Happy!!

Friday, we found out that our Little Apple, is a girl! I'm so excited!! Paul is over the moon. Already buying dolls, and little dresses. And I just can't stop smiling.



These little shoes, I just couldn't pass them up. I found them at Old Navy for $2!! They are a little big. A size 18 months. But our little girl will have some adorable shoes to wear! Something about this news, makes this all real. I mean really "real." In just a few months, we'll meet our daughter! ♥E

Happy 4th of July

Happy 4th of July! We're excited about today. It's one of Paul and I's favorite holidays. We're actually getting ready to grill. Or I should say, Paul is getting ready to grill. :)

My parents came down too. And tonight we're going to go see the Electrical Parade. So much fun! It reminds me of when we were in college. We would go every year. That's part of the fun of living in a small town.

But you can never forget the people that make it possible. The men and women who are out there fighting for our lives, our freedoms, and our safety. To you, I say Thank You! It means the world to me to be an American. ♥E

I Might Be Crazy...

Today I went looking for a baby shower gift for my friend Sandy. She's expecting her 1st baby, a girl, in July. And I found this, and bought it. Not for Sandy. But for me...

An up close view of "Love Bird."

And the entire set.

And before anyone asks, no we're not expecting. We're not even trying to get pregnant. Mom, please don't get all excited. I'm not sure what came over me. But I spent $250 on this cute set. Because I liked it. And with my luck, when Paul and I do decide to try for a baby, we'll probably just have boys.

The only thing that makes me feel real good is, I got a super good deal. Because there was a great baby sale going on. But now what? I guess I'm going to have to store it away until we decide to grow our family. But isn't it adorable? ♥E

Options

Paul and I have been doing a lot of thinking. And a lot of talking. We have so many options ahead of us. Lots of things having to do with our future. And I'm pretty sure, I'm going to stop looking for a job.



You see, Paul is making a good salary, with his new job. We're better off now then we were when we both worked. And there is really no reason for me to work. And I'm enjoying being home a lot. I think Paul is also enjoying it. Because I'm definitely doing a lot more around the house.

I've always cooked. But now, our meals are a lot more thought out. And I have to say this, they're a lot more yummy. I've also been experimenting with baking. And I'm doing a lot better.

But the biggest point for us, is that I get to travel with Paul. Whenever he travels for work, I get to go too. And I think that's important. Since Paul is gone about half of the week. When he is on the touring schedule.

We also want to start a family in the next 2 years. So this is a good option. No more working for me. We can afford it right now. And there are really no jobs available. So I get to stay home. And take care of my husband. I really enjoy being home. And being a housewife. We have lots of options ahead of us. And I'm glad that we have these opportunities ahead. Life is really good for us at the moment. ♥E

Shopping

Of all the things I could miss about Florida, I miss the shopping. There is nothing around here. We live in a small town, 5 minutes away from a slightly larger, college town. Where we went to school. And there is a large city about an hour away.

But there is nothing around here. I miss H&M the most. Recently, they opened up a Forever 21...an hour away. The closest stores to us are Wal-Mart, K-Mart, and Target. We have no TJ Maxx. No Nordstorms. No Outlets. OK, there are some about an hour away. But they are small. Not really anything good there.



I miss the Outlets in Florida. I miss the cute boutiques. And the shops like H&M, Charlotte Russe, etc. I would think, they would have shops like that here. Based on the local economy. But nope. So I sit here, and miss Florida. For the shopping. Something I never really appreciated when we lived there.

Even with both of us working, we didn't have this kind of money either. We're not rich. But we're definitely more comfortable, than we were a few months ago. Honestly, I feel like going on vacation to Florida. I really do miss the stores. Why can't we have decent stores in the desert? We don't even have a MAC store! ♥E

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I just love Thanksgiving for all the yummy food. J gave all his employees fresh turkeys. And Paul cooked ours. Amazing! We really out did ourselves this year. And we cooked like we were expecting an Army! It was just the 2 of us. :)

Now we're going through the ads. Looks like it's going to be an early morning for us tomorrow. But we enjoy the crazy shopping. And the good breakfast we usually go out to have afterward. I really can't wait to have a leftover turkey sandwich tomorrow too!

