Ten things I love Sunday!

Posted on | Monday, March 21, 2011 | No Comments

Okay, so this is a day late. Yesterday was the last full day I was going to spend with Alex while here and I could not willingly spend more that fifteen minutes piddling around on my laptop when he was sitting right next to me. Besides, the weather has been BEAUTIFUL this week. Absolutely gorgeous. I'm taking bets that Oklahoma will be purposefully cold this evening just to spite me.

This list of ten things will likely have more to do with my stay in Alabama than the random cute things I find online when I have nothing else to do I hope my darling readership won't mind.

1. Spring Has Sprung


It's been coming for a few weeks now. Buds popping up all over trees and new greenery sprouting from the earth. But in the past week especially it's errupted. Spring has exploded all over and the world is suddenly vibrant and bright and colorful. Well, at least here in Alabama it is. I'm not too sure how Oklahoma is fairing, but I can readily assume it will be spring-like, albeit a few degrees colder.

2. Bruster's


So *technically* this isn't Bruster's ice cream. But it looks like it could be! I'd never been to Brusters before this week, but I have to admit I'm officially hooked. Their ice cream tastes phenomenal, and with the aformentioned warmer weather that we've been experiencing it is definitely a timely treat. I am in love with their 'Cake Batter' and 'White Turtle' flavors. An intervention might be needed once I move here.

3. Less Internet


The internet is one of those things that you don't really realize you use all the time until you don't. I've spent maybe a quarter of the time I normally do online, and that's mostly to check my email and to make sure that Facebook hasn't burst into flames. But as I look back on this week I have to admit, shutting off my laptop and ditching the internet (at least somewhat) has been liberating. Alex and I have mentioned consolidating our two laptops into one desktop when we move into a house, and I'm beginning to really love the idea.

4. Sleep
Add 1 part Mommy, 1 part Student, 1 part Employee. Add a heaping tablespoon of insomnia and a dash of FMS to taste. Mix well and bake for two hours. That's basically me, on a daily routine. Mininmal sleep and leaning to the side of grouchy. It has been so delightful this week to sleep. To just sleep. And get up when I feel like it. I didn't value this nearly enough before I became a mother. Now? It's like a miracle.

5. Coffee

If you know me you know I love coffee. It's my "thing". I'm a bit picky about my coffee, too. I don't want to spend my money (or my time) on a cup of joe that leaves me unsatisfied. I'm normally a Starbucks girl. Skinny caramel macchiato, maybe a toffee nut mocha. Alex took me to a new coffee shop this week that's here in Prattville, House of Java. It has dethroned Starbucks in the best possible way. The only downer is that there isn't one in Oklahoma. Which means I have to be unsatisfied with Starbucks until this summer. C'est la vie.

6. Being Outside
See my first loved thing this week. Beautiful weather and being outside go hand in hand, it seems. Going to parks, taking nice leisurely strolls, sitting outside with a good drink and a book. Things we wouldn't do if the weather were dreary or cold. And it's so nice to be able to step outside barefoot and not want to run back into the house. It's like the seasonal bout of cabin fever has finally ended.

7. Bicycles
Laugh if you wish, but I never really learned how to ride a bike growing up. And as an adult I've usually had a small child around preventing me from practicing very much. Not to mention that bicycles are rather expensive for a college student budget. But! This past week I put all of that aside and rode a bike! I may have been screeching like a banshee and partially crashed, but I did it! I'm excited about this summer when I move here and I can legitimately practice (and hopefully crash less), even though it was a bit scary it was really fun, too.

