My 25th Birthday.

I am a quarter of a century old.  I NEVER imagined I would be this old.  Ever.  I am 25 years old.  When I was 10, 25 was old.  I'm old.  This birthday was kind of a milestone.  I wanted to do something really great this birthday.  Something..."epic" as all the young (well younger than 25) kids say. So, if you know me, you know I Google EVERYTHING.  About a month ago I Googled "Cool things to do for your birthday".  I wanted to do something awesome.  And I did.  I had an amazing day.  Let me tell you about it.  After Google-ing and some research I knew I wanted to do this thing called "The Birthday Project".  Just one person started it and it has really taken off.  You can research it more yourself, but the basics of it is that you do one random act of kindness for each year old you are.  I thought of 25 things I would love to do and I did them all, in a day!  My husband took a half day and helped me and we had a lot of fun. Here are some pictures and details.  Hope this inspires you to do more "Random Acts of Kindness".

First of all, how can you have a bad day waking up to this cute little nugget?

Alright, So I know its lame but I totally kept myself organized with my iPad.

First thing this morning Ripken and I woke up and made brownies for the local fire dept.  

I delivered them while they were still warm and the men had just gotten back from a call and they were STOKED!  

Next I headed to Weis to get a few more things checked off the list..

 

I bought candy bars, flowers and a Weis gift card.  I gave the check out lady a candy bar and she told me that totally made her day and that she wan't feeling well.  On the way out of the store I handed this gift card to a lady and what I am assuming was her daughter.  She was so thankful and as I was walking away she told me that that was the nicest thing anyone had done for her in a long time.  

Next I went to the bank to get some cash and quarters for some things on the list.  I also gave Jeremy's mom some flowers, because she is more than deserving.  I gave a candy bar to each of the people at the bank, which were all excited.  

Jeremy took a half day and was with me the rest of the day.  First we went to Arby's drive through for lunch.  On the way we let a car out in front of us on Centerville Road (if you've ever driven on Centerville at noon you KNOW this is a serious act of kindness).  We then paid for the cars behind us.  Hopefully that man in the maroon car enjoyed his lunch and gave the two employees who waited on us there a candy bar.  They seemed so confused as to what was going on.  

Next we came home and took the pooch for a walk to the park.  We are so lucky to have a park behind our house.  It is a nice place to walk Ripken, and it really is a beautiful park.  So, on our walk we cleaned up all the trash in the park.  

I also put a special treat in our mailbox before our mail person came. I now know her name is Kee, because she left me a nice little "Thank You"

Next we headed out to Weis again. We hid jokes in places people would find them, taped microwave popcorn to the redbox, and filled all the bubble gum machines with quarters.  Also, we had to buy more candy!

 

Jeremy also saw these books spilled in the aisle, so he took it as an opportunity to get another thing checked off the list!

Who would have guessed I would go through so many candy bars? People LOVED them, and we gave them to every service person,

Next we headed out to donate some things.  We had abag of clothes we had been meaning to donate and this was the perfect day to do it!

Now, if you know me at all, you know I'm in love with my dog.  I would have 5 of them if I could, but I cannot, because my dog is a little terrorist and hates all other animals.  So of course we had to go to the humane league and make a donation.  Which included a bed Ripken never used, some paper towels, treats, and toys.  I think the worker may have been more excited about the Reese's I gave him than the donations.  He asked if we wanted to see the animals, but I was already feeling emotional and I lack self restraint so I declined.  

Next we headed to the Dollar Store o tuck some singles in the toy section. Hopefully some little kiddo is stoked about the free toy.  We also taped some quarters to a soda vending machine!  It is getting hot out there so hopefully someone appreciated the free soda. 

 

 

Next we headed to starbucks,  I bought the guy behind me a coffee and gave some random chick a $5 gift card.  The guy behind me literally thought I was losing it.  He couldn't believe it.  The lady I gave the gift card to was a bit taken back, I can't decide if that was because she just almost walked in on someone in the bathroom, or because a complete stranger was giving her a $5 gift card.  And of course, we handed out some more candy bars to the baristas.  They loved it.  

