Tiffany Blue

My Tiffany's collection//This year's Christmas present on the left and the necklace he gave me four years ago

I was not expecting jewelry this year based on what I saw under the tree. All the boxes were way too big but he tricked me!  I saved the largest box for last and it ended up holding the smallest present.  I unwrapped one large box only to find another smaller wrapped box. I unwrapped that box to find an oddly shaped package and inside that was a Tiffany Bag.  Inside the bag was the distinctive box in Tiffany Blue that every girl fantasizes about.  There is just something about that color and that box.  That pretty little box tied with a satin ribbon is sure to hold a beautiful treasure.  Inside was a silver necklace with a pink ballet slipper charm.  

Please return to Tiffany & Co New York

He told me right away we could take it back if I didn't like it but it's always hard to tell someone that you want to exchange their gift. The way I see it you might as well be honest about those things.  Tiffany's is not cheap and I would hate to keep something he spent his hard earned money on that hadn't totally captured my heart.  While we were getting dressed Christmas morning I told him that I liked the charm and I can see why he picked it for me.  I love how thoughtful he was in picking it out but that it just wasn't me. He was fine with it and said I could get something else which I didn't expect.  He'd gotten me other gifts so I thought we'd just return it.  When I tried this bracelet on I knew right away that it was perfect.  I'm no glamour girl.  I can't be bothered with full on make up or accessorizing every single day.  I love jewelry that is pretty but also functional and durable so I can wear it to work, to the gym, in the shower and sleep in it without even having to spend time taking it off.  Jewelry I can live in and wear every day with everything; like my wedding rings.  Both my Tiffany's pieces allow me to do that.  I was giddy with excitement before the guy even wrapped it up and I gave Mj a big kiss on the cheek and told him how much I loved it.  It worked out for him because I actually saved him some money on the deal!  He said I could pick out another thing but the bracelet was perfect and it was enough so I didn't.  It worked out for me because I have a bracelet I love from a man I love.  I can wear it every day and be reminded of what a sweet husband I have.  

So what is it about Tiffany & Co?  Well, it's only been around for 175 years.  They've even trademarked the color Tiffany Blue.  It can't be used to advertise or package anything else that is associated with or might be in direct competition.  They specialize in Silver which has always been my favorite.  Tiffany's is luxury and their jewelry is not only beautiful but very well made.  It represents the finer things in life wrapped up with a pretty bow and even us regular folks enjoy having a piece of it.  Having something from Tiffany's makes me feel special yes, but it's having something from Tiffany's that my husband bought me that means the most.

 

So This is Christmas

We started off the morning with German pancakes. In Mj's family they ate them every Christmas morning before presents. His mom was with us this year so that's what we did. He whipped them up, we ate and then it was time for presents.  Mj done good.  He's really good at surprising me by coming up with things that I like without me having asked for it.   I fully intend on getting better at that but I've always sucked at finding gifts for people.  I got him house slippers and an Apple Gift card.  He got me two NCAA Championships Gymnastics tickets.  It's a 3 day event.  He'll go as a last resort but he's really not THAT into gymnastics.  Well, he's not into it at all.  He also got me a coach clutch in my favorite color pink and that chambray shirt from Banana Republic I had my eye on.  And Tiffany's!!! There is just something about that blue box...more on that later.

I'm wearing a Christmas gift

After presents it was time to get dressed because the plan was to hit the road for my sister's house by 10am because we had a 3 hour drive to the Palm Springs.  We took the windy road scenic route, stopped for pics and made it in 2 1/2 hours so we were there by 12:30pm.

Mom in Law and Mj

When my parents and little sister finally made it a couple hours later we had a pretty early dinner because we were all starving.  The main dish was a roast with mashed potatoes and veggies on the side.  Everything was really good.  For dessert there was Chocolate Cake and Apple Pie.

My nephew playing in one of his new toys

Keurig Coffee Maker from her husband

Then we figured it was time for DJ to get started on that mountain of presents under their tree because he was falling asleep.  He woke up real quick and was in non stop play mode until he left.  I got just what I wanted from my Secret Santa (my older sister) and we all got a little something from mom because she can't help it. 

