Love Life the Most
Smile Sick Friday
What sucks more than being sick on a FRIDAY? Not much! But when you’ve been sick 12+ days, being sick on a Friday sucks even more!
I missed a day of work last week because I had a fever. Spent the day in bed alternating between freezing & sweating. I also felt a bit nauseous. Then that turned into a lovely cough. Last weekend I started to feel better! Whooo! But then….I went downhill again. The cough became a wheeze and was so bad that my throat hurt from coughing. Then on Thursday, I woke up with lovely crusty eye…that was very pink. I’ve been having really dry, red eyes in the mornings so I wasn’t positive it was pink eye. I decided to go to work but when my eye was still pink & itchy at lunch time, I decided to finally go to the Doctor. I went to a clinic at Wal-Greens and she told me I have an upper respiration infection as well as pink eye. She prescribed me some cough syrup & this funky thick liquid for my eyes. When I put the medicine in my eyes (just doing both because the 2nd eye is showing symptoms too) it stings & makes it nearly impossible to see for awhile. The cough syrup is really helping though! I’m working from home today (remote computer access rocks) and hopefully the pink eye will clear up by tomorrow (Paul’s bday).
Needless to say….this 2 week of sickness has made me fail at my lent goals :( Which is the first time I can remember that I wasn’t able to keep them. I have actually been more optimistic though, which meets one of my goals. The gym & writing on my blog haven’t been as successful. But everyday is a new day & I get to start over so hopefully I’ll start feeling better & meeting my goals!
Hope you all enjoy your weekend!!! Pink eye or no pink eye…I know I’ll have fun because it’s Paul’s birthday tomorrow & he deserves a little fun!!!
Smile Friday brought to you by….
The Ghost of New Years Past (thanks Facebook for making this easy)
2010-2011 Photo of my brother & I blowing it up on Mill! We went to the Fiesta Bowl block party with Paul (my 1st nye with a boyfriend!) and a few friends. The bars were very crowded & too many places wanted to charge cover. Saw fireworks & the highlight of the night was my brother SPRINTING to the CVS on the corner of Mill to buy a case of beer right before it turned two am. He was successful and it was hilarious to watch :)
2009-2010 Went to the Fiesta Bowl Block party again (notice a trend?). This year I went with just friends. The night was fun but nothing too crazy. If I recall correctly, everywhere was really busy & we just walked around outside. Was kind of a low key NYE for us on Mill. Highlight was watching fireworks.
2008-2009 This was probably my favorite NYE as a single lady! We started the night off at John’s & then took the lightrail (this was the 1st NYE it existed) to Mill for…surprise surprise, the Fiesta Bowl Block party. Carolyn, Rhea, Jess & I all had a blast that night!!! Danced our butts off too. Highlight was sneaking into a bar instead of paying $20 cover!!! (Good job on that one Jess).
2007-2008 This was my 1st NYE being 21 and man did I blow it. We went to the Insight Bowl with my family and then I got way too wasted and fought with my sister. Highlight would have been seeing Barenaked Ladies at the block party but I got too drunk & ruined it for everyone. Sorry again! Learned my lesson though about NYE & drinking—-so I guess that’s good :)
2006-2007 I flew out to Washington and meet up with my lovely friends from the camp I worked at the summer. It was really fun hanging out with each other again & for the first time together, not having to worry about the rich kids we were responsible for. NOT highlight was playing ‘Imagine If’ board game…worst way to ring in the new year lol. Highlight was watching fireworks over the Puget Sound!
Prior Years NYE All other NYE’s likely consisted of me, my mom & some friends. When I was even younger than that my siblings would have been home. My Dad was usually there too but I don’t always remember him being awake haha. My Mom’s tradition for NYE was to make as MUCH noise as possible when the clock hit midnight!!! Highlight as a kid was one year, probably around 7th grade, I had like 4 friends over & my mom got us sparkling cider, noise makers, tiaras & busted out every pot & pan she owned. We ran up and down my street, in our pajamas and boots screaming “HAPPY NEW YEAR”!
Ringing in 2012 While I have had so much fun over the years at the Fiesta Bowl Block party on Mill, Paul & I decided we wanted to take the celebration home again. We weren’t looking forward to crowds & high prices, so instead we’re having a party at his house! A few friends & our siblings are coming over. We plan to play games, eat food, drink champagne/beer & just have a fun time at home.
This NYE, please be safe & don’t drink and drive!!! Hope you all have fun and ring in the New Year in your favorite way.
PS—-Very strange but a college football team has been at the Insight Bowl for the last 3 years! ISU two years ago & Iowa back to back. Kinda crazy.
SMILE FRIDAY!!!!!!!!
