With the Holidays

I love the holiday season. It is definitely here in full blast. I was at Wal-Mart last night and saw aisles for all of the standard Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas fare--it's just a matter of time before New Year's and Valentine's make their appearance!

I think the holidays are such an important time for me since they mean gathering with family and enjoying each other. This year is definitely going to be an adjustment for me. Not only do I have Pookie, but I have Pookie's family in OKC, which is not my family in Hot Springs. We've tossed around ideas of where to spend T-giving and what about X-Mas. We've wondered what other family members might be doing. My family has almost decided--we are serious holiday planners!

The Dodson family Thansgiving will take place in Hot Springs at Zana's house. She's already called to let me know my RSVP is needed for her to plan her table place settings and dinner quantities. The Hays family will be gathering in Fort Smith for Christmas this year--although we've all gotten so big and spread out that I'm sure there will be more than a few cousins and aunts/uncles who cannot attend for one reason or another. There will also be a Dodson family Christmas in Hot Springs--details for that one are still a little fuzzy.

What will Mr. and Mrs. Pookie be doing for the holidays? There are so many new factors to consider. Before it was easy because it was all about me and maximizing my time with my family while I had loads of time off from school (and gas money provided by my parents, if need be). This year with the wedding/honeymoon my vacation time is tight and money for traveling even tighter. And then there's Pookie's family. Are they doing a big T-giving and X-mas? His parents will actually be here for the holiday this year--last year we did Christmas after they arrived and we got back from our trip to Hot Springs. Will extended family be coming into OKC? It's easier for us to get together with his side since OKC is a center-of-operations for the family. My family's command center is in either Fort Smith or Hot Springs, Arkansas, depending how you look at it. Both are far enough away that they require planning and communication.

What's the perfect equation?

f(Happy Pookies)=TRUE/FALSE:
Hot Springs ((Halloween + Christmas)^Christmas Eve in Fort Smith) x OKC (Thanksgiving + Christmas^2 days later)= x

Does x=Happy Pookies? How will we ever decide?

Halloween is Almost Here!

I am really looking forward to Halloween this year. It's the first time in several years that I'm going to be able to go home for the holiday--and it will be Pookie's first time to experience Halloween with my family. We always have a fun time. Mom makes chili, invites over bunches of friends, and we decorate pumpkin-shaped sugar cookies and carve pumpkins. It's a lot of fun.

Holidays are definitely more fun with little kids in the family. I love being Aunt Lizzy! Miss J, Boo, and B definitely make the holidays a lot more fun--we get to see them all dressed up in the costumes and go with them trick-or-treating.

I love dressing up, too. Last year was my first Halloween with Pookie. It was a Thursday night, and I wanted to make it special. I went shopping and bought myself a wig and him a mustache and mask. I'm not so sure Pookie knew what to do with me--but he played along which is exactly what I needed him to do!

This year I'm not sure what to dress up as--any ideas?

Watercolor Giveaway!

Sitting Pretty Studio is giving away FREE art! Visit her site and enter to win a free watercolor portrait of a child or infant. While you're there, check out all of her other great work!!



Susannah (the artist) has been doing commissioned watercolor portraits for many years. What I love about her work is that she really puts herself into whatever she does. If you are lucky enough to win, you won't be disappointed!! You can link to the website using the button to the right or by clicking here!

B-I-X-B-Y

I got up this morning and worked out!! I can't believe it. My alarm went off at 5:00, 5:15, 5:30, and then 5:45, and I was still in bed. And then I was up and out the door!! I am looking forward to 3 more weeks of encouraging work outs!

Thursday I will be seeing a friend I haven't seen in quite some time. Devi has been living in Australia, and she's here for a while. Amazing how everything changes so fast. Seems like just yesterday I was a freshman at JBU and connecting with Devi over our mutual affection for Audrey Hepburn. Memories!

Pleasant Sunday

This morning Pookie and I woke up and made pancakes. We originally wanted waffles but long-story-short... the pancakes turned out great! We finished up the movie we had started last night--we never seem to finish a movie in one sitting anymore.

Afterward, we went for a walk down by Lake Hefner. It's a gorgeous day today (although Pookie says it's too windy for his taste), and we had a great time just strolling along and holding hands.

I feel very fat. I have not COMPLETELY destroyed the 4.5 months of hard work... but almost. It's amazing how quickly you can lose it!! I am hoping to get back on track over the next 3 weeks. I'll be traveling which can either be a blessing or a curse. Sometimes I have a great time when traveling since I can get up in the mornings and workout and have nothing better to do in the evenings but do some more working out. Other times, I just give up. I come home from the bank and sprawl out on my hotel room bed and don't move except to flip channels in between Law & Order episodes. It can be pretty sad.

I could really use all of the prayers and encouragement I can get over these next coupe of weeks. Not just with the exercise/diet thing but with being away from Pookie for such a long stretch. It's hard.