8. Happy Thoughts
This is one of those things that needs to be printed and put all around my house. I've been sad the past few days because I am going back to Oklahoma today, but this is a great reminder. I deserve to be happy. And so I'm gonna be.
9. Cupcakes
First off, don't these things look absolutely scrumptious?! I love them. Like little bursts of happy that we get to eat -- or whoever was near this photographer, at least. But it leads me to another happy thing from this week. Donna's cupcakes. Donna is a friend from church (who I still need to add of Facebook, whoops) who has offered to make our cupcakes for the wedding. They are INCREDIBLE. Donna, if you ever read this open a bakery, I will buy things from you daily!
10. Animal Pajamas
Okay, I know these are expensive but OMG I WANT THEM. The panda bear and the chipmunk make me do that hand-flaily thing because the are so cute and they look so incredibly COMFY. I mean look at them! Super comfy adult animal pajamas! How can you NOT love this?!



Okay, not I need to pack. I've spent a biiiiit too long blogging and I have clothes strewn all across the floor. Eek!

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Baby, baby, baby, oooh!

Posted on | Wednesday, March 16, 2011 | No Comments

One of the particularly awesome things about coming back to Alabama is being able to see old friends again. Most of my friends from four (or more) years ago have moved on to bigger, better, and far different things -- as to be expected -- but there are a handful of people that I am thankful to say are still considered best friends. You know, the people that you can not see then for five years and within a matter of seconds of seeing each other it's like those years never happened.


Chelsea is one of those amazing friends. I haven't seen her since 2007 but within a matter of minutes we were catching up like nothing had happened. Both of our lives have changed in the best possible way; we're both Mommys to wonderful children (her daughter Layla is so freaking cute!), we've found awesome guys to spend our lives with, and we have both outgrown being die-hard goths.

Just don't tell our parents that last part.

Layla didn't entirely know what to make of me or Alex. We were cooing over her and within a matter of moments her face crumpled in the most adorable way ever. We weren't Mommy and therefore we had no reason to be cuddling her or telling her how pretty she was.

Although Alex did magically coerce Layla into playing with him after about half an hour. It was simple really, he took apart her play floor and played with a hair brush. Suddenly he was the best thing ever.

Note the piece of floor in her adorable baby hands. It was apparently the best chew toy ever.

I was sad to leave for the night, even though I am planning to come back and see her again before I fly back to Oklahoma. Although I realized the moment Alex and I got home that I had left my purse at her house. It was just an excuse to give her another hug, but don't tell anyone I told you that.

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Om nom nom

Posted on | Tuesday, March 15, 2011 | No Comments

Last night was quite honestly one of the best nights ever. Nevermind the crazy rain storm and the nail polish fiasco (possibly more on that later), it easily breached the Top 5 List of "Most Enjoyable Nights With Super-Awesome People". I'd never been to P.F. Chang's China Bistro, which Mallory and Alex did not realize when the reservations were made. I have to say, I am very appreciative of their choice in cuisine.


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Ten things I love Sunday!

Posted on | Sunday, March 13, 2011 | No Comments

This post is a little late by my average blogging standards (but it's still Sunday, so it counts right?). It's been a busy day here in Alabama. It's been a busy past few days, actually. I'm truthfully amazed by the amount of stuff that can be fit into such a small period of time. I have easily five blog posts waiting, but that's what happens when you have an epic vacation with your soon-to-be husband.



1. Beautiful Days


I don't know what the weather is like in Oklahoma right now, but in Alabama it's been absolutely spectacular. There doesn't need to be many reasons not to love this kind of weather. Seriously.

2. Lush Cosmetics


Lush bath bombs, specifically. This one is called "Christmas Party". I have a gift card from Lush that I really want to use but I have been terrified of wasting the money only to find out that it's something I would never use. I adore their "Squeaky Green" shampoo bar, and now I am sold on bath bombs. My skin feels fabulous. Too bad my bath tub at home is so tiny.

3. Church


I was extremely nervous (and excited) about attending church today. While I have been watching the services online for some times, it's entirely different to be there in person. And to have everyone know you before you know them. But Steve gave a sermon today that truly touched my heart and has left me with thoughts and prayers I hadn't considered before. It makes me feel so blessed.

4. Wedding Things


Earlier today Alex and I spent about two hours strolling about Target and zapping various pieces of cutlery, furniture, and other domestic items. Call me silly, but it was so exciting to pick out items that could hypothetically fill our house in less than six months. Less than six months! However, I would like to know why we have onesies on our registery when we didn't scan a single baby item. Jumping the gun a bit aren't we, Target?

