I'm totally serious, you guys.
I am in the midst of wedding planning, holiday decorating and baking, house hunting and figuring out home loan options, renewing our storage space lease since we know we won't be moving before January, coordinating facy dinners and meetings for work, getting my new boss organized, getting the dogs groomed and the little one trained, looking at interior design ideas for our new house when we get it, shopping for appliances that we will need for any new house we get since we don't own any appliances, wrapping presents (because I'm SO not the last minute person) and the only thing keeping me up at night is the fact that I have NO IDEA what to get BF's mom for Christmas. NO CLUE. Not even a tiny glimmer of an idea.
Why? Because she's the hardest person IN THE WORLD to shop for. I'm not even making this up. You should ask BF. This is the only thing I've been focusing on all week. I'm done with all of my other christmas shopping. Every time I have to run an errand or go to the store for anything I think to myself, "Maybe I will find the perfect gift for BF's Mom here!" and then end up leaving the shop disappointed and frustrated. I asked BF for ideas and he couldn't come up with anything either (for some of the reasons I'll list in a minute).
I sat down and wrote a list of things that she likes to help me think of something. Here's what that list looked like:
BF's Mom- Ideas on things she likes:
1. Reading- but mostly she gets books at the library and doesn't really buy them unless she finds a super good deal at Barnes and Noble, like when they do their summer clearance sale and you can get books for $1 or $2. But didn't we get her a giftcard for books last year? Did she spend it? I can't get her the same gift card again.
2. Gardening- maybe books on gardening? She's got a shelf full, and she has been doing it forever so doesn't need another book on it. Maybe gloves? Got them. Knee pads? She's got fancy rolling knee pad thing for working in the yard already. Beer for her slug traps? Ugh.
3. Crafty things, like scrapbooking- but those are sort of personal and she has a whole room with her scrapbooking and craft stuff so what else could I get her?
4. Walking- she likes to take walks, but she just got new walking shoes this past fall. What else do you need for walking?
5. Tea- she likes tea. I'm not even sure what kind. But I've seen her make it and drink it! Out of a tea kettle she already owns... and tea cups she already has... dang...
... and on and on.
So what are some of the hit gifts you've given your other's mother?
Friday, December 16, 2011
Thursday, December 15, 2011
It Begins...
Ok, so BF and I have launched our Wedding Website to keep everyone updated on plans. Please feel free to visit and check back often as we update it!
Our Wedding Site!
Our Wedding Site!
Monday, December 12, 2011
Eventful
Boy has it ever been.
So you know that last week BF and I put a bid on a home in the Good Neighbor Next Door program that the government runs. We were waiting to hear back as the bidding period closed over the weekend and kept checking the website to see if anything new was happening.
Saturday went by with not much news. We went about our day as normal- went to the gym, cleaned up the house and started on the pile of laundry, etc. I poured over paint colors and budgeting out what it would cost to replace home items if we needed to... if we get the house.
Sunday BF went to help his parents find and cut down a Christmas tree. I did some more home chores and then decided to get out and get some more of my Christmas shopping done. The plan was for me to meet BF at his parents' house after the tree adventure for dinner. BF called me and told me that there was new about the house and it looked like it had been reopened for bidding for an additional week. I was super bummed because I was hoping we would just get it and be able to start planning! That was frustrating to hear, but not the end of the world. I was trying to get the gifts unloaded at my parents's house during this conversation and then get back home to let the dogs out before it got too cold.
Then in the middle of our phone conversation, BF sort of trailed off and stopped talking. I was trying to ask him what was going on and he just said, "Something's wrong with my dad". Apparently he very quickly started feeling awful and then got terrible stomach pains and started vomiting. They made a quick decision to take him to the ER so BF told me to meet them there, so ran to let the dogs out and then jumped in the car to get to St. Vincent's.
