My underwear? Oh yes, it's lovely.

I have a small addiction to love of nice under garments.

There I said it. And really, I suppose it would depend on who you asked as to which words are more accurate. If you ask Andrew for instance, he would probably say it was more to the addiction side. Then again when he is reminded that he gets to see it it's not so bad. And really, doesn't every woman love to have pretty underwear?

I didn't used to care less until the time came when there was someone else seeing it. Now I'm all about lace and matching and all that jazz. If you knew me in real life you would be shocked from reading that. I have never been a girly girl. Never. I wear a dress or skirt maybe 3 times a year.

But now, it just seems so right to wear nice pretty things. This doesn't sound bad does it. Well, I haven't yet mentioned Victoria's Secret. I absolutely love that store. Seriously. And I'm not even close to being one of those girls who is a size 2 and fits into everything as you may have noticed from the sidebar (which I haven't updated lately...).

Okay, I feel like I'm rambling here and I really did have a point I swear.

So, am I the only one this way? Is it going to wear off after we've hit the 2 year mark?

Under Construction

As you may be able to tell, I screwed up my lovely new layout and am quite confused as to how I go about fixing it. My laptop has a 17 inch screen so when I was changing things around I made it so it looked all pretty on this computer. When I was checking in over the weekend with my mom's 15 inch monitor the right sidebar appeared at the bottom of the page under all the posts. It seemed that I had set things too wide to fit on a smaller screen.

So, I went in and changed things so that they looked like they were supposed to be on her screen and today when I logged in on my 17 inch screen (have I lost you with how many times I've written "screen"?) it was all messed up. Very narrow and not centered under the title. Which I hate. Things have to be centered and asymmetrical for me.

Alas, the blog is under construction and I'm not really sure what to do. Should I leave it so it works for a smaller monitor or so it looks how it should on my larger one? I'm at a loss! Suggestions?

20 Months

Today is 20 months for Andrew and I.

I have already said many times on this blog how much I love and adore him and honestly, I don't know what else to say about our relationship. It's not perfect, and sometimes it's hard, but we work together to make things right for us. We get questions from people sometimes about why we don't hurry up and get married since we'll both be finished with school in a few weeks (weeks, really?!) and why our intended date is 2 years off, but it works for us. No one else is in this besides he and I.

We argue occasionally, but who doesn't? And really, 9 times out of 10 it's my fault to begin with. I suppose he gets the short end of the stick since this is really my first real relationship. I have heard to many people tell me that first time things never work out and I may as well cut it off now and go date other people, but can they honestly believe that when they see how happy we are together? I'll be honest, I used to believe it too, but now it seems so right. And I will admit, sometimes I want to hurry up and make our intended wedding date a little closer, but it just wouldn't be right. It will be perfect when it comes and we won't have rushed to get things together.

Hopefully we will be settled into a house, Andrew will have taken and passed with flying colors the CPA exam and we will both have good jobs. We won't be newlyweds searching for a place to rent and trying to scrape things together. We will be established and ready to start a new chapter of our lives together in a more powerful sense. And yes, I do know that it will be at times difficult to make this life together, but we get so much from each other I feel that we can handle just about anything that can be thrown at us. We've already handled a lot and that was just 5 months into this thing we have.

I know that he will be a wonderful husband. He is already the best boyfriend (I can't stand that word. There has got to be something else.) I could have asked for. I wouldn't want anyone else standing beside me through all life has to offer. I can see us. It will be perfect.

Happy Day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day, everyone!

Hope your day is filled with luck, rainbows and large pots of gold.

As an aside, am sending Andrew extra luck as he's taking his most difficult final in about an hour.

Grace in Small Things - Three

1. Birthdays!

2. A boyfriend who makes you tacos for your birthday!

3. Presents!

4. Cupcakes!

5. Spring Break!

Pictures of #2 to follow!

30 Day Shred Update

So I did level 2 of the 30 Day Shred somewhat consistently last week and today when I took my measurements, I have lost 1.75 inches overall. I will post the actual measurements later on in the sidebar.

The workout has a lot of squats and lower body exercises to my loss if from my lower body. Hips and thighs. But, I'll take it! I've decided not to worry about what the scale says because it's not moving too much yet inches are still coming off.

I figure if I can stay with an inch or more each week that by the time we go I should be quite a bit smaller than I am now. All I want to do is be able to wear a bikini. Keep your fingers crossed!

Grace in Small Things - two

1. Webcams!

2. A light snowfall.

3. CBS's Monday night lineup.

4. Cucumbers.

5. UPS delivering packages!

Grace in Small Things - One

Thanks to Susan from Friday Playdate for posting Grace in Small Things. What are Grace in Small Things? Just things that you have found throughout your day that generally you'd pass by and not realize, just take for granted or enjoy.

