My best friend.
You see she's finally found her prince charming and getting hitched!
In Mexico.
And no matter how many times we crunch the numbers, without maxing out a credit card or selling a vital organ....it's not happening.
I won't be watching my best friend say "I do."
And I hate it.
I hate that I can't return the favor and shower her like she did for me when I got married.
I hate that I'm letting her down.
And I really hate that someone else now has to be disappointed because of my financial {or lack there of} status.

Money.  It really is the root of all evil.

Grab some wine and stay awhile

Things have been feeling a little blah round these parts.

A little uninspiring.

Hoping a little blog makeover will get the creative juices -a-flowin' again!!

Thank you Katie for beautifying my little corner of the Interwebs!

I love it!

So all you lurkers over there in Google Reader come check out my new space

It's fabulous.

Cause we all need a little sunshine sometimes

Yesterday was gorgeous!

Like late April/early May kinda weather.

So instead of heading off to this new INDOOR play place I discovered,

we thought we should take advantage and soak up a little vitamin D!

Considering the little MR. took a THREE hour nap when we got home,

I'll say it was a success all around!

 {And yes dad, we also took down the Christmas lights}



That's all she wrote

Winter finally decided to show up this week and I'd be lying if I wasn't giddy as a school girl to wake up to a fresh blanket of snow.  Now that it's happened once however?  It's out of my system and I'm officially ready for spring!  Too bad it's still weeks {and weeks} away!

My current obsession?  Hunter boots with welly socks.  I want a pair so bad I can taste it.  But the price tag?  No thanks.  Plus I don't know I could pick a color, so many to choose!

I got Jamie some new bath stuff by Mustela.  Holy crap that stuff smells delicious.  It's not as good as Aveeno though in terms of keeping the dry skin at bay.  Sadz.  Looks like we'll be switching back to the boring ole scent free stuff.

Speaking of bath stuff.  Did you know Suave has a Professional line?  I'm kind of a self-proclaimed shampoo snob, but when I saw I could get their "Aveda" shampoo AND conditioner in GIANT pump bottles for FIVE dollars at Tar-Jay I thought what the heck.  If it totally sucks I'm only out 5 bucks.  Ummm, it's fabulous.  My hair is so soft and the frizzies have even calmed down.  Sold.

Ever since my friend Jess posted about the Color Run in Kansas City, I've been itching to sign up.  Me.  I hate running.  But it looks so fun I think I may just do it.  It's not until mid June.  Surely I can train for a 5K by then.

Our Valentine's Day was uneventful.  In fact Jamie was having a hard time going to sleep, so we didn't even eat dinner together.  How's that for romance?  Thankfully my husband doesn't partake in any form of social media so he was quite content with his Ben and Jerry's and not wondering where his pinterest inspired homemade Valentine and chocolate covered strawberries were!

Speaking of Pinterest.  Have you noticed since it came around every woman thinks they're the next Martha Stewart?  Shit I tried one wreath and gave up half way through.  I hate crafting.  That's what Etsy is for.  You make it, I'll buy it.  As for Pinterest,  I'll stick to the recipe boards.

Jamie has a cold.  Now my throat is feeling scratchy.  Yay.

That's all I got for this cold, rainy Wednesday.
Happy Hump Day Friends!

He Said/She Said: Our Love Story

I've seen this little survey from Mrs. to Mama floating around the blogosphere and thought what better way to celebrate Valentine's Day than to share our love story.

But you've all heard about it from me, so to mix it up I emailed these questions to the man behind the story.

That's right.  You get to hear his side of it all!  Mr. EyeCanSee's official blog debut!

And because I always have to add my 2 cents....I may have included my own commentary as well!

Think of it as He said/She said...the Valentine's edition.

1. How long have you and your significant other been together?
5 years

{Yep!  Our first date was March 23, 2007}

2. How did you meet? {What's your "love" story?}
We met on Match.com.  I was her last "pick" to keep her free membership alive.  We talked once maybe twice on AIM (oh yeah keepin' it old school) then I decided we should meet for lunch.  Unfortunately, I had to be in court all afternoon (I was a Paralegal for the Justice Department), so the only best time was 11:00.  I chose a restaurant close to my work.  I had a great view of it so I stared out of the window with a fellow co-worker wondering if every girl walking by the restaurant was her.  Finally, after a few minutes of looking out of the window I saw a girl walk to the front door and turn around.  Needless to say I was hooked.

