(Soon to be) Mr. + Mrs.

My Two Days as a(n) [Almost] Trucker

2012-02-02T18:04:00.000-08:00

Wednesday was the absolute worst day I've had in a long time. Besides dealing with some personal matters, I was having trouble getting my Internet connection to cooperate. This is frustrating no matter what your situation, but the frustration levels skyrocket when your livelihood depends on the connection (I'm a telecommuter). My only option after the third time of losing service was to head out to the McDonald's/truck stop in town (if you want to call where we live a town).

When I got home the Internet was still out, so I had to go back for most of the day today until I actually saw the Internet repairman eating lunch. He told me he was on his way to our house next.

Here is a glimpse into the world of being a fly on the wall at a McDonald's truck stop for a work day and a half. In other words, here's what I tweeted.

I'm pretty sure Santa Claus is here writing his nice/naughty list on his VAIO.

Not used to working in an environment where the loud speaker announces whose turn in the shower it is.

Santa Claus thanked me for watching his stuff while he got up. I didn't even know he had left.

OMG Happy Birthday Candace! Whoever you are.

Day 2 of McDonald's internet. Here we go.

Old guy just belched so loud I could hear him through my headphones with loud music.

Fanny pack sighting!

Fanny pack woman bought a coffee, sat down, and poured it into a coffee mug. Alrighty!

Large man in overralls with side buttons unbuttoned. Gross.

I must be intolerable to sit next to. Fanny pack woman got up and moved.

Three soldiers walked in and a guy let them go ahead of him. There's something still right in the world.

Turns out the fanny pack had a tablet in it. Oooh, she's a tech savvy fanny packer!

Dude ate biscuits & gravy then went back up to order more food.

People keep looking at me like I'm an alien. I'm probably the only person in this town with an Apple computer.

An employee just asked me if everything was all right. I said yes, but come on, I'm working at a truck stop.

Just caught myself whistling out loud to the beginning of "Young Folks" by Peter, Bjorn, & John.

Here come the community college students. This should be fun.

There is a guy that looks like an ethnic Rodney Dangerfield getting his burger on. I can't make this stuff up!

Employee at McDonald's is on the phone and he has now said, "Absence makes the heart grow fonder" TWICE.

Large man in red sweatpants. Not easy on the eyes.

Someone's eating a Fish Filet and it smells terrible.

Dude put MORE SALT on his fries and is now shaking the bag like crazy.

The Frontier dude saw me sitting here when he came in for lunch & said, "You having trouble with your Internet?" Nope. I enjoy sitting here.

3 guys just came & sat down that smell like pure garbage. 1 of them has what looks like a giant booger on his sleeve.

Finally, I tweeted: This tweet brought to you from the safety of my own home. #hallelujahtweet

The source of our problem? Mice. Little boogers chewed up the wires in our outdoor box.

A Song I'm Currently Loving: "Colors"

2012-01-19T10:53:00.000-08:00

Just popping in for a quick post of this video. You might have heard it on the Lowes "Sans Cans" commercial. The artist is April Smith & The Great Picture show. Her whole album is great! I've been listening to it on Spotify (follow me here) and I just can't get enough! She's got attitude, for sure!

Down to the Wire - 59 Days to Go! (And a Bunch of Other Randomness)

2012-01-11T20:16:00.000-08:00

Well, guys, we're down to the wire. In less than 2 months, we will officially be Mr. & Mrs. I guess that means I'll have to redesign the blog again. Darn! Let me add that to my list. :)

I am beginning to get to the point where I "break out in a rash," as a former professor of mine would say, any time someone asks me a wedding related question. I am repeatedly asked during the day, "What about this," "What about that?" and I know they are valid questions that should be addressed, but it stresses me out past the maximum that I can handle. Isn't this day supposed to be fun? I suppose it will, but the days leading up to it just might not be.

Maybe I am just having a 10-o'clock-at-night-house-is-quiet-freakout, but I'm hoping for some relief from the stress soon. Maybe spending some time over the holiday ironing out some more details will be good for my health.

Here are some totally random thoughts (because I really would have hated to leave you on such a negative, whiny statement) is that I really love the new Blogger interface. The text box for posting is so much bigger, and I can see my whole post at once. That's awesome.

In other news, I finally got my Silhouette Cameo back in early December! I found an awesome deal I just couldn't pass up and used some of my graduation money on it. I've worked on a few projects with it, but I'm hoping to be able to do some freelance work making decals/etc. If you are looking for any of that, or any other design services, please let me know. If I can't help you with your project, I probably know someone that can.

Also, over the holiday, we helped set Michael's mom up with a new blog, Craftin' With Suz. If you haven't checked it out yet, you definitely should. She'll be posting lots of great stuff for all your crafting/organizing needs! Plus, you'll get to see my handiwork with the design!

P.S. Maybe if I would post more regularly, I wouldn't have to be so random. Oh well. :)

Retro on a Friday

2012-01-06T13:38:00.000-08:00

Just for fun on a Friday...Karen Carpenter in all of her retro goodness!

DIY Christmas Gifts

2012-01-04T12:02:00.000-08:00

Since the holidays are over, I can now post pictures of our DIY Christmas project from this year! This summer, my wonderfully talented friend Mallory took engagement pictures for us and everyone is still raving over them (us included). I slacked, and didn't get copies made for a long time. Finally, Christmastime came, and I knew the perfect idea for our parents and grandparents! DIY Picture frames with our engagement picture inside! We bought the unfinished frames from Oh My Crafts! and decorated them to suit each intended. We also made one for my sister, but didn't add a picture of us so she could use a picture of her and her boyfriend instead.

for michael's mom & dad,

my mom & dad,

michael's granny & grandpa,

my grandma & grandpa,

& for my sister.

Starbaux (a Starbucks fake out)

2011-12-12T17:11:00.000-08:00

I hate hate hate coffee. But I LOVE the Salted Caramel Frappucino coffee-free drink at Starbucks. I'm so thankful for the coffee-free options there, because otherwise I'd just have to watch Michael drink his boring cup of plain coffee. Plus, I really enjoy the whipped cream they put on top.

Anyway, I live a bajillion (ok, 40) miles away from a Starbucks, so I don't get to have it very often. But when I do, I so enjoy it. I got to thinking earlier that I could replicate the drink pretty easily, and I was right on. Here's how I made it, so you can try it for yourself! You can also add coffee, if you're one of those people. ;)

Starbaux Salted Caramel Coffee Free Frappucino

You will need:

1 tbsp. Hot Chocolate Mix
1/2 c.(ish) Milk
1/2 tray Ice Cubes
Couple splashes of Heavy Cream
Whipped Cream
Caramel Syrup
Turbinado Sugar
Sea Salt

In a blender, combine hot chocolate mix, half the milk, and ice cubes. Blend until ice cubes are crushed, adding more milk as needed. Add in splashes of heavy cream and caramel syrup to taste. Pour into a glass and add whipped cream. Add just a smidge of sea salt and sprinkle some turbinado sugar on top. Enjoy!

My Rigatoni Recipe

2011-12-05T16:14:00.000-08:00

I love this dish! It's a mashup of spaghetti and lasagna! More fancy than spaghetti, but faster than lasagna for those quick week night dinners! I stumbled upon this recipe while cooking one day and decided it was a keeper! Here's what you'll need:

Please excuse my guesstimated measurements, I'm not one to use measuring utensils unless I have to. :)

Approx. 1 lb Rigatoni pasta, cooked/drained
1/4 lb Ground Meat of your choice (we love venison around here!), cooked
1 jar Prego Roasted Red Pepper & Garlic spaghetti sauce (the flavor this gives is integral to the dish!)
1tsp - 1tbsp Basil
1tsp - 1tbsp Oregano
1tsp - 1tbsp Parsley
1tsp - 1tbsp Minced Garlic
1 tsp Red Pepper Flakes
1/2 tsp Black Pepper
Optionally, you can add cottage cheese, or fresh Mozzarella to the dish at the end.

I cook nearly this entire dish in a wok, including the pasta! I boil the pasta in the wok, then drain and add ingredients. Add your spices first, then ground meat, then sauce. Stir to mix and adjust seasonings according to taste. Heat on low to warm sauce. Add either 1 cup cottage cheese, or some slices of fresh Mozzarella cheese. Either is delicious. If you are low on liquid, you can add some reserved starchy water from the pasta for more liquid that won't make the sauce to runny. Also, feel free to adjust any of the ingredients to fit your tastes. This is simply what I prefer. Enjoy! You better believe we do!

Brinner: Whole Wheat Pecan Pancakes

2011-11-28T17:20:00.000-08:00

Tonight we decided that breakfast for dinner, or Brinner, sounded yummy. I Googled a waffle recipe for a quick put together meal. We are out of all purpose flour, so I decided to make them with whole wheat flour. Here's the recipe I used, with my modifications italicized.

2 eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour (whole wheat flour)
1 3/4 cups milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon white sugar
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (I used 1 tsp to compensate for the gritty whole wheat flour taste)
Couple handfuls of chopped pecans

We had everyone's favorite breakfast companion, BACON, with our waffles, which I topped with a homemade praline syrup and cool whip. The syrup is made from the Praline Syrup from Savannah Cinnamon company, and brown sugar.

We HAD to have hot chocolate with our breakfast, because it's so nasty out and all.

Hope you enjoy this Brinner as much as we do.

Zooey Deschanel

2011-11-18T08:37:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I was listening to Spotify trying to come up with a playlist for our wedding. I came across this song by Zooey Deschanel (apparently it was for Winnie the Pooh? Who knew!) and thought it was sweet. Enjoy!

Marcel the Shell

2011-11-17T15:59:00.000-08:00

I am in love with Marcel the Shell. He's sooo cute!!

Check him out:

Our Save the Date

2011-11-15T14:35:00.000-08:00

This is our Save the Date! I'm so happy with how they turned out.

Designed by me. The photo (and all of our engagement pictures) by our fabulous friend Mallory Minor.
The card was printed by Overnight Prints, and the envelopes are from French Paper Company.

