My Life in Pictures - Something on My Table

"The purpose of this photo challenge project is to encourage you to pick up your camera and start capturing details of your life. This project should also serve as a way to look at what others are finding to shoot and will hopefully keep you inspired to look for more moments in your life you wouldn't always think to capture with your camera."

"Something on My Table"

Dinner is on the table. My husband and I are guilty of eating most of our meals on the coffee table in front of the T.V., but some nights we decide to have family dinner at the kitchen table. I have out my absolute favorite spring place mats that I got as a wedding gift.

Dessert anyone? In my candy dish on my side table you will find the Cadbury mini eggs. They are what I look forward to every Easter season. Confession: This is our fourth bag....

And on the coffee table, you will find a pewter tray filled with Citrus potpourri and candles. I love the green it is so springy and smells so clean.

Book Reviews

Ok so it has been awhile since I have posted a book review. I originally aimed to do one every month. In fact, this post has been sitting here since January because I thought I would be able to finish two books that month. Obviously it is almost April now and the reason it has taken me so long is because the last book I read was completely terrible, but I'll get to that one in a minute.



The first book I read was a quick read and a complete tear jerker. I don't know if I was just in an uber sensitive mood or what, but I cried pretty much all through this one. The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch was an excellent book. He wrote this book when he learned that he had 3-6 months to live after his diagnosis of terminal cancer. It's about childhood dreams and the lessons he wanted to leave behind for his young children. It's a definite must read!





The second book (the one that stole all my time away and caused a major new, unread book pile up that I haven't been able to get to because I could hardly get through this one) is The Northern Clemency by Philip Hensher. I originally wanted to read it because it was picked as one of the top 100 books for 2008 by Amazon. I will never read that list again. It is basically 600 pages about NOTHING!!! Every time I got into a story line the author would switch to a different topic....and never revisit the other story line. No closure what so ever. I have no idea what the point was or what I was suppose to get out of it. It had the cheesiest ending ever. A total waste of time if you ask me.



Oh, as for what it was about....two families who lived across the street from each other in England. It goes through different stages of each members life and I guess somewhat shows how they intertwined. Ridiculous...everyone I'm sure is rushing to click on the link and buy it now.

It is time for me to move on to better reads....

So tell me, what are you reading now?

My Life in Pictures - Something New

I found this wonderful new idea through Sassy Britches called My Life. In Pictures. hosted by Everything Except the Grill and decided that I just had to join in on the challenge.

"The purpose of this photo challenge project is to encourage you to pick up your camera and start capturing details of your life. This project should also serve as a way to look at what others are finding to shoot and will hopefully keep you inspired to look for more moments in your life you wouldn't always think to capture with your camera."

Something New.....

I love spring flowers and one of my favorite types is the Pansy. They are so colorful and lovely and something about their big faces just make me smile. Recently my husband and I planted some in our small front garden. Lola assisted with digging the holes....

Sunday I started a new book called Hurry Down Sunshine by Michael Greenberg. It is a memoir about his experience with his daughters breakdown. I'm already 70 pages in and am super excited that it is 100 times better than the last book I read. Check out my next post for that little rant. What's that you say Laura? 2 posts in one day? Who knew I had it in me?

Finally a new spring sweater. I love buying clothes in the spring and summer. Those two seasons definitely have the best selections of colors and fun styles. This one is just plain off white, but my favorite detail are the fluttery sleeves.

Resisting Change

I have come to learn that I am a creature of habit. There is nothing more frustrating to me than change. Whether it is good or bad, I always fight against it. I like stability, I like plans, I like order, and most of all I like control.

This past week has been hard for me. I have been in the process of adapting to my own new work schedule and this week Michael went back on days. Let me just say that I am extremely happy that he is back on a somewhat normal schedule, but it is a change that I have to get used to again.

On one hand, I secretly enjoyed my alone time. I have never really lived alone and it was nice to be able to do what I wanted when I wanted. If I didn't feel like eating, I didn't. If I didn't want to clean up one night, I didn't. I didn't have to ask anyone to do anything. I could even sleep in the middle of the bed (for most of the night anyways)! There were no compromises that needed to be made and it was definitely a feeling of freedom that I had never had before.