Mi Familia! My sisters and I are wearing infinity scarves from my mom

It was a really nice day with the family.  I enjoyed every second of it and as always it went by way too fast.  My mother in law is here until Sunday.  We went to the movies yesterday and saw Flight.  I got a long overdue manicure and pedicure today which was nice.  Christmas day might be over but Christmas break is still on until the New Year and I'm really enjoying my time off.

 

Christmas Eve Eve Eve

Dani, Me and Tia-Sister's!  I really am the middle child.

On the Saturday before Christmas I went up to my mom's house to spend some time with my sisters.  The younger one is in town from San Francisco and we don't get to see her as often so it was so much fun getting to hang out with her and all of us together.  My mother in law was supposed to come with me but she missed her Thursday night flight. She waited for 9 hours, the next flight was overbooked and she couldn't get another one until Monday!  Traveling on the holidays is no joke.  We spent the day at my mom's house then we went out to dinner at Claim Jumper.  My younger sister Tia got one of the biggest burgers I've ever seen.  She couldn't even eat it all. Dani and I just got salad's. We had to save room for dessert.

Trifle and many, many more desserts to choose from

Right after that we headed to my mom's friends house where we had a dessert party. I'm not sure if that was the best idea considering we've all been bombarded with sweets every which way for weeks but because its such a busy time we wanted something simple. She has two girls of her own and it's very rare for all of us to be in one place at the same time. There were soooo many desserts I couldn't even try them all. We had a really fun time chatting and hanging out before we went back to my parents house.  It got really late really fast and the next thing I knew we were all tired and it was time for me to hit the road for home.  

I had a great day with my family and was happy that we'd get to be together again on Christmas Day.

 

I'm Free!

Mj baked these sugar cookies with a dab of strawberry jelly in the center.  It's a secret recipe from his grandmother.  We packaged them up for our co workers as gifts. They are so delicious but I'm glad they are gone so I can stop trying not to eat them.

grilled chicken topped with cilantro, tomatoes and onions

Last night I made dinner.  Mj was shocked to see me making dinner AND using real plates.  He actually said, "What's going on, this never happens."  I'm sure he wondered where his wife was and what I had done with her but it was me.  I haven't cooked in a longer time then I'd like to admit so I thought I'd get in one meal before the holidays. Mj is making dinner tomorrow night and then it'll be mostly eating out after that. I actually impressed myself with how good it turned out.

You know it's time for Christmas Break when you find yourself and your co workers positively riveted by a remote control flying shark balloon. This thing was a given to my boss and it was a fun distraction from cookie munching and the slowly ticking clock counting down the last days of work.  I didn't even know these things existed but apparently they sell them at Bed Bath & Beyond of all places.  My boss was kind enough to let me leave early today.  There were only the 2 of us left.  It was the best feeling ever walking away knowing I'm done and don't have to go back until next year.  I'm free!  Let the lady of leisure lifestyle that I look forward to so much every year begin.  I had already planned to go to the gym so I went straight there and I had time to work out and still get home before I normally would.  It was nice to see daylight after work and I even beat Mj home for a change.

My mother in law will be here tomorrow and I'll be up first thing tomorrow cleaning house before she gets here.  This year I'm sharing my entire Christmas staycation with Mj.  He got tired of seeing me sleep in  every day during this time while he still has to work so he took some extra days off and his last day is tomorrow.  I had a nice long vacation in October but even still I'm plain old worn out.  I'm pretty sure the world isn't going to end so I'm looking forward to this much needed break.

Happy Holidays to you all!!

 

DSW Giveaway Winner.....

The saying goes that it is better to give then to receive and I have to say I agree.  As much as I love getting a thoughtful gift and something I didn't have to buy for myself it feels really good to give something away.  I'm pretty sure I'll do this again sometime.  Thanks to everyone who participated.   I'm not cool like all the other bloggers so I didn't use rafflecopter to set this thing up but at least I didn't pick names out of a hat.  I used an online random name selector so rest assured that the results are legit.

