I've Got the Ring and a Date

Remember how I told you about our boyfriend/girlfriend/fiance/fiancee thing we had going on?  and rememeber how I told you that the real deal might be approaching?  Well, it finally came!  This past week has been the greatest week of my life! 
Mr Fantastic was supposed to be home on Tuesday evening.  What did he do instead?  He surprised me late Sunday night with a ten minute warning!  Happiest day in a very long time.  Oh, but wait.  There's more!  Thursday night he took me out to look at the stars.  It is something we do from time to time.  Not really often, but enough that it didn't seem suspicious to me.  I sat on the hood of the car while he stood next to me.  It was freezing cold but totally ok.  He kept going into the car to get another drink of mountain dew.  I think he was just really nervous!  After we looked at several different constellations for a while, I was getting a little too cold.  I wsa ready to leave but he kept procrastinating and finally "saw a really bright and sparkly star"  that he had to point out.  His finger looked kind of funny shaped but I figured I was imagining things until he pointed the light of my phone at the tip of his finger.  I gasped!  I asked, "really?"  He turned to me and asked me to marry him.  "Renay, will you marry me?"  Through my sobs I managed to say yes as we hugged and kissed.  Then he tried to put the ring on my right hand!  I love him!  I adore the ring and as always with him, it is way more than I deserve.  Officially, the greatest night of my life!!!  Of all my favorite things in life, he is my favorite of all of my favorites.  He is my everything! 
Today he left to go to Afghanistan for a year.  He may be back for a visit in August, and he might also get another little vacation 3-6 months after that, but a whole year is still a really long time.  I miss him already!
I have two things to look forward to in all of this:  Next May when he comes home for good, and next Labor Day weekend when he becomes my super amazing, extra fantastic, perfect for me in every way husband!

He's all mine for the rest of our lives!

Couldn't be happier to spend forever together

The wedding set

Closeup: Yes, the wedding band is rose gold with pink diamonds

Such a gorgeous vintage feel

And for now...the engagement ring I'm lucky enough to wear!

I hope all of you have a great week.  Although my Mr Fantastic is gone, I'm still on a high from the week we spent together! 
Loves!!!

Computer Banning

I have made a huge decision this week.  Since Mr. Fantastic has been away, I have been reluctant to start very many projects, let alone finish any of the ones that I had on my list to finish while he was away.  Part of it is loneliness and part of it is laziness.  My school work has been suffering as well.  Most of the time it is because I don't feel like doing much.  I don't like that one bit though.  I need to do stuff.

Now, I have done stuff, but it is not what I want to actually do in the long run.  In other words, I have been the worlds biggest procrastinator!  No good.  What have I done to procrastinate, you ask.  Well, I have an addiction.  Dun, dun, dun!  I am addicted to the internet!  Yuck!

So, my biggest hugely big project starts today, April 15th.  It is called "THE COMPUTER BANNING PROJECT"  *gasp* Yes, I am actually going to do this, and not just for a week either.  I am banning myself from the computer from now until Summer is over!  Holy Crap!  You read that right, I am banned from the computer for 160 days!

Okay, so that sounds extremely dramatic!  I think that is exactly what I need though - dramatic change - in order to be happier, more productive, and an overall better person.  However, let me say this, there are exceptions that will make this seem far less dramatic.  So, here are my "rules" to follow in order for this project to be successful:

1.  Computer and Internet use is acceptable for school.  Duh, I'm going to school online so I can't exactly ban myself from that if I want to get anywhere with my education.
2.  Messenger and Video Messenger are acceptable for use with AND ONLY WITH Mr. Fantastic.  With him away, it would hardly be a good idea for me to ban that.  I do need to see him/talk with him from time to time in order to keep myself sane and for the obvious reason of keeping our relationship in tact!
3.  Since email is also a very important tool for communication, I will allow myself to check my email from my phone.  By checking it from my phone, it will keep me from accidentally getting caught up and getting online.
4.  Each week I will allow myself to watch my 3 television shows on Hulu.  Since Hulu is on the internet, I will need to use my computer/internet for this.
5.  Each week I may also have 2 hours of "play time" on the internet to update my blog, and maybe use pinterest to inspire me for new recipes and projects. 
6.  I may use my phone a few times a week when it becomes important to update my facebook status in order to show my family that I have not jumped off a cliff somewhere and I am still alive!

Oh my goodness, I still can't quite believe that I have decided to do this.  I am obsessed with the internet. 