I have almost finished packing... better get back to it!

Me & Pookie on a recent trip to Hot Springs. sigh!

any wonder why I miss him?? he's so cute and wonderful.

Home Alone

Clint has class tonight. There are almost too many things I "should" do with my time. Not enough that I want to do, though. I met a friend for dinner tonight. Good conversation. It's amazing to me--every girl has the same thoughts/concerns/insecurities/dreams/hopes/etc. It must be something that is ingrained in us... It's also very weird because I am now one of the "others". I'm a married woman, but I can remember what it was like to be a young, professional, single woman in Oklahoma City. It wasn't laughs-a-minute, that's for sure.

Being single can be really hard. Especially as time seems to be ticking away and one by one your lose another friend to the dark side. I am very happy I have Pookie and our life together. I had been waiting for him for what felt like a lifetime. Looking back on it now, I am happy for what I was able to experience in my single years but feel blessed that I now have a relationship.

To all my single friends out there: I know. I can remember. And it's worth the wait.

Tired of It All

We had our final garage sale this weekend. All in all we did very well for ourselves--earning some extra cash and getting rid of lots of clutter around the apartment! Now I can't wait for life to be normal.

But it's never normal, is it? We always seem to be searching for a normal groove for our lives--but the world has another agenda. And it keeps on hitting us with more curve balls and out-right unfair plays.

So I've had a crappy morning. I'm upset at the world and taking it out on everyone else--how unfair is that to them?

Moving Blues

These past few days have been so stressful! But we are finally, officially out of the old apartment. I feel like the mom in The Incredibles when she calls Mr. Incredible to announce they are officially moved into their home after three years--she finally unpacked the last box. That's probably going to be us! --and that totally sounds like a phonecall I'd make to Pookie, too.

Pookie ordered a shoe organizer for me last night. I can't wait for it to get here! Now I just hope it fits on the back of my closet :)
Over-the-Door, 36-Shoe Organizer

Birthdays, Hair Dye, and Allergies

Pookie's birthday was on Friday. I had been traveling all week so I missed getting to tell him "happy birthday" in the morning or do anything special for him all day. So on my way home I stopped off and bought cake mix, frosting, and candles and picked up his b-day present that was still at the old apartment. We went to Ted's for his birthday dinner and then we came home, I frosted the cake, and watched Lethal Weapon 3. It was a good night!

Saturday Pookie worked all day helping some friends install an art sculpture. So I made myself busy working on both of the apartments (moving and organizing). I also dyed my hair RED (yes, it's a throwback to my college days). Pookie had never seen my hair dyed so I thought I would go ahead and show him what it looks like. That night he came home, exhausted and sneezing.

Sunday Pookie was sick all day. We spent the day napping, eating, and reenergizing.

Now we only have two days left to get all of our stuff out of the old apartment. I'm definitely feeling the stress! Pray that we can get it all taken care of!!

Our Place

We spent a lot of time this weekend moving in. Pookie and I had to figure out exactly how to combine our furniture--it got a little crazy. We finally decided on a GREAT compromise and it feels so much like "our home"!

Stuck in a Hotel Room

I'm out on the road (again--blargh). Pookie is keeping himself busy by moving our stuff from the old apartment to the new. He's so great--I am so happy that it will be done and just the little stuff will be left!

Of course, now we have to figure out how to arrange everything!!

(be sure to notice the beautiful wall color!!)

For Sale

I am in the entrepreneurial mood this week! I've been listing some of the things that we can't keep anymore on Craigslist. I have already sold my old TV and have a couple of people interested in the futon. Now I just need to list my Pookie's desk, the chairs passed down to me from my mother, and the mattress bought for me from my grandparents. I'm hoping to save the money we make from these sales (and possibly a garage sale here in a couple of weeks) to apply towards a dining room table. We've been "using" mine (which isn't a table and is actually an old library desk of my grandfather's.

I'm having fun planning out our new home together. I've got plans in the works for how to combine our assortment of furniture--Pookie had the great idea of using complementary shades of wood (besides my favorite black) to help bring out the color in his couch. Hopefully that will help everything blend!

Our goal is to paint the beige this weekend. We'll have to go pick out which beige and then actually do it--so we'll see. It's supposed to be a pretty blah, rainy weekend. I'm looking forward to having a project!

Which to choose? Most Popular Color Choices for the Living Room

Taupe, Caramel, Beige, Camel, Coffee...

I want to paint our new apartment. I am so sick of crisp, white, apartment-living walls. I want our new home together to feel more like a home and less like a temporary place to throw our stuff until we REALLY get our lives together.

So I was super excited when our new apartment manager told us we could paint. A couple of weeks later (after the lease was signed) she clarified with a "no color" policy. Erg! I was looking forward to golden, yellow walls with punches of burnt orange that would complement our red couch and dark brown furniture. At least I'll get to paint with a "nice light beige or something similar". We just have to go paint shopping now.

