Halloween is Over, So Why am I Decorating Now...

Halloween is not one of my favorite holidays.  I'm not big on dressing up and if it wasn't a requirement for my job, I wouldn't ever do it.  I don't really ever recall liking Halloween that much as a kid either.  A lot of kids had those big, expensive costumes, and we always had ones that we a lot more simple.  The only costume that I ever really remember was when I was a 50's girl in a poodle skirt.  Oh, I loved that poodle skirt! 

So for the past five years I've had to dress up for Halloween for work.  It went from 70's theme, super heroes, Disney Princesses, movie stars (yea, I dressed up as Marilyn Monroe- shock) and now this year the restaurant had an 80's style theme.  I decided that I was going to go all out.  I was Peggy Bundy from Married with Children.

I'm pretty sure it was a scary costume.

Like I've said before, I've never been one for decorating for every holiday either, but I guess my family just didn't want to accept that.

My dad and his wife decided (after reading my blog) that I needed some decorations for Halloween and Thanksgiving. 

They're pretty fabulous for doing that for us and I was touched about the thought that they put into it.  The only downfall is, the puppy keeps barking at the little door handle scarecrow.  So I've had to move him away from the door by her bowls to the front door.  She still barks at him and gives her little growl, but I've decided that he's staying so she'll just have to deal with him.

So maybe next year I'll do a little bit more decorating, but I think I'm pretty satisfied with my new loot from my family.  Thanks guys!

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!

Tuesday Tea Quote...

Lately, I've been drinking some different teas: camomile, peppermint, black cherry, jasmine green... If you know me, you know I'm a tea lover; plain, honey, lemon, sugar, or milk, it doesn't matter as long as it's tea.  I just love the ones that come with the little quotes on the tea bag.  When I was a kid we used to only drink Salada Teas and they always had witty sayings or just sayings that sounded like fortune cookies and made no sense.  I think that on Tuesdays I'll share some of my favorite ones that I find... I can't wait to tell all about our trip to Indianapolis, but flying kicks my butt... so until I recover, enjoy my first tea quote...

"Re-examine all you have been told... Dismiss what insults your Soul."

—Walt Whitman

There are Times When I Hate Being a Woman...

Have you ever felt that way?  Even if you're not a woman, have you ever just hated being you?  Even just for a second?  Have you thought about how nice it would be just to have someone else's life just for a moment in time?

When you're walking down the streets of NYC and you see someone with impeccable style and you think, "wow, I wish I had the guts/money to wear that?"  Or you see the girl running on the Hudson river overlooking Manhattan and you think, "I wish I had the energy to do that?"  Then you see the woman pushing a stroller in her skinny jeans and you think, "wow, she's got a baby and she's still got it together."  I don't look that good and I don't have a baby!

Sometimes you just wish you had it all.

You think about buying an extra MegaMillions ticket.  You think about the choices you make on a daily basis that put you where you are.  Maybe I should have bought that extra ticket, maybe then the hubby wouldn't have to go to work.  I miss him when he's at work.

Am I the cheesy housewife?

Yesterday I found myself explaining the Fall weather to the puppy.  She stood on the porch with the wind blowing on her and she looked at me like, "what's going on?"  So I stood there and held her and explained that a storm was coming.  What the hell is wrong with me?!

Never in my life did I think that I would want to have a child.  That's right, I said it.  And it ends up that every month I'm disappointed.

After years and years of saying, "whoohoo, no baby this month."  Now I'm saying, "yea, well, no baby for us."

It's not like we're trying, trying.  I just started having this hope that it would just happen when we least expected it.  Just like finding each other.

I don't want to ever have to make a thing of it.  I hate myself for thinking about it.  I never thought I'd do this.  When we first met we both weren't big on kids; how does it happen?  How do you suddenly change your mind?  I always thought I'd be a career woman.  Now I love being a wife and dream of being a mom to our kid.  Just one, God, that's all I ask for.  But if He's got other plans for me, I'm OK with it.  I swear.  I just wish He'd let me know as soon as possible so I can get this out of my head.

Can I be the woman who has it all?  Can I be the one that has it all together?

I have a great hubby, a great house, a job that I enjoy (most of the time)— I'm just looking for the me that goes for a run because it's what I enjoy (not what I NEED to do), I'm looking for the moment that I can just write books and not worry about the day to day crap that comes with paying bills and making ends meet, and I'm looking for a little baby of our own.  Maybe I can make the first two happen, if I had a little bit more drive.  But the last one is in the hand's of God.  I leave that up to Him.

