Moving Away

Not to worry, we're not actually moving away.  Today, I'm just talking about moving away.  And why I don't think it's in our future, like ever.

{via}

Handsome Husband and I just had this conversation a few weeks ago, while en route to our breastfeeding class (an adventure in and of itself).  We talked about how much we love it here in our Orange County bubble, but of course there are cons to living in this paradise.  Negatives like...our 2-bedroom condo is worth the size of a gorgeous 5-bedroom home in some area of the country.  Cost of living is probably the one and only negative I can think of for our area.  That, and traffic, but we're so used to that - who cares anymore, you just allow for it!

So we pondered - would we ever leave this area?  Would we ever consider moving somewhere across the country - the East coast, the South, anywhere but here?

Maybe when our parents are gone, we thought.  Which is morbid, but the fact is they aren't going to be around forever, and when they're gone, would our roots to this area be gone too?  Nope, what about our siblings?  If they all start families here, we're not going to want to leave our sisters and brothers and neices and nephews. 

Maybe if one of us got a job offer we just couldn't turn down in another state.  But why would we be applying to it in the first place?  "You could get transferred" I told HH, "...if you work at a big firm."  "Maybe then," we decided. 

But what about our kids?  By the time this would even be a consideration, they would have their roots here.  Started school, made friends, been used to growing up around family.  Why would we even think about uprooting all that to an entirely different state?

 

We wouldn't.

 

So, the odds are we're not going anywhere.  Of course, I can't see in to the future, and you never know what life might throw at you, but I don't think we're going to be putting a new state's plates on our cars in this lifetime.  Hope you like us, Orange County, because we're here to stay.

It's (Almost) Halloween Month!

In September...

 

We started off the month celebrating an entire year of home ownership, reminiscing about moving into our condo last Labor Day weekend, and celebrating the day off work with some sloppy joes and some Gardening Mom, Hat Dad and Sister Singer company!

 

Handsome Husband and I had fun catching up with some old friends (we're talking 7th grade connections here, people!) at a BBQ.

 

I had not one, but two fabulous lunches with Best Friend Cute Apartment over the weekends of September!

 

I decided to get involved in my community, and joined the Board of Directors for my neighborhoods Homeowner's Association!  (I'm the youngest person there by about 10 years...)

 

We spent a weekend getting a lot of puppy love from Cute Apartment's doggies while we pet sat for them.  Let's just say, they're cute, but I like my house puppy free for now!

 

HH's alma mater started off their soccer season, and we were happy to head up to Dominguez Hills to watch them play!  (We would have been even happier to watch them win, but a tie ain't nothing!)

 

I had another doctor's appointment with an ultrasound, so we got to get another little peak at our baby girl!  The farther along in the pregnancy I get, the more detailed and awesome the ultrasounds and photos are!  It is so fun to see the shape of her profile, with her little nose and chin and everything showing so clearly!

 

I hosted Ms. Art Teacher for a little dinner and a movie, and was sufficiently freaked out by the movie, Side Effects.

 

 

HH and I spent the evening at a Breastfeeding Class, and learned a few things!

 

Baby Girl got another musical treat when we attended the Panic! at the Disco and Fall Out Boy concert as a family.  I think the music soothed her, cause she wasn't moving nearly as much as I thought she would be.  Maybe she won't be a little dancer after all! 

 

Grandma Beach Bum and Grandpa Backgammon came over to our house for dinner to celebrate a belated birthday for Grandma BB!  We have some yummy chuck roast, veggies, and salad and topped it off with some brownies!

 

Just a few days later, we celebrated another family birthday - Aunt Fancy Chef!  This time with tacos and a pretty fabulous chocolate crossaint bread pudding, made with love by Grandma BB!

 

We had a fun mid-week dinner with Twin Beauty School and The Bouncer at our local deep-dish pizza place.

 

We got all fancied up for a black-tie event at HH's old company to celebrate a big milestone for the group.  It was fun to get all dressed up, and especially fun to see my handsome man in a tux!  This was one event where I was wishing I could indulge in a few cocktails though!

 

 

And the month ended with a big night of TV - the series finale of Breaking Bad (I can't believe it's over!) and the season premier of Homeland!  Luckily we had Cute Apartment and Number Cruncher over to provide us with some commerical commentary throughout the intense shows!

 

In October? I have to do that yucky glucose test for pregnancy, HH and I are planning to hit up some more soccer games, I've got a fun shopping event, my first baby shower!!!, and of course - Halloween!







