3 hours later

Still no Cox Web Mail. I found the link to customer support and left a message. I was polite merely referring to their Web Mail as "inferior" rather than trash talking it like you know I'm tempted to do so. I'm thinking about opening a G-Mail account. I have AOL, Hotmail, and Yahoo accounts but they all get so much junk mail. That's the main reason why I made Cox my primary e-mail address because of the substantually fewer instances of spam. But if I can't even access my e-mail and this has been happening more and more often, then Cox is useless despite the minimal junk mail.

Like I need more problems...

I have a Cox e-mail address and guess what. Cox Webmail stinks! It has glitches on a regular basis. It used to not be so bad but it's getting worse. And the sad thing about it is that my e-mail account with cox is paid for by my parents (Joshua and I pay for our own internet out here in Texas, but it didn't make sense for me to change my e-mail address when I can still use my old one). You would think a paid web mail service would be superior to the free ones, but let me tell you it is NOT! Often I regret making my cox address my primary e-mail account. I can't even log in to check my e-mails. About an hour ago I checked my e-mail and saw something from a writing company but the web mail had logged me out due to inactivity (security feature). When I signed back in the glitch began and I now I can't even access my e-mail. ARGH! Usually when this happens it lasts for hours... AND I NEED MY E-MAIL NOW!

More Info

More about SocialSpark (which has sponsored this post), I have found this “paid to blog” website to be a nice addition to the other companies with whom I participate. I log in a couple of times a day to see if any new writing opportunities are available. Sometimes there are, other times there aren’t, but here and there I pick up a paying gig. Every little bit of money helps!

You should see my profile socialspark.com/bloggers/sen. One of the fun things about this blogging network is indeed the networking. As you can see, it’s a lot like myspace where I’ve got a group of friends (via friend requests), props (it’s nice to know that people like me and my blog), comments, top friends (which I need to fill out), and a count of my profile views. Plus all the info on me, my life, my interests, and my blog. Not to forget my profile pic and yes, I’m still obsessed with my wedding photos ;-)

One thing I really like about seeking paid opportunities on SocialSpark is that I can filter the search to only include the posts that I am qualified to write. The bad thing is that it won’t filter out the ones that have a waiting list. So there are plenty of times when I see a post I want to write and that I’m qualified for that I have to join the waiting list in hopes a slot becomes available. So it’s not a perfect website, but it brings in some cash as a side gig which is why I use it.

Brought to you by Social Spark.

STRESS

So here's the deal. Joshua is pretty much done being a substitute teacher. Next week he is doing classroom observances for his certification program (which does not pay) and then there will be no more work for him since the school year will be done. He still has Chick Fila part-time but so far has nothing else lined up. He's applying like crazy but nothing much has come of it yet.

My writing job got cut back because they hired too many writers. Plus any work I do now will not result in a paycheck until August. So now I've been applying like crazy (I've already sent out 50+ resumes in the past couple weeks) and not much is coming of that.

In addition to that, we're both being kicked off of our parents' health insurance (as previously mentioned) and we seem to keep getting sick with stuff (head colds, stomach bugs, and now I've got a heat rash!).

Pray for us!

Black-Friday.net

I love bargain hunting! Over the past few years I’ve started to get hooked on Black Friday. I know November seems far away but as quickly as time is passing by it will be here before I know it (though I’m mostly excited about November 7th being our 1 year anniversary, but that’s beside the point). Joshua and I spent our first married Black Friday waiting in line at Target around 5am. The line wrapped all the way around the building but we patiently waited as the time ticked down to the bargain hunting paradise. This was my first ever in person Black Friday shopping experience. It was surprisingly orderly as we filed into the store and calmly (mostly because we had no need for the toy section, now that looked scary!) located our pre-planned purchases from our store circular (a red microwave $30, a toaster $4.50, a waffle iron $15, a vacuum $35, a sewing machine $10, a stand mixer $35, and towels $2 each). We got amazing deals and scored just what we needed for our new home together.

My beloved computer was a Black Friday purchase online. I’m a huge Tigerdirect.com fan and I got an ad for a killer deal on a 19 inch silver LCD monitor plus the computer I had been eyeing for awhile was already nicely priced. So it was time to buy! A year later I bought Joshua a 2 gig flash drive online on Black Friday. So online shopping the day after Thanksgiving is the easiest way to go! Great deals, no hassle.

I just discovered a great bargain hunting website devoted specifically to thanksgiving deals. Black-Friday.net gives the first look at store circulars before anyone else. You can even sign up for email alerts well in advance (like now). Best of all, you can avoid waiting in the long line and get your Black Friday deals on the web as they provide links to the great deals available for purchase online! Just like I did with my computer :-)

Applying for Medical Insurance

Foruntately for Harris County there is a healthcare program called "Gold Card" that provides medical care for local resident that qualify for little to no co-payment. Basically, if you're poor (broke newlyweds as you know) and you live here then you are eligible. We had our meeting today. It was a terribly nerve wracking experience. Over a week ago I spent an hour on the phone on hold waiting to make an appointment. I finally got through and we set up our appointment for May 29th. Last night as we more fully prepared for our appointment we were stressed and nervous as we gathered everything from pay stubs to birth certificates to utility bills. We filled out the application form together but found parts to be tricky. Income was a big problem because with him being a substitute teacher and me being a freelance writer, our income varies. It's not a clear answer. The other part that was difficult was the section about health insurance. We're both in the process of being kicked off of our parents' health insurance. At the meeting that did turn into a problem because we need to prove that neither of us have health insurance. So now we have to make yet another appointment after we both obtain letters of policy cancellation. This stuff is so frustrating!

