Silly Squirrel

Lookie what we found out of our bedroom window this morning.

I should've gotten video. This little guy was berry crazy! I think he cleaned off the whole tree :) And note..this picture was taken through our window, through the blinds. I didn't want to scare him off. I've got mad squirrel picture taking skills!

Big news....

I haven't officially announced it here, but most of you know by now. My company laid off about 40 people due to budget cuts about 2 weeks ago and I was one of them. (google Time Warner layoffs...lots of news on that) Today was my last day. I've really run the gamet of emotions since this happened. Crushed, angry, frustrated, and now I think I'm at a good place with it all. Afterall, I only graduated 2 years ago....I'm still a baby and have plenty of time to find my way.

I'm very sad to be leaving my coworkers though. I don't know how I'll replace such a good group. My department took me out for Mexican food and margaritas last week just to have some fun and laughs before I left. Kate joined us too! She left the company a couple of months ago. And now we'll be able to play all day! :)

from left: Kate, me, Dawn, Courtney and my boss, Sheryl

The production girls also gave me a sweet goodbye gift yesterday too. A former employee of the company started up the cutest stationary company Night Owl Papergoods, with a friend of his. They do lots of letterpress, but they've also started a line of wooden cards, notebooks, notepads and the like. I just love love their stuff. Their site is adorable. They really stick to the Owl them, they're based in Birmingham, OWLabama :D! Anyhow, they got me a notebook and notepad to jot down all my craft ideas that will make me millions :) I loove thoughtful gifts like that. Although, I doubt I'll ever be able to bring myself to write in them. They're just to darn cute to use!

Notebook

Notepad

I'm already on the job hunt. I had an interview yesterday and actually just got an email tonight to set up another one! I'm going to take this time to reevaluate what it is I want to do with my life. Take some time to give my etsy shop more attention and just get back to me.

Thank you all for your kind words, thoughts and prayers during this time. I think we're going to be just fine!

Booo Halloween!

Mark and I was so excited to pass out candy tonight. We stock piled the candy, put together a Halloween playlist and worked frantically to decorate the house in the last hour before dark with whatever we could find around the house.

Total trick or treaters...3. My coworker who lives in the neighborhood was nice enough to bring his little ones by. We sat on our front porch like little kids, eyes lighting up every time someone turned on our street. But none of them stopped.

We even decided to walk over to our neighbors' houses to share candy and chat...they didn't answer the door. TV and lights were on. :(

I don't know what's going on with our street...but things have got to change. I've gotta figure out a way to make our street a little more neighborly! Any ideas on that?

As far as the trick or treaters, we had major competition with a Trunk or Treat at a local church less than a mile away. I'm sure that's where most went. But still... way to crush our dreams!

Here's a little video I took to try and capture our cool orangey glow house Mark whipped up. You can't get the full effect, but trust me, it was awesome. I'm very proud of his quick thinking and creativity!

On a cuter note...here's the baby niece and nephew all dressed up. (Morgan, lady bug; Caleb, batman) Mark's sister was sweet enough to send this over. I'm glad she did...we need a little cheering up!

We've decided to just throw our own party next year :)

Seriously, as I was finishing this, we JUST heard the door bell. hooray! trick or treater count is up to 5. That made my night! haha

Better luck next year...Happy Halloween yall!

Day 275: 5 years

This past Saturday, Mark and I hit our 5 year dating anniversary. He says dating anniversaries don't count anymore now that we're married, but I say half a decade is something to be proud of! I remember when we so badly wanted to make it to a year so people would take us 'seriously'. Now look at us!

2003

We'd been 'dating' for a couple of months. We had our ESA Christmas dinner that night. I wouldn't let him come b/c I wasn't ready for him to meet my friends (I had a bit of a complex). But we met up afterwards! :) Mark told me he loved me for the very first time in that same room . After a cleaning spree and hours alone in deep thought, I said it back. Blink 182's 'Miss You' played in the background. Mark lived in a dorm at Auburn where I wasn't allowed to visit our first year together, so he drove 3 hours from Tuscaloosa every single weekend to see me.

2004

On the Black Warrior river in Tuscaloosa....

2005
By now Mark was in an apartment, so we took turns driving back and forth, which led us to be pretty broke. We didn't really have money for anything except gas to see one another. I think we were actually going out to dinner when we took this, which explains why we look so happy :)

2006

On a trip back to Tuscaloosa in the Fall of 2006. I had graduated and moved to Birmingham. We were still driving back and forth. We drove down this weekend to tailgate with his parents. I had to have a picture on the steps of my old college building.

2007

From the best day ever.....the day we FINALLY became husband and wife!

2008

Here we are on our 5 year anniversary at Josh and Elizabeth's reception.

Markus, you're still my favorite boy.

5 down, forever to go!

Day 250: Bad Apple

Remember how we were so excited to find that we had a real life apple tree in our backyard? They were so cute and so perfect.....

Well..as time has gone by, the apples turned from green to a red/green mix and are covered in black spots! The majority of them have been over taken with buggies. We went out to pick them last weekend and this is all we salvaged.

I'm pretty bummed out. We've really gotta do our research for next year and figure out how

to take care of them! Now that we know what they look like 'all grown up' does anyone know what variety they are by chance?

Day 239: Survived Surgery

Most of you know by now, but I had sinus surgery a week or so ago. It was rough..a lot worse than I thought it would be. I didn't think I'd ever get better, but I'm back to my old self now.


Mark took very good care of me. I kept saying I was testing out that 'in sickness and health' part. Well he passed with flying colors. I wouldn't have made it through with him!


It was hard for Mom not to come up here and take care of me. Her little bebe is all grown up now :) It was such a surprise to get these beautiful flowers from her! It really cheered me up when I was having such a rough time.

When I came back into work..look what I found! A sweet card, my favorite candy and a gift card to Hobby Lobby! My coworkers know me all too well :)

Still not 100% healed, but I'm getting there...

Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers!

Day 225: Day on the Lake

We drove over to Smith lake yesterday for some family fun in the sun. Mark's dad and stepmom had the camper, Jana and Jarrett had the boat. It was a great day!

We had lots of fun with our niece and nephew, Morgan and Caleb.

I gave Morgan a marshmello, which turned into a huge sticky mess...but she seemed to like it :)

Mr. James on the grill...We had an awesome lunch! They always cook so much goodness and I can never pick just a few things. I have to have a bit of it all. Diane even made homemade macaroni....they were camping! I was very impressed.

We did a bit of tubing, kneeboarding and skiing.

And a good bit of swimming....

Mark and Jarrett even cliff dived,
which made all the girls super nervous

And we had fun just cruising on the boat....

Caleb in Uncle Mark's sunglasses

me and Lindsey manned the front

I've been regretting not writing our names in the sand in Jamaica on the honeymoon, so I tried to create it in Alabama dirt. That's pretty much the same, right? :)


Thanks for a great day everybody!