Happy Hump Day

Happy Hump Day. I'm ready for this week to be over. I think I'm burnt out at work. Now that the move is over, it's hard for me to actually settle down and work, and not slack off. I've been SO busy for the past few months and work has really slowed down which is a good thing, but it's hard to be motivated when I have a boss who really sucks and a lot of ungrateful co-workers who do nothing but bitch and moan.

I'm looking forward to the long weekend, we don't have any plans. I'd like to go on a trail horseback ride, but we'll see if that happens. There doesn't happen to be a lot of interest from Austin or Nizar.

We are watchign Rockstar Supernova on CBS right now. I'm not really sure who I want to win...I like Delana but she seems to be losing it a bit. Lucas has a good voice but he is cocky...but he is Canadian so I always have to root for the home team!

Speaking of Canadian...we are submitting our application to remove the temporary conditions on my greencard. We have to submit letters from friends that testify that we are indeed a happy and loving couple who are very much married and together, as well as provide all kinds of evidence such as joint bank accounts, things in both of our names etc. And of course a nice fee. I'm happy this part is almost done, after I get my permanent green card, I can apply for citizenship in 5 years. I'm still not sure if I will, I like being a Canadian and I don't really gain too much other than being able to vote in the United States. Truth be told, I'm scared of writing the citizenship exam!

I weighed myself today, and I was down 2 pounds again. I've lost 12 pounds in the last month or so, and really I haven't changed too much except I am eating better. Imagine what would happen if I were to "shudder" work out or something lol. It's a nice feeling though. I have a long ways to go but at least I'm not going in the other direction.

Finally...the time has come! The house is about to start

Finally! After two months of hearing "any day now" from our builder, we finally received a confirmation that the house is going to start! They plan to start staking the lot thursday and friday, and will begin digging the foundation and basement on tuesday.

How exciting! I can hardly wait :)

Weekend Re Cap

The weekend has sadly come and gone much too quickly. I made a lasagna and it is in the oven right now, friends of ours (Dave & Amanda) are coming over for dinner at 7pm. I also plan to serve a caeser salad and bread, and for desert I made a chocolate almond torte in my brand spanking new kitchen aid artisan mixer. I ended up getting stainless steel, to match our new kitchen.

Austin came home around dinner saturday night from his 3 day mini cooper drive to New Mexico and Texas. He had a good time. I managed to not go crazy without having him here, so yea for that too! Other than that, didn't really do too much this weekend. I did some baking and cooking today, and we just finished cleaning the house.

I'm not looking forward to getting back to work tomorrow. I have been procrastinating on a proposal that my evil boss dumped on my plate and expects me to write, even though that's really her responsibility. It's due this week so it's not going to be a fun week.

What do we all think of the new blog layout?

New Blog Design

After falling in love with Turning 30's new blog design, I shamelessly copied the template that she borrowed from someone else and had Austin adjust it to my liking to add my links and photos etc. Normally I'd be a little more creative, but I just loved the design so much that I had to copy it. So thanks Turning 30!

Calgary...my home town!

So I just booked tickets for Austin and I to go to Calgary in October. One of my oldest friends is getting married and it really was important that I go up and visit. I'm SO excited, I can barely stand it. Since my parents moved to Vancouver Island 4 years ago, I haven't been back to Calgary and so I have been missing it. Vancouver Island is of course gorgeous, but Calgary is my home town :)

One of my close friends Jennifer (who I met in a Sociology class in college) lives there and we still keep in contact daily. We plan to stay with her for a few days and then head out to Banff and Lake Louise for our last night. It will be SO great to see her and catch up.

Yahoo yahoo yahoo!

So I was planning to go...

But I got a large report dumped on my desk about at 4:15 or so...and I was the only person left who could take care of it. I had to cancel my water aerobics session I had planned with Christie. I just got home now. I'm pretty angry, I finally was going to go work out and work gets in the way. Mildly frustrating.

Sorry Christy...we WILL go.

Aqua Aerobics

I'm going to aqua aerobics with Christie tonight at the Rec Center :) I haven't worked out in a good month. I haven't been feeling well over the last 2 days but I figure, got to get back on the working out bandwagon sometime :) Why not today!

5 Things

Alright Julie, I’ll bite.

5 things in my refrigerator:
1. Indian rice pudding I made last night
2. marinating chicken for Thai chicken kabobs to eat tonight
3. milk (we need to drink before Friday before the milk man come again)
4. lots of water – I am trying to drink more water!
5.Laughing cow cheese wedges – love those things!