It's Beginning to Look Like Christmas Around Here

2011-11-13T18:05:00.000-08:00

Sunday, November 13, 2011. The day I gave in to Michael's desire to put up the Christmas tree. He's only been asking since Halloween! :) It's no secret that Christmas is his favorite of the holidays, so he wants to start celebrating it as early as possible!

It was fun putting up the tree. This year, we decided to put up the biggest tree we own, a 7ft tree gifted to us by Michael's mom & dad. They bought it over 30 years ago, and it still looks brand new! I was impressed by the fact there there were NO NEEDLES on the ground when we were done. We bought some new LED lights that are so retro looking. We didn't quite get enough, though, so we added some regular red/green lights to help fill it out. We also got some yellow ribbon (we decided to make that our main color this year) but didn't get enough of that either, so we worked in some of the peacock ribbon we bought last year for our peacock themed tree (which you can see behind me here.)

Click on the photos to see them larger!

We have some regular ornaments, but we have a few special ornaments as well. There are a lot of owls on our tree, as you will see. I also picked up a pickle ornament from Crate & Barrel. It's a German tradition that the first child to find the pickle on Christmas morning gets an extra gift. Since my grandma is from Furth im Wald in Bavaria, I figured we needed a pickle ornament! You'll also see the ginormous stockings under the tree. Those were a hilarious Dollar Tree find from a few years ago. It takes a ton of stuff to fill this!

Another thing I want to mention is this new AMAZING candle I got from Bath & Body Works yesterday. The scent is called Apple Crumble and it smells so warm and fall-like, but what I love most is the color. It is the most beautiful shade of green. My favorite, in fact. I will probably need another one next week if I keep burning it. :)

I bought the metal holder for it too, just because it was so beautiful. I stocked up on the Christmas soaps, since I knew Michael would have to have those to complete the transformation of our house. :)

Another thing I'd like to share are the Michael Graves measuring cups I picked up at Target. The cups we had were plastic and mis-matched and were always getting lost in the cabinets. Aren't these cool? And they were inexpensive as well!

Oh, and I can't forget about the Chocolate Chip Cookie Dunkers I grabbed up at Trader Joe's. So yummy! I haven't actually dunked them in anything yet, though...whoops!

Well, that's my ramble for now, tune in soon, because I am trying to blog more regularly. Also, make sure you "Follow" us (located on the right under the archives). I'm also trying to talk Mr. Mosler into blogging about his photography hobby (which, didn't he do an amazing job w/these photos?). Stay tuned!

Tiny Prints Winner!

2011-11-10T06:55:00.000-08:00

Good morning everyone! Thanks to those who entered! It made things fun for me. To choose a winner, I trusted the handy dandy Random.org to ensure it was the fairest fight for all of you!

So, without further ado, we have a winner!

Congratulations, Mallory! Please contact me so we can get your information to the folks at Tiny Prints.

To those who didn't win, you should still consider Tiny Prints for all your holiday needs. They are a great company to work with and offer a quality product. Hopefully, they will ask me to host a giveaway again soon! Thanks everyone!

It's the Holiday Season (With the whoop-de-do and hickory dock) - A Giveaway!

2011-11-08T13:54:00.000-08:00

Hello again, friends. Tiny Prints is at it again. This time YOU could get free stuff.

It took Michael & I so long to decide on our card, because all they have to offer is so great. I won't say what we chose just yet, because I want those that get one in the mail to be pleasantly surprised! I promise you, it will take you just as long to choose, and that is a good thing in this case!

You wanna know something else that's cool? On November 9, 2011, you can receive a FREE card to your kids from Santa! Visit the Tiny Prints Facebook page to find out how to personalize one of the following greeting cards FREE: Checking It Twice or Santa’s Scroll.
Hurry! Offer ends 11/9/11 at 11:59 pm (PT)

That's not the only free stuff Tiny Prints is giving away! They have offered Michael & I the opportunity to give away 50 FREE(!) Christmas cards to one of our readers!

Here's what you have to do:

Browse through Tiny Prints' line of beautiful cards and tell us which design you would choose if you won!

Hurry! Giveaway ends 11/9/11 at 11:59 pm (CST) We will choose a winner first thing Thursday morning. If you're like me, Thursday is the precursor to Fancy Friday. And that's a good day to win stuff! :)

Blog friends! There is still time to be part of Tiny Prints' blogger campaign! Click here to sign up NOW!

I Own a Silhouette Cameo (in my dreams)

2011-10-27T11:33:00.000-07:00

Silhouette has recently released the Silhouette Cameo. I am so excited, but sad simultaneously. I want one really bad, but it just doesn't seem to be in the cards for us at the moment. Seems like there are always bills to pay, gas tanks to fill, and student loans to start repaying in a few short weeks (eek!).

The Silhouette Cameo can do it all. At least that's what it seems like. Maybe one day we will be able to own one of these beautiful machines!

Follow them on Pinterest to see what's been done with it!

A Super Cool Head Start to Winter

2011-10-14T18:44:00.000-07:00

...I crack myself up. Cool - winter, get it?

Now, I don't know if you know much about me or not, but by day I am a graphic designer. Yes, I am one of those hypercritical people who DO judge you by your font/color choices. I won't say anything to your face but there are thoughts swirling in my head. Sorry, 4+ years of training will do that to you. (While we're on the subject, please, for the love of Saul Bass, DO NOT USE COMIC SANS. It's not as cute as everyone thinks.)

Anyway. I have something so COOL to talk about. I recently signed up to be a blogger for Tiny Prints' holiday promotion. Not only do I get COOL stuff for writing about them, but I get to look at all the pretties...and share them with you.

Usually, when I am browsing the Internet, I am scarred by all the haphazard gradient and drop shadow usage that engulf the Internet these days. However, when I came across the Tiny Prints site a few years ago, I had a life-altering experience. If it were possible to marry a company, I would marry Tiny Prints in an instant (sorry, Michael).

I have been asked to share their holiday line with all of you, and that I shall do. To begin my task, I decided to page through their collection, "favorite-ing" the designs that I loved. The joke was on me, folks, because I liked almost every one of them.

The great thing about their site is that you can filter the results by style, color, number of photos, and more. This is great, because I tend to favor retro/whimsical designs as opposed to the traditional.

You can view all of their holiday cards here, but here are a few of my favorites:

I narrowed it down to 10. I can't believe it! I easily liked twice as many. And don't even get me started on the holiday labels they have. I favorited a ton of those too, but this was my ultimate favorite. It resonates with me on a personal level. If you know Michael, you know his love for crazy sweaters. Check out their full line here. Also, if you are having a holiday party, you MUST check out their holiday party invites.

P.S. to my blogger pals: There is still time to enter the Christmas Bloggers 2011 program - check it out!

Pinterest Picks

2011-09-27T07:28:00.000-07:00

I'm back - with more pins! I'm constantly seeing things on Pinterest that are amazing ideas. Every once in awhile, I am compelled to post the cream of the crop here.

Easy DIY Painting! (Love it!)

Wonderfully Pretty Necklace (I've made something very similar to this already, but it gives me an idea for another!)

Great Craft Space Organization (Great idea...might have to try this!)

Simple DIY No-Sew Applique (Because I don't have the patience for much sewing)

Fix a Broken Fingernail with a Tea Bag and Superglue. (Yes, it's true. And pretty awesome.)

Cooking Corn for the Masses. (How cool!)

Find Items Lost in the Carpet (This would help me find the earring backs I seem to drop all the time!)

My Home Studio Makeover!

2011-09-13T17:56:00.000-07:00

So this isn't going to be the typical makeover post where I show you the before and after shots so you can oooh and awwww over my work. I'm not into being flashy. Okay, so I forgot to take before pictures.

There was something about last Tuesday that made it the perfect evening for an office makeover. Maybe it was the weekly marathon of The Office, or the Friends marathon I came across. Maybe I was just feeling up to a challenge. Regardless, by 5:01 I was logged off from working and had the first bit of paint on the wall.

It took me 5 hours from start to finish to paint 3 walls in my office this purply-grayish mash up. I didn't paint the whole room for a variety of reasons, the main reason being that since we are staying in my grandma's house, her furniture is still here, and in my office is a very large piece of furniture that I cannot move, nor do I want to attempt to in the event that I should break it. So, I made the executive decision to paint the half of the room that I primarily use for work/crafting/design/snacking/etc.

Another fuel to my makeover was that I was fresh from my first visit to IKEA. Michael & I went over the Labor Day holiday. I am still impressed that we left Michael's parents' house in Tennessee at 7 am and were back from Atlanta by 3 pm. (It's around 200 miles to Atlanta from their house.)

Anyway, after I drooled all over the pretties at IKEA, I finally regained mental clarity long enough to pick out a new desk. The desk I was using was actually our kitchen table from when we lived in Carbondale. It was too wide to accomplish anything organizationally. I decided to go with pieces from IKEA's Micke Series. I chose two pieces and spent less than $150! How awesome is that?

Michael put my desk and cart together for me last week, and I quickly got to organizing. He was impressed with the quality of my new desk, as you can see from his hilarious commentary on my pet project blog, The Funny Stuff He Says. I repurposed my old desk and turned it into a small craft table to compensate for the lack of room to spread out when I work on other projects.

I also picked up some placemats from IKEA to use to protect my desk top from scratches, pen marks, etc. I love them so much!

I still have a lot of organizing to do with my art supplies, but I couldn't wait to share pics any longer! Enjoy the tour -

Old desk, new craft table.

My new desk, from IKEA.

Wall Pretties - including a photo of little me, a paper plate with what former classmates think is so great about me, a Betty White calendar, and a wreath I whipped up last night while watching a (stupid) movie.

Another view of my desk/cart. Love it!

Prints I made using some of my favorite quotes.

Close up of the cart w/drawers. It's going to be so handy for all my stuffs.

New Flower Projects

2011-08-09T11:10:00.000-07:00

Yesterday evening I spent some more time making fabric flowers. I had fun!

Here's what I made:

[Sorry, this one's a bit blurry.]

Photo Wall

2011-08-04T15:31:00.000-07:00

I got a wild hair one day and put this wall together. I love it! I put scrapbook paper in the frames until I get photos. And then, I got a few more frames, and got lazy. Whoops! Please don't judge. :) (P.S., If you are family reading this, SEND US PICTURES. please.)

