A Texan in Oz

I did!

2011-09-21T00:25:00.002+10:00

I didn't call the dermatologist, but I went to a dr. The (still) recurring rash is a staph infection on my face. So, why all-of-a-sudden do I have this rash all the time? I can only ponder, but I think all of my weight gain has most likely maid me somewhat insulin-resistant (pre-diabetes kind of thing) which makes me susceptable to things like this. Aweshum. I have a cream for it that's supposed

Someone Call the Dermatologist!

2011-03-03T15:02:00.002+10:00

Ok, so one of the most embarrassing moments of my life was in January 2008 when I had two teeth abscess simultaneously and right next to each other, the trauma of which caused my lower jaw to swell a good 2 inches away from my face. It was the most pain I've ever endured and it took days for the swelling to go down. To add insult to injury, and purpose to this post, I had what I thought was an

Soy Latte anyone?

2011-02-23T12:59:00.009+10:00

Upon receiving my issue of Frankie magazine this month, there was an article reviewing various non-dairy milks. What timing! The article gave resounding applause to Bonsoy brand Soy milk so I, assuming this person who's been doing this whole non-dairy thing for longer than I have knows what their talking about, embarked upon a non-dairy treasure hunt of sorts to Cole's. (the only grocery store in

Jet Set!

2011-02-17T21:32:00.002+10:00

No sooner have I started really feeling the jetlag than I am hopping on another plane back to brisbane for Elisha's 30th bday bash at Cloudlound in Fortitude Valley. Claim to fame: I can pack a bag for 3 days and 2 nights in 15 minutes. :-D It helps that I really haven't settle back into the house yet so I haven't had time to fling all my things across its four corners yet.We have a flight out

Concerning the Home

2011-02-17T00:25:00.004+10:00

Chris and I have been talking a lot about home design in recent months and it's come to a point where I really have to start deciding what my style is!! I don't know how to describe what I'm looking for....maybe rustic? You know I love a good log cabin. :)What I like:I like old things. Call them vintage or antique or even new things made to look old, I love them. Give me peeling paint over a

Crystal Renn

2011-02-16T23:41:00.002+10:00

For those of you who aren't familiar with Crystal Renn, she is most known for being the most wanted supermodel in the Plus Size modelling and fashion industry. I think one of the greatest reasons for her fame is the fact that she started out like any other model but, after struggling and overcoming an eating disorder, she gained some weight and started working the plus-size circuit. She's been on

My Choice

2011-02-14T12:13:00.005+10:00

Summary In summary, I am not a vegetarian. I'm not a vegan. I'll never follow either of these lifestyles perfectly because, at the end of the day, I do believe animals are here for our sustenance. However, I prefer to minimize the number of lives loss so that I might live. I'm currently exploring a more organic and vegan diet and am very curious about the positive impact this could have

Home Again!

2011-02-14T11:24:00.002+10:00

My visit with my family in DFW has come to an end and now I'm finally back home again and it feels great!It's gotten to the stage where I feel more out of place in DFW than I do in Moranbah! lol I never thought I'd be able to say that, but it's true. I use the "wrong" words for everything and people get confused. I feel completely lost and overwhelmed in the grocery store because it's so HUGE and

Coffee Culture

2011-01-25T02:37:00.007+10:00

The coffee culture in Australia is above and beyond that of anywhere I've been in the U.S. I mean, initially, the lack of Starbucks and other drive-thru style cafes in this region really bothered me. I'm an American after all and I'm very used to my convenience! As far as convenient coffee goes, the gas stations here in town (and also Subway) have these automatic espresso machines that, for

Fun fun fun

2011-01-22T10:18:00.002+10:00

It just occurred to me why I booked my flight from Mackay to Brisbane in the middle of the week! I'd been sitting here thinking I was an idiot, and wracking my brain trying to figure out what the HELL I was thinking! When it dawned on me: Wednesday is Australia Day. A public holiday. A day Chris has off from work! So, he can drive me to the airport and all of the previous stress and drama

Astrological Signs

2011-01-22T03:58:00.002+10:00

So, based on all the Facebook status...statii? Anyways. ;) Based on all of the updates by my friends, they have apparantly decided to officially update the astrology calendar thing to reflect the actual constellations of today. Why am I the only one for whom this is not news??? I've been reading/hearing for years that the current calendar was outdated by something like thousands of years which

My Future

2011-01-20T07:01:00.002+10:00

I know! 3 updates in as many hours! But I keep thinking of things to update about :PAs you all may or may not know, I only finished 3 semesters of college and only 2 of those were remotely successful. While I have always thought out-of-the-box somewhat when it came to living a cookie-cutter life, living in Australia has redefined my attitude towards the necessity of a degree even further. Unlike

A real life update!