Right now, my belly is stuffed! Oh my! Everything was so delicious. And I'm still considering some more pumpkin pie. :) But I really want to say how much all of our friends and family mean to Paul and I. It's been a crazy few months. And you've stuck behind us. It means so much to us! Thank you very much. This year, we're most thankful for all the people that love us. We really are blessed. ♥E

Forever 21 Sizing

I'm just wondering if anyone else experiences sizes issues with stuff that they buy at Forever 21. I regularly wear size 3-5. But I find that at Forever 21, I have to go up 1 or 2 sizes. I have some issues at Charlotte Russe. But nothing like Forever 21.



I always leave the store feeling bad. Because I have to buy such large sizes. I know, in the back in my head that the label means nothing. But what does that tell you about the brand? It just makes me wonder. And if I feel this bad, and I'm a confident woman, what does it do to teenage girls? ♥E

My Boring Blog...

I feel like my blog is a little bit boring. I don't really post real life pictures. Because my husband and his boss have a more "public" job. So I have to respect their privacy.



But lately, my blog has been so boring. I don't know. It just seems boring. What do you think? And there seems to be a ton of Sunday Stealing. I know they're good. I enjoy doing them. There are a lot of fun questions. But my blog seems to only focus on them. I need to stop that!

So I'm going to try and focus on real life. And fun stuff. I don't know what else. I just want to spice up. Make my blog a fun place to come and read. My fingers are crossed that I can do that. ♥E

My Amazing Husband

I'd been telling Paul that I needed a haircut. And he told me that I should make an appointment. So after asking a few people, I decided on place to go. Lola is really the one to thank. She suggested Barragans.

I made an appointment. And I figured I would get my hair done. Last night, I began to think about having my nails done too. But I wasn't sure. But when I got to my appointment today, Paul had called ahead.



He scheduled a day of pampering for me. And had paid for everything! When I called him, he told me that it was a bit of a birthday present. Tomorrow is my birthday. Don't I have a wonderful husband? I think so!

I had my hair done, a mani-pedi, and my eyebrows done. It was like heaven! And just when I thought I was done, I had a facial and a massage. Paul met me for a yummy dinner in the city. And we came home.

Right now, Paul is making me a yummy dessert. He is such an amazing husband! I'm trying to think of something amazing to do for him. For his birthday. Even if it's still months away. I love Paul so much! ♥E

Feeling Like Home

Right after I posted my last blog post, the movers got here. And I had never been so excited! We started moving all of our things in. Because we're staying in one of J's houses, it is already furnished. And beautiful! Lola designed the entire thing. Wow!

I'm really in love with the house. So we're going to store our furniture. The movers were able to put it all nicely in a storage shed. We did pick some things to stay in the house. But not a whole lot.



But all of our other stuff, knick knacks, clothes, personal items...I've been unpacking them. For a few days. Boxes and boxes. Seriously when did we collect so much stuff? But our home is starting to feel like home.

There are a few pieces of furniture I want to buy. Because going from a house designed from a man, to one for a couple, well there are a few key pieces missing. Like a nice vanity table. And some little things like that. I also want to pick up a few decorative items. Paul and I don't plan to stay here forever. But we want it to feel like home.

Now all that is left to do, is find a job. I still haven't heard back from my 2 interviews. But I've been looking around. Lola is trying to get me a job at the hospital where she works. I'm just hoping for the best. But I'm taking this time off as a blessing. Because it gives me time to settle into our home. And to make it a home. ♥E

Our Weekend

There is so much going on this weekend. Lola's goddaughter is turning 4. And we're invited to the birthday party. There is the local fair. And hopefully some more settling into our new home.



The movers still aren't here. Looks like they won't be here until Monday. We're not sure what the hold up is. But I will definitely be doing lots of laundry today. We need clean clothes. Because we didn't pack much. Our stuff was supposed to be here by today. But it's not. What are you going to do?

Laundry, shopping, and cooking...those are my plans for today. I hope I can get everything done. Wish me luck. I'm definitely going to need it! And I hope that our furniture gets here by Monday. ♥E

It's Here!!

Today is moving day. It's a little bittersweet. We're sad to be leaving our "Florida Family." But we're excited to be heading home! Paul and I didn't get much sleep last night. Because somehow, there was still a lot packing left to do. I'm very shocked at how much stuff we've collected. We've only lived here, for just over 3 years.



