What's been going on

So, as it turns out I've been completely irresponsible with this whole blogging thing. I don't know if I was uninspired, busy, or just plain lazy, but it's been entirely too long since my last entry. I'm telling myself it's because I was too busy. I'll tell you what's been going on in my life and I guess you can make up your own mind.

If you can all remember way back when we first moved to Florida in March, I got a job waaay faster than I ever thought I would (as in the week we got here!). My job also involved a long commute and that, in turn, pretty much put a hault to most of our unpacking. To give a brief summary - long commute was too much and I quit that job after two months. My last day was May 15. When I first stopped working, I had lunch with Herschel fairly frequently, lunch with friends, and basically just tried to get reaquainted with the life I'd been ignoring for the past two months.

Then, I went back to Little Rock for a week to visit friends and family and see one of my friends get married. All and all a great trip. But that brings me to now. Now, is when I'm facing the boxes that have been in our house for four months. The pictures that need hanging, the files that need organizing and the chaotic mess that is our life spilling out of cardboard boxes.

I've been cleaning, cooking, laundrying...anything to not have to face the boxes again. But it's time. Herschel's parents will be here in just under a week and then some of our friends from Little Rock are taking the Acosta's spot in the inn the day they leave. We are very, very excited about our first official houseguests, but I am not looking forward to all that has to be done before they get here. It's kind of like those days when I really don't want to work out. I keep telling myself, oh, but it will feel so good after I've finished and I'll be so proud of myself. Well, I'm hoping I feel the same way when I have all of our stuff put away and neatly organized.

And I guess I'm starting to get there. Yesterday I spent the entire day on the floor in the office going through boxes. And that's probably what I will do most of the day today as well. Maybe when it's all said and done I'll actually get around to taking and posting those pictures I promised about four months ago.

However, there's already been a little bit of a payoff during this whole process. Yesterday, I found a $160 gift card to Target that was given to us as a wedding present almost two years ago!!! We thought we'd used it, but as it turns out - it's still good! Guess you know where we'll be this weekend!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, OSCAR!

I can't believe I didn't mention this in my first post today - today is Oscar's 1st birthday!!! He's playing it off like he doesn't care, but deep down, I can tell he's pretty excited. So far today, Herschel and I have sung "Happy Birthday" to him and given him extra treats and bones. He's also been on an extra long walk this morning and rounded out the afternoon by napping on the couch with his daddy. All in all, a grand 1st birthday for any dog, I would think. Celebrate with Oscar by taking a look at how he's changed over the past few months....Enjoy!

All-American Saturday

So far today, we've done our part to celebrate Memorial Day weekend to its fullest. We did a little bit of shopping earlier to help stimulate the economy. For lunch, we had Nathan's hot dogs... that we grilled outside, of course. And we've topped it off with some watermelon. Oh, and we washed it all down with some good, old fashioned Coca-Cola (it was actually Coke Zero and Cherry Coke Zero, but it's the same idea). Hope you're all enjoying your Memorial Day weekend as much as I am. It's been a fabulously lazy day, that I'm planning on turning into a fabulously lazy evening. Tomorrow night we're extending the celebration to a dinner out with friends. And on Monday, we're either doing a beach/cook-out day or heading up to Orlando to visit our nearby and neighborly Ikea store. I'm pretty sure either way, we win. Happy Memorial Day weekend everyone!!!

Catching Up

Okay, so I said I was going to get better at writing more often, and then I didn't. Consider this my second (or third or fourth) chance. I'm back! AND, I'm no longer working out of the house for 12+ hours a day! So, things are good.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I quit my job. Yes, the job that I just got and I was so excited and thankful for. Now that we have that out in the open, let me explain why. First off the commute was too much for me. I understand that a lot of people make a similar (or even longer) drive and they are just fine with it. Well, I wasn't. I like to be able to live my life in more than three hours a day and on the weekends. It was just wearing me out. Oh, and call me old-fashioned, but I really do enjoy cooking dinner for my husband and sitting down to eat together. I know we probably won't be able to do this forever, but while we can, I'd like to. I've also toyed with the idea of getting started in some writing of some sort. And, I figured now was as good a time as any to start trying to get involved in some freelance writing. (By the way - if you know of any leads, feel free to send them my way!)

All that to say, I'm no longer working in Palm Beach. That might lead some people to ask, what ARE you doing now? Well, I'm glad you asked. First off, I'm catching up on all the things I didn't have time to do while I was working for the past two months. Primarily cleaning my house and finishing the unpacking process! Ridiculous, I know. I've also very recently become a Pampered Chef Consultant. Another thing I've toyed with for a while. It involves all of the things I love - food, friends, cooking and shopping - so I thought, why not? It will also give me the chance to meet some new people down here and (hopefully) make a little bit of money. I'm actually really excited about both of these opportunities. Not so thrilled about the cleaning part of the equation, but I know I will be happy when it is finished.

