Moving

We are moving!!!  (Don't worry, it is just up the road about 10 minutes.)  Remember how I HATED Travis' apartment when I moved in?  Now, I am actually a little sad to leave.  It is finally decorated enough that I like it.  There are some kids that I know from school that live by us that always excitedly say "Hi Mrs. Barlow!" anytime they see me.  I am going to miss being so close to said school.  I am going to miss having my windows open and hearing the water fountain in the pond.  I am going to miss living next door to the grocery store.  I am going to miss just being 3 minutes away from some of my best friends here. 

I am going to LOVE being in a house though!!  We found a little place to rent because we are still uncertain how long we are going to be here, so we didn't want to risk buying and not being able to sell.  (and let's be honest, we can't afford any of the houses that I want)  Anyways, I am super excited about our new place.  It is about 2 blocks away from church and about a 3 minute drive away from some of my other best friends here.  I think the thing I am most excited about is the yard.  There is a place that I can do a garden and an area for a flower bed.  The back yard is also pretty big so we can play.  Yes, I am an adult and I like to play outside.  Travis has lots of fun outdoor games.  The side yard is fenced in for privacy.  I am also excited that I don't have to worry about being too loud (Travis loves loud music) and disturbing the neighbors.  The other thing I am most excited for is organizing/decorating!!  When I moved into this apartment, I just organized around what Travis already had here.  Now I will get to do it my way!  :)  We also get to paint.  I guess moving around as a child has helped me not dread it so much now.  It is like a fresh start.  I can't wait!  I will get pictures soon!

We move in next Wednesday, so I have started packing and cleaning here.  I am not always patient and I just want to move in now!  Today is also my only day off for the next 2 weeks so I feel like I have to get everything done today.  I am off to clean again...

Spring Wreath

I love crafting, but sometimes I have a hard time coming up with great ideas.  I found a wreath on Pinterest that I fell in love with!  The problem was that there were not directions on how to do it.  I began to play around and figured out a way that would work.  It was time consuming, but I loved it!  First I cut out hundreds of little circles and then began folding each one and pinning them on to the wreath.  After I finished, I made a flower to give it some color.  I think it needs another flower because one looks too small, but I wanted to go ahead and post it.  It brings a Spring feeling to our place.

Knoxville

This past weekend, I was able to go down to Knoxville to visit one of my best friends!  Laurie and I were best friends all throughout high school and have been able to stay in touch over the years and across the miles. 

I left Friday morning, my first day of Spring break, to make the drive down.  After arriving, we went out to eat and then headed over to the University of Tennessee campus to see Cirque du Soleil!  Travis and I have been wanting to go see a show, but there weren't any in Dayton this year!  I was so excited when Laurie told me she had tickets.

We parked and eventually found our way to the Arena.  It took about 20 minutes, so when they checked my purse and told me I wasn't even allowed to bring in my camera, I began to panic.  The show started in 15 minutes, so there was no way of taking the camera to the car and getting back in time.  Laurie and I tried finding a building to put it in.  I became desperate and contemplated putting it in the newspaper thing.  I could never do that though.  That is when Laurie came up with a brilliant plan.  She asked if the lens came off.  I began taking it apart frantically.  Laurie put the lens in the bottom corner of her purse and the strap in the zipper pocket.  I put the base in my purse and covered it the best I could.  Luckily I had a lot of stuff in my purse!  We made it in just in time for the show to start.  The show was AMAZING!!  I was amazed at the strength and control of the performers.  If you have never been, you should!

(This is my new outfit that Travis doesn't like)

On Saturday, we slept in and hung out at Laurie's place for a while.  Then we went to one of Laurie's favorite spots in Knoxville, Market Square.  It was sooooo cute.  It is just a happy little place.  There were lots of cute little shops and restaurants.  In the middle of the square, there were street performers singing, doing magic shows, playing instruments and a variety of other things.  I loved it.  We looked in the stores, walked through the mini park, and ate lunch.

The Tomato Head is one of Laurie's favorite restaurants.  Luckily it was a pizza place I can add to my list of reviews.  I actually got a calzone, but I am sure the pizza is just as good.  I give it a 5 out of 5, so as of right now it is top on my list.  It was delicious!  My only complaint is that the artichokes were a little rubbery.  Then after I shared a piece of peanut butter pie with her.  It was the best pie I have ever had!  There was the perfect combination of peanut butter and chocolate.

