a peacock obsession?

I seem to have developed a bit of a peacock obsession, and I'm blaming pinterest for it. For some reason, they seem to be all over the place, and I found myself pinning peacock images, and then, finally created an entire board dedicated to peacocks. I want everything there. 

Oy. What has come over me? 

Or, maybe, instead of pinterest, it began when Steve painted this lovely peacock painting???

He went to a living social event that had them painting with cocktails.

The result? This gorgeous peacock painting, and Steve's new obsession with mimosas. 

wordless wednesday: just because

These were delivered to me last Thursday....

just because....Steve

I love that even though we live together now, he still sends flowers to me at the house, and I still send cards in the mail!

just because

on being taken advantage of

I'm such a bad blogger lately, eh? I still owe several posts about our trip to the UK two weeks ago, which was all sorts of wonderful, but there is something bothering me.

Last week, Steve was in Indianapolis for a conference for much of the week (we got home Sunday night and he left again Tuesday morning!). He had a hotel room for the time he was to be there, which makes sense, of course. He found out that a "friend" of his was going to be there too. This friend is the brother of a college friend, I don't think they were that close, really. Since Steve is a good guy, he offered to let the friend crash with him in his hotel room, since the friend didn't have any accomodations set up.

He accepted, and crash he did.

He stayed there through Sunday and never once offered to pay a dime towards the room bill, nor did he offer to take Steve to dinner or anything, as thanks. Also, Steve had rented a car, to get around the city, and the friend rode with him to the conference center each day.

I just feel like Steve was completely taken advantage of. He agrees, though would never say anything to the friend, which I don't blame him for- it's not as though I would say anything either. It just seems insane to me that this friend would think that he had a totally free ride for the week and I am appalled at the behavior of this "adult." I would think he should have offered top split the cost of the room, or taken Steve out for a nice dinner, or something. I hate seeing Steve get used by a so-called friend! He seems less bothered by it than me, which is typical of us, I think! He lets these things roll off much easier than I do.

What do you think? Am I taking this too seriously? Or am I justified in being totally annoyed with this "friend" of Steve's???

running for Cupid

This post comes in the form of a small plea, from me to you.

WHAT IF you could help the blind to see, or help the deaf to hear, or stop cancer? Well, with even a small donation to the Cupid's Undie Run, you could make that difference. Our charitable cherubs raise funds that directly benefit the Children's Tumor Foundation (CTF), a 501(c)(3) non-profit that funds much needed research aimed at finding a cure for the devastating nerve disorder neurofibromatosis (NF).

A life with NF is a life of fear and uncertainty that no child should have to suffer through. Without effective treatments, NF leads to blindness, deafness, cancer, severe learning disabilities, chronic pain, external tumors and possible bone deformities. It affects more than 2 million worldwide, and although CTF has made great strides, there are currently no treatments for NF.

We know this event is a bit crazy. Yes, running around DC in your undies in the dead of winter seems a bit risqué, but by doing so you are helping raise funds and awareness for a crucial cause. And you know what? It's pretty darn fun, too. So take a minute to remember what it's like to be a kid, and just imagine what it would be like to know that one day you would be deaf, blind or in uncontrollable pain. These kids need your help, so spread the word and make a difference today.

We are grateful for your contributions, as are the millions that need a solution. Sincerely,
- The Charitable Cherubs

My darling boyfriend Steve has decided to participate in this run and is actively fundraising for the event. It takes place on February 12, Valentines Weekend and he will run around the U.S. Capitol in his undies. It is a short race, under two miles, I believe, but COLD in February! I will be cheering him along from the sidewalk, in my red wool peacoat, scarf and gloves! :)

I'm posting this with the hope that perhaps you'll want to make a small donation to this cause. The smallest bit will help, so skip a stop at Starbucks/Dunkin Donuts/Tim Hortons tomorrow and send along the $5 instead! It will be greatly appreciated by those who really need it.

His fundraising page can be found HERE with more information.

Please feel free to post this on your own blog, and tweet if you'd like (I'm @lexilooo, if you aren't already following me!)