I spent last night cleaning the new apartment. I vacuumed each room (and the closets), scrubbed the bathroom shower and sink, dusted the headboards and doors, and scrubbed the light switches and electrical outlets. All I have left is to sweep and mop the kitchen and bathroom and scrub cabinet shelves. I should be good to go!

Pookie found me a birthday present!! I can't wait: Dezign With a Z Wall Decals!

Newly Married

Pookie and I were married on August 16, 2008. It was a gorgeous wedding--I loved every minute of it. My mother did so many wonderful things to make our day as special as possible.



Now we're trying to mesh our two lives together. We have complementary but often times different tastes in decorating. I've always assumed that I would marry a man that didn't have an opinion--my Pookie has an opinion on everything. His opinions are one of the reasons I fell in love with him. Now I just have to figure out how to live with them.

Changes are definitely up ahead as we face moving into a new apartment and finally combining my red, upholstered couch with his brown, leather love seat. I also have a collection of my large art canvases that may not all fit into our new lives--not enough room for resting birds and curly trees that stretch across the wall. What to do with them? Can you sell art you created just to cover a blank wall?? I've never considered myself an artist. The artist touch definitely runs in my family, my sister and a handful of cousins are just amazing at what they do. Could I be included in their ranks?

Unexpected but Good

So our Saturday practice got cancelled at the last minute. That was good, though, b/c it gave me time to finish shopping for wedding dresses with Kate.

We ended up having that lesson last night. So much fun. Since I already know most of the steps, Carol has been working with us on style and form a lot. I LOVE THAT!! It's so fun to be told HOW to move.

I've been working on my posture all day today. I have to remember to keep my shoulders down which is hard to do. PLUS I am already trying to have good seated posture while I'm working. Now I've added standing and walking posture to that list... it's hard when you have to think about where your body is throughout the entire day.

Tonight we have a group lesson and dance party. It's cha-cha night, and they're serving margaritas. It should be a GREAT night :)

Practice Makes Perfect

We practiced Wednesday night. He told me at least twice that I was trying to lead. I have got to work on that. It's hard, though, when I have such a clear idea in my mind how I want to dance and where I want to go. Following is very hard.

I love that dancing is a great example of a good marriage: where the man is leading and the woman is trusting and following. Both are essential roles. When my cousin Sarah got married, my dad used the marriage and dancing comparison: it was a beautiful image of Sarah and Kevin dancing together for the rest of their lives.

Kate's getting married this summer: she wants her fiance to learn to dance so they can dance together at their reception. He's refused thus far in the conversation which is very frustrating (for both Kate and me since I would love to watch them dance on their wedding day!). Surely he'll come around to the idea by July 28th!

We have our first 1-hour private lesson tomorrow: I wonder what we'll learn!

liz's how-to guide and all that other fun stuff

I'm thinking of tracking my ballroom dance progress. It could be fun.

Up until the beginning of this month, the last time I had REALLY danced was back in 2004--Ballroom Dance I & II at the University of Arkansas. It was really a lot of fun. Let's see: i remember brandon and roger. Brandon was really enthusiastic and wanted to learn. He missed Day One of the Cha-Cha so he got online and learned the steps before coming to class (I can just see him standing in the middle of his dorm room watching his computer monitor and trying to dance the latin rhythm! too funny). Roger was a fast learner and a great waltzer. He had the waltz moves down, and I loved dancing it with him. Roger also liked making me turn... he spun me so many times in the Cha-Cha once that I thought I was going to die!
The other guys in the class tried. Some were better than others, but overall it was a pretty good class.

So now I'm dancing again--the opportunity presented itself and I grabbed it up like there was no tomorrow (and there would have been no tomorrow had I not spoken up).

We've danced every week. My partner is a fast learner and has great rhythm. We can dance the basics of the foxtrot, waltz, east coast swing, cha-cha, rhumba, and tango. We've completed the introductory dance package and have moved on to the pre-bronze level. Yes, we are THAT good :) This Saturday is our first 1-hour lesson. We have to practice before we go so we won't be lost.

I'm trying to not have an elitest attitude towards the whole thing. It's easy for me to say I know the steps already and to not listen to what she's saying, but our teacher is really trying to help us have good technique--she wants us to look good dancing. I hope we look good dancing.

Picture of me dancing:

Starting Fresh

So I never thought I'd be back here. But I'm bored, tired, and have ABSOLUTELY nothing else to do. I must say that blogger.com has dramatically improved since I was here last. It's sad, though. I can't remember my old sign-in name, so I must create something new. But I think that is fitting. Somehow, that's the story of my life. I try something, love it, obsess over it, and then suddenly realize it's not the best option for me and drop it. Later, I pick up and try something new--very similar to the first, but ever-so slightly different.