Dog and hair...not dog hair.

I swear my face has radar for whenever I'm going somewhere.  I'm home all day every day most often completely alone (Bailey doesn't count, right?).  At those moments, I'll have clear skin.  Going somewhere?  Especially somewhere to see people I haven't seen in a long time (or meeting new people)?  Massive zit.  Le sigh.

I finally have the exact haircut I've been wanting for months. MONTHS I tell you!  I tried to get it way back in December but the it was the guy's first time ever cutting my hair and he was deceived by my flat looking hair (spoiler alert: my hair LOOKS thin, but I have a lot of it).  He was a little nervous to cut it (and told me my hair was too thin, which led me to spiral down in to this deep dark hole of "woe is me my hair is falling out!"  I kind of gave up on the haircut.  Anyway.  Anyway.  That's all besides the point.
I went in and saw my normal girl, showed her what I wanted and she was like "we'll tweak this and this" and snip, cut, bam.... haircut!

Before & after

[this is the worst photo in the history of photos, but you get the idea]

But GUYS!  I think I'm psyching myself out or something.  I'm having a hard time deciding how to style my hair now!  I know, such a dramatic problem, huh?  But for me it seems so silly!  I mean, I'm the girl who makes youtube videos about how to blow dry your hair...and I just can't settle on a routine yet.  Whatever whatever.  Big problems, I know.

The hubs and I are leaving the puppy dog today for the longest we've ever left her.  God forbid I ever have kids. 

The Baileysitter note.

Also?  We didn't realize quite how neurotic our dog was until we had to list out her weird traits.

I'm contemplating vlogging this trip.  I have a feeling the husband is going to put a hard stop on that--but I will try!

Real Life.

Fairytale:  three years ago at this time I was putting my make up on for my wedding. Real Life: I just finished cleaning a trashcan.  

Our life is messy.  Although I still believe our first year will hold the number one spot for most challenging year (there was just way too much going on and way too much thrown our way), this year was tough for me.  

I learned a lot about my marriage.  I learned a lot about my husband.  I thought I knew him better than any other person.  And I probably did/do.  But this year I experienced things with him that changed me.  Changed us.

I never thought that spending five months apart from each other would bring us closer.  But it did.  Our marriage was challenged this year.  We had to face exciting and scary things as a team.  There were moments where I just had to close my eyes and hold on to his hand tight and pray that it was all for the best.

I had to really trust my husband this year.  I had to let go of a lot of control this year.  We sunk to a deeper level this year.  We had to talk about real things.  We had to discuss things that weren't pretty.  He loved me through my depression.  He held on tight and kept pushing me forward when I just wanted to dig my heels into the ground and stop.

I'm always so amazed when another year passes us by.  I'm always awed by all that we face and get through with flying colors.  Though things seem hard sometimes, with him they are always easy. We might be comfortable.  We might be old and married.  We may not be the most exciting couple on the planet.  But we love wildly.  And there is never a second of doubt in my heart that my sweet husband is who I want standing by my side forever.

Three years, babe.  What a cinch.  Bring on a hundred more! Happy Anniversary.

Comfortably married.

Oh.  Yeah.  I'm supposed to be blogging everyday.  

We're gearing up to head out to Asheville later this week for a wedding!  We're gonna head out a day early so we can take advantage of the town and go out for a nice dinner to celebrate our 3 year anniversary.  How has it been three years already?  Holy smokes. 

You know you've settled a little comfortably into marriage when I literally just hollered down the hall to make sure the husband didnt get or do anything because I haven't yet.  Our Anniversary is tomorrow.  I'm totally ok with my gift being the fact that I don't have to go to a job I hate every day anymore.  And his gift is all his meals lovingly prepared every day without question or fail.  Works, right?

Anyway friends.  I've been feeling a bit under the weather today, so I'm going to sign off.

What's in my bedside drawer?

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Bedsider.org. Family: that's your cue to click out.
I wish I'd known about Bedsider when it was my time to make birth control decisions.  I don't know how it went for y'all, but for me?  It was crazy confusing and overwhelming.  There are so many different methods with their own scary list of side effects.  The doctor pumped me full of technical information, and I left the office feeling no less prepared to make a decision than when I'd walked in.  
How do I know which method is best for me?

