He’s my strapping, handyman, marathon-running, American Pickers-watching, Pretzel M&M-loving hubby.
The guy who surprises his 13-month pregnant wife with a designer diaper bag one day and then is elbow deep in dirty water replacing the inner workings of our continuously running toilet the next.

He is the master of our puppy dog’s domain.

And he vacuums! Men look particularly darling vacuuming brand new rose-colored carpet. Ladies, take note.

He’s my youngest-of-four-children, goofy, ornery, attention-grabbing hubby. A Type-A lawn-mowing perfectionist, the pickiest book reader I’ve ever met, and a spot-on fried egg flipper.

Hey, Hubz, I think I kinda like ya.

Happy birthday!

Love,
Your Girlfriend

—

P.S. Today is the 30th. Hubz’ birthday was the 27th. I thought I hit Publish last week when I really hit Save Draft. So it didn’t publish. It just saved. Because that’s what happens when you hit Save instead of Publish. Harumph.

Happy birthday three days ago, Hubz!

—

I’m weird because…
I’m a homebody.
I make a meal out of popcorn at least once a week.
I am a terrible snob about my jeans but buy almost all my tops at Target.
I’m unnecessarily scared of tornadoes even though I’ve never been in one.
I kind of like the melanoma scar I have on my stomach.
I refuse to nap.
I never drink milk, yet drink mochas all the time.
I love the smell of cigars and lake water.
I’m a compulsive thrower-awayer.
I actually enjoy driving long distances by myself.
I kiss my dog’s ears at least 50 times a day.
I never use coupons.
The crust is my favorite part of the pizza.
I won’t put leftovers into Tupperware containers until they’ve completely cooled.
I would rather give up my cell phone than have to clean my own home.
My favorite part of a bookstore is its smell.

I’m a bad friend because…
I hate talking on the phone.
I reply to text messages in my head, without replying to them in reality.
Sometimes I would rather relax on the couch with a book than go out.
I’m forgetful.

I’m a good friend because…
I’m a great gift giver.
I listen.
I’m not afraid to ask what’s wrong.
I want to see those I love be happy and successful.
I like to help.
I always bring a bottle of wine.
I will bend over backwards if you need me to be there for you.

I’m sad because…
I wish my family lived closer.
I too often take on the feelings of those around me.
Hubz doesn’t have the time freedom that I have.
I can’t take everyone to the top with me.
My pregnancy, and therefore my excuse to eat Chex Mix for lunch, is almost over.

I’m happy because…
My pregnancy, and therefore my excuse to eat Chex Mix for lunch, is almost over.
I get to meet my Babygirl soon.
It’s spring.
Hubz is sitting next to me reading a novel.
We are about to enter a new phase in our lives.
I have looked forward to being a Mama for as long as I can remember.
Of the appreciation and gratefulness I have every day for my time freedom.
There are simply too many things in this world not to be happy about.
I am attending an event this week for Silicon Prairie News and will have a fancy schmancy “press” badge to show for it.

I’m excited for…
Date nights.
Experiencing labor and delivery.
This book.
And this book.
And this one too.
Incorporating my businesses around my new role of Mama.
Mani-pedi’s with my daughter.
New episodes of American Pickers.
My first glass of wine in 10ish months.
My first margarita in 10ish months.
My first shot of whiskey in 10ish months. Wait. Just kidding.
A Christmas card with our family of 3.
Our trip to the lake in August.
First smiles, first laughs, first poopy diaper blow-outs.
Everything.

—

Thanks, Sandy, for the inspiration for this post! It was fun.

Happy spring! Happy April! Happy day to you, ya’ll!

Hugs,
AS

—

You know that moment when you put your finger on something that was just out of your reach before? The feeling that that envokes?

That feeling can be powerful.

Last night, Hubz and I were having a conversation about money. Not uncommon for most married couples (one would hope). We’re always keeping tabs on where this is and how much is there and what our next focus or strategy might be. We have two businesses, each with their own set of financials, our personal accounts, and investments spread out in several places. As much as we try to keep it as simple and straightforward as possible, the nature of our set-up with multiple entities and both of us being more and less involved in different pieces of it creates a bit of confusion at times. Regular pow-wow’s about the state of the union are necessary to ensure we’re on the same page and to keep that confusion at bay.

So, back to my question; you know that feeling? Sometimes when we’re reviewing things there is an aha! moment. Some fact or figure that was there yesterday, just as it is today, suddenly becomes clear. And that clarity can change everything.

Same facts –> a realization –> different feelings.

We have goals. Big, honkin’, you’ve-gotta-be-kidding-me-sized goals. As great as things are going with Vemma and with real estate and with my writing and with Hubz’ corporate job, reaching these up-amongst-the-stars goals is going to take effort.

More than effort. It’s not just going to require us to play harder but for the playing field to be bumped up to a whole new level.

Would we be happy moving forward at the current level? Of course.
But could we be really, really happy at a higher one? You bet.

