Knocking on 30's Door

So today is my birthday and I am officially on 26 round 4..... a.k.a 29.

That's right 29. The last year of the 20's. 

Looking back I really can't recall my 19th birthday, the last birthday of my teens. More than likely though I was excited about that last year as a teen. Official grown-up and legal drinking just around the corner.

At 29 though what's around the corner? 30? Yeah just not as exciting. 

Taken From Google Images

I did have a wonderful weekend though!

Marine and I went to Chattanooga for the weekend and had a wonderful trip. Friday night we went and ate at a small local pub. The food was good, the service was good..... and the crowd was interesting to say the least. Marine and I had seen it on a past trip and had decided we wanted to try it. I mean the building just peaks the curiosity. 

Saturday morning we got up and went to see Ruby Falls, which is America's highest underground waterfall. After walking thru the caves we arrived at the waterfall. 

It was spectacular and beautiful!  

 Afterward we walked to the top of main building and looked out at the beautiful view of Chattanooga.

After that we went downtown for lunch and to walk around a bit. Chattanooga is a beautiful city and if ever given the chance to visit..... DO!

My mom and Marine's parents were meeting us for diner so we had some time to spare downtown. We were going to go see Rock City (another local attraction) as well but were afraid we may not have enough time.

So instead we decided to see a movie. The only thing starting at the time we arrived was Contagion so we decided to see it. It wasn't quite what I expected it to be but it was definitely a movie that made you think. I mean everything we touch on a day to day basis has germs. 

Think of going to work and opening the door, going to lunch, getting gas, etc. Everything we touch all day has the potential to spread germs to us from the last person who touched it.

Yeah the movie was a little to slow paced but it did make you think about how easy it would be for deadly disease to pass quickly through a population. 

You know it was just the type of movie you wanted to see before going out to eat. lol

The movie ended about 20 minutes before we were set to meet everybody, so perfect timing!

We met up with my mom, Marine's parents, my uncle, and Giggles and her hubby for diner. The food was delicious! And the company was great. Even baby Marine seemed pleased with my choice of the Hawaiian chicken, and let me tell ya that's saying something because baby is not easily pleased when it comes to food. 

After diner the rest of the group bid goodnight but Marine, Giggles, Giggles Hubby, and I went down to the river where there bands playing in a free concert. The night was one of those perfect nights where summer is coming to an end and you can feel the first hints of fall in the air. The night is warm but with a slight breeze. 

We listened to music for awhile then walked to Coldstone for ice cream before heading on the drive home.

It was a wonderful birthday night out.

And today I took the day off from work since originally Marine and I planned on going away for the whole weekend. But this past week we house sat for my old co-worker...... you remember the one with the dogs and cats that each time I SWEAR I'll never do again cause the cats almost kill me? Yeah that one.... Well we spent last week house-sitting because I can't turn down extra money, and I like the little dogs.... well some of the dogs. lol

So after a week away I'll be honest I was ready to come home. The date night away though was a perfect birthday trip and spending my real Birthday at home is perfect!!

Another year older..... but a another year wiser....... that may still be up for debate!

Wordless Wednesday - New addition to the family

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Guilty Pleasure TV

Everyone has some form of guilty pleasure TV. 

Mine used to be The Hills. I won't even try to deny the fact that I loved Lauren Conrad and secretly envied her, having been the journalism major I would have killed to intern at Teen Vogue. 

Since then I really haven't had that guilty pleasure..... the show you sit glued in front of the TV to making sure you don't miss a minute of the action despite the fact your IQ may be dropping by the minute. 

Now let me tell you a bit about Marine. He's predictable. The TV will always be on Discovery Chanel, History Channel or on the occasional occurance he will flip over to A&E to watch Undercover Boss. 

So imagine my surprise a few Thursdays ago.... I stand in the bathroom, brushing my teeth getting ready for bed. The door is open and Marine comes bouncing out of the bedroom, down the hall, heading toward the living room practically skipping while singing "It's a Jersey Shore Party."

I watch in wonderment as he turns the corner. Was that my husband?

I rinse my mouth and head down the hall to peak my head around the corner.

Marine sits smack dab in the middle of the couch. Eyes glued to the TV.

"Whatcha watching?" I ask.

"It's a Jersey Shore Party!!" He practically sings again.

Oh my the Marine Corps. barracks has now come into my home. 

While in the Marine's Marine and his buddies would all gather in the barracks and watch Jersey Shore. 

Marine texts Roommate who is on the west coast to see if it's on there. 

