farewell granny creeps

you buttered toast better than anyone else. your carpet was so soft. i loved sliding across it in my socks. there were so many cool compartments to explore in your vanity, but your collection of powders and crusty lipsticks kind of freaked me out. seatbelts were never your thing - but I didn't stand for that. your glove compartment always had gum in it, and when I FINALLY got your car there were still a few sticks of stale juicy fruit hanging out in there. your apartment was the best - the trash chute, the freight elevator, the cheese balls, duck hunt, card games, the pool... there were so many fun things for us to do. you had the hook-up with the Porto Vecchio's limousine, and I was the envy of my school when you picked me up in it to go to explore DC with me. you made the worst scrambled eggs. you weren't the kind of grandma that let her grandkids win games, but I liked that about you. you thought it was hilarious when I introduced you to my sixth grade class and they all looked shocked and said, "Your grandmother is Marilyn Manson?!?!" (it's Hansen-not Manson). you were the funniest, most sarcastic, witty grandma there ever was. even when you started losing your mind, you held on to your humor. you started this thing where if anyone asked you how you were doing you would say "Oh, just terrible." you were a piece of work, mee-maw. it was awful - awful doesn't even describe it - to see your mind and body decline. you weren't the same person you were before - and yet, you were. when I saw you last Saturday after getting word that your end was near, you were so heavily medicated that you kept mumbling the most ridiculous things. when you woke up for a few minutes you teased me that you were going to steal Andy away from me. you knew that would make us laugh - even though you were hurting, you were glad to hear us all laugh. I'm going to miss hearing you laugh. I told you I loved you and you told me you loved me back. I'm going to hold on to that memory forever.

they called each other "babe"

I saw my brother John-Michael last night for the first time in a year and finally got to meet his fiance, Sky. John-Michael towers 14 inches over her (though she was wearing some impressive heels, so it wasn't quite as noticeable). He fixed her a plate at dinner. They held hands. They called each other "babe."

It was weird.
And wonderful.
And I'm so excited that she's going to be my sister.

they are my favorites

thomas bagel thin everything bagel (sure - it's not a real bagel. but it's still great.)
pacific brand roasted red pepper and tomato soup topped w/ a handful of hot and spicy cheez-its.
chocolate covered raisins

covergirl lipslicks in "daring." covergirl sales were probably through the roof this weekend thanks to this.

realizing yesterday morning that I was wearing denim flats with a pair of jeans AND uniquely shaped hoop earrings, both of which are featured as trends to try in August's Real Simple magazine

Essie polish- toes are currently painted in "watermelon"

I walked into CVS with no coupons, yet still saved $33.65 total on two purchases - I spent $36.13 total. mwahaha. it felt good. Most everything was already on sale or gave you ExtraCare bucks (ECB), so I split my items into two purchases and used all the ECB on my second purchase and not only spent only $3.26 on Crest toothpaste, Skintimate shaving cream, the covergirl lipslicks and 3 sponges -- I ALSO got another $2 ECB.

(the other $32.87 was spent on 5 boxes of Kleenex, 3 Brita filters, a twin pack of Optifree contact solution and more Crest. I'm a ECB ninja.)

OH, by the way- if you have an CVS card and don't use the in-store coupon center for coupons, you are missing out. you can scan your card as many times as you want and sometimes you get more coupons -- I always get two printouts of coupons. it's like Christmas. Depending on who your cashier is, you might get money off a purchase even if you didn't buy the exact product specified on the coupon.

Andy got a new job!

My awesome husband interviewed for a job with Kelloggs on the 13th and was offered the position later that day. I was at Dan and Simone's and had baby Nathaniel on my lap when Andy called. Babe, I got the job. I wish everyone could have heard that phone call... there was so much happiness in his voice. After months and months of coming home frustrated, applying for jobs, praying for patience and contentment.... a job! God's timing is perfect.

Andy will start his new job on August 8th as a territory manager in the Gainesville/Warrenton/Culpeper area. There is a chance that a job in the Staunton/Waynesboro/C-ville area will open up at the end of August and that Andy could transfer to that position. If that works out, we could stay in Harrisonburg. The plan for now, though, is for Andy to move in with my parents (who live in NOVA) for the month of August and for me to stay here and continue working at the DN-R. We would love to be able to keep our home and stay in the area, but if the job closer to here doesn't work out, then I'll quit my job and we'll start looking for a place to live around Warrenton. It's going to be hard to be away from each other, but I have great friends to help keep me busy and my mom already bought some almond M&Ms for Andy.  :)

We are SUPER excited about this new chapter in our lives. I couldn't be prouder of my guy. I didn't get him flowers like he did for me when I got my job, but he did get a goofy "congratulations" card. I still can't quite believe I'm going to get WEEEKENDS with my husband now! We can actually go places together!

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." - Romans 8:28

probably more than you wanted to know

- I haven't eaten an Altoid in years and I had one today. Ohhh yea...I don't like Altoids.


- the mini cupcakes at Shanks Bakery are OUT OF CONTROL and I had one yesterday and one today.


- working downtown is awesome because I'm so close to the restaurants and shops and the farmers market, but working downtown can be a big problem because I'm so close to the restaurants and shops and the farmers market. for example:: I'm only allowed to buy a roll from my favorite roll...maker? on Thursdays nights. he rotates the flavors and they're all delish but tomorrow they are going to have my favorite - it has pecorino cheese in it and it's diviiiine.


- I talk about eating a lot.


- I realized today that whenever I think or say the word "correction," in my head I'm saying it like Rafiki in Lion King when Simba says, "You knew my father?" and Rafiki says, "Correction - I know your father."


- the best part of my day was when I started walking past the guest room after talking to Andy in his office, doing a double take, and seeing that the guest bed was clear of piles of empty suitcases and piles of clean laundry that got wrinkly from being folded too long and needed to be fluffed. OMG. The room was immaculate. I cautiously asked, "where did you put all the stuff?" and he said he put away the suitcases and then did all of the laundry AND put it away! THAT is romance, ladies. ;)


- we're about to head to kent and kelly's for dinner and we're pretty pumped because we haven't hung out with both of them since the beach. the reason I'm not 100% pumped is because I'm supposed to bring a salad and instead of putting together something creative and delicious, I'm bringing the bag of iceberg lettuce that was leftover from Bible study last night. At least it has shredded carrots in it. Still. I'm sorry.


- ohmygosh I almost forgot-- the second best thing that happened today was when I put on my treasured Seven For All Mankind jeans and THEY FIT. I got them freshman year of college and haven't worn them since 2008. They are soooo comfortable and I may just live in them for the rest of summer. I literally leapt around the room singing "I Feel Pretty" from West Side Story.