But we have a lot of odds and ends. Things that needed to be packed well. It's crazy how we finished, giving us just 2 hours of sleep. I'm glad our packing is done. At least for a few days. When we have to begin our unpacking. Now it's time, to move across the country! ♥E

Closing this Chapter

It's crazy. In 2 days, the movers come. And we decided to take the day off of packing. We wanted to go to the lake one last time. It was an incredible day. Just me and Paul enjoying one of our favorite parts of Florida.

This chapter of our lives is quickly closing. We're both a little sad. We're leaving a part of our lives behind. Friends we've made. A routine we were used to. A life that we enjoyed.



As I look around tonight, our house is almost completely packed up. I hope we finish before the movers get here. But it's a little sad. I mean, this has been our home. And now, we're leaving. It's a little like a break up. I know, it's just a house. And a state. But it's still tough.

I know that the next chapter of our lives is going to be a good one. I'm excited. So is Paul. We hope to start a family in a few years. And all of this, it's worth being happy and planning a bright future with my husband.

But it has been an emotional day. Something about the lake just made me realize how final this was. And it made me sad. I'm going to miss all of this. I cried a lot today. Paul and I took a bunch of pictures of our favorite spots around here. And lots at the lake. It really was our favorite place to be.

I'm ready for what's ahead of us. All we have to do is get our stuff loaded and moved. Oh, and turn over our keys to our landlord. But this is something that we both need, and want. And we really are excited about moving home!! ♥E

Last Day at Work

Today was my last day of work. It feels strange even typing that. It was my first professional job. And I loved it. I loved the people I worked with. The location. Everything about my job. And here I am leaving it.



I packed up my office. And was very tearing eyed. Why? I really don't know. Our office isn't anything too special to cry about. It's a large room. With a bunch of desks. All of the RDs share it. But it was a nice place to be. A comforting place. A warm environment.

And then, my coworkers through me a "Going Away" party. Presents included. I cried. I couldn't help it. They are so much like family. I'm going to miss them. I'll never forget my first job. It was a good experience. I just hope my next job is just as blessed. There are so many good memories over the last few years. I did my internship at this hospital. And was offered a job here. The people will always have a special place in my heart. ♥E

On Our Way Home

We're on our way home. Right now, we're in GA. stuck. Our flight is delayed 3 hours. I wish we were already home. Because I'm tired. And not a big fan of airports.



Paul and I are definitely moving. And all I can think of is packing up our home. I think I'm just anxious to get home and pack. I already miss the SW. And our family and friends. Is that crazy? I think it is. But I don't care. We're ready to be home. Where we belong.

Paul has a job. We have a place to live. And I've already had 2 job interviews. We're ready. And I personally, can't wait to be moved. But it's also going to be sad leaving our home. This is where we've lived for the last few years. As newlyweds. And we have a life here. It's going to be tough. But it's time. ♥E

Home

We've gotten so much done this week. I'm sad that our vacation is almost over. I'm going to miss our family and friends so much. But it was a good trip. And hopefully, really soon we will be back for good.



I had a few interviews. And I'm anxious to hear back from the hospitals. I really want to try and get into pediatric nutrition. It seems like such a rewarding area to work in. And Paul and I are really coming along on plans. All the pieces seem to be falling right into place. Just like we dreamt they would.

Most of all, it was just nice to be around all of our loved ones again. I've missed them so much! We've had a great life in Florida. But this is where we belong. And this week, it's really solidified that for us! ♥E

Me and My Girls!!!

It feels so good. My friends and I got to hangout today. It was amazing! It made me think of days past. All the time we spent together as interns. And this was our song. Unwritten. Our stories were unwritten...

Then Vi left us. She went to Dallas. Got into a great nutrition program. Now she is kicking butt. Doing a great job. And is an amazing RD. I graduated. Paul and I got married. And we moved to Florida. Making our lives work. Both of us going to school and loving life as newlyweds.

Lola, she was younger than us. More ambitious than Vi and I. She is still writing so much of her story. But every time I hear this song, I think of the 3 of us. Learning our way around the hospital. Loving our jobs. And being the best of friends.