Business Attempts

Ever since I was a little girl I’ve been trying to run my own business. I’ve never been too successful at it though. Perhaps I should not be so prideful and should seek out help from sources like Six Sigma Education. I’ve always wanted to figure it out on my own but after years of trying with little success I guess what I’ve learned is that learning from others will bring benefit faster than learning from my own mistakes.

My Husband IS Indiana Jones

On Wednesday, Joshua came home from work and found me lying in bed. I had barely slept the night before, then I got up and went to playgroup which I hosted at our pool here at the apartment, I swam with Dorie and her boys for about 3 hours, Joshua came home long enough for us to go to the post office, bank, and get some food together, then I worked online and did dishes and laundry. By the time 10pm rolled around I was ready for sleep... and then my husband suggests, "I wonder if AMC is doing a midnight showing of Indiana Jones. Do you want to go?" I give him a funny look as I'm lying on the bed clearly worn out. "It'd be fun!" he adds trying to coax me into it. He then calls the movie theater to find out for certain and indeed they have a midnight showing. He shouts for joy and returns to the bedroom to give me those puppy dog eyes (more like kitten eyes, I'm a cat person). We had both been having a bad week and it was clear he needed something fun to help him carry on. So I rolled out of bed and put on some clothes. He was thrilled!

Honestly, I've never seen the Indiana Jones movies. I've seen parts and pieces as the movies were being watched in the home I grew up in, but I've never sat down and watched the whole series. But I knew enough to see the movie. I knew Indiana Jones is this heroic man that goes in search of lost artifacts, deals with "bad guys", but is afraid of snakes. We arrived at the theater around 10:45. As we waited in line Joshua attempted to fill me in on more details of the movies but we were so fascinated people watching as there were a number of guys dressed up like Indiana Jones and groups of fans chatting with excitement. When the line was released into the 2 theaters, we quickly snatched our back row seats and proceeded to wait the next hour for the movie to begin. Joshua took this time to fill me in on the back story of the movie.

The movie was entertaining, though there were some creepy parts (I'm sensitive, deal with it). The biggest kick I got was from seeing all the similarities between my husband and Indiana Jones.

1- History Major - My husband has a bachelor's degree in History. His original plan was to be a history professor (just like Indiana Jones, though reality is nowadays you have to be in school well into your 30's to even get a shot at being a professor, and those odds are like getting onto American Idol, seriously it's that tough). As a substitute teacher Joshua has had the opportunity to teach history to high school students.

2- Weird Fact Knowledge - My husband knows all kinds of weird facts about ancient civilizations, animals, bugs, etc. just like Indiana Jones.

3- Yammering - There was a scene in the movie where Indiana Jones is in a dangerous situation but he's yammering on about the difference between mud and quick sand, when clearly it's not the time to be talking, it's the time to take action and get out of the dangerous situation. I gave my husband a look as he's the same way where he will go on and on about trivia, even when no one cares or it's not applicable to the situation.

4- Split Second Reactions - Heroic - My husband did rescue me from a snake just as I was about to step on it. Sure reminds me of this action adventure star. See: http://www.supposedmarriedbliss.com/2008/04/my-husband-just-rescued-me-from-4-foot_15.html

5- My Husband Owns a Whip -Don't ask.

6 - Explores Abandoned Buildings with No Fear - You would be surprised how many times Joshua and I have been out, tromping through the woods, have come across an abandoned building, and he just enters in like, "Cool! I wonder what's in here." I normally stand outside and wait for him to be finished with his exploration. I don't want to face the possibility of rotted floor boards giving out, poisonous critters, or creepy discoveries. Whereas my husband approaches these old buildings without fear and returns to me with stories of what he found.

7- Thinking Outside the Box - Joshua is an "outside the box" thinker. Drives me crazy sometimes (because then I have to be the down to earth one) but there are times when it leads to incredible solutions I wouldn't have thought of. Very similar to Indiana Jones.

8- "You're a Teacher?!" - My husband is not your typical teacher. I'm sure there will be many times in the future (if not already) he'll be outside the classroom and people would never guess he's a teacher since he's this outgoing, adventurous, rebellious man.

So while other women have fantasized about marrying a guy like Indiana Jones, I did so without realizing it! LOL!

I caught my husband's cold...

I was sick for about a week from some little stomach bug while my husband was sick with a cold. Then I got better for a couple of days. And now I've come down with what he's been sick with. Fun, fun. Though good news, I started my period so I'm definitely not pregnant. Bad news is I'm sick and cramping. I just can't win. So I'm sitting here drinking hot chocolate in the 90 degree weather trying to comfort my sore throat and aching lungs.