2011-01-20T04:52:00.004+10:00

Since my last update was just a store review (and a chance to show off my cute new stuff) this one will be a real update on my life. :)Cesar's WayThe best thing about being out of work right now is Eva! She is a handful and a half to be sure, but Chris and I are avid Ceaser Milan fans and have had a lot of fun trying to remain "Calm and Assertive." It's funny how much I have misunderstood Cesar's

Evans.co.uk Review

2011-01-19T13:36:00.006+10:00

My Curvy RevelationI never thought I'd identify as a "curvy girl" because, to this day, my bra cups don't exactly runneth over! But, whether I like it or not, my hips and booty most likely make up for what I'm lacking on top thus defining me as a "curvy girl."I've lamented several times over the difficulty I've had finding clothes that fit me in Australia. I'll remind everyone that a size 12 U.S.

Neighborly love

2011-01-10T01:43:00.003+10:00

Our next door neighbors have six kids, several cockatoos, chickens, dogs, cats and other various wildlife. I'm not exaggerating. Every morning at about oh, say, 4 am, the cockatoos start squawking. If a wild cockatoo's squawk wasn't bad enough, these cockatoos have been raised in a chicken coop so they sqwak-a-cluck. Like a bee-awk-a-squawk. A cockachicken. A pain in the ass.It's still summer

Happy

2011-01-04T01:52:00.008+10:00

Looking back on my previous posts, it's unbelievable to see what a negative change occurred over the past 5 months. It's obvious even in my blog how emotionally shattered I was by the pressures of that job and I'm so glad to be out of that environment! I feel like I'm getting back to me now. :)Chris had 10 days off for Christmas so today was my first day at home by myself since I left work. It's

Ready to end so I can begin!

2010-12-02T00:03:00.004+10:00

I work all. the. time. About 50 hrs/wk every week (or 7 days as it were) and I am SO burnt out. I can't do this anymore! So I quit. ;) I can't believe I only just started this job 3 months ago, this is like the shortest I've ever been in a job but it feels as if I've aged 3 years in this 3 months. No amount of money is worth how I've felt lately. I gave them 6 weeks notice which means my last day

Runaway home

2010-11-22T12:21:00.003+10:00

Usually this is my favorite time of year. Usually I'm buzzing with excitement, planning christmas gifts and sipping pumpkin spice lattes all the way with Christmas music blasting from the speakers in the car.Usually I'm happy.this year I'm not. This year I'm stressed every waking moment of every day. I'm at work now and I'm fighting that all too familiar (if increasingly rare) feeling to runaway

AWOL

2010-10-07T01:13:00.000+10:00

I've been AWOL. I need to blog more. I know....meh.

Woo!

2010-09-28T08:00:00.003+10:00

I had a hallelujah moment this morning! Chris washed one of the only pairs of jeans that kind of still fit me...and my heart sank because they ONLY fit if I spritz them with water and do a lot of clenching and jumping and pulling and then wait an hour before wearing them in public.... I was not looking forward to wearing them! But they were the only clean ones. (and the only ones that fit) So, I

Holy 7 day work week Batman!

2010-09-04T21:22:00.002+10:00

I'm exhausted. I've been getting headaches every evening. :( I think I'm overwhelmed.I realized today that, because our roster runs from Thursday thru Wednesday, I'll be spending 2 weeks of every month working 60-70 hours in a row before getting a day off. So even though my schedule says I have two days off each week:Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, WednesdayThursday, Friday,

She works hard for the money!

2010-09-01T22:48:00.002+10:00

I have a job!I'm the new manager at a local discount/clearance/warehouse type shop. I don't want to say the name because then anyone who googles the store will be re-directed to my blog and I'd really rather not have that happen. We'll call the store PP. ;) (If you know the name, don't type it in a comment either or else it will still direct to my blog!)Anyways!Work. I work 43 hours a week--on

Music, Babies and Money

2010-08-17T00:44:00.003+10:00

I hope you like this new song I'm playing. It's Neopolitan Dreams by Lisa Mitchell and those of you who know anything about my taste in music will hopefully agree that this song fits nicely into "my" genre. :) I love Lisa Mitchell. She's an Aussie artist and former Australian Idol contestant (when she was 16! made it to the final 6!) I've always loved her song Coin Laundry, it has a fun rhythm

2010-08-10T01:11:00.002+10:00

Don't know what to blog about really! Let's seeI had some drama-rama the likes of which I haven't seen since I was 17. That was pretty damn annoying, for lack of a better descriptor. The pettiness and short-sightedness just boggles the mind. Really, it boggles. But whatever. Since I'm not 17, I don't have the energy or patience or emotion to waste trying to grovel with someone who I'm so

Got my nails done!

