So Why Pearls & Poison...

In this world there are very few things that I love more than writing.

I'm not the best writer. I don't even write everyday. I'm not the most observant of grammar. I have never really cared. It has always been about the feeling. The ability to put what I need to say down on paper. Down somewhere. Let's be honest, sometimes my iPhone is a lot more handy than a pen and pad. But it has to go somewhere so it can get out of my head and stop haunting me in the middle of the night or in the middle of conversations. Words. Ideas. Melodies. Just the flow of something that I feel needs to be said. Something that hasn't been said the way that I need to say it.

There are so many songs about love. There are so many songs about heartache. But they aren't my songs. They aren't the words that keep me up at night. They aren't my feelings. They aren't my observations.

But this is what scares me. When people see my words, i'm afraid that they automatically feel that it's MY life i'm writing about. Well, in a way it is. But they're not always verbatim. I do have a creative mind. I do elaborate. I do put more into my words than just my personal feelings or just my observations. Please, don't feel sorry for me when you read my words. Feel happy for me that I was able to put them on to paper to make you feel that sorrow. To make you say, "that made me want to cry" or "Oh my God Dana, did that really happen?" 

People ask us constantly, well, men ask us constantly, "so, which one is pearls and which one is poison?" — my answer, neither and both. We write love songs. We write breakup songs. The ups, the downs, the joy and the heartache. That's what Pearls & Poison is about. That's what it means. We write about that moment when the gifts come, when everything is perfect and then we write about when it all falls apart in one way or another. There's always that moment in every relationship when you just wish the other person would just disappear; even just for a second. That's the poison. It's either that thought that crosses your mind, or that moment when you want to just scream for that person to just have never stepped foot into your life. It's the craziness between the two extremes. The love and the hate. The pearls and the poison.

I love writing. It keeps me sane. It's my outlet. But it's not my life to a tee. I do kinda consider myself creative. My husband gets mad sometimes when a song comes. He's never understood the writing part. To him they're just words on a page. He doesn't understand. When I listen to a song, I only hear the words. The music part comes later for me. The words are what pull me in. People relate. They know that not everything can always be flowers, hearts, and roses. The shit happens, and if no one else will write about it, I damn well will.

So please don't feel sorry for me when you hear our songs. It's my therapy. It's my ability to see how your relationships are going too. So, if you find me watching your interactions one day, or counting on my fingers as I have a pen in hand or my iPhone, there's probably a song being written, and it might just be about you, not me. There's no better feeling than when it just clicks. I'm so glad that I can make you feel emotional. I hope I always can.

I Just Feel the Love...

I'm just a sentimental fool I tell ya.  I'm really loving this Valentine's Day thing.  Today couldn't have been a better day.  As I was getting ready to hit the gym the doorbell rang (thinking it was the UPS guy just dropping off a package, I didn't answer it) then a second ring, made me go downstairs and answer.  The hubby was too cute.  He knows I don't need flowers, so this year he bought me an edible arrangement.  How perfect.  Chocolates just won't do with Aruba right around the corner.  In fact, I think he knows to never buy me chocolates because they wouldn't last longer than the five minutes it would take to pick them out!  I just can't stop when it comes to chocolate!

With a huge smile on my face, I had a great workout.  I was complimented at the gym by the 70 year old man that loves me there.  He told me how fabulous I looked by saying he thought Miss America entered the room as I stepped up to the elliptical.  I mean how can your day go wrong when it starts off like that?  Edible arrangement and I'm Miss America?  Ok, I mean, it's a stretch but it was a pretty good line for a 70 year old.  

My hubby likes to eat early.  So, of course he made a reservation at Peter's for 5 p.m.  I made fun of him for at least a week by saying, "So, we're going in for the early bird special huh?"  —his comeback, "It's Valentine's Day, there won't be an early bird special."  But we do like to eat with the 70 year olds. It's weird because we don't have the 8 p.m. bedtime though.

Is this a running theme in my life?  Gosh, I am old.

It was nice to see one of my friends there too; on top of running in to at least five people that come in to my restaurant.  The hubby kept asking, "who's that, who's that", every time someone said hello.  He was a little disappointed because we both ended up deciding on the same meal.  He loves to pick off of my plate and get a little variety.  But we both couldn't get enough of the food.  I think going to Peter's is our Valentine's Day tradition.  I like having traditions.  I didn't even eat that much, but I'm pretty sure, two hours after dinner, that I'm still in a food coma.  