5 on Friday v.4

5 Things...

...I really really miss

 

1. Riding ATVs (we called them quads cause we were professionals) in the dessert with my Daddy-o and cousins multiple times a year.  I can't even remember the last time we went, and I wish I would've known then that it was the last time.

 

2. Our little Taco Tuesday Crew.  It sort of disintegrated about a year ago due to lots of factors - friendships evolving, changing and ending; people moving; and everyone generally getting a little older and having more responsibilites.  I miss our little group, though.

 

3. San Diego, and our San Diego friends.  I miss listening to my Handsome Hubs scream and the TV during the last World Cup with Mr. Concussion and Best Friend Dodger screaming along with him, and I miss Pacific Beach and getting drunk while smelling the ocean.

 

4. My Delaware family.  It's only been a few months, but I miss them dearly.  Tag, you're turn to come out, guys!

 

Hanging out on the Museum steps in DC in February

 

5. Disney World.  HH and I discuss them far too often for two grown adults, but DW was just so much fun.  It was fun to wake up and do something a little different in the many parks, and head somewhere for the morning and somewhere else for the evening.  It was such a great trip, and we talk often about going back.

 

Last Summer at The Magic Kingdom

 

5 Things...

...I want to do this summer

 

1. Go to the beach.  I am so not a beach girl, but for some reason I am really feeling a beach trip coming on.  We'll see if that actually comes to fruition.

 

2. Spend time at our community pools.  We pay a hefty HOA fee for the beautiful community we love to live in, and would you believe we haven't spent a single moment in one of the eleven pools in our small town.  I would like to spend some time soaking up some rays and floating over the weekends of this summer.

 

3. Get away for a weekend.  I don't care where, I don't care when, but I want to go somewhere this summer for a short weekend getaway.

 

4. Spend time on our patio.  We have a gorgeous little patio at our house, and while we have rocked quite a few six-packs and fires in our fire pit, we don't spend too much time out there during the day.  I would like to spend some time lounging on my patio furniture, smelling my sweet Jasmine, and listening to the community go by.

 

5. Arizona.  This is a gimme, because we're totally heading there next weekend for Father's Day, but still I haven't been to my parents' desert house in nearly a year!  We somehow missed the entire winter season, but the summer's not passing us by without a boating trip or two!

 

Hat Dad basking in the Arizona sun last year during Father's Day Weekend

 

5 Things...

...I'd like for my home

 

1. A new microwave.  Handsome Husband may or may not have accidently ripped the handle right off our microwave this week (he's so strong), and that shit?  Is just a little too ghetto for my taste.  Now the only decision is do we go white to match our current appliances, or spring for an upgrade like stainless steel and eventually upgrade everything?  #HomeownerProblems

 

2. Some cute little throw pillows to put outside and brighten up our patio for summer!

 

3. Some kind of storage cabinet for a very bare section of my living room, during Christmas there is a beautiful tree there, but the rest of the time?  A big empty space of wall!

 

4. A big ole chalkboard.  Call me trendy, but I want to have a cute place to put quotes or greetings to guests or anything I want!

 

5. Some garage storage.  I love that our garage is big enough to fit both of our cars and some other crap, but I'd love to spend some time and moola getting the rest of that crap organized and looking cute!



Happy Homeownership

Many of you know about our Hunt to Homeownership if you've been a Stress Case reader for a while.  It was a long battle, and there were many many times that I thought we would not be winning the war.  But alas, we did and we are now homeowners!  And that is something that makes me very proud!

It is rare to be a 25-year-old (and we were 24 when we closed escrow, and 23 when we put in our offer, for the record) homeowner in Southern California, especially in the beautiful and expensive Orange County.  If you would have asked me five years ago if I thought I would own a condo in this beautiful county by this age, my answer would have been how?  Because prices, even during a down market, are high in this area.  So high that it sort of makes you question your decision to settle here.  I mean, when you hear about people owning four-bedroom homes in other states for half of what you paid for your 2-bedroom condo?  It can be jarring.

So, why then?  Why buy in Orange County?  What is the best part of owning a home in Ladera Ranch, California?

