God Gave Me You...

Dave Barnes - God Gave Me You (Official Music Video). Watch more top selected videos about: Dave Barnes

I'm a huge Dave Barnes fan. Love the soul in his voice and the words that he turns into music. For our wedding we had the DJ play, "Until You" and we ended our reception with, "On a Night Like This." How perfect.

I downloaded his new album the other night and tonight I started to play it... I was in the tub with a glass of wine when this song came on and I started to cry. Not just cry, but bawl. I know that God blessed me with my hubby and this song says it all. Listen to the lyrics while you watch this video and tell me that if you've been loved, or feel love, that this song doesn't touch your soul. Bravo to Dave Barnes for another perfect song...

Final Car Payment...

I was so excited last month because I was finally going to make my last car payment! Sixteen months early! I was so excited, key word is, was. I had my statement balance in hand and went online to make my final payment and then I anxiously awaited my new title that would say I was finally the owner!

I bought my 2007 Honda Civic in October of 2006. Before that I was driving my mom's 1999 Buick whenever she wasn't using it. I was living at home so it really wasn't an inconvenience for either of us, until I started dating my future hubby in September 2006. It's weird to ask your mom if you can borrow her car for the night. It's great when she doesn't mind, but that's when I started to feel like I was taking advantage of my car driving privileges. It was time to get my own car. I love my little civic and I plan on keeping it for as long as it's convenient for both the hubby and me. If we have a baby someday, my little two-door won't exactly be the best car.

This car has taken me on great rides. It's been the best gas-saver on my commute to college. I've never had a problem, other than sometimes keeping it as dirty as I would my room when I was a kid (sorry about that mom, I understand now that I have my own home)... It's been a good little car.

But thinking about my last payment made me think of the future of cars for me. My first choice is the new Honda Accord Crosstour.

I love the feel of a car, and we're not planning on having kids (plural that is) so I will never drive a mini-van. The hubby is not a big fan of the look of the car, he says it's similar to a bubble, but I love it! I think it's a perfect car, so I went and test drove it last week. Unfortunately, the guy who sold me my first car was off for the day, so I had to settle on his partner. The man was very nice, of course he said all the right things that a salesman says, "Oh, look at you in that car, it's a perfect fit!"— You know the regime if you've ever bought a new car from a dealer... then I went for the test drive and it was amazing. It has the feel of a car, but it's 4-wheel drive and has lots of room. Loved it!

Then we started to talk about trade-in value. He said that they would give me $10,000 for my little beautiful civic. I think she deserves more. He said that I would get more on the private market for her because she is in great shape. Then it happened. The little words that just piss a woman off! "I'm sure when you come back in with your husband, he can wheel and deal the price for your trade in up a few hundred bucks."

Seriously?! This is my car. I don't need my hubby to wheel and deal for me on my car. I ask his input because we're in a partnership. But the nerve of him! It just totally turned me off. I wasn't going to buy anytime soon anyway, unless we needed to, I guess I just didn't realize that there are still people out there that are male chauvinists.

If that wasn't enough, I finally got what I was waiting for from my bank that I had the car loan with. I was so excited for it to be opened. My hubby got the mail that day and he knew I was waiting for it, so I asked him to open it, then he laughed and said he was sorry: my balance is $2.23! What?! Apparently, I have to wait another month to get my title amendment because they decided to charge the interest at the end of each month. Lucky me.

So finally, my final car payment is actually a final payment! I'll be waiting for the postal carrier to deliver it, just so I can be proud of my first big purchase I made on my very own. Yeah me! Maybe next time I go to the dealership I'll find a salesman who thinks I'm "man enough" to make a big girl purchase on my own...

100th Post...

I'm actually pretty excited that this is my 100th post! Sometimes I get stuck in a rut and I stop writing, at other points, I want to write post after post, so I'm a little surprised I've arrived at one hundred... Yeah me!