5. Spring Forward


Although it's a bit off-putting to wake up and it be 8:00am instead of 7:00am, it suppose having more daylight in which to do things is worth the loss of sleep. Maybe I didn't feel like I lost an extra hour, but we're just going to pretend I did.

6.Family Rules


I want this sign in the living room of my house. It's is so fantastically true. And it is worth being reminded of every single day. Although I would probably go with a color besides burnt orange.

7. Kitty


I love cats. I seriously do. When I found out how allergic Kael was to felines I was a little sad inside. Looking at this picture makes my heart super happy, though. I mean, it's a kitty. With a magical fur heart. You can't get much better than that. Unless of course you found a hypoallergenic cat.

8. Slide


This picture doesn't even need words. Look at the guy's face. The highlight of his day is climbing up the stairs because he knows he'll get to go down the best slide ever. I wonder how hard it would be to have one of these built into my house...

9. Having Fun


I really hope that when I am older I am as joyful and jubliant as these lovely ladies were. I love everything about this picture. I truly do.

10. Cake


I have discovered a correlation between technicolored foods and deliciousness. Somehow when food is given rainbow colors the number of people who want to eat it multiplies by ten. Don't believe me? Take some rainbow cupcakes and some vanilla cupcakes to a bake sale. See which on sells more.

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Arrival

Posted on | Saturday, March 12, 2011 | 1 Comment

Thursday night I finally finished Alex's anniversary present. It took two months, four glue sticks, five magazines, four different colors of tissue paper, and an un-numbered amount of crayons, markers, and tape to complete.

And it was 100% worth it.

It's called a boyfriend book. There's an online community that I haunt, in which members brainstorm ideas and share books/journals that have been made. Some of them have been simply stunning and I loved the idea; even though I don't of myself as overly creative.


At least I could try, right?

Truthfully, I am amazed at how wonderful it turned out. I'm carried it with me onto the plane and gave it to Alex about twenty minutes after I got into Alabama. My hypothesis was that he would look at it, get a wibble lip, and then hug me tight saying I am the best thing in the history of ever. I'm proud to say I was right.

Anyways, enjoy!


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Adjustments

Posted on | Thursday, March 10, 2011 | No Comments

I received an email earlier this week that had me bouncing to the moon:

Dear Alisha,

Thank you for choosing David's Bridal! We are delighted to inform you that your special order item(s) listed below have arrived and are available to pick up. We kindly ask that you stop by the David's Bridal where your order was placed to pick up your item(s).

Since I am leaving tomorrow for Alabama I figured that it would be wisest to come in today and be fitted, especially since the latter part of the email tactfully stated that after 14 days they would no longer be able to hold my dress. It would be a tragedy to have them re-ship my dress, especially since I'm working on a deadline!


<--more!-->It made me super happy that the dress still fit; I've been eating horribly (remember those cupcakes for dinner?) and not taking very good care of myself as of late. I would hate to have to let out my dress only to take it in again a month later! Luckily the dress I have hugs my ribs perfectly, so even if it doesn't quite fit the other bits and pieces just so I know that the sizing is right.

I can't exactly shrink my ribs, after all.

The hem needed to be taken in a bit, the bust altered, and a bustle made. I felt a bit like a pin cushion by the end of it. A very jubliant pin cushion. Thankfully the seamstress was very good at what she did and none of those pins stuck into anything other than the fabric.

Getting the dress off was a bit of a challenge. Katy was there to help me, which was a relief. Although I think I may have been sctrached in a few places my errant pins. The dress should be ready in about a month, then I can do my second alteration if needed. It's starting to get really exciting, all the big things that go with a wedding are starting to happen -- the dress, the catering, the venues. Eeee!!