Source

First things first, the sense of pride in ownership is a feeling I've never felt before.  The sense of accomplishment that not only did I manage to buy a home before I turned 25, but I did it in one of the most expensive counties in the country?  Feels good.  Feels empowering.  Did I do it alone?  Heck no.  But I did it!  We did it - a "we" that includes my Handsome Husband; my parents, without whom we would never have been able to save the money that we used for our down payment; our real estate agent, who dealt with a whole lot of crazy over the six months we waited for our escrow to open and close; and the real estate market, which allowed for us to even entertain the thought of buying property.

Secondly, I will always stand by that Orange County is the best place in the world to start and raise a family, to grow up, and to live.  It's beautiful, it's safe (Mission Viejo, which neighbors our town, Ladera Ranch, has been named safest city in the world more than once), and I personally believe it values families and children in a very special way. 

It's the little things - the way our town meticulously keeps the flowers that line the streets perfectly in bloom.  The way there is always something going over on the Town Green (I mean, the fact that we have a Town Green is adorable as it is).  It's the sunshine that comes out nearly every day of the year, and the endless options of what to do in the sunshine.  These are just some of the reasons I love owning a home here.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

30 Before 30

I have a 101 in 1001 list, and while I should probably focus on getting those little items checked off, after turning the big 2-5 last month, I was thinking I should focus on a few big goals for the next 5 years.

30 Before 30
in no particular order

1. Go to Hawaii.

2. Buy a second house.

3. Buy a new car (to me, I ain't hatin' on used card).

4. Go on a vacation outside the country with Handsome Husband.

5. Generate income from something creative - Etsy shop, photography, writing, etc. (Stress Case blog doesn't count!).

6. Get a Bachelor's Degree.

7. Complete a Project 52 or 365.

8. Attend a Blog Conference.

9. Go on a camping trip with our friends.

10. Go on a girls' weekend that we must take a plane for.

11. See Miranda Lambert live in concert.

12. Go to Stagecoach Country Music Festival.

13. Learn to do something new - golf, crochet, snowboard - anything that I wouldn't normally gravitate to!

14. Be in a wedding.

15. Take a pole dancing class.

16. Write a book.  It doesn't have to get published, but I have to write it.

17. Do the Susan Komen 3-day Challenge Walk.

18. Spend New Years in the snow somewhere.

19. Upgrade my DSLR.

20. Become a Mommy.

21. Host a shower for someone - baby shower, bridal shower, engagement party, etc.

22. Bake bread from scratch.

23. Go to an Ice Bar.

24. Run a 10K without stopping.

25. Grow a pair (not literally or the photos would be strange) and get a budoir photo shoot done.

26. Go to an NFL game.

27. Fly first-class.

28. Leave a 100% tip for one lucky, and hardworking, waiter or waitress.

29. Throw a surprise party for someone.

30. Own a piece of David Yurman jewelry.

 

Have you ever put together a 30 Before 30 list?  Leave the link in the comments, I'd love to see what's on yours! 

Things Thursday: Things I Don't Want to Forget About 2012

1. How much I loved the song, Call Me Maybe, and all the subsequent parody videos on YouTube.

 

2. The overwhelming fear and heartbreak I felt the moment I found out about the Aurora, Colorado movie theater shooting, the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, and the significantly less devestating but way too close to home lockdown of Cal State Fullerton while my sister was on the campus.

 

3. The fact that I truly felt like I was going crazy during our homebuying experience, but that if that is my worst problem, I should be counting my blessings.

 

4. Watching my sisters graduate high school and feeling proud, nostaglic, and old all at the same time.

 

5. How scared I was when Handsome Husband's emergency appendectomy took way longer than I thought, and how I really wished I hadn't argued with him about stupid shit leading up to it, cause you really never know what's going to happen. 

 

6. The way I felt the first few weeks after we moved out of my parents' house, where I really missed them and how it surprised me not because I didn't think I would miss them, but because I was so ready to be in our own place that I didn't see it coming.

 

7. The happy silence filled with love on our first Chrsitmas morning in our new home - our first Christmas morning as our own little family of 2.

 

8. The look on HH's face when he was surprised with a dinner full of friends in celebration of our first wedding anniversary last February.

 

9. Our Disney World trip memories: from the big ones like our fancy dinner with the princess, to the little ones like the hilarious little boy singing about going to Downtown Disney on the bus.

 

 

10. Grandma Beach Bum's reaction when she openend the Family Cookbook I put together for her for Christmas.  It was a labor of love, but her tears of joy and the way she was touched was so worth it.

2012 Goal Review

I don't really believe in New Years Resolutions.  I think most people end up failing at them, and that they are always uuber cliche.  However, I do believe in goals, and the end or beginning of a year is a great time to evaluate them. 