My New Curtains from Pottery Barn and New Lamp Shade from Lowes

As I'm laying here in our living room in our beautiful home, watching our little rugrat try to play with my hubby, I can't help but think of how blessed I am. People are constantly asking me, "how is married life treating ya?" and I can't help but smile because our life together is pretty damn great. It's not perfect, but it's definitely our perfect. We have a great house, a great puppy, and a great family. We're lucky enough to have jobs that allow us to live in the manner we're accustomed to, even if at times we want to tear our hair out of our heads because of how crazy they can be. We're lucky enough to go on week long vacations, weekends, staycations, and be able to spend time together whenever we get the chance.

We were going to head to the fair today, but opted for a day on the couch watching the Yankee game and then headed to Lowes...

I'm pretty sure my hubby regrets letting me go to Lowes with him. I was getting cabin fever watching Nick Swisher, I mean the Yankee game, and I couldn't help myself once I walked into the store. New outlet covers, new flush ceiling lamps, a new lamp shade, a bunch of little things, and new door handles. For every door in the house.

Now That is A Lot of Doorhandles

Out with the Standard Contractors' Gold Handles, in with the New "Antique" Ones

We had lightbulbs, cleaning supplies, deck cleaner, cabinet door pulls... Yup, I was the annoying person in the only open line with a cart full of stuff. The one everyone hates until a new line opens up.

I look around our house and it feels like home. It's not huge, it's not small. It's like the perfect middle ground. I'm finally happy with the way the house is coming together when it comes to my decorating too. I'm just really looking forward to our new sectional and "man chair" that will be delivered in about a week from Macys. Our first go around for living room furniture didn't hold up as well as we would have liked it to, and, after living in our house for a good stretch of time, we realized that the sectional we have is a little too big for our space. So we downsized, but went with a better version. After a hectic two hour drive (I forgot the GPS), my mom and my hubby and I spent a whole afternoon at the Macy's Furniture store finding the perfect couch. The "man chair" is a compromise since I have my chaise lounge at the end of the sectional, I like the look enough of the leather recliner, but I'm scared that the hubby will end up sitting in his man space instead of cuddling with me on our new couch. He's promised that the man chair won't be sat in unless I'm not home. Now, that's love. Our "old" sectional will be put into our finished basement, that will hopefully turn into a real room once my brother comes and picks up our old dining room table that has found a home down there. Then, I'll finally be done. Right? Or is a home one of those constant things... Whew, I'm exhausted!

But then again, since I'm almost finished, my best bud has purchased her first home! And she needs some decorating help and I'm definitely up for the challenge! Even though it means leaving my hubby at home, since she had the nerve to buy a house in FLORIDA! Mmmhmmm. But I love her anyway and I'm always willing to go buy home goods! I can't wait!

The new furniture arrives a day after we come home from Niagara Falls so I'll have lots of photos to post. But this one is to my hubby for understanding me and letting me make our house, our home, with no questions asked. And so you have it in writing, the next time you want to buy something expensive hubby, I'll never question you again. Especially if it happens to be a professional camera.

My Summer Concert Series Continues...

So last night I had the night off from work. It's been awhile since I missed a Wednesday Karaoke night, but I have to say, I kind of loved it. Not only just being away from work, but the reason I took the night off: to see John Mayer and Train in concert at Bethel Woods. And I have to say, it did not disappoint.

This was my first time up to Bethel and I have to say, it was absolutely beautiful. The rolling hills and beautiful greenery was the perfect backdrop for a concert.

My mom went with me and we had a great time and great seats (thanks to the hubby who woke up extra early to surprise me with them) even with the crazy druggy people that ended up floating next to us. I've never seen someone sweat so much and be so crazy eyed. I guess people like to experience concerts in different ways. I've always been so into the music that drinking or drugging never really interested me. But then again, I've never been interested in any of that.

Some people don't like the way that John Mayer jams out on his guitar, but I absolutely love it. He's one of those artists that you want to hear jam out, even if you didn't go into the concert knowing it. It's amazing. He knows it too. But who the hell cares, let him, as long as I get a great show. It's an experience, not just a recount of the CD. I listen to the CD before a concert, I don't want to hear it again at the concert.