But where exactly does drive come from?  And how can I cash in on it?

Do you know anyone that has it ALL — maybe it's all a facade.  Maybe we're just made to think that having it all is the way to go.  Maybe I should just be blessed because I have an amazing hubby who loves me more than anything, a family that loves me not because they have to but because they choose to (oh, and Hi Dad, thanks for reading)...  I am a lucky woman.

Maybe I should just count my blessings and stop stressing.

I Really Thought I Could Do It...

I really thought that I could stay away from HomeGoods, but this weekend, I had an epic fail.  My whole trip to the stores came about because I needed to get a new picture frame from Michael's for the photo I had blown up from our wedding of our family members.  It turned out amazing...

Picture this photo with a beautiful black frame around it...

Unfortunately, Michael's is really close to HomeGoods and I thought that there would be no harm in "window shopping." I guess I didn't realize that there would be so many things that I needed; I guess I just didn't know that I needed them before heading into the store.  I knew I needed a new lampshade because the hubby has been constantly complaining about the one I bought about two months ago because of the lack of light it lets out.  I found the perfect one.  Then I just happened upon the most perfect lamp ever for our living room.  I just had to have it.  And it was on clearance!  Yea, me!

It all started with a little Christmas outfit that I found for Luna.  If it wasn't for those little Christmas pajamas I wouldn't of spent any money.  I walked out with spending only $49, not that bad for three great purchases!  I can't wait for the Christmas cards this year (well, if I actually send them out, I'm really bad with those damn things!)...

No pics until I get new camera batteries.  I think the camera is on its' last leg; we just bought new batteries for our Yankee game is September.  I guess that just means that the Canon 5D Mark II is next on the need list... dammit, I should have never said I wouldn't spend money.  It's like I'm setting myself up for failure... Oh, well... I never said I was perfect.

Until then I'm finishing up my Tuesday with my puppy on my lap, Sex and the City 2 on the TV, and the new Vanity Fair with Marilyn Monroe on the cover... and cooking my hubby some dinner.  I'm a good housewife.

I Just Love Myself a Thursday...

Today was a perfect fall day.  A little chill in the air and the wind blowing the multi-colored leaves that remain in the trees.  It's the time of year when you have to debate; do I cuddle up on the couch with a good book and a blanket or do I enjoy the rest of the fall sunshine?  Luckily, I managed to do both.  

Luna and I started our walk with a lot of gusto.  She's really getting the knack for the walking on a leash thing.  I'm a proud momma.

When we rounded the green bridge into town, she started to get tired; jumping on my leg with each step we took towards meeting up with our friend Trish.  

I knew that I wanted to get a little bit longer of a walk in, so I decided to see if the hubby's mom was home and willing to puppy-sit while I finished my walk because my back couldn't handle picking her up every time she got a little too tired.  It's amazing how heavy four-pounds can feel after a few minutes of carry time.  Luna started pulling the instant we were outside of her g-ma's building and when we were buzzed in she ran up the stairs and went right to her door.  I couldn't even keep up with her.  Thankfully her grama was thrilled to see her and enjoyed every minute of the company.    

The walk was perfect.

It was nice to catch up with my friend.  It's been awhile since we've been able to talk about everything and nothing.  We both are motivated to not just accept what has always been the norm for us.  Giving up when things get tough starts to get old after awhile— bad habits are really hard to break, starting new good ones seems even harder sometimes.  Walking Luna helps me stay motivated when the blanket keeps calling my name.

Anyone Know Anything About This?

We walked through the local cemeteries and I stopped to say a prayer at my family plot and at my aunts. 

It's nice to see the love and affection that families put into the graves of their loved ones who have passed.  I've never viewed cemeteries as a morbid place, but always a place of love and faith.  Mixed with the fallen leaves the cemetery can be so calming.

After we parted ways I went home to get the car so I could pick up my hubby's dry-cleaning.  I couldn't decided whether or not to go home first or pick up my furbaby.  I decided that it would be easier on her and on my back if I went home first.  I was also a little scared that the last of the sunlight was fading so I didn't want to chance it.  