1. It's sunny and beautiful outside.

2. I get to go home this afternoon.

3. Blueberry Morning cereal.

4. Victoria's Secret Love Spell body wash and lotion.

5. Being able to go to college.

I'm going to be posting these pretty frequently because I tend to take many things in my life for granted. Feel free to do the same in the comments or your blog.

Flying a Jet Plane

This past weekend my parents, Andrew and I had a chance to fly a Boeing 767 jet. Not to worry though, you won't have to be looking out for us on your next flight! It was actually in one of Boeing's simulators.

My aunt raises Guide Dogs for the Blind and every year my parents go to the charity auction. At the last one my mom won the raffle to pick out any one of the items available that she wanted before the auction started. She ended up picking 4 passes for the simulator.

We went to one of the Boeing buildings in Renton and were escorted into the building, name badges and all, and taken to like a giant room that had 6 or 7 simulators on each side. It was kind of like a warehouse really. Now, keep in mind that these things cost between $15-20 million a piece. There's a bit of money sitting in that room. They are the ones the pilots learn to fly on so that's pretty neat.

We were all supposed to be able to fly once, so we got into the simulator with the instructor and off we went. It's hard to explain what it looks like, but similar to a giant egg I suppose. It sits up on hydraulics and there is a ramp that's lowered to walk across to it. Once inside it's just like a cockpit expect there are 3 extra seats in the back for onlookers.

Andrew went first and did very well. He flew around Seattle and did a flyby of the Space Needle. It's amazing all the controls that are up there, it's an exact replica of a real plane. The computer animations were amazing as well. Where the windows are were screens that showed in real time exactly where you were going. From the runway, all around Seattle and back. He landed very well too!

My dad went next and by this time my mom and I decided we were going to chicken out and let the boys go twice. I was getting a little sea sick! The simulator makes it feel so real and moves like the plane does. Even going down the runway feels like you're actually doing it and has the little bumps that you would feel if you were taxiing (not sure how to spell that...) down the runway.

Anyways, my dad was in the Air Force for a while so was sort of familiar with the controls and such so did well too. His landing was a but rougher, but neither one of them crashed! After my mom and I decided to let the guys go again the instructor put us at the San Francisco airport. Andrew went first again and he got to fly under the Golden Gate Bridge. It was crazy! When my dad went in SF he got to fly through a hanger which was also pretty weird!

Overall, it was pretty fun and no one crashed so that was a plus! My mom asked the instructor and he said they could simulate just about everything. Even something like the crash on the Hudson can be simulated. Turbulence, thunderstorms, just about anything you could think of. I was happy to get off though, I will admit. It didn't make me any more excited to get on the plane to Hawaii. Not looking too forward to that!

Changes, Changes

I made a few more changes to the layout around here last night. What do you think? I'm worries it's a tad cluttered and would like to have a little more space between the sidebars and the main text, but if I mess with the html anymore my head just may very well pop off and I really don't want that.

The main reason I added the left sidebar was so that I could add a section called "Measure, Measure" where I'm going to put my measurements each week. I figure if I have to be accountable to the Internet, that would probably motivate be better than just being accountable to myself. It will probably end up being pretty long since I intend to just keep adding to it rather than deleting the previous week's entries which is why I moved everything else to the left side.

Anyways, as far as progress, there was some this morning! I stepped on the scale, I know you're only supposed to do it once a week but I like gratification, and there was a loss! Sweet! So as my reward for exercising last night and a little this morning I got to use all the good smelling stuff I talked about yesterday. I smell delicious! Bummer I won't be seeing Andrew tonight in all my good smelling glory.

I didn't really intend to make this into a diet or weightloss blog and I'm sorry if that is what it seems like. I am completely not a diety kind of person, but figure someone out there might be in the same boat I am. There will be actual content again soon!

Motivated

I've mentioned that I'm doing the 30 Day Shred, and man, it is hard. I did level two tonight for the first time and had to stop 2/3 of the way through and finish with 1/3 of level one. Oh well, it's done so that's all that matters.

Anyways, I've found a way to motivate myself. I've been wanting some smelly shower stuff for a while now and have been too cheap to buy any... Well, Victoria's Secret, one of my favorite stores, always does the 5 for $30 on bath stuff so I went ahead and got items in the Love Spell scent as that's the perfume I wear. I got hand cream, body butter, body mist, shower gel and body lotion. Mmmm!

So my plan is this: If I exercise the night before and the morning of I can use the good smelling stuff. If I don't, then just soap. It's weird, I know, but it will work for me.

My other motivation is hanging on the wall in my pantry/walk in closet (I live in a dorm apartment, hence the combination). What is it you ask? A bikini. I know, I know. The girl who needs to lose 20 pounds to even contemplate fitting into a bikini is going to use that as motivation. Well, I'm telling you. It's going to work.

