2011 was a big year for us. We started out with jobs we hated and ended up with jobs we love. We started out in a home we owned and ended up in an apartment. We started out in the Georgia and ended in Maryland. I started out never flying by myself and ended up a pro. We started out just the two of us and ended up with a third. We started off with tons of family and friends close by and ended up with very few.
Lots of changes but all for the good. It was a rough end of the year, leaving family and friends and having rent and a mortgage to pay, but I know things are about to change. Financially, we had an up and down year. We had to pay a nice hunk in taxes, then we had moving expenses, then we had the house in GA and the apartment in Maryland to pay for. It seemed like every time we got back on track we would get knocked back off again. But we got the deductions changed on our W-2's, I got a better paying job, we rented the house in GA in December, and yesterday Doug got a promotion at work. With one phone call from my husband, who I am so proud of, all my worries melted away. I know in 2012 we will be back on track.
I know 2012 is going to be a good year for us. We have all our friends and family supporting us, we have new friends to make, great jobs (with great pay!) to go to everyday, and we have each other (and Auburn). I have the best husband in the whole wide world. He makes me so happy and he makes me feel loved every second of every day. I am so thankful to have him in my life. I could not do it without him.
Happy New Year to you and your family. I hope you have a wonderful new year and that it is full of laughter, smiles, and love.
"Here's to the freakin" New Year, "I'll drink to that, yeah!"
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Friday, December 30, 2011
Gettysburg, PA
While my parents were here we decided to take a trip up to Gettysburg, PA and see the Civil War battlefield. I was very surprised how big it was. It literally stretched out through out the town. It was a cold, cloudy day but it was ok because it SNOWED the ENTIRE time we were there. It was so cool!! We originally wanted to take a bus tour but for a fraction of the price we could hire a personal guide to drive our car around and give us the tour. It was very informative and very convenient. We stopped when we wanted to, got out when we wanted to, and always had someone there to take a group picture. Our guide knew we were from Alabama so he geared our tour towards that. He we very smart and quite a character. The tour took about 2 1/2 hours so we opted to not do the museum. Doug and I plan on going back in the summer to see that and the battlefield again. There are around 1300 monuments on the battlefield and quite a few dozen other important sites. I am not posting all but here are a few pictures from the day.
DC with the parents
This week my Mom and Dad came up to visit. Dad had never been to DC so we loaded up and headed out early Wednesday morning. It was cold and quite breezy but we had a great time. I did not get to take pictures of the Star Spangled Banner display at the National Museum of American History (we got to see the original flag!) or at the National Archives (where the Constitution and Declaration of Independence is) but I think I got a picture of everything else. They were cleaning and doing construction on almost all the water fountains and the Reflecting Pool so we did not get to see any of that in it's full glory. Besides the cold, that was the only down side of the trip. There were very few crowds and there was little to no wait time. Here are just a few of Mom and Dad. I put the ones of Doug and I on Facebook.
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Christmas with the in-laws
We had to do Christmas a little early with the in-laws this year. My mother-in-law was leaving to spend Christmas with her family in Wisconsin on Friday, so we pushed Christmas up to Wednesday. Keeping with Christmas tradition I cooked; however, this year it was tacos instead of dressing. Feliz Navidad!
Side story- Doug accidentally "replied all" to a text from a friend. This guy from Ohio began texting Doug. After about 10 minutes back and forth the guy finally introduced himself. This is a picture of us reading that text. Turns out we knew the guy. He is a friend of our neighbors in Ga (who the original text to Doug was from) and he had visited while we lived there. The way he reminded us who he was was priceless!
Auburn got treats in the traditional care package gift!
Doug got long sleeve clothes and a jacket for Christmas. The short sleeve t'shirts are not going to be enough up here!
