Happy Friday

-giving my blog a makeover-

First, I thought it was high time for a new blog header. Last time I needed the hubby's help to change it, but I figured it out this time - go me! I chose this picture for three reasons:

#1. Peter and I are always taking self-portraits when we are just hanging out or on a trip and those are some of my favorite photos by far. I played around with my 50 mm lens tonight until I got one that I liked. It was harder than I thought it would be!

#2. I did such a close crop to my face because I thought it looked cool but also because I liked the idea of my eyes peeking out into the world of all my blog visitors (ok "all" is probably an excessive word because I don't think I have anyone that reads this regularly!).

#3. I've made some decisions this week that involve actively pursuing my love of photography - more about that later.

-my hubby is coming home-

Tomorrow. Finally. I've missed him so much. We've talked daily, chatted frequently, and text messaged when I had signal (which means not at my work), but it's definitely not the same. I'm going to pick him up at the airport tomorrow. I guess this means I should clean up the house. I'm hoping I'll be able to convince him to go to the new Sex and the City movie on the way home!

-summer vacation is almost here!-

There are 4 more regular work days left. After that, there are two days of final exams, then make up exams, then the final day which is for staff professional development. I will miss my students, but am definitely ready for my summer vacation.

-dissertation progress-

My advisor wrote me on Wednesday with edits for the first chapter of my three chapter dissertation. With my Mom's help, I made her requested changes and then some and sent it back this morning. I'm so ready to be done and from our e-mail conversations today it sounds like the finish line is approaching - all I can say is "HECK YEAH!"

-#3 revisited-

So last Saturday, after Peter and I had our pictures taken, we had dinner together at this cute restaurant. I mentioned how much fun I had with the pictures, and how cool I thought it would be to be a photographer.  It's an idea I've had off and on (and shared with Peter) for several years now, but I haven't taken it seriously. When I brought it up again that night, my hubby didn't for one second blink in speculation or criticism - instead he encouraged me to follow my dream. He always encourages me, no matter how crazy my ideas are - I am so lucky to have him.

I fully expected that idea to pass again in the coming days, but instead I found myself thinking about the idea several times a day. Shortly after flying home, I remembered a blog by a photographer I had subscribed to a while ago - Dane Sanders. I really don't know how I stumbled upon his blog, but I remember thinking it was worth reading and subscribed, and I also remembered some buzz on it at some point about something called the Fast Track Photographer program.

I found the Fast Track site again, and read over the membership details - and get this - I'm now a Fast Track Founder. How cool is that? I've already started posting in the forums and everyone is so friendly!

So back to reason #3 as to why I selected this photo for my new header - I feel like my eyes are finally open to exploring my potential and I'm so excited to see where this will lead. 

-photo of the day-

Found these in my closet today - didn't even know I had them! I have these awesome Tupperware-like shoe boxes from the Container store, but I need to find a way to label the outside so I know what shoes I have...maybe little pictures? Yes, I put my shoes in boxes. What? I have a lot of shoes! A girl has to stay organized!

Visiting the old homestead

Isn't my Mom beautiful?

Here yesterday, gone again today...

After being home for less than two days, Peter was off again today to Nashville for a work conference. I'm totally going to miss him. We are rarely apart, so that makes it even harder when we are.

Since it's Wednesday, that means it's "Starbucks Wednesday" (the day of the week that I treat myself to a Starbucks treat before work and don't feel guilty about it), and I stopped by this morning to get my favorite drink - a tall, nonfat white mocha with no whip - yummy! While there, I was given a special iced coffee card that gets me a free iced coffee every Wednesday until the end of July! Whoohoo!

After work, I decided to stop by and pick up my free coffee and get my favorite Cheese and Fruit plate to have for dinner. It was tasty.

I miss my husband and need to go to bed.

Peter's 29th Birthday Recap

His birthday dinner started off with some baked beans...

continued with some hot dogs, buns, and condiments...

...and finished up with some cake (Cold Stone Creamery's "A Cheesecake Named Desire")

And no, I wasn't slacking in the cooking department - this dinner was his request!

One more present to unwrap...

What could this be? This package sure was wrapped well. It's obvious that my Mom, and not me, wrapped it.

Now this last picture is a little misleading because these are the wrong sneakers. My Mom picked up these when she was supposed get these. Oops.