To prove it to you, I'm going to post my weight and measurements here on Mondays. While it is going to be overly embarrassing to begin with because my weight is higher than I'd like it to be, but it will be another motivator. I'm all for them!

Me and My Love

Two of the bloggers I read did this a few days ago and I thought it would be kind of fun to do too. Thanks to Heather and Linda for posting!

What are your middle names?

Mine is Marie, his is Robert.

How long have you been together?

Since July of 2007.

How long did you know each other before you started dating?

We met in February of 2004.

Who asked whom out?

Andrew did. He never really "asked me out", but since we'd known each other for so long and we both knew we liked each other he just went ahead and kissed me. Or tried to. That was in September of 2007 and when he tried I sort of said no although he knew I really wanted to so just went ahead and did it. I was really nervous because I had never been kissed before, shameful to admit, but true. We were even closer after that and eventually in July 2008 he tried again. I wasn't stupid that time and went with it. I wish he would have tried again sooner, but alas.

How old are each of you?
I will be 23 in 11 days and Andrew will be 23 in October.

Whose siblings do you see the most?
Andrew's brother since I am an only child.

Which situation is the hardest on you as a couple?
School. We only get to see each other on the weekends and when Andrew surprises me and comes down for a visit.

Did you go to the same school?
No, unfortunately. Even though in the long run being apart has taught us how to work through many things which I suppose is good in the long run. Our schools are 65 miles apart, so it has been very, very difficult at times, but we only have a few months left.


Are you from the same home town?
No. Andrew was brought up in Federal Way and I still live in Maple Valley, about 20 miles away.

Who is smarter?
Definitely Andrew. He is the hard worker in school and really tries where I just do enough to get by. He is always reading and truly has an interest in what he's learning. I'm just here for the really expensive piece of paper.

Who is the most sensitive?
Hmmm, probably me. Although both our feelings get hurt very easily. I tend to take things more personally than he does I suppose.

Where do you eat out most as a couple?

Red Robin! I love that place! And it's about a quarter mile from the movie theater we go to so that helps!

Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple?
Philadelphia, NYC and Washington D.C last summer.

Who has the craziest exes?
I'm a tad embarrassed to admit that I don't have any so I'm just going to go ahead and say Andrew. 


Who has the worst temper?
That would definitely be me. I tend to get mad easily and give "the look" easier than I get mad.

Who does the cooking?
We both do. Andrew always tries to help when I'm cooking. I like to be a little more inventive sometimes and get tired of eating the same stuff so he is always supportive when I'm preparing something a bit out of the usual.

Who is the neat-freak?
That would also be me about things in the house, Andrew about cars. His car is always tidy and clean while mine generally always needs to be washed. I am a neat freak about things like laundry being put away, the bed made and that sort of thing. I can't stand clutter.

Who is more stubborn?
Hmmm, I'm going to have to say me again. When I have my mind set on something I generally make sure I get it. Andrew is quite a bit more easy going that I am and luckily, tolerates me.

Who hogs the bed?

Neither. We sleep really close together so generally use a small portion of the bed.

Who wakes up earlier?
Usually me. Andrew claims that he needs a full 8 or more hours of sleep every night where I'm good with 6.

Where was your first date?

Hmmm, I guess we haven't had any "real" dates. We usually just plan something. It's not like we ask each other out on dates. I guess it would be to a Mariners game about 12 days after we started "dating". I use "dating" loosely because it's never really felt like that to me. It seems like it's just always been us and we've always been together.

Who is more jealous?
Probably me again (this thing isn't making me come off too good, is it?). I tend to always have this thought in the back of my mind that Andrew is going to find someone better than me to be with. I also hate it that he has had a few girlfriends before me and he is my only boyfriend. That thought drives me up the wall.

How long did it take to get serious?

Not long at all. I've known since before he tried to kiss me for the first time that he would be the one I will marry. I think that's why the terms "dating" and "boyfriend" bug me. It's always seemed so easy and natural. Like the whole time we've known each other was the dating period. Since we actually started dating it's like it's just leading up to getting married. I know I'm not explaining it well at all, I just don't know how to fully put into words what I feel for him.

Who eats more?

He usually eats more during a meal, but I’m the one who snacks pretty much all night long.

Who does the laundry?
I usually put the clothes in the washer and get them started and all that and Andrew will help me fold and put things in the dryer.

Who’s better with the computer?

He is better with all the technical stuff, but I am the one who does more online like blogging and Twitter and all that although he does have a Twitter account now too!

And it's over. I feel like I haven't even somewhat given you a glimpse of who we really are, how great my love for him is and what our relationship consists of. I guess this is better than nothing, I just don't want anyone to get the wrong idea from just these questions. Then again, I have all of about 3 readers, so am not overly worried about it.

If you feel so inclined, feel free to this for you and your significant other!