For better or for worse...

These past several weeks, I have been busier than I have in a really long time and I'm constantly trying to learn how to juggle my priorities while still making sure I leave time for Alex and myself in our marital journey.   





Also, my biggest challenge but at the top of my list is making sure I am being cognizant of how grateful I am for my husband, Alex, in being so patient with my not-always-so-great attitude about things going on with school or at work.  

Last Thursday, it hit me the hardest...

I hadn't been sleeping well that week, and Thursday's are always my busiest days at work, and also the only day I have to actually go to class, versus my other was being online.  Thursday's are just longggg days, but this one, I let myself start out on a really negative tone because of how tired I was, knowing I was in for a full 16 hour day with class and not prepared for the quiz I knew we'd be having in class and was texting Alex throughout the day, really just being a downer about either how tired I was, nervous about the quiz, frustrated with things at work...  Haven't been fair or nearly enough appreciate to my oh so patient and loving husband.

I'm driving home, exhausted, hungry, feeling defeated....

I walk in to a pleasant surprise!

My absolute favorite dessert and "cheer me up" food there is!

Alex dropped by store on his way home from work to get the ingredients, and had a whole batch done by the time I got home from class.  

It was that moment, I realized how not only did I have such a negative attitude all that day for such small, completely minute things I won't remember in a month, and Alex had been so patient in dealing with it all day and even took the time and the love to cheer me up with my beyond favorite "cheer up" food.  This day was one of his many test's of my "worse" side, and he did something so loving, unexpected, and largely undeserved on my part.

It was then... I knew I needed to start changing my mindset and attitude, especially for the sake of my marriage so Alex remembers I have the "better" in me too.  

I have so many things to be thankful for and I need to stop dwelling on little glitches in the present moment, and focus on the bigger aspects of the present.... the present moment...

And hey, how can ya' resist those good lookin' strawberries dipped in chocolate with pure love eh'?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After a stressful week and/orday, what would be in your top 3 perfect surprises to come home too?

Mine:
1. Chocolate covered strawberries
2. HARD candy Sprees
3. Strawberry Cheesecake



 

TGIF!

FRIDAY!

Such a great day, minus the exam I have to take tonight, but again, that's life and it's still FRIDAY! :)

Whoa now, it's been just a hectic week, but I can't complain because it all came together in the end as it always seems to do!

Top Moments of the Week:

Too precious... and one very tired papa. 

1. Getting ready for bed and walking into the back office to find papa and pup nighttime cuddle. 

 2. January was National Mentoring Appreciation Month and Starbucks was gracious enough to give Big Brothers and Big Sisters in the program free, tall sized drinks of their choice. I'm excited to take my Little Sis D to the central library on Sunday to work on her reading skills with interactive computer games they have and grabbing a treat afterwards!

Enjoying my last (free) Vanilla Chai Latte -- THANK YOU TO STARBUCKS!

Cinema Grill will live on forever, torn down or not.

3. Got very nostalgic running across this across this picture when re-organizing my IPhoto library the other night -- the building where Alex and I met, fell in love, worked together and met so many amazing friends that have continued to be in our lives.  I was always excited to think of the day we'd bring our kids here to watch a movie and show where Mom and Dad met, but at least we have the pictures and the people to tell the story!  I'm so happy I captured this picture though, just a few weeks before it was torn down.  A building full of so many memories that will live on forever!

Keeping your family in my thoughts and prayers!

4. Holding in my prayers a new friend of mine whose father just suffered a heart attack last weekend, but is home and resting now after several surgeries.  I was happy that I was able to help my new friend stay up to date with school being in and out of the hospital all week, so I lent her all my notes/programming/things I got stuck on to help her finish her homework for this week and offered any assistance by phone and email while I was at work yesterday that she needed. With a few emails back and forth and with my coding, she was able to get it done and was so grateful. In the end, I'm just grateful her father is okay, she's holding up and I was able to help such a sweet new friend during a difficult time as I would hope people would do for me.  Always try and reach out to others, do a good deed, for new or old friends or even strangers!