This may be my favorite of the day.  We went to Babies r Us and bought a "New Mom" bag and delivered it to Women's and Babies of Lancaster.  I took it in the the receptionist and told her that if she could just give it to someone that seems like they need it.  She was so surprised and taken back.  I thought this lady was going to cry and she just kept telling me how nice this was.  I told her that it was my birthday and it was a special day and I'd like to celebrate someone else having a special day as well.  Then I gave her a Reese's and she wished me happy birthday with tears in her eyes and told me someone would really appreciate it.

 

Next we headed to the women and children's shelter and donated some books.  I was unaware that you could not actually donate there, but there was a little girl there that said she would actually like the books, so I just gave them to her, with a candy bar and she was happy, so was I.  

 

Then, we went to a laundry mat and dropped off some detergent and quarters to help someone out.  The girl I gave them to was so thankful.  She had a lot of laundry.  

I did not get pictures of all of them, and tried to be respectful of others.  Yesterday I e-mailed an old teacher and got an e-mail back from her today saying how excited she was to hear from me, and she updated me on her life.  It was nice to hear from her too.  I also took a lovely Dooney into a nurse at work that is a mom that had commented to me earlier in the week how she never treats herself and wanted a cute little purse.  She loved it and was so excited.  Oh, and one more I forgot.  I gave out lotto tickets to 5 random people.  That was fun!

Overall I couldn't have asked for a better birthday.  I am so excited I stumbled on this.  I hope this inspires you to do a few "Random Acts of Kindness".

Here's to you, 2011.