Side story- Doug accidentally "replied all" to a text from a friend. This guy from Ohio began texting Doug. After about 10 minutes back and forth the guy finally introduced himself. This is a picture of us reading that text. Turns out we knew the guy. He is a friend of our neighbors in Ga (who the original text to Doug was from) and he had visited while we lived there. The way he reminded us who he was was priceless!
Auburn got treats in the traditional care package gift!
Doug got long sleeve clothes and a jacket for Christmas. The short sleeve t'shirts are not going to be enough up here!
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Another attempt at making Brownies
Thankfully I have Doug who has witnessed my failed attempts to back me up when I say, "I can not make brownies from a box!" I know I am no chef and most things I cook are simple; however, most enjoy my cooking and think it taste pretty good. I am not a chopper or a spicer, just simple, easy recipes. I can make all kinds of food and appetizers but one thing I can not do is make brownies from a box.
I have tried several times. They come out one of two ways; hard as a rock that no knife can cut through or gooey enough to roll in a ball, flatten, or drink. After so many failed attempts I decided to hang it up and stop trying. I have not bought brownie mix in probably 3-4 years.
Today I decided to take another crack at it. I bought Betty Crocker Fudge Brownies at Wal-mart this morning and crossed my fingers. I followed the directions on the back of the box precisely. I measured the pan with a ruler to make sure I had the correct pan measurements for the correct temperature and cooking time. I even set the timer a few minutes less than what the box said so I would not overcook.
The first time I took them out they were not done enough so I stuck them back in for the remaining time the box recommended. I got them back out, stuck my toothpick in the middle, and nothing came off. Since this is when the box tells you they are done, I took them out and let them cool. After about 10 minutes I began cutting the brownies into squares. My knife penetrated the brownies, so this was a good start. However, as a dragged the knife through, the brownie came with... I did my best to cut them pretty and I scooped a piece out. Let's just say these brownies can not be ate without the use of a fork and plate... They are... moist...? Not flaky but so moist when you pick it up it falls apart because of the weight. I am not sure if this is how they are suppose to be or if they should have cooked longer. I am hoping they harden by the time Doug gets home. I really wanted this time to not be another attempt...
I have tried several times. They come out one of two ways; hard as a rock that no knife can cut through or gooey enough to roll in a ball, flatten, or drink. After so many failed attempts I decided to hang it up and stop trying. I have not bought brownie mix in probably 3-4 years.
Today I decided to take another crack at it. I bought Betty Crocker Fudge Brownies at Wal-mart this morning and crossed my fingers. I followed the directions on the back of the box precisely. I measured the pan with a ruler to make sure I had the correct pan measurements for the correct temperature and cooking time. I even set the timer a few minutes less than what the box said so I would not overcook.
The first time I took them out they were not done enough so I stuck them back in for the remaining time the box recommended. I got them back out, stuck my toothpick in the middle, and nothing came off. Since this is when the box tells you they are done, I took them out and let them cool. After about 10 minutes I began cutting the brownies into squares. My knife penetrated the brownies, so this was a good start. However, as a dragged the knife through, the brownie came with... I did my best to cut them pretty and I scooped a piece out. Let's just say these brownies can not be ate without the use of a fork and plate... They are... moist...? Not flaky but so moist when you pick it up it falls apart because of the weight. I am not sure if this is how they are suppose to be or if they should have cooked longer. I am hoping they harden by the time Doug gets home. I really wanted this time to not be another attempt...
Sunday, December 11, 2011
D.C.
Saturday Doug was off so we decided to head down to D.C. to do some exploring. We drove down back roads to keep away from traffic and to see more of the area. Our first stop, Chevy Chase. I needed to get my jewelry cleaned and Chevy Chase has a Tiffany's.
The shopping area is called "The Collection at Chevy Chase" on Wisconsin Ave. Not only did they have a Tiffany's, they had a Dior, Gucci, Jimmy Choo, Lewis Vuitton, Barney's, Saks, and so much more. I got my jewelry cleaned and bought two shirts at GAP... I did do a lot of window shopping and dreaming!