We’re up for the challenge. You know us. We’ve never been ones to wait years and years for things to happen slowly at our current status quo.

Status quo breakers; we pride ourselves at being. Or at least, trying.

Same facts –> a realization –> different feelings.

We’re feeling different today. We’re ready to reach higher. We’re ready to push. We’re anxious to push. (Insert joke here about being anxious to literally push out an actual CHILD here in a few weeks.)

A healthy anxiety and a renewed, higher vision is leading to brainstorming and creative thinking. Out of the box thinking, if you don’t mind the cliche.

What is Above and Beyond? What’s above Above and Beyond? How can we make This happen? Like, no waiting around no holds barred Make It Happen?

Brainstorming is happening right now; me in my journal amongst running Monday morning errands, Hubz amongst busy Monday afternoon meetings at work. I can’t wait to compare notes tonight.

I’m not sure why I’m telling you all of this, other than to say look out. Who knows what’s coming. I have no idea what it might be but we’re ready for it to hit us. Ready to share it with you.

If you’re ready to go along for the ride with us, say aye.

Aye!

—

Because, honestly, is this not just the cutest thing you’ve seen all day?

You grab an umbrella and keep on moving forward. It’s the only thing to do.

Oh, and then you go ahead and just let that crap fall where it falls.

The end.

:)

Do you think I could fit it in my office?

This? This is my husband.

I sure can pick ‘em!

This shot sums him up quite nicely, actually. He’s up at the crack of dawn – a misty, overcast dawn – doing something outdoors. Usually something related to shooting or catching a helpless animal, swinging a club, or beating his heels against the pavement for no reason at all.

He complains every day when the alarm goes off, yet on one of the rare days where he could sleep in, he voluntarily chooses to get up even earlier. And there’s no complaining on these days. The dude SPRINGS outta bed. Hopping around all giddy and loud, loving every minute of torturing his poor, sleeping wife.

I don’t like that Before Dawn stuff, thank you very much. Before Dawn and me don’t get along. It’s a dramatic relationship. I don’t want to talk about it.

Why do men do this? This sacrificing sleep for outdoors, thing? Not only that, but the torture-the-poor-soul-still-trying-to-sleep thing?

Wait, I’m getting off track. Oh! The photo! That’s right.

Even with his 5am leaps out of bed and his serious addiction to the shooting/swinging/pavement stuff, he never leaves his goofiness behind.

That goofiness, my youngest-of-four-children Hubz is full of it. Overflowing with it, actually. Which is great for making sure I meet my daily giggling quota. But don’t get me started on the photos. He ruins photo after photo after photo.

Hey honey, turn around and smile, please!
Nice.

Smile, dear!
Oh geez.

Smile NORMALLY, please.
Sigh.

I guess I’ll live with the goofiness. You have other great qualities, after all.

You’re a book geek like me. Big bonus there.

You’re a loving uncle, who…

…oh heavens.

Fine. Fiiiine. You’re their favorite goofy uncle.

But I guess that’s ok. I still kinda sorta love you for it.

I’m glad this happened a few years ago. Giggles and all.

And by glad I really mean thankful and amazed and blessed and so so so happy.

Yesterday was your birthday, the big three-oh.

Happy birthday, Hubz! I kinda like you.

A bit ‘o fun for you on this Friday. Just because.

First, a testament to what happens when you gather half a dozen geeky, blogging, entrepreneurs in a small, Ohio town; charades. We all look ridiculous, but I hear that’s kind of the point. (Thanks to Adam & Courtney Baker of ManVsDebt.com for the compilation.)

Click here if you can’t see the video.

Second, four minutes of pure entertainment for those that either a) love network marketing or b) hate network marketing. Enjoy. (Thanks for the link, Chris.)

Click here if you can’t see the video.

Happy Friday, all! Find a good book. Have a conversation. Take a breath.

Cheers!

A couple quick, informal thoughts I recorded last week while home with family over Thanksgiving. There are so many things to be grateful for – YOU, most definitely included. Not many useful tidbits here, just me saying hi, being goofy, and most importantly, saying thank you.

On a different note – ack! The holiday season is already upon us! How the heck did that happen?

If you cannot see the video, click here.

For my U.S. readers, how was your Thanksgiving? For you others, how was your weekend?

For the past few weeks my local newspaper, the Kansas City Star, has been requesting readers to send in their autobiographies. But they didn’t want full-length novels. They wanted an autobiography of our lives using just six words.

I thought this was fascinating and went to work thinking about what mine would be. A few entries the paper shared that I loved:

“Went to college. Came home pregnant.”

“Born naked, raised Catholic, love fashion.”

“Went for it…almost always succeeded.”

“Life’s funny secret: some assembly required.”

“I look like a great cook.”

And it didn’t take me long to come up with my own:

Now, everything I have always wanted.

:D

So, what’s yours? If you had to describe your life – now, then, in the future, whatever – using only 6 words, how would you do it?

** From the Kansas City Star: My Life in Exactly Six Words. **