the adventure that is life: me

Showing posts with label me. Show all posts

NYC with Nik

>> 3.01.2014 – me, nikki, nyc

Phew. Nikki and I officially conquered NY today. And we did it all with my bruised tailbone.. more on that in a minute..let's back up a few days. Nikki flew out Wednesday to visit us for a few days and we've been having a blast! We drove up to Bear Mountain on Thursday and randomly stopped by Stony Point, NY on the way. We hoped to see the lighthouse and slipped and fell up the un-plowed path until we made it. We saw the lighthouse and... Bald eagles! 4 of them to be exact. We had no idea that Stony Point was one of the best places to see Bald Eagles on the Hudson River- we just wanted to see the lighthouse and beautiful views but got much more!

After the surprise eagle sightings we drove up to Bear Mountain and visited the zoo. It was chilly but fun.

So back to NYC....This morning we got up nice and early to head into NYC on the train (which is only a 45 min train ride from my house to Grand Central- so awesome). While walking downstairs for my breakfast I slipped on the stairs and bruised my tailbone. ( I mean- seriously?) And it hurt/s like heck. I almost passed out like 3 times from the pain and had to stay on the couch for about an hour. I was so upset but determined to still have a fun day so I took a bunch of ibuprofen (numerous times throughout the day) and we set off on the train an juke later then planned. It was a bit tough to walk but I pushed through slowly and we hit up everything we hoped to see! Tomorrow Ben and Sophia are going to join us and we're planning to hit up Central Park. It might be another bit of a slow walk with my bum butt... but we'll still have fun. And here are some pics of Nik and NYC-We rocked this city today and had a blast doing it...

Garage Sale

>> 10.19.2013 – me, moving

So I held my very own and very first garage sale and it was a success! A success in the fact that I got rid of tons of stuff. We have a 3 car garage and both sides were packed with stuff. It was embarrassing how much stuff I just didn't need but also a relief to know it was leaving our house! I marked it all dirt cheap- like 25 and 50 cents dirt cheap- and marked it lower as the morning went on. Clothing went to 10 cents and books to 5 cents. Eventually I just made it free. I made about 137 bucks which wasn't bad for how cheap it all was! I only had to take a a few boxes and bags to Goodwill and that to me was a success! One lady came back a second time and told me after she left the first time she thought- I like this girl- she has great prices- how it should be. And I said- yep- I agree! Now my whole body is tired and achy after the busy morning and I can't wait to sleep!

So the reason I had the garage sale is because... Ben was offered- and accepted- a job at Steinway which is located in.... NYC. So... That means... We are moving. And here is where I scream because I am so overwhelmed with all this. But I'm excited and looking forward to another life adventure. If you had told me a month ago I would feel this way about moving I would've hated you and never believed it...but I've had time to think it over and process it all while we have figured it all out and I think I can do it. I actually want to do it- I know- what?! I must admit part of me is scared out of my mind to leave what I have known so well the last 10 years up here in Chicago but life can't always be an easy, smooth road and I think this is a bump that will eventually turn our smooth.The timing couldn't be more perfect wirh insurance and the such so it's really what we needed to do. Our house will be on the market soon and I'm hoping it sells fast. Ben starts at Steinway in Januaryband Sophia and I will stay back with the house- hoping it sells fast. Or maybe it will sell and we will all go out in January- I just don't see it being that easy- but who knows. I'm going to miss family being close, my church, the comfort of everything we have here and I don't expect it to be an easy transition but I'm going to make the best of it and look at it as an exciting new adventure. I mean NYC- hello! How awesome to be able to explore there all the time and mountains, hills, the ocean.... I love munIllinois flat lands but I'll be back often enough to get my fill so I'm going to enjoy the new scenery and things to do to the fullest. And I must admit I'm excited for a new house- a new place to fix up and make our own. This time around we know what we need and want in a house so we won't be choosing one with something such as a kitchen in the basement...;)

So the next few weeks and months are going to be crazy around here. I'm dreading it all... I'm just ready to get this move done and over with and start our new life as New Yorkers. Crazy.

34

>> 10.11.2013 – birthday, me

So I turned 34 yesterday.....what?! I know-crazy to me too. I had a great day and much of that was thanks to my little best bud Sophia. She tells me multiple times a day I'm her best friend and it's the cutest thing ever. Of course, we are together all day every day so how can we not be best friends?