It's good to be back home. And to get the chance to see my girls. They're so much more than friends. They'll be my sisters for life. I'm so proud of the job Vi is doing. And Lola. Wow! She is kicking butt. I'm so proud and happy for her. Who would have thought we would have come this far? And here we are, breaking all the rules. Writing our stories. And making amazing lives for us. Filling up all those blank pages. Showing people that we can make a HUGE difference in the world. Thank you girls! I can't wait to see what we're all doing in 10 years. :) ♥E

Being Honest

It's time to be honest about Paul and I's plans. When we decided to leave for Florida, we always knew that we would return. We liked the small community where we had met. Paul could have easily finished his degrees at our university. But I would have to move 3 hours away to get my masters degree and become an RD. We didn't want to live 3 hours apart! Especially for 3+ years.

Paul and I looked for a school that offered both of our degree programs. That is how we ended up in Florida. I graduated before Paul. I got licensed and became an RD. I was also very lucky when it came time to finding a job. The hospital where I did my RD internship, they offered me a job immediately. And I took it. Paul needed some more time to finish his PhD. And his training.

In May, Paul received his hard earned PhD. He had some training to finish up though. But at the beginning of the month, it was complete. And our talks became more real. In June, we had talked about moving home. Paul called J to ask him for a job. And J found him one. Not only that, but he offered us a home to live in. I also asked Lola to help me find a job. She has some good connections in the area hospitals. Soon, I had 2 good jobs to choose from.

I gave my 2 week notice last week. I will work the remainder of this week. Then next week I am am taking my vacation time. We are heading home for a visit. When we get back, I will have 1 week of work left. I have 2 job interviews set up back home. One for the DOH and one for a trauma center hospital. Paul and I hope to solidify our plans while we are on this trip. Paul will be signing a contract with J. And we will get to look at our new house.



Paul and I are just ready to start the next chapter of our lives. The entire time we have known each other, we have been in college. The last few years, we have grown up so much. Being so far away from our friends and family, we really learned how to depend on each other.

Florida wasn't all a "business" situation. We have built a nice life here. We met friends. Paul and I rented a nice home from an elderly couple when we first moved. And we have enjoyed making it our home. Spending lots of time gardening and hosting cookouts. We have also made amazing connections for our careers.

But it is time to go home. To begin our new careers. To make our new house, our home. We are anxious to be closer to family and friends. Paul and I are also excited to start new phases of our own life. To potentially explore other areas of our marriage. To begin our own family. We are looking at this move, as a new beginning to our life together. ♥E

Getting Vi on Board

Now that I am a blogger, I want Vi to be one too!

Lola, Vi, and I were diet interns at the same time. During that time, we got to be close friends. Really close friends. We depended on each other for a lot. Because we were given a lot of responsibility. The other women in our program were not happy with us. And we were soon out casted.

We also had no real guidance at work. I can be completely honest here. Vi and I had been in the program a while already. Vi was getting ready to graduate soon. I wasn't far behind. But Lola, she was just starting out. But she was so determined. And kicked Vi and I's butts. We depended on her so much.



During all of this, and the hospital drama, we really became close. It felt like I had 2 sisters. Natasha Beddingfield's song Unwritten, quickly became our song. It just fit. Unfortunately, our time together came to an end. Vi graduated and moved to Dallas. I wasn't far behind, moving with Paul to Florida. But Lola is still in school. She wants to be a pediatrician. Not just an RD. I am proud of her.

But we all wanted to stay in touch. We tried MySpace. But that quickly lost its glamour and shine. We relied on emails. And eventually took to Lola's private blog. It is a neat place that she has set up for her friends. We chat, ichat, or just send emails to each other.

Than I got the brilliant idea to start my own blog. I am having fun. And I think this could be a good way for the 3 of us to stay in touch. We just need to get Vi on board. Maybe we can even talk her into signing up for twitter! ♥E

Getting Started

I finally decided to take the plunge and start blogging. I have absolutely loved reading Lola's blog. She is one of those bloggers, that has a wonderful blog. She has been doing it for years! And silently, I have envied her. But it wasn't until Manders started to blog a few weeks ago, that I thought, I need to do that too. If she can do it with a 2 year old, then what is my excuse? I can blog too! I don't know what I will blog about. But I will try to be somewhat consistent at it. I also jumped on the twitter train today. I figured if I was going all in, I might as well go head first! ♥E