I spent some time with my mother-in-law which was nice because I haven't been able to spend much quality time with her or my hubby's family in the past few months.  Unfortunately, all the nephews birthday parties are on Sundays and they also fall during football season; there's really no way for me to take off for the parties, but thankfully my hubby can still go.

I just miss family and friends.  

I went up to my mom's to see her and the pups and have a huge cup of hot tea.  I hate that feeling you get after walking or running in the cold weather; you're sweating and yet you're cold and once you cool down, you still really can't shake that chill that takes over.  

More errands after our short visit; I had to go grocery shopping.  I'm pretty sure it's been at least 2 weeks since I've done a full shopping trip.  Five bags and $100 later, I'm really hoping that I can get by with another two weeks of no grocery shopping; it's just a little hard when you eat a lot of fruits and veggies.  Sometimes you just have to go for the frozen variety, otherwise I'll come home with things I really shouldn't be eating.  How much hot chocolate can one person have in a two week period without it being just too decadent?  How much cheese can one eat for it to no longer be helpful for it's calcium and vitamin D, but is more of an artery clogger and a cholesterol riser?

Overall, I really did have a great Thursday off.  I have to say, the four day work week is definitely a treat every other week.  The next few weeks should be great; my brother is coming to visit this week, then we're off to Indianapolis for a few days, and then one of my bffs is coming home for a working week.  I can't wait to have all the company.  It will be a nice change of pace because I know that today was.

Till then, I'm looking forward to another perfect day.

My Morning Wake-up Call...

Every morning, my little Luna likes to wake me up by giving me kisses.  Not her father, me.  She sleeps between our heads and lately, under the covers too.  I have to say that I love her little kisses so much, but as the weather gets colder and colder, I try to quietly push her to the other side of the bed so she'll give her dad wake-up kisses instead.

Sometimes her wake-up kisses start at 8 a.m. but mostly around 10:30.  It's the worst because I really only have a little bit more time to sleep, but she's decided that it's time to wake-up—now.  I'm so warm and then suddenly I have to pee too.  She's now decided my bathroom time.  Sometimes I think that I can hold it, so of course she can hold it too.  Then I lay there and decide that I can't do it anymore- so mommy goes first, then I trek downstairs to take her outside.  She likes to take her time.  She stretches.  She sniffs.  She attacks the leaves that have fallen on the porch and then gives them to me like they're presents.  She really is the best, but I just can't wait to crawl back into bed.

Then there are those moments where she gives me the, "please mommy, please" look: she wants to climb downstairs and use the grass instead of her porch placed wee-wee pad.  Sometimes I give in because she's just too damn cute.  Other times, I just keep saying, "no baby, not now, mommy's cold."  A lot of the time I just can't help it and I let her do what she wants; it's just that damn look she gives.  I wonder how I'd be with a real baby when she gives me that same look and not just my furbaby.  I'd probably be just as bad of a sucker.  I take comfort in the fact that my hubby is the same.

I love watching her go down the stairs.  Butt in the air, legs fling up with every step she takes.  Then she gets to the ground with the leaves surrounding her.  Her first encounter with leaves was quite amusing.  She was walking like it was any normal day in the grass; her favorite spot.  Then she felt a crunch and heard the rustling noise.  Suddenly, she hopped back.  Smelled the leaves.  Smelled the grass.  Jumped for cover.  Then she would take another step, and the same thing just kept on happening.  "Crunch" then lots of hopping,  running, and spinning.  It never fails to make me laugh.  She still doesn't get the leaves. It makes me laugh with every step she takes.  Even when I take her for a walk on her leash around the neighborhood, she never walks in a straight line, she zig zags through all the leaves on the ground.  

It will be interesting to see if anything is better than the little licks and kisses that my Luna gives me every morning.  Maybe it's just like the feeling that a real mother feels when she gets love from her children?  The little noises she makes, the little sighs of contentment, the feeling of her laying in a little ball on my lap, makes it all worth it. 

 Sometimes I don't want to be woken up.  Sometimes I just want to stay and bed and have her leave me alone.  Sometimes I quietly ask her for just five more minutes or one more hour of sleep.  Then I remember that I wouldn't know what I would do without her.  I remember how lonely I was when the hubby was at work and I was home alone.  Like any mother, I count my blessings for the joy she's brought to my life.  Still sometimes, I want her to go to daddy when it's time to go out.  The scary part is, winter is just around the corner— I know I'm going to hate every minute of the cold mornings, but I just can't wait to see her play in the snow.