Finally a post. Trying.

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It's been months that I've been stalking blogs, but haven't written. Life has been a whirl-wind. Many ups and some downs in between. We have been on vacation, celebrated holidays and birthdays, chopped about 9 inches off my hair, added highlights, drank too much, cried frequently, received promotions, helped E look for jobs and see him run a business at the same time. Yea, that about sums it all up. 

I haven't touched much on the next subject in the past due to keepin' it all in my own head and heart, but need to get thoughts on paper or eh...the internet. E and I have been married for 8 years (yay!) so we often get asked the dreaded question, "when are y'all going to have kids?" I typically don't mind the question because in the past I have always had the response, "when we are ready." You know the snarky response...gotta love it. Times have changed though. We have been trying the past few months. Of course, it still hasn't happened. My dear friends that are close to me say don't worry, it will happen when it happens. Just relax and enjoy the time. Does anyone else agree that's pretty much the impossible? I know people that "accidentally" conceive and those people may never understand the month to month challenges with trying. I am not an organized person, but I guess I am a super-duper planner and worrier when it comes to something that E and I both want. I have every app on the planet on my phone to calculate ovulation, I have searched Google so much I believe that myself or E might have every ailment listed on webMD's infertility sites, I email and ask pregnant people about their journey in hopes it might be similar to ours. It's absolutely crazy. I wish I could take a breath and relax, but right now I can't. Instead I just get myself all worked up and have two periods in one month...

It's called a journey for a reason, I guess?! I just hope it ends and begins with a new season and journey soon.

Cheers to a post even if it's a downer!

Wrapping it up.

It's been a while and I swear I tell myself so often to write more because it's a hobby and stuff. Sometimes time just doesn't allow for us to do hobbies and stuff unless you are my husband which demands no matter what even if the Earth is ending, he will play golf on Wednesdays. 

Moving right along. We had a great Thanksgiving. Well, from what I remember. Haha. It was totally a wine, appletini kinda day, but I finished it by blaring Christmas music and singing said music at the top of my lungs in the car. Poor, E.

We typically spend Thanksgiving with both our families, but with my Mom's surgery it just didn't work out for them to be here with us. It was the first time in my entire life to spend this holiday without my family hence the singing and blaring of music. The food was delish, the company was great and my spiced caked pumpkin trifle was incredible!

Loves:

 I love to bake and cook!!!

 Love this guy. With all my heart. Maybe I love his fried turkey too. 

We are gearing up for our vacation and Christmas...maybe my birthday too! It's going to be such a busy December, but I wouldn't have it any other way. 

 Loving that E decorated our house with my favorite simple yellow lights. Just love our red door.

 Loving my typed directions for our precious Marley.

Hopefully, we will have big news to report in the upcoming months!!! 

Loving.

Believing.

Marley for Prez.

The election is over...thank Heavens! Perhaps, I can go on Facebook without getting angry. Scratch that...I just did - bad idea. Just one comment - Are we in 2012? Do people really think it's black vs white? 

Marley for President. 

Moving right along...

My Mom has had a tumor on her face\neck\jaw for a very long time. We thought she had it removed a few years ago, but it grew back. Now we know, it probably was not fully removed years ago and I want her to sue the doctor, but I am mean and my Mom is nice. Long story short, she had surgery on Monday. I balled like a baby on Sunday when she told me we actually didn't know if it was malignant or benign. Sunday night and Monday were pretty much the most anxious I have been in a very long time...so much so I had a terrible migraine. Good news is...

All I have to say is the original doctor is very lucky because I might hire a lawyer myself if the outcome was different.
Because of this surgery, my parents had to cancel a trip to Chicago. I didn't even really think about E and I taking the trip instead because you know we don't have two HUGE trips coming in December or anything. But we aren't talking about that. I asked E to see about free plane tickets. Scored those. Received a discount code from a friend for a hotel. Scored that. So, we are going to Chi-town. I am over the moon excited! 

Lists anyone?

We are going to eat at some fabulous restaurants, walk the Magnificent Mile, visit Millennium Park, see Wrigley Field, Navy Pier and lastly, see the Texans whoop the Bears on Sunday! Anything else I need to add to the list? Favorite restaurants? Hot dogs? Pizza? It's going to be cold and that just makes me elated.

The next two months are so busy and I am forever grateful for that especially since Mama bear is cancer free. 

Spontaneous.

On a day in which our whole management team is out, I am perusing the internet, paying bills, making transfers, planning last minute trips to Chicago...you know the normal stuff. 

Give thanks. 

I am thankful for...

-E. He is my life long partner that has a loyal and forgiving heart. The one that loves me unconditionally and makes me feel like a Queen when I feel like a whale.

-The big Man upstairs.

-My family. 

-My sweet friends.