Belated Birthday Gift

2011-08-04T14:58:00.000-07:00

Last week, I was sitting at work, doin' my thang, and there's a knock on the door.

{ knock, knock. }

Who's at the door? My dear friend Mallory with a belated birthday gift from Michael: a canvas print of my grandpa Joe's old truck door. It's beautiful, isn't it? I couldn't have asked for a better gift from a better guy. It'll be a great keepsake for when we move out of my grandparent's house and into one of our own.

DIY I've Tried - DIY Dry Erase Board

2011-08-03T16:12:00.000-07:00

Hi there!

I wanted to post a picture of a project I actually followed through with! Last post I suggested some ideas to you, but this time, I will show you!

Behold, the Dry Erase board made from a picture frame! It literally took me 2 seconds to do. Not bad! And, if I get bored of the color/pattern of the paper, I can pop the glass out and change it just like that!

Now, get off of your computer and do something crafty! :)

Pinterest Picks

2011-07-31T18:00:00.000-07:00

Ever since I started using pinterest 4 or 5 months ago, I have found several inspirational things, with things ranging from food, to fashion, to crafting/diy. It's a great site to use to get ideas for anything you can think of.

Here are a few links to pinterest finds that I have tested and approved!

Parmesan knots. Love, love, love. We've made them a few times, and they are so yummy!

Tri-color cake. I made a variation of this for the 4th of July and it was awesome!

Angel food/Strawberry kabobs. Also made these for the 4th and they were delicious!

Another fabric flower tutorial. Super simple and they are so cute! I made several of these one Sunday when Michael was gone.

Picture frame dry erase board. Haven't done this yet, but I want to! I think it'd be great for the kitchen or the office.

Memory jars of where you've been. Haven't done this either, but I think it'd be awesome to start doing. It'd make for a cool display!

Way to hide a key. Can't say I've ever thought of this before. It'd be cool to try!

A new desk idea. I'm hoping to make it to ikea sometime soon to purchase this for my office. My desk now is a kitchen table and I think it's too deep. It's hard to use.

Wow, there's a lot of picks. If you'd like a pinterest invite, send me an email: amanda@amandakaymorgan.com!

Fall Activities

2011-07-29T10:06:00.000-07:00

Michael's first semester of graduate school is almost over! Where has the time gone? After about a month off, he will start back in the fall. When this happens, his days will be longer, and I will be searching for new hobbies.

It's fun to think about all the time to create in peace, but at the same time, I'll miss the guy. He is my best friend, after all. :) At least I have wedding planning to keep me occupied, right?

Our Wedding Website

2011-07-27T19:24:00.000-07:00

Another development we have made on the wedding front is creating a website for our wedding. It's a great way to keep things organized and communicate quickly with several people.

Check it out here: http://www.theknot.com/ourwedding/AmandaMorgan&MichaelMosler

P.S. Can't wait to finish our engagement pics. My friend Mallory has been doing a great job! :)

Wedding Updates

2011-07-27T18:47:00.000-07:00

Well, we can officially say that we have begun wedding planning. I can't help but feel like we are behind, but I know that we are still okay.

In the past few weeks, we have accomplished several things! I have tried on/bought my dress/etc., tried on bridesmaids dresses (and I think I have one picked out), and set up our registries. I get anxious thinking about all the things we have to do still, but I know it will all work out.

I at least know the feeling I'd like our day to have. I'd like easy-going, with a vintage/retro feeling. My pinterest board for the wedding has a better idea of what I mean.

This weekend I'm going to work on a project with my grandma and her sister, and I'm stopping at a little fabric store while we're there to look for fabric. I have an idea in mind for a backdrop.

Why do we need a backdrop?

We're getting married at our hometown's community building, and the wall in which the ceremony will be held features a giant city seal. Now, I'm not really keen on the idea of having the city of Mt. Vernon's seal prominently displayed in the background of all of the pictures, so I have devised a plan (in my head) in which to cover it.

This is my poor sketch of the idea. Please do not judge me. Yes, I know I just graduated art school. But this is a sketch, not a finished piece. :)

My idea is to have a stand built to hang vintage-y fabric on in panels. Then, I would like to have a curtain-y effect in front, with tie backs. I also love the idea of hanging paper lanterns to add texture and dimension. What do you think?

Sunday, Crafty Sunday

2011-07-25T12:22:00.000-07:00

It's fun to take some time out and watch Harry Potter movies you've seen a billion times and make some fabric jewelry every once in awhile. :)

To The Lou

2011-07-25T11:37:00.001-07:00

Last Monday was my 22nd birthday, so this past Friday, Mike & I packed up and went to St. Louis for an overnight stay. In addition to it being my "birthday weekend," I had an appointment at the Apple Store to have my MacBook Pro's iChat problem fixed (can't say enough good things about the Genius Bar!)

Anyway, we stayed at the Sheraton in Clayton, Missouri. It was a great stay! We ordered pizza and watched a movie, and just relaxed. It felt good to relax in a big comfy bed with no laundry, dishes, or paperwork to stress us out.

The next morning, we woke up early and headed to the St. Louis Galleria Mall. We grabbed drinks at Starbucks and walked the mall until it opened. There we visited some of the stores that I have stalked online but never been to, including the Apple store, but also stores like anthropologie and Urban Outfitters.

Then we went across the street to Crate and Barrel, where we worked on our wedding registry. We'd never been to one before, but we had such a great experience! The staff was very knowledgeable and their displays were so gorgeous! I remember Mike saying, "I wonder how much would it cost to just take this whole store home."

After that, we went to The Container store, to Target to get a bite to eat, and work on our registry there. After a quick trip into Trader Joe's, it was on our way back to the boonies. It was a great weekend, and I highly suggest taking it as a two-day trip!

2011-06-16T11:26:00.000-07:00

Click here to check out this post I posted over at tumblr! (It's pretty funny, if I do say so myself.)

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Holy Cannoli, Batman

2011-04-20T17:59:00.000-07:00

We graduate in just over 3 weeks. Eek! Sneaking back away to pack, study, & create.

Peace out.

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Wreath Project

2011-03-05T12:12:00.000-08:00

Quite awhile ago I finished the wreath that I wrote about making previously. Thought you would enjoy seeing the final result!

I discovered that Hobby Lobby sells fabric glue in hot glue stick form. It's amazing! I scooped up as many packages as I could today simply because it's usually sold out when I go.

These are relatively inexpensive to make, and I think it turned out beautifully. I have a few people that want me to make them for them, so I hope I can find some time to do so for them.

Enjoy!

Exciting News!

2011-02-09T21:09:00.001-08:00

Well, it's been a few weeks, but I thought I'd check in and let our followers know that after nearly 4 years of dating, Michael & I are engaged!

We're excited to begin this stage of life, but we must focus on school for the next 12 weeks. Look for wedding news and ideas to be posted after then! :)

(The Bling)

Back to Our Roots

2011-01-14T20:02:00.000-08:00

It's time to get back to the original purpose of this blog. For tonight, at least, because I got thrifty!

I had the urge to get crafty today. Combine this with my love of flower pins and hairpieces, and it's a deadly combination of not folding laundry and scraps of fabric everywhere. Woops. :)

I found some fabric in a drawer from a project back at community college that I used as a backdrop. Since I haven't thought about it since then, I thought it was time to repurpose it.

I cut a slit and then ripped the fabric into strips and then made the flowers from there. Of course, being the visual person that I am, I had to look up tutorials first. There are lots of helpful ones on the Interwebs. :)

Well, then I couldn't stop. I made big flowers, small flowers, the works. Then I got crafty with strips of fabric and fashioned these headbands. I think they are so cute! I just wish I had more in my wardrobe that matched them. I can't wait for payday so I can go run to Hobby Lobby to pick up more fabric. I also want to make a wreath for spring for our door. I love this, but methinks I can make something more personalized myself. Surprise, surprise...I found a tutorial for those flowers! :)

Anyway, enough rambling, because I have successfully folded two items of clothing since 5pm because I got all excited about the flowers. Luckily I got lots done this morning before I got ~~distracted~~ inspired. Anyway, enough is enough. Here are pictures of what I made!

Michael also modeled these for me so I could see what they looked like on, but there is no photographic evidence, which is how he likes it. For the record, though, he looked cute as a button! :)

Edited to add: I think it's funny that I called this "Back to Our Roots," and it's about hairpieces. Heh. Carry on. Nothing more to see here. :)

My New Endeavor

2011-01-12T19:14:00.000-08:00

I started my Etsy store this evening. Granted, I have had an account since 2009, but I have never placed anything for sale. I only have one item for sale at the moment, but I am excited to offer more in the future.

Graphic design is my passion, and I thoroughly enjoy all things design. While weddings are my favorite, cards and gift tags have become a recent hobby as well. I'm hoping to discover this more through my senior thesis.

Speaking of school...

Ugh...We go back on Tuesday, then it's 16 weeks until the end. While I have enjoyed studying as a Saluki, I can't wait to start working in the real world full time. It's time to get started with life!

Oh, I almost forgot. Here's the link to my etsy store. :) www.etsy.com/shop/akmo

New Look!

2011-01-07T14:46:00.001-08:00

I thought it was time for a new look. What do you think? :)

It's ridiculous.

2011-01-06T20:02:00.000-08:00

(This is ridiculous, too.)

Yes, it's ridiculous to think how quickly time has flown. In just over a month, Michael & I celebrate 4 years together. In one week, it will be the anniversary of our first date.

I remember it well - trying on every outfit in my closet, trying to find something that would impress and swoon. If only I knew back then that the boy in the Hawaiian shirt I was going to see Night at the Museum and eat at Fazoli's with was going to be so great, I would have went in my pajamas.

But I think a part of me did know.

I feel like we have known each other our whole lives, like we were cut from the same mold. Heck, we knew each other for two years before we even went on that date. We spent one year as lab partners in Chemistry class, and I know it sounds cheesy, but we really do have chemistry. We're both so incredibly like old people. We like our retro music, our nights at home, and we get all crotchety when the neighbors play loud music. We prefer to cook at home than go out, and we are sleepy by 9 pm.