I would challenge you to try something similar.  I am not suggesting that you give up the internet for 160 days, but try doing it for a day maybe, or even a week.  I think that you would be surprised at all the things that you can accomplish in that time-frame.  When we aren't distracted by technology, it leaves us plenty of time to fill up with things that actually matter - family, friends, hobbies, talents, new food experiments, going to the gym, gardening, journaling, crafting, photography, and the list just goes on and on!  Try it!

This last week, although I have not banned myself, I have tried to cut down on my time.  Look at what I have accomplished:

Got the living room a little more organized

Hung up new artwork in the living room - this is still not complete though

Created a cute little nook in the entryway

Straitened up the formal living room and got a rug for in there

Made and drank a lovely sangria

Put together a staircase for Pugly Butt to climb into bed with

Started my seeds for the garden

Planted Sweet Basil in the pugly planter

Got my hairs did!  Had all the ugly unhealthy stuff cut off and added some layers

Drew up plans for the garden as well as had a friend help me get the lumber from Lowes

Have you done anything great and fun this week?
Loves!!!

We've Spent a Quarter! Oh My!

Tthere is that old saying, "Time is Money."  I love it because it is true.  Everyday when I drive 3 hours round-trip for work, I think to myself about how I wish I got paid for it.  Sure, I make a decent salary, but my gas money eats into it pretty bad, especially with gas prices reaching toward $4.00 a gallon now.  I've got a pretty fuel efficient car, but that only matters when I drive 70mph constantly.  Of course I don't do that, as my 2 most recent speeding tickets will attest for. While I get 41 mpg when driving  like a calm person from Utah is expected to, I only get 30 mpg when I drive like a person from any other normal state.  Mind you, I have lived in Michigan, California, Arizona, Texas, Tennessee, and Utah.  I have also been through Wisconsin, Montana, South Dakota, Wyoming, Idaho, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Oklahoma, Missouri, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, south Carolina, Virginia, New Mexico, and maybe even a few more, so I kind of have a really good idea of how people drive all over the country.  Utah is the worst so far!

I digress!

With the idea that time is money looming over my head, let's break a year down into monetary terms.   If we consider that we are spending time throughout the year, then we are also spending money...therefor we have spent one quarter of our dollar so far for the year.  When I was a kid, a quarter was a lot of money!  The tooth fairy didn't even leave a quarter under my pillow for a molar tooth!  Now I''m pretty sure kids get at least a whole dollar for just a regular front tooth, don't they? 

So now that I've spent a whole quarter, I have to decide if it was worth it for what I got in return.  So far, what have I done this year that accounts for spending a whole quarter on it?  Well, let's take a look:

Spent a week in the hospital 

completed my first term of school

achieved the President's list for my academic progress

worked for over a month on a special team at work where I have learned a ton of new stuff

 hosted a gender reveal party at our house

sent birthday cards almost on time

 went to the first annual games tournament party for work

 started the RAW DIET

lost 20 pounds

 started going to the gym

 started many projects around the house

have been away from Mr. Fantastic for 3 weeks now

got accepted to a vocational rehabilitation program for veterans which will in turn help me to finish school

got an MRI on my back after injuring it 3 1/2 years ago - thank you ARMY and Uncle Sam!  Jerks!

got my first mani/pedi in almost 2 years

got a dehydrator

got a food processor

stopped saying yes all the time, and realized I have to say no sometimes to protect my own sanity

did my taxes and won!

So, was all that worth a quarter?  I'd say so!  I think I have been pretty accomplished so far this year.  I am remaining curious by trying new things - new foods, new activities, new projects, new schedules, new classes, new jobs, new people, new tasks - and I am trying very hard to survive while the Mr. is away.

How did you spend your quarter?  Was it worth it to you?
Have a great weekend!
Loves!!!

52 Lists. 52 Weeks. Fours

This list actually has four lists within it!  How cool.  So here are the requirements for this weeks lists.

1. four places you've visited.
2. four things you wish you could get paid to do for a living.
3. four things you are looking forward to.
4. four people who inspire you the most.

Here are my 4 lists of fours:

1.  Australia, Germany, South Dakota, New Mexico
2.  Photography, Pinterest, Stationary Design, Procrastinating
3.  Mr. Fantastic coming home, our landscaping being done, having a place for everything and everything in its
     place, finishing my degree
4.  Mother Hen, Mr. Fantastic, My instructors, Grams

I Love You

I just wanted to remind all of my readers that I love you!  Since I have no idea how to get a gif image on my blog, I just used a lot of pictures to get the message across.  You can click on any of the images or the source link to see the original.  Trust me, it is way cooler!  Oh, and if anyone can tell me how to get a gif into a blogger post I would be so very happy!

 

 

Source

Loves!!!