{Bahaha.  Last pick. 
Back then Match had these requirements where you had to contact so many people a month to qualify for their "don't find someone in 6 months, you get 6 months for free" gimmick. 
I had to email one more person to meet my goal and yes he happened to be that lucky #5. 
To my defense, I would have messaged him sooner, but his profile said he wanted a petite, slender blond which I am most certainly not. 
As luck would have it, I threw caution to the wind.}

3. If married, how long have you been married?
We just celebrated our 2 year anniversary.

{Ummm...actually hun, it's 3 years. 

But who's counting....husband fail.}

4. If you are married, where did you get married at? Big or small wedding?
Our wedding was medium sized if I have to give it a size rating.  We were married in Columbus, Ohio, at the first catholic church in Columbus.  The reception was at the Westin, also in Columbus.

{He failed to mention that it was AWESOME.}

5. Do you have any nick-names that you call one another?
Hun and babe.

{I actually started calling him "Hun" so frequently,

my mom joked he didn't have a real name}

6. Name 3 things you love most about your honey.
Well she probably thinks that I am going to say she does my laundry, cooks my meals, and watches my kid, but....

{True story. 

I often joke he didn't need a wife. 

Just a cook and maid}

I am going to have to say I love her brown (but really green) eyes, I love her strong  and sometimes intimidating self (she gets from her mom), and I love how her intentions are always with the family in mind.

{When we first started dating we were watching some movie with Cameron Diaz in it and he kept going on and on about how amazing her blue eyes were. 
Barf. 
Fed up, I closed my eyes, turned to him and asked if he even knew what color mine were. 
He stumbled a second and said "Brown?" 
I just started laughing because if you've ever met me my eyes are a pretty pale green. 
Not even hazel. 
And most certainly NOT brown. 
Ever since it's been a joke that I'm his brown (green) eyed girl.}

7. Tell us how you proposed?
There is really not enough room for that.  Let's just say it involves multiple airplane flights, multiple states, multiple people and one really determined husband.

{It was pretty awesome.  

We had planned to go to dinner at the restaurant where we had our first date.

  (Though this time he didn't have to stalk me from his office building) 

When we got there I saw both our families there to help celebrate! 

I was totally surprised! 

Though he left out the oh so romantic tid bit, that the actual down on one knee asking....

happened in our bathroom. 

That's just how we roll.}

8. Are you a flowers and teddy bear kind of guy for v-day, or strawberries, champagne, and rose petals?
Flowers.  She can enjoy them longer.

{Word.

Plus Pro Flowers rocks. 

Those things last for-ev-er!

I on the other hand bought him chicken wings for our first Valentines Day. 

Ro-mance!}

9. Are you a sunset dinner on the beach kind of guy, or pop a movie in and relax on the couch?
Well if we lived near the beach I would totally be down for that but if not movie and the couch are always good.  Either one would mean that she would have to get off her phone!

{Touche.  He does always yell at me

to get off my phone when we watch

movies}

10. Tell us one thing you'd like to do with your significant one day.
If you could do anything? Go anywhere?
Scotland and the Greek Isles!  Alaskan cruise!!

{Sounds good to me!

When are we leaving?}

11. Tell us what you plan on doing on this Valentine's Day.
Work but maybe dinner and a movie.

{Probably not. 

We dropped the ball on that whole finding a babysitter thing.

How does leftover tacos sound?}

12. Are you asking for anything this Valentine's day?
Nope.

{In that case I'll take two gifts.
Just kidding.  I went all out this year
and bought him exactly what he asked for.
A fat cow.}

13. Give us one piece of advice of keeping a relationship strong and
full of love.
Communication.  Feel free to write that one down.

{I concur.

Oh and jewelry helps too} 

14.  Show us a picture of what love means to you.
You're going to laugh when you see what picture I sent.
But you'll probably be the only one who gets it.

 

{......nope.  Apparently you're the only one who gets it.

But it did make me laugh.  Cause what's funnier than a picture

of the movie Valentine's Day ON Valentine's Day.  Only you hubs,

only you.}

Happy Valentine's Day friends!
Mr and....

I think we stop counting in months now

So as of last Thursday my baby toddler turned 18 months.

That's a year and a half people.

I told my dad that probably means I have to stop counting his age in months, but he told me it's perfectly acceptable until 2.  So I'm going with that.

Anything to keep him little as long as I can. 

Especially after buying him some 24mos and 2T clothes for spring/summer.

Seriously.  Who is this man child and where's my baby?

