One Day

When Dom and I talk about our dream house we each have our own dream room. He has a killer music room and I have the mother of all craft rooms. I mean this room would make Martha Stewart cry because her career would look like a joke compared to the organization and creativity put into this space, probably not but again, dream room. I have been thinking about this a lot lately since I am in constant danger of being buried alive every time I go into the closet to get a ball of yarn or needle and thread. I have gained a unique set of skills braving this monstrosity that has served me well in disorganized sales sections. I can fish out a decent buy with my eyes closed.

That all being said, I hate living this way. I want to open up my closet doors to a yarn lovers haven, a sewer's nook and an overall crafter's dream. I want to see columns and cubbies, bins and drawers, symmetry and labels, a place that gives you the fullest potential with your supplies. I don't want to spend 10 minutes digging through piles of stuff to eventually give up and I really don't want whatever can't fit into the closet to then be put in my room in the open. What has been stopping me from making my dream a reality you ask? That's simple, me. I was not blessed with brilliant organization skills and am highly lacking in this area, especially when I am not able to start from scratch and have limited space. This is why I have been fantasizing about my perfect craft room because I wouldn't have to compromise or learn to compact my stash but would be able to display and set up individual stations.

Let me show you what I am talking about:

I would love to display my yarn like this

In cubbies like this. And the different work stations are great.

Or even these. I just love the clean lines used in these rooms and any room with books displayed grabs my eye.

This would be great for everything non-yarn related. Office supplies, scrap booking, even sewing supplies.

See what I mean? Doesn't that just make you melt or get giddy? It's like you're on a first date with Ikea or something. Maybe one day I will get my act together and compromise with a system that enables this level of organization in my limited space and then, when I am able to, I will graduate to an entire craft room that even Monica Geller would be proud of. :)

Off The Leash

Yesterday Dom had to change his car battery so I thought I would bring out the Baby Scram and myself to keep him company. Well, we couldn't just stand there forever while he worked, so I let the Scram off the leash.................Oh Boy! He was SO happy. He took off running with ears peaked and tail wagging. It's been raining here for a few days and the water has accumulated into giant puddles and Scram proceeded to find the biggest one and bound through it over and over again. Then he threw himself onto the shrubbery and rolled around, popped up and dashed into the puddle again. The best part was he listened really well to us. He came to us when someone was walking by and we wanted to hold him to make sure he didn't get them wet, he kept away from the street and showed himself when we would whistle for him to check in.

Well, by the end of it all we had quite the wet/dirty Baby Scram. He got a bath, a long, laborious bath. I wish I would have taken video of his adventures or at least of photo but he pretty much looked like this:

Maybe not as wet but pretty close. He was such a happy puppy and even with the clean up it was totally worth it. :)

Spoiled Wife

Let's start off by saying this, I'm picky. I mean even my own mother gets me gift cards because that's a safer bet. I think it's because I'm very particular but very indecisive so finding something I really like and would use is a challenge. That being said Dom has never picked out certain things for me. Clothes and shoes to be exact and although it's good because I wouldn't want to hurt his feelings if I didn't like it and he wouldn't want to waste money, I am curious to see what he would choose for me. Well, he nailed it on his first try.

For Valentine's Day Dom picked out some beautiful green yarn for me. I loved it! I know you might be thinking yarn? Yarn is not as complex as clothes or shoes but let me tell you, I'm picky here too. And some shops won't let you return yarn. He went to the local yarn shop after work while I was out of town and went all around picking out things he thought I would like. He settled on Madelinetosh Tosh DK in Moorland, this vibrant, gorgeous green. I have always wanted some Madelintosh because it's so soft and such great quality but it's a little pricey so I've never bought any, this is something I mentioned to him a couple days before Valentine's and he just thought SCORE!