Well, what can I say?  This year has been good to me.  I liked 2011.  I started the year off with a week vacation in Mexico.  Do that.  It was awesome.  We loved our honeymoon, and it sucked to come back.  But, we have had such a great year with so many blessings and surprises.  If you are an avid blog visitor you know of buying a house and all that jazz.  Our house is now our home.  We love it here and each day.  It really is special because it is our first home together.  We have also fenced in the yard for Ripken and he loves it here too, except for the neighbor dog.  He doesn't like him.  Which he made quite clear the day my neighbor decided to bring Bandit inside our fence.  He said "oh Bandit is nice, he isn't going to do any harm."  You go on and think that Bandit is nice, until he has a 20 pound monster snapping at his face.  That'll bring out the worst in anyone.  And, it did.  We have not tried that again. Anyway, I want to thank all of you who have helped us make this house special.  Thank you for you house warming gifts, your visits, and your well wishes.  And kudos to my mom for the rocking Dyson.  Without that, I'd hate vacuuming even more than I already do.  Maybe next year you can buy me a little lady to clean for me!  I would like to thank Jeremy for letting me park in the garage so I don't freeze my ass off in the morning at 5 am when I have to go to work, no that he really had much of a choice.
Now, let's talk about the weather.  Crazy.  I didn't have to work when we had the flood.  That was nice, because some people wouldn't even get into work.  As Andrea, another RT I work with put it "THERE WERE WHITE CAPS IN MIDDLETOWN".  It was crazy stuff. But, I didn't really care and Ripken had a fun time swimming in the lake in our back yard.  It just rained...for a really long time.  Then we had Irene.  I did have to work that night.  But I rode with my friend Beth to work.  I was swearing up and down this Irene thing was a hoax. Well she pulled into my drive way that morning and I looked over at my neighbors yard and felt bad because the tree they had had blown over. It was blocking their drive way.  Oh wait, I forgot...we had the same tree in our front yard.  Ours was on my car.  I went and told Jeremy (he was still sleeping, it was 7 am on a Saturday).  And, of course he didn't believe me, because I always tell him stupid things all the time (like, say, walking into a room and saying "Ew Ripken pooped on the floor" when he really didn't).  It is usually funny to trick him like this.  He thought this was a trick.  Until I got pissed and told him to get out of bed...nicely.  It only left a little dent in my car, and I got two beautiful new trees out of the deal, so I ain't mad.  What I am mad about is snow in October. Really?!  I also had to work that day.  It pissed me off.  I was in the ER, I was busy, and I had dinner in the crock pot and the power went out. So, when I got home, I ate half cooked potatoes in the dark.  Our power was out for 3 days.  You can't do anything with your power out for 3 days.  And I am not sympathizing for anyone so don't even tell me people had no power for a week.
What else happened in 2011? Everyone got knocked up.  Or had a baby.  Literally, EVERYONE.  We are so excited for all of our friends who welcomed little nuggets of joy and love this year.  Our friends Nate and Katie had a girl in June, Addison.  She is stinkin' cute as a friggin' button.  I love to buy her clothes. Snuggle with her, pretend like she is mine then give her back.  Jerm, Ripken and I also had quite the experience in November.  We watched my friends 18 month old boy, Leonard, for a whole weekend.  Now, you may ask why I included Ripken in this.  It is because he was his primary caregiver when he was here.  They LOVED each other.  They played all weekend, and I am still trying to convince Adrienne that Lenny needs a puppy.  She is still not buying it.  I have to also say, props to Adrienne, because that kid is clockwork. He was so good to watch!  He went to bed at 7 both nights and woke up at 8 both mornings, with a 2 hour nap during the day.  Babies come out like that, right?  It was a fun, but exhausting weekend.
Now, on to the present.  Its almost Christmas! uh, yay! We are actually all ready.  We have been pretty much for weeks.  I finally broke down and bought a Christmas tree.  I like it.  It is Ripken's first tree. He could really care less about the thing.  I'm not sure he is into Christmas--flashback to 2009 where he attacked his cousin Peanut Christmas morning, causing Peanut to poop himself, his grandmother to bleed and me to be so pissed because he ruined Christmas, maybe that is why.  Anyway, we are going home this weekend to celebrate Christmas with my family, and I have to work all next weekend, celebrating Christmas with my patients, I am sure they will be as thrilled as I am.
In closing, as we approach the new year, and the end of our first year of marriage.  Thank you to everyone who has made this year extra special for me, and my little family. Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!

Goals.

I know, it is the wrong time of the year for setting goals that I probably will not achieve.  But, let's face it, I don't really achieve much that I start. And, I was a little busy getting married and drinking margaritas on my honeymoon to give a crap about new years resolutions.  I am going to run a 5K.  I know, I know you are thinking "Really?".  Yes.  I could run a 5 K now.  If there was a large man chasing me or if there were bagels and mac and cheese at the end.  I want to run it, enjoy it, and be ready for more, instead of keeling over at the end of a minor heart attack. I am slowly working my way up to 5K so I'll feel confident going into it.  I am also hoping that my mother will by me a cute new running outfit if I in fact follow through with it.  Which is still debatable.  I have been going to the gym and I am successfully running 1.5 miles without sounding like I am having an asthma attack after.  I could push myself to do more, but I am trying to slowly increase the distance every day.  And, my belly kinda hurt today because I ate a bagel before the gym (I know...so inappropriate).  So anyway, there's whats new with me. Nap time.

Long awaited!

I know, it has been a very long time.  Four months and six days actually.  I had a busy summer.  And, I have been thinking about blogging, really. It has gotten done just as much as the other things I have been thinking about, like working out and dieting.  Which, by the way I just got back from the gym and I resisted the super cinnamon bagel I have been craving for about six days now.  So go me! Three things checked off my mental to do list.  Check, check, and chhheck.  So, since last time I have updated not too much has changed, hence the not needing to blog I suppose.  Over the summer Jeremy and I enjoyed a nice vacation to OCMD with his family.  We also visited Darin and Tammy in Virginia and had a few mini trips here and there.  Overall, a rather enjoyable uneventful summer.  Oh, and we fenced in our yard which the pooch is very happy about.  And he expresses his happiness by running around barking like a wild man and pooping inappropriate places like in front of the grill (just ask Jerm) and on the deck (really?! we just spent a lot of dough fencing in the yard and you poop on the deck?).  So anyway he loves it and we are glad we did it.