I'm so glad you came into my life, Michael. I honestly don't know who else would understand me quite like you do.

"Home, let me come home,
Home is wherever I'm with you,
Oh home, yes I am home,
Home is when I'm alone with you"

-Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, "Home"

And just for giggles, here's a small time line of us.

2007
2008

2009

2010

2011

Timeline to be continued... :)

That's a Wrap...in More Ways Than One!

2010-12-16T16:38:00.000-08:00

It's been awhile since our last post...I [Amanda] have been posting over at my tumblr page, [akmorgan.tumblr.com].

The Fall 2010 semester is nearly over. I have one more art history exam, then I am free for a whole month before beginning my last semester of college. I am currently researching ideas for my senior thesis project.

Every graduating senior from the School of Art & Design at SIUC must put together a thesis show, which shows the week of graduation. It's supposed to be the creme de la creme of your career as a student, so there's a lot of pressure to come up with an awesome thesis project.

I'm just glad I only have 12 credit hours as opposed to 15 next semester. My heart & my head can't handle another stressful semester like this one. Except I bet my senior thesis will be ridiculous.

Anywho, Christmas is 9 days away! Woo hoo! With this, I leave you with our Christmas card & the photo we included in a lot of the cards. I love designing cards and invitations, so this was my stress relief from the semester.

When I Can

2010-08-21T20:00:00.000-07:00

Today Michael & I went to the St. Louis area with his parents to visit a few places. First we went to the Missouri History Museum to view the Vatican Splendors exhibit.

There were many breathtaking pieces at the exhibit, but I was very interested to see the history and contextual information included with the exhibit. In particular, one quote stood out to me:

"When will it be done?" - Pope Julius
"When I can." - Michelangelo

This resonates with me, especially as a designer and a student. There are so many things I would love to do, but can't seem to find the time just yet.

All in all, our weekend was wonderful. Lots of socializing, eating, and viewing of beautiful things. What more could we ask for?

Days Like These

2010-05-07T15:25:00.000-07:00

Days like these

remind me of my sorrows

and where they originate.

I seem to have a lot of them these days.

But then I remember that a rainbow is sure to come soon.

Progressive Diptych

2010-04-16T19:52:00.000-07:00

The end of the semester is drawing near, and I wanted to share with you a project I've been working on for class. Here are some pictures of the work in progress.

The project is a diptych piece, meaning that there are 2 separate paintings that work in conjunction. For my assignment, both pieces have to be different color schemes.

The top section of the diptych is painted in an analogous color scheme (meaning, 3 colors next to each other on the color wheel). I chose Yellow, Yellow-Orange, and Yellow-Green.

The bottom section is a monotone (1 color + tints & shades) blue. This piece is still in progress.

Part 1-

Part 2-

20 things about me (+ 1 to grow on)

2010-04-06T14:18:00.000-07:00

20 things about me (+ 1 to grow on)

1. My favorite kind of ice cream is mint chocolate chip. I've loved it since I was really little, and the Dairy Queen guy didn't believe my mom when she ordered it for me.

2. If you want to buy me flowers, just go ahead now. Fresh flowers are one of my favorite smells ever...and my favorite flowers are green spider mums.

3. I am a graphic design student, and I've won some awards. I won the first annual Holiday Card Contest at junior college, and since then, I've won some Talent Scholarships. Most recently, I received 3rd place in My Jean M's Designer Search Contest.

4. I'm really interested in Art History...I recently added a minor in it. I'm not so interested in the exams, though...

5. I've been dating my boyfriend, Michael, for just over 3 years. We met in high school when we were chemistry lab partners. Strangely enough, neither one of us remembers a thing about chemistry.

6. I think peacock feathers are gorgeous. Birds in general make me pretty happy. Not real ones, though. Just figurines, drawings, etc. I have retro owls hanging in my house, bird necklaces, etc.

7. Speaking of retro, I also have a giant fork and spoon, complete with Tiki carved into them, hanging above my dining room table. It's pretty amazing.

8. I'm the oldest of 3 kids. I have a sister and a brother. I'm also the oldest of my cousins on my dad's side, and the second oldest on my mom's. So basically, I've never been the youngest. Michael, on the other hand, is the youngest of 3. He also has a brother and sister. Maybe that's why we work so well.

9. I moved out almost a year ago when I transferred to SIUC. I live with my boyfriend (i.e. Pick up his socks.) We got some flack in the beginning, since we aren't married, but we look at it economically. It is much more affordable to pay one rent instead of two, and we spent all of our time together anyway.

10. I have had the same best friend since I was 7 (she was 6). I like her because she likes to eat pizza and cupcakes and stay up late to talk. The way I see it, these ideas have worked for almost 15 years, so why change anything?

11. I have an obsession with cardigans. I have lots of them. Green, blue, black, ivory, purple...I love them all. (Feel free to send me some to review, Target & Old Navy!)

12. ...And with my cardigans, I like to wear flower pins. I only have two right now (it's a shame, huh? Someone should buy me some more.) One is aqua, and the other is white with blue cheetah spots.

13. I was recently diagnosed with Lyme disease. I don't know where I came across a tick, but I do know it's nasty stuff. I am finally feeling better after 3 months. I still have a long road to walk. (Hopefully, I'll be able to WALK it.) Please, do me a favor and check for ticks every time you go outside!

14. I've always had this weird desire to drive a steamroller. I thought I was strange, and then I found out that Michael has had the same dream, too.

15. My car is my arch nemisis. It is a 1997 Mercury Cougar in "Light Prairie Tan." It has what I lovingly refer to as "granny rims," and obsessively leaks coolant like a sieve. This problem will cost me $750 to fix, and to that I say, "No thanks." I simply park it on a level surface instead of uphill or downhill (genius solution, if you ask me). Other features? Animal claw marks on the ceiling, power windows that may or may not roll back up, vents that fall apart when you touch them, and "Check Engine" and "Door Ajar" lights that are constantly on. Oh yeah, and that whole part where it randomly dies while in use, so I can't leave town in it. My mom lovingly refers to my car as "Karen." You know, like the Cougar from "Talladega Nights." She even wanted me to get vanity plates that said Karen on them. I think that would add to the whole "grandma" aesthetic quite nice, don't you?

16. I am on Twitter & Facebook A LOT. I still manage to make the Dean's List somehow. I'm pretty proud of those multitasking skills.

17. We rent a trailer. Heck yes, I do. It's a brand new one, and it's just like a little house. Except it's got wheels underneath it. I've got 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a w/d, dishwasher, and a full kitchen.

18. I've been writing this at work all day...I've sent it to myself in 14,000 emails that I will have to paste together later. That's alright, though. It's how I work most of the time.

19. My favorite season is spring. I feel better, everything's pretty, and all those cute baby animals.

20. I have young parents and grandparents. It was so awesome to have grandparents that could roll around in the floor with us as a kid. I hope to be able to give my kids that pleasure some day.

21. I love making lists. This was fun. Thanks, Erin!

Days of Not-So-Yore

2010-03-31T19:27:00.000-07:00

It has been an extremely busy semester for me. In addition to beefing up on credit hours this semester in order to graduate on time, I have also been dealing with some health issues.

After three months of countless doctors’ appointments, lab tests, embarrassing paper shorts, and a referral to a (very expensive) dermatologist, I was given the diagnosis of leukocytoclastic vasculitis due to a drug allergy.

Fine.

Except it happened again.

Without this drug I was supposedly allergic to in the equation.

This time, I decided to pack myself up and head home for the afternoon to see my home doctor. Luckily, packing-up-and-heading-home is only about an hour’s drive.

Within a few minutes of looking at me, my doctor (who knew me first, as he delivered me) had it narrowed down to three disorders. After some blood work and a prescription for Danazol, I was sent on my way. When the results came in, I was called and given the diagnosis of Lyme Disease. I was immediately given a 21-day round of the antibiotic doxycycline and told to come back about a week later for an appointment.

Long story short, I have yet to know all there is to know about Lyme. I do know that I will forever test positive for Lyme, whether the infection is there or not. I will have occasional flare-ups, triggered by immune system weaknesses, such as a cold or the flu.

I also will have joint pain, mostly in weight-bearing joints, such as the hips, knees, and ankles, explaining my recent joint pain.

I have yet to learn the lasting effects of this condition, but I can only stay positive and try to stay active. I have noticed recently that my joints become stiff very quickly, which could be a bad thing in years to come.

But I cannot let those thoughts consume my mind. I must enjoy the life I have while I have it. Although it is exhausting to walk a short distance, as my knees grow unstable, I push through, because I have to. I want to.

I want a future someday. I want to get married, and hopefully have a family. I’m not sure what limitations this condition puts on these plans yet, but I am hopeful.

I have found a new appreciation for life. I want to travel to new places (so, out of the Midwest).

Being an eternal optimist really comes in handy right about now, and if I have learned anything these past three months, it is this:

If I can get through this, I can get through anything.

On Failure

2010-02-24T20:23:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I feel like such a failure.

I always sleep later than I intend too. I don't eat my vegetables all the time, and I sometimes forget to send thank you's.

I may have forgotten about some bills one month, so the checks showed up late.

I don't exercise...usually. I know I should, but the hours in my schedule and supreme dislike of the fitness atmosphere keep me away.

I understand that I am a picky eater...been that way for a LONG time.

I don't always floss, or remember to sweep the kitchen floor or empty the lint trap in the dryer.

But I try to be the best person I can be despite these faults. I even try to make the best of my faults.

I don't just do it for me.

I do it for him. Michael. He deserves the best me I can be....longtime companion, and hopefully, someday, his wife.

I do it for my family. They've put up with me and my weird eating and sleeping habits for two decades. Gotta love 'em for that.

I do it for my peers. They deserve to have a few productive citizens in society to keep this lazy generation going.

But it's no picnic. Some days are hard. My legs feel like sand, my heart like mush. So many thoughts swirling in my head.

But I keep on truckin'. Sometimes even I don't know why. Maybe things will look up soon.