Thanks much!

wild wild wednesday

Recently, Steve and I began to notice some noises coming from the attic at night. It isn't much of an attic, really just a crawl space. He noticed that a piece of paneling on the side of the house was loose, so he thought it might have been a squirrel that had gotten in. After a few "visits," he realized that it was probably larger than a squirrel.

Over the weekend, we went out and bought a large trap.

He set a bait with cheese and croutons (ha!) and set it up.

Yesterday morning, this greeted him when he looked-

Rocky the raccoon!

I thought he was kind of cute and suggested we keep him, but Steve thought it was best to drive him to the woods and release him back with his friends, which he did.

He suspected that there may be a second raccoon, so he set the trap up again yesterday afternoon and just now texted me to say that a second raccoon was caught in the trap! Crazy, eh? Once again, he will drive Rocky II to the woods for release.

Next step? Repair the loose paneling on the side of the house :)

holidays...together and apart

Since September will be here in two days (wait, WHAT?!), I began thinking a bit about the upcoming holidays. I want to try to get things arranged a little sooner this year, as I always seem to wait until the last minute and end up super stressed. Of course, I know I am far from the only one who does this, but I'd like to avoid it, if possible!

We have a trip to Iowa in October for a wedding, and then there is Thanksgiving and Christmas. We also have a wedding in London, Ontario the weekend of Thanksgiving.

Since our very first Thanksgiving as a couple, Steve and I have spent the holiday together. We began dating in September and two months later, he came home to NH with me for the weekend. Since then, we have alternated Thanksgivings; one year in NH and the next in Iowa. It has worked out well. I think we've actually driven to both places most of those years. Yes, both are long drives, but worth it to not have to deal with airlines! Also, I like the adventure of a roadtrip.

As for Christmas, we've always, up until last year, been apart. We would do our Christmas together here in DC, and then go to our respective homes. It was never an issue and has always been just fine. Last year, Steve was graduating from Iowa State with his Master's and walked in December. The ceremony was the week before Christmas, so we flew to Iowa for that, spent a few days there and then I flew to NH. Steve actually flew to NH late Christmas Eve and was with my family on Christmas Day.

Now, Steve is telling me that we are going to Iowa for Christmas, since we were in NH last year. I suppose that makes sense, right? It is only fair, right? Still, I can't help be sad about it. It would be my first Christmas without my family. Even when I lived in Poland, I came home at Christmas and was with my family. That was also the worst Christmas in my memory, as my beloved grandfather passed away very suddenly and unexpectedly just a few days before. We were like zombies that year, I have very little memory of that day, which maybe is a good thing.

Growing up, I was so fortunate, I will admit. When I say that, I mean fortunate in the sense that my family was all close by. I grew up in the same town that my father grew up in, so his parents still lived there. My aunt lived about an hour away and my uncle was just a town over from mine. My mother grew up about an hour south of my hometown, but my grandparents moved to the town next to mine when I was six or seven. I have vague memories of their old house, but I really don't remember too much of them not being right there. My aunt, my mother's sister, lives about an hour away, not too far from my other aunt, my father's sister. Everyone has always been within an hour of my house. Christmas Eve is always spent with my father's family and Christmas Day is spent with my mum's.

I know how lucky I am to have had my family so close and was able to spend holidays and everydays with them. It really makes me sad that my children won't have this. With my family in NH and Steve's in Iowa, we will always have to choose.

How did you choose? How do you and your significant other decide where to spend holidays? Was it an easy decision? How do you make it easier on you, when you are away from your own family?

birthday spending

Steve's birthday is coming up in a few weeks and he's going to be 35! Eeeek! I've been thinking of ideas for festivities, and I want to do something fun, of course. I have one idea that I am doing, though I won't write it here now, just in case he reads this (he does very occasionally!), but it is super great and I know he'll love it.

His birthday is the 13th of September, a Monday this year. I was thinking of having people over Sunday and making a cake/cupcakes, and maybe going to a pub for a while, but I feel like we always do that and that gets old, like him! ;)

Nearby here, there is a ropes course that sounds really fun. Has anyone ever done something like this? It has ziplines, a ropes course and all sorts of obstacles. When you go, you have a 30 minute training session and then two to three hours of fun on the course. It is $55 a person and that includes the rental for equipment and such.