2010-07-31T16:43:00.004+10:00

I'm in love with gel nails. If you haven't tried them before, you should because I am ADDICTED. If you don't know what they are, the nail artist paints the gel on just like nail polish only it has to be cured under a UV lamp for 2 minutes between layers so it takes about 2 hrs for a manicure instead of 1. But, when you're finished, you have the most perfect manicure of your life and it lasts 3

I'm holding out.

2010-07-31T03:14:00.004+10:00

This was one of the busiest weeks I've had to date since I moved here and I'm LOVING it! I'm a very social person, so I'm just thriving on all the attention I've gotten lately. :) I've been booked up every single night this week and even got to spend a whole day in Sarina with Ashleigh which was SO refreshing. It's so nice to be able to spend time with someone who you can say anything to, even if

Weekend Update Jul. 24

2010-07-24T16:46:00.003+10:00

Okay, so it's only saturday which is a little early for a weekend update, but what can I say?This was a great week! I got a new cookbook in the airport last weekend called "The French Women Don't Get Fat Cookbook" by the author of that book French Women Don't Get Fat, have you heard of that book? She was on Oprah. You can google it. lol Anyways, the recipes are really simple to cook and are so

Our weekend away

2010-07-24T15:32:00.006+10:00

So much to talk about, so little time!So, Brisbane was pretty much one of our best visits ever. I don't know if it's because it's been a full year since our last stay there or if it's because it's been so long since we took a romantic weekend but it was just a really special time. The Wintergarden (shopping centre adjacent to the Hilton) on Queen St. is undergoing a lot of renovations at the

Hey you, with the face!

2010-07-15T13:10:00.002+10:00

It's been a while! I'd be lying if I said I've been so busy I couldn't update, it's more that nothing of consequence has really happened until lately so now I am updating!We are leaving for Mackay tonight and fly out to Brisbane in the morning. Woo! We're creatures of habit, so you won't be surprised that we're staying in the Hilton on Queen St as per usual and don't have any real plans other

Weekend Update

2010-07-05T20:27:00.005+10:00

I had a great weekend! I can't tell you what I did all weekend, I don't really remember....but yesterday was our ONE YEAR anniversary! Wooo! It was just a magical day, I don't know how to describe it exactly...it felt a bit like Christmas when I first woke up. The house was FREEZING cold as we had a "cold snap" yesterday and it was 6 degrees Celsius when I woke up (about 43 degrees F) which is

Moving Forward

2010-07-01T11:35:00.002+10:00

I am in So. Much. Pain.UGH.Why do I do this to myself? It's only been 2 months since my last workout and I'm officially back to sqaure one. I did Slim in 6 Tuesday morning and then a Tae Bo class that evening and now every part of my body aches! Tae Bo was like, an HOUR long and turned out to be a lot of identical moves to Slim in 6 so it really kicked my butt. I haven't been back to the gym yet,

Back in Moranbah

2010-06-29T13:30:00.003+10:00

I'm back in "the bah" as they say. heh. And I miss my family. :( ::sigh:: An extreme extrovert like myself really wasn't designed to sit alone in the house day-in and day-out though so I'm sure that's adding some insult to injury. I've just realized that all my teacher friends, if they've stayed in town, are off for school holidays though so hopefully I can catch up with some of them. I have made

In Texas!

2010-06-08T02:15:00.003+10:00

I made it in alive. :)I LOVE an uneventful trip and this was the most uneventful trip ever. Not even a hiccup. On my flight from BNE to LAX I was only awake for the first 4 hours which honestly flies by because they feed you dinner and give you snacks and coffee and bottomless alcohol and you always find some new release movie to watch on the in-flight On Demand system...but at about the 3.5 hr

Gladiator shoes

2010-06-02T06:30:00.002+10:00

I want some Gladiator sandals!One of the annoying things about wearing a size 12 is that it takes a couple years for the latest trends to become available in a size 12. Lucky for me, this is the first season that LOTS of gladiator sandals are in my size! (this probably means they will go out of style next year, but what can I do...)Here's some of my faves that come in a 12:19.99 @ Torrid19.99 @

Some kinda zombie

2010-06-02T05:51:00.003+10:00

I can't sleep. Bleh. It's almost 6am!I'm leaving for Mackay tomorrow night so that leaves me 1.5 days to pack and tidy up so Chris isn't left with all the cleaning for our inspection in two weeks. This will be the first inspection where I'm not home and, since we only have one "outdoor only" cat on paper, finding somewhere for the kitties while Chris is at work could prove difficult. I don't know

Old Photos

2010-06-01T17:33:00.003+10:00

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2424997&id=23906872&l=aae2daa982I uploaded a whole bunch of old photos from 2008 and 2009...it only took me two years to do it. As I was uploading I realized the extreme measures I go to avoid packing.

The hunt is over!!