We didn't go crazy on gifts this year.  I made the hubby a photo calendar and he bought me the edible arrangement and a shirt I've been wanting for months, but it's been sold out.  He bought it from a Victoria's Secret in Indy.  He's crazy. 

I just loved being able to see the one I love on Valentine's Day.  It pretty much makes every day a better day.  

How did you spend your Valentine's Day?  I hope it was fabulous and you got to say, "I love you" and hear I love you.  I hope it gave you chills.  Doesn't it just feel so amazing when you know the person feels it to the core just like you?  Love is definitely in the air.

A Great Weekend...

It was so nice not working on a Saturday.  When you're in the restaurant business there are a lot of things that you need to get used to and not having a life on the weekends is one of them.  So this was my exception to the rule.  

The hubby and I headed down to Jersey to see Miranda Lambert in concert.  Jerrod Niemann and Chris Young really weren't that impressive as opening acts; maybe it was the sound of the iZod center being split in half, or maybe it was because the crowd really wasn't feeling them, but I've definitely seen both guys do much better shows.  I kinda think it was the crowd just not knowing the guys well enough. Maybe they're just better in intimate settings; my vote is still out on that one.

My hubby isn't exactly a huge Miranda Lambert fan but he bought the tickets because he knows that I am.  But by the end of the concert, I think he said at least six times how impressed he was with her singing ability and her performance.  She definitely rocked it.

I really wish that I recorded the Aretha Franklin number she sang—the girl sanngggg, if you know what I mean!  

I get so emotional watching concerts.  I think I've mentioned that before.  I want my songs to be heard someday.  I want that overwhelming feeling that an artist must feel when a crowd sings their song back to them.  

I'm pretty sure she's living the life that I'm suppose to be living.  I'm pretty sure I hate that.  How rude! I mean, could I at least write your songs Miranda?  You could sing them, I'll just write them.  Can anyone make that deal happen?

Oh well, I'll just keep writing and stop waiting for it to happen.  I need to make it happen.

"Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don't lose faith. I'm convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You've got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don't settle...

If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you'll most certainly be right...

Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary...

Stay hungry.  Stay Foolish." — Steve Jobs

It's Been So Long...

I can't believe that it's been almost three years since the hubby asked me to marry him.  He didn't get down on one knee.  He was still in the process of having my ring made.  He just looked at me one night and said, "Can I ask you a question?" In my head, I thought, yes, I'll marry you, but then he actually said it.  He told me how much he loved me.  How much living the rest of his life with me would mean to him.  I cried.  Of course I said yes.  Of course I called my mom.

Three years.  So much has changed since then and yet so much has stayed the same.  

I love when people ask, "so how is married life treating you?" I'm not exactly sure how to answer that.  It's exactly like any relationship in your life.  There are ups and downs.  At some moments you hate each other.  But more often then not, you see the love you have in the reflection of each others eyes.  You make compromises.  You feel love.  You feel your emotions.

He still indulges my quirky, dorky side.  He says nothing about my dress habit— lucky me, after a 7-month engagement I got to wear the most beautiful dress a girl could ever wear.

Photos by Michael Bloom Photography

www.michaelbloomphoto.com

Is There Such a Thing...

I'm an old TV show addict.  Nothing compares to older shows and the little snippets of wisdom that they always include.

I remember an episode of "All in the Family" where Mike ("meathead" as he is so fondly remembered) and Gloria were trying to teach Edith how to "fair fight."  This is their method of setting aside a time to fight with each other and vent out their frustrations.  

Do you think there really could be such a thing?  Do people do this? Sometimes it's hard to compromise when you're in a relationship.  How do you know when a fight is worth it?  How do you know when you should back down or when you should have it out?  I've learned that there should always be a little give and take, but I'm far from a professional.

I love this episode... "gunnysacking" Oh, Gloria and Mike, they always thought they knew it all.

Don't You Just Love a Date Night...

I am convinced that everyone should have a date night.  Whether you're single or spoken for, a date night keeps you sane.  Just a night to get away from the house chores and to get away from your work life.  

One great thing about the Christmas season is that a lot of people give gift cards.  Thankfully, my step dad picked our perfect dinner spot— Nina.  

From the atmosphere to the food and the service, this place definitely has it all.  I love having any excuse to get dressed up and have my every once in awhile drink... this time it was a Grape Ape Martini (yes please!)—grape vodka, grape pucker, chambord, and sour mix—Fabulous!