I really want everyone to win but we all know that's not the way it works.  Sorry to those who didn't.  I feel your pain as I haven't won a single one of the many giveaways I've entered within the last week either.  Without further ado I will announce that the winner of the $50 DSW gift card is MLMR of My Life Moments and Realities. Those extra entries you got by posting about the giveaway came in handy!  She really wanted a new pair of shoes for her Birthday so I'm glad that I can help her get them.  Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas to you!  I will be contacting you for your mailing address and get it sent ASAP so you can get your shop on.  Speaking of which I have still been getting my shop on myself even though I said I was done.  I need an intervention.

 

Holiday Par-tay

I have this thing about company holiday party's.  That thing is that I love them.  It's a fabulous night out that doesn't cost me anything so what's not to love?  At my job we just got a holiday luncheon during the work day.  Mj's isn't until January this year but my friend B invited me to hers.  I met her at Hotel La Jolla right after work on Friday, got myself all dolled up and then it was time to party.  This company went all out.  Cocktail hour with appetizers at a swanky hotel to start.  Filet Mignon for dinner.  Dessert bar and a DJ next door.  Oh, and just in case you overdo it on the all night open bar they throw in a hotel room for the night.  I've spent 6 months and then 5 months apart from Mj back to back so it felt kind of silly that I was going to miss him even thought it was just one night.  I felt sad for some reason that he was going to be home without me but not sad enough to stop me from going.  We each do our own thing and we don't have to be together all the time; nor should we.

The cool thing about going to someone else's holiday party is that you can act a fool and you don't have to see those people on Monday morning at work.  When you are the friend your husband doesn't have to see those people at work either.  You can dance like nobody is watching even though the room is full.  You can drink too much and laugh way too loud.  Not that I did any of that of course, but I will say that open bars tend to have quite an effect on me.  We both had a really fun time.  Maybe too much fun.  The next morning we stayed in the room right until the very last minute for check out recovering and then I felt sluggish for the rest of the day.  I definitely don't bounce back like I used to so it's a good thing I don't do this all the time.  Every now and then it's fun to really let loose like that though so it was worth it.

If you haven't entered my giveaway yet the last day is tomorrow.  Go here to enter.

 

Confessions for the Week

I confess that the only time I watch the news lately is at the gym.  On gym days I come home and it's did you hear about this, did you hear about that?  Those are the only days I might be more in the know on current events then Mj is.

I confess that I love Abby's Ultimate Dance Competition and Dance Mom's.  The finale of Abby's Ultimate was on Tuesday and Dance Mom's starts up again on New Year's Day.  It feels like a kid show and the drama among the moms is out of control but it's entertaining and I love the dance part.  While I'm at it I might as well 'fess up about being hooked on Teen Mom 2.  Mj won't watch it with me anymore.  All of the girls are annoying the hell out of me right now and I'm to the point where I don't even really want to watch it anymore either but I can't stop. 

Link up with Leslie @A Blonde Ambition

I confess that I still haven't totally figured it out yet with all the # and @ business but Twitter is fun.  I didn't want to be bothered with it at first but it's been fun engaging in mindless banter and it's a good way to discover new bloggers.  Mj isn't allowed to follow me on Twitter.  Isn't Facebook enough?  I'm keeping Twitter for online blogging/blogger buddies and Facebook is for friends and family.

I confess that I'm spending the night away from my husband tonight and even after all the separations that we've had over the years I'm gonna miss him.  It's just one night so it feels ridiculous but yeah, I'll miss him.

I confess that I haven't sent out Christmas cards in years.  The one year we really should have was 2010 because we could have used our wedding pictures but we didn't.  Oh well.  Maybe next year but probably not.

I confess that it's getting harder and harder to get out of bed every morning and when I finally get my tired butt to work I am dragging.  I am dying for Christmas Break.  I need it bad!! Five more work days and I won't have to go back 'till next year.

