Day 29: G-Squared

As I get older, and as I become more in tune with who I really am and what I really want in life, I have gained some significant insight into the types of people I want to surround myself with. I have never been the person who has a million friends. I've always prided myself on keeping a tight group of friends close by. I believe it's rare to find those truly magical friends who bring out the best in you, truly love you for all your flaws, and don't leave your side no matter how ugly your life becomes. It's rare because not many people who are not blood relatives want to deal with the baggage that so many of us carry.

Lucky for me, I found one of those rare gems. We met freshman year in college and instantly bonded. We love each other like sisters. We fight like sisters. I'm G1 and she's G2. Yin and yang. We've been through a lot together, and it has truly only made us stronger.

Today, as I was reading through emails during my lunch break, her name popped up in my inbox. To spare her embarrassment, and honor the deep trust we have built over the years, I'm not going to post her email. But, her words brought me to tears. She's such a beautiful writer... a beautiful person and she hardly knows it. I love that about her... she eats a lot of humble pie.

I have re-read the email countless times today, and I haven't deleted it yet (nor do I plan to). I hope she knows how special she is and understands the effect she has on the lives around her. Especially on me. Especially today.

She's my diamond and brought a lot of sparkle to my day today.

Day 28: Home is Where the Heart Is

Today was one of those days. I was chilled to the bone in my classroom and couldn't warm up. I felt cloudy and groggy from waking up at 5 am for the first time in 5 days after taking a sleeping pill for the first time ever. My muscles hurt from my hacking cough that makes people stand ten feet away from me. The Tire Pressure Low light was flashing at me this morning on my drive to work. My pinkie toe was poking through a hole in my sock all day. It was just one of those can't-catch-a-break days.  I just wanted to come home and find comfort in a cup of hot chocolate, my favorite throw blanket and a snuggle with the pup. It's amazing how an hour at home with a candle burning and music playing melts the day's frustrations away.

Tonight I am declaring a Thanksgiving-break-extension. No grading papers. No checking email. No stressing about work. I hereby grant myself one more night off. Cheers to that!

Guess I need to pour myself another cup!

Day 27: Holiday Hooplah

The first night of Hanukkah is Wednesday. It's hard to believe the holidays are here, and I have been drinking up every ounce of holiday-ness so far. Every year, I spend a lot of time thinking and debating and buying and returning gifts for friends and family. I have a really hard time making decisions, and though I know the holidays are not about presents, I really love giving gifts to the ones I love. I spend a lot of time trying to find that perfect gift, and I get so excited when I finally find it. But, sometimes it just becomes impossible.

This year, I was stressing a lot about the perfect Hanukkah gift for Rick. Not only do I have to find a gift for him that will knock his socks off, but everyone else who also wants to buy a gift for him has asked me what they should get him. Needless to say, panic was creeping in. Neither of us really want anything. Nor do we really need anything. We talked and decided we could both use new winter coats, given we'll be spending much more time in the frigid crisp winter air walking the pup. So today, we went to Macy's and picked out coats we probably wouldn't have bought for ourselves. The store was swarming with people. Christmas music filled the store, red ribbons and ornaments hung from the ceiling, and you could just feel the excitement of the holidays in the air. People were smiling, kids were laughing and the happiness was just seeping through the walls.

This year, I won't get to watch Rick tear through a crisply wrapped present. And, I won't get to see that look of "surprise" when he sees it for the first time. But, today was the best Hanukkah gift I could have asked for. I love my new coat, and I will think of Rick every time I put it on. But what makes me the most happy is that I got to spend a Sunday morning with Rick, soaking up the holiday spirit together. Now that's what the holidays are all about! 

Day 26: Productive Patty

Today, I am declaring myself Productive Patty! My "To Do" list is crumpled up and in the trash, and it feels fabulous. I mustered up the courage to do some holiday shopping this morning (the thought of Black Friday makes my skin crawl) before the crowds got wild again, and I have completed nearly all my holiday shopping! Presents are wrapped and some have even been mailed!