It is and apparently he is glued to the TV also.

As I watch this I think of Vixen and myself texting back and forth during The Hills. 

Perhaps my big tuff Marine is a girl.......

I sit down beside him on the couch wondering what all the fuss was about.

I had never watched the show...... and perhaps afterward I understood why. Even though I have since found myself watching it with Marine every week. 

Maybe men and women really aren't so different. 

Since We Last Spoke......

You know the feeling that you have when to much time has gone by since you have called what once was a close friend?

You feel bad you haven't called, haven't kept in touch, yet you almost can't bring yourself to call because just to much time has gone by and you feel guilty for that.

What do you say?

Where do you start?

This is me. Making the call.

I miss blogging.

I miss free time.

I'll be honest I really don't like the new job. But I guess that's no surprise I knew deep down I wouldn't. I am thankful to have a full time job though...... but.......

And I was afraid I wouldn't know where to begin? lol

So I've been busy working....

And taking the LAST online class for webdesign certification.....

Also had my 10 year high school reunion last week...... and just like the first day of school I had no clue what to wear. I went thru my closet numerous times looking for the perfect thing to wear before finally deciding on one of the many (many) dresses I had bought for Marine's Homecoming but never worn. 

It was a cute little Express dress I had gotten on sale. It was simple, yet dressy enough. 

The reunion was taking place in the banquet room of the local Mexican Restaurant. Not the first choice of some of the more..... shall we say.... more snooty planning members. The original invitation had invited alumni to a local event facility where diner would be catered and their would be a DJ. 

The total price was going to be $30 per person. Which isn't a whole lot but in this economy $60 per couple for finger food and no adult beverages is a little excessive.....  needless to say not enough people RSVP'd to make this first option possible. 

So the more level headed planning members (ie Giggles and LC) had suggested having diner at a restaurant and everybody just paying for their own meal. 

I admit I was torn about going. Part of me looked forward to, yet the other side felt like I had not accomplished enough to be going to my 10 year reunion already. 

But Giggles, Babbles, and LC had been on the planning committee and pretty much did not give the rest of friends an option when it came to attending.....

And if I was going Marine was going weather he liked it or not. Maybe I haven't accomplished much but may as well proudly portray myself as the happy cougar with the young, handsome husband ;)

Speaking of Cougar's did I ever mention that our wedding led to a budding of romances? 

LC began dating one of Marine's friends and they have been going strong ever since. So at least I'm not the only one robbing the cradle. They are cute together and both seem really happy. Plus it means I get to see her more so it's a win win situation. 

Anyway the reunion went pretty good. I saw my group of friends that I see all the time (Giggles, Babbles, LC,  Vixen, Conscious, and Nurse-Betty) along with several people I hadn't seen since high school. It was funny to reminisce about old times. Still hard to believe though that it has been 10 years. 

Babbles tried to catch me unaware

Even though I'm not where I thought I'd be 10 years ago, I am happy with where I'm at in life.

So besides that I have also been busy taking tests....... 

 

On the 4th of July I realized that I was late. Something I didn't think much of before then because I rarely ever start on the same day. 

But to be on the safe side I take a test. One line appears and then I swear I see a second faint line.

Marine says he doesn't see it. 

A few days later still no visit from Aunt Flo so I decide to take another test. 

This time the second line is a little darker. 

Marine and I stand over the sink staring at the test in slight shock.

"I told you I thought I saw a second line on the first one," I say.

"I saw it to," Marine admits.

"Why did you tell me then?" I laugh.

"Well I thought you might freak out......."

Needless to say it was unexpected and not planned.

The plan was to wait a year, maybe two, then start trying.

Sometimes God's plan is slightly different then our own though.

On July 27th we had our first doctor's appointment. When the tiny peanut showed up on the ultrasound screen I stared at in shock and wonderment.

I had been sick the past few weeks yet I still could not wrap my mind around the fact that I was indeed pregnant. 

Laying there though staring at the screen I knew it was true. Marine asked all kinds of wonderful questions. While I continued to just stare in wonderment. 

We were having a baby.

It was real. There it was. So small but already such a loud and steady heartbeat. 

I felt a flood of emotions; excitement, shock, fear - to name a few.

I am now almost 11 weeks along and I won't lie it still doesn't seem real.

It may sound bad but most of my friends have had miscarriages their first time.  I have watched them go thru that painful experience and am so afraid that it may happen to us also. Therefor its hard to get excited. Two more weeks though and we will be to the "safe" point and ready to tell everyone. Then I'll let the excitement out!!!