I confess that I have entered a million giveaways over the last week and I probably will not even win a single one! Speaking of which if you want to enter another giveaway and maybe not win it's not too late to enter mine!!  Click below for details.  The deadline is Tuesday, December 18th. 

 

Holiday Giveaway :: Shoe Lovers Only

 I've been feeling like a bit of a shopaholic lately. This whole concept of seeing something I want and actually being able to buy it without having a near nervous breakdown is still relatively new to me and it's making me feel extremely excessive. In the holiday spirit of giving AND so as not to feel so bad about spending money on myself this time of year I've decided to do a giveaway of one of my favorite things.  You know, like Oprah's favorite things except I don't have my own cable network or TV show and I'm not rich so it's only one thing and not 25.  I love DSW and I'm guessing a lot of you do too.  I really appreciate everyone who reads and/or follows my blog so I'm really excited to give something back to one of you.

Last day to enter :: Tues Dec 18th

The Prize: 

One winner will receive a $50 DSW gift card

Entry Period: 

From now until December 18th, 2012

How to Enter
You must be a follower of my blog  
You must have a US address that I can ship to as it's being delivered direct  

One Entry:

Be a follower of my blog via GFC
Comment on this post that you are and that you want to enter

One Additional Entry:  

Follow me on Twitter; comment with your user name  
 (If you already follow just indicate so)

Three Additional Entries: 

Post about the giveaway on your blog
No need to dedicate a whole post to it, just a mention with a link back to this post will do 
Comment here with your post url


 It's simple enough giving you the option of between between 1 to 5 entries depending on how much you like me what you want to do.  It can all be in one comment but you must mention each entry you qualify for.   If you do one entry and decide to come back and do additional ones later just leave more comments accordingly.  The last day to enter is Tuesday December 18th and I will announce the winner on my blog that week.  Thank you and good luck! 

X-mas Tree :: X-mas Shopping Done

This year instead of buying our tree, having it sit undecorated for two weeks and finally decorating it the week before Christmas we were on it.   We picked up AND decorated our tree on the same day!!  Mj compromised and we went a little smaller this year like I wanted.  And it's a good thing too because we don't have an SUV this year.  We bought the tree from the lot down and across the street from our house and Mj literally picked it up and carried it home. It looked so funny watching him run across the street with a Christmas Tree in his arms.  He got kind of filthy along the way but he made it.  We put on some Christmas music and drank wine while we decorated.   We didn't even need all of our decorations and lights because the tree is smaller.  I used two boxes of candy canes because half will be gone by Christmas...I have a tendency to eat them right off tree. 

I also did all of my Holiday shopping on Saturday in about 3 hours and 4 stores.  Things aren't too crowded yet so it wasn't so bad and I pretty much knew exactly what I was going for.  I wanted to get it done as soon as possible so I wouldn't have to think about doing it anymore as the stores get more crowded by the day.  Our family keeps it simple to save time and money by doing a gift exchange among the adults.  We've been doing it for the last 5 years or so now.  As adults we don't need a lot of presents and it gets harder and harder to think of things we want anyways so this works pretty well.  We write down three things we want, draw names and aren't allowed to have our significant others.  This means I only have to shop for the family Secret Santa, my little nephew and Mj.  I spend less time running around buying things and more time enjoying this time of year.  I have to pick up two more items but other then that now I can just sit back and enjoy the holidays.

Check back tomorrow for my giveaway!  You won't want to miss it.

 

Confessional Friday

Bubbling cheesy Goodness

I confess that up until a few days ago my favorite Lasagna was Lasagna Classico at Olive Garden and not even the one I ate in Rome, Italy could top it.   We had a date night on Wednesday at this cute little restaurant called Alexander's on 30th on recommendation from a friend and armed with a Groupon.  This place is popular because even on a Wednesday night it was packed when we left and now I have a new favorite lasagna.  I was soooo delicious but on top of their delicious garlic bread I could only eat half.  I also confess that I burned a hole in the top of the menu with that candle.  We were wondering what that smell was.