Nina never disappoints.  The meal was fabulous and I'm pretty sure we'll both have leftovers for the next week.  Yum!  We decided we weren't going to get our typical selections, so we started with the Risotto Tort with a basil pesto and then the hubby had a Cajun Chicken Penne (he tried really hard to not act like it was too spicy) and I had a Fettuccine in a Rosemary Sauce.  Fabulous.  But we couldn't resist and bought the Braised Chardonnay Short Ribs to take home—I'm pretty sure I've ruined my attempt at being a Vegetarian for the week.  So worth it.

There's always next week!

A Really Good Gift Giver...

Do you have someone in your life that is just an amazing gift giver?  Like the kind of gift giver who listened throughout the entire year to everything you ever wanted (and then forgot about) but they remembered?  Then at Christmas you're completely giddy when you open your presents because you realize that all those little things you mentioned, you now have.  Yea, that's my hubby.

Now you may think to yourself, "wow, she's so lucky!" but NO— not really!  Well, ok it is kinda fabulous, but what do you get the person who is the most amazing gift giver ever?  And who doesn't really talk about what he wants (unless it's an 85 inch flat screen tv!).

Every year we set a limit.  He never keeps it.  I always feel like the worst wife ever for it!  But then I have the other half of me that's just so excited to have fabulous presents!  We all know about the fabulous guitar he bought me (I'm almost playing Ode to Joy like a champ!).  

Well one day at the restaurant my bar-back was mentioning how he was going to buy an American Girl doll for his daughter.  Oh gee, I was so jealous!  Every girl should own an American Girl doll, but they were a tad too expensive when I was growing up.  But I took every opportunity I could to play with my friends'.  I'm not gonna lie, I googled them when I got home and sat and reminisced over the fun times playing with Molly and Kirsten.

After coming back from vacation I was going through the mail and saw an American Girl magazine on the table and all I could think to myself was, wow Google is kinda creepy, how did I get sent a magazine?! Then I looked at the back of the magazine and saw my hubby's name.  Interesting.  

I always wanted Molly and to my shock she's the only original American Girl doll left.  Now, I thought he must have searched my history, but nope, apparently my bar-back and him were in cahoots while playing Words with Friends.  The hubby was a little sad that I put two and two together and figured it out.  I can't even tell you how cute it was to open the present.  

I felt like a little kid.  I cried a little.  Ok, I bawled like a baby, but it was like the best feeling having a childhood gift that you couldn't get and seeing it wrapped up.  

I'm not exactly sure what I'm going to do with her, but she's just too precious.  I just think of how much I wanted her when I was a kid and I hope that one day I can play with her with my kid, so I don't look like too much of a weirdo.  Maybe if I have a daughter I'll buy her Molly's best friend Emily.  Oh gee, I am a dork.  

Do you ever have those moments where you want to buy your kids the things that you couldn't have as a kid just so you can be a kid again? I don't even have a baby, but I'm sure I could come up with a list of toys I'd love to get him or her.  One day.

Now I'm still trying to figure out what to buy the hubby, I mean how do you top Molly and a guitar?  I have my work cut out for me for the next few years.

Oh My, Is It Valentine's Day...

I've never been a big Valentine's Day person; it might just be because I never really felt like I had a sweetheart who cared about it like I did.  When you're a kid it's all about getting those little paper Valentine's cards and you hope, for some reason, that someone will give you a special one that they didn't pick out for the rest of the class.  When you're a teenager you start to realize that you want romance, you want someone to send you flowers to school or have them waiting at your car or on your front porch when you get home from classes.  A lot of the time you're disappointed.  Sometimes your high school sweetheart just isn't the guy on the white horse that you made him out to be.

Not to say I never had a good Valentine's day when I was younger, but it always felt like something your man had to do, not something that he really wanted to do because he felt you were special.  It was more like, well it's Valentine's day, so here's your flowers (the one's that still have the sticker on them from the local gas station).  Put a little romance into it fellas!

Then I met my hubby.  He just makes Valentine's day special.

I can't explain it.  It's not about the money he spends or the dinners out we have had, it's about the fact that I know he does it just to make me smile and feel like a princess.

He's a keeper (better be right? That's why I married him!).

We decided a few weeks ago that instead of going crazy for Valentine's Day on presents (like he knows how to do! and I don't know how to do—what do you buy your man for Valentine's Day anyway? unless of course he's a metrosexual, then you could just buy him a shirt I guess)... Anyway, he's great at buying presents and I feel horrible at it, so we decided that we would buy each other the full set of Rosetta Stone in Spanish (latin america) and that we would try to talk to each other in Spanish as much as possible once we both got started.  I think it was a wonderful idea.  The two of us nerds have been sitting here since Sunday throwing out sentences to each other and then translating; it's been fun, we're learning, we're dorks, and he didn't get a chance to really top me this year.  At least I thought...

