Sunday Edition.

THINKING ABOUT:

Going home.  I opted to work an extra long shift today (16 hours) so that I could spend time with Mikes parents yesterday without a time limit.  Obviously, I made the right choice, but I am 12 hours in and itching to be home with Mike and Maggie. Especially because Mike is being so precious right now. And lets face it, Maggie is always precious!  So I am fantasizing about being home in the air, with a mug of tea, fuzzy jammies, curled up with the babes.

LOOKING FORWARD TO:

I am very much looking forward to 2 things. 1) My mom visiting with my brother and baby sister 2) Our annual camping trip with Mikes family.  Back to 1) When my baby sister's school year ends my mom is bringing them out for a few days during the week (which is when I normally spend a lot of time alone doing embarrassing nerd things)! Shes going to stay at this fun hotel for a few nights because we love their pool!  And we are going to spend plenty of time at the beach!  Basically I plan to be swimming and/or cuddling the entire time.  On to 2) Every year (with the exception of 1) since Mike and I have been dating I have had the pleasure of going on a week long camping trip with his family.  To say that I love this time would be an understatement.  I'm obsessed.  And I believe that I am even more excited this year!   A week away from the city, no internet, no work.  Just lots of long walks, reading, campfires, naps. Please hurry up camping trip!

WATCHING:

Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a television junkie.  Meaning, I am never watching just one thing.  I got really hooked on some amazing shows this winter/spring and so when they were over I was devastated.  Okay not devastated, but I didn't know what to watch!  So I started re watching Dawsons Creek on Netflix.  I also found out that Girls on HBO is freaking fabulous!  And tonight my true love True Blood starts again.  So whats a girl to do? Obviously watch all 3!!

WORKING ON:

Priorities.  Reminding myself what is most important to me and what makes me happiest.  Sometimes I get into these ruts, and then I get really sad and grumpy and I can't figure out where it is coming from.  Well, I am almost positive that this happens when I get lazy and forget my priorities.  So, currently, I am working on ways to remind myself of all the things that I absolutely cannot let slip!

WISHING:

Honestly, wishing that we had a house already.  Or at least that we were closer to having one.  We were moving full force ahead at the beginning, and now it's like we're crawling along.  It breaks my heart sometimes.  We are so ready to make some sort of step in a frontward motion, and this was it.  I know, though, that God does have a master plan for us.  And that before I know it I will be in OUR cozy dream house.

America's Sweetheart.

People refer to Meg Ryan as America's sweetheart, right?

At least they used to.

I admit that I am Meg Ryan obsessed.

I've watched When Harry Met Sally at least 20 times.

Anyway, yesterday I bought You've Got Mail.

I was reminded how long it had been since I've watched it last Sunday when, it seemed, everyone and their brother watched it on Bravo!

And it was in the $5 bin at Walmart!

This movie is perfection.

Perfect rom-com.  Perfect cast.  Even perfect-er music!

Oh, and the nostalgia of AOL, does it get any better?

Who wouldn't want to be Kathleen Kelly and own a quaint children's book store? Sign me up!

Obviously 2 hours of Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks was not enough for me so I popped in Sleepless in Seattle.  Is it possible that Sleepless in Seattle is even gooier than You've Got Mail? I believe it may be possible.  But, without a doubt, just as precious.

Thank you Meg Ryan for starring in the most adorable movies, with the best soundtracks.

Bagger Daves.

Last night Mike and I treated ourselves to one of the most indulgent meals I have experienced in a very long time. 

Michigan craft beer, sloppy fries with the works, enormous burgers, and an incredibly rich brownie dessert.

Not to mention, the fabulous company : )

Bagger Daves is a new restaurant in Grandville with amazing food, Michigan ingredients, and a choo choo train that circles around the building.

Made for a very fun Tuesday evening.

5 Things

I have the very lovely ladies Jacqlyn & Sami to thank for this clever idea!

5 Things I Could Use More Of:

Days with my girlfriends doing 'girly' things

Time spent at the beach

Bike rides (which require me getting a new bike!)

Energy!!

Shopping

5 Things I Could Do Without:

Laundry, laundry, laundry

Homework that feels a whole lot more like busy work

Anxiety

Family on the other side of the state and friends being dispersed throughout the country/world

Shopping

Internet Addiction: What I am loving!

Since graduating I consider myself a part-time-stay-at-home-"wifey".
This has led to more time on my hands than I have ever had in my entire life.
I also work every weekend at a domestic violence shelter.
It is very hard but gratifying work.
But, sometimes it is so boring!
You see, on the weekends the ladies basically get their time off from any work with their advocates/therapy/groups/etc.  So a lot of the time they leave for the entire day running errands, doing fun things, working, whatever.  Leaving me alone, and often bored.  There is just only so much cleaning a gal can do. (Or wants to do)
I have entertained myself this week & weekend (in between chapter of 50 Shades Darker) here:

HelloGiggles.com: Seriously this site was made for me!  I knew of it before, but never really took the time to explore.  Now I am completely obsessed and can lose myself for hours on it.  Friday I had to send this text to my bestie/therapist/soul mate Ashley, "Welp I've been on hellogiggles.com for 2 hours.  I officially need to jump off my balcony." In which she lovingly replied, "I literally just laughed out loud!! What the *beep* is hellogiggles?"  Needless to say, I sent her a post about great loves that used a lot of SATC references and she is hooked!

TheWiegands.com: This blog is definitely not new to me.  I discovered Casey about 5 months ago, but I reread her posts almost daily.  We are kindred spirits in so many ways.  She is extra sensitive, marches to the beat of her own drum, and loves from the depths of her heart.  But I also feel like I can learn so much from her on her journey as a proud child of God, a young mama, and a writer.

