Good-bye luscious locks

Last week Jason was a sick, sick boy and slept on the couch as to not disturb me with his coughing {he is a way better spouse than me}, at night.

And while he was starting to feel better come Friday night, he opted to sleep on in the living room one more night. But not before coming to bed and telling me he had something very important to talk to me about...

I legit thought something was wrong! In the almost seven years I have known Jason, I don't think I have ever heard him say, "I have something serious to discuss" {I am paraphrasing, just go with it}, and so for a hot minute, I thought something was really wrong.

What my husband wanted to "discuss" with me was that it was time...time to cut those luscious locks, ya'll.

If you read my initial post about Jason's hair, then you know his do' has been a topic of conversation at Casa de Crews for months now. MONTHS.

the emo look

Jason has always kept his hair short, but last March he realized that once he was an attorney, he could never grow his hair out. I mean, never mind that he has two and a half years left, and must take the bar, too.

I begged Jason to cut his hair. When friends or my family saw his hair, they raved about it, which did not help my cause whatsoever. So I gave in, and accepted the locks, and actually came to like them.

Jason and I are attempting to run, and when we do, he has to put his hair up with one of my hair ties, or if he is studying, he wears a headband. And occasionally I may have said he was "such a pretty girl", which I think he may not have liked, ha.

the after math

But the decision to chop it all of was Jason's and Jason's alone, and I couldn't be happier.

This was the boy I met seven years ago! I missed that guy...

How was your weekend?!

xoxo,
Nichole

St. Augustine Vacation: The Sights

Though my birthday is January, 2nd, Jason and I opted to take a birthday trip one week before the big 3-0. Mainly because at my company, we get very busy for the month of January, and aren't able to take any time off. But it was also nice to get out of town during the holidays, where it can be just us. We had such a great time!

Initially, I had thought there would just be an old fort to look at, and that I would become bored. I was so wrong! So wrong in fact, that I have decided to split our trip up into two posts: the touristy sights, and the food. I had NO idea that St. Augustine was such a foodie town, ya'll. And so, I decided all the delicious eats deserved a post of their own.

Segui Room at Casa de Solana

Jason and I stayed at an adorable B&B on Aviles St {the oldest street in St. Augustine}, after my sister recommended them. Casa de Solana was so charming! We booked their three night special, and so we also received a 3 day train pass, and admission to a few historical attractions. I also booked an in room massage, that was heavenly, and much needed. I think everyone should get massages on vacation--it sets the whole tone of the trip; RELAXING!

Christmas Heaven

2014: Goals

On our last night of vacation {more on that, later}, as we were falling asleep, I asked Jason if he had any goals for the upcoming year. In total Jason fashion, he of course doesn't make goals, other than, "surviving another year of law school", I was told. He makes a valid point.

But for me, I need goals. Or resolutions....tasks. Call it what you like. I need them.

Tomorrow, I turn thirty. In some ways, as I get older I know more of what I want out of life, and how to obtain it. Of course, in other ways I get overwhelmed and wonder what the heck I am doing...but that is how it goes, and at least I can say I have a heck of a lot more confidence as I enter my thirties than I did in my twenties. Afreakingmen, ya'll.

What's in a Tree?

As an early Christmas gift, Jason bought "us" a Cannon Rebel. And by us I mean me, because it was all I talked about for months on end. So on a whim around 11p.m. on Thanksgiving night, we went to Target for a camera {and as an added bonus I found out, as I assume most of you did, that as many as 40 million Target customers may have had their cards compromised during this time. Never mind that I go to Tar-jay 3-4 times a week. I digress}.

We've been so busy, however that I haven't had a chance to play with our new camera as much as I'd like. Our snaps primarily consist of Gigi, Oskar, and our Christmas Tree. We lead an ever exciting life, folks.

I told Jason recently that someday, I would love a perfect tree that matched, and was themed. In a true Jason fashion he reminded me that our tree was beautiful because it was a hodge podge of our life together. I mean, how can I argue with his logic?

A few of my favorite mis-matched ornaments:

I have a thing for owls

Random 11.4.2013

I'm tired, and writing this late on Sunday night. I want to pass out, but I also forgot to renew my domain for two days, and feel like I have to have a post up for Monday since I had the most ridiculous screaming match with my laptop, this weekend. We fought, and I said things I shouldn't have. But my computer still loves me, and we worked things out. So now I owe it to "her" to share my weekend, or what will be a hodge podge of random, Monday.