The doorbell rang around 11 a.m. and who is it but the Lorel Grove delivery people sending me my flowers.  Now, I tried to convince him that he didn't need to "waste" his money on flowers this year, but that man of mine, heard the words "waste money on roses" so, instead he bought me tulips (Which my mom says the seeds are plantable, so I'm prepared to kill the flowers again promptly around spring time—that is when you plant flowers right?)  

I've never received tulips before and they're beautiful!  He really does know how to make me smile when I least expect it.  He's too cute and a romantic, whether he knows it or not.  

We went to Peters for dinner at 5 o'clock (early bird special people we are!) and it was fantastic!  Although, we both have to admit, our experience was much like the Valentine's day episode from Modern Family this past week... What can we say?  We like to eat early, just like the old people in diapers (no joke, there was definitely a woman wearing diapers there) Sigh.  Oh, romance!  But I enjoyed every moment of that delicious garlic soup because after today, no more dairy for me!  I need a new way of looking at food, not just cream and cheese... 

Despite our early reservation, we had a great time, we had an amazing time.  The food was perfect, we had complimentary champagne, and of course, bread shaped in a heart (these are the moments that I actually wish I charged my phone)!  Hopefully, we'll be one of those customers in our early 80's going out to dinner hoping we don't fill up the diaper too quickly (just kidding folks, just kidding!).

So our Valentine's dinner ended a little after six and to my surprise, the hubby offered to go and pick up the desk I ordered from Home Decorators.  I was a little worried, after my adventure with my mom in traffic last week, that we wouldn't get there before the store closed, but he assured me that either way, it would be a nice drive together.  And it was.  Thankfully, the store was open too (again, because I had to hit the bathroom! damn bladder) but also because I was really looking forward to seeing this desk in our office (well his office, since I barely use it, but then again, now I'm up here often because of the Rosetta Stone setup we have going, I guess I can really say, our office).

 He's such a trooper.  After a romantic dinner and a really long drive through the back country of New Jersey, he's in the office, as I type on his computer, putting the desk together for me.  

Now that ladies and gentlemen is what I call romance!  But hey, I even opened his beer for him, so I'm sure he thought that was really romantical too...

Happy Valentine's Day!

I Just Love His Eyes by Candlelight...

Sometimes I just need a date night.  Do you ever start feeling like you're in a rut with your hubby and you just need to get off of the couch and get a little dressed up?  Well, I'm one of those people who could go out every week, twice a week, three times a week... but who has the money for that?  Who has the time?  And wouldn't it get boring?  I don't know, but one day I'd love to find out.  I'm just waiting to hit Mega Millions, then maybe we'd have the time, money, and energy for date nights more often than we get them now.

Tonight we went to Nina, our favorite restaurant, well, my favorite restaurant, the hubby favors Peter's just a little bit more.

I love it there, and every time we go, I can't help but picture myself owning a restaurant just like it someday.  I think I have the same conversation with him every time we sit down about how I'd love to own something like it.  At least that's what he tells me.  I can't help it; great service, great atmosphere, and amazing food.  For our first anniversary my dad and his wife gave us a gift card for Nina, and four months later, we finally used it.  The entire $100 gift card, gone in one visit, and worth every dime.  Thanks guys!  We'll be enjoying it for lunch tomorrow too—just too much good food to let go to waste.

Now we're back to reality and date night is over.  I'm back in my sweatpants and his old sweatshirt with my hair twisted up, and he just got back from the gym and started cleaning up the kitchen from our lunch this afternoon.  Tomorrow it's on to the bathroom for me; toilets and tiles are my speciality.

Thank God for a date night to remind us of the days when going out on dates helped us fall in love and get to know each other.  Every time we go out I remember one of those dates and the happiness I felt when I knew I was falling in love with this man.  I always remember the look in his eyes when I knew he was falling for me; that look hasn't gone away.  I guess that's why I love date nights and I'll always look forward to them when they come around.

Happy New Year?...

I may just be one of those cynics who doubts the power of the new year and doubts the ability of people to change once a new year begins.  Everyone is making new year's resolutions and vowing to change for the new year, but over the years, I've finally stopped believing in the power of the new year.  I know that every resolution I've ever made has fallen on my own deaf ears.  I know that if I want to change a bad habit or start good ones, it's not going to happen just because the calendar happens to say January 1st.  