5 things in my closet:
1. clothes
2. 3 laundry baskets (right now fairly empty since I always do laundry on sundays
3. my diploma from university and high school – they used to hang in the bedroom but in order to de clutter the house when we are showing it, I have placed it on the shelf
4. shoes – some smell some do not
5. over flowing trash can full of trash

5 things in my purse:
1. Wallet with $9.12 in it (rare time that I actually do have cash!)
2. Ipod Mini - green
3. Urban Decay LA Lube in a Tube – soothing lip balm from Sephora
4. Two packets of gum
5. Hair brush

5 things in my car:
1. Rebate for something I purchased that I need to file away at home
2. Receipt for the diamond earings Austin bought me last Christmas from Shane Company (I really do need to bring that into the house one of thse days!)
3. Miscelaneous crap from my office is in my trunk – in case I quit on the spot and walk out.
4. Sticky note pad for things I need to remember to do
5. Sweater for colder nights

Denver Broncos and Invesco Field

We have two sets of club level seats that we give away to clients at work. The Natural Resources Program Director (my former boss, not the mean boss that I have now) gave one set of the tickets to me so Austin and I headed to the game at Invesco Field on saturday night. It was my first NFL football game, and first time at Invesco Field.

It was fun, although boy people sure did scream loud! It took us 2 hours to park also, next time if we ever go again, we will definately take the bus.

Other than that, didn't do too much this weekend. I bought some new silverware this weekend from Crate and Barrel. Man I love that store. We had silverwear already of course but it was on the cheaper side, and every time I used a spoon I had to bend it back and that was getting irritating. I bought a cute set that is stainless steel and is very cute. I'll try to take a picture.

That's all! HAve a great week!
Nicole

Would you rather...

be a wife of a polygamist or a lesbian? Lesbian

be a celebrity or an avg person? Avg person

be on survivor or Deal/No Deal? Deal/No Deal

have 16 children or none at all? none at all - i only want one child

be president of the U.S. or take 10 years off your life? 10 years off my life

Minis in the Mountains!

We went up to Copper Mountain for the Minis in the Mountains convention. It was really raining when we got up there on sautrday, so I think the turnout wasn't as good as they had hoped. Regardless, there were at least 100 minis. It was pretty neat to see!

Pictures are posted here!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/58938245@N00/sets/72157594235858230/

Madcap Theater

We went to a new improv theater that just opened up 5 minutes from our house called Madcap Theater. It was incredibly funny, and we definately would go again, although not weekly as it wasn't very cheap ($18 a person).

We are leaving tomorrow morning for Copper Mountain. I hope to be able to go horseback riding...and of course there will be lots and lots of mini coopers!

House selections posted

I finally posted some of the house selections we chose for the new house (which STILL hasn't started but I am ready for it to start). Any day now is turning into 2 months later soon. Jeesh.

Does anyone read my fricken blog?

Sometimes I wonder if anyone even really reads my fricken blog. Am I just doing this to amuse myself, or does someone actually get enjoyment out of reading my dribble? I wonder.

We are headed to Copper Mountain this weekend. There is a big mini cooper convention. It's pretty neat to see a ton of minis all in one area. It should be fun. We are staying overnight saturday which will be fun as well.

That's really all my news.

Ping Pong Table

As usual, this weekend was much too short. Friday at work was nuts, but we finished moving to the suite next door and my life can perhaps return to a less stressful state (and perhaps I can sleep now that I have less move coordination and details on my brain). Saturday we went down to the outlet mall to get some new clothes for Austin. He starts his new job on Monday and wanted to have some new polo shirts to wear to work. Today I went and had a massage, and he came home with a ping pong table! How fun! We had a ping pong table growing up, and I forgot how much fun it really is  It’s in our basement right now, and is a bit of a tight fit but will work really well in our new house. Austin cooked steaks on the bbq and I made cucumber salad, peas, and scalloped potatoes (although I didn’t bake them long enough so they were still VERY crunchy, no good). The recipe was totally off with respect to time and I find that irritating.

A buried St. Joseph

Several people have told us recently to get a St. Joseph and bury him in our front yard. Austin went onto the internet and purchased a St. Joseph statue and we buried him in the front yard today. The tradition says that if you bury St. Joseph upside down facing the street and say and took a few moment to say a word over St Joseph (we used their example...St Joseph, guardian of household needs, we bury you now to help us in the sale of our property. Please bring us an acceptable offer. When escrow closes, we will dig you up and display you in a place of honor in our new home". Short, simple, to the point. We followed every instruction, including keeping St. Joseph in his protective burial sleeve.

So here is hoping we get a sale :) A gal contacted me off Craig's List today and came by tonight with her boyfriend to see the property. They had just begun their home search but they seemed to like it. Perhaps they will buy it!

Still nothing...

So for the past month now, we have heard our builder tell us that they should begin construction on our new house "any day now". It's at least 30 "any day now’s" later and still NOTHING. It's hard not to get frustrated. We have put so much money down and are anxious to see the darn thing built. Jeesh. Get on it people :)

Granted, this isn't a bad thing considering our town home is still for sale. But the new house won't be done until the end of December (they stay that it is still on track to be done then). LET'S go!

Work is a pain this week, because of the move. But I'm not at work so I don't want to talk about it. Austin's last day at his job was today. He was with the company for 6 years. I think this new position will be good for him, a new challenge. Plus its more money so hey, that's nice too!