Do you think this is too much to ask people to spend? It isn't as though I'd invite a huge random group of people, it would all be close friends. Would you be annoyed if someone asked you to spend this much for someone elses birthday?

Thoughts? Ideas?

flower power?

Remember Steve's ex? The one that I met, but still greatly dislike? Well, she's back again.

It seems that her birthday was the other day and my sweet boyfriend decided to send her birthday flowers and balloons to say happy birthday.

WTF!?!?!?!

He and I were at dinner that night and he mentioned that he spoke to her, as it was her birthday, so he called to say happy birthday. The next day (yesterday) I was on facebook and glanced at his page (because someone commented on something I said) and I saw a photo of a bouquet of flowers with balloons attached with the following comment-

My birthday balloons and flowers from Steve! Kitty thought they tasted great, btw.

She posted the photo and tagged him for all the world to see!

WTF?!?!?!?!

First I was a bit shocked. Why is he sending flowers to another girl, and why did he fail to mention it to me when he said it was her birthday?!

I'm not sure if I am more upset that he sent the flowers to begin with, or that he failed to tell me about them and I had to find out via facebook and look like a jackass when people (ie, my sister) have asked why MY boyfriend is sending flowers to another girl.

(shouldn't her boyfriend be pissed too!?)

(he's not- he doesn't care)

(mid-westerners are so weird....)

We talked about it, and he doesn't think it is a big deal. They are friends, he says, nothing more, and she is far from a threat to me, but really, that isn't the point, is it? He sees it as a friendly gesture, not something romantic at all and said he won't send them anymore if it bothers me, which clearly it does.

What do you think? Am I over-reacting? What would you do/say/feel/think if this were you?

a proposal, or lack thereof

Okay, I have a confession. I fear that I've turned into one of those girls. The ones that I scoffed at, thought were ridiculous and told myself that I would never become.

I'm talking about the girls who become crazy and obsessed with becoming engaged. You see, Steve and I have been together for more than five years and we are not engaged and do not live together. For a long time, it didn't bother me, because I knew it was coming. I said that I didn't want to live with him until we were married, but frankly, I never thought it would be five years later and no engagement. While I still do know that it is coming, I am beginning to get very frustrated with both him and myself, but mostly myself for letting myself get so crazy about it, because I swore I'd never let myself get this way (whoa, way too many "myselfs" in a row...).

Like I said, we talk about it, and I know it is coming, but I need to make myself stop focusing on this so much, the lack of a ring and keep in mind that he loves me and it will happen and that is the important thing. I tell myself not to bring it up, and sometimes I am very good. Sometimes though, I am not so good and something will pop out of my mouth before I realize it. Luckily, he doesn't seem to be bothered by this- he's so easy going, he just lets it slide, but I will admit, that sometimes I let it get the better of me and I turn into a crying, girly, ridiculous mess, and that my friends, isn't pretty and isn't the girl that I want to be.

So, any ideas on how I can stop the focusing on the bad and remember all of the good things about my relationship? There are plenty, and I know this. I know how much he loves and cares about me and that he does want to be with me when the time is right, which will be soon enough, when I stop acting like a crazy girl!

If you were together for a while before an engagement, did you act a little crazy sometimes? How did you keep your head together and not let your heart take over?

she's an ex for a reason

I survived Friday night and meeting the ex.

(note that I didn't write MHE)

Yup, that's right. I didn't totally hate her.

I don't think that we are going to be holding hands and singing kumbayah anytime soon, but she wasn't completely awful and I was my usual sweet-as-pie self.

She hugged me and told me how nice it was to finally meet me. Hmmmm.

Since this is the first time in five years that I've met her, and in that time, Steve has only seen her a handful of times, I suppose I can be a big girl and be nice, right?

It may have also helped that she brought funfetti cupcakes with pink frosting.

case of the ex, part two

I am not looking forward to tomorrow.

I am meeting her.

The ex.

The most hated ex (MHE).

Apparently she and her boyfriend are passing through DC tomorrow on their way to North Carolina, and are staying over for the night. At Steve's house, in the guest room. Yes, clearly I will be there too, ensuring that the bedroom doors are securely locked from the inside.

