Better Together

Yesterday was a rough day. All my frustration and emotions about Andi's new job and our lack of QT together finally came to a head. So, I did the two things that make me feel whole again: wrote my thoughts down and called my Mom to vent. After a two hour conversation (me talking; my Mom listening), I calmed down. And today I feel better.

When Andi came home last night, we talked about my frustration with our lack of time together. He asked me what the solution was. I said I had no clue. I don't expect him to let his company faulter because I need him to be home every night. But I don't want to feel like this forever either. The answer's clear as mud.

This morning we got up and went to breakfast. It was nice to catch up. Nice to spend quality time. We're always better when we're together.

Andi's back to work now. I'm heading to the Gopher football game shortly. What am I going to be on this Halloween night? A Marketing Manager :)  I'm handing out treats to kids dressed up at the stadium tonight so that'll be fun. Here's hoping tonight flies by like a witch on a broom!

Tomorrow I get to spend time with my Husband. We're going to pick up his new car! Ah, Sunday Funday.

Struggling to find a work/life balance

Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest;
even during the plowing season and harvest you must rest.
Exodus 34:21

I'm struggling. Finding it challenging to be the supportive wife I know I should be. It's no secret to Andi, or any of our friends or family for that matter, that I require quality time in my relationships. Remember the book The Five Love Languages? I use that book as an expression of my feelings. I feel my love tank emptying. QT has been a real challenge the last few weeks as Andi's started his new company. I knew this would happen going into it; how could it not when he (and 2 other people) are building a company from the ground up. Doing the work of 10-15 people. Selling business. Schmoozing clients. But I'm selfish in saying I want the best of both worlds. I want my husband to be challenged and driven professionally and I want my husband to be home at 5pm, making dinner and curling up on the couch watching good primetime tv.

I'm not saying my life isn't busy. And I'm definitely not sitting at home, waiting for him to walk in the door. I'm busy with my full-time job and working part-time at Let's Dish. Busy meeting girlfriends for happy hour and busy trying to keep our house clean so when my husband is home we can spend time together. I like my alone time too. But I miss my husband.

I'm just struggling. And getting myself all worked up, which is something I'm good at doing. And I'm pms-ing, which makes everything feel more EXTREME than it probably is in reality.

This week Andi was sick. And I know it was because he's working way too hard and not taking care of himself. I worry about him running himself down. A good work / life is healthy for everyone.

So, I'm prayfully working to support my husband. Asking God to help us balance work and life. Asking God to take care of Andi; to give him strength and wisdom to lead his company. Asking God for strength and patience as he achieves his dream.

Thanks for letting me vent. I needed it.

Nothing Doin'

I have a case of Blogger block. Seriously.

There's nothing interesting happening in my life this week. Nothing worth noting. Super, duper average. And I guess average is good sometimes.

Andi came home sick from work yesterday. We're not sure if it's the pig flu (he says maybe; I say no). I think he's overly exhausted from working non-stop for the last few weeks. He's up and at work before the sun comes up and not home until I'm already in bed most nights. Love his dedication and drive ... but it's gotta be catching up with him. Although, it must be said - I don't have the greatest bedside manner so if he's really sick, sorry for doubting you Husband.

I have tonight free to myself and I'm so darn EXCITED I can barely contain myself. I'm not sure what I'll do with myself. Maybe clean my house (not that I really want to do that). Maybe go to the grocery store. Maybe make Shepard's Pie Casserole or a pot of chili. Hmmm... the opportunities are endless.

It doesn't take much to please me...

Randoms inside my bubble today:

ONE: The street light is FINALLY functional again by our main office at work. I know this sounds like a silly thing to be so darn excited about ... but it was seriously a pain in my neck. For the last 2 months, the construction on Highway 280 has forced the street leading to my office into a four-way stop situation. And apparently there was a secret code of lanes to follow that only people who drove this way every AM and PM knew about. Much honking insued. My feeling were hurt many times. But all is good now.

TWO: I am so totally obsessed with nachos from Zoca, a Mexican concept we oprerate at the U. I think about them day and night. The way the cheese melts; how salty the chips are...I need serious help.

THREE: We bought a new down comforter, duvet cover and sheets with some of our wedding gift cards. I am in absolute heaven! Last night Andi said, "Man, our bed is so comfortable." And strangely, I was thinking the exact same thing at the same time. THAT'S how wonderful it is.

FOUR: It's been a few days since I got my Jetta back from the auto body shop. At first, I was a little gun-shy driving it since I hadn't in over 3 weeks. But now we're in our groove...and I'm so, so happy to have my car back! One of the best things? Having satellite radio again. I'm such a creature of habit and LOVE listening to Headline News on my way home from work. Welcome back Jane Velez-Mitchell, Nancy Grace and Prime News!

FIVE: TV trays. When's the last time you used one? We got two for a shower gift and might I just say they are AMAZING. Who knew? We often eat dinner with our butts planted in the sofa, watching tv (I know, some great quality time together right?) and tv trays make this experience so much better. They're great for writing notes or as a computer desk for my laptop. Best gift of the year. You may all be getting them as Christmas presents.

SIX: Speaking of, I'm ready to bypass Thanksgiving and move onto Christmas. Ready for Christmas music. Ready to decorate my house. Ready to spend a week in Nebraska at my parent's house. Ready, ready, ready.