Apparently last week the universe felt like giving me things. Thanks to a contest. my blog post about Lowry Park's Zoo Boo after the Yelp event, won me TWO annual passes for a whole year! I never win anything, ya'll.

Then, I won a Starbucks gift card from Mayra, at In Flight Party Ideas for entering her site's 3rd anniversary!

Photo: Renee Nicole {Design + Photography}

I also received my head shots from Renee Nicole {Design + Photography} this weekend! We received head shots on day 2 of Blog Fete. And since I have blue eyes, the sun hates them and I squint SO badly in the light. Renee was sweet enough to re-take shots for me later in the day when the sun was not as bright.

Friday, Jason and I went and saw Michael Buble! I love my sweet husband for taking me. It was completely overpriced, however. I never looked at tickets because I wanted Jason to plan the night, and all that jazz. He knew they were expensive, and still took me and said he was happy to do so, but you know what?

We had more fun after the concert, at one of my fave spots, Miguels, for margaritas and dessert. Sometimes, I try and re-create memories and Jason reminds me that its okay to leave things in the past, and create new ones.

Saturday, we went to a belated Halloween Party/Friend's 30th {surprise} Birthday. We were the only ones not dressed up, ha ha. I was just glad to go. Happy Birthday, Shelly!

I have a confession to make; the last week I have massively stunk at meal planning, and working out. I have been incredibly busy, and sort of used that as an excuse. I ate, and drank terribly all weekend. I feel extra tired, bloated, and just gross. I am back at it this week, not even for weight loss reasons, but to feel normal again. I still want to me real here with my weight loss, but I am not weighing myself for a few days. That is seriously how gross I feel. I'll share, soon.

How was your weekend?

XOXO,
Nichole

Linking up with Sami

Dating

...my husband. Who did you think I was talking about?!

I started this site two years ago as a newlywed, and it is sort of all over the place, these days. But one thing I got away from was sharing more personal info about the Crews family. Which is somewhat ironic seeing as our site is called CASA de CREWS, right?!

Lately things have been hectic, busy, and exhausting. A huge part of this for me is my day job. I also try not to share much of that online, but it is a major part of my stress, and exhaustion. I'm working on that but for now it is what it is. I have admittedly been miserable, more days than not. And I get lonely with my husband gone so much. And he is tired for obvious reasons.

So when we spend quality time together, its not the most well, quality. So I did what any "normal" person in 2013 would do...I googled "dating my husband". Innovative, right? Ha ha.

Husbands DO listen

Last week, at about 11pm, when Jason was finally home from school, he found a disheveled, exhausted, and frustrated wife. My computer has been on the fritz and was freezing as I tried to finish a blog post. I was tired because by 11pm, I am done with life, and disheveled because I started to wash my face an hour before, but didn't remove my eye makeup, and my hair is always was a mess. Have I painted a lovely enough picture for you? So anyway, Jason comes home after a full day of work, and class for three hours and a 45 minute drive from said class to me, the hottest wife in all the land, right?

Was I pleasant and as happy to see him as the dogs were? Uh no. Sometimes I wonder why that guy sticks around, I tell ya. So he hands me an envelope, and I place it on the arm of the couch and continue to curse my laptop.

He makes himself a drink and says, "Well, I guess Gigi and I are going, without you", and having no idea what he is talking about, I look at Jason like he's crazy. He then snags the envelope I had no interest in looking at, and proceeds to opes. In that envelope I cared nothing about just minutes before contained two tickets to Michael Bublé!!

You see boys and girls {do boys read my blog? Probably not. I digress}, I may have nagged mentioned a time or thirty that I wanted to go to this concert, and while I could just have bought us the tickets myself, where is the fun in that. But then I actually forgot all about Michael Bublé and life went on.

Michael Bublé was the first concert Jason and I went to alone, without our friends, five or six years ago. It was such a great memory, and I remember that night Jason talked about marriage. It wasn't anything serious, but it was when I knew that things with this guy were going somewhere good, in fact way better than I could have ever expected. It was that fun and exciting talk that makes you wonder but not worry just yet about where its all headed. It really was  a lovely evening.

Not to mention, Everything, was our first dance as husband and wife.

Photo credit: Caroline & Evan Photography

So why didn't I just tell you, "Jason got us tickets"? Because there is a moral to this story, and that moral is: My husband listens to me, even when I think he doesn't. And even though more times than not, these days I am the above mentioned hot mess of a wife, he still loves me and surprises me with tickets to concerts. I'm one heck of a lucky girl. Sometimes it can be easy to forget the small things.