Until then I just feel cautious. 

I always thought when the time came I would be the calm one and Marine would be the freaked out one. 

I could not have been more wrong.

Marine has been so calm. So excited. So wonderful.

I've been the worrier..... How can we afford this? What am I going to do when it's here? Go back to work? Stay home? Can we afford for me to stay home? If not who will we get to watch it? etc.

So I sincerely apologize so much time has gone by since my last "call" but as you can see I've been rather busy. I'll try to not to let so much time go by before the next time though.

Lily: "I'm pregnant."

Barney: "I've never seen that woman before in my life! Sorry force of habit, congratulations!"

~ How I Met Your Mother ~

Easy Canvas Prints, Simple as 1, 2, 3, 4!

So do you remember my post last year in which I ordered Marine a homecoming sign from buildasign.com?

It turned out so great! And Buildasign.com was so easy to work with and had such wonderful customer service I have been recommending them to everybody ever since. 

Well now they are branching out with even more products! Welcome Easy Canvas Prints.

Have you every made a canvas print? I admit that I had always wanted to but due to high cost from some other sites I have never ordered one. Marine told me at Christmas that he had almost ordered one for me for Christmas but my poor Computer challenged husband just couldn't get it to work.

When I was contacted by Easy Canvas Prints and asked it I would review their product I jumped at the chance! 

The hardest part about the whole process was deciding which picture I wanted to use! 

Seriously.

I had wedding pictures, Marine Ball pictures, New Years, Birthday's and so many other pictures..... how could I choose just one?

I finally decided on one of my favorite wedding pictures and uploaded it to the site. 

When they say 4 easy steps, they aren't kidding!!

I was done with my canvas in less then 10 minutes and sitting there wondering if I had done something wrong because it seemed all to easy.

To put there site to the test I decided to let Marine try it.

Let me start off by explaining Marine's computer skills. 

• Turn computer on
• Check email
• look at Facebook
• turn computer off
• Use Google to look up random knowledge

That's it.

I pulled up the site for him and handed over the computer. 

In 4 easy clicks he had uploaded the picture, selected the size and style and was done.

He was so impressed!! And now that he knows how easy it is I have a feeling this may be a sure fire birthday present for me in the works ;)

So the process was easy...... but how's the final product?

Maybe I should just let it speak for itself:

This above just didn't do it justice so I went out on the porch for natural light....

I went for the 8x10 with the image wrap sides. The wrap sides mean it takes the picture and wraps it all the way around the canvas. 

Side

Back

It already comes with the hanger on so when you receive it you just have to decide the perfect place to display it.

Mine is the center of my photo wall. It looks so beautiful and turned out so great!

I have already recommended them to all my friends and I have a feeling that very soon I will have to order another one..... there's another spot in my living room that an 11x14 would look just right.

"You don't take a photograph, you make it."

~ Ansel Adams ~

****Side note: I forgot to add that the shipping time is very fast and that they have excellent customer service in case you do need to contact them****

Right now they are offering 25% off 

All Canvas & Free Standard Shipping

Post It Note..... What Day is it? Wednesday?

Honeymoon Part 2: What does Chocolate Covered Strawberries Have To Do With Australia?

Day 2

Day 2 was a day at sea.

Which means we pretty much ate all day long. True Story.

And can someone tell me why drinks taste better when they come with an umbrella?

After some roaming around the boat we decided to play some putt-putt. Yes, there was a putt-putt golf course on the ship! 

Taken from Google Image

I started out strong but Marine made a fierce comeback and beat me in the end. 

I blame it on to many of these.......

My homemade concoction.

Yes, I did a little research before going on the cruise to see how we could possible sneak on a little extra alcohol. Cause the drinks on board are great.... but they are sky high! I stumbled upon this site called Rum Runners Flask. Seemed simple enough and all the reviews were good so I took a chance and ordered the Spring Break Pack.

Marine and I filled half of them with Rum and half with Crown.

They worked great!! And I highly recommend them.

Marine and I still bought drinks on the boat but not near as much thanks to these little guys.

This day at sea was also when I made a slight fool of myself...

Don't even pretend to fain surprise.

That morning the boat's cruise director hosted a morning show that was aired on the onboard TV station. As Marine and I got ready for the day we had the TV on that station. Well I'm wondering around the room picking out my bathing suit, fiddling with my hair and such. Marine is in the shower and I'm half way listening to the TV.

The Cruise director is asking people to call in and guess where his co-host is from based on his accent.