I confess that since it's gotten colder which for us means overnight lows in the 40's and 50's  I've broken out the granny robe to wear around the house.  You know the giant boxy full body covering one with flowers all over it?   Mine is white fleece with blue and lavender flowers.  I've had it for 10 plus years and it's still going strong.  It may not be the sexiest thing ever but it's oh so cozy.  It saves us money too because if I  bundle up enough we don't have to turn our heat on.  Sometimes you literally just need to wear a blanket.  The down comforter keeps us warm over night.

I confess that I didn't go to the gym for a whole week last month.  I blame the time change, colder weather and the holidays.  The problem surely couldn't be me and my lack of motivation.  It's dark and cold when I get off work and the only place I want to go is home to my pajamas so I took a week off.  I got back to it the next week but my motivation is still pretty low.

Link up with Leslie @A Blonde Ambition

I confess that when I went to pick up a $112,000 check at work to pay one of our vendors I wished I could switch the name on it to mine.  Oh, the things I could do with that money!  It's not enough to quit your job or anything but I can think of a few splurges I would go for.  There are a few bills that would disappear and it would do wonders for my peace of mind to have it chillin' in the bank.  If only.

I confess that Mj and I watched two seasons of Walking Dead in 7 days on Netflix.  After each episode I could hardly wait to watch the next one.  We watched 5 episodes in one single night! I love horror movies and seeing as it's about zombies it's basically a really long one and I can't believe it took me this long to realize that I should be watching it.  Luckily there was a marathon so now we have season 3 and have already watched 3 episodes of it.

Source: shop.nordstrom.com via CeCe on Pinterest

 I confess that sometimes I feel like a shopaholic.  I saw a bloggers wishlist with these shoes on it and within hours I had a pair of Tom's Desert Booties in Taupe on it's way to me from Nordstrom's.  It never even made it onto my wishlist.  I'm so glad I bought 'em though.  I'm not one to run around in high heels every day.  I need comfortable shoes.  The wedge gives me a little height and adds some style, I feel like I'm wearing flats and it fits in with my casual style.

I confess that I love it when friends or co workers come to me for money handling advice.  I've lived a fiscally responsible life since I was a teenager, got my first job and started saving money.  I didn't make a lot of the money mistakes that a lot of people do and although my shopping habit seems to be blooming lately I don't abuse credit, I know my budget, I stick to it, I feed my savings every month and people know this about me.  Not that it happens a lot or anything but it feels good when it does.

  If you are like me then this day was a long time coming.  I had to drag my lifeless body out of bed this morning.  Finally Friday.  Have a great weekend and I'll be back next week with a great giveaway!

Flat Screen Mounted

Before

Over the weekend Mj invited his friends over to participate in some unpaid labor. That's what friends are for right? He bought this 55" 3D monster of a TV about a year ago and ever since he's been talking about mounting it. I was against it because I'd heard it could cost hundreds of dollars and it just didn't seem worth it to me when it's fine just sitting there on the table.  TV's are so thin now, they really don't take up much space. I also have a fear of putting holes in our walls.  We aren't renting so we can do whatever we want but for some reason this fear has not gone away.

During

after

Well, he didn't listen to me of course and he finally did it. He found everything he needed on Amazon for about $100 and the only labor cost was burgers and beer for the guys so it actually turned out to be a pretty inexpensive project.  I thought the destruction of the wall would be much worse but only two squares of drywall were removed and they were filled in with plastic inserts.  He and his friends did a great job.  I love the way it looks. There are no cords and it just floats there ever so perfectly like a picture on the wall.  Like magic.  So yeah, Mj was right about getting hardwood floors and about mounting the TV.  It looks great and I'm just glad he didn't have to spend a lot to do it. Now, if only I could finally finish decorating and find something to put on all of those empty surfaces...but not too much otherwise dusting is a real pain in the butt.