XOXO,
Nichole

Luscious Locks

You guys, my husband is on strike. He is on strike from cutting his hair. When I met Jason six years ago, he kept his do' super short. I liked it a little longer, and since he was a nice boyfriend, he grew it out for me. And when I say grew it out, I mean like a l.i.t.t.l.e. on the sides.

Halloween, 2007. Short.

He has pretty much kept it the same give or take, over the years.

2012, my favorite length.

Reality

The "summer" is over in regards to Jason's break. We had a good four weeks together. The summer was rough on us both, and truth be told, I have a hard time adjusting; adjusting when Jason goes back to school in the evenings, and also when he is home. While I am thrilled to see him, I get so used to my own routine, that I have to adjust all over. It's a viscous cycle, ya'll. #FirstWorldProblems.

At the end of his Spring semester, while I was on a cruise with friends, Jason accepted a new job, and was about to start the summer term, which consisted of a crammed seven weeks of Hell, and a new job. Fast forward and the job he started in May wasn't working out. Husband was miserable, and started to look for new employment. Of all the coincidences in the world, Jason applied for a posting that had little information listed other than it was an insurance defense firm in Tampa {which is what Jason was going before the new job in May}, and found out the following day, he actually knew two of the three attorneys at the firm, and they offered him a job on the spot! Things seem to turn out how they're always supposed to, huh?

So. Jason finished the summer with decent grades, and one year of law school under his belt, and another a new job.

We took advantage of all the time we had, no matter how short it was going to be. We both had to work, but maximized our time with friends, family, and each other at night and on the weekends.

We went to a wedding in July, several Rays games, canvas painting {and ahem, drinking}, multiple dinners out, Jason was able to play golf a few times. We played trivia with friends. We took a trip to Long Island, NY, and NYC this past weekend to see friends get married and be tourists in the city.

It's been a wonderful month, and as always it is sad {for me} when it's over.

But reality has set back in and we're back to our daily grind(s). All we can do is enjoy the time we have, when we have it, and move forward.

Sometimes, I hate being an adult. But there is still no one I'd ever want to go through this life with, than that guy I married.

XOXO,
Nichole

Year One

I don't even know how to begin this post. No, I take that back. I AM SO PROUD OF MY HUSBAND.

As of last night, Jason has completed his first year of law school. While working a full time job as a paralegal, and having me for a wife {I kid on that last part. sort of}.

He won't get summer grades for weeks, but pass or fail, we have one year under our belt! I realize I just said "we" and you may be thinking, "Um, when did you get accepted into law school?", and of course the answer is, I didn't. But being a law school widow has been a very challenging thing for me, for Jason, and at our casa {see what I did there?}, but it made me stronger. Jason was already strong.

But enough about me, back to my spouse...

Husband,

I love you. I am proud of you. I have NO idea how you do it. I try and help as much as I can to make anything in your personal life more easy, but at the same time as your wife, and friend, there is only so much I can do. You never expect anything from anyone and just keep going. When I get sad pissed off because you can't join me out for the night and/or are too tired to move, or have to study one hundred and fifty pages over the weekend, you don't complain at all. You're amazing. I don't think I really tell you that, but I hope you know it. I know you're exhausted but know that I am so proud of you, and impressed. If I were in your shoes, I think either the job or school would have had to go. And you keep on going. If you don't die by the end of this all, I know it will be worth it.

One down, three to go...

XOXO,

"Babes"

Debt

It has been a while since I have posted about our finances and debt, at Casa de Crews, and I think it's time we revisit. When Jason and I were first married, I asked a lot of people in blog-land if they and their spouses merged bank accounts, and if they talked about money at all.

At the time, I received so many opinions and suggestions. It was great! And slowly, over time Jason and I began to dig ourselves out of debt, and were contacted by CNN Money for a quick interview about our debt story, as newlyweds.

You can still find that story, here.

Fast forward a year, and our financial situation has improved...and also, has not improved. How does that make sense, you're probably wondering?

....WELL

We have paid a lot of our debt down {both credit cards and my student loans}, and thanks to a personal loan from a family member, after Jason started law school, we have a decent savings, as well. We are paying that personal loan back, but at a lower interest than some of our credit, and have saved money in the long run.