Does this make me a bad person?  Or just honest?

When I was a kid I would spend new year's eve with my Grama and my brother; he always went crazy cutting up confetti and then vacuuming it up later.  I loved watching the old shows that came on TV after midnight and eating popcorn.  I still love popcorn—thanks Gram!

When I was a teenager I was so caught up in the hype of new years.  I remember my parents going out and I was left to watch the ball drop on TV all on my own.  Just me and my teddy bear.  I would cry.  But why was I crying?  I don't think I even knew why other than that everyone on TV was partying with friends and snuggling up to the cutie next to them.  My boyfriend at the time wasn't home and I just felt so alone.  But why does it get so much more heightened because it's new year's eve?  Damn media and advertising.

Ever since I met my hubby I've had a new year's kiss at the stroke of midnight.  That I am thankful for.  I used to think that not being kissed at midnight was the worst thing possible!  Now, I hate to admit, I hate the idea even more, now that I know what it's like to have someone to hold for the new year and for every day after.  It's not about the power of new years, it's just knowing that with each year passing I become happier and happier that I've met the love of my life.  So, I guess I sometimes get caught up in the hype as well, even as an "adult."  After having years and years without it, I need my midnight kiss.

I work every new year's eve and I love to see people having fun.  Now I'm a part of those old memories I have from when I was a kid, I'm just not dancing it up; which is fine by me since I have two left feet.  I look forward to Twilight Zone marathons and Honeymooners marathons.  Now that is the joy of the new year; somethings that are old just never get old.  

There Are Only a Few Things I Hate in Life...

Of the few things I hate in life, snow is one of them!  Well, not exactly the snow, but shoveling the snow, driving in the snow, and being just plain cold in the snow!  Don't get me wrong, I love to look at the snow, but when it comes to actually being in the snow, I've come to hate it!

In New York, we missed the white Christmas by a day, but I can't complain too much because there were a few snowflakes flying in the air.  I've said it before and I'll say it again, I don't think I could live in a place where it's warm around Christmas; it's just, weird.  Although, I'm sure they're not complaining right now about the weather like I am.

Every year, my hubby and I argue over the clearing of our driveway.  It's one of the only things that we can't do without at least one spat.  It never fails.  He wakes me up way too early to help him shovel and I bitch and complain, but I put my winter jacket and boots on kicking and screaming!  I absolutely hate shoveling the snow.  My back hurts.  My feet get cold.  My glasses fog up.  The worst part of it all is, he doesn't give me the few minutes to get some warm caffeine into my system before working me to death.  Now, I may be exaggerating, but he's very OCD about how the driveway is cleared.

Now, first I have to say that our driveway is very steep.  If you come up our driveway, you have to use your parking break.  Every time.  And my little civic is not the best in the snow.  We only got about seven inches at our house, but when I came home from work early yesterday with only about three on the ground, my car still couldn't get up all the way.  It sucks!  I guess that's why the hubby insists on clearing the driveway until the blacktop shines.  First, we shovel out our cars, then we snow blow, then we get the shovels out and scrape it down to the blacktop.  Then, we either hope for the sun to shine or we put salt down to melt the last of it.  Then we have to clear a path for our stairs going up to our porch and our back porch and of course to our propane tank (did you know that you have to do that if you receive gas or propane from a company?  I didn't!).  It's just exhausting!  It took us about two hours today and I'm pretty sure that after we had lunch we both passed out for at least a half hour.  Ordering our lunch from the spot we like to go is kind of funny; I place the order and then they ask the name and when I say it's for my hubby they go, "Oh, it's for you guys!  Hi honey, we'll have that ready for you!"  It's kind of comical.  I guess we're eating out a little too much lately.  The ten pounds on my ass kind of helps tell that story a little better than my words could ever describe.

So, our snowstorm is over and our driveway is sparkling.  At the end of the day we're both so happy that it's over; we look at our neighbors' driveways and wonder why they would decide to wait until 6 p.m. to start shoveling and we're thrilled at our accomplishment.  Is it an accomplishment when you have the shiniest driveway on the block after a snowstorm?  Well, we think so.

We live in New York and we constantly wonder why the news overplays coverage of a snow storm.  We live in New York people!  It snows here!  Granted, the city got more than us this time around, but man can they beat a dead horse!  It snowed, wait for it to stop, stay at home until it's cleaned up, end of story, right?  Nope, never.  They need 24 hours of coverage like it's TBS covering "A Christmas Story"!

