On A Good Day

It's days like today that really make life worth living. It's days like today that make me look forward to more days just like this one. Here's a recap:

• I had a relatively good night's sleep and was able to move around this morning without feeling like a truck just ran over me.
• There was minimal traffic this morning allowing me just enough time to get hot chocolate and donuts on the way to work. I was also 10 minutes early to work because of said traffic.
• Getting the laundry in and the boy dressed without any drama...enough said.
• Finding out that because I switched my renter's insurance to my car insurance company, I just got free renter's insurance plus saved $100 on my car insurance because of the discounts!
• Going to Wal-Mart only to find that cream of mushroom and cream of chicken soups were only 58 cents each!
• Eating a frozen burrito for lunch while watching the beginning of HSM 3...again.
• Not having to carpool the boy and the neighbor's preschooler at work thus giving me a total of one hour extra "off time" for the day!
• Knowing that I have a great guy who loves me that I get to spend the weekend with.
• Having my friend over for the weekend to do Christmas crafts including sewing a Christmas tree skirt for me!
• Knowing we will once again have sunlight on Sunday!!!

That's all I can come up with from the first part of my day. What makes your days good?

Should I Compromise?

Last night one of Phil's best friends, Dave, and his girlfriend, Beth, came by to have dinner, fix my laptop, and hang out. It was a lot of fun since it was Mom and Dad R.'s birthdays too! It was so great to be able to have the guys talking and hanging out while Beth and I planned talked about getting engaged and married. We must have spent most of the time after dinner looking up rings while I gave her the 411 on diamonds. Yes, I seriously have studied and know that much about them...it's an obsession at this point, really. After we looked at rings we managed to hop on over to look at wedding dresses and see what is currently out in stores. Beth's taste is a little more subdued than mine...lol.

It's really great to have someone who is going through the same thing and understands where you are coming from. I was able to show her exactly what I want and have been looking for when it comes to a ring. I tend to be a little picky at this point. I want something of decent size and quality as well as keeping in mind Phil's budget. I have narrowed down the type(s) of bands I would like and the diamond shape, but I have a huge problem with size and quality.

I know what "ideally" I would like, but I really don't want Phil to spend so much. It seems that if the size is what is most important, I will have to compromise on quality. The other alternative is to compromise on the size for better quality. I don't need a perfect diamond, just one that is worth the money he is going to spend.

Tonight we are hopefully going to go to the mall and look at the different sizes for me to try them on. I am hoping that I can find something that I will be happy with that will be a good compromise for the both of us.

So, with that said, which is more important...quality or size?

Validated

Phil and I were fortunate to be able to go to lunch with a bunch of friends today. I was so happy to know that I am not the only one feeling the need desire to get married. Our friends have been dating probably around 6 months-ish and at lunch she was saying the same things I have been saying! It made me totally feel less crazy and more validated.

I talked with Phil and we gave more of a "time line" for when these things should occur. He has been much more open with talking about getting engaged and married lately than ever so that is definitely a good thing. He has even gone as far as going with me to look at rings to get an idea of cost, size, and what you can get for your money. I want him to get the best thing he can for what he wants to spend and I have every intention of obsessing helping him look and informing him of all of the options available.

We are definitely having to compromise on when is the best time for us to move our relationship to the next level. Phil feels no need to rush while I would have been happy to have been engaged and had the wedding like...yesterday. Lol. I think we have definitely come to a good compromise that we can both deal with. I want us both to be comfortable in the decision and not to be too overwhelmed by it all.

It still makes me incredibly giddy to know I am not the only one going through this and that a good friend feels my pain. I am hoping and praying that by the end of next year we will be Mr. & Mrs.

I want what I can't have

It seems to happen that I can't have what I want the most. Right now that is two things...a new apartment and to get married. I am completely ready for both of these, mind you, but it looks like they are both on hold for the moment.

I went apartment searching yesterday since I was home from work and feeling better. It seems that my price range yields some very interesting apartments...either too small, run down, or in a shady neighborhood. At this point I am starting to consider my current apartment a luxury one. I asked Phil's mom to go with me to one yesterday. At the end of it our conversation went as follows:

Me: I guess I must have really high expectations or something.
Mom R.: No, I just think you have expectations in general.
Me: Well, at least now I know I'm not crazy!

Ya, my expectations are things like a decent sized apartment that has been well-maintained, nothing fancy, and in a decent neighborhood. I guess that's too much to ask for right now.

On the marriage front it seems to be at a stand-still. I have been ready to get married since before Phil and I started dating. He, on the other hand, is not. This has to be one of the most frustrating things to deal with ever. I am completely obsessed ready to get married and he could seriously wait another few years. We are working on a compromise, but it's hard not to want a ring right now.

I feel like I am doing everything I can to show him that it will be a really good thing for us, but I feel like I am wearing him down and that's not what I want. Right now I am trying to focus on not talking about it and not stressing about it hoping that he will do it in his own time. I just wish that his time was closer to my time...which may or may not have been six months ago, but still. Oh well...it's  he's worth the wait. I love him so incredibly much and know that he is the one God has for me.

Gotta just keep praying.

Sick Days

I've been feeling pretty sick since Sunday. I went to brunch with Phil and the family, but afterwards my stomach started feeling sick. It had been upset Monday and got really bad Tuesday night. I took off yesterday and got today off as well.

I am not a person who usually calls in sick, especially being a nanny. In my previous positions, my bosses looked down upon calling in sick and not working unless death itself was knocking at the door. I also, had never had sick pay, so if I was out then there was no pay and I needed the money. Luckily with this job I have a couple of sick days to use per year and my boss seems to be very understanding with me staying home. In fact, she actually encouraged me to stay and rest today so that I can get better faster, of course, I promised to go in to work tomorrow even if I'm feeling a little iffy. You know, I don't want to take advantage or anything.

So, here I am at Phil's house resting up, watching a lot of tv, doing homework, and chillaxing. Here's to feeling 100% by tomorrow...cheers!

Planning, Planning, and Oh, More Planning!

It's no secret that I have been working on finishing my degree online for the past couple of years. I am proud to say that in January it will all be over and I will have my bachelor's degree!

To celebrate, Phil and I have have decided to attend the graduation ceremony in December! The school is located in Iowa so we have a lot of travelling to do to get there.

Being that flights, rental cars, hotels, gas, and food is expensive I have been searching for hours to find all of the best rates. I have looked up the special "College Rate", AAA Rate, and even the Federal Employee Rate for everything. Yes, it is a hassle, but it is already paying off! Between using all of my resources we have been able to save $100 from the best "package" price without skimping on any of our "must haves" during this trip. I must admit, I am a fantastic online deal finder if I do say so myself.

I will be really happy tonight when we book most, if not all of it. The headache will be gone and I will be able to stress a little less about one more thing

This weekend in a nutshell

This weekend was definitely a good weekend. Friday was Phil's sister-in-law's birthday dinner, Saturday was halloween, and Sunday we had brunch with Mom and Dad (Phil's parents) and Gram. We stayed and played games at Gram's apartment and had a lot of fun despite the fact that I have been feeling sick all weekend, but I managed to suck it up and get through it only to now be at work all day watching a sick kid.

Anyways, here's a picture of us at the halloween party: