Friday, February 27, 2009

Wednesday Wants - Friday Edition =)

Today, I found myself struggling with my "no shopping" declaration. Every where I turned, I found something else I thought I needed. But so far, so good. No unnecessary shopping... yet.

As I was browsing blogs today, I found a link to shop I'd never heard of. As I began to look around, cute items of clothing kept popping up, yelling "pick me! pick me!". And as a bonus, their prices were unbelievable. This finding meant my newly started Wednesday Wants needed a Friday Edition because I couldn't wait.

This is Down East Basic's Very Vintage Skirt and I couldn't love it more! I have a few skirts in my closet, but wouldn't consider myself a "skirt/dress" person. Although for this skirt, I would become one! And like I said, the prices are not to be beat. This beauty runs for $26.99.

Boy, I wish I could shop because I know of a few weddings/baby showers I'll be attending this Spring & Summer and this skirt would definitely like to be there.

Update: I have the best husband in the world! He bought the skirt for me =)

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Wednesday Wants

I love browsing other blogs for ideas, crafts, and new purchases. I've recently seen a trend of blogs called 'Wednesday Wants', where people blog about what their current obsession may be. And with the current recession that's going on, this seemed like a good idea. So since I'm not shopping (at least) until the end of March, I'll share what I've got my eye on every Wednesday.

This week, I'm coveting the Martha Stewart Collection 26-Piece Alphabet Cutter Set. From A to Z, you can spell out any word(s) you want in a delicious cookie form. I love to bake and think this would be fun for adults & kids alike. I'd use it for birthdays, holidays, and fun nights at home. And for $35 you get 26 different cookie cutters - not bad!

Monday, February 23, 2009

No Shopping

Lately, Sam and I have been talking a lot about our debt and our spending. Between getting married and buying our first home, we've pretty much maxed out all credit cards in our possession. And to top it off, we both attended the same private university which wasn't cheap, so we've got some school loans going for us. We've really been trying to be more conscious of what we're spending our money on and whether we really need it or if it's something we can wait on. So in lieu of our discussions, I decided I would declare (to my readers) that I'm starting a strict "no shopping for 37 days" plan starting today.

Yes, 37 days is a little odd, but I wanted to start today and I figured going to the end of March is a good goal to have. And who knows, maybe I'll keep it going longer... one can only hope.

So starting today, February 23, I will not buy anything that hasn't already been budgeted for in our personal budget (i.e. groceries, gas). We're setting strict goals for our debt and hope that we can actually start putting money in our savings within a couple of years. Wish us luck!

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Monopoly

Last night, Sam and I hosted Kelly and Brittany for dinner. We had a filling meal of make-your-own burritos, followed by game time! First, we played a few games of Blockus. But then we really got down to business and set up Monopoly.
Kelly was a wonderful banker and Brittany got lucky with purchasing most of the properties right off the bat. Sam looked like he would just be paying lots of rent and I had bought the best place on the board - Boardwalk.


But then the game escaped us all. All except Kelly. She had 2 Monopolies (Red & Purple, yes Purple.) and got hotels on all of them. She robbed of us of all our money and won the game!
We all had a great time and can't wait to get together again!

Friday, February 20, 2009

Just a little insight into our relationship...

I've seen this floating around Facebook & Blog-land, so I thought I'd fill it out too =)

What are your middle names?
Mine is Elizabeth; Sam's in Philip (with 1 'L' - yes, I had to re-do our wedding invites because my darling husband had a memory lapse in how to spell his middle name. Got to love him!)

How long have you been together?
Since Spring of 2005.

How long did you know each other before you started dating?
We both went to the same college and Sam was a Resident Assistant my freshman year (2003) in the same hall I was living in so I knew who he was before he knew who I was. But we were formally introduced my sophomore year (2004) through mutual friends.

Who asked whom out?
We did a lot of group outings when we first met, but I'd have to say Sam probably initiated the first date.

How old are each of you?
I am 23 and Sam is 26.

Whose siblings do you see the most?
Sam's siblings (shoutout to Josh, Laura, & Matt!) since they all live fairly close; Although one of my brothers lives less than an hour away and I haven't seen him in months =(

Which situation is the hardest on you as a couple?
Money... I'm an impulse buyer/seller and Sam isn't.

Did you go to the same school?
College, yes.

Are you from the same home town?
No, I'm from Bend & Sam's from Sandy.

Who is smarter?
I would say Sam is - he's constantly pulling random facts out of no where!

Who is the most sensitive?
I would say Sam is sensitive, but I definitely cry & react more than he does.

Where do you eat out most as a couple?
Red Robin.

Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple?
Ha... um, Bend from our home in Salem. Yes, that's only a 3 hour drive.

Who has the craziest exes?
Since I was Sam's first & only girlfriend, that would be me...

Who has the worst temper?
Remember how I said I cry & react more than Sam? Yeah, my temper would definitely be classified as worse than his.

Who does the cooking?
Sam is a MUCH better cook than me, but we share in the cooking most of the time.

Who is the neat-freak?
Me again...

Who is more stubborn?
Not sure on this one... I think we'd both say the other =)

Who hogs the bed?
Probably me... but I like to blame it on our puppy Buster.

Who wakes up earlier?
Sam likes to work earlier so he gets off earlier, so since we've been married, he's gotten up first. But on weekends, I'm definitely the one up and moving around first.

Where was your first date?
We had a few "first dates", but the one I consider to be our first real date was dinner at Applebees. Now everytime we drive by that particular Applebees, we say, "Remember when we went to Applebees?" Cheesey, but we'll always remember it!

Who is more jealous?
I've been hurt way too many times to count so my jealousy/trust issues tend to rear their ugly heads more times than necessary.

How long did it take to get serious?
When Sam told me how he felt about me for the first time, I had just got out of a long relationship and wasn't looking to get into another one. He was understanding and it took about 6 months before I was convinced we were "more than just friends".

Who eats more?
Sam; When I was younger, my parents told me I ate like a bird (small meals) and I still believe I do today.

Who does the laundry?
Me, most of the time. Sam does help, which is very nice!

Who’s better with the computer?
We both know our way around a computer, but Sam is the one who taught me the tricks & insights of a Mac.

Who drives when you are together?
We take turns; Although I prefer he drives to his parents & he prefers I drive to mine =)

The one I always return to...

Over 6 years ago, I came across a purse I had to have. Being a girl, that's sometimes not hard to do, but this one was different. It came in a range of sizes and a rainbow of colors, not to mention it was made out of SEAT BELTS! That's right! Those things that save your life in case of an accident? Yeah! I was hooked and like I said, I had to have it!
I started out small, with a black mini Seat Belt Bag. It was the size of a clutch, but with handles. Although the size was small, it was my purse of choice. That is until I found this larger, pink Seat Belt Bag pictured above! Now, pink isn't as practical as, say black or brown, but this purse was too cute to pass up. And I don't regret it for a second. It's actually my favorite purse. Period.
Since then, my collection has grown to include 2 more purses and a wallet. I've haven't bought more because any of them have fallen apart, I actually just love the style so much and I thought, "why not get more!". Since they are made up of seat belts, they really do hold up through wear & tear - not to mention the comments you receive asking, "is that really made out of seat belts?".
Of course, I've purchased & tried several other bags & purses, but for some reason I always come back to my seat belt bags. I love them! And I can't sing their praises enough. If you're looking for a bag that is timeless, holds up well and is pretty reasonably priced, take a look at www.seatbeltbags.com - You won't be disappointed!

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Valentines 2009

Our theme for Valentines Day was "low-key". We knew we would be happy just being with each other, but didn't want to burden ourselves with trying a day we could easily celebrate any other day. So we went about the day as it was any other day. We woke up and headed up to Portland. Our first stop was Ikea for a bookshelf. Then we ventured over see Kelly's new home. It's so cute and so perfect for her and her roommates. We loved the tour we got and the time we spent with Kelly & BQ. Our next stop was Sam's parent's house. We spent the afternoon lounging around and catching up. Around 4:30pm we headed home with our minds on a heart shapped pizza.

I couldn't have planned a better day to spend with my love. Here's to a year full of love days!

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Oh so sick...

Since last Wednesday, our home has been a haven for sickness... and frankly, I'm sick of it!
Sam started to feel sick Wednesday night, which turned out worse than we thought because he was home on the couch for the next two days. The little bug stayed around until Saturday night, when it decided to attack me. Unfortunately, with a new job, I don't have the luxury of taking a sick day, so I've been doing my best to work it off. I did have a few hours, so yesterday I left at lunch and went home to sleep, hoping to sleep it all away. Nope, I woke up this morning still feeling just as sick. I'm also beginning to feel like I might throw up (sorry, too much information), but have been able to keep everything down.
I've heard from a few people that this cold/flu bug is going around, but I'm not one who usually gets sick. I feel so weak & tired, that all I want is to feel better. Here's hoping I can make it through the week and have a healthy weekend to rest.

Saturday, February 7, 2009

Fireproof


I had heard about the movie originally when it came out and my in-laws went to see it. I remember thinking that I hadn't seen any previews of this particular movie. Flash-forward a couple months: The movie had left the theaters before we got a chance to see it and I was still intereted in what it was about. I read several blog posts and knew the general store line, but love any excuse to learn how to better my relationship with the one I love the most - my husband!