Last year, I wrote about ten things I wanted to do in 2012 - you can see that post HERE.  Today, let's see how the heck I did.

1. Buy a condo with my very Handsome Husband.   Check! We put an offer on a condo we absolutely adored in March, suffered through a horrific short sale, and closed escrow on the second-to-last day of August of 2012.  We have been soaking up the last few months as new homeowners, and this was a huge accomplishement for us!  You can read about our Hunt to Homeownership HERE.
2. Start making lunch more often.   Fail. I definitely improved over 2011, but still not where I'd like to be.  I don't see this getting all that much better in 2013 to be honest, but a girl can dream.
3. Work out more often. Note: It's a lifestyle change, not a "lose 10 pounds" thing.   Fail. I definitely did work out more in 2012 than I did in 2011, however, ever since I stopped running with Tutor Girl, I lost a lot of motivation.  I would really like to get better about this in 2013, so we'll see.   4. Read more books.   Sort-of Check! I read a lot during the first half of 2012, due in part to my awesome new gadget at the time - the Kindle Fire.  However, once we got close to closing escrow, I was using my reading time for pursuing Pinterest for home decor ideas, and after that I was using every available second to make Pinterest come to life.  I would like to read more in 2013, mainly because I have SO many fabulous books in my Kindle wishlist!   5. Further my education.   Sort-of Check! I took a whopping one class this year which, for me, is sad.  I would really love to be saying that I will become an RN in 2013, but I know that is not the case.  And not because I do not have the drive, motivation or dedication.  But because the nursing education market here in California really does not favor those trying to work and go to school.  For me to go to school, I would have to change positions, and would not be able to work full-time.  With a Handsome Husband in law school, this is simply not an option for me at the time.  For now, I am focusing my efforts on excelling in my current nursing role, perhaps taking some units next semester to prepare myself for the nursing program even more, and being a supportive wife for my student Husband.  I know he will be there for me when it's my turn, and I know that will come before I know it.
6. Visit my family on the east coast.   Fail. This one makes me sad, but spoiler alert: We are heading to the East Coast in 2013!  More deets to come!
7. Be a strong support for HH as he starts law school in the Fall.   Check!  Or at least, I'd like to think so! I would like to hope I've been helpful and supportive for my sweet HH, I guess we'd have to ask him to find out for sure!
8. Focus on growing my wardrobe in a thrifty and practical way.   Fail. I think the main reason this one was a fail was because HH and I were trying to save as much moola as possible for our move in 2012, so I really tried to keep purchases on the minimum.  This year, I really would like to grow my wardrobe, and on top of that?  I'd like to take more fashion risks.   9. Do more things for and with my girlfriends - I think I do pretty good now, but I don't ever want them to not know how important they are to me!   Check! From Girls Weekend last January (and another one just weeks away!) to lots and lots of girls nights out and even my Victoria's Secret party - 2012 was the year of growing my relationships with my girlfriends.  And you know what?  2013 is going to be, too!
10. Start thinking about having a little kidlet? Key word: Thinking. See HERE. (and also HERE.)   Check! I mean, sure, I thought about it.  

2012: A Year In Review

Check out 2011's review HERE.

January

We rang in the New Year  at our local Dueling Piano Bar, with my dearest friend, Cute Apartment.

Cute Apartment hosted a Very Merry Taco Tuesday Club Belated Christmas Party, which sadly was one of our last outings as the group sort of splintered in the coming months.

I managed to spell my own last name wrong, and document it at that.

Handsome Husband's family spent a Day at the Races in Santa Anita, and we made some moola by betting on horsies with cute names.

My favorite girlfriends and I took off the Arizona for Girls Weekend 2012, a tradition started the year prior in Palm Springs for my Bachelorette Party.

I got together with my blogging buddies, Neely and Amber, and co-hosted the Fabulous Valentines Challenge here on this little blog.

I started my Lots of Link Love series, and have loved spending the year recapping my favorite posts around the blogosphere.

February

Cute Apartment, Tutor Girl and myself headed to San Diego for my first-ever (and sadly, so far the only) Blogger Meet-up!  You can read about it on their blogs HERE and HERE.

HH's fam hosted another quarterly Poker Tournament, and Handsome Hubs himself took home the trophy this time!

We celebrated our first married Valentine's Day together, which truthfully was quite uneventful, but for some very sweet surprise gifts in my car after class from HH.