Maizey also had a very productive day. She had her first haircut today! While we were up north this week, she accidentally ran into the lake while chasing a ball. Needless to say, she was stinky, had tons of mats in her hair and couldn't see because her dreads were so long! It took three hours for them to brush out the knots, and they even had to shave some! She looks pretty funny, but it's impossible not to smile when she's looking so darn fluffy. 

Days 22-25: Full of Thanks... and Pie!

Forgive the delay in posting for the past few days. We have been up north at the Mathews cabin, and it was filled with happiness and thanks! So, I'll try to make this short and sweet...

On Tuesday afternoon, Rick and I headed up to northern Michigan to spend Thanksgiving with the Mathews clan. We were excited to say the least, and so was Maizey. She was so excited, in fact, she got a little car sick, and then rolled around in some sticky burrs when we let her out on the side of the road. Six hours, later we arrived at the cabin with big hugs and kisses!

Our time up north is usually filled with lots of eating, relaxing, playing board games, enjoying the outdoors and soaking up family time. This was Maizey's first trip up to the cabin, and I was so excited to let her run free for the first time. She loved the freedom and we learned quickly that this pup can run fast! Maizey and her "aunt" Ellie spent 48+ hours playing non stop. And, Maizey saw snow for the first time this weekend. Just like I thought, she's a definite snow bunny!

Rick's mom fed us well this weekend, as usual. She made delicious Thanksgiving dinner, including some of the best pumpkin pie I've ever eaten. It was a great weekend full of laughs, love and fun. Though I didn't get a chance to take a ton of pictures, here are a couple of Maizey enjoying "camp" to it's fullest...

 

Maizey and Ellie taking a break....

Every year at Thanksgiving, my family takes time to go around the table to say what we are thankful for. I didn't get a chance to express my gratitude this year at the Thanksgiving table, and thought I'd do it via pictures instead. This year, I am thankful for...

A family that would do anything for one another...

An adorable niece who has a better wardrobe than me...

A sweet puppy who loves me unconditionally...

Incredibly gracious grandparents who have hearts of gold...

The most amazing friends who stand by my side....

A husband whose love fills up my soul every day...

 Happy Thanksgiving!

Days 20 and 21: Breathe... Then Laugh

So yesterday was quite an eventful day, and I won't go into it now or I might faint. Needless to say, yesterday morning started off beautifully. Rick had booked massages for us in the morning, and I had been looking forward to it all week. We used to try to get massages more regularly, but haven't had a minute of time in the past few months, so this was going to be a treat! We enjoyed our morning coffee together and then indulged in sixty minutes of pure heaven. It was MUCH needed, and truthfully I could have used another one today :) I didn't get a chance to take a picture of the spa, or my massage therapist (who was delightful), so here's a totally random picture I found on the internet of a woman I do not know getting a massage. She looks very relaxed, doesn't she!?

Today was a much less frantic day, and while it is storming like mad outside, I am sitting here unable to control my laughter. It's one of those laughs that hurts because you can't stop. I love those kinds of laughs. Each year, the English Language Learner teachers at our school work with their non-English speaking students to compile a Thanksgiving Recipe Book. The kids get to pick their favorite Thanksgiving dishes and come up with their recipe for it. It's one of the funniest documents you may read, and it brings lots of laughter to my whole family who gets the "book" annually from me. I've pasted a few of my favorites from this year's recipe book below. Happy laughing! 

Philippe’s Famous Turkey

Kill the turkey. Cook it with fire. Cut it. Eat it.

Henry’s Famous Pizza

You buy it in the store. Then you have to cook the pizza for 7 minutes? The oven has to be 30 degrees. Then you put 3 paperowny. Or you can take out the paperowny and make it cheese pizza. Then you can eat it.

Anette’s Famous Chocolate Milk

You put milk- 1 pound. Then you put sugar- put two pounds. Then put the chocolate- 2 pounds. Then mix it. Then there’s your chocolate milk. Then drink it. 

Wendy’s Famous Tamales

First, you buy the dough I think. Then you mix it in a bowl, then you buy the leaves thingymagiggy, yeah, the sleeves. Then, you ok, you get a spoon and then you spread the dough in the leaves. Then you wrap them up and then you put them in the tamalera, then you cook them for an hour then you take them out and serve them. And then that’s all.

