4/29/11 - Keep Your Friends Close.....

....and your enemies closer!!! So, apparently one little day off to close my house and my desk gets sneezed on!!!!! :-)

Haha, thanks to my awesome co-workers (and their daughter) who decided to "sneeze" all over my desk and take all my mice hostage!!!! Revenge will be sweet my lovelies!

4/28/11 - Official Homeowner!!!!

Yes, this is true my friends. Closing day actually HAPPENED!!!!!!!! We had a few snafus and a few threats before the start time, but it all came together. I even had my whole team there for support. It went a little like this.....

A whole lot of signing my name.....

And then after my one millionth signature VIOLA - the most precious [and expensive] key I have ever received in my life!!!!

Couldn't be happier!

4/27/11 - MY DAD IS IN TOWN!

Today after work I rushed to the airport to pick up my dad!!! YAY!!!! He's in town for the next three weeks to complete his mile-long Honey-DO list!!! SO EXCITED to have him here. HOORAY!!!

After dinner tonight, I took him to Hobo (an awesome hardware store) and he LOVED it (see above)!!

4/26/11 - Bulldog's

Tonight I went out with my boot camp girls (with the exception of Diane not making it due to her love of the Blackhawks and her two injured feet!!!! We missed you though!). Melissa, Heidi, and I went out to Bulldog's and little did we know that A) No Trivia tonight B) No Trivia tonight because of the 2 very important games C) How freakin' packed it would be and finally D) It would be a Lifetime Fitness hangout. We ended up seeing a ton of the trainers and workers at the bar which was fun! We stayed until the very end to support our awesome Blackhawks, even though they didn't win. :-(

4/25/11 - Hangin 'Em Up

Tonight was a bitter-sweet end to 9 gruesome months of putting all of my sweat, blood, and tears into my work outs. Boot camp came to an end tonight with a good workout too. I was able to learn a few new exercises especially that will help strengthen my back after my shots on Saturday. These next few months will really be the ultimate test as I must force myself to continue on my own with the knowledge I have gained. Lots of encouragement might be needed...we shall see!

4/24/11 - Floppy Easter

Floppy Easter! While Easter is a time to rejoice, hide eggs, spend time with family, and eat lots of really yummy candy, Domingo and I had quite the opposite. We had bad luck everywhere we went today topping it off when we did a drive-by on our "soon" house. Some repairs had to be done to the exterior last week and as we went by to see the results, we noticed it got washed away in all the rain last week. Sooooo we are really praying and hoping that the appraiser has already gone out to see the work prior to all the rainfall. Yeesh, closing is only 4 days away - can we just have a smooth sailing rest of the week, pretty please??!?!!

Floppy Easter, everyone!

4/23/11 - Truck Balls

I couldn't help myself from taking a photo when I saw this. Worst part of this isn't the fact that there's some sort of rubber dog chewing on them....the worst part was the two guys in the truck with these pink balls. Odd ducks if you ask me.

4/22/11 - One More Down, Eighty To Go

Domingo and I have been looking endlessly online to find the perfect bedspread/comforter set. After a few weeks of nothing, we finally came to an agreement on one. I was able to go to JCPenny and at least see it in a different color and fell in love. Due to my knack of bargain shopping, I was able to get $20 off the sale price and free shipping. Can't wait for it to get here! Now only a million more things to go on the list!

4/21/11 - Good Will, Good Deed

In efforts to pack up the apartment, I have also packed up a few bags with clothes I either have not worn in a year or that do not fit me anymore. I was told when I lost weight last year, not to leave your old clothes in your closet. That I needed to pull them and get rid of them right away. Well, I pulled them, but definitely did not get rid of them - so I'm doing that now! It's fun looking through all of this stuff to see some of the old things I had forgotten that I owned and the sizes. Very inspiring!

4/20/11 - Oh Pretty

Not much went on today, which is unusual and very nice all together. I decided to capture a self portrait so that I can look back one day and remember what I looked like today. Haha or really that's the excuse I'm telling myself. Not much else is going on...just continuing to pack up the apt and get ready for my dad's arrival in a week!!! Yeehaw!