Along those lines, I need to finish quickly, because we will have our first official visitors in just over a month - Herschel's parents are coming to visit! They'll be here for about a week towards the end of June. They'll stay with us for a few days before we all head up to Orlando for our church's General Assembly for the weekend. Then, they will leave from Orlando and our friends Mark and Janice, who will be attending the Assembly from Little Rock, are coming to see us. We are so excited to have visitors! Hopefully, they will go back and tell everyone how much fun they had and more people will want to come and see us. I mean, seriously, we live at the beach!

One last thing - I promised pictures from the wedding Herschel and I went to in Little Rock a few weeks ago. For some reason, I didn't take hardly any pictures, and I'm really annoyed with myself about it. But, take my word that the wedding was absolutely beautiful! We were so honored to be a part of it, and Katie and Chris make the most awesome couple. Here are a few of the pictures I did take. Enjoy!

Roomies!

We've known each other a loooong time. (That's why we're color-coordinated.)

Classic.

With the Bride

Going Home!

So, I've been slightly less than frequent with my posts lately. The truth is, I've wanted to write about a lot of things. But I've been trying to stay positive, and most of what I've wanted to write about has been...well, not positive. I can explain that later. BUT, I did want to write about something that I'm extremely excited about! Herschel and I are going to Little Rock this weekend!!! One of my very best friends in the whole world Katie Johnson is getting married and Herschel and I are in the wedding. It's going to be such a fun time of being home, seeing family and friends, and celebrating Katie and Chris. Not only am I excited to be going home, but I'm so excited for them to finally be getting married. They are such an awesome couple, and I just love them to death, and I couldn't be happier for them!

Here's an awkward picture we took of ourselves a couple of New Year's Eves ago...this is when we knew things would work out.

I'm sure there will be much to report after the trip home and many pictures to share. I promise I will get better at blogging soon. Hopefully around May 15...that's my last day of work. For those who don't know, I quit my job....more on that later. For now, congrats Katie and Chris!

Happy Good Friday!

I was beyond pleased to have today off of work. Especially considering that, like a lot of new employees at a new company, I don't qualify for any vacation days until I've been there for six months. I am, however, taking one day to go to my dear friend Katie's wedding in a couple of weeks. (I won't be paid for this day.) Anyway - like I was saying, sooooo excited not to have to work today.

We went to breakfast at one of my favorite places around here - Bagle Brothers - whoever comes to visit will get to experience it. Then Herschel had planned to play golf with some guys from church, so I in turn decided to treat myself to a manicure and pedicure. Best decision I've made in a while!

I also got to do some baking - which always makes me happy. And we get to enjoy the cookies I made, but they don't have to stay with us (huge plus so that we don't eat all of them!!). I'm taking them to church tonight for a movie night. We're watching the moview Passion of the Christ. I haven't seen it, but I'm so grateful for this opportunity to be able to be reminded of the true reason for Easter...and here's a hint, it has nothing to do with Cadbury, bunnies, flowers, pastels, jelly beans, baskets or new clothes. While I enjoy all of the above, it simply isn't what Easter's about.

I love Saturdays

Last night, before we went to sleep, I told Herschel that I was truly excited to go to sleep, especially knowing that there would be no alarm to wake me up in the morning. And I meant it. In fact, excitement really didn't begin to cover it. It was probably more like ecstatic. But, don't worry, it didn't keep me from quickly drifting off to sleep.

The past week has been non-stop, which in turn has translated into no sleep. Between working a little bit later, which means getting home even later than usual, trying to have a social life and just general house and life upkeep, there hasn't been a lot of room left for sleeping. And last night, as I cross the finished line of the work week, I was exhausted.

It was so nice waking up on my own - no alarm blaring, no Herschel telling me that I have to get up and no Oscar pouncing on my chest. Just me.

So far, we've had a lazy morning. Coffee and donuts. Playing with Oscar. Breeze blowing in from the back patio. And, for some annoying reason, I can't help but feeling like we have to be doing something. Every time I let myself slip into enjoyment of the moment, I just as quickly find my mind racing, thinking "what do we need to be doing?" Can't we be doing something more productive. Of course we could! But, sometimes these lazy days are just as important as accomplishing your whole to-do list.

Our little family needs today. Everything else will get taken care of eventually. Sometimes you just need to take care of yourself.