TGIF

It's finally the end of the week and the start to a three day weekend!!  Mr.'s bday is Monday, so we're taking the day to relax and get some pampering via our favorite thai massage place.  So, as usual friday means a long day for Mr., so I'm home with the boys,walked em, fed em, walked em again.  Even cleaned and emptied the dishwasher.  Usually by now I am either planning to bake something in order to stay busy, or I'm searching for another project to add to my wish list.  I am a step closer in making my boys their new beds as I discovered that I had enough upholstery fabric left from an old old project that will be perfect.  So, that's a done deal once I get Stitchy out of the coat closet and get him goin.

The rest of the weekend will be birthday cake baking, fondant rolling, and final shopping, family time, lots of good food, and hopefully plenty of fine wine.  Last weekend we had a fleeting moment of excitement about the possibility of realizing our dream of living in the woods when out of the blue an associate Mr. has worked with in the past emailed that she wanted to find someone to live in her home and thought Mr. and I seemed to be a great fit.  We actually drove out that day...way out to be exact.  It was almost an hour and a half away from where I work...it was brilliantly adorable and had so many of the things we are looking for too.

And to be honest after two days of considering all the pros and cons, I was leaning towards thinking the huge commute was worth the chance to live somewhere so peaceful and with so much space to do fun things with.  They seriously had enough space, and even a fenced in area, for goats and chickens.  I could almost taste the amazing eggs and goat cheese!   Unfortunately, with some influence from some parental units, and the reality of fuel costs and the possible effects 3 hours in a car may do to one or both of us (if we could commute together), we have almost completely walked away from the possibility.  I think I honestly am more sad than Mr...when he was so for it in the first place and I was the one considering all the other options.  But whatever place we find, I know it'll feel like home as long as I have Mr. and the boys...and a big kitchen!  The boys just want a yard, they're sick of peeing and pooing while leashed.

So, that's that.  I was going to make dinner...but I have no idea when Mr. will be home, so I'm hoping he's ok with ordering a pizza and some beer.

Peace, love, and laughter - Rin

Shades of Grey

Two days into training and it's going well. I feel very confident in my prior experience and how it relates to my new role with a new company. I just have to absorb as much as I can during the training while not wanting to shoot myself each day with the added 2.5 hours of driving to my training location. So grateful I stuck with my guns and didn't let any locations that would have been a slightly long commute...knowing my farthest drive could be 9 miles is a relief...and not the 30 each way I'm doing for training.

But I have once again been very blessed to have Mr. and his help with the dogs. He's home before me, walks, feeds, and entertains them to the point that they're calm and content when I get home. Something that is no easy task for sure. So amazed at his ability to just take on things and not stress or get caught up in the action of it all. He's more supportive and positive than anyone I've ever been with...and I'm so grateful to have him in my life. I will gladly be making dinners, coffee cakes, desserts, and anything else he wishes for in gratitude for then support over the next few weeks. Not that I don't already do that...but you know.

Came home last night and pan seared some chicken potstickers from Trader Joes. So good! I made a miso broth with some sauteed bok choy and added that to a few dumplings in a bowl for a quick dumpling soup. So good on a cold windy night! And leftovers for lunch today too!

So, that's about it. Just trucking along. Hoping everyone is keeping up with their healthy new years spurred lifestyle changes and feeling good! - Rin

Right to Bear Arms

Countdown to Christmas!  Loving the holiday season this year, which is a bit odd for me.  But I'm just going to roll with it.  Today I'm not going to make any major self induced pressured plans...so I'm just going with the flow.  Hoping Mr. gets off early enough to make it to a show we've been wanting to see tonight.  We were bummed not to make it last night, but I just found out it's playing tonight too.  Fingers crossed.

Anywho, up for another cup of coffee and then onto something else I'm sure.  I can't find my good set of art pencils and pencil sharpener and it's driving me nuts.  I can see it in my hands the last time I used it, and i've looked at all the usual and unusual places I put things and still it's nowhere to be found.  I wonder if the underpants gnomes took it.  Damn them!  I have to find the sharpener so I can get one of my little art projects farther along.  I'm going to get more caffeine in me to fuel my hunt.  Things may get kray kray up in here.

Mkay...happy weekend - Rin

Partly Sunny with a Chance of Showers

Been a bit busy and unable to sit down and collect my thoughts enough to get them down here.  I am so ready for a new start and just waking up each day makes me more aware of it.  Like senior year of high school after your university acceptance letters have arrived...you know it's over, but you still have to show up until it's officially the end.  Being in love more and more everyday is certainly easing the stress of work.  I can never exactly express with the right words, but I couldn't imagine my life now without Mr. in it.  I've never experienced anything like it!  