Tonight, Sam let me rent Fireproof and watched it with me. I have to admit, I teared up several times and thoroughly enjoyed the whole message. I pray that Sam and I never get to the point that Caleb & Catherine got to, but it never hurts to remember the one who loves you the most and to "never leave your partner behind".

Date Night

Earlier this week, Sam e-mailed me at work asking if I wanted to go to Cheesecake Factory for dinner on Friday night. My immediate response was, "Of course!". One of our Wedding Gifts was a gift card to the Cheesecake Factory (thanks Ty & Paige!) and we've been waiting for an excuse to use it since we received it. Finally we had a free night and we jumped at the chance to get out!

The drive up wasn't too bad. Since we left after work, I was expecting a lot of traffic, but luckily we avoided almost all of it. We even got seated in under 30 minutes! The food was good and the company was even better. It doesn't take much to make us happy, but having the chance to talk face to face just the two of us is always one of our favorites.

Before we headed home, we got a little shopping in. Then we made the drive home to watch our DVR'ed Thursday night TV. We even had a late night guest - thanks for hanging out Kristi!

All in all, our Date Night was a very nice treat and we can't wait for the next one!

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Brought to you by the letter E...

A few months ago, I met a George Fox Alum, Kaleigha, through the internet. Hopefully we'll meet in person one day soon. Kaleigha wrote her list of favorites that begin with the letter P and I thought, "how fun!" so she assigned me a letter and I put together my list. Here are ten of my favorite things that begin with the letter E:

1. Education - Call me a nerd, but I love my years in school. I cried every year when the school year ended and had butterflies in my stomach the night before the first day of school. If I had endless amounts of money, I'd definitely keep going to school for as long as I could.

2. Earl Grey tea - Hands down, my favorite! tea! ever! Give me a rainy day and a cup of Earl Grey tea and I'm set!

3. Earrings - Although I don't wear them as often as I should, I notice them on someone else almost instantly. I love the simplicity of post earrings and the glamor of dangly earrings!

4. Elbow Macaroni - As a child, I asked for Macaroni & Cheese for every meal. Now, I still love the stuff and will eat it any chance I get. My favorite aspect of the elbow macaroni noodles is sticking my fork through the noodle... so fun!

5. Electric Toothbrush - I've definitely had my struggles with my teeth and remembering the "brushing for at least 2 minutes" rule... all until Sam bought me my first electric toothbrush. Now I'll never go back!

6. Elizabeth - My middle name! My parents named it after my aunt's middle name and I wouldn't change it for anything!

7. Emotions - I definitely am an emotional girl, but what I love most is seeing others emotions because I feel it shows exactly how someone is feeling. Whether happy, sad, angry, or passive, emotions say a lot.

8. E-mail - As mentioned in a pervious post, e-mail is an easier communication for me and I'd much rather e-mail/instant message/comment than be on the phone. Drop me a line anytime!

9. Embraces - I love a hug, not the awkward side hug, but a true, strong embrace speaks volumes to me!

10. Employment - I thank God that I have a job every day and that I have found a job that I am not miserable at.

Anyone out there want a letter assignment now? Leave me a comment if so!

Monday, February 2, 2009

Sports-filled Weekend

Now, I'm not one to offer up watching a sporting event if I've got other things to do, but this weekend turned into one of those "sports-filled weekends" and it wasn't that bad.
As mentioned in a previous blog, Sam's cousin was playing in a basketball tournament down here in Salem on Saturday night. We got to cheer Jack and his team on through 3 of their 4 games (we missed the first one) and they pulled out a tournament win, with a few close games. It was definitely fun to hang out with Sam's uncle & aunt (the ones who passed Buster on to us), so a good time was had by all! Sam's other cousin Hannah, Jack's twin was also there to entertain us and keep us busy! Before the family headed back to Gresham, they wanted to come see our new home and say hello to their old puppy Buster. I could tell Hannah wanted to slip Buster into her bag and take him home again...
On Sunday, we got up & ready for church. Sam's brother, Matt, drove up from Eugene to drive up to Sandy with us for the Superbowl. After church, we got on the road and made good time. When we arrived at Sam's sister's house, we quickly ate a lot of pizza. Then we took a break from the food and had a pre-Superbowl walk, followed by the start of the game. As I said before, I wasn't too into the game, but caught parts here and there. I spent my time with the ladies, as we knit & crochet. Very fun! Then we saw the Steelers win the Superbowl and caught the funny episode of The Office and headed back south. We got home around 10pm and I headed straight for bed. I sure wished I had another day of weekend left to rest... but I guess I usually feel like that come Sunday =)