So you want to know how I earn money from my blog?

Let me tell you about SocialSpark. As you know, I not only use my blog for a personal journal and a way for friends and family to keep up with me and my married life here in Texas, but I also use my blog as a source of income on the side. This has been a real blessing as our financial situation has been (and still is) in need of supplementation.

Remember the Dockers fashion judge video I made? Yes, I got paid for that. I found the gig on SocialSpark.

Signing up is easy and free. Though keep in mind that there is a code of ethics to be followed:
-100% Audit-able In-Post Disclosure
-100% Transparency
-100% Real Opinions
-100% Search Engine Friendly
If you write for any of the advertisers through Social Spark you are expected to have integrity to your posts as well as your blog as whole.
-Don’t take posts that you have unfavorable opinions about the company or brand being advertised.
-You need to make it clear when you’ve been paid for a post and whom is your sponsor.

The website is simple to navigate. To earn money all you have to do is log in and check out the marketplace to search for available opportunities. Check to see which ones you qualify for and then click “take opportunity.” Sometimes opportunities are full, but they do give the option to “wait for a slot” so if the opportunity becomes available you will be notified. When you take an opportunity you are given 12 hours to write the post and fill out the form notifying the company that the post is completed. It’s an easy process to do work on SocialSpark.

SocialSpark is different from other “pay to blog” sites because it also has the “social” element like you’d see on myspace or facebook. You can add friends, send messages, and update your profile. This makes the sight more friendly (pun intended).

Overall, SocialSpark is a reputable company that really does pay you to post reviews in your blog for advertisers. Why not give it a try?

Texas Heat... and Humidity?!

Texas is NOT dry heat. Well, at least Houston isn’t. It’s the weird combination of humid and dry. It’s drier than Virginia. My skin dries out and I need lotion pretty much all of the time, whereas in VA I only needed it occasionally. There’s a bigger difference in temperature whether in the sun or in the shade here in Texas compared to Virginia. There’s also a bigger difference in nightfall temperature. However, the humidity is pretty much the same. No matter what you sweat, all of the time. It’s awful. It makes you want one of those super powered basement dehumidifiers to suck the moisture out of the air. Since it’s Texas, it’s technically a dry climate but we’re so close to the Gulf of Mexico that we are get ocean water humidity. It’s a terrible mix. And to think, it gets hotter here than in Virginia. Don’t get me wrong, I love Texas, but as far as the heat and humidity I think I shall melt.

15

I live only 6 hours from Mexico. So as you can imagine the Latino culture is mixed into the Houston lifestyle… well, at least somewhat. I didn’t know that there is a special party for a girl’s 15th birthday in the Latino culture until I stumbled across Quinceanera invitations online. Who knew? I remember my 15th birthday. I went to a youth dance at church wearing a sparkly red dress that my Mom bought me as a present. It was pretty much my last hoorah before I got sick and spent the next 7-8 years fighting illness. Good thing I didn’t know at the time what was in my future.

However, the future that I’m now living in is much better than my past. When I was 15 I had a lame boyfriend who even though there was a dance on my birthday and we spent the whole night together, he totally forgot it was my birthday and didn’t even say “Happy Birthday” to me. Whereas this year, I spent my 23rd birthday being treated like a princess by my beloved and handsome husband. Yeah, he knows how to do a birthday right! :-D

Blogging is Dangerous

Blogging is dangerous. The other night I was checking the blogs of my friends while my husband was home. He decided to take a look at what I was viewing. At first it was fun, sharing the adventures of my friends with my husband. But too quickly it turned into a painful event as my husband felt jealous of others with their happy wedding planning and newlywed experiences, succesful careers, and growing families (hence why he's never on facebook anymore). This led to a serious discussion about how his family made our dating, engagement, and wedding miserable and we're both still angry that they did that to us. Then a discussion about Joshua's work. He wants to be a teacher, but is so sick of being a substitute. He's looking forward to doing something different for the summer but also uneasy about the prospect of not getting a teaching position in the fall. All valid. All necessary for me to know. But a tough conversation none the less. And then we addressed some more in depth concerns... which is not pretty.



The next day I was updating my own blog and he read it. At first it was fun, he loved my write up of our 6 month anniversary celebrations. Then he was perusing my other blog posts and enjoying them. This led to talking about how great it is that I'm journaling our experiences. That's when it turned bad. We started to talk about how he hasn't been keeping record of our life together. Our conversation began to turn to the recollections of the bad experiences, hence why he wants to forget. This created another serious discussion. Before that we were doing so well. Despite being sick with a cold, he was cracking jokes and I was finding him entertaining and adorable. Then it all went downhill. I guess I'm just going to have to keep my blogging life to myself. Seems to bring up too many issues for him. Or at least it's hit or miss.