I survived the blizzard of 2010... or even better, I survived another round of my hubby and I clearing our driveway.  Go me!  Now, get me a heating pad, a blanket, and a cup of tea and I'll be happy.  Maybe some cuddle time too.

What's that I hear... Is Christmas Near?...

So, I've been back from Florida for a few weeks now and the Christmas season is upon us.  Work is slowing down, which always happens during Christmas, but with having to install a new countertop and sink, I'm definitely feeling the pinch just a little more this time around.  I hate feeling like I'm not contributing a lot to our monthly bills; it doesn't happen a lot, just this time of year, and the hubby doesn't mind, but I sure do!  I can't wait for nights with bands or for football Sundays.  I like giving good presents, but I refuse to go into debt for them, so this year I can only do what I can do.  I just hope family and friends understand.

I loved my trip to Florida.  I loved seeing my friend and I loved seeing her home.  It's beautiful and I had so much fun helping her fill it with furniture and decorating.  But since there are still items that need to be delivered still, I'll have to keep the changes for a future post.  

The weather was great for the first two days, around eighty-six, but then within a day it dropped to the forties!  Now they're in the twenties with us!

Sunsets are pretty but it just changes so much when you're just trying to not go numb as the sun goes down.  

Don't get me wrong, right now I would love to feel forty degrees, but when you're on a beach in your sandals, you kinda hope that the weather stays just a little bit warmer.  

Quite possibly the coldest beach feet ever!

It was a strange change of scenery.  We were listening to Christmas music on the radio and all I thought was that it was July and I was on a tropical vacation (at least the first two days).  How can people in Florida enjoy Christmas?!  They're in shorts and t-shirts and looking at palm trees.  It's just not Christmas in my mind unless I'm freezing my butt off!

Nothing was dying at the time.  How do you enjoy the rebirth of things once spring-time comes?  That's what I love about the seasons.  Although, I hate this cold.  Did I mention that?  I just couldn't get in the Christmas spirit down there.  And I felt like I was dating my hubby again.  Instead of cuddling at night and being able to give him a kiss, I was waiting for phone calls and sweet talking with him at the end of the night before I went to bed in an empty room.  It just felt so foreign; especially at night.  

It's strange.  Now that I'm home I miss my bestie like crazy.  I loved being able to just hang out with my friend.  I always miss my hubby so much when I'm without him; it'd be nice to have her here to do things with when he's working and I'm off.  Maybe one day we'll live in the same area.  But then the daily grind of life gets in the way, so I guess it's never perfect.

The day after I came home (with a teary eyed reunion in the airport) my hubby went in for knee surgery. Let me tell you what that anxiety can do to a wife that didn't get enough sleep on the night before!  I was so worried that something would happen to him.  I'm not great with seeing people I love in hospitals, I'm always so afraid, even if it's just for something simple.  Thankfully I knew the nurses and the doctor so it made the hours waiting a little bit easier.

I'm actually glad that I went away when I did because I've had the past two weeks to enjoy some time with my hubby.  It's been great having him home. Spatting about silly things or just getting on each others' nerves because we've been in the house with each other for too long.  This never happens!  Normally I'm just missing him, it's kinda nice to get tired of each other sometimes.  The funny part is, I think that's happened twice. I'm enjoying the cuddling (he just laid his head down on my leg) and the fact that I'm able to talk to my best friend whenever I want to talk to him.  No calling him at work to say hello or to say I'm missing him.  He's right here, I don't have to miss him.  I do feel a little like the dorky housewife when I call him at work so I try to avoid it at all costs.  So having him home is a major plus, I love it.

I don't think I mentioned how much I love to smell is newly shampooed hair either?  Did I mention it?  Because it's a fabulous thing that Pantene on my hubby's head.

Last Monday my mother and I finally were able to get our Christmas tree up too.  Thank God for Mom or I'd go crazy trying to get the parts of the pre-lit tree to be lit.  For some reason, it just never works out in an easy way.

These past few weeks have been very busy I tell you.  I was getting a little crazy about the holiday getting closer and closer and I still didn't have any decorations up!  Normally I'm a little bit more on top of it, but with the surgery and the hubby being home and needing my help (well in the beginning anyway) the tree and decorations became less and less of a priority.

Our tree looks great and I love looking at the ornaments and remembering why they have special meaning or remembering why they were bought at the time.  Christmas ornaments make me happy.  There's always a story behind them.  