I hope. It is almost spring after all.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Then & Now

2010-02-13T20:42:00.001-08:00

Michael & I started dating in 2007. In those 3 years (plus the 3 prior that we were chemistry lab partners/friends), we have learned, loved, and grown so much.

Together.

How long have you known your Valentine?

You want me to do what?!

2010-01-12T12:19:00.000-08:00

I had a brilliant (or maybe crazy) idea while I was doodling. I was thinking about how cool it is that we can all communicate instantly, no matter where we are.

It's also cool that we can be steps apart and see the same thing completely differently.

This is where the cool idea comes in...You don't have to do it...but I think it would be really interesting if I got responses.

Make me a carrot.
(Send a picture of it (or the file) to me, along with your name & email.
(I was doodling carrots, ok?! Don't ask why.)

You don't have to draw it. It can be a paper collage, vector, Microsoft paint drawing, hand drawing, photograph, knitting/sewing creation, shrinky dink, keychain. Whatever your gig is.

I think it would be a good judge of the "farmer/artist's" outlook in life.

This note also makes me realize how much I sound like a teacher.

Comment with questions...see the book "Signature Flowers" by Victoria Leacock for my inspiration.

Promises

2010-01-07T16:10:00.000-08:00

I've been thinking a lot lately about how tough it can be to financially support yourself through college. You can't work enough to make extra cash, and the hours you do work go straight to bills. It's not a great feeling when you see the triple digits in your bank account dwindle down to double digits, especially around the holidays when your on-campus office is closed (meaning, no work, no money for me).

Some people avoid college for this reason, I think. However, I choose to embrace it.

I consider myself to be a "forward-thinker," meaning that I think of the future more than the right-now. I think about my life in 10, 15, 20 years, and how it might be different if I just gave up and started a full-time career. Some days this seems more appealing than others.

But then I step back from the stress, anxiety, and doubt of my situation and try to remember why I am REALLY still in college.

I'm trying to prove a point. (A very long, expensive point, nonetheless. There are very few in my family with a college-level degree. My aunt has her associate's, and my mom recently finished her's, and my dad's working on his associate's. But no one has received, or even attempted a 4-year degree in my family.)

There is not one relative in my family that I look down upon, or feel are less successful because of this. They all do really well for themselves, and I'm proud of them.

It's just me.

I promised myself a long time ago, when I was a child, that I would go to school and earn my bachelor's degree, and be the first in my family to do so. Granted, my intended major has changed a few times since then, but I am still working towards my goal (class of '11).

There are days where I want to give up. There are also days where I don't feel like I'm "good enough." I see my high school and community college classmates beginning careers, families, and buying homes, and I have to admit, it's frustrating. But then I think of the promise I made myself as a kid. And you can't break a pinky promise.

Writing is an Invicible Force...

2009-12-21T20:18:00.000-08:00

Seriously, I have used the ability to write to ~~weasel my way out of~~ get through some tough situations. To me, it's the most powerful tool we humans possess.

Ok, for example, (begin cheesy cliché here): "The pen is mightier than the sword."

It's true.
{just sayin'}

Ok, so I may have a bias about writing, I mean it does require my favorite subject (reading), and you have to use TYPOGRAPHY in most instances, but really. Think of all the situations that writing can make you go from good to great.

{Resumé} A bad resumé can take a job offer from "deal" to "no deal." A well written one, adversely, can make up for a slightly shaky interview, sometimes.

{Grade Boosting} I may or may not be speaking from experience on this one. But seriously, mad writing skillz can take your high "B" to a low "A" in a flash.

{Thank-You cards} You can take your standard "Thank-You, Great Aunt Myrtle, for the knitted sweater at Christmas" to something much more decorated than that. Like, almost as decorated as the doilies and jingle bells on said sweater (but not so much to make you receive two next year).

{Reading} Seriously, writing and reading go hand in hand. So does spelling. The more you read, write, and spell, the better you get at all three. The Holy Trinity of Literacy, as I like to say.

{Social Networking} Sometimes communicating via electronics can misconstrue emotions and words. Knowing how to write can help you find alternative messages that will have the intended meaning, and not the possible misconceptions.

{Stress Relief} Writing is a big stress relief for me. I'm always writing poetry, writing blog entries (even if no one reads them, tear), and e-mails. It's a way to say what you want to say, without actually saying it. If that makes any sense.

{Comic Relief} I've read some pretty hilarious stuff online since May or June. I love it.

{Confidence} Writing is one more attribute that I feel adds to your self-confidence level. Along with friendship, fulfilled goals, and a sweet pair of shoes, knowing that you can successfully write something can make you feel really good about yourself.

Anyway, folks, if nothing else, start small. Write a love letter to your beau, make yourself a charming love note to yourself, or write a letter to grandma. You'll be a job-bearing, stress-free, happy guy or gal in no time.

Chao.

2 years, 10 months, and 3 days

2009-12-17T20:07:00.000-08:00

Dear Michael,

It seems like everyone our age is married, getting married, or having babies. It kind of gets your clock ticking (ok, just mine).

But I digress.

Although sometimes it makes me feel like I am falling behind, or out of the loop, per se, I try not to let it bother me…

…I try to see the full picture, the future. The dreams I have for myself and for us. Everything from the vacations we want to take to the perfect cabinet height (you know, so I can lift my KitchenAid mixer unobstructed.{grin})

…I also try to think of the present. The little things we do for one another. Cooking dinner, doing laundry, sharing phones when one is broken. It is these moments that I know we will treasure for a lifetime.

…As well as the past. (The good times in the past. I don’t think about the bad times as much as you may think.) We’ve had our ups, we’ve had our downs, but we’ve always risen from the ashes stronger than before. We’ve been together so long it seems hard to imagine life without the other. (I’ll skip the cheesy list of famous pairs, although you know how much I love to list things.)

And even if we’ve been together for 2 years, 10 months, and 3 days (who’s counting, anyway?) why should we rush a good thing?

We have 2 years, 10 months, and 3 days of memories. That’s more than a lot of people our age can say. And I know, when the time is right, things will happen for us too.

(But, P.S., please be patient with me when I’m feeling down and out about it.)

(But, P.S.S., I’m ready when you are.)

Here’s to many more 2 years, 10 months, and 3 days.

Love, Amanda

Semester City

2009-12-07T19:49:00.000-08:00

It's that time again, folks. Semesters. We are trying to remain sane individuals, but given a late night computer crash for Michael, and the normal stress that accompanies this occasion, it seems more difficult. Caffeine and YouTube breaks help.

We hope to get some traveling in over our break...to the "Kraus House" in Kirkwood, MO and Nashville, TN, specifically. We'll keep you updated, for sure. We might even share the YouTube videos we find on our study break! :)

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

For His Birthday...

2009-11-30T19:29:00.000-08:00

Michael,

Today is your birthday. I am very, VERY VERY (do you get how very?!) blessed to have had the privilege of knowing & loving you for the past 5 years. I could write a blog about all the things you mean to me, but I think you already know, and it’s your birthday, for pete sakes. There’s cake to be eaten!

What you don’t know is that your birthday is just as exciting for me as it is for you. I enjoy planning your gift, researching it (scheming for it), wrapping it, and of course, you know my favorite part, making the card.

There are some things I don’t know. Like exactly what you were like as a kid. But I do know the people that knew & loved you in that phase of your life. That’s why I asked them for a favor in honor of your 21^st birthday.

Enjoy, Birthday Boy. We love you.

Love,
Amanda

{look at that stud!}

Dear Mikey,

You were our Christmas bonus and blessing. I remember telling Matty and Katie that they were going to be a big bro and sis, I'll let Katie tell her story about that. Matthew was so excited, as long as it was going to be a boy--he had had enough of girls! I told him I couldn't guarantee that. I explained to them that all you would do the first few months was eat, sleep, poop, and cry and that is what you did but no one minded as long as we could find the binkie! We put you under the Christmas tree and put a bow on your tummy to show you were our Christmas present.

Dad, Katie and Matt all made wonderful posters welcoming you home.

Since the mom-mobile was always going somewhere, I think you thought you lived in your car seat. One day we could all stay home, but you went and got into your car seat anyway. I had to drive you around the block before you would get out! You were a great trooper being taken to all of your big siblings activities.

You were our snuggle-bug boy, so never get too old to give out hugs.

Happy 21st.

We love you,

mom and dad

{yes, he was little once!}

Mikey,

I just want to wish you a happy 21st birthday! You have been jokingly my pet since we were little kids—which also translates into one of my best friends. When I asked for a puppy and mom told me that I was getting a little brother or sister I was so bummed. I didn't like the idea of having to share mom and dad with another sibling and also I was losing my spot as being the youngest child. I was not happy. Although when you finally did show up in December I was very excited! When you were little I always wondered why you were so red all the time. I thought you were just doing the number two ALL the time. So if you ever wondered how you got the nickname terd that is where that came from. LOL. We have had a lot of great memories together! The one that sticks in my mind the most is when you brought home a turtle and mom asked where that came from and you told her with your little innocent face with out breaking a smile "it followed me home." I should of thought of that one about getting a dog. We have had our ups and downs as brother and sister but you will always be my best friend. There are things that I will always share with you that we will never tell mom and dad. Hehehe. We have been doing that since we were little. Well I will quit writing and just wish you a Happy Birthday. May your glass never go dry. I love you bro.

Love your Annoying older sister

Katie

{what a sweet little face!}

My Thanksgiving Post

2009-11-23T16:18:00.000-08:00

This Thanksgiving feels different to me than it ever has. Actually, the whole holiday season in general feels off-kilter.

Since I moved out on my own in May of this year, I feel like I have changed/grown as a person significantly. For the better, for the most part.

Thanksgiving is more than just turkey and mashed potatoes this year, all though I will thoroughly enjoy in the feast. It’s more about the people that will be there and how lucky I am that I can actually spend the holiday with them.

I’m thankful that these people made me the way I am. My parents, for obvious reasons, but also for some of the personality traits I absorbed from each of them. My grandparents, for showing me the real meaning of hard work, sacrifice, and love. I saw a younger version of myself through siblings and cousins going through teenagerdom.

I have seen a lot in my years, but never as much as I have seen in one year as in 2009.