Yesenia’s Famous Pasta

You put 3 spoons of soup in a bucket of cooking. Stir it for 2 minutes. When it gets hot it’s all done.

Minjin’s Famous Turkey

Put turkey, corn, potatoes, and carrots in the oven.

David’s Famous Mashed Potatoes on Thanksgiving

We need potatoes.  We gotta get the mash tool, shove it in there like you’re hitting your pillow.  Next, you put the mashed potatoes in the oven.  Wait for maybe about like 20 minutes or more.  Then finally, take it out and eat it!  Have a good Thanksgiving party!

 

Day 19: 'Tis the Season...

Hanukkah is early this year. A little too early, in my opinion. Nevertheless, the holiday spirit is starting to spread around this town. Holiday cups at Starbucks. Christmas music on the radio. Lights popping up on trees and storefronts. Most Jewish people find the extreme eagerness to celebrate Christmas annoying. I love it. I love listening to Mariah's "All I Want for Christmas" while I cook. I love the smell of Christmas candles in my house. I hope the Hanukkah Fairy doesn't get mad, but I think Santa is just the jolliest fella.

Let me be clear, though. Hanukkah is my holiday. I adore latkes and think playing dreidel is a hoot! Plus, you can't beat eight days of presents! Today, while enjoying the holiday hoopla at Target, I stumbled upon the Hanukkah aisle. Yes, a Hanukkah aisle. There were multiple menorahs to choose from and a variety of blue and silver decorations. Mugs with Stars of David, chocolate coins galore, and tons of Hanukkah candles! I got a little way too excited. So, two hours later our Hanukkah Socks are up (Rick's is already stuffed!), the menorah is out (thanks Lynne and Jim!) and presents are wrapped. It's holiday time, and I couldn't be happier!

Day 18: TGIF!

I've been known to countdown a lot... how many days until school is out, how many episodes of my favorite show are left, how many months until I get to see my best college friends again. I have also been made fun of quite a bit for looking forward to something for such a long time and  then lamenting the end of the event before it even begins. I look forward to my birthday all year (I love birthdays!) but on January 28, I start to get depressed that my special day is almost here and it will be over too quickly. After a year and a half of planning my wedding, I hung my head low as we boarded the plane to Austin with my dress in tow because I knew it would be over in a blink of an eye. And just before every holiday, I am plagued with a pang of sadness that the decorations will soon need to be taken down, the perfect bows will be untied from the presents, and the sparkle of holiday happiness will soon fade away.

For this reason, it may be hard to understand why Fridays make me ooze with happiness. So let me try to explain. It's the beginning of two days of pure joy. Two days of sleeping in past five a.m. Two days of not hearing my name called out every 20 seconds. Two days of drinking wine, catching up with friends, and staying up late enough to have a meaningful conversation with Rick.

I guess unlike other momentous occasions, Fridays don't make me sad because I know they come around often. I know that when those Sunday Blues roll around in 48 hours, all I need to do is start a new countdown. So, tonight, the wine is poured, dinner is ordered, and I am ready to soak up the last ounces of this Friday. TGIF, y'all!

Cheers! 

Day 17: Dateversary

Dateversary (n): the anniversary of a couple's first date.

It's a term I coined, and though Rick may have issues with civilians creating new words (see refudiationnation.blogspot.com), I feel the word merits attention.

We have celebrated our dateversary (well, mostly I  have forced Rick to celebrate it) each year in style. We would go on fancy dinner dates, we bought gifts for each other and rehashed that first weekend we met in 2005. On our first dateversary after we got married, Rick told me that he didn't feel like we needed to mark this momentous event anymore. He said we now had a "real" anniversary. I reacted as anyone would expect -- I was devastated. I'm pretty sure he could see my heart sink into my stomach as the tears welled up. It took all of 30 seconds for him to retract his statement. We agreed that we didn't need to do fancy dinners or exchange presents, but that weekend was too important (to me) to not celebrate.

This framed picture is on our bedroom dresser and I look at it everyday. It's not the greatest picture of us. My eyes are squinty, and Rick's hair looks like he just rolled out of bed. But, it's a meaningful picture for many reasons. It's our first picture we ever took together. It was taken at the first Michigan football game we ever attended together. It was taken exactly 5 years ago today, on the weekend we met for the first time -- on our dateversary.