2010-05-31T01:36:00.003+10:00

If you remember my previous post I've been struggling with the Australian aesthetic when it comes to making a house a home. To recap, the typical (i.e. easy to find) style here is ultra-modern modular type furniture and that's just not my style! To add insult to injury, everything is very very expensive compared to what I'd be prepared to pay for something similar in Texas and it made finding the

Almost there!

2010-05-25T03:15:00.004+10:00

I have a sore throat. :( Ow. I don't know if it's just dried out from having the space heater on all night or if I'm actually sick, but it doesn't feel nice. It was only my left side when I woke up this morning and now it's both sides. Boooo!I am coming to DFW in 10 days...last I checked it was 50 something, so time really does fly! I should probably unpack from January if I'm going to have to

ADD

2010-05-24T23:14:00.005+10:00

I'm sorry this is so long, I just had a lot on my mind and it ended up taking up a lot of space!For anyone who doesn't know, I have ADD. I was diagnosed at 17 and I remember the immense amount of relief I felt when I found out...I would get so frustrated before that I just couldn't seem to remember the simplest things. I was constantly losing things and had several very expensive belongings

NOT.

2010-05-19T12:21:00.000+10:00

For all who were wondering about my symptoms, I'm NOT pregnant. (took a test and everything, just for momma.) But I think I might have PMDD. Just had to say. ;)

Weekend Recap

2010-05-17T23:54:00.002+10:00

Hello!My weekend was good and bad. It was good because I got to go to a Body Shop party in Sarina and order nice smelly smellies and eat food and talk to Ash about life and love and the pursuit of happiness....but it was bad because I was supposed to go to the races FOR THE FIRST TIME on Saturday and was really excited about it....but I woke up feeling more exhausted than I had in years with a

Uni

2010-05-17T19:35:00.005+10:00

I was talking to Ashleigh on the weekend and she was telling me about the degree plan she's going after at CQU. It's Business Communications, and it looks like fun! I was going to get just a general communications degree, but Business Communications (maybe with a minor in HR?) would be general enough to not be stuck looking for any one specific position but, especially with a minor, specific

The Perfect Fit

2010-05-12T15:55:00.003+10:00

I was confronted with a strange thought the other day... the idea of moving back to Texas scares me. But why?My life here has gotten easier lately. I have made some new friends and am finally settling in to our home. Chris and I have built a routine and I'm growing to accept rather than despise all those things that are different. It used to be that I grasped at any excuse or reason for us to

Fun!

2010-05-10T02:07:00.002+10:00

It's only 55 degrees tonight, but it feels freezing compared to the 90+ degree weather we so typically have every day, most nights only get to 75. It's really fresh, and lovely outside at the moment. :) We bought some logs and built a fire in our Weber. lol If you didn't know, fireplaces don't come standard in Queensland (hell, heaters don't come standard!) so we had to make do with what we have.

BRR!

2010-05-09T03:02:00.004+10:00

It's cold in Queensland! Only at night... it's still about 80 during the day. But still, the weather's been BEAUTIFUL! It's actually a bit chilly in the shade during the day, I'm loving it. :)I've been going out to the pub every Friday night I'm in town, and it's been amazing for my social life! In this town, the only thing to do recreationally, other than making your own fun at home, is to go to

Sad.

2010-05-06T20:37:00.002+10:00

I feel really guilty. And sad. After venting about Petra's pooing habits yesterday I noticed that she was trying to go, but nothing happened. She started bleeding from the effort and I deduced she must be constipated. She must have been constipated for days, hence the little poos here and there and I had no idea. I feel awful I regret being annoyed and not paying closer attention. The vet said

WHY

2010-05-06T00:31:00.002+10:00

I keep finding little kitten nuggets all over the place. WHYYY?? Why is Petra the most difficult kitten I've ever had? I've NEVER had a kitten have trouble potty training. It's their instinct to use the litter....but I caught her today. She was sleeping and then woke up with a little nugget poking out and went and pooped in the corner on the floor. WTH?!?! Does she have a problem? She didn't have

RE: F21 into Sweatshop Labour?

2010-05-04T16:07:00.003+10:00

In response to Ashley's post on Forever21 running sweat shops in LAI feel pretty conflicted about the whole sweat shop boycott thing. I mean, at least some of those women are admitted illegal immigrants…they’re breaking the law just by being in the country, they aren’t even legally allowed to hold employment in the USA, but they’re complaining about workers rights? It feels more than ironic to me

Doxylamine Succinate

2010-04-30T14:53:00.001+10:00

I love the swift sleep you give me, but hate waking up in the early afternoon with medicine head and the whole day wasted.

Fake Tan

2010-04-29T09:31:00.002+10:00

I can't remember if I've given y'all a heads up on this one yet, but last year I discovered the most perfect self-tanner EVER: St. Tropez Bronzing Mousse.It's never orange and never streaky. Only complaint is that you have to apply it about 3 days in a row before your tan is as dark as it looks with the color-guide on (i.e. the first time you shower it will feel like most of your tan just washed

Jobs and stuff!