I thought it was definitely an English accent or may Australian accent.

The Cruise director answers the line and I hear a guest guess a town in England. They tell her she is wrong.

For some crazy reason I decide to call in! I mean if England's wrong the guy's gotta to be from Australia. I picked up the phone and dialed the extension not really thinking I'd get through... But then the Cruise Director answers!

He starts off by asking me the typical questions:

CD, "So who are you cruising with?"
Me, "My husband Marine."
CD, "And is this a special occasion?"
Me, "Yes we are on our honeymoon!"

He congratulates us and then ask if I know the answer to the question.

"Australia!" I exclaim.

And the two Morning Show Hosts nearly fall out of their chairs laughing! And they continue laughing.

Immediately I realize that it's best not to try and answer a question that you never even heard.

I laugh, "Ok I admit I didn't really hear the question."

Turns out the question was what town in England was the Co-host from.

Wow.

"Well at least I gave you guy's a good laugh this morning," I try to recover.
"That you did and just for that we are going to send you a consolation prize!!!"

Marine gets out of the shower and I tell him the story to which he just shakes his head and laugh's.

The consolation prize rocked!! And I'll be honest I was kinda glad I got the question wrong.

Chocolate Covered Strawberries and Champagne!

So delicious!

But little did I know this show would re-air the entire cruise so even though Marine missed the live show he did get to see the replay..... at which he may have laughed harder than I have ever seen him laugh.

Yep I'm good like that ;)

Ticket Agent: Okay, Mr. Bing, you'll be in 25J,and Mrs. Bing, you're in 25K.

Monica: Oh, no, you see, um, we're on our honeymoon. So, um, can you do you're little thing and bump us up to first class?

Ticket Agent: I'm sorry, all the first class seats are taken. That couple got the last two.

Monica: You see, if we'd gone around them like I said, then she would have given us those tickets! Damn it!

Chandler: 25J and K. Any chance those aren't together?

~ Friends ~

Um Can We Say "To Young For Make-Up"

Have you seen this promo commercials?





Anyone else see anything wrong with this beside me?

Date Girl's Wedding Day Jitters

Ok anyone having problems with Blogger? I just realized that several posts I had scheduled to "post" during wedding week and honeymoon week never posted!!! How frustrating is that?!?!?!?!?! Here is a guest post that should have posted on May 16th from my lovely friend Date Girl. So sorry Date Girl!!!!


While the lovely E is away on her honeymoon ( I didn't get one so I will try not to pout too much, lucky biatch, hehe) she asked me to share with you a story from my wedding last year. 

This is just a little advice for all you modest brides out there about how to tinkle in your wedding dress. 

The first time I had to pee in the dress I was mortified. I hadn't had a chance to consume enough champagne to get over my paralyzing fear of peeing in front of others. I am not the kind of girl who can undress easily in front of other women, and I am NOT the kind of girl who can accompany her girlfriends to the potty. It used to be worse. I used to have to turn on the faucet in the bathroom so people in the next room wouldn't hear me pee. I know, I'm slightly neurotic.

While getting into the dress, I knew I would have to be in just my panties and my "chicken cutlets". That is what I called my stick on bra that was there in case of a wardrobe malfunction. While I was standing there ready to step in the girls were laughing at me because I just kept saying, "This is my nightmare!" I'm modest what can I say? 

You can imagine that as awkward as I felt getting into the dress in front of others, that going tinkle was going to be traumatizing. So there I was, knowing I would need friends to help me hold my dress so I wouldn't get toilet water on it. Toilet water on your dress = not at all classy. What was I to do? So first I asked them to look away. But I was still pee shy and wouldn't you know it? I couldn't go. So I asked them to hum or sing loudly. This started the biggest giggle fest of the afternoon and I'm pretty sure terrified a girl who came in to use the restroom. 

The subsequent trips to the bathroom got a little easier  because a. I had more to drink and started to loosen up, and b. mostly because the girls knew the drill. They would immediately look away and start humming at the top of their lungs. And that ladies, is how pee shy girls do their business on the big day. You're welcome! 

--

Date Girl



http://www.dategirldiaries.com 

Honeymoon Part 1: It's Not A Honeymoon Till There's Cake

Friday May 13th was the kickoff to Honeymoon week. Marine and I got up early and got started on our road-trip. Yeah for a little more we could have flown to where the boat was leaving from...... but Marine and I like to road trip and stop at places along the way.

Call us weird. It's ok.