I graduated from community college with my Associate’s in Graphic Design (yay! Go me).

I moved out – a major milestone in everyone’s life. I learned how hard it is to take care of a household and work, and go to school all at the same time.

I left a job (and co-workers) that I thoroughly loved with all of my heart, but it had to happen when I moved.

I started a new job, and met a group of people that I enjoy to work with very much – and I’m building a portfolio in the process.

I saw my wonderful boyfriend of nearly 3 years win a national competition in his chosen field, and it made me so proud.

I started my first semester at the university level, and had a reality check as to howclose I actually am to finishing school. For good.

I saw my cousin (the only one older than me) get married, and gain a husband and two young step-sons. I saw the real meaning of love, and realized that my own moment may not be too far away.

On a much deeper, sadder note, I saw my first best friend tragically lose her dad. My “second mom” as a kid lose her husband, and a piece of my heart broke.

My grandma had surgery to install a shunt to relieve spinal fluid pressure that was building on her brain. She has since been placed in a nursing home for rehabilitation.

2009 has been a year of mixed emotions for me, but I feel like I have grown/matured as a woman. Thanksgiving this year is not entirely about the food this year, just like Christmas won’t be about the gifts.

How was 2009 for you?

This day sucks!

2009-11-18T16:16:00.000-08:00

It's cold, it's wet,

dreary and dark.

Need I say more about my day?

Ok.

The ladies on "The View" were way off mark.

Need more?

Sure.

I can't cut a square,

there's clothes everywhere.

Had enough?

(Me too.) This day's been rough.

Until next time,

until next rhyme,

Adios.

Life feels slow.

2009-11-16T18:50:00.000-08:00

Life feels slow, ya know?

Like I'm walking in quicksand.

Lives are blossoming around me,

...and I'm still stationary.

Whew!

2009-11-07T18:37:00.001-08:00

Well, blog followers (if there are any of you), I PASSED MY PORTFOLIO REVIEW.

...and I had an awesome weekend with family.

Life is good today.

Sometimes...

2009-11-02T19:29:00.000-08:00

Sometimes, do you want to go back

To the times that you were young?

Sometimes, do you wish your eyes had not seen

All that it has?

I do. I wish that I could see the faces of my family,

With less wrinkles, more hair, smiling once again.

Maybe it’s selfish on my behalf; for I have a sensitive heart.

I just wish I could be young again.

When life was easy.

When I was innocent to the pain in the world.

And I could have you back in my life.

Portfolios, Poems & Pizza

2009-10-20T19:40:00.000-07:00

I have a portfolio review coming up in a few weeks, to determine if I am able to enroll in 300-level classes for the spring.

Because of this, my poetry/writing/everythingelse will be limited.

Also, we will probably be ingesting a lot of frozen pizza.

978

2009-10-19T19:42:00.000-07:00

978 days…since “the day”
“the day” we got over our fears and reservations
and made it official.
they say time flies when you’re having fun,
but I beg to differ.
i’ve relished in these moments, that i never thought would be
the tears, the joy, the laughter, the pain
all that we’ve accomplished as a “unit.”
unpacked boxes, held hands, told stories,
it seems 978 should be 9,780,000,000 and beyond….because I want it to be.

Together

2009-10-18T18:55:00.000-07:00

Some days the monotony consumes me,

Like I'll never earn that prize.

But then you smile and wink at me,

And I remember we're in this together.

She's Got a Way About Her...

2009-10-17T20:22:00.000-07:00

There's apparently something about me that drives kids crazy. In a good way.

I don't know what it is. Maybe it's my HUGE green eyes that look funny to them. Or the fact that my face can be smushed into any facial distortion imaginable. Or that they can smell candy on me. Not really sure.

For instance, while shopping at my local Kroger store, I happened upon a little girl (who had the CUTEST headband on her bald little head, complete with a spider and web, btw.) with her parents. Her parents were shopping for groceries and didn't notice her laughing hysterically and waving when I smiled at her.)

Or kids who meet me for the first time and start conversation with me and grab my hand.Or the kids at the daycare at my university who say, "Bye! Have a nice day!" when I walk by.

I'm not saying I mind. I'm pretty flattered, actually.

My favorite thing about cute, innocent little beings is that everything you do is thecoolestthingever. My earrings were reeaallly pretty according to one little girl. I love that it takes so little to impress these little people. They don't care if I'm having a bad hair day, or if I feel fat, or if I don't say the right thing at the right time.

They just love you for who you are.

At what point in our lives do we lose that and become hardened, experienced adults? I think we can learn a good lesson from children. Love everyone, dream big, and of course, blow bubbles in your chocolate milk.

I hit the jackpot-twice.

2009-10-10T19:18:00.000-07:00

So, I'm pretty happy right now.

I've officially won two giveaways in the past few months.

One. A $100 Kmart (Sears, Land's End...what have you) gift card from Kmart Design on Twitter.

Two. A Method set from the 15 Days of Ivy giveaways, brought to us by Steph in honor of her sweet baby girl Ivy's 1st birthday. (isn't Ivy + the tutu the cutest thing ever?!)

feel so small

2009-10-06T05:30:00.001-07:00

how can a girl so tall
feel so small

when her life is so full

insecurity takes the wheel
she has no choice but to feel

small.

Watch

2009-10-04T17:12:00.000-07:00

(Snatched from my aunt of her little cutie, Lance. Enhanced in Photoshop by yours truly.)

Everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn. ~Elizabeth Lawrence

It's hard to believe he'll be two in January. Seems like yesterday he was born.

for p.

2009-09-30T20:28:00.000-07:00

memories treasured,
never forgotten.

tucked away,
in the hope chest of my mind.

i add our time into my memorial wealth,
my life is richer because of you.

masquerade

2009-09-25T13:38:00.000-07:00

heart full, head empty
all in a day's work

life spins as you watch it go by.
late nights, early fights.

while we pretend to avoid the problem, life goes on.

right?

The "Oh My" Problem

2009-09-23T17:27:00.000-07:00

I've got a problem.

Oh My.

That's it! That's my problem! I just realized that I say it for everything. Maybe I'll switch to yikes.

Some Days...

2009-09-22T16:35:00.000-07:00

Some days, I just want to revert to childhood-

-where I could eat Snack Pack pudding with Cool Whip & M&M's whenever I pleased.
-play Rock Band and The Sims until I couldn't keep my eyes open anymore.
-spend my summers staying up late, and sleeping in-not working.
-write stories and dream of the future.

...and yet, others, I really enjoy my newfound adulthood.

It's Like Losing One of Your Own...

2009-09-21T06:49:00.000-07:00

Update: I just heard that Ranzie's mom gets to come home today! I was overjoyed to hear the news, but they all still have so far to go in the healing process. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Yesterday, I woke to hear some devastating news. One of my oldest friends' parents were in a horrible car accident en route to vacation in South Carolina. Her father was killed instantly, and her mother is in ICU in Chattanooga, TN. It was so sad to hear the news. Her parents were like my second set of parents growing up. I spent A LOT of my grade school years at their house, and Ranzie spent almost as much at my house. She was the one that convinced me to talk to Michael, nearly 4 years ago. We have sort of drifted apart since high school, but the pain is still there for me. I have so many fond memories with her & her family.

-playing Barbies until we were probably too old to be.
-interpretive dancing in her basement until we were told to go to bed
-talking until early in the morning
-going to dances together in grade school
-her dad making breakfast for us when we finally woke up from being up late
-being banned from her dad's pool table because, well, I suck, and probably would have tore the felt on it.
-playing this ancient pinball machine that you had to punch the side of it to get it to turn on and off.
-being hugged by her cat one night while trying to sleep; he also slept on my head that night.

...the list goes on and on, just like the memory of her dad will in my mind. I will always consider her family part of mine.

First post in a while!

2009-09-20T19:45:00.000-07:00

Hello,

I have not posted on here in a while ,but I just wanted to take a moment to show my appreciation. Amanda has been really accepting of my absences lately. I have been at school for the past week till about 11 o'clock and she is still committed. I love her very much and I wish I could be more committed. Thank-you Amanda for being there and the driving force for me to stay on track with my classes and homework.

How?

2009-09-16T08:44:00.000-07:00

How do you open yourself up to the world,

To let them know your true self?

Not the quiet, shy, reserved self,

But the fun, creative, unique self?

How do you become the life of the party,

When all you’ve ever been is the caterer?

How do you spark the imagination of others,

While still having some left for yourself?

How do you smile at the ones who only notice you when they need you?

How do you speak up?

security

2009-09-15T08:58:00.000-07:00

security

she always sleeps with one leg crossed over his,
as if in fear that he'll be taken.

she's never needed someone so much.

she's happier than she's ever been,
and hopes he'll never leave.

Oh, How I Love This Shirt...

2009-09-14T19:39:00.000-07:00

...even if I don't love myself sometimes, for:

-not being the skinny, beautiful sister, but just the dorky, plain jane sister.

-for being the relative that just corrects people's grammar and tells about useless knowledge.

-not being more outgoing, but just the wallflower that silently screams donttalktome.

-being a door mat to others.

-for spending too much time on Facebook, Twitter, and FarmVille, and not enough time on homework, and even less time on housework.

-for not giving 110% to my boyfriend some days when I'm just too tired to help.

-for waking up early in the morning already worrying about the Day that is just beginning, while it screams, Wait, I haven't even gotten started yet! Give me a chance!, at my worries.

...and yet some days, I fear I'm too hard on myself.

Stir Fry with a Twist

2009-09-12T16:33:00.000-07:00

...tortellini, that is. I decided that the usual stir fry I make, while delicious, was missing something. So I decided to add some leftover frozen cheese tortellini we had and the freezer, and the results were FABULOUS!

Here's the recipe:

Ingredients:
1-2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
1 lb. frozen stir fry veggies
frozen tortellini
fettuccine alfredo

Sauce:
1 1/2 c. Soy Sauce
1 1/2 c. Water
2 tbsp. Sweet Chile Sauce
sprinkle Ginger
sprinkle Garlic
sprinkle Red Pepper Flakes

Mix the sauce together and pour over the chicken. Let marinade for 15 minutes (at least, or longer if you can!)