So while June 27 is our official anniversary, and what I consider to be the greatest day of my life thus far, I will never forget the butterflies I felt on November 18. And, I hope I never do.

Day 16: Soul Searching

Warning: Today's post is long and probably boring to most. Proceed with caution. 

I consider myself a pretty normal 26 year-old. I have great friends, a stable job, a loving husband and a beautiful home. In the past few months, I've also started reflecting on my life's path and choices that I've made. I think most twenty-somethings go through a period like this. Call it what you like -- a quarter life crisis? Soul searching? Boredom?

Most who know me well would tell you that I am an emotional being. Mostly, I cry a lot. Turning on the TV to the last ten minutes of a cheesy chick flick will trigger water works. I tear up listening to my dad's sad (and possibly fabricated) stories of his childhood. It's who I am, and I've come to accept it. I'm also an over-analyzer. These two traits don't necessarily mesh well. 

Recently, I've been asking a lot of questions -- did I make the right career choice? Should we have bought our house so quickly? Was investing in a puppy a good idea? Am I making a difference in this world? After many thoughtful conversations with my friends, my family and my incredibly patient husband, I am no closer to finding answers than I was before. But, yesterday, a friend mentioned to me that I hadn't written anything about work on the "happiness blog." It struck a chord with me and I've been thinking about it for the last 24 hours. It got me thinking...

I could write about the inappropriate note I intercepted today that made me laugh hysterically and made my face turn tomato red.  

I could write about the sweet notes and pictures the little ones leave on my desk throughout the day. 

I could write about the thrilling thought of sleeping in tomorrow for inservice. 

While all of those make me smile with glee, the one thing I can think of today that really made me truly, deeply happy are my amazing coworkers who have become more than my friends. We are a family. It's cheesy and cliche, but I know for sure that I would not make it through a day without them. We spend more time together than we do with our own husbands and boyfriends. We leave cards in each other's mailboxes, eat lunch together every day, and give lesson plans to each other when we have no clue what we should be teaching that day. We work hard together, and we play hard, too. I thank my lucky stars every day that I landed at Hoffman in 2008 with these girls. For that reason alone, I'm starting to realize the answer to my first soul searching question. 

I didn't go around school today taking pictures of these amazing ladies. I thought that'd be creepy. Instead, I'm posting some of my favorite memories with my HOs. Here's to many more happy memories together!

Day 15: Struggling

I'm sitting here staring at the computer, and I'm struggling. It's not that today was a bad day. Nothing traumatic happened. I didn't cry (congrats to me!). I just couldn't think of one monumental thing that made me happy today. So here's a brief list of a few things that did bring a smile to my face today:

1) Maizey cuddling with me last night (she usually prefers Rick, so I was feeling the love this morning)
2) Good laughs and friends in the car ride home
3) Rick greeting me at the door when I got home (it was a late day at work for me!)
4) New boots showed up on the doorstep today! (I think I like them... can't decide yet)
5) Funny emails/videos from students
6) Wine

You decide on the boots.... verdict's still out.  

Day 14: The Other Man in My Life

I have to confess. I've been having a love affair with another man for quite a while now. I don't remember the exact date we found each other, but I do remember being instantly drawn to his Sinatra-like voice. His charming smile and striking eyes weren't bad either. He knows how to turn the tough days into easy ones and make moments of life into moments of reflection. His music has become a soundtrack to my life. Rick has slowly grown to appreciate the other man and what he does for my soul. It's a happy love triangle. 

Today my special friend and I spent some quality time together. After a typically crazy Monday, I needed some time to unwind and knew exactly who to turn to for some help.  I didn't call my mom on my drive home as I might normally do. I didn't sit in silence and reflect on the days' events. Instead, I had a 45-minute date with my man, and we just sang. Loudly. It was the perfect medicine for a rotten case of the Mondays.

Thank you, Mr. Buble, for showing me a great time today. I can't wait to see you in person in a few weeks! 