What was the best part of YOUR week?

Crazy week! This pretty much sums it up...

This has been a crazy work and school week for me that I've done what I hoped I'd stick with, my beloved blogging friend and the friends I've connected with through it. 

We are going into active recruitment at work, so between getting all the materials ready for new subject's and hiring on + training the remainder of our staff, it's just balls to the walls craziness.  Then you add a mental breakdown from trying to figure out SAS to finish my homework for 6 hours on Wednesday and there you have it!

After writing my Saturday post about watching Environmental Health modules all day, I woke up to spend most of Sunday afternoon/evening going through the review packet for my upcoming test... with some definite long pauses to watch the Superbowl!

My beyond wonderful husband whipped us up a great Sunday dinner during Superbowl halftime to give me a nice and filling break from my studies :)

Sauteed frozen stir-fry style veggies under medium/low heat with enough butter/margarine to coat a medium sized pan // add in and sautee Gardein Brand "Chicken" Scallopini (meatless, frozen cutlets) // Season veggies and soy cutlet with complimentary spices // Lastly, add in some cooked white or brown rice (we use the 5-minute microwave rice to save time, since we have so little and only had white rice on hand) // Season to taste -- he ended up adding a bit more margarine, seasoned salt and cayenne pepper for a kick.

 YUMMY! It was DELICIOUS, a perfect break from a weekend on Food Safety and I am loving this new brand of vegetarian alternatives called Gardein -- great resource for vegetarians and can find in local grocery stores like Kroger or Publix with the "Organic" or "Natural" area/aisle.  

Adios amigos ;)

What is something small but important/meaning that your spouse/significant other/friends do for you when you need a "pick-me-up"?
An unexpected meal, my favorite dessert (there a very few), a back and/or foot rub, snuggle time... <3

High Five For Friday!

F.R.I.D.A.Y!!

This has been a beyond stellar week!  PLUS, I worked from home all week, so I avoided all the rain and then the snow and horribly cold temperatures and give some extra lovin' to our furry kiddos.  The downside to working from home is boundaries -- I'm not able to shut down like I am when I leave the office and blast some music in my car to deflate from the day, and instead find myself clocking in to answer emails or edit measures at 8:30pm.  Whoops.  Also, I procrastinated to the max on homework this week, but I fit it all in so I'm darn proud of myself!

My FANTASTIC week in a nutshell...

1. Last Saturday, I took my "Little Sister D" roller skating at the roller rink.  She was so scared of falling that in the 2 hours we were there until they closed public skating, we only made it onto and around the rink once, but I was proud and she still had fun! Brought me back to being a kid again and I love to see her smile!

Doing the Cha Cha after the rink closed for skating!

                                          

Just how I remember!

My souvenir glow stick!

 2. There is nothing I love more than waking up to a face like this on those cold winter weekends.....

How can you not love this face?

 3. My amazing husband found this super bargain deal on a new fireplace screen to replace our hideous gold one that came with the house.  We have been wanting to do this for a year, and he stumbled across this at Goodwill!!! You find the best things when you've not even looking!

YAY!

Before:After

 

 4. We love food, we both love to cook, we love each other and love spending time together.  Saturday morning breakfast is my favorite time of the week, because it's the one time we always make a meal, eat and spend time together and talk about our plans for the weekend the upcoming week. 

Alex made breakfast while I showering, one of our favorites! Omelet, veggie sausage patties, and a side of whole wheat toast. YUM!

5. I have the best parents.  My mom surprised Alex and me with an early Valentine's gift that I have been wanting for YEARS now, but never had the space in apartments kitchen or with roommates in college to store one.  So excited to put some miles on this bad boy and get baking! I LOVE making eating homemade bread, but that whole kneading thing... just no fun :\

Hello there lovely! Welcome to your new home!

Sadly, my weekend is filled with homework and preparing for midterms, but I'll surely be watching the Superbowl on Sunday and finding some time to do other things I enjoy :)

HAPPY FRIDAY! Hope you had a GREAT week!