That's where bedsider comes in.  Their website is full of real life experiences and side by side comparisons of each method.  And best of all?  It's in a language you can understand!
I used the pill for many, many years.  I only found one brand that left me feeling great, and that was yaz, but I got off of that when all those scary commercials aired.  The pill worked for me, but I was a crazy person on it.  My moods were all over the place, and I felt nauseated almost every single day.  I hated feeling like I wasn't in control of my body.  And because of those side effects, I was wary to try any method that involved hormones (the shot, ring, etc).  I finally made the decision to get off the pill, and I went right back to my normal self!  I currently pay very close attention to my cycle and keep tabs on what my body is doing: this is also known as the natural-family planning method.
I love the freedom of not having to keep tabs on my pills.  But when I was on the pill, they could be found in my bedside drawer.  
Bedsider is hosting a What's In My Bedside Drawer pinterest contest!  Learn more about the contest and prizes HERE!
How to Enter:

• Follow Bedsider.org on Pinterest.
• Create your own Pinterest board titled, “What’s in My Bedsider Drawer?”
• Repin this rules pin found here and at least one Bedsider’s 15 contest images found here from their board titled, “What’s in My Bedsider Drawer?” Be sure to tag each pin with the hashtag, #BedsideDrawer.
• Pin at least 5 additional images to represent your ideal bedside drawer. Tag each pin with the hashtag, #BedsideDrawer.
• Share your board’s URL on the Bedsider’s Facebook page here. Make sure to enter by 11:59 PM PST on May 29, 2013!

What's in my bedside drawer?

1.Bible: you know, just because. 2.Ear Plugs: the husband snores something terrible. 3. Allergy meds: to take at night to ward off those morning allergy headaches. 4. Sleep Mask: the hub likes to watch TV before bed sometimes 5.Heel Cream: because I can't stand rough heels 6. Burts Bees: to ward off dry lips 7. Antacids: the husband and I both suffer from crazy heartburn 8. EOS: because sometimes just one lip balm isn't enough 9.Magazine: so I can pretend to be up to date on trends
find the full list of what can be found in my bedside drawer here
What does my bedside drawer say about me?
Oh, crap.   I'm a boring old married lady.

Every girl has that bedside drawer that holds the bedroom essentials: their Kindle, a pair of reading glasses, sexy lingerie. – whatever fits their personality. No matter what your drawer says about you, there’s birth control that will fit right in. Find the best method for your routine and style at Bedsider.org.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Bedsider.org.

Oh. Hi there.

Once again, I'm off topic. Funny to me how weekends are so much crazier and busier than the work week.

I spent the last several days at my parents' house. Husband was out on a recruiting trip for most of May, so I was getting pretty desperate for human interaction.

I kept my niece yesterday and last night and boy, we had fun but I literally got her to "bouncing off the walls" status with all our cupcake eating. Hey. What are aunts for?

I'm glad I got to spend a few days at home. My childhood kitty (the one we just found out is a boy after 15 years of thinking heshe was a girl) unfortunately isn't doing well. I got to say goodbye tonight--my mom is taking her (sorry, but she'll always be a her to us) tomorrow to help her cross over rainbow bridge. It's a tough month for us in the feline department. Sniff.

I am actually writing this from home. In bed. On my phone. While the hub catches up on the weeks of Game of Thrones he missed. I'm not a fan of the show, but I sure am happy to have him home.

The puppy dog is completely worn out! I'm not really sure why since all she really did all week was rest, but maybe it's just being home and having her daddy back that's helped her completely relax. She is totally passed out!

Speaking of passing out, I'm off to do that myself! I hope you all had a great weekend!

I am going to stick to my goal to blog every day in May, but I'm pretty sure im just going to go off the cuff from now on.

off

I really don't feel like writing about my childhood today.  I'm completely exhausted and my left arm/wrist/shoulder still hurt like crazy from when the dog decided to try to pull my arm out of it's socket a couple days ago.  I didn't want to miss a day of blogging every day, but I'm just not up for this prompt today.  Maybe I'll catch up on the prompt tomorrow.
I guess that's the reality of blogging each day--sometimes you have off days.
Good news is the husband finally comes home tomorrow after being away for way too many days!  Yipee!

joy

This is not the most flattering photo of me. It's not really anything special. It's a candid photo. The day before our wedding. I was feeling pure joy all weekend long. And this photo captures that.
All of the people I love so very much were all gathered to support me and J. And I could feel the love.
If my (future) kids ever ask me what it felt like to get married? I will show them this picture. Pure joy.