Me, the Hubby, and Luna- at least in my mind

My plan is to eventually have no tree fillers, but to have all special ornaments with meaning.  Eventually that will happen but I'm looking to do it over time.  I'm going to buy an ornament for our vacations we take and the memories that we want to mark.  I just wish the hubby liked to decorate it as much as my mom and I do.  But then again, it's becoming my little tradition with my mom, so I don't really mind that much.  Yet.

We finally have stockings too.  Our fourth Christmas together and this is our first with stockings!  How could I have missed this major part of my childhood traditions!  Better late than never I guess!

  

Our nativity scene is almost complete too.  This year I bought the shepherd and stable animals and an angel to look over.  

My hubby gave me an early Christmas present (we're kind of notorious for giving our presents over time because we're like little kids and a bit impatient; we joke that we should have been Jewish and celebrated Hanukah instead) of the angel stand.  I love that the nativity is looking more and more complete.  I love looking at the true meaning of Christmas.  No matter what, my nativity comes out before anything else.

Another present that I got a little early were my footie pajamas.  

How fabulous is that?!  When I was a kid I remember having a light purple colored, care bear pair of pajamas.  I used to love those things!  These ones have the drop butt bottom too.  How exciting!  Maybe I'm the only one who loves the idea, but why didn't people think that grownups would like footie pajamas too sooner!  I mean who doesn't want to stay warm in the winter?  Yup, I'm a dork.  But my hubby calls me Dorkarella because I'm his princess; kinda like Cinderella but, well, dorkier. 

So, the Christmas season is here and I'm freezing my butt off in New York, I'm feeling broke, and I've headed back to the gym (and can barely walk now!) because I've gained too much weight back over the past few months, but ya know what?  Things are great.  I can't wait to spend time with our families and I have an awesome little family that we're building together and I'm looking forward to the new year and what special things it could bring.  

Ever since I met my hubby I've only hoped that each new year is just as good as the last and I haven't been disappointed yet.  Things just keep getting better and better.

Say It Isn't So...

So I'm leaving my hubby and my furbaby tomorrow to visit my bestie down in Florida.  I can't even explain to you how badly I'm already missing them, even though they're both on the floor doing tricks (that is, the dog is doing tricks for the hubby) for some egg.  That pup of mine just loves eggs!  Almost as much as the hubby.

I love my bestie, but I don't know how I'm going to do it!  I've never been anywhere without my hubby since we started dating over four years ago.  I'm a mess.  I'm not packed.  I haven't actually thought about leaving.  I've pretty much determined that no make-up should be worn to the airport tomorrow unless it is super water-proof.  

I'm a cheeseball.  

Who dreads a mini vacation?!  Am I the only person on the planet? 

If I could spend every waking moment with my hubby, I would.  Is that normal?

Probably not, but that's OK by me.

I'm not being completely negative.  I know I'm going to have a great time with my friend helping her decorate her new house, but my best friend will be at home by himself, and I just can't stand that feeling.  

I can't remember the last time I slept without him.  I hate the thought.  I wonder if I'm going to be able to sleep.  No hubby and no furbaby to cuddle up to.  I was going to take the pup with me, but it was $200 to take her on the flight.  So that's a no go on her first flight.  I'm going to need some good wine to sleep at night.  I hope she's prepared.

But my carpetbag came in just in time for the trip.  Now I can be just like Anne of Anne of Green Gables and Mary Poppins.  I just love how it turned out!  Isn't it just beautiful!

I've also entered a contest to win a custom portrait of our little Luna.  I'm really hoping that Rachel Stratford picks our little girl to capture with her amazing artwork.  Just check out some of her pieces at my favorite blog Nat the Fat Rat.

Here's Nat's dog.

Picture from Nat the Fat Rat, by Rachel Stratford

How amazing is Rachel?  That's not from a computer program.  It's pure talent.

I'm really going to miss my hubby and my furbaby.  Maybe if I have a little portrait it will help the next time a trip comes around and I have to leave our little Luna home.

Maybe I should start packing.  But the hubby is cuddling on me so I'm sure it can wait until the morning.

Indianapolis on "Blue Monday"...

On our first anniversary my hubby suggested that we make a trip out to Indianapolis to see a football game.  I, of course, almost had a heart attack and agreed that he might possibly have come up with the best idea ever!  So we searched for tickets and found a Monday night football game just for us and bought them.  We debated on driving.  We debated on flying out on Monday morning.  Then we decided that the best idea was to fly out on Sunday and return to New York on Tuesday.  We found a hotel right by the stadium; why would you stay anywhere else when going to see a Colts game?  I have to say, the one nice thing about not having a baby right now, is that me and my hubby can do things on a whim.  Did I mention that this was his best idea by far?  Just checking.

