Shopping Commandments...

The other weekend, Joel and I went shopping together. I'm usually very excited about these outings. I picture myself trying on lots of beautiful clothes with my husband heartily agreeing how great I look in that dress...shirt...whatever. Unfortunately, this is not how it happens. It seemed to happen when we were engaged, but not so much after we were married. Don't get me wrong, he doesn't think I look bad in what I try on but he just doesn't care to endure the whole shopping process anymore. boo. I like the shopping process. So, last time we scheduled a shopping outing I made him recite the shopping commandments. Here's what happened.

Me- "Repeat after me, babe...I, Joel, will not complain about staying in a store for too long."

Him-"I, Joel,....will not complain about staying in a store too long...if we don't stay in the store for too long."

Me- "That's NOT the shopping commandment."

Him-"Well, sometimes I get tired and I want to sit down...so I will not complain about staying in a store too long if there's a comfortable chair to lounge in."

Me-"But, I want your opinion....but FINE...whatever....Repeat this after me "I, Joel, will NOT complain about being tired and WILL have fun the ENTIRE time."

Joel-Ummm..I'm not repeating that.

Me-"BUT I WANT US TO HAVE A FUN TIME."

Joel-"Shopping makes me tired."

Me-"We've been planning this for WEEKS."

Joel-"Well, hopefully we will find stuff quickly."

Me-"Grrr..so much for my shopping commandments.....whatever...I love you...even though you drive me crazy sometimes."

Joel-"I love you too.."

We ended up having a great time...but I had to FORCE him to stay in Anne Taylor Loft. Don't I have an amazing husband? The fact that he even repeated part of my shopping commandments is amazing!

Paralyzed

If you actually read my blog, you may have noticed that I've taken a little sabbatical. I thought after I was able to go "public" with our move to Jersey, I would be blogging non-stop. It's actually been quite the opposite as you may have noticed. There is something about moving that makes me really excited for the future, but also REALLY nostalgic for the past. I've begun thinking about the fact that we have to leave our church friends, and my sister. This is where Joel and I met, dated, and lived our first years of marriage together. I'm sad to leave our first house, my first job and our first community group. I'm also sad that the people we have grown close to the past few years won't be involved in our future (no-not pregnant right now) children's lives. I've even been selfish enough to think about the fact that I probably won't have a baby shower if we get pregnant in NJ, since no one will know us. I know, I'm selfish, right?!? Don't get me wrong, I am so excited to be a part of the community in NJ, but something about this move has paralyzed my bloggingness (a new word I made up). Don't get me wrong, I'm really excited about our move, but I've needed the last couple of months to mourn what were leaving behind! We love you Norfolk!

Jersey is for Lovers?

So, Joel and I aren't going to be living in VA much longer. He is going to be principal at a school 20 miles from NYC (I listened to the Jay-z song featuring Alicia Keys about 800 times today. We're very excited. I can't believe I'll be living this close to NYC? A little MN native girl like me? What?!? I guess we'll have to change our blog name AGAIN!

Hmmm....Decisions

Decisions....decisions. I've made a lot of them over the past few years. I've come to find that huge life changing ones are pretty easy for me to make. It's figuring out what to do on a Friday night that really throws me into a quandary. For example, I decided by the 3rd date that I would marry Joel if asked, yet I make him decide what we are going to do on our free weekends. I'm not sure if this is a personality flaw or an asset. I think I'll deem it a "flasset" (a mixture between a flaw and an asset). How do you feel about change. Does it excite you...or do you feel as though you need a dose of ativan in order to adjust to it?

Rowenas

I'm pretty sure Rowenas sells the best pound cake ever. My friend just bought this store. You should check it out. They have a great selection of online gourmet foods.

Not Feelin' Witty...Just Real

I'm at that point. 29 is staring me in the face and the second decade of my life is waving good-bye. Bleck. I want my 20-year old body back with the financial security that people my parents age enjoy. I'm shallow...aren't I? It's funny that as a teen, I thought that people my age didn't worry about extra chub on their hips or the clothes they wear. I was wrong. It just becomes more intense....Now, I not only worry about the extra chub on my hips, but I also think about my income and the life that my job will or will not afford me. Hmmm...I'm still just as shallow as I was when I was 16....if not more so.
Over the past few years, I've come to realize that I'm probably never going to stop worrying about my figure. I'll probably always feel slightly jealous that some of my friends don't have to work and STILL have a laundry room inside of their house. (Okay, maybe a little more than slightly). Yet, even though I struggle with the same old idols (with a few more added into the mix) I'm a little aware more aware of how awful my true nature really is. This is good, because it makes me realize how much I really need God's grace. So there's my non-witty, just feeling real post.

The Thoughts of A Horrible Cook....

I tried to cook again today. I even wore the cute apron my best friend gave me for my birthday last year. I imagined I was a cute 50's wife with my hair all dolled up and beautiful. I pictured a spotless house with the table set and the oven timer sounding just as my incredibly handsome husband arrived home from work. Beautiful dream...Isn't it? Too bad my hair isn't fixed and I'm wearing sweat pants. Oh...and I almost forgot! It would be nice if I knew how to cook.

After a long two days of interviewing, I decided it would be nice if I made supper for my honey for once. My mind raced through easy but delightfully healthy meals that I could fix my husband in a crock pot. I landed on a whole chicken. How hard could that be? Well, I'm afraid it is EASY. I still had to call my mom.

Me-"Mom, what is the difference between table salt and kosher salt?
Mom-"Nothing...it's just a fancier type of salt."
Me-"Good...cause I already put it in the chicken...bye..gotta go... Love you!"

Me again.."Oh shoot...I was supposed to mix all of the spices together before I lathered the chicken in spices....now I have a spotty paprika, salted, Italian seasoned chicken with half of its skin hanging off (I got sick of trying to peel the skin off half way through). Maybe if I try to spread the spices around with this wooden spoon....gosh darn it...this isn't working either....why the HECK didn't they give me instructions to mix the spices together BEFORE instead of AFTER the list of ingredients....stupid recipe writers....hmmmmph...I'll just turn the crock pot on high...hopefully that will work."

Mmmm...bon appetit' my handsome husband! Hope you like your half skinned, spotty chicken I slaved away at!! I love you Joel!