4/19/11 - Tool Man

Ah, another rare opportunity to grab this hunk checking out his latest toy. He's like a little kid at Christmas when he's around these power tools. I honestly think he may be more excited about getting to use these puppies more than actually having a new place to live soon. He's definitely a tool man, but he's my tool man and I'm glad to keep him (and the tools). Secretly, I kinda enjoy learning what each thing does and watching his eyes light up when he tells me about them, but me putting it to action will probably be a disaster in its own for sure.

4/18/11 - Snow Ban

Seriously. It's April 18th. WHY on God's green Earth was there snow on the ground and on my car this morning?!?! Normal people are wearing shorts and flip-flops at this time of the year. Where did the sunshine go??? Where's my 80 degree weather??? (<--I'm going to regret this in the summer, haha)

4/17/11 - Mission Accomplished

I said I was going to pack this weekend and I did it! Ok, I only really did like 2 boxes, but I cleaned up my place a bit (so it wasn't a maze to get around everything) and I made a plan to pack a box each day this week! Shouldn't have too much more after that hopefully. Only 11 more days people!!!!! EEP!

4/16/11 - In Full Bloom

We always joke about my dad timing his trips to come see me just right as he always seems to make it here with great temperatures and in time to catch the amazingly tulips blossom all over the city!! Well, I was running errands at the mall today and noticed that the tulips are about to pop within the next week or so.....just in time for my dad's arrival. I guess it's his "Welcome to Chicago" celebration a la flowers!! :-) It's kind of exciting!!!

And of course, I can't help but share this photo with you guys. My sister sent me a very stylish photo of Tabor. Ladies, feast your eyes on this hunk:

4/15/11 - Rain, Rain

It's been crazy weird weather here lately. Temps have dropped quite a bit and the rain has started to settle in towards us. Snow expected tomorrow (REALLY?!)...where are you sunshine??? We need you!

4/14/11 - Breaking News

I was originally going to blog about how cold it was this evening and how these temperatures are pretty crazy. So crazy that my crazy trainer thought it was a great idea to workout outside (again) in this crazy temperature.....

But then as I was taking photos of my tv.....

Lubbock made the news again!!! This time for something a tad better than the air traffic controllers falling asleep (last night's report). They showed what all of us West Texans are definitely accustomed to....the dreaded orangey brown skies. While you never really grow immune to them, it is something you really can never understand until you experience a real-life dust storm! So congrats, Lubbock! Chicago officially likes you enough to talk [a lot] about you!!!!

4/13/11 - Beautiful Mess

I was looking around today and realized I only have 2 weeks until this place needs to be pretty much ready to be moved. I completely put it all off thinking I had time, but in reality the time is quickly moving by. I vowed to myself that this weekend I will finally pack up my movies [insert really sad face here]. I don't (and won't) have the time to watch them and since Domingo was kind enough to rig the TV to get local channels, I can put away the movies. Besides, his stuff is still not packed so I'll just continue to use him for his good tv and movies - muahaha!

4/12/11 - Lightin' McQueen in My Tummy

I channeled my inner child tonight and cooked up a box of Cars mac 'n cheese while watching The Biggest Loser. I see nothing wrong with that picture either. Back to the gym tomorrow....

4/11/11 - Don't Go

I had to come back to Chicago today and I never imagined in a million years that I would get so attached so quickly to my amazing, little nephew. This photo makes me tear up because he's holding on my ginormo finger (compared to his). I so wish I could see him every single day and watch him get bigger and bigger. He's adorable and has blessed our family in so many ways. It was so awesome to get to hang out with my family and I couldn't have done it without Domingo. The master behind my surprise was him because it was his idea and his doing. So thank you to Domingo for making this incredible weekend happen!!

4/10/11 - The Many Faces of Tabor

Tabor had a photo shoot that ended up turning out to be "The Many Faces of Tabor":

Poopy Face

Squish Face

Silly Face

Sweet Sleepy Face

4/9/11 - Big Surprise!

I took a super early flight to LA this morning to surprise my sister and Ty and of course to see Tabor!! It turned out sooo well too! They had no idea I was coming out there! Tabor is adorable and I got to hold him even before my sister saw me. Everyone got to come home too today and I was there to try and capture it behind the lens. Welcome home, Tabor! We are so excited to have you be a part of our family!!!

4/8/11 - My Love

Aaahhh love is in the air! I had a fun night tonight just hanging out with Domingo. We made dinner together, got his rash cream from the pharmacy together (I'm kidding!), and went for some quick errands together. Simple nights like this are perfect and so much fun. I couldn't have asked for better company!