My boxer boys are doing and things outside of work couldn't be better.  Love sharing my home, mornings, and evenings with all my boys, Mr. included.  The tree is lit and I'm always in the baking mood during the winter.  I whipped up a pumpkin bread with cranberries last weekend and am planning a few batches of cookies this weekend for a cookie swap a few coworkers and I are doing next week.  Hoping to make a few batches of  bath salts and bath bombs this weekend too.  I usually tend to try and make stuff for people for the holidays as much as possible...besides Mr. of course.  Can't wait for him to open his!  

I'll have to share some pics of and recipes of the salts and bath bombs if they come out well.  Crossing my fingers it's not a complete bust of an idea.  :-)

Well, after fishing for these pics below, I'm going to go take a nice hot shower and get dinner going.  Sweet Potato and Pepper Soup with Smoked Gouda grilled cheese.  Mmmm.  - Rin 

Shades of Gray

Not feeling very bright and colorful today...hence the b&w below.  But the guys do make it look pretty amazing.  Not sure what's bumming me out..but it may just be seasonal affect disorder...haha...seriously, I love winter, but the sun is needed.  I think I'm just emotionally exhausted and not having much time with Mr. to unwind and just share the moments where can just let go of all that weighs you down is taking its toll. 

We had a nice dinner tonight and just came back home after a swing by the mall.  I'm not looking forward to it being Monday already...I crawled into bed and got out and came into the living room because I couldn't bare the fact that when I woke up it would be Monday.  I know, I'm bumming myself out...stop already right?  Ok.  It will be an amazing week...filled with new adventures, new opportunities, and new friends...and douche-hole boss will be gone for good before weeks end.  Yes, that is a better note to fall asleep on. 

Mkay...peace out. - Rin

Hats & Hoodies

It's been a week for sure.  Interviews and lots of decisions to be made.  The stress of it all sometimes just makes me wanna curl up and hibernate til spring.  Which is why I had hats and hoodies on my mind when I was going through my images.  Love them both this time of year.  I am planning of day of staying in, cleaning, baking, and overall purging to help me get a clear mind for the choices ahead.  Had a great second interview on Friday and really clicked with the actual person that would be my boss at the new gig.  We definitely had a great rapport from the start and my thoughts as far as my career path the company were the ones she had followed and is now making another move to get to her final desired spot on the corporate ladder.  So, I felt confident that if I took the position she'd be a great partner in getting me the connections to get to the role that I'd like to be in down the line.  She was very confident in the fact that I'd have the tools and support I'd need if I wanted them.  

So, I just have to weigh the fact that it will mean a bit of a drive, which I just gave up in May when I moved closer to my current job, and a more fluxuating schedule than I've been working. But Mr. made a good point...20 minutes more frustration in the car in the morning or a 2 minute commute and a day of frustration with douchehole boss breathing down your back.  You see the clarity I found in that image.  :-)  But, I'm going to make a visit to the location and do a sneak peak and see what vibe I get.  Then we can talk numbers and see if it makes sense.  

So, this weekend is about cleaning up and getting ready for what may be a great new start.  And baking...I have to have something in the oven if I'm buzzing around cleaning.  It just makes sense.  :-) 

Cheers to the weekend and the beautiful last full moon of the year we had last night.  It was gorge, and the sign of new beginnings I'm hoping.  - Rin  

Tuesday Boozeday

My body feels like it should be Friday...after a marathon and a mud run.  I'm beat!  I had my interview today.  Went great and I think I really clicked with the woman.  She was the first step in the process and already said I'd be hearing by weeks end when my second interview would be scheduled for.  Woot Woot.  One step at a time!

I ran around from one job to one house with one set of dogs, to the other house with the other set of dogs.  And then back again.  Finally I have all 5 dogs, in one house, and am sitting down with a beer. If I make it through the week in one piece...we'll be all set.  I'm loving the holiday season, which hasn't always been the case in the past, but just feeling a bit caught up in the stress of work bullshit and the stress of keeping up on everything.  So grateful for Mr. and his ability in one moment to bring me so much love and relief from the mayhem. Just not getting to spend as much time with him this week and feeling the strain of the extra crazy week.

Anywho, need to unwind with the mindless tv.  Hoping everyone else's week is smooth and easy.  And covered in tattoos! - Rin