After that we drove through the area and house hunted/looked at houses we could never afford. The area was so nice! The houses are close together but they are old. The people who live in that area do a great job of keeping the houses in good condition. I would love to live in that area but the houses were probably more than what I would make in my lifetime!
Next we headed to College Park to shop at Ikea. I needed one more shelf for the house and who really needs an excuse to go to Ikea?? This one was the biggest I have ever seen. It even had appliances!!
After lunch we could not decide what we wanted to do. It was cold out so we considered doing something inside but we hated not to go to D.C. since we were so close. So off to D.C. we went. It was pretty crowded so we drove around downtown. We got to see the "Occupy Wall-street" people and their tents. Not too many people were there so we figured they were out protesting somewhere. We decided to park by the Potomac River, across from the Jefferson Memorial. It was really cold so we only stopped to take a few pictures.
On the way back we stopped at a shopping center in Bowie. We walked around and I got a couple pair of shoes. (For some reason all my shoes are sandals and hardly any of them cover my feet and keep my toes warm... Ha!)
It was a long day full of a lot of walking but we enjoyed it. I think we may take my parents to D.C. for a day when they come up. Of course I will have the day planned out so they can see everything!
The shopping area is called "The Collection at Chevy Chase" on Wisconsin Ave. Not only did they have a Tiffany's, they had a Dior, Gucci, Jimmy Choo, Lewis Vuitton, Barney's, Saks, and so much more. I got my jewelry cleaned and bought two shirts at GAP... I did do a lot of window shopping and dreaming!
After that we drove through the area and house hunted/looked at houses we could never afford. The area was so nice! The houses are close together but they are old. The people who live in that area do a great job of keeping the houses in good condition. I would love to live in that area but the houses were probably more than what I would make in my lifetime!
Next we headed to College Park to shop at Ikea. I needed one more shelf for the house and who really needs an excuse to go to Ikea?? This one was the biggest I have ever seen. It even had appliances!!
After lunch we could not decide what we wanted to do. It was cold out so we considered doing something inside but we hated not to go to D.C. since we were so close. So off to D.C. we went. It was pretty crowded so we drove around downtown. We got to see the "Occupy Wall-street" people and their tents. Not too many people were there so we figured they were out protesting somewhere. We decided to park by the Potomac River, across from the Jefferson Memorial. It was really cold so we only stopped to take a few pictures.
On the way back we stopped at a shopping center in Bowie. We walked around and I got a couple pair of shoes. (For some reason all my shoes are sandals and hardly any of them cover my feet and keep my toes warm... Ha!)
It was a long day full of a lot of walking but we enjoyed it. I think we may take my parents to D.C. for a day when they come up. Of course I will have the day planned out so they can see everything!
Monday, November 28, 2011
Bah-Humbug!
So this year Doug and I have decided to not decorate for Christmas. And to top it off, we are not buying Christmas presents either...
Bring it on haters!
Since we have moved, we have had a lot going on. We still have not bought everything to finish decorating the house so we still have stuff lying around on the floor waiting on its home. Just the thought of dragging out all the Christmas decorations makes me want to pull my hair out. I mean, how can I decorate for Christmas when I do not have the house decorated and organized for the other 11 months of the year? Since we downsized to a 2 bedroom, we lost some storage space. Our Christmas stuff is literally shoved into the hall closet. We are lucky to hang our jackets in there. I DO NOT want to pull it all out and put it all back up again. Auburn will have to wait until next year to terrorize the tree and presents. :)
We are not buying Christmas presents because we would have to mail all the gifts. So we are doing a gift card to the grandparents and maybe a gift or two to the parents. And maybe a toy for Auburn. :) The only thing Doug wants is a desk for when he starts school and all I want is stuff for the house; so we will call those items, whenever we get around to buying them, our Christmas presents.
So no Christmas parties, no Christmas tree, and no pretty wrapping around the Christmas gifts under the tree. Maybe next year...