Something tough.

My lot in life is anything but hard or bad.  And in most regards, I've had a very charmed life.   I grew up lucky.  My parents worked hard.  We had a nice house where I had my own room.  I never went hungry or cold or deprived.  I got to go to college without having to worry about student loans.  And I was able and and allowed to marry the person I love.  So I can't answer the question: what is something difficult about your lot in life and how are you working to overcome it.
But.  I have had hard times.  Not because of the life that was provided for me but because of outside forces or mistakes I made. College.  Am I the only one who just kind of assumed as long as I wasn't a total loser, I'd get in?  I wasn't a star student, but I wasn't a complete moron, either.  So when all I kept getting were the small envelopes in the mail, I started to panic. I had a few left to hear from.  But I only wanted one.  Appalachian.  Mr. Husband had already gotten his big envelope.   I was sure I'd get mine. Once again?  the tiny envelope.
It was the first time I really wanted something and someone was telling me I wasn't good enough to have it.  I was sad and embarrassed and heart broken.  It was a blow to the gut to realize that I really should have worked harder.  I resolved to going to a school three hours down the mountain. and i worked my ass off.
I saw my boyfriend on weekends, but otherwise?  I was in my room.  I was in the library.  I was in class.  I am not naturally smart.  I can study my tail off any still only get a C.  I wanted to know, without any doubt, that I'd get into App as a transfer.  I didn't want to have any reason to question where I'd be the next year.  I remember sitting at my parents' kitchen table at the start of Christmas break awaiting grades to be posted.
straight As.  I'd never gotten straight As in my life.  A/B honor roll, maybe.  But never all As. 
Just as second semester started, I went to my PO box with a knot in my stomach.  I stood and stared at the tiny little box with tears in my eyes hoping and praying I'd find a huge envelope stuffed in the tiny space.  Mr. Husband was due in town in less than two hours, and I wanted nothing more than to greet him doing my happy dance. I turned my key and opened the door. the big envelope.

A day in the life

The alarm sounds.  And then it sounds again.  And then again.  And finally I get annoyed enough to roll over and mumble the same question I ask every single day.

What time do you have to be at work again?

You know.  It's my passive aggressive way of saying why the hell is your alarm going off this early if you're not actually going to get up?  But of course, I'm way too nice of a wife to actually say that.   The hubs finally rolls out of bed and heads to the shower which is my cue to head to the kitchen.  First order of business?  Coffee.  Then I make the hubs breakfast.  He emerges half dressed to de-wrinkle an article of clothing in the dryer.  He scarfs down his breakfast while he waits.  Then it's a kiss and he's out the door.

I jump in the shower and quickly get ready.

I message the girls and wish them good morning, and then it's time to work.  I bring my coffee into the office where I manage the blog world first.  I make sure my post went up for the day and is linked up appropriately.  This is also when I catch up on social media.  

Then I do one of three things:

1. 90 minute writing session (novel writing only)
2. Film a video
3. Work on character profiles

I take a break when the husband comes home for lunch.  This is also the time in which I decide if I have to go to the grocery store (or the dreaded Walmart) before the end of the day.  If I do, I typically leave when the husband goes back to work.  I'm usually home by 3PM to continue working.

If I don't go to the store, I'll read until 3PM, usually.  Preferably outside.

At 3PM, I head back into the office.  I'll sketch out scenes.  I'll research freelancing gigs.  I'll story board ideas.  I'll answer emails.  I'll work on my query letter (this is usually what I spend most of my afternoons on).  I'll research publishers and agents.  I'll research authors of books similar to mine to be sure I contact their agent and publisher.  This is also when I'll edit if I filmed a video earlier.  I'll also write some more if I feel like I wasn't at a good stopping point after the 90 minutes.

At 5PM, I'll figure hammer out dinner details.  I'll defrost at this point if I haven't already.  

Usually at about 5:30, I'll stop regular work for the day and work on any future blog posts.  I'll blog until about 7.

7- I start prepping dinner. 7:30- husband comes home (usually) We eat and then I clean up dinner and start shutting down the kitchen.   11PM--Bedtime

**I also clean the house throughout the day.  Every day is different, but I'm generally running laundry, dishwasher, sweeping, cleaning bathrooms, etc daily**

[Today, however, I'm working from my old HS bedroom at my parents's house. That's the glory of what I do. I can do it anywhere. And every day is different.]