2010-04-28T16:18:00.003+10:00

Hi all!We had a great long-weekend in Sarina. :) It was our friends Turtle and Ashleigh's birthday party and I got to see a LOT of friends I haven't seen in forever! I loved having a few beers and catching up with all the girls and eating delicious food, it was a really great night.In other news, we have a new addition to our family.This is Petra! She is a Princess kitten. :) (

Who would you want to play you in a movie about your life?

2010-04-21T19:05:00.001+10:00

Mandy Moore because she is my celebrity look-alike and everyone gets to be a more beautiful, thinner, idealized version of themselves in the movie of their life. :) Ask me anything

I < 3 Frankie

2010-04-21T13:56:00.004+10:00

My new Frankie magazine came in the mail today. YAY! This week I've felt 12 years old again in my daily rush to the mailbox, stubbing my toe on a tree root and hopping on one foot to remove whatever small pebble or twig fragment has become imprinted into the sole of the other foot. And then I lift open the mailbox to find.....nothing. Until today when it came! It's here!http://frankie.com.au/Okay

Weekend Recap

2010-04-19T14:32:00.002+10:00

So this weekend was FULL ON. Gosh, so busy! haha I loved the band that came out, the people were so nice and were so insanely talented. Any one of them could have their own recording contract and instead they are in this music ministry full time sharing the love and encouraging people through God's word. And, let me tell you, they couldn't have come at a better time. Most of them are my age or

A better day

2010-04-16T13:50:00.003+10:00

Today was a better day. :) It's amazing what keeping busy can do for you, hey? I imagine that when I find full time work, it's going to change my life. I'm a really disorganized person who thrives in extreme structure. Right now my life is so hap-hazard and my environment is reflecting that...our house is ALWAYS a mess. A big mess. Those who know me best know just what kinda mess I'm capable of

Emotional week

2010-04-15T23:08:00.005+10:00

This week has been really hard on me emotionally. The details why are one thing that I actually won't blog about openly, and I really don't feel like talking about it all anyways. It's just been a hard week. (In case you're worried, Chris and I are better than ever and it's nothing to do with our marriage.)::sigh::I've been taking St. Johns Wort for anxiety and it actually works. I'm always

Sewing

2010-04-12T16:25:00.004+10:00

I've lamented in the past how most fashion shops here only go up to an AU 16 which correlates with a US size 12, with many higher end shops only going up to a US 10. Considering the skinniest I've ever been in my life was a US size 10 jeans/size 8 dress and the fact that fashionable options outside that realm are virtually non-existent I've decided to take up sewing. :)Grandma taught me how to

Aussie Burger

2010-04-10T15:21:00.008+10:00

The Aussie burger is an interesting invention. In Australia the term "burger" applies to absolutely any patty-type sandwich rather than just a hamburger. If you're in Moranbah, it almost always describes a chicken burger. So, if you're dying for a hamburger and happen to see a sign in the window of a cafe purporting "fresh grilled burgers" don't be too disappointed when it turns out to be grilled

Schizo

2010-04-08T04:10:00.000+10:00

The other day I was watching videos Chris and I used to send back and forth on Youtube to each other before we were able to meet in person. At that point neither of us had webcams, so we'd essentially make video letters to each other and post them privately on Youtube. One of the things I noticed was how much Chris loathed going to work, how much he hated his job even then almost 4 years ago.

Can you see this?! Lol.

2010-04-06T16:42:00.001+10:00

Can you see THIS?? Ask me anything

Furniture

2010-04-03T02:18:00.007+10:00

I'm getting really disappointed. I'm really beginning to believe that I'm never going to find the living room furniture I want. :( Maybe it's yet another unexpected cultural hiccup, but ALL I can find is variations of this:Sure, you can get it in 15 different shapes (curved back/arm-rests vs. square) and sizes (2 seats vs. 7 or chaise vs. couch.) Oh, and the fabric choices? Leather, leather,

formspring.me

2010-04-02T23:14:00.001+10:00

Ask me anything http://formspring.me/emseedubya

Trend Whore

2010-04-01T16:36:00.004+10:00

I wouldn't call myself a trend-whore persay... I mean, I'm definitely not that girl obsessing over what the latest trend is so I can call myself fashionable. However, I must admit that I intend to take full advantage of the 80s pop-culture renaissance and wear as much lycra and viscose as humanly possible while I can get away with it!!I should blame my recent weight gain for my current obsession