Boy is my Smile huge today! Why you ask? Well because
A) Office Holiday party tonight…aka a 1/30 chance to win a 32” flat screen TV & free food & booze
B) My twinsie is coming to AZ!!!! Whoot Whoot
Annie was hoping to arrive in time for the Office party but alas the standby gods did not shine on her in time. She’ll likely land at 8pm or 11pm at the very latest. I’m giddy thinking about hanging out with her again! Besides normal excitement of seeing her, I’m double (perhaps triple) excited because we haven’t seen each other since I’ve been engaged! She helped pick out my ring and I desperately need her help planning other details! She won’t be here very long but I’m sure we’ll browse at least one bridal magazine & maybe make it to a store or two to try on bridal/bridesmaid dresses.
Hurry up Annie!!!
SMILE FRIDAY
I’ll be going to this Haunted House tonight! 13th Floor is kind of ‘chain’ so I’m expecting it to be better than the others I have been to in Arizona even though it is it’s first year here in Phoenix.
I’ll admit it….I’m kind of a Haunted House snob! But it’s very validated and for a good reason! When I was growing up, my father helped a friend of his, Wayne, build a haunted house in Omaha. The Mystery Manor is such a fantastic haunted house that it has made me long for something to even touch it’s excellence here in Phoenix. And so far I have been tremendously disappointed!
What makes the Mystery Manor so amazing?
Well for starters…the house is up YEAR ROUND. They don’t tear it down or leave the strip mall like they do in Phoenix. This allows them to put sweat and work into each room. They change the rooms almost each year, always adding and making them better. Whereas a place that tears down each year has to work super hard just to get it back up & therefore can’t really make improvements! Mystery Manor has recently incorporated some awesome technology that really adds a lot to the house too. AND the building itself looks creepy!
The actors at the Mystery Manor are spectacular and from the sounds of it…get better & more talented each year! (Vast improvement I’m sure from the years where us kids used to get to work…but I did scare quite a few people!) Growing up my Dad used to work at the haunted house…I remember him being a scary clown, the voice of William Hall as well as monitoring the slide.
Which brings me to my next highlight….the Mystery Manor has a freaking slide!!! Actually they have TWO and the second one is a trap slide where if they like torturing you, they can keep you going around and around and around, separated from your group a lot of times too! It makes it soooo much fun!
Speaking of groups-the Mystery Manor puts a science behind spacing out their groups! Every haunted house I’ve been to in Phoenix, we either end up behind the group in front of us or the group behind us tagging along with us. Keeping groups separated is kind of like a science to ensure you get a private, small group experience. So many times I’ve been in a haunted house and ran into the people in front of us & they get to see all the scary things first that I don’t even get startled. It makes it a waste! Mystery Manor works hard to make sure that no matter if you run through each room or tip toe in fear, you’ll only be with your group and not with another!
Of course my personal connection to the Mystery Manor makes me a little bit biased, but others I have taken there love it just as much as I do! So the challenge is on, 13th Floor! And I certainly hope you live up to it because I’d love to come back next year for more scares!!!
And they fell in love! And he surprised her with a midnight proposal on her 25th birthday! And they lived happily ever after :)
Here’s the story of my Friday night last week (forgive my tardiness on my last smile Friday post).
9/30/11: I worked during the day and snuck off of work around 4 to meet my roommate Jenny to get our nails done. I debated and debated on what color to get but finally settled on a bright coral orange. It was wonderful to sit and relax with her and get pampered! The nails took a little longer than I thought so I scurried over to Paul’s house so we could leave for dinner.
We headed to my sister’s house where she put together an amazing party! We had appetizers and drinks and then ate dinner. My Dad made lasagna (my request) and Shelley made garlic bread and valeri salad (family recipe).
Then I got to open a huge stack of presents. Two friends were able to come and meet up too so that was awesome! I got so many cards and gift cards from my and Paul’s family, totally unexpected! My parents gave me a waffle maker & crock pot. My Mom was amazing and put together a ‘cook book’ of my favorite of her recipes. She put amazing touches in it too. One of my favorites-enchiladas:
Follow directions on package (McCormicks/Fry’s) for making enchiladas. Call Mom & invite her over for dinner. I’ll make the nachos. :)
She also included the recipes for each of our birthday cakes. The ingredients for my birthday cake include:
1 Big dose of Hugs & Kisses & Love from Mom
There are so many yummy recipes including several for my crock pot that I can’t wait to cook myself! Shelley gave me a pillow to match the quilt she made for me several years ago and Bridesmaids DVD! My friend Theresa gave me a huge crock pot cook book which I can’t believe there are that many things you can cook in a crock pot! And my grandparents gave me Nebraska Cornhusker magnets to put on my new car (btw, I named him Herbie, for Herbie Husker).