Tutor Girl and I hosted a Springs Sweets Swap on our blogs!

I had a friendship end unexpectedly, that truth be told still leaves me quite confused and hurt (10 months later).

We celebrated our first wedding anniversary, and I surprised HH with a dinner full of friends in San Diego.

March

As always, March was filled with birthdays - my Hat Daddy-o's, mine and HH's to name a few.

We officially started our Hunt to Homeownership on March 3rd - the day that we saw our home for the first time.

We celebrated St. Patrick's Day at a local pub, but not before being super social (as seen below) at a house party.

HH and I headed to Vegas for the weekend with Cousin Ronomon and Tutor Girl to celebrate our birthdays, anniversaries, and anything else we could think of at the time!

I celebrated my 1-year Blogaversary with a week of guest posts about Why We Blog.

 

April

We celebrated Easter with a brunch at Aunt Fancy Chef's House, and a dinner with Cute Apartment and her new boyfriend, Number Cruncher.

The fam, HH and myself headed to the little town of Blythe to celebrate some family anniversaries and birthdays - and spend some time with my favorite cousins.

Grandpa Backgammon celebrated a birthday in fun way with a night of wine tasting, lovingly planned by Gma Beach Bum!

The Family Golf Tournament came and went, and again I served my purpose as non-golfer, but super great photographer.

Twin Unicorn and I marched along with Grandma Beach Bum in the annual March for Babies Walk in Newport Beach.

 

May

Sister Singer performed in her last musical in high school, and we cheered her on like always.

We celebrated Mother's Day with a brunch in Newport Beach, followed by a fabulous Potluck at Grandma Beach Bum's.

I chopped off my super long hair to donate to Locks of Love.

HH and I headed to Palm Springs for the weekend with some of our closest friends to celebrate Memorial Day!

Felt like a real grown-up when I had to take a day off work to serve at Jury Duty for the first time.

June

Another month full of birthdays - Sisters Singer and Swimmer turned 18, and Gardening Mom celebrated one too (and y'all know I know better than to share a grown ass woman's age on this blog!).

We got together to celebrate Mr. Boot Camp's college graduation - fajitas, Patron and beer made for quite the little shindig.

Handsome Husband had a stomach ache one night that ended up being appendicitis and resulted in him having an emergency appendectomy - this was scary and I wrote about my minor parking lot breakdown HERE.

We watched Sisters Singer and Swimmer walk across the stage and throw their hats in the air as they graduated high school.

To round out their big graduation weekend, we headed to Arizona to celebrate their accomplishment and Fathers Day with Best Cousin and company.  Best Cousin wrote about it HERE.

We got together with some of our dear friends from San Diego to wish Twin Navy well on his adventure to Boot Camp (and incidentally, we will be seeing him again for the first time since next weekend!).

We jetted off to Florida for our long-awaited Disney World trip with my Sisters!

While I was in Florida, I had some fantastic bloggers share their stories about life When They Were 18.

July

We had a low-key 4th of July with multiple barbeques and some fireworks at our beloved local lake.

We were finally knee-deep into escrow for our first home, and we had an inspection near the end of the month.

The fair came to town, and we enjoyed a day with our friends.

I planned a fun Family Girls' Night Out at The Melting Pot, and we enjoyed martinis and fondue on a lovely Tuesday night.

August

The month started off extreme with our annual Arizona trip.

HH and I celebrated four years of being an us by going to an All American Rejects concert at the Fair!

My amazing Handsome Husband had orientation for Law School, and attended his first official day as a Law Student!

We headed up to Los Angeles to celebrate BF Fashionista's birthday at a fun sushi restaurant.

Cousin Ronomon had a birthday and we spent a day at the park celebrating.

Right before the month ended, we closed escrow and officially became homeowners!

September

We moved into our new home, and rejoiced that we had finally made it there!

Grandma Beach Bum celebrated a milestone birthday, and we had a lovely night out at the St. Regis to celebrate.

Our incredible friends helped us over one long weekend to paint the majority of our house, and we were insanely grateful.

October

I celebrated my one year anniversary at my big girl nursing job, and even got a little raise!

We got to head to San Diego for Alumni Weekend at HH's Alma Mater and spend some time with our old friends.

Gardening Mom and I headed to a family Halloween Party, where I rocked my Honey Boo Boo costume all night long!

Handsome Hubster was the coolest guy around when he brought my Halloween Layer Dip to work for a potluck.