On the other hand, I felt more alone than I ever had before. There was no one to share experiences with or to do special things for. I realized that I missed just having someone sit with me while I watched T.V. or read and that I really hated cooking when there was no one there to eat it with.

I am glad to have him back in my daily routine, but it is something I will need to adapt to again. I think it has been a much needed experience. I feel like we have both had a taste of alone time and found that it is something we need to a certain degree in our lives and our relationship. We used to do pretty much EVERYTHING together and I think this time period has shown us that we both need our own space more than we knew. I think it helps us to appreciate our relationship even more.

Change is harder for me than it is for my husband. With his job and mine we have gone through several different schedule changes and every time it is something that I resist and am bah hum bug about. Thankfully he is understanding and puts up with my frustrated self. I just have a set idea in my head of how our lives are suppose to be and we just aren't there yet, but we are working on it. It is all in the near future, so close that I can taste it and I'm just going to have to be patient.

My Little Piece of Paradise

One of my most favorite places in the house is my bathroom. It's nothing spectacular, but it's mine. After sharing a tiny bathroom in our old town home, Michael and I decided it would be in our relationships best interest to have our own bathrooms from there on out.There is just something wonderful about being able to get ready in peace and quiet.

It takes me quite a while to get ready in the mornings due to what Michael likes to call "the process". I watch the news or the food network while I'm getting ready and sometimes I just think. I enjoy the pampering process of getting ready. I like playing with all the different eye colors I have when time allows and just the wonderful feeling of having a freshly cleaned face.

Let's just say, the bathroom is my sanctuary.

Or I should say....it was until the 5 pounds of terrier terror took over. Now it is mostly a place where I step in pee, trip over toys, and get attacked. My counter is now covered with paper towels and floor cleaners. My straightener cord has been chewed to where the inner wires are exposed and my toilet has been blocked by a crate and a trash can that now has to be kept off the floor. And now instead of perfume and lemony fresh cleaning scents I get to enjoy the stench of stale pee.

My "process" is not as enjoyable as it once used to be and I absolutely can not wait till I get my little piece of paradise back.



**Probably should have mentioned that my bathroom is where Lola stays during the day so it is really "her room". Sorry for leaving out that tid bit of information...obviously my blogging skills need some brushing up lol!**

An Unexpected Break...

It feels as if I have been gone from the blogging world for sooo long, but really it's only been a couple of weeks. The first of March brought along not only nice weather but a whole new work load for me. I've gone from 40 hour work weeks to 50-60 hour work weeks. Obviously it has taken a toll on my free time and that happened to include blogging. But, I promise I'm going to put my time management skills to work and make more time for my blog which definitely needs some TLC!

I'd like to tell you guys that I have a ton of updates to entertain you with, but unfortunately my life has not been that interesting. Anyways, here's my shabby list of updates and my getting back into the blog grove warm up...

1. I am definitely enjoying work more than I have in a long time. We have added some fresh faces and some new programs that have really spiced things up. The hours suck, but the overtime is great! I definitely can't complain about too much work when some people have so little or none.
2. Lola is a peeing and pooping (and might I add poop eating) machine! Let me just say we are probably the sole reason Brawny and Woolite are in business. Her new favorite toys are hangers, plastic, socks, and shoes.

1. Michael is off nights starting next week! I have to admit that I am a little nervous about how we will cope with all the new together time we will have. Although I have missed him terribly, I think we have gotten a little use to our own space.
2. We have changed our vacation from Mexico to Jamaica. Due to the craziness with all the drug cartels we decided to make a switch-a-roo. Being beheaded and dropped in a vat of acid didn't seem like the pool side Miami Vice sipping vacation I had envisioned.

1. I believe I have found a new pen pal through my step dad's mother. It's nice to know that she cares enough to let me know that she is interested in my life.

Ok, so that's it for now. I know...not very interesting. Don't give up on me though! It will only get better once I get back into the normal swing of things. I've missed you guys!