The card I got from Paul was extremely beautiful!
Someday, years from now, when we’ve been together a long, long time, we’ll know each other so well- You’ll finish my sentences, and I’ll know where you left your glasses. You’ll forgive my bad habits, and I’ll ignore your little quirks. And just when our life seems safe and predictable, you’ll surprise me, for there will always be a part of you that remains a wonderful mystery to me.
Someday, years from now, other people might look at us and see an old married couple, but I won’t. Every time I look at you or touch you or kiss you, I’ll see the same amazing person I fell in love with long ago.
After presents they put candles on my cake and I made my wishes (I figured I could have more than one since I’m 25 now!) Everyone said their goodbyes around 11:15 and my two friends, Paul & I stayed around chatting with my sister. By 11:30 she was tired & ready to go to bed, but Paul said “Oh it’s almost your birthday, lets just stay here till it’s your bday!” But around 11:45 we decided to go. We took the presents outside and were standing on the sidewalk. I was supposed to drive with Kat because she didn’t know how to get back. But Paul was persistent about waiting until it was officially my birthday, so that’s what we did. He counted down, 12 minutes, 9 minutes, 6 minutes, 3, 2….and about one minute till he asked if I wanted my birthday gift now. Of COURSE I said yes! He walked towards the drivers door and I eagerly followed. With excitement I closed my eyes & put out my hands but when he didn’t put anything in them I opened my eyes.
Paul had a big smile on his face…and a small box in his hand. Before I knew it, he spoke:
“Happy Birthday Katie. I wanted to make this a day you will never forget. So I want to know, will you marry me?”
I said “YES” and wrapped my arms around him. I’m sure there were several OMG’s thrown in there too. The ring was gorgeous and I put in on my finger as soon as I could.
(You can see the tears of joy in my eyes)
My friends stood in shock on the sidewalk and I ran up to show them the ring. It was seriously SO pretty! Paul told me that my old roommate Ann helped him pick it out. I couldn’t believe it! He said she’s actually seen it which confused me because she lives in Chicago now. But then he told me he picked it out with her FOUR MONTHS AGO! Haha I don’t know how he or she kept it a secret that long! I was also really excited that I had my nails done, Ann would be so proud! Later found out she had tipped Jenny off and told her to take me to get them done…sneaky girl! But so glad she did because don’t my nails look great with the amazing rock on my finger?!
(Can you tell how excited I was? I couldn’t even keep my hand still for a good photograph).
After I settled down some, I knew that I needed to go wake my sister up! I had to fib to her and tell her I thought I left my phone so she needed to come answer the door. She let us in and I showed her my hand…it took her a minute to realize what it was! haha. We sat around and chatted excitingly. Turns out Paul had asked for my parents permission when we were in Omaha and they took him to the airport. It had thrown them off but they both said yes. They knew he would propose over my birthday but wasn’t sure when. We called them on the way home and they were very excite and happy for us!
The rest of my birthday was a whirlwind of phone calls, facebook messages and texts from loved ones. Everyone wishing me a happy birthday and an even bigger congratulations! We had a tailgate at the ASU football game (WE WON), just like I had done during my first college birthday and then went to mill after. We went to the Big Bang and they sang Happy Birthday and brought Paul up on the stage. It was a wonderful way to cap off my 25th birthday!!!!
To my fiance Paul…..congratulations! You accomplished your goal, as this was a birthday and a moment I will NEVER forget! Thank you for making it so special for me. I love you the most!!!
Last night Paul, Tyler and I went rock climbing at Phoenix Rock Gym and it was AWESOME! They showed us how to tie in and belay, which gave me flash backs of working at a summer camp in Prescott, AZ after my freshman year at ASU.
The first few climbs were really easy and we all made it to the top. Then we were silly and went for the really difficult ones. There was one that I couldn’t even get off the ground! haha. Then towards the end we found some mediocre ones but at that point my arms were too tired to continue. I did end with climbing to the top on a medium level one so I was happy! I would really like to go back, maybe even once a month if I can find the time!
The entire night made me remember camp and how much fun I had. Even though the days were extremely long, working on the challenge course and helping kids conquer fears on the ropes courses, was awesome. And the people I meet there were amazing! We try and stay in touch but I probably haven’t talked to any of them for about a year. And last night reminded me that I need to get in touch with them! They were an amazing group of people and if it wasn’t for them, the summer would have been horrible.
Wifey’s and Hubby…we all need to meet up soon!