  

Why I Blog

I've been blogging officially here since 2009 but unofficially I've been doing this since about 2003 in other places before it was even known as blogging.  You see, I'm a writer.  I don't get paid to do it.  I didn't major in it in college.  I'm writing a novel that may never get published and frankly I have no idea if I'm even any good at it.  All I know is that I love doing it and I have for as long as I can remember.  I've been keeping journals since I was 9 and I still have them all.  Something in me just always wanted to read words and write words and share words.  When I'm inspired I write.  When I'm sad I write.  When the world feels out of control and scary...you guessed it.  I write.  I write better then I speak.  I find it so much easier to articulate my thoughts in feelings with the written word rather then verbal.  Not to say that it's always easy to put my thoughts on paper.  Sometimes I draw a blank.  Sometimes I write something and I'm frustrated because it's not what I meant to say or how I meant to say it but I always feel a huge sense of satisfaction when I finally get those words arranged and out of my head the way I intended.

Aside from the writing part of it connecting with others similar to and different from myself is just one of the many reasons I love blogging so much.  At some point it wasn't just enough just to write anymore.  I found that I also wanted to share my writing and engage with other writing as well.  I'm not a journalist or an author so I blog.  I get to have my own little space with my words on it that belongs to me and anyone else that chooses to read it.  So many wonderful memories are here for me to look back on.  I think it's so cool that we all just put ourselves out there on the internet often for no other reason then just because we have this desire to do so.  I love it that there are so many of us in all different stages of life doing this thing we call blogging, connecting and learning from each other in ways that we never would have otherwise.

Blogging has changed so much in the last three years.  When I first started out it seems it was just about writing, sharing and getting a few comments along the way.  Then blog  awards with Q and A's and tagging started going around.  Back then you might see a giveaway here and there usually by one blogger at a time but now you hardly see a day when there aren't any.  There are group giveaways, linkups, sponsored posts, guest posting, blogger gift exchanges and social media linking.  Button swapping, blog sponsoring and buying and selling add space is all the rage.  If you haven't had a blog make-over yet you really should be looking into it.  The focus seems to have shifted to getting your blog noticed and increasing traffic.  Some blogs boast thousands of followers and more bloggers are generating an income.  Like everything else it's evolving and I think that's a good thing but there are lots of blogging trends I choose not to take part in.  Yes, I want people to read my blog but I don't view it as a business enterprise and I don't want generating followers to be my focus.  Blogging is truly an industry now which is great.  I'm just glad to be a part of it in some way.

Every now and then I get caught up in the numbers.  I compare myself to other bloggers and start to feel that what I do over here is pointless.   There are sooo many blogs out there with sooo many followers that I wonder how it's possible for me to stand out.  There are days I feel like I couldn't pull a blog post out my butt even if I wanted to and the next thing I know I'm inspired to do a silly confessional post or something will happen that I can't wait to write about.  I exchange some fun e mails with a fellow blogger or I see a post with this pair of shoes that I didn't know I couldn't live without.  Someone leaves a comment telling me that my post really resonated with them or a blogger writes something that tugs at my heart and makes me learn a little something about myself.  Then I'm reminded.  I do this because I love to and the way I stand out is just by being myself.  I can't be another blogger I can only be me.  I didn't start this to make money or to gain the most followers.  When I disentangle myself from blog stats and the never ending barrage of social media I remember that none of that really matters.   I do this because I want to and because I enjoy it and there doesn't need to be anything else.

 Why I Love Blogging  

Popularity and Blogging

Why I Like Being a Small Blog 

Thanksgiving Break

Mac and Cheese and Samoa Bundt Cake

Wednesday was the longest day ever as I counted down until 5pm in the ghost town that was my job.   I got home and it was time to cook.  We made artichoke dip, cranberry sauce, samoa bundt cake, and cheesecake to take to my mom's house.  I helped out a whole lot more then I thought I would.  Believe it or not I, and not my home chef husband made the artichoke dip AND the cranberry sauce.  Those are things that I would normally think to buy and not bother to make but Mj doesn't roll that way and he's in charge of the food.  He told me what to do and I did it so technically I made it!  I don't eat cranberry sauce but I heard it was good and everyone raved about the artichoke dip.  Everything was delicious.  My favorite was the dinner rolls and my mom's homemade macaroni and cheese.  Too bad I forgot to take a picture of the Turkey before my dad sliced it up.  I forgot to take a picture of mostly everything else.  Too busy eating I guess.  