The only thing that disappointed me was that they said no cameras, no videos- so I didn't bring mine. So no pics. Yeah, the whole place had cameras. Next time, I'll be the rebel and bring mine too.

Summer Lull...

A photo from my dad's wedding, courtesy of Mike Bloom ;)

You would think that summer would bring out the best in someone, now wouldn't you? I mean seriously, there is the sunshine, the beach, the long days of doing whatever you want. But something changes when you become an adult. You still have this dream of your childhood summers that were spent at Grama's house when all you had to do was get out of bed before Mom got home from work. We would spend the day at my Aunt's pool with my cousins and my brothers, I'd bike ride with my friends, or spend the day on the river. When May roles around we all start thinking of these times when everything was carefree. But it's just not the same for me anymore. As adults, we don't get summers off. And if you're a parent, you've actually got more work on your hands with having the kids off for two months. I see it on Facebook in the wintertime, "I hate the cold weather, Bring on the summer!" is pretty much what everyone says, but then when summertime hits, everyone changes their tune. Now it's, "I can't take this heat! Spending the day in the AC!"- It's crazy how it all changes. We all still look forward to it, but when it hits, it becomes old real quick.

I really thought I would spend my summer up at High Point Park, but I've only been up twice. I thought I would go down the river, I've been down once. I thought I would write chapters and chapters of my book, only three are finished. I thought I'd be going for runs/walks, I'm pretty much working out once or twice a week. I thought I would read all the books on my reading list, I've pretty much spent my days on the couch watching reruns of my favorite shows and cleaning the house. We've been to two weddings, one following directly after the other. Which was nice, but exhausting. But at the second we met up with our wedding photographer again, since he was photographing my father's wedding. It was a pleasant surprise that I used as my personal photo opportunity to ham it up. After the hecticness ended, this summer got depressing! Now, I just can't keep myself motivated long enough to get out of this summer lull. I'm waking up at noon and going to work at four. I work until one or two a.m. and then I start it all again. I look forward to doing nothing. Isn't that sad?

Our puppy is the thing that gets us both smiling from ear to ear. That and days off together. She's getting so big (almost 4lbs) and learning more and more everyday. We've become dog people, that's for sure. She fetches, she stays, rolls over, etc. We're so proud. And now, she's learning to go up and down the stairs. We're so impressed with her. She just makes everyday a little bit brighter. Is that sad? Right now she's laying next to me just waiting for her belly to be rubbed. She makes me feel like I've got unconditional love. I couldn't feel more blessed than I am with the little family that the hubby and I started when we adopted her.

I'm trying really hard to get out of this blah mode that I've gotten myself into. I love that the hubby and I have gone to concerts (with more to come!) and that we've gone to our first Yankee game at the new stadium (with more to come!). We're also heading to Niagara Falls soon. I love that he thinks of these little trips for us. I can't wait, I've always wanted to go after seeing the Marilyn Monroe Movie Niagara .

Joseph Cotten has got to be one of my favorite actors of all time too, perfect movie with a gorgeous backdrop. I'll have to break out my Marilyn-esque dresses just for the occasion. I think that's what one should do when they plan on dining at a restaurant that charges an arm and a leg for a view and dinner. But then again, I do love getting dressed up. Score one for the expensive restaurant.

So, for the end of summer, I'm vowing to stop hating on summer. I loved summer as a kid, but I want to enjoy it like a kid again. I'm going to do everything I vowed to do at the beginning of it. Maybe we should stop starting summer off with a bang by going on the perfect vacation. Maybe we should start it off slow and then end it with a bang. Just something to consider. Maybe that's my problem, nothing compares to vacation in Aruba, so being home for the summer is just so much less exciting. I'll raise a glass of iced tea to summer tomorrow. I'll just have to get out of bed early enough to brew it.