 

November

We finally got to celebrate our newfound homeownership with friends and family when we hosted our Housewarming Party at the beginning of the month.

Tutor Girl did us a total solid and took some photos for our Holiday Cards this year.  See some hilarious outtakes HERE.

Best Cousin came for a visit and we had some wonderful girl talk.

Mother-in-Law Red celebrated a milestone birthday and we had a wonderful brunch at Grandma Beach Bum's in her honor.

We got to attend the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony for HH's (and Gardening Momma's) company again, and enjoyed some music, food and friends as always!

I spent a weekend in LA visiting with three of my favorite girls ever: Sister Swimmer, and Best Friends Fashionita and Swagger.

Cousin Ronomon hosted a fantastic birthday dinner for Tutor Girl in their home fit with amazing homemade Italian food.

We celebrated Thanksgiving with dinner at Gardening Momma's and dessert at Grandma Beach Bum's.

HH's family had their annual Ladies' Baking Day where we got to make tons of holiday goodies together!

The family weekend for HH's family continued, as we got together to take portraits as a group.

 

December

I hosted a little girls' night in when I had a Victoria's Secret Fashion Show Viewing Party at our house.

We were very multicultural when we attended our town's Christmas Tree Lighting and Menorah Lighting all in one weekend.

HH and I got to pick out our first ever real tree together for our first Christmas in our new home!

Handsome Husband, Cousin Study Buddy and I hit the road up to Orange for a little shindig to celebrate the end of finals for our law students (first semester, that is) - all dressed to the nines in ugly Christmas sweaters of course.

Aunt Fancy Chef hosted another wonderful Ladies' Tea for us to celebrate the holidays together.

Gardening Mom has a beautiful Hanukkah Dinner, and I didn't consume nearly enough latkes to tide me over all year.

I hosted my first big holiday at our home: Christmas Eve.  With beef tenderloin, Christmas music, and a trip to see the lights around the neighborhood - the night was a wonderful success.

Handsome Husband and I had our first ever alone Christmas morning together, and it was glorious.

Christmas Day was long but lovely - presents at Gardening Mom and Hat Dad's, brunch at a local golf course with a gorg view, and an afternoon and evening of family fun at Grandma Beach Bum's.

We had a fabulous night out with some of my oldest friends at our very favorite dive bar.

And funny enough, tonight the year will end just how it started: at our local Dueling Piano bar with friends, booze and lots of laughs.



Monthly Recap: Yes, I'm Still Doing Them

November and December flew by almost entirely un-recapped!  Tune in next week when I reminisce over the whole past year.

In November...

 

We hosted our Housewarming Party - it was so wonderful to see our friends and family come and celebrate our accomplishment in buying this home.  Our Journey to Homeownership really felt like a war, and it felt good to celebrate our victory.

 

Left: Dr. Groomsman, myself and Best Friend Dodger

Right, from top to bottom: Myself and Soccer Girlfriend (Groomsman Concussion's longtime girlfriend, to be exact), Cuties Cute Apartment and her boyfriend, and my girl Future Dr. Babies and me

 

We got together with Cousin Ronomon and Tutor Girl and their sweet son, Lil C to take some quick photos for our Christmas Card this year - check out the hilarious outtakes HERE.

 

My Best Cousin came for a visit, and we disgracefully did not take a single photo together!  However, it was so nice to catch up with her, and spend some time one-on-one with one of my very favorite people.

 

Election Day came and went, and Handsome Husband and I rejoiced in the our living room over the results.  I don't talk politics much on the blog, but my lady parts were scared there for a minute.

 

Mother-in-Law Red celebrated this big 5-0 and we had a lovely brunch with the fam at Grandma Beach Bum and Grandpa Golfer's place.  You can find the recipe for the Nutella Pastries I made HERE, and the fun gift we gave the MIL Red HERE. 

 

We kicked off the holiday season with another Tree Lighting hosted at an outlet center owned by Gardening Mom and Handsome Husbands' company (yep, they work at the same company!).

 

{Via}

 

Handsome Husband's wonderful boss and her kind husband took us to a LA Galaxy soccer game - a conference final game at that!  And luckily, they won!

 





I finally headed up to LA for a long overdue visit.  While there, I managed to squeeze in a dorm visit and dinner with Sister Swimmer, a night out with Best Friends Fashionista and Swagger, and a wonderful brunch!