4/7/11 - Winning White Sox!

In honor of today's first home game, we got to watch it live and eat pretzels/peanuts at work today. There was even a raffle for different items and I somehow got drawn as a winner!!! I won 2 tickets to a home game in July - yahoo!! I made sure to pick a good day and time as I had someone in mind that would love these tickets, and I definitely played my cards right. This treat was definitely a nice added little bonus to my day! :-) Oh and the Sox won today too (of course)!!!!!

4/6/11 - Drug Me

While I can't get over how adorable my little nephew is all day today (see below if you need to smile some), my lower back did manage to annoy me. Exhibit A above were the pills I was prescribed. After realizing they actually did help A LOT, I never would have thought that the medicine would stop having an effect on me after I had completed my dosage. I woke up this morning to that same burning feeling in my back I've felt for that past two years. All day I have felt like a dagger was just digging and digging at me.

The only sense of relief I have is when I see Tabor :-) My dad just sent me a butt picture...I think I see some hair on it too HAHAHHAHA!!! Tabor may kill me some day for that comment!

4/5/11 - Tabor Nolan Touchstone

Aahhh that handsome, young lass up there would by my very own, brand spankin' new nephew. Jealous, aren't you? He's a cutie. I can't wait to meet him some day (hopefully soon before he grows up too fast). Tabor Nolan Touchstone was born this evening at 5:58pm (Pacific Standard Time) and weighing in at a whopping 7 pounds 15 ounces and measuring 19 inches long. I personally think they may have miscalculated on the weight as he looks a weeee bit bigger than that. He and the parents couldn't be happier together. I've heard tons of stories already and cannot wait to hear more. My parents were there to witness their first grandchild be born too, which is probably the coolest thing ever. Now I just need to decide on my aunt name...Auntie Stephy, Auntie Aspen, Ant Pee, Titi Fanie....the possibilities are endless!

4/4/11 - Computers Down!!

There was something definitely in the electricity today. I had 5 computers go down. FIVE! That's more than I own!! It was definitely a long, stressful day with unlimited work orders and calls to the IS department at work. All on a Monday even. Yeesh, it was like the computers gave each other mono at the office today. Check out all the work orders I put in, haha!!

4/3/11 - Paint by Samples

We managed to change our minds eighty more times today on paint colors for the house. We ended up heading back to Home Depot to look at more colors to make a decision. While it didn't go as planned, we were able to get back on track and find an awesome entry light thingy (I have no idea what the formal name is called). I think we are both so nervous/excited/stressed/anxious/etc/etc/etc/etc that we will need to detox from all of this hopefully someday soon. Who knew we would go crazy? (ok....me much more than him. I admit it).

4/2/11 - New Colorist

Move over grays, you've got a new enemy in town!!!! Today, I mustered up the courage to color my hair and put those pesky grays to rest.

I must say...I just might have found a new hobby or second career. Honestly, I'm uber pleased with the results and the fact it cost me a whopping $6 compared to the $90 I would have spent at the salon. I'll admit I was terrified to do it myself, but so glad I at least tried it. Now, I'm not like an expert here or anything (and I haven't seen the back of my head), so if you're behind me in line one day or tall enough to see the top of my head and you see a gray, no judging allowed. I'll get better with practice.

4/1/11 - April Fool's

April Fool's was in full swing today at the office! A few of us decided to tamper with the 2nd floor restrooms....

So we decided to put the Men's bathroom out of order and have them use the Women's. After getting nervous about someone yelling at us, we switched it and told everyone to use the downstairs restrooms. We ended up getting caught as the cleaning people blew our cover, but it was hysterical in the meantime and so many people actually believed it!!

Then, it was my turn to get pranked:

Domingo was kind enough to help my accomplices with the spider idea, which was too kind of him. Ahh, the joys of fun work days!

3/31/11 - Scooter Hockey

The Bulls and Blackhawks (or members of our bootcamp team) got together and rolled around on tiny square scooters for a nice round of mini-hockey at the gym tonight!! It was A LOT of fun, even though our team lost. We put up a good fight though. Now I have a perfectly shaped square area on my butt that's sore. It was totally worth it for the two shots I scored!!