Days 12 & 13: Weekend of Bliss

This weekend has been one of those unexpectedly perfect ones. It was the perfect combination of spending time with friends and family, eating delicious weekend food, getting things knocked off my to-do list, and some much needed "me time" (i.e. shopping). After a couple hours of sleeping in, Saturday began with an inspiring cup of coffee and a trip to Target. When I got home, I was inspired to organize our closets downstairs. Two hours later, I managed to get Rick to get rid of 20+ clothing items that a) he hasn't worn in years, b) don't fit anymore or c) I thought were hideous. You have to understand that Rick comes from a family of "collectors". They aren't the creepy hoarders you see on TV, but the Mathews family is wired to hold onto things for as long as possible. This means when I show Rick a shirt that I think is ready to retire to the garbage, his most likely response is, "but I wore that shirt the day Michigan won their first game of the season in 1991." Three garbage bags full of clothes later, our closet looks like Mary Poppins swept through and sang a catchy song while the clothes folded themselves neatly.

The day ended with some old friends eating fancy tacos and drinking fruity margaritas. Perfection.

Today is even better than yesterday. Today the sun is shining. Football is on, the laundry is done, and we are soaking up the last few hours of weekend-ness. After a delicious Sunday brunch, I went to see my favorite niece. She gets cuter every time I see her. Today was no exception. She was sitting up and eating rice cereal like a big girl, and of course, she was well equipped with hair accessories.

There was too much happiness going on this weekend to narrow it down:

The finished product. Let's see how long this lasts...

Pretty in pink and oh-so cute

New shoes (don't they look happy??)

Thank you, weekend. I will miss you. :)

Day 11: Date Night

Rick and I haven't gone to dinner, nor had a night out, just the two of us in a ridiculously long time. So long, in fact, I really can't remember. We love to travel and go out with friends, and between work events and family obligations, the time has just slipped away. We scheduled our date weeks ago. We had to put it on the calendar to make it stick, and we did. I got dressed up, he sprayed some cologne, and it felt like we were dating all over again.

We went last night to a fondue restaurant called Geja's. We had a gift certificate to spend, and we haven't had fondue in years, so it seemed perfect. The place is really romantic and quaint. Dim lights. No windows. Flickering candles. We vowed not to talk about the consistency of Maizey's poops. We promised to not look at our watches and rush through our meal. Phones were turned off and email wasn't being checked. There was nothing special to celebrate last night. It was just a perfect ending to an insane week. All the worries and chaos of our lives melted away for a couple of hours, and when we got home, we quickly fell into a deep and happy food coma.

Day 10: Pump it Up!

It's been hard this week waking up in the pitch black. Between the darkness and cuddly Maizey sleeping in our bed now, the 5:00 am wake up call is brutal. As I got in my car this morning and ran through the list of things that needed to get done before 7:45, I turned on the engine and saw this:

No, I wasn't staring at the ridiculously early time that I am forced to leave in the morning.... but the full gas tank that magically appeared overnight! I absolutely despise pumping gas. I cringe watching my money slowly crumble away. The smell makes me gag, and I worry the entire time that somehow, the car will blow up from a spark of someone's cigarette butt. Not normal, I know. 

What I do love, is how my husband knows how much I hate filling up the car. I love that he takes my car when I'm asleep to fill it for me. I love that when I say thank you to him for being so thoughtful, he tells me I'm the thoughtful one and I deserve it. Love. 

Tonight, my gas tank runneth over. 

Day 9: Here!

It's my most favorite text message that I get regularly... "here!" My chauffeur, and best friend, letting me know that my chariot awaits outside. Driving by myself seems wrong now, and I often find myself calling my favorite carpool buddy if I find myself alone on the highway. Though this morning was an ordinary morning of two friends driving to work together, sipping their coffees and catching up on the past days' events... there was a touch of extra happiness today in that car. Because both our schedules have been so busy, we haven't been able to carpool for several days. So today was a reunion of sorts, and I enjoyed every minute of it! I feel blessed to have a friend like Adrienne who can laugh with me when I make a fool of myself, cry with me when I feel overwhelmed, drive me around when it's snowing and I'm too scared, and make my dreaded commute something to look forward to. Thanks for making me smile today, Adesy! :)