I arrived and totally had to lie to get back to BF's dad's room where they all were... they said only immediate family so I fudged a little bit and told them that BF and I were already married so I was the daughter in law... not such a huge lie really. I still felt a little guilty and told BF right away what I did. Anyway, so I went back and BFD was in bad shape (BF's Dad) and I just felt awful knowing that he was in such pain. The doctors thought it may be kidney stones so they were waiting for the pain and anti-nausea meds to kick in before they could get a scan (since he was moving around so much from the pain it would have been impossible). We waited around a while and ended up running to get dinner for ourselves, his sister and his mother.
A couple hours later they were able to do the scan and confirmed it was kidney stones, but because of the locations there wasn't much they could do so they sent BFD home with some anti-nausea meds and a couple pain pills to help until they pass. Terrible! Everyone that I know that has had kidney stones says it is the worst pain they've ever experience so I cannot imagine what that would even feel like!
We went to BF's parents house to wait for his dad to be released and to feed his parents' dogs. We watched a little football and let the dogs run around and play in the yard. As we were sitting on the couch the dogs came pealing into the house from the backyard. This is pretty normal because they chase each other around constantly so we thought nothing of it. And then I smelled it. It smelled like cow poop and it was STRONG. I jumped up and grabbed Rudy and realized that he was COVERED in leaves and poop. GROSS! So we tried to grab him to throw him into the bathtub, but just then the door opened and his parents were walking in. I yelled for Rudy to come so that he wouldn't jump his poop-covered self up onto BF's parents and ran to grab him. Nora peed on the floor at the same time from all of the excitement and BF managed to wrap Rudy in a towel and throw him into the bathroom before he did any damage. I quickly shut the bathroom door and started scrubbing Rudy and covering him with soap. I did get him clean, but I was so mad that he rolled around in poop!
BF and I ended up getting home around 10:30 or 11pm and sort of slumped into bed. Long Day.
Today BF and I found out that we weren't the only bidders on the house, so we were put into a lottery for it. We weren't selected in the lottery and I was so bummed when I found out, but then our broker told us that it didn't mean we won't get it. The other bidder's bid was selected in the lottery, but the bid has not yet been approved which means we may have a chance at this house anyway, but only if the current winning bidder doesn't get their stuff in correctly or if their bid isn't approved. It's such a weird process with these homes and super stressful! In the mean time we are looking at other homes, even though they will cost way more.
Now I'm off to get a filling. YAY!
So you know that last week BF and I put a bid on a home in the Good Neighbor Next Door program that the government runs. We were waiting to hear back as the bidding period closed over the weekend and kept checking the website to see if anything new was happening.
Saturday went by with not much news. We went about our day as normal- went to the gym, cleaned up the house and started on the pile of laundry, etc. I poured over paint colors and budgeting out what it would cost to replace home items if we needed to... if we get the house.
Sunday BF went to help his parents find and cut down a Christmas tree. I did some more home chores and then decided to get out and get some more of my Christmas shopping done. The plan was for me to meet BF at his parents' house after the tree adventure for dinner. BF called me and told me that there was new about the house and it looked like it had been reopened for bidding for an additional week. I was super bummed because I was hoping we would just get it and be able to start planning! That was frustrating to hear, but not the end of the world. I was trying to get the gifts unloaded at my parents's house during this conversation and then get back home to let the dogs out before it got too cold.
Then in the middle of our phone conversation, BF sort of trailed off and stopped talking. I was trying to ask him what was going on and he just said, "Something's wrong with my dad". Apparently he very quickly started feeling awful and then got terrible stomach pains and started vomiting. They made a quick decision to take him to the ER so BF told me to meet them there, so ran to let the dogs out and then jumped in the car to get to St. Vincent's.
I arrived and totally had to lie to get back to BF's dad's room where they all were... they said only immediate family so I fudged a little bit and told them that BF and I were already married so I was the daughter in law... not such a huge lie really. I still felt a little guilty and told BF right away what I did. Anyway, so I went back and BFD was in bad shape (BF's Dad) and I just felt awful knowing that he was in such pain. The doctors thought it may be kidney stones so they were waiting for the pain and anti-nausea meds to kick in before they could get a scan (since he was moving around so much from the pain it would have been impossible). We waited around a while and ended up running to get dinner for ourselves, his sister and his mother.
