Today.

After our two week stint bouncing back and forth between our parents houses, we're settling back into the apartment.

It never fails that after being gone even just ONE day, this spindly little spider that lives on the chandelier makes a gargantuan web that stretches across the entire room and we inevitably walk through it (causing us both to freak out and do that "get-the-web-off-me!-is-there-a-spider-on-my-back?" dance that everyone does at some point in their life).

I'm also learning to live without a home phone, cell phone, internet, and *gasp* without the DVR. I'm very thankful to have found a spot on the back porch balcony I can take Matthew's laptop and get one lone bar of wireless from the only neighbor that doesn't have a password.

Believe it or not, Wachovia has still not refunded us our money that was supposed to "be processed in two weeks". That was 3 1/2 weeks ago. But all this will be sorted out soon and we should be up and running with at least internet and working cell phones.

Luckily, we have great family and friends that help take care of us. Just two days ago my uncle Greg stopped by with a very generous gift card to Publix from him and my aunt Melissa so that we could have some groceries (our fridge has been mostly condiments for a while). I burst into tears. We went shopping last night, like, REALLY shopping, which hasn't happened in awhile. I now have nearly all the staples we'd run out of and a few treats we definitely didn't need :)

I'm hoping this doesn't come across sounding like a pity party, because we're very much OK, it's just what's going on in our life right now.

I realize we're still spoiled and have a very blessed life. This sort of thing just really makes you appreciate all the luxuries you tend to take for granted every day.


Also, the lack of distractions has me back to reading more again. I'm re-reading the Goblet of Fire for kicks, and I just finished this book:



It's about the world drastically changing and families having to survive without usual comforts, and even basic needs. Somewhat suiting I suppose!

I also just received this as a belated birthday present from Mom:



Something I desperately need. I've gained an astronomical 50 lbs in the past few years and none of my clothes fit anymore, so I live in my one pair of shorts and alternating three tops. I'm already starting to change my eating habits and I'll be taking up swimming and tennis soon.

Stylish clothes, here I come!


P.S. Downside to typing outside in the Florida heat - I felt a tickle on my arm and realized it was three huge drops of sweat sliding down from my armpit. Ew.

"Did you know golf courses are an environmental blight because of the chemicals used to keep the grass green?"

My parents are on their way back from Kentucky now so our house-sitting-mini-vacation has come to an end. It's also Matthew first day back to work after a long weekend so it's a little weird being in this house by myself (despite having lived here several years before getting married).

I'm currently drinking tea and watching the first season of Gilmore Girls while washing all the bedding, dishes, sweeping, vacuuming, ect. so Mom can see she's raised a nice responsible girl and her head won't explode when she arrives to find crumbs under the table and crinkled sheets are her bed.


I hope everyone had a nice time celebrating the 4th this past weekend.

Matthew and I braved the heat for free food in Central Park. We lasted about an hour and two hot dogs before feeling weak and nauseous from the broiling sun.

I did bring my camera to take some crowd shots, but without my macbook i really don't have a good way to get them online (matthew's laptop that I've been using is old and I fear anything being uploaded would cause it to spontaneously combust).

We did, however, run into Trent, Allison, and the kids and Allison was nice enough to take a photo of me and mr. cutie and email it to me:


(his little crossed legs make me giggle)

Our friend Shirlee showed up at the house later in the day and, besides a few visits to Matthew's parents for food and fireworks, we spent most of the weekend being lazy and sun-stroked with her on the sofa.

Oh! Sunday we made an appointment and viewed the "dream house" I wrote about a fwe days ago. It's very nice, and has lots of room, but there are several downsides includeing

- one very little bathroom with a black porcelain toilet and black tiles on the wall
- a mirrored wall in the master bedroom
- a narrow hallway kitchen that connects the two halves of the house

I'm not as excited about it as I was before....for good reason as you see. BUT, it's still in a great location for a good price, so when our lease is up in three months we'll see if it's still available. In the mean time, I'm still checking out craigslist for rental homes in Colonialtown. If you hear of anything good, let me know :)

P.S. If you want to see some BEAUTIFUL homes, look on craiglist at Lake Eola homes for $3000+/month. Gorgeous!

Hello, PW readers

Thanks to Cindi's comment on Miz Booshay's inspiration post at Pioneer Woman Photography, I've had an influx of new visitors today.

With my hard drive being busted and no new material to show right now, I feel like a terrible let down. In order to give you something pretty to look at, I'll post some of my past favorites again.

These are from our one year wedding anniversary beach trip in February, as well as some of my favorite people shots from the past year or so :)

Hope you visitors will stick around for the new stuff to come - and for the give-away I'll be having within the next few weeks. Details soon!

Hello independance, and helloooo shiny floors

It's past midnight now so I guess I can say "Happy 4th!". I'm tired but not yet in the mood to sleep. I'm contemplating a cup of hot cocoa with hazelnut liqueur...I don't really care that it's still 95 degrees outside.

I have to admit, I have a severe case of real estate lust right now. See, for the past week Matthew and I have been talking about NOT renewing our lease this autumn after all and instead, renting an actual HOUSE in the same area.

I've been looking on craigslist religiously about three times a day for new listings, and each time putting our max rent as $150 less than the amount we pay now. I've stuck to this search plan to avoid finding someplace we probably shouldn't look at that's overpriced.

Well, tonight I cracked. There have been no new listings in that price range so I decided not to enter one in my search tonight. NOW I know where all the good houses are!

I happened to find the most perfect place imaginable for us.








It's 1600 sq ft (that's twice the size of our current apartment - yes, TWICE), has hardwood floors, a wood burning fireplace, screened in patio, at a great location less than a mile away, and here's the kicker -

it's only $45 more a month than our current rent!

So technically speaking, if we ate out a few times less per month, there would be no affect to our budget.

I'm physically drooling and ready to cry over this place. We're calling first chance after the holiday.

Ok. I might be ready for bed now.

Good and Bad Again

So, my macbook hard drive is kaput. Nothing is salvageable. On to Apple Care it will go.

Thankfully, I had most of my original photos and past work saved on an external hard drive, but my more recent food photos, ikea expedition, vlog material, and nearly-finished edited wedding photos were lost. I'm really starting to miss being able to have my photos and editing software available. I haven't even been using my camera because it feels like there's no point right now.


In good news, I have my flickr pro account back, meaning I have access to all my online photos again.

In celebration, I'm posting some of my favorites over the past few years from several categories.

Settle in, there's a bunch.


Macros

Beetle, take 1


Beetle, take 2


in the backyard, after the rain


Berries is Dickson Azalea Park


Animals:

Leopard at the Sanford zoo


Sea World


Gorilla exhibit at Busch Gardens


Busch Gardens


Animal Kingdom



People

a random kid at the soccer field in Tampa


one of Dads character shots


my love


Karyn's wedding
>


Places

Orlando. My city


Epcot


Manhattan


Kentucky


Baldwin Park


Misc.

Miami store front window


Seltzer from the health food store


Cupcakes at Seven Sisters Coffee House (made by Blue Bird Bake Shop)



I think 21 should do it for now.