Twitter.com: I am always on Twitter, this is not news.  But there are a few ladies I am newly following who are definitely worth mentioning. I will share them with you, along with their twitter profiles.

• @aliashbaker-  I am a student at the Roseanne Conner School of Housewifery and Etiquette and I'm writing a cookbook called 'Nacho Cheese-100 Ways.' Let's be friends!
• @shinyunicorn-  I was supposed to be a child star     p.s. I am obsessed with Sarah Heyward
• @erinmallorylong-  I write for @HelloGiggles, have an encyclopedic knowledge of The Simpsons & Friends & would like to submit my resume for curator of Law & Order: SVU Marathons.
• @carcryder-  writer. slightly erratic.

Seriously these ladies are all hilar!  Enjoy them.  I cannot resist all the retweeting I have been partaking in.

And finally Netflix.com: I am not new at this, and I realize that like Twitter, Netflix is nothing new to anyone.  Including me.  But in the spirit of sharing what I have been loving,  I will have you know that I am re-watching Dawsons Creek from the beginning!  I was pretty young when this show originally aired and I never watched it.  But I nannied one summer for some neighbor kids in high school and the little girl (who is graduating high school this year! Cray!!) and I watched Dawsons Creek religiously for 2 hours everyday.  So this experience is nostalgic because of those memories and because of the fantastic 90's music and fashion!

P.s. I promise I am a productive human being with to-do lists and goals.  I just spend part of my time surfin' the web : )

Day of Bliss.

Yesterday was a magical day.
Best of all, it was magical for no particular reason.
I love days like that!
Tuesday night I picked up an overnight shift at work, so I went in at 10 pm and got out at 8 am.  Needless to say I got about 4 hours of sleep on the office floor.  This is a sleeping shift, but picture yourself in a big, silent shelter.  Would you want to go downstairs and sleep? I didn't think so.  When I got home I was awake, and had no intention of going to sleep.  I had things to do you know? But when I went to tell Mike I was home he insisted I lay down and take a nap, so I tried.  After trying really hard, I woke up from a coma at 2 pm!  That is such a foreign feeling to me, but I felt amazing!
This mega-long sleep in session really set the tone for the rest of my insignificant, but perfect day!
Mike had a couple of errands to run, so I quickly got ready.  My hair was somehow acceptably curly.  The weather was breezy and cool enough for me to throw on my favorite leggings and a newish oversized sweatshirt. I was ready to go.
We ran the errands.
We took the back way home. Which led to us visiting a few homes that we have our eye on for purchase
; )
Then we ran to the mall, because what kind of day would it be without a little bit of shopping? We are in the market for a new tent. Instead I got the most fabulous shorts on sale at Pac Sun, nail polish, new summer candles, and summer hand soap for the kitchen and bathroom.  Can you say impulse buys?
When we left the mall I decided I needed a slushy, so we drove to the closest Sonic. Ocean water-YUMMY!
We had a couple more errands to run, and eventually we were back home.
I did the speediest, but efficient cleaning marathon on the apartment. Did a load of laundry. Baked some tasty mini fruit pizzas. It was perfect.
Mike and I made the bed with fresh sheets and pillow cases and crawled in to watch a couple of episodes of Friends.
I mean really does it get any better than this?

Free Time

I definitely do not mean to treat this blog as a diary.
You know, the beautiful journal that you receive as a gift and vow to write in everyday.
"Dear Diary, Aunt Lindy got you for me and I am so excited.  I will write in your everyday!"
Things get busy, though, you know?
Preparing for graduation, house hunting, final exams, graduation, a 2 week trip to work on an Indian reservation.
Excuses, excuses.
But today I felt the urge, so here I am writing.
I have a long day ahead of me today.  I work at a domestic violence shelter on the weekends, and we are terribly understaffed on the weekends. There is a first shift worker, a second shift worker, and a third shift worker.  Meaning that anytime the second shift worker or I need time off the other is stuck working a long 16 hour shift.  I am blessed enough that the third shift worker graciously accepted my request for her to come in at 10 rather than 11, so I work 15 hours today instead of 16.
It is okay though, because I love this job and I desperately need the hours.
And I have a ridiculous amount of free time on my hands now. More than I have ever had before in my entire life. Seriously, I am pretty sure I had more on my plate as a toddler than I do currently.
What did my life look like just months ago? A weekday job, and weekday internship, full load of classes, weekend job.  Fast forward to now.  I work on the weekend and have 1 class on Tuesday nights. Now that is insane!
I am trying to enjoy it though.  This week I was able to sleep in!  Celebrate my birthday for 2 days : ) Spend lots of time with my sister, Chelsi, including a trip to the beach! (Where I may have turned a nice shade of tomato red!)
And, while I know that it is extremely necessary and important for me to find a full time job as soon as possible, I think that this free time is a blessing from God.  I have been able to clean the heck out of the apartment and cook dinner for Mike every night.  It could not have came at a more perfect time because he worked crazy overtime this week!  I have more time to think, to pray, to contemplate.  I feel happy, and fulfilled. And that is nothing short of a blessing.
Things can get a little hectic here at the shelter on the weekends.  Kids running around, reminding mom's to keep an eye on those running kids, messes, reminding folks to clean the messes, problems, crisis. It can be a little overwhelming for everyone.  But this morning, despite my long day ahead, I feel more than prepared.
The house is still cold from the air running throughout the night.  I am cozy in my new over-sized sweatshirt, blanket on my lap, yummy coffee in hand.  I am excited to greet each resident as she wakes up and makes her way to the kitchen for a hot mug of coffee.  I clearly see the opportunity set in front of me to hear stories and to be a positive part of those stories.
Happy Saturday everyone!