Also, while I was there I realized that the colors we had picked for the wedding party (Lapis and Cornflower) looked hideous together. Truly monstrous. Actually, most colors clashed rather violently with Cornflower, which so happened to be the color Alex picked out for his vest. And it also so happened that his vest matches the tie Bruce (his Dad) wore to his own wedding, which Alex wants to wear to ours.

So the search was on to find a color that meshed with Cornflower. We were torn between "Truffle", "Mermaid", and "Sunbeam" for a few minutes. Ultimately, Sunbeam won. It made Cornflower pop and enchanced the colors versus dampening them.

It helps that I really like the color yellow. It's so bright and happy. It makes me feel like smiling just by looking at it. So why not incorporate said color into the wedding? Plus, Alex loves yellow, too. Everyone wins!

(As a side note, the yellow was not this bright in person. It's definitely gorgeous in the picture, but at the store it had a more muted hue.)

Right. Now to get off the computer and pack for Alabama (and take my last midterm for the semester)! If you don't hear from me for a week or more don't panic. I'm just enjoying the warmer weather and valued time with the almost-husband.

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Friends in low places

Posted on | Tuesday, March 8, 2011 | 2 Comments

Well, kind of. Minus the bar, the wedding, and the song.


This week has been incredibly painful. I don't feel comfortable discussing it on a public forum, but suffice to say it has been truly heartbreaking. There isn't any real end in sight to what is happening and it is taking a toll on all involved. I made mention of what was happening on my facebook and asked people to pray for those involved. Upon returning home I saw that Katy had posted on my wall --

I know that youre having a tough day, so I made all those cupcakes we looked at yesterday, I'll be over later.

I truly love that woman.

She came over and held me while I cried. And then we ate cupcakes. Red Velvet, Lemon, and Vanilla Almond. I smiled and then cried a bit more, and had another cupcake. It's something special when your friend sees you are in pain and spends her morning making wedding cupcake replicas from scratch (Katy doesn't believe in box mixes). It's even more special when they hold you and let you feel everything you have bottled up inside without saying a word. It was truly the best thing should could have done.


I still have about seven cupcakes in my fridge right now. I'm planning on eating several of them for dinner tonight, my diet be dammed.

I don't know what is going to happen or what to expect in the coming weeks (or months), but knowing I have people that love me this much reminds me it will be okay. Regardless of what happens it will be okay.

And we will always have cupcakes.

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Ten things I love Sunday!

Posted on | Sunday, March 6, 2011 | No Comments

Week three! It's a good thing that I have to widdle my way down to ten things, right? I think so, at least. Loving stuff/people/ideas/things is wonderful. And a really great way to end a week.


1. Penny Loafers


I bought these last week and I adore them. I normally don't do well with this kind of shoe, they usually result in painful blisters and scrunched up toes. Not these guys! They fit like a dream. And look how CUTE they are!

2. Cupcakes


These vanilla almond cupcakes with salted caramel buttercream icing, to be exact. They will be at my wedding. Oh yes. Just look at them. They oooooze delectability and perfection.

3. Waffles


Someone please tell me they know where to find this incredible waffle iron. Pretty please? It's a KEYBOARD WAFFLE IRON, GUYS. Do you know how awesomely cool that is?! I would be making waffles every weekend, from SCRATCH. Just to use this bad boy of culinary epicness.

4. Clouds


I wish I had come up with this idea. I love it when the weather is light and beautiful and I can just go outside and look at the shapes clouds make. This just takes that to another level entirely.

5. Harry Potter


The books, not the movies. Although I like the movies, I don't love them. The books though? About once a year I go back and read them. It's like seeing an old friend again. I usually read books four through seven (I have lost ther first three and have no idea how), and even though I know what's coming it still makes my heart go pitter-patter and I fall in love with the characters all over again.

6. Bento Boxes


I love bento boxes. Turning a drab meal into something exciting. I mean, who wouldn't want to have a Calvin and Hobbes caricature lunch?! I keep telling myself that I'm going to start making my own bento boxes, but for some reason it's still stuck on the list of things "I'm going to do". Between my current culinary experiments and the fact that I leave work before I eat lunch I simply haven't motivated myself to doing it. Yet.