A couple hours later they were able to do the scan and confirmed it was kidney stones, but because of the locations there wasn't much they could do so they sent BFD home with some anti-nausea meds and a couple pain pills to help until they pass. Terrible! Everyone that I know that has had kidney stones says it is the worst pain they've ever experience so I cannot imagine what that would even feel like!
We went to BF's parents house to wait for his dad to be released and to feed his parents' dogs. We watched a little football and let the dogs run around and play in the yard. As we were sitting on the couch the dogs came pealing into the house from the backyard. This is pretty normal because they chase each other around constantly so we thought nothing of it. And then I smelled it. It smelled like cow poop and it was STRONG. I jumped up and grabbed Rudy and realized that he was COVERED in leaves and poop. GROSS! So we tried to grab him to throw him into the bathtub, but just then the door opened and his parents were walking in. I yelled for Rudy to come so that he wouldn't jump his poop-covered self up onto BF's parents and ran to grab him. Nora peed on the floor at the same time from all of the excitement and BF managed to wrap Rudy in a towel and throw him into the bathroom before he did any damage. I quickly shut the bathroom door and started scrubbing Rudy and covering him with soap. I did get him clean, but I was so mad that he rolled around in poop!
BF and I ended up getting home around 10:30 or 11pm and sort of slumped into bed. Long Day.
Today BF and I found out that we weren't the only bidders on the house, so we were put into a lottery for it. We weren't selected in the lottery and I was so bummed when I found out, but then our broker told us that it didn't mean we won't get it. The other bidder's bid was selected in the lottery, but the bid has not yet been approved which means we may have a chance at this house anyway, but only if the current winning bidder doesn't get their stuff in correctly or if their bid isn't approved. It's such a weird process with these homes and super stressful! In the mean time we are looking at other homes, even though they will cost way more.
Now I'm off to get a filling. YAY!
Thursday, December 8, 2011
The Waiting Game... and Looking at Interior Decorating Sites Because I'm Old Now
So BF and I are waiting to hear back regarding the house. We probably won't hear a thing until Monday or Tuesday which is KILLING ME.
If we do get the house, we have to get an inspection, finalize the loan stuff and then figure out how we are going to replace the carpets and repaint some of the awful/half done paint that is currently in some of the rooms.
In order to occupy myself while we wait I've been busy looking at interior design sites and magazines to see what it is I like and how I want to redo our possible new home. I know what I like, but I also want our home to feel cohesive and not broken up into themed rooms, if that makes sense? Anyway, I'm just busily collecting pictures and paint samples and deciding what appliances would be necessary to replace.
Here's what I'm thinking:
1. Floors- the carpets NEED to be replaced. The house was a rental before it was put on the market and I'm pretty sure that they didn't clean/replace them because they knew they didn't need to impress anyone. I am debating on replacing the carpet or all out getting totally new floors... maybe wood or laminate wood or something.
2. Appliances- so the appliances in the home aren't terrible, but if it's going to be my home I want to update them with newer and more energy efficient ones. I'd like a french door refrigerator with the freezer on the bottom, an awesome dishwasher because I HATE doing the dishes, a more efficient water heater, and a better looking microwave. BF wants a new range as well, so there's one more. Again, I want them all to match so for the first time EVER I've been looking at Lowe's and Home Depot and Sears and Best Buy trying to find a good collection that I like. We also need to purchase a washer and dryer, but clearly they don't need to match the kitchen appliances so whatever we pick should be good.
3. Paint colors- I am SO TORN with paint. Some of the paint in the house I do like, but it needs to be touched up so I will have to find the matching paint to do so. Some of the rooms are just... gross. Who knows why people pick the colors they do. And some of the home just needs paint in general because it's worn completely off (like on the banister going upstairs). I'm wondering if I just wait to touch up the paint that I like and just go all out on the rooms and areas that really need it. Also, BF and I need to decide on colors and themes for the main rooms. The outside paint is ok, the house just needs a good spray down like any house does occasionally.