Filing Cabinet

My husband and I always joke that he has a filing cabinet in his pants. Seriously, he carries his wallet, pocket knife, cell phone, pen, papers, sometimes snacks, etc. all in his pockets. Watching him load up and unload his pants pockets is pretty funny (granted similar to me loading up my purse). You can understand why he prefers pants with multiple pockets or even cargo khakis. For example: See 5.11

6 Month Anniversary Celebration Date - Fine Arts Museum of Houston

Our 6 month anniversary fell on Wednesday May 7th. But we had our big celebratory date on Saturday May 10th. We had been talking about going to the Museum of Fine Arts and seeing the Pompeii exhibit for awhile. What better time to justify a more expensive date? We had survived 6 months of marriage without killing each other or running home to Virginia (can't really when it's 1400 miles away, but that works in our favor). It was time to celebrate!!!

We drove to the museum and found that it took around 30 minutes to get there. We're so spoiled living close to everything. We had a little trouble locating the free parking, but discovered a posh neighborhood with a lovely grove of trees so the detour was delightful. Once we found free parking, Joshua parked the car and we walked to the museum. We had coupons from Wachovia which knocked off $6 and Joshua had his student ID so that cut out another $4. So our total for 2 tickets was $24 instead of the $34 they regularly charge. So we were mindful of our terribly tight budget and made the best of it.

Unfortunately, the exhibit was a "No Photos" event. But I will tell you about it. The Fine Arts Museum had on display 500 artifacts from Pompeii. They had coins, jewelry, mosaics, keys, wall frescos, dinnerware, furniture, statues... and some creepy things like surgical tools and of course casts of the bodies (eww..). I enjoyed the jewelry the most. There was a definite trend of gold link necklaces with emerald stones, which I have seen necklaces of the like still for sale to this day. It was amazing how much things have not changed in nearly 2000 years. Though one jewelry trend that has changed (thank goodness) is that of phallus jewelry. I had an immature moment and laughed when I saw a silver pendant in the shape of... to put it nicely, a phallus. The museum keeping the exhibit family friendly merely referred to the tiny piece of jewelry as "Silver Pendant." I was so curious about it though, I mean, who wears such a thing?! Was it a symbol of being a harlot, an attempt for rebellious attention, or what? So later that night Joshua and I looked it up and turns out back then it was a symbol of good luck, kind of like a rabbit's foot, but only representations of it.. not the real thing... eww... okay... I'll stop. And of course it represented fertility. But once again, I'm glad we don't wear jewelry like that!

A similarity between then and now is the money. We were looking at a pile of coins when Joshua asked, "Do you have a penny?" I did and we got it out to hold it up to the coins on display. It was amazing the similarity. Same metal color, same old guy bust even facing the same direction (Cesar back then, Lincoln now), and on the back a building with similar structure with Roman columns along the front (ours the Lincoln Memorial). It was amazing to see that money is the same!

The Pompeii exhibit was astounding. Furthermore, it was nicely executed with an audio tour. We were each handed headphones and an Mp3 player device. As you approached a plaque with a number on it, you'd simply punch in the number and hit play to hear additional commentary. This allowed everyone to explore the exhibit at their own pace.

After we thoroughly toured the Pompeii exhibit, our tickets included general admission to the museum. We had a mere 40 minutes until the museum closed so we went on a whirlwind tour of the other artifacts and paintings. I wish I could remember the name of my favorite painting from the vast array of art on display. It was "Moon Over" something... but as I google it who knew there were so many paintings like that? Anyway, one of the most amazing artifacts we witnessed was that of a mummy casket (sans the mummy) complete with hieroglyphics.

In one of the painting rooms we discovered a window with a magnificent view of the church next door and the City of Houston in the background. While I'm uncertain whether cameras are allowed in the rest of the museum or not (they were clearly not allowed in the Pompeii exhibit), Joshua and I checked around, saw we were alone, and I quickly whipped out my camera to take a photo of the marvelous view.

The view from the Fine Arts Museum of Houston.

That's the City of Houston in the background.

After we left the museum, we had previously seen some fountains nearby and wanted to take advantage of the photo opportunity, as well as explore the museum district a little more.

We then walked to the grove of trees we had seen when turning around to find the free parking lot.

We found this grove of trees and thought they were majestic. Look at their winding and twisting branches that create this safe feeling cove of coverage. They seriously look like a set from a movie.
Kissing my husband :-)

I love those trees!

When we got back to the car, Joshua noticed something eventful. His car had hit exactly the 210,000 mark when we had parked at the museum. We were painfully aware of our financial situation, so we decided to eat out at Wendy's in Kingwood. We used to eat at Wendy's in Virginia all of the time, so it brought back happy memories. We wanted dessert but I'm severely lactose intolerant and Wendy's only had Frosty's. So we walked to the grocery store Randall's and bought a couple of $2 items from the bakery then sneaked back inside Wendy's with our dessert where we could continue to get free refills on our drinks! And here is a photo of my husband playing around with his green frosting.

Handsome, I know ;-)

6 Month Anniversary May 7th - Eat Rocks!

Due to hectic work schedules, the actual day of our 6 month anniversary we found ourselves with a mere half an hour to spend together during the day. We decided we'd still mark the event. We thought it'd be fun to go to the park here at the apartment complex and eat rocks.