Because our bills aren't too terrible, there are more times than not, that our income combined, is more disposable than it should be. We don't have a lot of money, but with little debt, we're not hurting for anything, either.

But we have goals. I want to buy a house, soon! I don't mind renting {I am sure some of you out there who own are cringing at the thought of not gaining equity as I type this}, but we have outgrown our space and our rent won't do anything, but continue to go up. Also, we don't have anything saved for retirement {each time, we have both been laid off {three layoffs between the two of us in six years}, we have each cashed out our 401k accounts}, and my baby fever isn't going away. Nikki wants a bambino, soon.

And not to mention the student loan debt we're acquiring within the next three years, while Jason finishes law school. Yes we will hope and pray that those loans will pay for themselves once Jason gets a job post college, but it will take a while to pay it off.

So, we are going back to square one {read my first posts about our budgeting, here and here}. Back to the days of cash allowances {when the money runs out, that's it, until the next check} and creative ways to save a buck. As fun as it has been to not worry about money, I want to learn from past mistakes, so that we can secure our future. If that isn't a grown up statement, I don't know what it is. ha ha.

What sort of budget system do you have in place?

XOXO,
Nichole

Clutter

Can I tell you all a secret? I hate clutter. Ninety percent of the time, our house is clean {as in no dirt}, but lately, it is bey-ond cluttered, and I hate a pile up of such things.

I know being a law school widow is nothing compared to what others go through. You know, like actual widows, and military spouses, and sad things like that. But the "quality" time I get to spend with Jason is few and far between. And while I know he is busting his ass hump for us, I am sure the last thing he wants to do is work forty hours and go to school at night. And then study in between. But even though rationally I do know all this, sometimes I am still mad with him.

Maybe mad isn't the right adjective here, but it works for me in the moment. I get upset {maybe that's better?} because I am the one who now goes places alone, and has to explain to the four hundredth person why Jason couldn't make it out, since he has to study. I get annoyed because I know he is killing himself for us and our future, and that leaves me to do the majority of cleaning, cooking, and general house ish in general. And mostly, I do think it is more than fair. I wouldn't want to memorize case laws all weekend and read and read, and read until my retinas started to detach {dramatic, much?}.

But sometimes I get lost in who Nichole is in all this. I have no idea how mothers do this. HOW?! And when I get like this, I let the house stuff get behind. To the point where I don't want to do anything but avoid it. The last thing I want to do when I am in a law school widow funk, is clean. So the clutter begins to build. Literally and figuratively.

And with a cluttered home, comes a cluttered mind for yours truly. And sometimes as sad as it sounds {by the way, I didn't intend for this to sound so sad and boring, but here it is}, I get lost in a fog, until I physically clear the clutter at Casa de Crews.

This past weekend, I cleaned and de-cluttered our 1100sqft condo rental. And you know what? My mind is more clear, and I feel so much better.

I think I need a hobby. Or possibly a maid.

Do your surroundings affect your mood?

XOXO,
Nichole

SIX

Six years ago {tomorrow} I was invited to a friend's after work birthday party/end of the week happy hour. Being one that doesn't like to go places alone, I almost didn't go.

I know I have told this story a time or twenty before, but it still amazes me how things worked out. Had I not gone, I wouldn't have met Jason.

I was actually invited to another party several months prior, and didn't go. If I would have went to that shindig, I would have met Jason, as he was there too. But I was still in a ridiculously dysfunctional on again/off again relationship of sorts and wouldn't have probably thought twice about the funny guy who adjusted claims at the same insurance company I worked at.

Tomorrow is almost as {if not more, in some instances} important and special to me as the day we were married.

To the guy who bought me a Jaegar bomb and then showed me the bill--not because he had spent $69.00 {and I thought he was trying to impress me}, but because the check was....69, and he thought it was funny like a fourteen year old boy. {Listen, I never said either of us had any class} Thank you for finding me.

THE night. 2007.

Some of the "crew", that was there the night we met 6/29/2007. And at our wedding 4/9/2011

When Jason called me two days later, I knew he was into me, and I rejected his call. I was a Grade A snob and thought I was just so.much.better. and also, I was into games.  It's all I knew....and as a game player, you never answer the first time...I was also twenty-three, so what the Hell did I actually know about anything?! But I digress.

Tampa Bay Lightning draft party, 2007.

This boy...we have grown up together, fought hard, loved harder and made a life for ourselves. We're a family. Not every day is bliss, but even on our worst days, our life together is pretty darn spectacular and lovely and more than I ever wanted, could have expected, and/or even dreamed off.