-Cook the chicken in a few tablespoons of vegetable oil, using a large skillet, reserving the leftover liquid for later.

-Once the chicken is thoroughly cooked, add the veggies and reserved liquid. Bring to a simmer and cook until veggies are warm. (Remember that the liquid had raw chicken in it!)

-Add boiled tortellini and fettuccine to the skillet and toss together.

...and that's how you make Stir Fry with a Twist!

Post-Wedding Weekend Recovery

2009-09-08T18:36:00.001-07:00

Ugh...It's been so long since I last posted, and for that, I'm sincerely apologetic. However, I have been quite busy, people.

September 5, 2009, my oldest cousin Whitney got married. It was planned to be an outdoor wedding (that would have been beautiful).

However, the weather did not cooperate with us, and at 12:00 noon on Saturday we were forced to pack up everything (and I mean everything) and move it to Central Christian Church (15 minutes away).

It was a looong day...but it was a beautiful wedding, nonetheless...

...but now we are tired, and back at school.

Enjoy a picture of your blogger (and her deadbeat co-blogger) from the day's festivities (courtesy of Witter Studio, in Mt. Vernon & Fairfield)...

May the Force Be With You

2009-08-26T20:43:00.001-07:00

I just want you to know:

I love you even though you leave your socks (and other articles of clothing) crumpled in the floor, all over the house.

-I love you even though you are stubborn as hell.

-I'll love you even if you're in a bad mood.

-You'll always make me beam with pride with your accomplishments.

I have NO DOUBT in my mind (with the Internet as my witness) that you are the ONE (notice the CAPITALS) for me. You will succeed, grow, and prosper. May the Force be with you...and so will I....

...but only if you'll ask me.

It's Not About You

2009-08-24T16:01:00.001-07:00

I started fall classes at SIUC today. My first class, Design Process & Presentation, was a good start to my day (after spending 2.5 hours in the student center planting on FarmVille...hee hee.)

My instructor came in and went over the typical first day schpiel, but I left that class in the Blue Barracks, room 121, with an interesting bit of information. And now, I will proceed to impart that bit of wisdom on to you. You're Welcome...

"Graphic Design is not about you."

It was then, that I realized, it's not. Not entirely anyway. It is essential to understand the need of the client, the want, their heart and soul.

I think I can handle it.

One Happy Camper...

2009-08-20T17:37:00.000-07:00

This is one happy girl writing this blog. I'm officially a Mac totin' Mama. Here's some fun pictures I've taken with PhotoBooth.

That's What I Like About You...

2009-08-18T15:21:00.001-07:00

**I originally posted this on Facebook...but I liked it so much...you get to see it here, too!**

This is a totally random, off-the-wall note about reasons why I believe Michael & I were chosen to meet each other that fateful day in Chemistry Class as lab partners. Yes, some of them might seem crazy to you-but it means something to him & I. This note is also a prime example of how my brain randomly spits out blurbs of information.

We both made tents with our bedsheets using our feet as kids when we were supposed to be sleeping.

We both exhibit random outbursts of Country music, while neither one of us ever listens to country music.

Who else can I go to the Goodwill with to buy useless (although amazing) pre-owned housewares? (P.S. Don’t invite us to your wedding if you don’t have a sense of humor-you will get a GOOD gift.)

I am constantly entertained by his random outbursts of “Oh my gosh. I just had the greatest idea. (Insert crazy idea here)”

We went on a few field trips together as middle schoolers and didn’t even know it until now.

Somebody has to accept my sarcasm/unique sense of humor.

He sees the real me (shy and quiet) instead of who others see (rude and elusive)

We both love to people watch. We’re not crazy. I swear.

He never fails to coat on the compliments (even when he’s not in trouble.)

He was taught to always open the door for women.

He is loyal—kind of like a dog, but cuter.

He has great calf muscles.

It makes me sad to see him leave, even if it’s just to the next room.

He loyally retrieves my cell phone when I leave it somewhere (which is always).

He’s the longest lasting friendship turned relationship I’ve ever had. (So what if it’s the first?)

My parents trust him with me. (Which is a big deal.)

He treats the women in his life with respect.

All it takes is the drop of the bottom lip and he is to the rescue.

I don't feel like I have to change anything about myself to impress him.

On loving Apples...

2009-08-17T18:53:00.000-07:00

Wednesday will be a good day. Yup, it's the day me and my mom will go to the school bookstore and pick up my Apple computer! The computer I have been dyinghopingpraying to get for two years!

(Did I mention that I get one of these for free when I buy said machine?)

(You should probably talk to me before Wednesday...I'm going to be unavailable for a few days after this machine makes it home with me. ;).....)

Summer's almost over....

2009-08-15T08:06:00.000-07:00

Wow. Hard to believe we moved in together 3 months ago today. Even harder to believe we've been dating 2.5 years as of yesterday. It's been a long, crazy journey, but it's our journey, and we're doing it together...and I like it that way.

Amanda & Michael, 2007

Amanda & Michael, 2009

Writer's Block

2009-07-29T14:32:00.000-07:00

I've been having some writer's block lately, probably due to the fact that I officially have one week of school left for the summer. One.

Summer semesters are great in the sense that they are half as long, but still count for the same amount of credit hours, meaning it's half the work for the same amount of credit. They are also nice because the classes are smaller and more personal. (Great time to take speech!)

However, summer semesters can be a beast. That's because at about week 7 (of 8), the instructor realizes that they have yet to assign projects, or teach lessons required for the class. Here comes the fun part.

1 3-5 page paper. (Done). 1 Persuasive speech, to be given on Monday. (haven't started.) 1 take home exam (Done).

I also have a HUGE wedding project going on right now. It's been great to get all of the experience, but this on top of everything else can be draining. It'll be nice to have some extra time to work on it.

...I guess I didn't have writer's block after all! :)

I have a confession to Make....

2009-07-11T16:02:00.000-07:00

a...I have a secret love for The Golden Girls. It consumes my weekday mornings from 7 am - 9 am.

I love Sophia Petrillo (Estelle Getty) and her cut-throat sense of humor.

Sophia: "Dorothy, there are three groups at the Senior Center. The hip group, the not-so-hip group, and the broken-hip group. Which one would you want to be a part of?"

I love Rose Nylund (Betty White) for her sweet innocence

Rose: Now, I know no one wants to hear any of my stories right now..
Dorothy: That's always a safe bet, Rose.
Rose: ...but you need to hear about my cousin Ingmar. He was different. He used to do bird imitations.
Blanche: Well, what's wrong with that?
Rose: Well, let's just say you wouldn't want to park your car under their oak tree.

I love Blanche Devereaux (Rue McLanahan) for her sexy confidence that she uses to seduce men half her age.

Rose: I stopped in a diner and Blanche, there's a egg dish named after you.
Blanche: Really? How are they prepared?
Sophia: Over-easy.

I love Dorothy Zbornak (Bea Arthur) for her sense of humor and her stubborness. She is who I most relate to. After all, she was 5'9" (I am 5'11".)

Rose: God, I hate fog!
Sophia: Why? You spent most of your life in one!
Rose: I meant, if it were clearer we could see Mount Losenbaden.
Blanche: What's Mount Losenbaden?
Rose:It's kinda like Mount Rushmore, except they sculpted four losers of Presidential elections in the mountainside. Let's see... there was Alf Landon, Wendell Willkie, and Adlai Stevenson and Adlai Stevenson. Blanche: Why are there two Adlai Stevensons?
Dorothy:Oh, Blanche, isn't it obvious? He lost twice...
[panicking]
Dorothy: Oh God, it's making SENSE!

...and this...this is just funny. I want one!

Thanks for letting me get that off my chest. I feel much better now. :)

A Tale of Two Tomatoes

2009-07-08T16:16:00.000-07:00

Tonight, we had chili, as you can see from my last post. While I was cooking, I came up with the idea to split my ingredients and make two different dishes. In addition to the chili, I also made homemade pasta sauce for our homemade pasta on Sunday.

1. First, I cooked 1lb. of ground venison with chopped fresh garlic.
2. Then, I moved about half of the venison to another stock pot.
3. I then added 1/2 can of everything listed below to each pan.

-Crushed Tomatoes
-Tomato Sauce
-2 cans Tomato Soup
I also added a can of diced tomatoes to the sauce.

To finish the chili:
-Add 2-4 cups water to the chili, depending on how thin/thick you like your chili.
-Add chili powder, salt, and pepper, to taste.
-Rinse a can of kidney beans in a strainer and add to the chili. (This keeps from the "mushy stuff" in with the beans from getting in to your delicious chili!
-Let the chili simmer for as long as you are able to.

Here is a genius suggestion that my dad always did growing up. Just before you eat, add the hotdogs to your chili, instead of cooking them separately. Then you can either use them for chili dogs, or just eat them straight out of your bowl, like I do.

To finish the pasta sauce:
-Roll fresh basil and chop into 1/4" slices, and add to the tomatoes.
-Sprinkle in some Rosemary or Italian Seasoning
-For my secret ingredient, I add a sprinkle of brown sugar. This cuts the acidity down of the tomatoes.
-Let simmer for as long as you can.

And that's how you make tomatoes twice!

Meal Plan

2009-07-05T19:56:00.000-07:00

Monday-Mt. Vernon for Dinner
Tuesday-Pan-Fried Chicken Breast, American Fries (Fried Potatoes), Salad
Wednesday-Chili w/Hot Dogs
Thursday-Fried Rice, Salad, Bread
Friday-Little Caesar's Pizza Night
Saturday-Hot Chicken (Family Recipe), Salad, Bread
Sunday-Homemade Pasta (Ravioli), Salad, Bread

R.I.P., Mac.

2009-06-24T15:01:00.000-07:00

It was a sad week last week. My wonderful little Mac machine bit the dust. Or at least the hard drive did.

I remember getting Mac like it was yesterday. I got him at the RLC auction a few years ago. He was already a senior computer, but I had him fixed up, and he seemed to be good as new. He spent his life teaching students at RLC about graphic design, and then working as my trusty steed for almost another two years.