Day 8: Walking on Sunshine

Today was a beautiful day! It didn't feel like Fall today, and though I love me some Fall, today was a perfect reminder that Spring days make everyone happy. It really felt like Spring today.... the windwos were open, people were cheery, and the kids were wild with "Spring" fever. When I pulled out of school today, I was painfully blinded by the sun and happily reached for my sunglasses. But, it was hard to be upset about anything today (except for a very quickly approaching report card due date). On my drive home, I was most excited to take Maizey for a walk and enjoy the sunshine one last time. I have a feeling today is one of the last days we will see the happy yellow fellow for a while. So, Maizey and I chased some leaves this afternoon, barked at some passers-by and jealously watched the carefree children play in the park. I've put my sunglasses away for now, but hope to see them again real soon!

Day 7: Coffee Break

Mondays suck. Especially the Monday after Daylight Savings ends. Going to work before the sun rises and coming home after its set doesn't leave much to desire. But the one thing I desire is coffee.  I have been trying really kind of hard to save money on coffee lately. Rick gave me a tutorial on how to use our fancy coffee machine about a month ago, and I try to make my coffee at least twice a week in the mornings now. But I miss my Starbucks. Somehow, when someone else is making my coffee, it tastes so much better. Well I decided to break bank and buy myself a skinny vanilla latte this morning. It was worth every penny, and made my Monday a little bit sweeter.

Day 6: Part II

Ok so I'm sure it's against the rules to make two posts in one day... but there was too much happiness going on this evening to not document it! On our drive to Michigan this weekend, I heard an interview on NPR in which a woman was describing a stuffed pumpkin recipe she created. One of the reasons I love Fall so much is that it gives me the excuse to bake and cook with pumpkin for three straight months. This particular recipe sounded so strangely delicious, I was intrigued. I talked about it all weekend and decided I would find the recipe! 

So, when I got home, I looked it up and found the recipe, went to the grocery store and invited our friends over who so kindly puppy-sat for us this weekend. I set the table with the fancy crystal and Fall decor. I bought some flowers and lit some candles. Impromptu hosting is my favorite kind of hosting... and man, was this a treat! If you're as curious as I was, I'm pasting the recipe below... hope it brings you as much pumpkiny happiness as it brought me :)

 
 

Stuffed Pumpkin

1 pumpkin, about 3 pounds
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1/4 pound stale bread, thinly sliced and cut into 1/2-inch chunks
1/4 pound cheese, such as Gruyere, Emmenthal, cheddar, or a combination, cut into 1/2-inch chunks
2–4 garlic cloves (to taste), split, germ removed, and coarsely chopped
4 strips bacon, cooked until crisp, drained, and chopped
About 1/4 cup snipped fresh chives or sliced scallions
1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme
About 1/3 cup heavy cream
Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg


Center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment, or find a Dutch oven with a diameter that's just a tiny bit larger than your pumpkin. If you bake the pumpkin in a casserole, it will keep its shape, but it might stick to the casserole, so you'll have to serve it from the pot — which is an appealingly homey way to serve it.
Using a very sturdy knife — and caution — cut a cap out of the top of the pumpkin (think Halloween jack-o'-lantern). It's easiest to work your knife around the top of the pumpkin at a 45-degree angle. Clear away the seeds and strings from the cap and from inside the pumpkin. Season the inside of the pumpkin generously with salt and pepper, and put it on the baking sheet or in the pot. Toss the bread, cheese, garlic, bacon, and herbs together in a bowl. Season with pepper — you probably have enough salt from the bacon and cheese, but taste to be sure — and pack the mix into the pumpkin. The pumpkin should be well filled. Stir the cream with the nutmeg and some salt and pepper and pour it into the pumpkin. Again, you might have too much or too little — you don't want the ingredients to swim in cream, but you do want them nicely moistened. (But it's hard to go wrong here.)

Put the cap in place and bake the pumpkin for about 2 hours — check after 90 minutes — or until everything inside the pumpkin is bubbling and the flesh of the pumpkin is tender enough to be pierced easily with the tip of a knife. Because the pumpkin will have exuded liquid, I like to remove the cap during the last 20 minutes or so, so that the liquid can bake away and the top of the stuffing can brown a little.
When the pumpkin is ready, carefully, very carefully — it's heavy, hot, and wobbly — bring it to the table or transfer it to a platter that you'll bring to the table.