A First

I took my first pregnancy test today. I've been nauseous on and off all week and over the past couple of days it became constant. At first I didn't think much of it, I have digestive problems anyway. But then I thought about it and freaked myself out that perhaps I was pregnant. At first I figured I'd just wait and see if my period starts on time, but after being up all night feeling sick, I had to know. I already had a test in the cabinent, one of those 5 days before your missed period tests. So I did it while Joshua slept. The results: NOT PREGNANT! Thank goodness. We're just not ready. So this means I've got a touch of some kind of stomach flu or something. At least I know for sure now.

My husband is also sick, but his started with his sinuses. So we're both sick and pathetic right now, lol! It happens.

Funny Story About the Sheets

I love my bedding! :-) I know, random, but seriously, I do! I looked at a lot of bedding sets but I chose a light weight quilt from Marshall’s. It’s made by DKNY, it’s satin, it’s blue, and it has wavy stitching throughout. I got it for a mere $25 (marked down from $75)! Then there’s my super soft burgundy fuzzy blanket; a modest $12. I bought these shortly after the “Texas Plan” came up and was preparing for our apartment. Fortunately, when Mike and Lisa offered to bring down some of our things, I was able to get these items there for free (what a blessing!)

Funny story about the sheets. When I visited Joshua in Texas in October, we bought a queen size bed together. We then bought sheets at Ross. I really wanted leopard sheets while Joshua wanted burgundy striped sheets. The sheets I picked out were $10 less so my choice won by price. That evening the bed was delivered and we were so excited to make our bed together. We went to put on the leopard fitted bottom sheet and to our dismay it didn’t fit! We double checked the package again QUEEN. This sheet set was clearly NOT queen sized; it was full size. It had been erroneously marked! Our bed was delivered around 10pm, Joshua had been working on dinner (he wanted to impress me by cooking a nice chicken dinner, but ended up smoking up the entire apartment so bad our eyes burned and we had to take a walk while the apartment aired out), and by now it was midnight. We needed sheets (and a back up plan for dinner). So what’s the only place open at that time that sells sheets? You got it, Walmart. We purchased a $20 burgundy sheet set (and some mozzarella sticks for dinner) and called it good. Joshua was able to return the leopard sheets later. Also, after leaving the chicken in the oven while it was turned off, slowly cooked it, and so dinner turned out wonderful. The chicken had a nice smokey flavor ;-)

We also have two special quilts. One that my Grandma made us, and one that Jenny made us. :-) My Grandma guessed on the color scheme and just so happened to choose burgundy. How perfect! Jenny made us a “crazy quilt” after Joshua and I admired the one she was working on when we visited her, Josh, and Todd in their apartment. It’s a very cool quilt with a little bit of everything.

Stalker List

One of my favorite "take a break" activities is to read the blogs of my friends (or check on my friends via facebook or myspace). This is a list of the blogs I frequent. If you are not on it, then I bet I don't know about your blog! Make sure to send me a message or comment informing me of your web address.

My Blog Stalking List:

Jenny - http://rosylemmons.blogspot.com/

Caitlin - http://cnbbride2b.blogspot.com/

Ruth - http://ruthkathryn.blogspot.com/

Kathleen - http://tootinghilarious.blogspot.com/

Dorie - http://www.jlynnfamily.blogspot.com/

Audrey - http://teenagexheart.livejournal.com/

Amanda - http://itsybitsypolkadotbikini.blogspot.com/

Evelyn - http://thepieperfam.blogspot.com/

Catie - http://davidandcatieborland.blogspot.com/

Xarrissa - http://perpetuallyperegrine.wordpress.com/

Raphaella - http://www.mychinaadventures.blogspot.com/

Dermer - http://joshdermer.blogspot.com/ (That's not my Joshua, it's his friend Josh Dermer)

Christina - http://annetoney.livejournal.com/ Though she never updates it ;-p

Garret - http://musicalclarity.livejournal.com/ Christina's Beau

Eaves Dropping - http://eavesdropwriter.blogspot.com/ I don't know this person but it's a funny blog I just found.

So there you have it! If you are on my list, I am stalking you on your blog! ;-)

I Recommend Getting Married Young

I was thinking about something my friend (and former petsitting / business sitting client) Jean told me. She said she's glad she got married young. She's been married for more than 20 years and now sees what getting married in her young adulthood was an advantage.

"It gets harder to get married as you get older. You get more stuck in your ways. There are things I care about now that I didn't care about when I was younger. Like recycling, now I care about recycling and would have to make sure to find someone who also cares about recycling. Instead, I got married young, before I had myself fully established. So we grew together through the years." - Jean (By the way, her and her husband do recycle together.)

Basically, she pointed out that when you are young you are still moldable. You can grow together with your spouse since you are both still figuring out who you are and can do so together. Whereas, the later you start, the pickier you get, the harder it is to find a mate, and the tougher it is to grow together as one.

Now that's not to say that getting married older is bad or not possible. My point is simply that too many people are against young marriages. If two young people are getting married because they love each other, are the best of friends, and are committed to making it work no matter what, then yes, they should get married. It's only when young marriages are based on hormones do they fall apart (which is why I think people should date for at least 6 months before engagement, but that's just my opinion, I think it gives time to get to know each other, get most of the issues out on the table, and to let the hormones calm down a bit).