There's more on my list, but I'm trying not to invest TOO much time on the house until we know we've got it... but plan just enough so I'm not scrambling to figure out what we want if (when) we do get it.
Waiting takes forever.
If we do get the house, we have to get an inspection, finalize the loan stuff and then figure out how we are going to replace the carpets and repaint some of the awful/half done paint that is currently in some of the rooms.
In order to occupy myself while we wait I've been busy looking at interior design sites and magazines to see what it is I like and how I want to redo our possible new home. I know what I like, but I also want our home to feel cohesive and not broken up into themed rooms, if that makes sense? Anyway, I'm just busily collecting pictures and paint samples and deciding what appliances would be necessary to replace.
Here's what I'm thinking:
1. Floors- the carpets NEED to be replaced. The house was a rental before it was put on the market and I'm pretty sure that they didn't clean/replace them because they knew they didn't need to impress anyone. I am debating on replacing the carpet or all out getting totally new floors... maybe wood or laminate wood or something.
2. Appliances- so the appliances in the home aren't terrible, but if it's going to be my home I want to update them with newer and more energy efficient ones. I'd like a french door refrigerator with the freezer on the bottom, an awesome dishwasher because I HATE doing the dishes, a more efficient water heater, and a better looking microwave. BF wants a new range as well, so there's one more. Again, I want them all to match so for the first time EVER I've been looking at Lowe's and Home Depot and Sears and Best Buy trying to find a good collection that I like. We also need to purchase a washer and dryer, but clearly they don't need to match the kitchen appliances so whatever we pick should be good.
3. Paint colors- I am SO TORN with paint. Some of the paint in the house I do like, but it needs to be touched up so I will have to find the matching paint to do so. Some of the rooms are just... gross. Who knows why people pick the colors they do. And some of the home just needs paint in general because it's worn completely off (like on the banister going upstairs). I'm wondering if I just wait to touch up the paint that I like and just go all out on the rooms and areas that really need it. Also, BF and I need to decide on colors and themes for the main rooms. The outside paint is ok, the house just needs a good spray down like any house does occasionally.
There's more on my list, but I'm trying not to invest TOO much time on the house until we know we've got it... but plan just enough so I'm not scrambling to figure out what we want if (when) we do get it.
Waiting takes forever.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Feeling Very Grown Up
As I write this I'm looking at my "To Do" list from the weekend to see what I missed and besides NOT MISSING ANYTHING that I needed to get done, I also realized that I'm a Grown Up now.
What? When did this happen?
It happened when BF and I applied for a pre-approved home loan over the weekend because we are looking to get into a house.
HOLY CRAP.
I'm super nervous about the whole thing (because, you know... 30 year mortgage, purchasing appliances, property taxes, etc) but I'm also insanely excited! The thought of having a place of our own where we can let the puppies run around free in the yard and we can have a huge compost bin instead of having to throw our scraps away, and being able to PAINT and change anything I want is AWESOME. Also, a 2 car garage so we can both park inside on the cold, wet Oregon days is appealing.
We've found a house we LOVE and that is close to BF's school, so we are hoping to go see it, win the bid and get a loan ASAP so we can get this going.
The excitement is overwhelming, but I'm still stressing out until it's all worked out.
What? When did this happen?
It happened when BF and I applied for a pre-approved home loan over the weekend because we are looking to get into a house.
HOLY CRAP.
I'm super nervous about the whole thing (because, you know... 30 year mortgage, purchasing appliances, property taxes, etc) but I'm also insanely excited! The thought of having a place of our own where we can let the puppies run around free in the yard and we can have a huge compost bin instead of having to throw our scraps away, and being able to PAINT and change anything I want is AWESOME. Also, a 2 car garage so we can both park inside on the cold, wet Oregon days is appealing.
We've found a house we LOVE and that is close to BF's school, so we are hoping to go see it, win the bid and get a loan ASAP so we can get this going.
The excitement is overwhelming, but I'm still stressing out until it's all worked out.
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