The weather was perfect yesterday-sunny, 75=perfect fall day. I had a groupon for a pumpkin patch down in the south suburbs (which was not worth the regular price if I had paid it-thank goodness for the groupon) and we drove down there in the morning. There weren't a ton of people there and Sophia got to do all sorts of random fun stuff

After the pumpkin patch we found a local forest preserve, put a few blankets down and had a great picnic lunch

It was an awesome day and we topped it off by going out for Mexican. Ben was awesome and got me donuts in the morning.....we try to eat healthy around here and haven't had donuts in a long time...so it was a nice treat. He also got me this awesome doxie from Jonathan Adler:

And these giant safety pins to hang on the wall....so fun!!

Finished!

>> 8.27.2013 – house, me

I wrote this last week and it never published...whoops

I finally screwed on the last cabinet today and the cabinet painting project is done!

Before:

After:

We also got new basement windows a few weeks ago. So between the lighter cabinets and new windows- the kitchen looks so.much.better! Still wish it wasn't in the basement but at least it has a nicer vibe- which makes it all the better for cooking and spending time down there

3 Weeks

>> 8.07.2013 – me, sick

3 weeks ago Nikki got married and 3 weeks ago I was feeling pretty good until after the wedding. I am now on the third week of this sickness and my 2nd round of antibiotics. Yep- that's right. 2nd round. Because the first round hardly fixed anything I guess. I mean, really- come on antibiotic! I also brought home an inhaler to help me when I can't breathe well. The Dr told me it turned into a super infection and my body just can't kick it. The worst is the cough and chest congestion. And my ears- they are stuffed up and I feeling like I'm living in a weird muted world. And I'm tired of it! I bought some Sudafed tonight in hopes it will dry stuff up so I can actually hear again.

Meanwhile poor Sophia has been leading a not so exciting life. I try to do things with her but my energy is really lacking and running a few errands is about all I can handle for a day. We have a play date tomorrow so I'm off to bed early in hopes I will have energy to go to it! Ugggg. I'm ready to be better. 3 perfectly good weeks of summer pretty much wasted. On a positive note my sickness helped me lose about 4 pounds. So since we did Insanity and started eating better a few months ago + these 4lbs I just lost =14 lbs lost over the last few months. Awesome.

The other redeeming thing is that the weather hasn't been all that warm and no one wants to swim in a cold pool. Thankfully I don't feel I'm missing out on that. I love the pool. Today it was finally about 90 and the sun was out so after 3 weeks- yes, 3 weeks-I finally got in the pool. And it was glorious and relaxing and made me feel a tiny bit better. Captured below is proof of my wonderful swim/float while Sophia napped:

Sick Week

>> 7.28.2013 – me, sick

After all the great wedding festivities last weekend I was worn out on Sunday and feeling slightly under the weather. I figured it was a little cold and would go away quick. I was wrong. Very wrong. I've never dealt with high fevers as an adult and hope I never have to again. Miserable. One night it even spiked up to 103.5 and all I could do was lay in bed hating life, freezing, and miserable, and. wait it out. Every time the fevers would spike I also lost everything in my stomach. I finally went to immediate care convinced it was strep. It wasn't and I left with some zofran to keep me from puking and no cure- which made it all the worse. The fever finally stayed away a few days with the help of Tylenol and today I stopped taking it to see how I would do. The afternoon rolled around and so did... Another fever. Seriously?! I decided I had enough and drove myself to immediate care desperate for some help. Besides suffering with the fever I have a terrible cough and sinus infection. Thankfully this Dr took note and prescribed me some antibiotics and cough syrup with codeine. I wanted to jump up and hug her I was so happy. Finally some relief. I quickly ran to Walgreens in my fevered state, got my drugs and plopped back on the couch to wait the fever out- another 3 hours. It's finally gone and I feel so normal- despite the sinus stuff and being sweaty and exhausted. Seriously, these high fevers do me in. They wipe me out and I don't think I've ever realized how terrible they are to deal with! No wonder all kids want to do is lay in your arms and be still when they are sick. I feel like I've been a terrible Mom. Sophia has been running the show around here- tv on, toys all over. A toddler + a high fever= double miserable. I finally sent her to daycare on Thurs and Fri to get a little bit of rest. Now it's time for a new week and hopefully a new feeling of health. I hope the antibiotics are coursing their way through my body doing their job so I can get back to life- and finally put all the laundry away that's spilling out of the basket.

Wedding Weekend

>> 7.21.2013 – ben, family, me, nikki, sophia, wedding

Nikki's wedding was this weekend and I am sufficiently worn out today. I think I also received a lovely cold from Sophia and it's not helping me feel any less tired! Poor Sophia had a fever and wasn't feeling all that great either so we were lucky we got her to even walk down the aisle! Ok-on to the wedding. We decorated the church on Friday morning