Bring it on haters!
Since we have moved, we have had a lot going on. We still have not bought everything to finish decorating the house so we still have stuff lying around on the floor waiting on its home. Just the thought of dragging out all the Christmas decorations makes me want to pull my hair out. I mean, how can I decorate for Christmas when I do not have the house decorated and organized for the other 11 months of the year? Since we downsized to a 2 bedroom, we lost some storage space. Our Christmas stuff is literally shoved into the hall closet. We are lucky to hang our jackets in there. I DO NOT want to pull it all out and put it all back up again. Auburn will have to wait until next year to terrorize the tree and presents. :)
We are not buying Christmas presents because we would have to mail all the gifts. So we are doing a gift card to the grandparents and maybe a gift or two to the parents. And maybe a toy for Auburn. :) The only thing Doug wants is a desk for when he starts school and all I want is stuff for the house; so we will call those items, whenever we get around to buying them, our Christmas presents.
So no Christmas parties, no Christmas tree, and no pretty wrapping around the Christmas gifts under the tree. Maybe next year...
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Delaware!
Today Doug finally got a weekend day off so we took full advantage of it. We got up early, ate breakfast, and hit the road. We stopped off first at Kohl's cause we had tons of coupons that we need to use. Then we headed for Delaware. The ride was long but it was a nice day. I got to go across the Bay Bridge for the first time. (The bridge that connects the two sides of Maryland with the Chesapeake Bay in the middle.) Once across the bridge you cross into Delaware and end at the Atlantic Ocean. We stopped first at Cracker Barrel to eat lunch. Yes, we drove all the way to Delaware to eat at Cracker Barrel. It was so good! Then we went to the outlets, of course, to do some shopping. I mean, there were so many stores they separated the outlets into three sections on both sides of the road. How can you not stop?
The beach we went to is called Rehoboth Beach. It was very nice. When you come in, you drive through a downtown style area with the ocean straight ahead. There are tons of shops and restaurants along both sides of the street. We were surprised how many people were out shopping and hanging at the beach. It was cool but with the sun it was nice. The beach has a long boardwalk that is perpendicular to the main street you come it on. You can rent bikes and scooters or do it the old fashion way and walk. A lot of the businesses and hotels were closed for the season but quite a few were still open. We did good and resisted the yummy smelling fries and mouth watering ice cream. I can't wait for summer so we can soak up the sun and really see the town for what it is for. Here are a few pictures from the day.
The Bay Bridge
The Chesapeake Bay
Downtown Rehoboth facing the beach
The Atlantic Ocean from Delaware
The boardwalk
The boardwalk was lined with benches to sit on and enjoy the view. They faced both directions so you could enjoy the ocean view or people watch on the boardwalk.
The sand did not totally repulse me. It reminded me of the sand you would find in a sandbox. Much nicer than the sand in South Carolina.
The beach we went to is called Rehoboth Beach. It was very nice. When you come in, you drive through a downtown style area with the ocean straight ahead. There are tons of shops and restaurants along both sides of the street. We were surprised how many people were out shopping and hanging at the beach. It was cool but with the sun it was nice. The beach has a long boardwalk that is perpendicular to the main street you come it on. You can rent bikes and scooters or do it the old fashion way and walk. A lot of the businesses and hotels were closed for the season but quite a few were still open. We did good and resisted the yummy smelling fries and mouth watering ice cream. I can't wait for summer so we can soak up the sun and really see the town for what it is for. Here are a few pictures from the day.
The Bay Bridge
The Chesapeake Bay
Downtown Rehoboth facing the beach
The Atlantic Ocean from Delaware
The boardwalk
The boardwalk was lined with benches to sit on and enjoy the view. They faced both directions so you could enjoy the ocean view or people watch on the boardwalk.
The sand did not totally repulse me. It reminded me of the sand you would find in a sandbox. Much nicer than the sand in South Carolina.
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