Disney World, 2008.

Thank you for finding me Jason Wayne. I have NO clue where I would be in life without you.

Better is the day standing by your side,
Nichole

Not So Newlyweds

I have seen this question and answer game floating around the blog world on and off for a while, and thought with over two years under our belt, the Crews' should play along! Basically, I sent an email to Jason, while he was in the other room studying, {because a newlywed blog questionnaire is more important than studying case laws about property, right? I thought so, too} and he got back to me almost right away. I guess he needed a break. And the guy knows me pretty well. Though being me, I did add my own thoughts to a few of his answers. You're welcome.

How long have you been married? 

Jason: 2 years and almost 2 months.

Nichole: 2 years, almost 2 months

Where was your first date? 

Jason: Good food (Smokey Bones) and an awful movie (I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry)

Nichole: Technically, Smokey Bones, but we had hung out a few times before that with friends and what not.

Where was your first kiss?

Jason: Outside a cheesy country bar where we were hanging out with friends (this was the night before our first date. Scandalous!) 
Nichole: Oh man, embarrassingly enough, at a country bar (the night BEFORE our first real date; I am a class act, folks} around our friends. It was ladies night or something cheesy and this lady had had a few.

Who first said, "I love you"? 

Jason: With a little liquid courage, she did.

Nichole: Ugh that would be me.

What were your wedding colors? 

Jason: Gray and yellow, gray and yellow, gray and yellow (thanks Wiz)
Nichole: Yellow/Grey

What is her most commonly used phrase? 

Jason: Literally?

Nichole: I say legit a lot, as in, “That legit happened today” or, “This dog is legit insane”.

{I do say literally a lot, though. He is right. I blame Parks and Recs}

Who is her celebrity crush? 

Jason: Channing Tatum or Bea Arthur

Nichole: Just one? Maybe Bradley Cooper or Ryan Gosseling or for the love of God, Don Draper, Jon Hamm

{haha, I do love me some Golden Girls, I will give him that}

If she was ordering drinks for both of you what would you each get?

Jason: Miller Lite

Nichole: Miller Lite or rum/diet, or whiskey on the rocks for Jason if he didn’t want beer

What is the best meal she has ever cooked you? 

Jason: When she cooks with her heart, it’s always delicious.

Nichole: He says I make really good chicken and also scrambled eggs?

What is the worst meal she has ever cooked you?

Jason: I don’t understand the question. I’ll have to move on to the next one.

Nichole: I once made this smothered pork chop dish. It called for salsa, cheese, and sour cream baked on top of the pork. I don't recall how it actually tasted, but it looked a bit like vomit and well, that turned me off.

{a smart man whose wife does all the cooking and could poison his dinner, knows better than to answer this negatively}

What is the most-played song on her iPod? 

Jason: Baby by Justin Bieber or Party Rock Anthem by LMFAO (but only because we used to babysit my niece and nephew. A lot.)

Nichole: Sadly I hardly ever use my iPod these days…

{2011 called...}

What would she say is your most annoying habit?

Jason: She disapproves when I talk. (I kid! I kid!)

Nichole: We are almost always late to EVERYTHING, and it's not because of me.

What is the last thing she does before she goes to bed?

Jason: She likes for me to make the bed and tuck her in. {because I am six}
Nichole: Turns on fan, and then takes 365 tosses to get comfy.

If you could throw out one item of her clothing what would it be? 

Jason: I really don’t dislike anything she wears. She used to have an annoying habit of wearing ridiculously uncomfortable footwear at inappropriate times, but she’s gotten better about it lately.

Nichole: I don’t think there is anything…that I can think of, anyhow

What would you say is your favorite thing about her?

Jason: Her smile.

Nichole: He says he loves when he can make me laugh

What's her go-to drink at Starbucks? 

Jason: I think its called a Venti Vaguely Coffee-Flavored Slurpee? But I’m not 100% sure.

Nichole: He won’t know this; he calls my beverages of choice at Sbux, milkshakes…

{asshole}

What's her blog's name?!

Jason: Casa de Crews (I’m the original Crews)

Nichole: Casa de Crews

we fancy.

Newlyweds: The First Year

Do you all even know my love for "reality" television? In some ways, I am quite embarrassed of it, but in other ways I don't even care that much, anyways what you think.

My newest obsession? Newlyweds: The First Year on Bravo. I love it and hate it and cannot.stop.watching.