7. Less Than Six Months


Okay, so it won't be exactly like this (my dress will be prettier and we will be far more awesome). But darnit, it'll feel like that. I seriously cannot wait.

8. Beaches


Where is this place and how can I get there? It looks absolutely perfect. The clouds, the amazingly pristine ocean, the white beaches with gorgeous greenery. I want to jump into this photograph and just be. Breathe in the salty air and feel the wind swirl my hair about as I soak in all the fabulous vitamin D. Alex, if you tell me that this is somewhere in Florida we can move next week.

9. Tea


I'm not a big tea drinker but I love this idea. I think it would make me into a tea drinking fanatic if I had the opportunity to make art every time I made a delicious mug of Earl Grey or Raspberry Zinger.

10. Coffee


Of course I can't love tea without loving coffee. Or at least loving the coffee receptical. i really love the idea of changing "I wish" into "I will". It's the same as eliminating the word "should" from your vocabulary and replacing it with "I want" and "I need. Saying "I wish I were healthier" or "I should take better care of myself" does nothing. But, saying "I want to be a healthier person and I will change how I take care of my body". That changes things.

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Sorry, Sebastian.

Posted on | Saturday, March 5, 2011 | 1 Comment

This week has been rather interesting. I had the joy of experiencing food poisoning (although it could have been a flu virus), Hannah had her baby (yay!!), Katy went to Florida, and midterms befell the college campus. I have had several blog entries in the works, but there simply hasn't been time to post anything.


But!

Today Katy came back from Florida and Kael and I were going to pick her up at the airport. Just as we were heading out Mom came by unexpectedly. She offered to watch Kael for a little while. So Katy and I had the chance to visit and have a fantastic lunch. A truly fantastic lunch, I say.

I forgot -- again -- to bring my camera with me. My cell phone camera is finally making use of itself at least!

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Where am I going?

Posted on | Tuesday, March 1, 2011 | No Comments

Last week the campus I work at was having a transfer fair. A bunch of colleges and universities came and set up tables so they could explain to students why they were the best choice for one's academic career.

Which led me to asking, where am I going in the next few years?



I have an associates already, I graduated cum laude, but I still don't know where I want to be in five or ten years. Do I want to go back to college and pursue a bachelors degree? Most certainly. Do I know what I want to study? Not really.

Nursing and health sciences interest me. I excel in oncology, having spent several months interning in both gyn-onc and pediatric oncology and after graduation working in hematologic oncology I know I could spend my life doing it. But could I do that phsyically? Doubtful. During interships for my degree my body would give out on me while assisting patients. That isn't acceptable for me, no matter how much good I can do with or for a person. If my body fails them then I have failed them.

I do know that I'd want to help people, regardless of the path I choose, but that still leaves an array of degrees and career fields.

I've considered social work periodically. But I don't feel the passion for that like I do for medicine. I fear I would be burned out from the constant and unceasing number of people who need help or worse, those who refuse to help themselves.

I could get a degree in community sciences, maybe become an advocate for patient health. Maybe be a nutritionist (if I could get through at least a masters program so that my degree wouldn't just be a pretty piece of paper) or a dietician and help people live healthier lives. Maybe I could get a degree in health administration and be a head honcho at a clinic or hospital. Maybe I can become a lingustic anthropologist like I dreamed about in high school.

One of these things is not like the other.

Regardless, that's a lot of "maybe"s and not a lot of answers.

Perhaps I should just throw that all out the window and lable myself as a Life Coach. The world needs lots of those, right? Is there a degree for that?

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About

Photobucket I was born and raised in California. I have also lived in Hungary, Texas, Alabama, Oklahoma, and I will be moving again this summer. Kael is my incredibly awesome kiddo who is growing up far too quickly, and Alex is my fiance who makes me happier than should be legally allowed. I write about them a lot. I'm mildly obsessed with cooking and photography. I write about those things, too.

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