-My j-o-b. Even though I complain, it pays our bills.

-Marley. He shows us persistence and purpose every single day.

-Starbucks coffee. Especially in the red cup.

-Flats.

-Boots.

-Leggings.

-Diamonds and gold.

-Love.

-Travel.

-Internet.

-My home.

-Cucumbers and tomaters. Together.

-Mason jars.

-Nighttime baths.

-CeraVe.

-Dyson vacuums.

-Water.

-Crockpots.

-Chewing gum.

-Christmas lights.

-Christmas trees.

-Joy.

-Deva Curl.

-Tiffany and her coloring abilities.

-Forgiveness.

-Cupcakes.

-Zumba.

And forever & ever this list could go...I have a lot to be thankful for this year.

Thursdays.

Oh, Thursday I love you because that means a half day tomorrow or better yet maybe a half day off.
It's ok... That I admitted I had terrible PMS to my husband via an emoticon yesterday. It's bad. To have a gazillion XFactors and The Voices to watch. To have eaten at least 10 single wrapped Sour Patch Kid candies last night. To set the alarm clock for 6:45am everyday, but get up at 7:45am. To absolutely love Zumba even though I know I look like an idiot. That I have no faith in the Texas Longhorns this weekend. Pretty sure they are going to get put through the ringer. New coach, maybe? Doubtful. To really want E to find something that will make him happy, lower his stress level and allow him to stay home on Saturday mornings. That I tell my boss how it is and really don't care about his feelings. Is that bad? To know I need to be more compassionate and empathetic. To download three books to my Kindle and still have three that are only half-read. To love alcohol club more than book club. To want to chop my hair off...especially when it's impossible to run my fingers through the rat's nest. That I want Tory Burch Revas in absolutely every color. And, that I will pretty much be asking for TB gift cards for Xmas. To hope we don't have coffee at home tomorrow morning, so I can get my first red Starbuck's cup of the season. To officially start the countdown to December. Two vacations, my birthday and Christmas...Blessed.
Lastly, it's okay to want a glass of vino at 2:00pm on a Thursday.

Those emails.

A few months back E and I had some pretty substantial revelations with each other and it's been a learning and changing curve ever since those days. My marriage is everything to me and to make it better is one helluva a job that takes more than one person. I am forever grateful I am married to someone that changes with me, loves and adores me all of the days of our lives even when I don't deserve it. 
I have built up anger and resentment for whatever I am not sure? It's one of those things we all deny over and over, we blame everyone else around us because we SWEAR it's their fault we are miserable, but in the end really its our own fault. We cannot control others nor can they control us. I signed up for emails from a lovely website : Tiny Buddha (No I am not Buddhist, yes I believe wholeheartedly in Christ, no I do not worship a statue, yes I believe in self-help and amazing words that will change my life.) They send daily emails to overcome life. They send emails to better yourself. Their emails either ring true to oneself or they don't do much because you may have never experienced the discussion in the email. Today, rang true! I read it twice and sent it to E to read. It was about anger, overcoming your feelings for the people around you. 

The power does not lie without. The power lies within you. You just have to know that you deserve it—happiness, peace, love, and joy. ~ Nanette Stein

We are the ones with the power to overcome. We are the ones with the power to choose happiness, peace, love and joy. To some that might not mean a thing, but to me it means everything.

“If you correct your mind, the rest of your life will fall into place.” ~Lao Tzu

Ah-choo.

I have sneezed a million times today. I am loving the colder weather, but goodness my allergies are killing me.

Life has been super busy the past few months  weeks. It's been a whirlwind since September and I am so grateful for it, but thankful it's over.

Rita's is slowing down and we do not have any scheduled events until the Spring. Let me just say...that's amazing. It will allow E to look for jobs and he can relax with me and the pup on the weekends. 

The last event we participated in was the Livestrong Challenge. It's a bike ride with 18 mile, 65 mile or 100 mile ride. They had 4,300 riders ALL in support of this amazeballs organization. E and I are HUGE, LIKE DOUBLY HUGE Lance Armstrong supporters therefore we support this cancer research foundation. It was definitely a humbling weekend being surrounded by people that have been through so much words cannot describe it. 

In between events, football and celebrating with booze is on the top of our list! 

On Friday night, the girls had our monthly alcohol spirits club. This month was Halloween Martini themed and let me tell you...these were all delish.

(From left to right: Pineapple upside down cake, Pecan Pie, Pumpkin Pie, Candy Corn, Vampire Cherry)

E and I had THE BEST weekend! Like I wish I was sitting on the couch with a fire, snuggled up with coffee and my boys. I literally melt to pieces thinking about wonderful times spent together. It's always so refreshing and recharging to relax for a whole weekend. 

(Officially on the vacation countdown.)