Flying out of Laguardia was more simple than we thought it would be.  But then again, we have our Garmin, which is probably a life saver for anyone driving in NYC.  I'm pretty sure that GPSs have saved many a marriage.  You can't yell at each other, you can only yell at your Garmin if she messes up; which is rare.  The flight was nice and short; just the way you like a flight when you're both not a fan of flying.  When we arrived at Indianapolis airport we couldn't believe how clean it was!  It was insane.  There was even a guy with a little tennis ball on a stick getting the scuff marks off of the floors.  It was so quiet and so peaceful.  I've never been to an airport like that.  No one is running around like crazy.  No one is yelling on their cell phones.  It was like we entered the twilight zone; and it was a really great episode.

Indy is pretty amazing.  Not much to look at on the outskirts of Indianapolis; it's just really flat, everywhere.  And coming from NY where everywhere you turn there is mountains, it's just a little bit of an adjustment.  It's always weird when you travel to different parts of the US and realize that you're all Americans, but are just so very different; that everyone has such a different norm.  

Driving into Indy all I could see was Lucas Oil Stadium.  It's massive!  

I still couldn't believe that I was going to my first NFL game, to see My NFL team, in their home stadium.  How cool is my hubby?

After checking in our hotel, we took a much needed nap (Did I mention how I worked till 3 a.m., fell asleep around 5 and then woke up at 9 to head to the airport?—after doing the same thing on Friday night to take my brother to the airport on Saturday morning?)  Then we decided to walk around Indy.  It's beautiful!  It's like a big city with a small town feel.  All the stores and restaurants had blue pride in their windows, "welcome to blue country" on their doors, and Colts specials everywhere.  We went out to a great place for dinner and I was actually able to watch Sunday football!  It was great to finally see the games instead of working during them; the local wine wasn't too shabby either... a bottle and a half later, I was feeling good.

It's like how small towns in Texas go crazy for their high school football teams, but it's on a massive scale.  Their were Colts pep rallies with bands and former Colts signing autographs.  Everywhere I looked it was Colts.

The whole city was blue.  I love football.  Even the hubby said that he's never seen anything like it and he's a... JETS fan... it's like in Indy it's like they're in their own little blue bubble.  Everyone is tailgating on the streets, there are drinks for sale on every corner, and every bar is overflowing.  When we went for lunch on Monday we ended up at a place called Harry & Izzy's— little did we know that it's part owned by Peyton Manning.  When we walked in, we had to ask if the hubby needed to take his hat off (it's white table cloth) and the response was, "Oh, of course not, it's Blue Monday, it's all about the Colts..." The food was amazing and the atmosphere was great.  And on top of a great lunch, a special thanks to the Maitre-d who let us know where Manning lives while in the city.

Where Peyton Manning Lives While He's in Indy

So the hubby asks, "so now you want to move to Indy when I retire?"— 

I have to say, it's an awesome city: music, arts, zoo (we touched sharks!), museums, comedy clubs, and yet it's spotless.  

Although there is a homeless person on every corner; I'm pretty sure that each homeless guy has their own territory, because it's one on a corner, no more.  Interesting.  And yet the homeless people aren't really that dirty and they're still polite.  Weird.

I don't know if I could move somewhere so flat!  I think living in Indy would be awesome, but the outskirts of the city are blah.  The city is just awesome, but then you look around and all you see if flat land.  Coming from a country girl, I just have to see some mountains, some color, something more.

The game was amazing!  I never realized how huge the stadium was!  It was unbelievable.  Our seats were further down then we thought they were but we could still hear Peyton making his calls on the field.  I loved it!  When defense was on the field the place was insanely loud and the second that offense and Peyton stepped on the field, you could hear a pin drop; then he would shush the crowd with his hands so he could call plays and you could hear complete silence!  I'm so glad I got to experience it.  Of course, we won!  Even with lots of injuries!

We had an amazing time— even my hubby of a J-E-T-S fan had a great time.  We flew back to NY on Tuesday; the flight was so quick (1h25min) that I'm pretty sure we'll have to do it again.  Hopefully next time it's a Colts/Jets game, that way we'll have the best of both worlds and I can protect my hubby as he's heckled by the die-hard Colts fans.  Thanks hubby, this was your best idea yet!