My nephew

taking a walk

Me, sister and Mom

No sale on earth could drag me out on Thursday night or Friday for Black Friday.  I was still in food coma holiday relaxation mode and that did not include fighting crowds and traffic to shop.  I didn't do a whole lot over the break and that's what I wanted.  I didn't even leave the house Friday.  Saturday night we went to a lobster boil at a friends house.  I don't eat Lobster but everyone else tore it up; literally and it was gross.   Sunday we went and picked up my i phone 5.  I got the white one.  My contract is up in two weeks but I wasn't going to get a new one because I love the 4 plus I didn't want to buy a new case.  Mj sold our 4's for $200 each on glyde.com which makes the i phone 5 upgrade basically free so I went for it.  His phone sold in 2 hours and mine literally sold overnight.  I even found a new Pink case on Groupon Goods for $9 bucks! We also jumped on the Walking Dead bandwagon.  I love scary movies and I kept hearing how good it is so I figured it's something I should be watching.  We finished season 1 in 2 days on Netflix and we're working on season 2 now.  We both love it and I like having another show we watch together.

I'm thankful for my husband and family, my health and my job.  Not that I'm thrilled to be going back to work or anything but it's necessary.  Thanksgiving break was great.   

Love and Glasses

When I first met my husband I had just finished a modeling job so I was in heavy full on make up.  I'm talking totally airbrushed and with hair styled to perfection.  After that there is really nowhere else to go but down!  I remember hoping that he would still think I looked okay when he saw me on our next date in my usual minimalist make up look.  He did.  I've always hated my toes and I remember not really wanting him to see them.  Will he still like me after he sees my toes?  He did.  I remember feeling nervous the first time he ever saw me in my glasses and with my hair all wrapped up for bed.  There is that moment where you are like, okay it's about to get real right now and if he really likes you nothing will change.  And it didn't.  So why is it that four years later after he's seen me at my best AND absolute worst did I ever doubt him?

The Glasses

I got new glasses August.  It's probably been about 3 years since I had a new pair.  I mostly wear contacts when I'm going out and keep the glasses at home so it's not something I want to spend money on every year.   Typically I end up with a pair that looks exactly like the ones before so this time I really tried to get something different.  I found some with Brown square just slightly larger frames instead of the usual Black.  They looked really cute when I tried them on at the optometrist that day but when MY pair came in MY prescription it was another story.  I've been wearing glasses since 4th grade and my eyes are really bad.  I'm talking -10 Rx bad; and if you wear glasses or contacts then you probably know just how bad that is.  I had a detached retina in my right eye that occurred out of the blue for no apparent reason other then poor vision.  It normally takes a blow to the eye to detach a retina so that should give you some idea of how terrible my vision is.  Nothing ever seems to look too cute in my prescription even with the super high index lenses to thin them out.  As I've gotten older I am not as self conscious about wearing my glasses in public now and then but when I saw myself in these new glasses it set me back about 15 years.  They looked awful, I felt hideous and I just wanted to hide.  Mj was out of the country and when I skyped with him I refused to wear them.  Even though the suckers cost me about $300 bucks I put them back in the case and refused to wear them for about a week.  I came to my senses and realized I can't waste money like that and started wearing them again but I brought my old glasses when I met Mj in Europe for our vacation.  I couldn't bear to have him see me in the new ones until we got back.  All these irrational thoughts ran through my head about how Mj would take one look at me and wonder how it is that he ended up married to such an unsightly woman.  Just one look and he'd be ready to file for divorce.  I know, I know; very extreme conclusions to jump to over a pair of glasses but when you are feeling really down on yourself and insecure sometimes you can't help such irrational thoughts from crossing your mind and when they do you even start to believe them no matter how crazy they may seem.