I'm glad I got married at 22. I think early 20's is the perfect age for marriage. You know enough about yourself to choose an optimal mate, but not so much there isn't room for growth and the intertwining of your combined life together.

All in all, I recommend getting married young... as long as you're ready for it.

Fitting In

I love my ward! I have some amazing friends, the best visiting teaching companion, an awesome route, and I'm surrounded by wonderful examples of womanhood and motherhood.

That being said, there is also the flip side. I think some of the sisters in the ward do not like me. Most are friendly, say hi (even knowing me by name or asking my name if just meeting ... or if they simply forgot, but at least they're nice enough to ask), strike up a conversation with me, or at the very least smile in my general direction. But there are a few that have stern faces and unapproachable body language when I'm around. I will smile and say hi and they have to strain to create a smirk.

I guess it's because I'm the young one in the crowd. I'm only 23, I don't have any kids, and I've only been married for 6 months. Perhaps they see me as "not their peer" and see no need to create a friendship. Other factors may include jealousy. The fact that I am young. The fact that I don't have any children to care for and these sisters long for those days long past (particularly those that rushed into having children due to their unrealistic expectations and discovered that being a mother is a tough job, not at all what they expected, and are now bitter). The fact that I'm a newlywed and I'm sure these sisters had fabulous newlywed experiences, but then got to know their husbands and weren't as pleased (if they only knew the drama I've faced they would NOT be jealous, but anyway...). They may be jealous that I'm a work from home writer and they wish they could be too. They may even be jealous of the friendship that Dorie and I have. Dorie has 2 children and when we go to park days, church, and other gatherings, I help her watch and play with her boys. Most of the sisters in the ward average 4 children. They probably see Dorie and I and are jealous that I help her instead of them. I try to help most everyone, but yes, I do help Dorie so much more because she returns the favor to me (rides, lunch, errands, etc.). Perhaps these sisters could learn from this example and snatch up the next newlywed sister in the ward to be their little buddy and help them out with their kids. Dorie was smart, but mostly Dorie was and continues to be a true friend. So of course I love helping her out and spending time with her! That's the example they should be following.

Just for Fun - Dockers Fashion Judge

This was fun! I made this video pretending to be a fashion judge for a Dockers commercial. I had the option to either be “amazed” by the clothes or “decline” the commericial clothing. It was so much more fun to decline ;-) I put on my favorite dress (which my husband bought me for my birthday), set up my digital camera (I know, not great quality, but it worked, and I just discovered it records sound too), and improvised. Though my hair was doing something a little weird to the side, but we’ll pretend that was intentional ;-) I tried for a second take but the first was better. Even I laughed at myself!

There is a Dockers contest going on to create a commercial for Dockers. That looks like good fun too!

6 Months of Marriage

Today marks our 6 month anniversary! YAY! People say the first year of marriage is the hardest and we are happy to be half way done with it! Truth is, for us marriage started out unreasonably rough whereas for most it's pure bliss. However, those that start off on a high tend to be falling down to reality by the 6 month point and becoming less satisfied with their marriage. But for Joshua and I marriage is just getting better and better with time. I guess that means the bad times have been a blessing because it makes any other time good by comparison, lol!

4 Year Old Birthday Party

On Monday, I had the great service opportunity to help with my friend Dorie's party celebrating the birthday of her 4 year old son Micah. There were about 15 kids and 5 adults. My main job was the keep track of her 1 year old son Jonah (he's my little buddy, seriously he's the cutest baby ever and gives me a slight case of baby fever).

The party was originally planned for the park but due to a heavy rainstorm Dorie had to move it to her house. I helped blow up balloons, answer the door, and assure the mothers they can go take a break. The party started with spiderman tattoos for everyone and playing with balloons during the wait. Once everyone arrived it was time for the pinata! Dorie hung it up in her garage and left the garage door open to let in some air while the rain deterred the children from venturing outdoors. However, the rain did not deter little Jonah. He wandered in and out and finally took off down the driveway towards the culdesac. I ran inside the house, grabbed my shoes and rain jacket (I came prepared), and went outside after Jonah. Dorie didn't mind him in the rain, just as long as he was safe, so him and I played around outside in all the water. Eventually he was ready to return to his nice, dry home. The other mothers there said to me, "You're too nice. We all looked at Jonah and said, 'Come back' but you went outside after him." I had fun with him though :-)

Then it was time for cupcakes! I took photos while Dorie handled the herd of kids. After eating the kids ventured off into video games, toys, etc. but at one point Jonah was just done. He was crying and couldn't take the crowd any longer. I suggested to Dorie, "He seemed to have fun outside in the rain with me. What if I took him outside for some one on one time since he seems overwhelmed with all the kids." She responded, "Good idea! How about I get the stroller!" While I put on my rain jacket, she dressed Jonah, then we walked out the garage where she handed me the stroller and a very large umbrella. We put him in the stroller, pulled the top down, and I took Jonah for a walk in the rain. He LOVED it! He was fascinated with the rushing water pouring towards the street drains and the fun of getting outside and away from the party. Everytime I'd stop walking to peek around the stroller cover he'd give me this huge smile :-D Ahh! He's so cute!