 

Loyola Marymount University visit, night out at Laurel Hardware, and brunch at open air dining Faux Pas Bistro

 

Handsome Husband's family got together to celebrate another November birthday - sweet Tutor Girl's!  Chef extraordinaire and Tutor Girl husband, Cousin Ronomon, created the most wonderful Italian dinner we got to enjoy in celebration of TG's special day.

 

Cousin Ronomon and happily pregnant Tutor Girl posing at her birthday dinner

 

Thanksgiving brought a super yummy dinner prepared by Gardening Mom, followed by dessert at Grandma Beach Bum's table.  So much food, so little time.

 

As if I didn't gain enough weight on Thanksgiving, it was Girl's Baking Day the day after Thanksgiving, where we kept the tradition going another year by getting ourselves covered in flour and baking far more than necessary amounts of cookies.

 

The family weekend continued as we took family photos with HH's entire extended family.  The photos turned out beautifully, though the act of taking them wasn't exactly relaxing (strong winds, short dresses, small children and eight women in the family...you do the math).  We were able to let off some steam at the Family Poker Tournament later that night though - I got second place again.  Or First Place Loser, as I like to call myself.

 





 

In December...

Sister Swimmer and I got to attend Jingle Ball (all because of HH's amazing ability to win tickets to just about anything and everything), a local concert hosted by one of the biggest radio stations in our area.  The highlight?  Taylor Swift's amazing show.  The low?  Our terrible seats - get it together, KISS FM!

 

{Via}

 

I hosted my first Girls' Night In, when I had my favorite local ladies over to watch the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show at our home.  Read more and see photos HERE.

 

Handsome Husband made it through his first semester of law school, and to celebrate he (and myself and Cousin Study Buddy) donned ugly Christmas sweaters and hit up the end of the semester/Christmas party hosted by a law school friend.  HH also celebrated the occasion by drinking a few too many beers, and following that up with a shot of hot sauce...straight out of the bottle.  He was in rare form.

 

Aunt Fancy Chef hosted another wonderful Ladies' Holiday Tea - read about it and see some pretty photos HERE.

 

Gardening Mom hosted a wonderful Hanukkah dinner full of latkes, brisket, and some pretty menorah lights.

 

I hosted my first Christmas Eve Dinner, a tradition I hope to continue for years to come.

 

HH and I had our first-ever Christmas morning alone (only took us 5 years), and it was so fun to spend the morning with my love in our quiet little home before we spent the rest of the day shuttling between houses.

 

And next week, we will spend our last night of 2012 singing and dancing the night away at the same place we did last year.  Isn't it funny (and comforting, in a way) how so much changes a year, but at the same time - so much stays the same?





Adios, October

In October...

 

We made our first ever mortgage payment!  A sad day for our bank account, but a satisfying feeling all the same!

 

Aunt Fancy Chef and Uncle Lighting came over and treated us to two fun surprises: dinner out and a super generous housewarming gift of some new lighting fixtures for our new home!

 

Ms. Art Teacher and I had a long overdue gab session, for which she supplied the sweetest little minuature champagne bottles.

 

So dang cute.

 

We unloaded some of our junk, that just so happened to be other people's treasures, at a garage sale lovingly hosted by Grandma Beach Bum aka Garage Sale Expert.

 

Family poker night rolled around again and this time I made a disgrace of myself, finding myself first out - but luckily Handsome Hubs grabbed second place!

 

I had a double twin day when I was lucky enough to have lunch with Twin Beauty School (now a graduate of Beauty School, bee-tee-dubs) and dinner with Twin Unicorn!

 

I got to spend a few hours with Lil C when his mom and daddy-o headed out for date night.  We even ventured out to Michaels for some supplies - mama practice, I tell ya.

 

Lots and lots of house projects were worked on - photos, recaps and before and afters coming very soon!

 

Handsome Husband and I got to spend some time with our San Diego buddies when we went down for his Alma Mater's Alumni Weekend for Athletes.  It was so much fun to watch HH play with his old teammates again!

 

Gardening Momma and I trekked it out to Highland for a Halloween party my cousin and her family throws every year, and judging by the amount of fun we had this year, I'd say we'll be back next year!

 

And on Wednesday, for our very first Halloween (or holiday, in general!) in our new home, the plan is to sit on our patio and hand out candy to the many many adorable kids that surround us in our neighborhood (is it hot in here, or is that just my baby fever?).

 

And clearly, by the looks of this post, I did not take nearly enough photos!