Worst Blogger Evarr

2010-04-01T01:09:00.004+10:00

I know, I've been absent lately. I don't have a good excuse why, sorry!I just wanted to pop in and give the heads up that my Partner Visa has been approved. Wooo!!It never ceases to amaze people that you can't just marry an Australian and automatically become a citizen. Maybe they were confused by tv shows where someone has to marry the token Foreign Friend so they can remain in the country....I

Top Ten

2010-03-24T13:03:00.004+10:00

Just for fun, I saw this and thought it looked like a fun one. I'm a sucker for surveys. ha!1. When you were a senior in high school, what career did you think you’d choose? Did you? Why or why not?Since I was twelve, I wanted to be a youth minister. When I was 18, I was struggling a lot in my faith, was mad at God for things going on with my family and in my personal life and decided I still

Introspective Musings

2010-03-18T16:46:00.001+10:00

I don't want to be a grown up. I want to have water gun fights, play hide-and-go-seek, buy a popsicle from the ice-cream man and tag-you're-it all day long. I feel like my inner-child is mourning the fading of my youth lately. I realized the other day that I'm 5-6 years older than high-school seniors. I'm officially the age my teachers were in school. My little sister is turning 20 next week. How

Long time no update

2010-03-17T14:34:00.003+10:00

Sorrryyyy! My life has actually been busy for once. I swear it has. Kind of. Maybe. Okay, not that busy. I just haven't felt like blogging recently....which usually ensues in a rash of 3-a-day updates for a week. So, if you've missed me, don't worry. ;) I'll be around.What's new....The last time I updated was last week on Wednesday. Today it is Wednesday again. Crazy how it comes around every

Baby names...again.

2010-03-10T10:22:00.002+10:00

Top 2 Baby names! Although it's actually Wednesday here.....I don't have just two. Maybe because I have a laundry list of girls names to pick from... Okay, I think I could do 4 though.... top 2 girl's and top 2 boys. ;)1. Wrenaleigh. I made this up....On ANTM, two seasons ago, there was a model called Analeigh. And then I met someone named Karaleigh....and I just thought those names are SO pretty

Short and Sweet...ish. ;)

2010-03-06T13:33:00.005+10:00

Just a quick update! I'm trying to write more daily so that we don't end up with a novel after not having updated for a week. So here's to (relatively) short and sweet updates. :)Chris took me out on a date last night to a little cafe in town called The Purple Grape. I'd have to say it's the best feed you can get in town, and it was really nice to go out! The only complaint I have against the

Week's almost over!

2010-03-04T20:41:00.002+10:00

This week just flew by! If last week felt like two weeks, this week was only a couple days. I don't know where it went....I can't say I mind it though. I love the weekends. :)Today was the first Deb rehearsal. There's only 11 couples, so 22 kids in all. The room was actually a lot more full than I expected though, I can only imagine trying to manage 40 kids (a more typical number from balls past.

Not so busy

2010-03-04T00:20:00.003+10:00

I haven't been up to much but I'm sure that, me being me, I can come up with an entry of some substance. ;)I've been getting back into exercising lately and have been busy moving more! I feel so much happier when I've been working out. I've really missed it. I'd really like to take a pilates class if they have one during the day so I think I'm going to check on that. It's been something I've been

Some fashion talk. Sorry boys!

2010-03-03T00:58:00.008+10:00

The new trend I LOVE:the "Boyfriend Tee."My new fave shirt from Jeanswest:This is the softest most special shirt in the whole world. I can't remember the last time I bought a t-shirt....I think it would have been in 2007. Crazy! I cannot believe how soft this shirt is....I'm in love. I love that things don't have to be skin-tight to be fashionable anymore! It's nice to know that we can wear our

Getting to know you

2010-03-01T13:22:00.002+10:00

Did you learn anything last week? 8 more questions from http://mjkfamily.blogspot.com . :)1. Would you rather bungee jump or sky dive?I'm too paranoid to be so reckless.2. When using a public restroom to you squat over the seat or sit?I sit; I figure if you can touch the door handle to the bathroom with your naked hand (which everyone who sat on the seat has touched,) why not sit on the seat

Decoration!

2010-02-24T23:14:00.003+10:00

I've finally re-decorated since my last Christmas overhaul. This layout was a lot of fun to make. I got the papers and brad and text and ribbons and things from http://www.shabbyprincess.com . I downloaded the bird raster from http://digifree.craftcrave.com and used the papers from Shabby Princess to snaz him up. The layout itself is actually a lot bigger than my lap-top screen so we're not

Where have all the bras gone?