A little after noon we started to get hungry and agreed we wanted to stop and stretch our legs a bit and stop for lunch.

The signs for St. Augustine looked appealing so Marine pulled off the exit. I'll admit we had no clue where we were going. Then I spotted a sign reading "Cabo Taco". We can always eat Mexican so Marine pulled in. IT WAS DELICIOUS!!! 

If you're ever in the area try it. You won't be sorry!

After more driving we finally arrived at our destination and checked into our hotel room for the night. It was about 2pm when we arrived. We were both exhausted from all the hectics excitement of the past few weeks and figured we would take a quick power nap and then get up and go explore before diner.

What was meant to be about an hour nap kinda lasted a little longer than planned..... Like 5 hours longer!

We had both needed the sleep so it was very refreshing. We went out and explored the town a little, did a little shopping and then ate a quick diner before heading back to the room..... where we laid in bed and just watched TV. Such a simple thing. But something we never have time to do at home.

Marine joked, "You realize we had to drive nearly 9 hours to just lay in bed and watch TV?"

Saturday was Cruise Day!!! We were so excited. After a quick stop at Wal-Mart for some more sunblock we were ready to head off to the boat.

After waiting in lines and checking in we were able to go aboard. Since we had some time before we could check into our room we hit the first bar we came to in the lobby.

Lobby

After a couple drinks we headed up to our room. Marine unlocked the door then held it open for me to enter first. I walked through the door and stopped and gasped.

The room was decked out in Honeymoon Decorations and a card telling us happy honeymoon from Blondie and her Hubby. 

The honeymoon was off to a great start!

We decided to explore the boat a bit before diner.

The Main Deck

Looking out at the port

The boat was beautiful!! Not to mention Huge!

 After that we dressed up and went to diner.

If you've never been on a cruise let me explain how diner works. Pre-Cruise you choose either early dining (6:30) or late dining (8:30) {give or take on the time maybe it was 8........} We had chosen later diner that way when getting back on the boat from the ports we would have time to shower and get ready.

At these diners everyone is assigned a specific table at which you are paired up with other guests.

This can be a wonderful thing or it can be a disaster.

So Marine and I are escorted to our table and realize it will be just us and another couple who has yet to arrive.

We take our seats and watch as others enter the dining room playing the guessing game of who will be our diner companions.

By this time we have met the elderly couple seated at a two seater table next to us.

Then a man and woman walk by our table and Marine and I exchange a look of relief they didn't sit with us....  because let's face it some woman just put off the witch vibe and this woman was radiating it.

And then the couple comes back and sit at our table.

I inwardly laugh but think it'll be ok we can make friends with anybody.

At least that's what I thought.

We start in on the small talk; where are you from yada yada yada. The woman throws in they are on the "Elite" spa deck several time as she looks down her nose at us.

The couple was late 30's, from Washington State, with 3 kids.

Granted we may not have the most in common with them but that's no big deal. The husband says he used to be in the Coast Guard so Marine and him small talk about that.

Marine then turns to me and asks me a question about something on the menu.

As we look down at the menu the woman whispers says to her husband snootly, "They really should give people compatibility quizzes before matching them up."

Wow. Ok what do you say to that?!

Do we pretend we didn't hear?

In the awkwardness of the moment I do the only I know how. Try to lighten the mood, "Yeah I wonder how they match people up on these....." and then I pointed out another table that appeared pretty mix-matched to throw the eyes off us.

Wow.

The husband was nice and seemed slightly embarrassed by his wife's comment.

Let's just say the couple never showed up again. Which was fine by us. We enjoyed visiting with the other couples around us and then enjoying our meal just the two of us.

But as Marine said, "I wish I would have been drunk and at least showed my @ss or something."

It may not have helped matters that the wait staff sang us a Happy Honeymoon song and delivered a cake.

But she did seem quite envious when we handed some free drink vouchers courtesy of our wonderful Carnival Cruise Agent (want to cruise Carnival? Let me know and I'll give you her contact info. She was GREAT).

The first day was off to an interesting start. And there was 6 days to go....

To be continued......

"Phoebe: So, how was the honeymoon?

Monica: Oh, so much fun. But the best part is we met this incredible couple on the flight back.

Phoebe: That was the best part? Good honeymooning, Tiger." -  ~ Friends ~

Side note -- this was the only day Marine and I got sea sick as well. As we started to leave port it began to rain. Our room was on the very front of the boat and let me just tell you it felt like that really bad drunk when the room just won't start spinning. Word to the wise take Dramamine.