More recently I have been busying myself with such things things as making applesauce, making applesauce and loving on my pup while I heal from what felt like someone sawing into my face to pull out four little wisdom teeth.  Jamie, my sister in law and I went apple picking two weeks back and went nuts-o.  We each picked 40 pounds of apples.  I believe that equals about a bushel, but in Lancaster you apparently pay by the pound, which my aunt has informed me that I overpaid, to the extreme.  Whatever.  It was about the experience.  Now, I went apple picking because I wanted to make applesauce.  Jamie went because she wanted to make assorted apple dishes and desserts, and partially because her stupid friend on facebook kept posting about apple picking at the "orchid" and I guess it got her in the autumn spirit.  For any sane couple of ladies they may have picked 10-20 pounds each and called it a day.  Jamie and I, we went to friggin' town.  We could not stop picking apples.  Every variety we got to was new, and exciting and tasted like liquid gold.  Empire, Jonathan, Gala, Fuji, Red Delicious, Ida Red, Golden Delicious, we were trying them all, and picking them all.  We had a good time.  And, we laughed on the way back to my car joking how wear we were and that the boxes we were carrying felt like 50 pounds each.  Then we got to the scale.  I heaved my box on to the scale and almost pooped my pants when the lady said 41 pounds.  It was a dollar a pound.  But, you see since we bought over 50 (40lbs each) we paid .90 a pound.  Those Amish sure know how to rip a girl off.  So we left the orchard $40 poorer and with a lot of apples, but we had a really good time.  I have since made 40 pounds of apples worth of homemade applesauce.  My freezer has applesauce coming out its ears.  I also made a very enjoyable apple crisp.  But, I think I am all appled out until next year.
Friday I got my wisdom teeth out.  Everyone was telling me how bad it was.  And it was bad. Awful.  I was fine on Friday.  I just drooled some blood mixed with saliva on my nice couch pillows which I now regret.  But I was pretty much numb all day, and I was feeling good.  Saturday I was in some pain but I was feeling alright.  I was taking ibuprofen to control the pain and it seemed to be doing the trick.  By Saturday night I was ready to get out of the house.  I had been sleeping for the majority of two days and I was going crazy.  On Sunday I went out to Jeremy's softball game and had some scalloped potatoes for dinner.  I was really thinking that all these other people are babies.  I overdid it.  I woke up in the middle of the night Sunday throbbing.  Thinking quick, because I always do, I popped a vicodin and went back to sleep.  I was so sick the next morning it took all I had to walk down stairs and lay on the couch.  Finally, around 4 I started to feel better, just still having a lot of pain.  So, before bed again I take another vicodin, because that really did take away any jaw pain that I was having.  Woke up Tuesday feeling fab.  Ate some cereal, and get ready to go to market.  I don't even get a mile down the road and I have to turn around and come home I feel so sick to my stomach.  Now, let me tell you, probably the most painful thing to do after having your wisdom teeth ripped out is to vomit.  I was so sick on Tuesday.  My jaw hurt, I was hungry and I was miserable.  God Bless my little pooch, he did not leave my side all day either two days. Normally he is not much of a snuggler, but I think he was worried, or so I am going to tell myself.  My husband was also a very good caregiver and quite receptive to the barking of orders. After that, I didn't take any more vicodin.  I've either dealt with the pain or taken enough ibuprofen to give a small horse a stomach ulcer.  Anyway, I am feeling much better now, it just looks like my husband had punched me in the jaw on both sides and I have nasty stitches hanging down in the back of my mouth.