2010-02-24T22:12:00.004+10:00

Okay, what is WITH the whole no-bra trend as of late?? There is a plague of girls and women alike roaming the streets with no bra on. Usually just a white tank-top or t-shirt and nothing underneath. Not so flattering. I could almost understand if they had undergone a recent breast augmentation and wanted to show off their new body. (Hey, those things are EXPENSIVE!) But these are usually just

Toe Stepping

2010-02-24T13:45:00.008+10:00

I'm not the argumentative monster I was as a teenager...yet I still feel like I've been stepping on a lot of toes lately. I have a very matter-of-fact attitude towards life and conversation, I'm admittedly opinionated and am less than shy when it comes to giving one, an opinion that is. I've been accused of having chronic verbal-diarrhea, no filter between my brain and mouth and of not thinking

Lose Weight!

2010-02-23T17:32:00.001+10:00

http://plussize2dreamsize.blogspot.comI'm getting pretty active in my goal to lose weight and get healthy. It's going to become a BIG part of my life so, if you don't find me posting as often in this blog here, there might be something new going on in my weight loss blog that's consuming my attention or thoughts. Just a heads up if you didn't know about it. :)

2010-02-23T11:58:00.002+10:00

From another blogger's recent post. I'm a real sucker for these things. hahaha1. How often do you wash/change your sheets?Almost never. (judge me if you must :P) I don't think about it. They have to actually start looking dirty before I think "Oh yes, the sheets." Since we don't have a drier, washing the sheets means we go without them for a couple days. What's that you say? Buy another set of

The Time Traveler's Wife

2010-02-22T15:06:00.002+10:00

I think I should reverse my technique of always reading the book before the movie....reading the book before hand usually leaves me disappointed about the movie. Now that I've read the book following the movie for the first time, not only was I so excited to read the book, I am BLOWN AWAY by the book itself. The Time Traveler's Wife book is only about 1 million times better than the movie. I

RE: "Grocery Store Glamour?"

2010-02-22T10:22:00.004+10:00

A response to my good friend's recent entry.I'm a victim of What Not to Wear in that I am VERY aware of how I look at all times these days even if I wouldn't have been in the past. While college might be a bit early to be worrying about these kinds of things, ANYONE (not just women) should seriously consider their appearance before going anywhere, even the grocery store. Unfortunately (and

Saturday

2010-02-20T13:36:00.002+10:00

I love waking up on Saturdays because, somehow, Chris always manages to get out of bed without waking me and he sneaks into the kitchen and cleans EVERYTHING until it's spotless...so when I wake up it's to the smell of Ajax, a furry kitten's meowing, and a big hug from the love of my life. So all I have to do is shuffle bleary-eyed into the kitchen, set the pot to "Brew" and collapse on the couch

Health

2010-02-18T15:01:00.002+10:00

Last night our friends at Priceline pharmacy (really are our friends, they go to our church) put on a women's health night at church. I honestly didn't think I'd learn anything new but I went to support them anyways. :) The one woman dr in town, Kaylene G., gave a speech based on the most commonly asked questions in her office. Something I was very proud of her for was standing up for women's

What is my identity?

2010-02-16T15:53:00.003+10:00

Something triggered in me today...I was watching tv (ha!) and a woman was lamenting that she feels the world identifies her as a mother. Maybe not a big deal seeing as she is a mother, but she felt this title of Mother was all that she was anymore, that it is all-encompassing and the world sees none of the other things she might have to offer....I can't relate to that, of course but it made me

Babies and Sarina

2010-02-15T14:12:00.004+10:00

I don't know why I didn't realize it before, but the whole idea of us moving to the city and settling down to have kids is pretty stupid. The majority of our support system is up here, why would I move someplace where I barely know anybody to have babies??? In addition to that, Mackay is on the rise. There is construction and development absolutely everywhere you look! They're even opening a Myer

Home again!

2010-02-11T18:37:00.004+10:00

WOW what a week! I had such an amazing birthday, thanks to every one who sent me birthday wishes and an extra special thanks to Aunt Pam and Uncle Karl who went through the trouble to send me a beautiful silicone bundt pan!!! Pinapple upside down cake anyone??___________________Land of red dust plains and summer rains..We spent a couple days at the beach house but didn't actually get to do much

Going awaaay

2010-02-06T14:10:00.002+10:00

No big updates yet. I'm still getting back into the habit of blogging and haven't really thought of anything major to update on....Let's see...Our garden is dying. :( That's pretty major isn't it? I think we're getting some fungus in the soil from all the rain. All of our petunias are dead but our Marigolds are doing almost TOO well and have pretty much taken over the garden. The Dianthus are

I'm here!

2010-02-01T21:14:00.002+10:00

I'm here! I'm alive! Okay, so I know a lot of people are annoyed at me for not updating straight away but, if I'm being perfectly honest, I just didn't feel like it. I'm sorry! I've been really busy organizing the second stage of the visa process and settling in. Before I knew it, a week had passed! I called mom on Saturday after my visa application was totally collected and in the mail, so

Vegetarian

2010-01-09T19:16:00.003+10:00

I've decided to explore vegetarianism.http://www.veg-soc.org/cms/html/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=121I've been thinking about it a lot lately. It all started when I walked into Chipotle and there were signs everywhere touting "food with integrity" and I know they source most of their meet from free range farms when possible and, where not possible, farms that have humane conditions

An update!