Tonight is BLACK OUT at the ASU football came vs Missouri. Hopefully we win!!!!!!! I’ll be leaving work early to go tailgate with John. We’re going to his old apt complex, so it will be just like old times sake :) Then to Mill to celebrate my friend Kaitlin’s birthday (and hopefully a WIN).
Smile Friday! ASU had a great game last night. Happy labor day weekend…hope you all are able to enjoy the long weekend.
Smile Friday! So glad that it’s the weekend again! I haven’t really settled back in from my vacation so it will be wonderful to unpack and do some laundry! And yayyyy for shirts with bling so you don’t need jewelry haha
I don’t have photos to upload right now…but here’s a recap of the vacation so far (all of which makes me smile)
- Held a shark and swam in the barrier reef
- Climbed Mayan structures and actually held real Mayan artifacts in my hand
- Zipped through the jungle and floated in a tube through a cave
- Held a boa constrictor & saw other amazing animals upclose
- Hiked & swam through a cave to see Mayan skeletons
- Layed in a hammock, while drinking rum & coke with the sound of the ocean in the background
Paul and I have had a wonderful time in Belize! Tomorrow will be our last real day here. We’ll get to meet more of Al’s friends and see what his life is like here. Then we’ll get on the flight back home Sunday morning.
We’ve taken tons of photos and hope to do a day by day blog for you all in the next week or so!
Smile Friday-vacation edition! Paul and I are headed to visit my brother in Belize for ten days. I’m so exited and can’t wait to get there. By the end of the day we’ll have been in five airports….but it will all be worth it once we can put our feet in the sand tonight!
Yayyyy! It’s that time of the week and again a big ole grin is gracing my face! I’m excited for this weekend…relax, maybe see another movie, do some shopping (new clothes—-yay!) and celebrate the 25th birthday of a great friend and a lovely lady! Not to mention one of my most loyal blog readers!!!
Jessica and I are pledge sisters from my sorority and while it took awhile for us to really become close friends, once I sabotaged her to live with me for a semester, we’ve been great, great friends! I love this girl! She’s fabulous in many ways, great listener and is actually good about staying in touch. Plus she’s a hoot to be around!!! This weekend is her birthday and thankfully she’s pathing the way for me by turning 25 first. We’ll be going out to a club in downtown Phoenix and springing for table service to celebrate her quarter of a century self.
Happy Birthday Jess!!! I love you very much and so thankful to have you in my life. I hope your birthday if filled with smiles, giggles, and a few yummy bubbly drinks!!!
On a sad face note….two good friends of mine are moving to New York. This is Amanda and Travis’ last weekend in the valley of the sun :( I got to know both of them at my job during college and had the honor of helping them celebrate their wedding! It’ll be really sad to say goodbye to them both, but thankfully their family lives in Phx so I know they’ll be back! I wish them the best of luck on their new adventure!!!
SMILE FRIDAY!
Today it’s brought to you by the fact that Paul & I booked our flight to Belize!!!!!!! So that excited has inspired me to post one of my favorite pics….me in front of Mayan ruins in Tikal, Guatemala!
We’ll be visiting my brother in Belize August 12th-21st. Besides how excited I am to see my brother, where he lives, where he works, etc….I’m stoaked about being in Central America again! Paul has only been to Mexico too so this will be one of his first real trips out of the country! We’re excited to go hiking, caving, scuba diving, horseback riding, and seeing the Mayan Ruins! And of course, Paul is excited about the food! He read in our travel books that street vendors have deep friend tacos….or as he put it DEEP FRIED TACOS!!!! And from what I have heard from my cousins, sister, and mom who have all visited Al…we’re going to have a great time!!!
Best thing is…I didn’t even have to worry about time off at work! My boss has a fabulous policy that you don’t ask his permission to take off work. “You know if you can take off work, not me!” he says all the time. Well I’ve taken off work before, day here, day there. But never this much time. I’m not worried about being gone as I can do my ads prior to leaving and the other people in the office can do my other duties. But I was slightly nervous he wouldn’t want me gone that long. I sent an e-mail out to everyone, letting them know ahead of time. I stated how I was going to make it work and who would do what. My boss responded back “nicely done”! Times like these, I really, REALLY, love my job!
Hope you all have a fabulous weekend! My will be filled with movies, book reading (Belize books and Tucker Max-I Hope they Serve Beer in Heaven), some pool time and maybe a night out!
At Toby Keith’s with my cowboy Paul :)
Was a really fun night out because you get to drink beer out of mason jars and swing around and around on the dance floor pretending that you know what you’re doing.
Smile Friday! Thanks to my new fancy phone I’m able to upload a smile Friday post with a photo from today! Still getting used to the phone but I think I’ll really like it! Tonight Paul and I are going to Tempe improv so there should be more smiles to come today!