Last night I played "The Book of Love" by the Magnetic Fields, the song I walked down the aisle to in our wedding, while Jeremy and I were sitting on the couch. We danced.  Right in our living room at 11pm.  It hasn't been a difficult 10 months.  We haven't struggled.  I know we will, and I know there will be bumps in the road.  But, I love that man and we are so happy.  At some point in your life you reach a point where the job doesn't matter, the house doesn't matter, and the money doesn't matter.  Because, I could spend 12 miserable hours at work, but I come home and I am so unbelievably happy and know that the twelve hours I just suffered through was to make our lives simpler.  The hardwood floors we don't have but I so desperately want, I can live without because at the end of the day when I am watching tv with my husband and my dog is passed out on out hunter green carpet I despise, I am happy.  After all isn't happiness the ultimate achievement?

Until next time.

Pinch me, Squeeze me, Make me wine.

It has been quite a while since I have blogged.  Why yo ask?  I have been busy as shit.  I have been taking trips, I have been working massive amounts of overtime, and continuing to work on our house.  Now about my adventures..
I drove to Virginia and visited my sister in law,Tammy, while my brother was away.  We had a really great time!  We smashed a lot of things into 3 days.  We went to the beach, we shopped, we went to a winery, made some nasty fondue and her bi-otch dog ate my nice beach bag.  A good time was had by all, except my beach bag.  Here is a picture of her and I at the winery...

I am happy I went, and it was a much needed girls weekend. 

After that I worked about a million hours and then I headed to Troy for a weekend with my longest friends tasting wine on Seneca Lake.  My friend Adelyn Hall (artist formerly known as Addy Stroup) and her husband are soon leaving for Africa, because they got pretty much the greatest oportunity of all time to go for the Peace Corps!  I am so proud of them!  Anyway, we wanted to spend a weekend together before they went abroad.  We had a slammin' time.  We rented a huge bus, packed in, Ryan made a "wine tour" mix and we were off like a big ole' dysfunctional family.  Here are some of the highlights of the day...

The best friends a girl could ask for.

Mostly all of us at Hazlett

Thank you Loni for your skills organizing the day, You're the best!

Girls at Hazlett

All of the girls...plus Ryan.

We had such a great time and it was so fun to get together with everyone!  Good luck to Ryan and Addy on their new life adventures!

Since then, I have worked a million more hours and Jeremy and I have been working hard on our house.  We painted trim, stained our deck, and we still have some mulching and planting to do.  So far all looks great and we have surprised ourselves with how handy we really are!  That is it for now!  Stay cool y'all.

Home Sweet Home!

Well, it has officially been more than a month since I have blogged.  And, like most things I take up I have kind of forgotten about it, or just become plain delinquent about updating.  Like, say...knitting.  It is just too much.  I am proud of myself for trying, but really what was I trying to make that I cannot just buy or con my friend Adrienne into making for me?  Pretty much nothing. And rollerblading, I bought them about a month go, and I have gone...once.  But they make me look sporty hanging in my new garage.  But, I will use them, this summer, when it is warmer.  I will.  Anyway, enough talk about how I suck at sticking with things.  I know I am not alone, and I have been working out frequently for more than a month now so put that in your pipe and smoke it.

So, since my last update, we have moved in to our awesome house, I have painted I have decorated, and I have thrown away so much crap that I am not sure why we ever packed to begin with.  I have shopped regularly at the Home Depot and Lowe's, and I have been handier than I ever thought that I could be.  With that said, I will now show you pictures.  My husband (ha) and I are so proud of our new house!  We LOVE it.  We love that it is OURS.  And, we (well mostly I) love making it OURS!  In fact, I believe he is loving mowing the lawn right now, with our brand new push mower we bought at Lowe's this weekend!  Now, without and further rambling...HERE IS OUR HOUSE!!  (For the sake of showing you how much work we have done, I will post some before and after pics!)