2010-01-03T22:44:00.002+10:00

I woke up at 4am (now 7am) and couldn't sleep and, when I'm anxious I journal just to get everything out on paper (or on the net as it were) so, here I am.I miss Beebs! I know it sounds crazy, but this last 8 months is the longest we've ever been together without at least a 6 week period apart thrown in there somewhere....and it feels really weird to be alone again. Mom put a queen bed in my

A Coat

2009-12-19T00:53:00.003+10:00

I just bought a new coat and had it shipped to Texas so I won't freeze!! I haven't bought a coat since 2007 when I was a size 10...so I think it's time to accept that it doesn't fit and just buy a new one. Gap Inc. makes clothes in tall size (woot!) They've made the arm-holes come down lower so you don't get that tightness across the shoulders....in theory. Also, the arms are longer as is the

Not really the last.

2009-12-18T21:55:00.003+10:00

Okay, so maybe that wasn't really my last blog post. bleh.So, 2 months ago I lost my passport. It was in my lap in the car and fell out into the parking lot without me realizing it. I assumed it'd just fallen in the car somewhere and didn't worry about it too much...but it turns out it had been mailed to the consulate in Sydney. Sooo I call the consulate. They tell me that, since I am married now

Travelling, Last Blog!

2009-12-15T01:37:00.003+10:00

This is my last update until... I'm not sure. But for quite a while anyways. I'm super popular and just don't have time for trivial things like blogging now. (HA!)So, I'm a chronic procrastinator... it seemed much too early to start packing or cleaning or anything like that last week...but now it's dawned on me that, even though my flight leaves on Monday morning, we're driving into Mackay

It's gonna be a FAT New Year.

2009-12-09T13:39:00.003+10:00

Things to do (i.e. EAT) while in Texas for the holidays:Chipotle (always my first stop from the airport)Olive Garden BreadsticksChili's presidente margarita and grilled shrimp alfredo.See Avatar in 3D at the Harkins Southlake while eating Cheesecake Factory Cheesecake we smuggled in with my purse. HA! (it's a big purse)Buy that Eagle Flatts queso dip from Wal-Mart and go to town....and try and

Christmas Shopping

2009-12-09T13:20:00.003+10:00

So....it's that time of year. :) I think I enjoy shopping for Christmas gifts more than the average person... The lines and the crowds just add to the thrill of the hunt for me (although I can't say the traffic is all that thrilling on any front.) My primary love language is Gifts which is probably why I take finding the perfect gift for each person so seriously. A gift from me is the utmost

Pumpkin Bread

2009-12-08T21:16:00.003+10:00

Last year there weren't ANY frozen cranberries at Cole's, just cranberries soaked in apple juice....which have a totally different flavor. Like the difference between frozen peas and canned peas soaked in water....anyways. They had cranberries at Cole's this weekend!! Not fresh ones because they're out of season, but this recipe needs frozen ones anyways so HURRAY because I LOVE PUMPKIN CRANBERRY

Hilarious!

2009-12-08T13:06:00.001+10:00

This guy.....he gets me guffawing!http://www.27bslash6.com/

Bean!

2009-12-08T00:59:00.004+10:00

Look! It's Bean! On a necklace!Merry Christmas to me??http://cgi.ebay.com/Betsey-Johnson-Black-Cat-Pendant-Necklace_W0QQitemZ110465355764QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item19b83f8ff4

Seriously

2009-12-07T21:19:00.004+10:00

We want to move somewhere where it's cold all the time. Like, fireplace lit every day, rainy snowy "bad weather" kind of cold all the time. Preferably in the mountains. Seriously. Where is someplace where the highest high in the summer is like 65-70 degrees? I want to move there. I hate the heat. I hate the beach. I never want to sweat again. I SO look forward to winter and dread the days I have

The Bday Cake

2009-12-01T21:54:00.002+10:00

Everyone's asking about The Birthday Cake!!It was not as good as I thought it would be.... ::tear:: But I tried! I made it with coconut Italian buttercream frosting and covered it in coconut....it's really good, just not like mind blowing or anything. I'm just not good at cakes! lol I tried to write "happy birthday" on the cake...only the dessecated coconut kept pulling up and it turned out

What Not to Wear

2009-12-01T09:45:00.004+10:00

People have been saying things to me this past year like "your hair always looks so good," "you always look so cute when we go out," "I know I have to make an effort when I'm around you or else I'll look rediculous." I've officially become High Maintenance. I've become That Girl. I ALWAYS have my hair done, I ALWAYS have some variation of makeup and I ALWAYS put a lot of thought into my