After lunch, we saw Titanic in 3D.  Don't make fun of me.  It was the first time I have ever seen it in the theater.  Laurie and her friends could not believe it.  Honestly, I could have gone my whole life without seeing it in the theater.  I saw it once on tv a several months ago, but apparently it was edited.  I was a little shocked at the theater.

It was a great weekend!  This was the first time we have really hung out in a long time.  One day she will come up to see me in Ohio!

Promptings

I think back to my mission and how sensitive I was to the promptings of the Spirit.  Sometimes I wonder if I lost that gift.  This past week, I realized that I have not.  I called one of the girls I visit teach to check on her.  To me, it was no big deal.  Later she said, "You have no idea how much that meant to me.  It was seriously perfect timing."

That really touched me to know that I helped and that I had listened to a small prompting.  This got me thinking.  I came to the conclusion that acting on a prompting is not only to bless the lives of others, but to help you realize that you have the spirit with you.  I was really grateful for this little reminder.

Lately

Lately, my life has been filled with migraines.  I am trying not to take as much of my daily migraine medicine and I definitely see a difference.  This is not to complain, just to update.  I basically have a migraine everyday again, like before I started the medicine.  Sometimes I feel like people probably think I am sad or uninterested in their life, but really, I just don't have a lot of energy right now.  I am happy and like to be involved, but a lot of times all I can think about is taking a nap.  If anyone has any tips to get rid of migraines, I would be interested to know.  I am trying everything I know to try to prevent them.  I don't want to be bound to this medicine/expense the rest of my life.

On a happier note, I am going down to Tennessee to see Laurie next weekend.  I can't wait!

Gold Stars

Growing up, whenever we did something good my mom used to say we earned a gold star.  Of course, these were not tangible stars but it still makes you smile to earn one.

Today, Travis earned 3 Big Gold Stars!!!  I will explain why in just a minute.  I just have to give a background on my day. After work, I went to Kera's to get my hair done.  While she was finishing up, Cindy arrived.  We were all talking and it was asked if Travis and I are still looking for the best pizza in Dayton.  We have not gone to a new place in a while so I thought maybe we could try a new place today and write a review.

I got home and started looking up some of the places that they mentioned were good.  In the meantime, I got a text from Travis saying that he was on his way home.  I figured that we would figure out a place when he got home.

As he walked in the door, he earned his first star.  He had these beautiful yellow flowers and said "Happy First Day of Spring."

He earned his second gold star because he brought home a pizza.  (It is frozen pizza, but it still counts for our reviews)  We ate the Red Baron, Hand Tossed Pepperoni Pizza.

I didn't get Travis' review because his brother called and I forgot to ask after he got off the phone.  I give it 4 stars.  The crust was crisp, which I like.  It was not too thin or too thick throughout the pizza, but the actual crust edge was too thick for my liking.  The other ratios were good too.  The best part is that it was less than 3 dollars!

Travis got his last gold star because I did not even have to point out that I got my hair done.  He noticed BOTH the cut and the color.  I must admit that I am very impressed!  He even told me how nice it was.  I will get a picture of my hair soon. 

Basically, I have the Best Hubby in the World!!!

Headband

Guess What?!?!  I finished my first sewing project.  Ok, I actually finished it about a week ago, but I just took a picture today.  I decided to make a headband that I found on Pinterest.  I printed out the pattern, cut it out and went to the sewing machine.  It took me about an hour, I think.  If you know how to sew, you should be able to do it in 10 minutes.  It was pretty easy and I think it is cute!

 (don't mind the black thread...that was the only color I had)

I have also started cutting out the pieces for my quiet book.  I am so excited about it!  Travis laughs at me because I just smile and giggle while I am working on it.  Just so you know, it is going to take forever so don't expect pictures anytime soon.  The good part is that I have time to work on it because Travis is officially sucked into March Madness.  I spoke to soon in my last post about him not being as into it this year.  I find him watching 3 games at once. 

I may actually like this sewing thing.  Who knew?  I guess I should have listened to my mom when she tried to teach me.