Day 6: Clean Sheet Day!

It's the best day of the week. It's not Friday. And it's not Saturday. It's not even the unexpected day off from work. It's Clean Sheet Day! I love Clean Sheet Day for so many reasons. I love the smell of laundry in my house. I love peeking downstairs throughout the day at the freshly made bed. I love the minute the clock strikes 9:00 that night (at which time I find it reasonably late enough to climb into bed!). There is nothing more refreshing than crisp, white sheets on my bed. I can't wait for bedtime tonight (only 8 hours to go!)

Day 5: Go Blue!

Anyone who knows Rick well understands that football is not just a sport to him. Especially Michigan football. We spent Saturday morning tailgating with friends and family in anticipation of a very important Michigan game. We started early, and it was cold outside, but something kept me smiling and laughing for hours on end. It wasn't the great company, and it wasn't the delicious food. It was my sweet nephew, Elliott, who was dressed from head to toe in Michigan gear and would be going to the Big House for the very first time. He was such a trooper the whole day, and I swear that kid radiates happiness. The game turned out to be the most exciting one of the season to date, and the energy in that stadium was impossible to ignore. But nothing compared to that little voice of the weekend yelling, "Goooo Bluuue!!" Here's to many more visits (and wins) in the Big House, Elliott!

Day 4: The Zing

 Rick and I were in Ann Arbor for the weekend with his family. And on Friday, happiness came in the form of a sandwich. We met the gang at Zingerman's Rick's Mecca for dinner. To be honest, I'm not even the biggest sandwich fan, but my husband has a love affair going on with this place, and we can not make a trip to Ann Arbor without having at least one meal at the Zing. Rick took me there on our first date. At the time, I was less than impressed when we pulled up to a deli, but looking back, I can't imagine our first date being anywhere else.

Our visit to the Zing this weekend was like most of the past. But each time we go, I appreciate Rick's passion for the sandwich a little bit more. The way his eyes light up when he ponders the menu (which he has memorized) makes my heart melt. I adore the way he spends our entire 4 hour car ride asking my opinion about which bread he should choose for his sandwich. His love for Zingerman's is nothing but endearing. My sandwich on Friday was delicious, but the perma-smile on Rick's face that night was the sweetest part of my day.

Day 3: Where's Daddy?

Since we got Maizey, coming home after work has been an exciting time! As soon as I open the door, she barks to remind me that she's downstairs and would like to get out! If I come home and don't hear that sweet little reminder, my heart stops until I get downstairs to check out the damage that she's done.

For the last few weeks, after she eats dinner and I'm either a) cooking dinner, b) doing work, or c) lounging around... Maizey patiently waits by the door. She stares out that door until Rick shows up, and when he does... it's as if she hasn't seen him in years. The excitement she shows when he walks into the house is the exact excitement I feel inside when I see him, too. I just don't pee excessively and lick his face raw to show my affection :)

So, we'll wait patiently for Rick to come home tonight. And in the meantime, I'm going to indulge in some additional happiness -- a glass of wine and a dose of Oprah!

Day 2: Viva La Juicy!

I love sweet smells. I have been a huge fan of some expensive perfumes, and often ration my perfume so I don't run out of it too quickly. Well, my rationing technique did not work so well and I have been out of perfume for quite a while. I couldn't bring myself to spend the money....until yesterday. My natural scent just wasn't cutting it anymore :) I had the day off work, and after an exciting trip to the dentist, I walked into Macy's and bought myself a little bottle of pure heaven. This morning, I sprayed the first spray, and I have to admit, my day has been sweet and juicy ever since. And, anyone who knows me well will tell you that if there's a bow on it, I'll probably like it. Well, this is no exception...this pink bow is instant happiness!



Oh, and I promise tomorrow's post will not be scent related :)

Day 1: Volcano Crack

A dear friend introduced me to this candle almost a year ago. I call it my crack because I often come home after a stressful day at work to get my daily fix. This candle is like no other. It fills the house up with happiness and makes me smile every time I catch a whiff. Joy in a jar :)