As the title suggests, the show is about newlyweds. Four couples to be exact. Four very different couples. Two of the four couples had never lived together before marriage, and one couple were engaged and married only six months in. The last couple, my favorite, a same sex couple seem the most functional of the four couples, so far anyways. I mean it is Bravo, after all, they may turn out to be crazy at some point.

But what draws me to this new show is the struggles and challenges these couples all face. When I first started blogging as "Newlywed Nichole", I shared some issues Jason and I had. We still have some of those issues. I think we always will but how we handle them is what has changed {for the most part}.

I feel like a traditional marriage isn't what it used to be. I say that and surprisingly I had a pretty traditional courtship with Jason, but I also wasn't looking for it, nor did I ever expect to get married so there ya go. It comes when you're not looking for it, I suppose?

This past weekend, while Jason and I had a lot of fun in Orlando, we also got into a pretty big argument Friday night. It was a huge misunderstanding and it had been ages since we had a fight like that. I hated it and at some point we both kind of just walked away from it. We weren't getting anywhere and our issues will not all be settled overnight.

So anyways, this show, Newlyweds. I started watching it this week {now that Jason is back in school and I have time to be a bum, but I digress} right after getting over our argument and it brought me back a bit to the newlywed days for the Crews'.

Jason and I had both been and are still quite independent people. I am definitely an emotionally needy person {I like to think I am also pretty self aware too; trust me I know how I can be} at times and mostly my husband does a good job at calming his high strung crazy ass wife. Sometimes I worry that I will lose myself in my marriage. I think even after two years that is normal when you share your life with someone. And while my husband doesn't say it, I wonder if he thinks the same for himself because at times we both can be so damn stubborn.

I hope for these new newlyweds, they can sort out their first year issues and get through it. Jason and I have, and even with our differences, the good always outweighs the bad. And there is no one else I would ever want to fight with {and make up, rawr} than the guy I met at happy hour six years ago...

Patience, Pet.

Patience. I have none. The end.

...Just kidding; that would be a boring post, wouldn't it?

But seriously, I have no patience. I want to lose weight, buy a house and have a baby! All that in order and yesterday now. I also want more time in the day, a job I love the Hell out of and a clean apartment that someone else cleans.

So since none of that is happening any time soon, I am on to Plan B: Patience.

You see, a very good friend of mine has been single a  long time. As most of our "crew" started finding their mates fo' life, my friend did not. I kept telling her that the right guy would come along when she least expected it. Very recently, she told me she was "okay with being alone" and that, "maybe, not everyone is meant to find someone, and that's okay", and yes, it is. 100% if you are happy, then there is nothing wrong with it.

But then she met this boy. Who like many, boys wasn't sure what he wanted but kept showing more and more interest in my beautiful friend. And just last week she told me how confusing it all was. I tell her to enjoy this, because he is a good guy and whether this is IT for her or not, this is the fun part! The unknown and excitement of getting to know someone. And with this, I remember my own last "beginning" with a boy I met, {almost} six years ago.

I rushed it all with that new boy. I didn't have the best track record with guys and apparently was a magnet for assholes. I rushed the first kiss, the other things, the first time we moved in together {and then promptly moved out from living together six months later, but I digress}. I didn't know that I was rushing it all. I loved this boy but he was so different than any one I had ever met before. He was kind and smart, funny and so thoughtful. But I didn't know how to slow down. I still don't, today. But I miss those early days.

Because no matter how hard you try, life moves forward and it does so, quite swiftly. And you turn twenty-nine and want a little piece of property to call your own. And you want a baby or two while your husband works full time and goes to law school at night. You want it all, because well that's how you are. You rush and you rush and you rush until exhaustion and you crave the past because you didn't take the time to enjoy now and be in the present.

...so back to my friend and this boy. He decided to tell her, he made a mistake and perhaps he did want to be more than friends. Their whole thing is very innocent and sweet, currently. And I will continue to tell friend to enjoy this, now. Don't ask questions for now. Remember as much of this as you can. Because a relationship, any good, relationship worth having does take time and patience.

And since I am just oh, so wise and married {ha!}, instead of just telling my friend to have patience and enjoy now, I am telling myself that.

Enjoy that sweet husband of mine before we rush for a house and a kid or three. Because while I miss the beginning of getting to know some guy I met at a happy hour {so cliche, I know}, someday, I will miss this now. Right here.

The night we met, 6.29.07

First Lightning game, 2007.