One of the mothers noticed me taking him for a walk in the rain and asked, "What are you doing you crazy?!" I told her, "He can't take it anymore. I'm taking him him for a walk." She replied, "Wow, you're just too nice!"

Jonah and I were only gone about 10 minutes but it was exactly what he needed. When he was brought back in with the kids he was fine. He just needed a break.

At this point, mothers were arriving to pick up their children. It was pouring and I was already in my rain gear so I took Dorie's huge umbrella and ushered people out to their cars. Once again I kept hearing, "You're too nice." Maybe it's just me, but this is just what you do. When you come to help you do just that, you help. And truth is I had fun doing it! I love the rain and it was a comfortable temperature, plus I came prepared with shoes and a rain jacket, so I liked being out in the rain. Also, the people in my ward are all so nice and helpful, particularly Dorie, so this seemed like the least I could do.

After the party, it came down to Dorie, Micah, his friend Sam, Jonah, and myself. I ended up playing "the bad guy" with Micah and Sam and got put in jail, which was the laundry room. But when the boys closed me in there Jonah cried! I told you he's my little buddy. So the boys had to let me out to make Jonah happy, haha! Though the following times they "put me in jail" Jonah didn't notice. Oh, well ;-)

After Sam's mother came it was time to take me home. Dorie sent me home with cupcakes, pink lemonade, and promised me she'll feed my cat and water my plants while I'm out of town this summer. So if you ask me, all this "helping" was a lot of fun plus I'm getting what I need in return. It's good to help :-)

A Vulture on the Temple

On Saturday May 3rd, Joshua and I went to the Houston Temple. When we arrived we noticed something unusual about the angel Moroni. Joshua parked the car and we got out to take a good look. Sure enough there was something unusual, a vulture sitting on the trumpet horn of the angel Moroni statue!

I sure hope that isn't an omen :-/ Lol!

We were cutting it close on the 6pm session so we quickly entered the temple (after taking a photo of the vulture atop the temple of course!). As we were getting checked in I hear a familiar voice excitedly say, "Sarah?!" I turned around to see Dorie and Jed! I had no idea they were going to the temple that day, let alone for the same session as we were planning! What a happy blessing! We all went in and got ready. The temple wasn't busy so it was just the 4 of us and the temple workers. It was a sweet experience to go through a session with our close friends from the ward and an exciting miracle to get to do so without planning ahead :-)

By the way, as we were leaving the temple I checked for the vulture. It had left by then. I told Dorie and Jed about it and joked, "We hope it wasn't an omen... but maybe it was just an omen that you two were coming!" Dorie cracked up and the guys gave me a descent chuckle in response ;-)

Cats

We just got offered another cat. Another neighbor got evicted. Joshua gave me the shaking of the head, NO! Haha! Though we don't understand why the nice people are getting evicted yet not our upstairs neighbor that keeps us up at night with his bass guitar, partying, and fighting. We'd love to see him move!

Which I don't think I mentioned, but when Tony moved he couldn't take both cats with him so Luney (I call her the much prettier name of Luna, since she's named after Luna "Luney" Lovegood from Harry Potter, Tony's idea) stayed behind with us. She's primarily an outdoor cat so we've been able to avoid the pet security deposit of $300 but we are spending an extra $20 a month on cat food (you feed one cat outside, you feed them all). So yes, we now have our very own cat.

Baby Clothes

It seems like every time Joshua and I go shopping, particularly to the all in one shops, he catches me looking at baby clothing. I assure him I am not looking for us, since we are definitely not ready to have a baby. Instead, I have been keeping an eye out for baby shower gifts since so many of my friends (Jenny just had her baby girl Kate a week ago) and even family (my older brother and his wife are expecting a baby boy named Ty in June!) are having babies. I’m in no hurry to join the bandwagon, but it’s still fun to share in everyone’s baby joy :-)

Driving Mrs. Sarah

I got my driver’s license a mere 2 weeks before Joshua and I got married. I DID get my driver’s permit right after I turned 15 but a month later I was stricken ill and left bedridden, which turned into years of being housebound (this started in 2000). I was in such terrible pain just the vibrations from the car and the bumps in the road caused me misery. I tried numerous medications and even had a few surgeries but was still sick anyways. Gradually I was getting better, with the most notable improvements beginning around summer of 2005. Then slowly I gained more health. By summer 2007 my doctor couldn’t believe how my illness had gotten so much better. To further the progress I did an aggressive physical therapy regimen. I had been in too much pain previously to undergo this strenuous treatment, but the time had finally arrived. Best of all, it was working! As my dear fiancé was in Texas, I continued the medical treatment in order to prepare for marriage. One day I needed a ride from Williamsburg and my sister drove me home to Gloucester. This was the first opportunity I had to talk with her about my engagement and plans to move to Texas. She suggested I get my driver’s license before I move because Houston would require challenging city driving whereas Gloucester is easy country driving. I didn’t feel physically ready to pursue driving, but my sister made a good point. She even added, “What’s the worse that could happen? You fail the test, you’re embarrassed, you try again.” So I gave it a shot. Learning to drive was a nerve wracking experience, especially since I was terrified I’d wreck the car and have to spend all my moving/wedding money fixing it which would postpone getting married, or worse that I’d get into an accident and that would ruin the marriage and moving plans. Basically, I was terrified of the adversary taking the opportunity to get in my way while I was pursuing the righteous path of a temple marriage. But my Mom helped me to learn to drive and I succeeded! Though I did use my TENS unit, painkillers, and pillow for my back, lol! I got my license just in time to get married and move to Texas.