Mj and I were relaxing on the couch over the weekend and he said "See...you're wearing the new ones.  You look cute in your glasses.  And I like it that I can look at you first thing in the morning when you wake up and still think you're cute."  I smiled and got all warm and glowy inside.  It was one of those moments that I said to my self, God I love this man.  My heart even melted just a little because somehow he knew that I needed to hear those words and not only did he say them to me on that night but he's said it to me before.  Sometimes I still have to pinch myself to believe that I have such a wonderful husband but it's true and I should have known that he loves me enough to see beyond a pair of nerdy glasses. 

And that's the goal ladies when it comes to relationships; or at least one of them.  Not to be cute in the morning or look good in glasses necessarily, but to have a man who believes that you do and makes you feel good about yourself no matter what.  Someone with whom you can truly be yourself without judgement or fear of rejection and still feel loved and wanted.  Bump around the house with messy hair and wear the same comfy pajamas all week.  Say what you think, act how you are and look like yourself.  If he is the "one" you can be who you are it won't matter and he will love you for it because you are YOU.   I hear about women who have husbands that have never seen them without make up or without their hair fully "done".  They probably feel about being bare faced and natural the way I initially felt in those new glasses but ultimately I couldn't keep them hidden forever no matter how unattractive I felt.  Our relationship is way more then the sum of my glasses wearing, sloppy T-shirt, messy haired no make up days and I should never have thought anything different.

Confessions Much

I confess that I've been snacking a delightful mix of Carmel and Cheese popcorn every day on my lunch break.  Our office was gifted with one of those giant 3 way popcorn tins and we are all pretty much obsessed with it.

I confess that my husband sent me this comic and I hate to say it but at least in my case sometimes it's true!!  Obviously he thinks so too and that's why he sent it to me.

I confess that I just barely signed up for a Twitter account this week.  I'm a little late to the party and I still haven't quite figured it out but if anyone wants to follow me my links are up.  3 Tweets, 5 followers, holla!!!  I confess that I'm also also kinda new to Pinterest.  I've already started following some of you on both so follow back!!

I confess that losing and/or misplacing any thing, even the smallest little insignificant item unnerves me to no end.  A sock.  A claw clip.  An earring.  It doesn't matter what it is but to have lost something means that there was a lapse in execution of my perfectly organized life and it pisses me off.  I retrace my steps.  I rack my brain trying to figure out where it disappeared to and if I can't find it I'm upset and then my husband has to listen to me whine about it for a day or two...or three until I'm finally able to let it go.  This time around it was a flash drive so my annoyance is totally justified.  It disappeared on Tuesday morning, I haven't seen it since and I'm still trying to get over it.  Thank goodness I had my novel saved elsewhere also or else I'd be having a nervous breakdown right now.

Link up with Leslie on Friday's @A Blonde Ambition

I confess that I felt like quite the underachiever after reading a story in my Marie Claire magazine.  It was about a girl who grew up with mentally ill parents in a storage unit and taught herself to read in a public library because she wasn't allowed to go to school.  She's written a book and currently makes a six figure salary as a writer.  I grew up in a house with two loving parents.  I went to school.  College even.  What's my excuse?  If you want to check out the story you can find it here at MarieClaire.com.

I confess that a couple of times I was so tired that I did the Elliptical with my eyes closed.  I can still go full power without losing my balance.  I know I must have looked really bizarre but I could barely keep my eyes open and it was the only way I could get through the hour. It's the closest I'll ever come to burning 600 calories in my sleep.

Okay, so this one is not very lady like and may very well fall into the TMI category, but here goes.  I confess that in the last six months I got serious about upping my water intake every single day and as a result have gone from from lady like misting to sweating bullets during my hour long cardio sessions.  All this time I thought I was either in really good shape or just glandularly blessed but it turns out that I just had a case of long term chronic dehydration.

I confess that I had no idea it was Thanksgiving next week!  Wow.  It seriously snuck up on me.