SEVEN: Facebook protocol...do you every friend someone you don't know? A friend of a friend who I've never met "friended" me today. I felt bad by not accepting this person, but I've seriously never met them. Does this happen to you? And what's the rule of thumb? Accept and then block? Deny all the way? Accept and roll with it? I'm all on-the-fence.

EIGHT: I have to work the Gopher football game on Halloween night. And I'm really not that upset about it (other than the working part, that stinks). Halloween is my least favorite holiday. I'm looking forward to watching all the drunk jackasses at the stadium stumble all over themselves and then go home, get up on Sunday and feel good (when everyone else will be all hungover and feeling like garbage).

NINE: Still loving Starbucks VIA. Have y'all tried it yet?! We just bought these new reusable coffee cups that look like trendy coffee shop cups ... aren't they cute? It makes drinking my VIA even better!

TEN: I'm happy. No particular reason...just, life is good. Gotta love it.

Oh where in the world should we go?

I remember when Andi and I first started "talking." I lived in Sioux Falls; he lived in Minneapolis (in his grandma's basement, ha!). We weren't officially 'dating' but we talked on the phone for hours every night.  One night we talked about our "things I absolutely love" list. I said celebrity gossip; Andi said traveling. Neither of which the other was very familiar with! But we both vowed to teach the other all about our obsessions.

Cut to four years later ...

I'm not sure Andi can recite every celebrity couple, their kids names and favorite hang outs ... but I did develop a LOVE for traveling. Thank you Husband for blessing me with the travel bug.  We try to take a couple trips a year, even if they're just little weekend ones. So far, we've been to ...

Nassau, Bahamas (December 2005)

Mazatlan, Mexico (March 2006)

San Francisco, California (September 2006)

Kauai, Hawaii (December 2006)

Denver, Colorado (July 2007)

Sanibel Island, Florida (December 2007)

Caribbean Cruise - Honduras, Belize, Cozumel, Bahamas (February 2008)

Anna Maria Island, Florida (December 2008)

Panama (January 2009)

Thailand (August 2009)

Still on our travel bucket list:?

• Seattle, Washington
• San Diego, California
• Key West, Florida
• Montana
• Yellowstone National Park / Wyoming
• The Grand Canyon
• The Black Hills / Mount Rushmore (dumb, I know...we should have visited when I lived there)!
• The Boundry Water - Ely, Minnesota
• New York City, New York
• Charlston, South Carolina
• Europe
• Puerto Rico
• Australia

Andi told me last night he won't be able to take a big trip in 2010 (gasp!) ... with him starting his own business this year we'll probably have to take smaller weekend trips. So, my question to you friends: any great destinations we just HAVE to check out next year? Gotta squeeze some fun trips in before the babies come!

You win some, you lose some (but we prefer winning)

In 1977, my parents got married.  Also that year: the last time the Nebraska Cornhuskers lost to the Iowa State Cyclones. Saturday's game (the one we drove down to Lincoln to see) was the other. [insert sad face here].

We drove down to Nebraska on Friday night and stopped in Omaha to stay with our friends Ashley and Neal. Destination Omaha is so much nicer than driving another 1.5 hours to my parents house! We got in about 10:30 pm and stayed up for a few hours drinking Blood Thirsty cocktails (Ashley's Halloween recipe) and catching up. 

Saturday, we got up early and headed down to Lincoln to tailgate. You know, I was so excited when I checked the weather on Friday and saw the game-day forecast for 60's and sunny. (So much better than this Minnesota crap weather I'm used to dealing with)! Unfortunately, the ACTUAL game-day weather was 50 (at best), cloudy and rain. How disappointed I was -- I planfully picked out a cute, form-fitting red turtleneck to wear with with my black down vest. And since it was cold, I had to add a black sweatshirt and borrow leapord print gloves from my friend Ash.

At the tailgate ...

Neal (in his happy place)

All the girls (L to R: Ash, Me, Val and Becky)

Neal and his favorite girls

Andi and I
(not the best pic of me ... here's hoping my friends send me a better one if they've got it)

All the best Minnesotans are Nebraska fans!

(from L to R: Andi, Me, Suzanne, Corey)

The game was the less-desireable part of the day. Eight turnovers. Seven points. You do the math. To say we didn't play our best is an understatement. But Andi and I did eat a Runza (and a hot dog, nachos and caramel corn). I guess you could say we found other ways to entertain ourselves!

At the game ...

Memorial Stadium

View from the top (can't see the players? yea, I couldn't either ...)

Tunnel Walk & Huskers running on the field

After the game, we drove back to Ashley & Neal's house in Omaha to watch more football and order pizza. We played our new game, Buzz Word, which we got as a wedding gift. May I just say that I ROCK at this game! It will now become a game-night staple in our household.

Took this photo of Chloe and Kota (Ashley & Neal's pup) snoozing on the couch together. How cute is this?! They act like they hate each other ... but we know the truth. :)

Drove home from Nebraska today. While we didn't have the best game-day experience, we did have a great time tailigating with our besties and eating delicous Nebraska foods. And, we'll always love our Huskers. Here we go Nebraska, here we go!

ps...I wasn't even hungover today (which was a GREAT accomplishment over the last two weekends). Hey, little steps are big ones in my book :)

All my bags are packed ...

Is this not the cutest thing ever?

Whenever we leave for a trip, Chloe knows it. And she wants to make sure we don't leave her behind.  So, she jumps onto our bags (or sometimes in our suitcases) as a last-ditch attempt to say "Hey! Don't forget me!"

Don't worry Chloe, you're headed to Nebraska too ...