Joshua is helping me to learn to drive around here in Houston, TX. What a proud moment it was when he added me to his car insurance. It’s exciting to be making such triumph over this illness and the timing has clearly been God’s will.

Stolen Strawberry

I have such a beautiful container garden on my patio. I absolutely love it! We even have some odds and ends of furniture out there including a shelf wine rack, a beat up wicker and wrought iron chair, and the mahogany ladder from the yacht Tony used to live on. I kept these for the intention to use as plant stands and such. Currently the small chair and the ladder are blocking the missing rung in the fence that surrounds my patio. Why? Last week I had a lovely strawberry mysteriously disappear. There was no evidence of disturbance such as an animal or a bug would’ve left had either been the culprit. Oh, no. It was clear that someone stole my strawberry! I figure it must’ve been some brat kid who spotted the ripe, red berry while wandering around the apartment complex. Since I can fit through the missing rung, but just barely, that proves it was someone small. So far the furniture barricade is working. But if I catch any kids messing with my garden, I’m going to go after them like the crazy ol’ cat woman I am!

Already Found a Realtor - 2 Years in Advance

Joshua and I already have our future realtor picked out. We’re hoping to be able to buy a house (well, technically put a down payment on a house while the rest is covered by mortgage lenders that we’ll pay off month by month, but in today’s world that still counts as “buying” a house). Mike and Lisa recommended their realtor Sandy because she cared for them and was thoughtful enough to point out housing expenses. For example, when looking at a house with high vaulted ceilings most realtors would express their admiration of this beautiful architectural feature. However, Sandy pointed out, “These high ceilings may be pretty but they’ll cost you about $50 extra a month in air conditioning.” Now that’s someone who is more concerned about her client than her commission.

We were fortunate enough to meet her at Mike and Lisa’s Sealing. At first I thought she was just a really nice friend of theirs and then come to find out she’s their realtor! Joshua and I told her that in a couple of years we want her to be our realtor. She said, “I’d love to help you two find a home. It’s always better to help ‘find a home’ rather than ‘sell a home.’” Now that’s the best kind of realtor. I look forward to working with her someday!

Sunglasses

Some vintage sunglasses are cool, others not so much. I saw a lady here at the apartments with some sunglasses on that looked like those paper 3D glasses, which looked ridiculous. However, the return to noticeable and stylish sunglasses is fun. I’ve seen photos of friends (in particular my soon-to-be sister-in-law Caitlin) wearing vintage inspired sunglasses and looking super cute! I guess some people just have better style than others.

Blog Company

Who wouldn’t want to earn money from their blog? It’s easy to write an occasional review and express your opinion amidst the usual blog posts of daily life. I take advantage of this opportunity, being a broke newlywed after all, and will write posts that I get paid to do so. I recently found a new company where you can make money to blog: Bloggerwave. Check them out!

Mothers - Daughters of God

My husband and I were catching up on the last session of General Conference (we missed it due to one of those ever important but never fun “serious talks”) this Sunday. I particularly liked the talk on mothers called Daughters of God. Elder Ballard expressed a heartfelt appreciation for mothers with a touch of humor and a call to everyone to understand better the great sacrifices mothers are making for their families. Also, to understand why mothers are exhausted all of the time! He made an interesting point when advising mothers how to better take care of themselves when he mentioned to avoid ANY substance abuse of ANY kind even if thought it may enhance productivity and give added energy. Quote: “Avoid any kind of substance abuse, mistakenly thinking that it will help you accomplish more.” It made me think of all the caffeine in today’s drinks and even foods! (I saw a Snickers bar with caffeine in it and was utterly appalled!) Caffeine isn’t so bad of a drug that it will lead to drug rehabilitation but the withdrawal can feel nearly as bad as my husband found out when he finally gave up drinking Coke all the time. Plus the damage it does to your body just isn’t worth the temporary boost. Caffeine is like a credit card; it gives you money (energy) now that you have to pay for later WITH interest. Caffeine is like a causing your body a health debt.

Laptop Luxury

How I wish I had a laptop computer. Sometimes when I go and get the mail, I look over at the gorgeous apartment pool or the park behind it with the ducks and turtle swimming about the pond, and I think to myself how much fun it’d be to take my work as a writer outside. I recently received an advertisement in my inbox for a lightweight affordable laptop and had to stop myself from drooling, and more importantly from pulling out my credit card and getting myself into debt! Though I love my desktop computer and my nice cool apartment. So I’ll make do.