Oh well. That just means we will be taken another trip to our favorite Target when Peter gets back from his work trip.

a birthday wish for my husband

29 years ago today, my husband, Peter, was born. Peter, although I rarely call him that because we have so many nicknames for each other, is the sweetest, kindest, most intelligent, and handsomest man I have ever met. I always hoped that I would find the perfect man to spend my life with and I knew when I met him that he was it. He is my best friend and partner and I am the luckiest girl in the world to be his wife.

Before posting a few more Legoland pictures, a special birthday greeting:

I knew when I saw this at Legoland that I had to take a picture because I was sure I'd find a way to use it later.

And now a few more favorites...I had fun playing with some Boutwell actions this afternoon:

This morning, I surprised my hubby with breakfast...can you guess what I made?

Happy Birthday, sweetie!!

Back from our mini-vacation

So my big gift for Peter this year was a trip to San Diego, or more specifically to Carlsbad, to visit Legoland! I'll write a longer post tomorrow, but wanted to post some of my favorite pictures, all goofy self-portraits.

1. In our matching Rock Band shirts - which I wore proudly and Peter hid under two more layers. Ok, he didn't exactly hide it but for some reason he didn't want to go out all "matchy, matchy" either. He ended up being warmer than me though. Although it's blurry, this is one of my favorite pictures from the whole trip!

2. On the Carlsbad State Beach - this was our first time ever walking on the beach together -  it was about time after 7 years together!

3. Need I say more?

4. On a boat ride in Legoland.

I'm totally excited to see the pictures taken by our photographers Gabriel and Carlie. They were so much fun to hang out with and have inspired me to start taking my love of photography more seriously. I'll be checking their blog every day in hopes of seeing some pics!

It's back to work tomorrow. Not counting final exams, there are nine more days. Oops, does that mean I'm counting down? No way! :)

A few pictures

The cutest cups my hubby found me at Anthropologie last Friday.

The surprise I found in the freezer tonight before making dinner - isn't my hubby sweet?

Last night's spaghetti with meat sauce - the verdict....it was yummy!

Tonight's dinner - mac 'n' cheese with tomatoes and chicken - surprisingly easy and really good!

Since it's already May 6th...

I figure it's time for a post. I haven't been all that busy lately, although Peter and I have been out and about a fair amount lately. Thursday, May 1st, we went out to dinner with my parents for my Mom's Birthday. We ate at the Italian restaurant/pizza joint in the Concord Mall. It was an interesting experience to say the least because they was a performance of the opera "Madame Butterfly" going on while we ate. Definitely not my thing, or Peter's, or Dad's either, but Mom seemed to enjoy it and since it was her birthday, that's what mattered!

Friday, I surprised Peter with an evening out after he worked the college's graduation festivities. He always looks so handsome dressed up for the ceremony, so I like to drag him out afterwards. We went to P.F. Chang's for dinner and watched a late night showing of Iron Man. I love P.F. Chang's. I love Chinese food in general, but have found as I have gotten older that I really can't stand take out Chinese food. But this restaurant is as far from take out as you can get, yet has positively yummy leftovers.

Saturday, we were completely lazy all day. I celebrated National Scrapbooking day by hitting many digi sales online, and Peter played his new game, Grand Theft Auto 4. Sunday, I drove down to Dover and went to the Dover Days House and Garden tour. We actually ended up visiting only one home, which is still the home of a childhood friend of mine, and we got to reconnect which was really cool. In fact, I'm sending her an e-mail after I write this. Turns out she lives in Dover and works up in Wilmington by us. Delaware really is small!

Yesterday, for Cinco de Mayo, we headed out to Don Pablos for dinner. The food was ok, but it was way too loud and packed with people only interested in drinking way too many Coronas. I guess I'm getting too old to enjoy that sort of thing. Wow - two references to age in this post and I'm only 26! What's wrong with me? Haha.

We've been doing a lot of eating out lately and while I do enjoy it, I'm definitely ready to stay home and cook this week. I found some great recipes off the Kraft Foods website and am following one of their Healthy Living Bags this week. Tonight's dinner will be Spaghetti with Zesty Bolognese sauce. I'm serving it up with some Joe Corbi Cheezee Bread. I'll post a pic of my results tomorrow.