Really Good Friends

Good friends refer you a great painter.

Really good friends get down and dirty,

and spend their weekend helping you paint.

Cute Apartment rocks the roller.

Handsome Husband on the ladder.

Ta-da!

A big thank you to some of our really good friends for being really good friends.



September Lifted Spirits, and Lowered Bank Account Balances

In September...

 

We finally closed escrow on our condo (technically end of August, but whatever), and moved in to our first home just the two of us as a married couple!

 

 

After a long day of moving, we got together with HH's family to celebrate the birthday of the fabulous Grandma Beach Bum.

 

L to R: Aunt Fancy Chef, Cousin Study Buddy, Grandpa Beach Bum, Me, Tutor Girl, and Cousin Eyeshadow

 

We had our fabulous wood floors installed in the condo.  Quite the investment, but I am so happy with them!

 

Cute Apartment and I had some much needed pampering when we got mani/pedis a few days before she headed off to a romantic Catalina Island birthday trip!

 

We celebrate the birthday of one of my Handsome Husband's new law school buddies with a night out filled with yummy margaritas, beer, and Mexican food!

 

Our friends brightened our days and our home when they flocked to our house for a weekend of painting, which may or may not have included some pizza and beer alongside it.

 

And, tonight, we end our month on a high note when we head down to San Diego to see some our favorite boys bust some moves on the soccer field that HH poured his sweat, blood and tears onto not so many years ago!

 





Things Thursday: Things I've Been Up to Lately

1. Choosing and installing wood floors in the living and dining area of our new home.  Such an investment, but so worth it!

Mid-installation.

 

2. Walking down memory lane as I unpack boxes that I packed back in December 2010.

 

L-R: Garter caught at Tutor Girl and Cousin Ronomon's Wedding, Our wedding favors: custom shotglasses, A page from a scrapbook of "Our First Year", and one of our engagement photos circa 2009.

 

3. Getting back into cooking - something I've missed so much the past year and a half!

 

Two new recipes to the Stress Casey repertoire, L-R: Crockpot flank steak over rice, with sauteed zucchini, and baked halibut with mustard and panko crumbs, with strawberries. 

And no, we don't eat rice every night...coincidence that I only took photos on rice nights!

 

4. Watching my savings account dwindle as I furnish this home.  While it's so exciting and exactly what we've been waiting for, it's still quite depressing to see that number get lower and lower and lower.

 

5. Really missing seeing my parents and sisters every single day - which is so pathetic, being that I've been seeing them all at least twice a week since we moved out.

 

6. Enjoying a beer every once in a while out of the sweet aluminum bottles that were on sale what what!

 

7. Deciding who to root for on Big Brother as if I am a member of the damn jury.  I'm leaning towards Dan if he makes it to final 2 btw, BB fans.

8. Getting way overly excited for Fall premiers - what new shows are you all programming into their DVR?!

9. Being uber jealous of Grandma Beach Bum, who is celebrating her 70th birthday by lying on a beach in Hawaii.  Lucky lady!

 

10. Really wishing for a temperature drop, so that it can feel like FALL already!

 

Source: thehighheeledhostess.com via L on Pinterest

The Hunt to Homeownership: Our Journey, In Numbers

126 days waited for short sale approval.

42 days we were in escrow.

3 real estate agents who showed us homes.

437 emotional breakdowns, had by Stress Casey.

25 weeks waited from offer to closing.

40+ condos looked at, in over 5 cities.

3 times we were told we were going into escrow, only to have it fall apart.

2 offers put on other properties while playing the waiting game.

59 times I told Handsome Husband, "I really don't think this is going to happen."

6 days it's been since we've closed escrow.

That's right, y'all - our waiting paid off!

We are officially homeowners!

The Hunt To Homeownership: Escrow's Not a Real Word

This is actually not related to our current sitch, one I'm keeping slightly hush hush on until I've got real news, just thoughts from a crazy Stress Case trying to buy a house.

Here's the thing.

A word should have one meaning, maybe two if it's real wacky.

But, "Escrow"?

Not a real word.

Just think of how many ways people use it! 

"We're opening escrow!"

"Oh, we're in escrow."

"Escrow is preparing those."

"Have you talked to escrow lately?"

"I've got to go to escrow to pick something up."

"We just closed escrow!"

So, what the eff is escrow anyways?

Cause something that can be used as a noun, verb, action, and location - sounds like a myth to me!

Guess I should have picked this page-turner up.

{Via}