Alright, I know, you need some shades for this pic.  This is the second bedroom pre-paint.  This picture does not even do the lemonade yellow justice.

And, Yet another.  Just wait to see how I transformed it! I know you are on the edge of your seats!

Alright, now this is the master bedroom before.  The paint...was AWFUL.  It was worse than the 2nd bedroom.  This picture does not even begin to show how bad it really was. 

This picture better exemplifies some of the awful-ness of the paint.  But, the room itself was awesome.  It has peaked ceilings with a fan (which was also not good...see previous picture)

And this is the third bedroom pre-US, which if I had a little nugget, would be perfect.  But I do not.  Luckily it was a wall decal that was easily removable.

This is the upstairs bathroom before, we did not make any major changes.

Again, the upstairs bathroom before, you best believe I painted that sucker and added new hardware!

This....is the stairs, before. Exciting.

This is the living room and into the family room. Pre-furniture.

This is my kitchen.  We have moved in!! I didn't change much here, but there are changes to come!

This is our back yard, it overlooks the park, and it needs mowed (pre husband mowing).

This is our back deck, cute, right?  We got a grill, now we just need some patio furniture and we will be set for summer and some grilling.

Please excuse the crap in the corner here (we still have lots of hanging to do) But, this is our dining too.

And this is our living room, like I said, not too many changes here, just some furniture.

And again...

Alright, so like I said before, please excuse the millions of picture frames, we have some hanging to do. But, here is the other side of the living room.  A big thank you to Adrienne for the awesome H. I LOVE IT!

This is our hallway when you come in the door. 

This is the awesome artwork I found online, and I could resist.

And, this is one of my favorite things in our house.  It does not go with any of the decor of the house but I love it. (If you cannot tell it is our marriage certificate).

Our stairs, again, exciting.  But I did hang something,

My shower with my awesome shower curtain (shout out to Danielle and Katie).

A different view.

And, my pride and joy.  I took this sucker head on and I think it turned out great!

Ahhh, my beautiful new ceiling fan in the master.

Master with new color, and furniture!

Again...and I must add that in real life the color is a bit more "gray" than this shows.

My beautiful new bedspread (Thanks mama!)

Another view

My pooch enjoying his new house!

My master closet.

The second bedroom...Did you forget that awful yellow? Now it is a tropical oasis. For those of you coming to visit, I promise I will get some curtains before you come!

Ripken chillin'

And another print I found online.  Yes, I am obsessed with my dog.

And here is our 3rd bedroom transformed into an office....sort of.

Here is what I kept of the decal.  I am sure it will come off as we finish up this room, but we don't have the furniture for it yet anyway, so I kept these to love birds. (and, an ode to the Orioles)

Here is our front porch. We just need two rocking chairs!

Here is a view from the road

This tree stinks, but it looks pretty.

And, that is our humble abode!  We love it so far!  We are excited to have our friends and family over, and I am excited to do some more upgrades!  We also have a huge basement with 10 ft ceilings that I did not include because it is unfinished but it would looks fancy finished, which we hope to do sometime in the near future.  I hope you are as excited about this as I am!!

And, I wanted to say.  As we were moving in, I realized how much stuff I really had gotten for my bridal showers and wedding, and it is overwhelming!  I have put all the stuff to good use (literally using almost everything already)  And I love it all!  People have said there is no way I will use all my casserole dishes, but I am taking it as a challenge, and I love each of my gifts equally, and I am excited about every single one of them! Thank you everyone!

Oh, and I want to add, if you are able please help Jeremy and I!  We are walking in a Cystic Fibrosis was May 22.  I treat these patients frequently at my job and all the proceeds raised go to the CF foundation to help find a cure! Every little donation helps!

Here is my link:  http://www.cff.org/Great_Strides/WhitneyHohn

And, if you like Jeremy better, here is his link:  http://www.cff.org/Great_Strides/JeremyHohn

Thank you in advance! Walk on!