His little personality is really starting to shine through.

He loves to dance.  And run.  And chase the dog.

He talks nonstop.  Learning new words everyday.

Honestly.  Everyday. 

{Which means we probably need to watch those frequent occasional F bombs}

He imitates everything.  It's hilarious and adorable all at the same time.

He's also become Mr. Independent.  Which isn't always a good thing.

The tantrum throwing is in full force.  Full out screaming, on the floor, kicking.

He's learned this new "trick" where if he doesn't want to hold your hand while out in public he will go completely limp, refusing to walk until you let go.  And if you pick him it's as if his world has ended.

It's awesome. 

{not}

He's testing his limits all.the.time.

He's had his first time out.

But amidst all the toddler drama he's such a softie.

He loves to give hugs and slobbery kisses.

He loves to snuggle in your lap.

And just recently has started saying I love you...which comes out more like "I youuuu"

It seriously melts my mama heart.

I couldn't love that kid anymore.



Happy Monday friends!

Flashback Friday

One of my good friends welcomed her first baby into the world last week!  She texted me a picture of her new bundle of joy all tucked into his car seat ready to head home.  Seeing this itty bitty little baby being practically swallowed up by his huge car seat immediately made me think of this picture.

I remember how anxious we were to go home.  To get out of the hospital.  After 3 days I'd had enough!

I remember the nurse walking us out to the car.  That's when it hit me.  Oh my god.  We're really leaving.  And we have to take this thing precious baby home with us.  ALONE.  With no more nurses.  No more lactation consultants.  No more nursery to send him to when I wanted to sleep.  Holy shit.

I remember sitting in the back seat with him.  Watching him sleep the whole way home.  A calm coming over me.  Ok.  We can do this.  Look at him, he's perfect.

I remember coming home and putting him in his crib for the first time.  His first nap at home.  The hubs and I immediately collapsing into our own bed.  Exhausted.  We were totally going to "sleep when the baby slept."  Heck yeah!  This is awesome.

Then I remember not more that 2 minutes later that sleeping angel started to cry and my husband looked at me and said "This is going to be really hard isn't it...."

I don't think I'll ever forgot that day.  The day we came home as a family of 3.  It also makes me realize just how fast time really goes.  How in just 18 short months we've gone from that tiny little baby to Mr. Independent.

How's that for a sappy Flashback?
Happy Friday Friends!

He said/She said

He Said: Why didn't you buy

any ice cream?

She Said: I told you. 

We have Skinny Cows.

Eat those.

He said:  Ugh. 
I don't want a skinny cow.
I want a fat cow.

Oh the woes of being married to a dieter....who does all the grocery shopping.

Finding peace

After my mom died it seemed when people didn't know what to say, they went with the standard "she's always with you now."  I'd usually smile and nod, but on the inside I hated it.  Of all the things people said, that's what irked me the most.  No she's not.  She's not here.  I can't see her.  I can't talk to her.  It's not the same, so stop saying it.  It doesn't make me feel any better.

A little over a year later I was heartbroken to see one of my blog friends had recently lost her dad.  She talked about how upsetting it was he wouldn't be there for all those big moments she still had left to live.  And you know what I said?  Don't worry.  He'll be there.  He's always with you now.

Before you go all "kettle meet pot" on me, hear me out.

There was this stupid top 40 song that was popular right before my mom got sick.  You've probably all heard it.   It wasn't the worst song ever, but not one of my favorites.  Apparently my mom loved it.  She always was a sucker for crappy pop radio.  On one of our many drives to and from the hospital this song came on the radio and my dad mentioned how much she liked, how she'd sing along and put her hands up.  To be honest I don't even know what its called or who sings it, but from that moment on it became my mom's song. 

I heard it a lot right after she died and it always made me smile.  Like she was there, singing along.  I often thought to myself how sad it would be when the stations stopped playing it to replace it with the next big hit.  Oddly enough, I still hear that goofy song.  Usually right when I need to hear it most.  When we bought our new car last year...it was the first song we heard as we drove off the lot.  I took it as a sign she approved.  Even last month when we were at the Cotton Bowl, my dad and I were standing in line at the concession stands and wouldn't you know it started playing.  I should have known she'd be there to cheer on her favorite team.

It may have taken me a little while, but eventually I began to see the truth in what all those people were trying to tell me.  No she's not physically here anymore.  No I can't talk to her.  But she's still here in a different way.  Even if it is just some silly ole song.