I have until this fall before I get my Macbook Pro. I'm currently working on a PC (Boo!) Laptop. Now what am I supposed to do? I feel lost.

In Loving Memory

2000-2009
(Still longer than a PC!)

I Really Do Like to Write...

2009-06-23T18:17:00.000-07:00

I guess I've been in a slump lately....not wanting to do much of anything...except work and go to school.

Maybe it has taken this week alone, while Michael is in Kansas City, to reintroduce me to a former hobby of mine...writing. I absolutely loved to write when I was in high school...poetry, short stories, anything. (Ok...time to gloat for a second...my English teacher said I had potential! :) )

When I graduated grade school in 2003 (wow, has it really been 6 years?!), I received a laptop computer from my parents. From that day until I got my driver's license, that's pretty much all I did.

I'm going to have to find some old stuff to post!

I think my love of writing is what sparked my love of graphic design. I would spend my summers using Publisher (which now makes me cringe) to make all sorts of nifty things for my little brother and sister's "doctor's office" or "grocery store." I also used Microsoft Office to make them forms, spreadsheets, and ran reports in Access. (Was I really that dorky?)

I have realized that writing has done a lot for me in my life, like the following:

writing skills
spelling skills
overall communication skills
computer skills
computer application skills
design skills

Something it didn't help with, however, was a tan. :) (Paleness was a sign of royalty in the old days!!)

When You Were Young/Day 900

2009-06-22T18:23:00.000-07:00

*I would just like to update something here. We all have our blonde moments, right? Well...I had one with this post. It was not day 900...it was day 860...close enough, I know...but for those of you who are counting, I apologize. I still mean every word of the post though!*

Do you remember when you were a kid and things seemed out of reach or so far away? I remember thinking CDs seemed like sooo much money when I was a kid! (And the sad thing is, now that I can afford CDs, they're $9.98 at Target! Not that I'm complaining.)

Another thing that seemed so far away was life events. When I was in junior high, high school seemed so far away...and now I'm a junior in college! Wow.

Something that seemed never, ever away was finding someone that would understand me for who I really am. I remember writing stories when I was a freshman in high school about high school relationships, channeling my inner desires.

Then I met him. :)

It was Chemistry class, in 2004. We were both 15...well...Michael was almost 16. Was it fate? Was it the workings of the Anglo-Saxons when they developed our alphabet? Was it the compulsive need to control from our teacher? Who knows. All I know is that Amanda Kay Morgan & Michael Alan Mosler were united for the first time in that class-as lab partners in Chemistry class.

Two years passed before anything happened. (I had begun to develop a crush on Mr. Mosler the summer of '05. But he didn't know. Apparently he thought I was the bee's knees since day 1 (how sweet! :) ) However, one day (it was sooo cold!) in the nasty snow & sleet, I was dealing with a bad day. I had left school at lunch for an appointment, and on my way back, I was unable to stop at the stop sign and "tapped" the car in front of me. Luckily, there was no damage and nothing happened, but it still ruins your day) when I hear someone talking to me, "I'm surprised you're not wearing flip flops today!" (I have a sincere love for flip flops that only women can understand.) I turn around, and see Michael, looking nervous, and, well, cold.

I don' t remember what I said, because what happened next was the BEST way to turn around my day...EVER. Michael asked me to prom. (Of course I said yes!)

Prom was awkward...We didn't really know each other that well. We went to the dance, and came back to Michael's house. What happens next is a joke now, but it was really awkward then.

Michael had rented a movie, Waiting, for us to watch. He didn't know what the movie contained, he had just heard it was good. Talk about awkward! (If you've never seen it, imdb it!) We watched the movie on our separate ends of the couch (which makes me laugh to think about it now).

After that incident, we didn't see each other or talk to each other until school started next fall. We had different social circles and they didn't intertwine.

In the fall, we were placed in the same P.E. class. This brought us closer (which is ironic, because neither of us are athletic whatsoever).

On January 13, 2007, we went on our first date. We went to Fazoli's and then to see Night at the Museum. (Big night, I know, right? :) ) Since then, we've been inseparable. Officially, it's been since February 14, 2007. We're a little slow.

I guess I should explain why I'm writing this blog tonight. Maybe it's because I'm sitting in our quiet little place alone tonight while Michael is in Kansas City competing. But mostly it's because I just realized that we have been together 900 days tomorrow. Wow. I never thought I'd get to say that about anyone. I thought I'd be writing stories about it. And here I am writing a story, except it's real.

I'm looking forward to what the future brings to us and our happy little home. We've had our ups and downs over the years, but I can't wait to see us at day 9000.

Facebook's Grasp

2009-06-15T16:57:00.000-07:00

Recently, Michael became very interested in Facebook...again. I have to say, I'm glad he did. I am constantly on Facebook...it's a great tool for my freelance design. He gained several work "friends," and now I find him on Facebook during his free time. It's great. It's going to sound weird, but it brings us closer together by being on Facebook...something else we have in common!

We survived....the move of 2009!

2009-06-03T15:57:00.001-07:00

Michael & I are officially settled in to our new place...and we officially finally have Internet. Geez. Don't even get me started on that ordeal! :)

Anyway, I thought I would post a picture of the new digs...our dining room; set for dinner guests!

A post to my best friend...

2009-05-04T10:48:00.000-07:00

Michael, I just wanted to take a few minutes to tell you how much I appreciate all you do for me, ever since that fateful chemistry class. Thanks for being there for me no matter what! I love you, and can't wait to start our adventure together!

Time....Goes By....So QUICKLY!!

2009-04-29T09:59:00.000-07:00

WOW! It seems like as every day goes by, it's like a week. We officially have 2 weeks, 2 days (for Michael), and approximately 4 weeks for Amanda. Life is a whirlwind. Packing, sorting, along with final semester projects. Somehow we'll manage through it!

It's Been Awhile....

2009-03-16T06:05:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile since our last post, but don't think we've been idle. Both of us have been very busy in the past weeks. I (Amanda) have been feverishly working on scholarship applications and portfolios, and Michael has been working on house plans for a client. We're anxiously awaiting our move-in date. We hope to add a countdown soon! I also had some good news this past week. I sent my porfolio to an office at SIU, and received an e-mail back saying they want to interview me! I have yet to set a date, but I am excited nevertheless!

Updates

2009-02-06T10:18:00.000-08:00

We had some great news last week. Michael was offered the position in SIU-C's engineering department, beginning this summer. We're so excited! Now I (Amanda) just need to find a job!

We also completed our applications for housing...also very exciting. We will sign our contract sometime soon.

School is going well; our careers at community college are quickly coming to an end. We are grateful for the opportunities that were given to us there, but we are ready to see what SIU can do for us!

Good Ol' Rocky Top

2009-01-21T08:10:00.000-08:00

Our trip to Tennessee was a success! We stayed in condos in Pigeon Forge, drove through Gatlinburg, and traveled in to Cade's Cove.

We took a lot of pictures, and we hope to post them in an online album somewhere so that you can see them. We'll post a link to that when we get it done. For now, a picture of us will have to do!

The Great Smoky Mountains

2009-01-15T07:05:00.000-08:00

The picture shown is of the Smoky Mountains, that straddle the border between North Carolina and Tennessee.

Michael & I are headed to visit Pigeon Forge, TN this weekend, along with Michael's parents, and sister Katie.

I have never been, but the rest of them have. I'm always up for a new place to visit, and by the looks of the pictures I have seen, it should be a beautiful weekend!

A Home For College

2009-01-13T11:32:00.000-08:00

After receiving our acceptance letters to SIU-C just days apart, Michael & I began to take our housing search seriously.

And although some may frown upon the fact that we are moving in together before we are married, to us it was not a moral decision-but a financial one, as well as a trust factor.

We trust each other, and it is more cost-savvy than getting separate housing. We don't really know anyone else at SIU, and we don't want to risk getting a roommate with sticky fingers or who doesn't pay the rent.

We recently met with Dave about his mobile home community, and we think we have found where we want to live! He is very nice, and professional. He has been in business over 20 years.

His mobile homes are very new, and reasonably priced. A 1000 square foot 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom home with washer/dryer, dishwasher, and large appliances will cost us $550/mo--before we split the rent!

We quoted the utilities, and they are reasonable as well.

Michael & I feel really good about this place, and can't wait to move forward with it, after Michael's interview with SIU's Engineering department Jan. 23.

Above is a picture of one of the trailers that we could rent. Let us know what you think!

Updates

2008-10-28T11:19:00.001-07:00

Michael & I found some really great deals at the local Goodwill the other day. We will post pictures & items asap.

Scholarship Search

2008-10-20T10:35:00.000-07:00

Recently, the matter of scholarships has crept upon us. We are searching for scholarships to aid us while attending SIU-C.

Does anyone know of any scholarships that would help us out? Pell grants are not an option for us; as we are still dependents of our parents, who make too much to be eligible.

Michael is an architecture major, and Amanda is a graphic design major.

Please let us know of any ways we can get money. There have been many people tell us that they found out about scholarships after it was too late, and we don't want to be like that.

That's one big stocking, Michael.

2008-10-14T18:58:00.000-07:00

Michael found this stocking while we were on vacation in Tennessee at Dollar Tree. I (Amanda) wish I would have gotten one too. I hope our local store gets them in. This stocking is 40" stocking (for $1!).

It's going to take me & about half a dozen other people to fill this mondo-stocking. :)

A Green Chair and the 10¢ Bin

2008-08-17T13:01:00.000-07:00

Our latest trip to the Goodwill, we found this retro chair for $3.00! It has previously been reupholstered, and the green color is wonderful!

Last night, after returning from a wonderful trip to Paducah, KY, Michael & Amanda stopped at Kroger after hearing about the $.10 bin at Kroger...

There, Michael got everything in the picture, and Amanda bought up the unbroken cosmetics. It was all ten cents each!

Find Of The Week!!

2008-07-28T09:49:00.000-07:00

Susan, Michael's mom, found the buy of the week shopping at Goodwill yesterday. She found six Tervis Tumblers!! There are three mugs with handles and three glasses. She wins the Find Of The Week Contest and is awarded a thrift store shopping trip with Michael. Congratulations Susan!