As I've said before, I have no desire whatsoever to know or even meet this girl. None. Yes, she's a friend of his, but I don't need anymore friends, especially not ones who have a past with my boyfriend. I know that I am hardly alone in feeling this way. I don't really want her staying over, but since it is his house, not mine, and I don't even live there, I really don't have much say in the matter.

Apparently she's really looking forward to meeting me.

Sorry, the feeling is not mutual.

Have you ever been in this situation? Any words of wisdom or advice for me?

he's not your sexy

Want to know a secret? I'm not a fan of pet names. By that, I mean that I don't call people honey, sweetie, etc and to be honest, I am not a fan of being called them by others, with a few exceptions. Occasionally my grandmother will use one, but not too often. Most of my friends don't either (maybe it's a northern thing?). Sometimes Steve does, but we tend to use more silly things. Lately, he's been calling me pupcake (ie, puppy and cupcake), haha.

He has female friends who use them, and use them a lot. To him. I hate this, it drives me crazy and irritates the crap out of me. He says it's meaningless and harmless, and I know this, but still, I hate it. He's not your hun or sweetie or your anything. He's mine. His birthday was over the weekend and his facebook wall is filled with "happy birthday sweetie!" and "wish you were here to celebrate with us, sexy."

Don't call my boyfriend sexy! He's not your sexy!

Again, I know they don't mean anything by this, but I still hate it. He doesn't use words like that for others, so I know it shouldn't bother me, but it does and I don't know how to make it stop!

Do you use expressions like this? If not, what do you think of them? Am I being ridiculous by letting myself be annoyed by this?

birthdays and such

Steve's birthday is coming up in a few weeks and I have no idea what to get him.

I feel like this happens every birthday/holiday, probably because it does! I am so bad at presents, I never know what to get anyone! It isn't as though it's just him...I am the same way with friends and family! I have tons of ideas, but can never narrow it down.

He's not picky, and I feel like I need to be creative, but at the same time, it's hard. I don't really get him gadgets, because he has several, and I never know which ones, (ha!) and don't want to repeat something. He's not a huge sports person, so tickets to a game or event wouldn't really work for him. Usually I try to do something fun- last Christmas, I bought him several things, and enrolled him in the beer of the month club, which he is still enjoying! I can't remember what I got him for his last birthday! His birthday is three days after our anniversary, and this year, we will be in upstate NY the week prior for a wedding (Labor Day weekend) and will probably spend a few days there. We are thinking of going to Niagara Falls while up there, and a few wineries in the area, so it will be a mini vacation.

Am I an awful girlfriend for having no idea what to get him? What did you get your S.O. for his last birthday/Christmas?

thanks for the glue

As I mentioned, Steve is now the sponsor of an adorable Albanian called Redion. He began sponsoring him in mid-February. The day we decided to sponsor him, I noticed that his birthday was coming up, so I immediately picked up a birthday card to mail to him, which I did.

The other day, Steve received his first letter from Redion, along with a drawing of flowers! The letter, of course, was adorable, as they all are. In it, his sister, who wrote the letter, commented on the glue that he received. Steve was puzzled by that, and I was too, at first, until I remembered that I sent a package of stickers along with the birthday card.

So, if you are in Albania, apparently "glues" actually means stickers :)

le sigh

Lizzie posted this ad yesterday. I think it is quite original and maybe slightly shocking (at first glance, it totally looks as though she's flipping you off, which is probably the point)

Like Lizzie said, I can totally relate.

(I may have said to Steve tonight that if he proposes by June, I could totally pull off a December 2009 wedding...we'll see if he comes through....)

case of the ex

Are you friends with any of your ex's? If so, does this bother your significant other? Is your S.O. friends with any ex's? Does this bother you? How do you deal with it?

Steve has remained friends with several exs (do I need an appostrophe? exs? ex's?). One he considers a good friend of his and this bothers me to no end. I try, I really try not to let it, but I can't help it. She isn't nearby, they rarely see each other, I've never met her. Really though? I have no desire to know her. I've heard enough about their relationship and I don't like the person she was, and from what I've heard, I still don't like the person she is now and I can't for the life of me figure out why she deserves a position as a good friend of his.

I have one ex who I would consider a friend. There is one other ex who I might consider a friend, depending on the day (I won't go into the details....). Steve has met this second guy, as he was living in DC for a while and there was a group of us who would occasionally hang out. Steve hasn't met the first. He is not bothered by either of them and encourages me to be friends with all of my exs (when I saw all, it's not as though there are that many!).

The way I look at it, they are exs for a reason. They had a part in my life, they had their time with me, but now it is over and I don't know that they need to be carried into the future. Some might say that it is a good thing, to be friends with an ex, because it shows maturity, that you can move past problems and keep them in the past and move on. While I would maybe agree with this, it still bothers me that part of his past is also his future, because frankly, I don't want that past as part of my life. I don't want them visiting here and staying in my home. I don't want them seeing my children, holding and touching my children or my puppies. I just don't want them in my life. I don't think it is jealousy or insecurities, I really don't. I don't know what it is. He assures me that they are the past and I am the future, that he loves me and that they don't matter anymore, but I can't help letting it bother me.

So my question, how do you deal with an ex? Is there something you did to make it stop bothering you? How did you make it go away? Am I being hypocritical?

Albania huzzah!

Steve has decided to sponsor an Albanian through World Vision too! Yay! I've volunteered to be the Chief Correspondent and will be in charge of sending all letters and packages. He said to pick my three favorites listed on the site and then he'll choose one.

I'm hoping I can convince him to sponsor two of them :)

alive, mostly well

Thank you for your lovely and thoughful messages regarding my last post. I guess I've just been in a bit of a funk lately, which I know is totally normal, but still, I hate it. I'll be fine, right?

Hope your Valetine/Presidents weekend was lovely. I enjoy three day weekends and really feel like I'd be more productive if we had them more often. Not necessarily every week, but maybe one a month? That isn't too much to ask, is it?

Remember my 12-in-12? I'm doing one of them this weekend! I signed up for a quilting class at Capitol Quilts on Sunday and I'll be making THREE potholders, according to the email confirmation I received after registering! Apparently I am also supposed to bring my sewing machine. Hmm, I guess I'll need to buy one. I won't be buying one before then, but I'd like to. Do you have a sewing machine? Anyone have any suggestions for what sort of sewing machine to buy?

Oh and my tax refund paid off my credit card! YAY!

Over the weekend, Steve and I went to Fogo de Chao for Valentines Dinner, which was so nice. We'd been once before, for my birthday, but ages ago. We saw a few movies this weekend- Taken and Defiance, both of which were very good and I'd recommend them to you as well. We also watched Nick and Norah's Infinate Playlist, which I thought was adorable and hilarious. I think I have a crush on Michael Cera. Steve bought me the pancake pan from Williams Sonoma for Valentines, which I'd been lusting over for months and months. Who wants to come over for brunch?

Oh, we also went to a few wineries. Please don't let me buy wine for a long, long time. I seriously have at least 20 bottles right now. I don't think that is healthy, do you?

PS. I really want this. I love Susan Branch.

all I want for Christmas is youuuuuuuuuuu

I have NO idea what to get Steve for Christmas.

Am I an awful girlfriend?

Yes? No? Maybe so?

blarghhh

I'm home today, home sick. Okay, so I am not on my deathbed sick, but I feel like crud. I'm watching reruns of 90210, yes, old-school 9-oh. It's the episode where Donna and David and the girls sneak into the hotel to find Color Me Badd and she sees her mother there with another man. I always liked this episode. What was your favorite 9-oh episode?

How was your weekend? I didn't do much of excitement, mostly just helped Steve move. He closes on his new house a week from today, so we were packing and moving boxes. It wasn't exactly fun, but I suppose it must be done, right? I hate moving...it's the worst!

I made fruit bread last night. It was supposed to be strawberry bread, but I didn't have enough, so I had a bag of frozen mixed fruit in the freezer (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries) and used those. The bread is a lovely shade of purple and isn't bad :)

Okay, more later....must make more tea...