Well, I opened it up and was blown away. I couldn't stop feeling the yarn and was so happy and touched that he did this for me. I wanted to knit it immediately but I didn't want to make yet another small project so I searched on Ravelry all night and found a pattern I really liked, started on it the very next day. I finished in time for our anniversary a couple weeks later, my first garment! Dom took pictures for me at Bodega Bay, where we spent our Anniversary. :)

It has pockets! It's the main reason I chose this pattern. :)

If you think he did well for Valentine's Day, let's move on to our Anniversary. Somewhere around 6 months ago I was at the family jewelry shop and saw this ring, now I am not a big jewelry person but this ring was gorgeous enough for me to seriously ask Dom for it. I mean he works at a jewelry shop, I thought it was about time I tried to reap the benefits of that. ;) It was a bit pricey so he was thinking no, which I understood, I visited the ring a couple more times but one day I came in and it was gone............GONE! I was like no way they sold the one piece of jewelry I actually asked for so quickly. Yep, they did, at least that's what they told me. I had my suspicions though. Well, Christmas goes by, birthday goes by, Valentine's day goes by and no ring. I gave up. So on our anniversary I didn't know what to expect. He pulled out a little box and I opened it to find my ring!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He had kept it all this time to throw me off and it so worked. It's gorgeous isn't it? I love it. :)


I think we can safely say that my husband is great and he makes me happy, even apart from the wonderful gifts he gets me. He listens to my interests and makes it a point to show that he cares, again, I love this man. :)

P.S. The surprise date went pretty well. He had no clue, thank goodness. He came home and I was all dressed up, wearing my Madelintosh top of course, and ready to go. We went to dinner and had planned on going miniature golfing but there were way too many people there so we went to Origin Coffee and played cards and sipped coffee. Over all, a great date. :)

He wouldn't take a serious picture, this is my frustrated face.

Much better. :)

Surprise Date

Dom and I have received some lovely gift cards to restaurants lately and a couple to our favorite place to eat, P.F. Chang's. I'm thinking that I would put together a last minute surprise date for the husband and I tonight. Since it is quite last minute I might just have to keep it simple and classic, dinner and a movie. I'm hoping to feel the muse and come up with something more clever later on, but seeing as how I have nothing out for dinner and feel like getting dressed up, also to just have come up with this to rectify the previous two statements, I don't have much hope that my creative light bulb is suddenly going to flicker. Anyway, it's time to get ready. Maybe cleaning up the apartment will be the romantic equivalent of bringing flowers for the girl. I'll let you know how it goes.

P.S. For those of you who talk to Dom, surprise is in the title. Let's not make the next post about you. Thanks. :)

Officially Official

So Dom and I started dating about 3 1/2 years ago but we talked for a while before we put any sort of label on it. This was because I wanted to take things slow, be friends first, yadda, yadda, yadda. The joke was that we were having about a 5 month long DTR. Since we hung out all the time and didn't want to see anyone else it pretty much meant we were official in everyone else's eyes but my own..........so, on July 8, 2007 when I said we could make it official Dom joked and said, "Oh sure, we're unofficially official." I asked when we would be officially official and he said, "Second year of marriage." This has been the running joke of our entire relationship. Well folks, we just had our second anniversary, we are officially official!!

The wedding was just a ruse. JK, but seriously, this man deserves the world. He shows me constantly, day in and day out pure love, God's love. He is always patient, understanding, kind, thoughtful, and encouraging. The way he acts towards me proves his vows and reinforces mine. I love this man and I can't wait to see what God unveils for us as we grow even closer. :)

Our Vows

To Him

From the beginning you have been my source of light, my joy, my friend and the greatest gift that God has given me. Your compassion softens my edges and forgives my flaws, your strength and approach to life have changed my fears of the unknown to excitement for the opportunities that lay ahead, and your love and devotion have opened my eyes to the type of love that God has for us. I have learned so much from you and the fact that I can continue to do that fills me with a happiness that is incomparable and unfading. I want to encourage you like you have always encouraged me and never leave your side like you have never left mine. I love you with everything that I am and can't wait to walk through life holding your hand. :)

To Me

Candice, I am completely yours. You are beautiful to me in every way. Your smile makes my heart race, and I am overwhelmed by the depth of your love for me. You make me forget all my weaknesses and trials, and you help me to see the good that is in me.
You make me better. ;)
I don't know what our future holds. What good times and bad we'll have to go through. I don't know what pain or happiness lies ahead for us, but one thing I do know. I know that through it all, no matter what happens, I will be by your side to share in your laughter and your tears. There's no where I would rather be.
You are my best friend, my favorite person to spend time with, and spending the rest of my life with you is joy that I didn't think could be possible.
I love you with all that I am, and I will for the rest of my life.

SoCal Bliss

Let's just take a minute to look at that please. It's 9pm and warmer than our entire week here. Oye.

I just recently got back from a trip home and it was glorious. One of the best. It was filled with friends and family, enough to sustain me for a little while but soon I'll be itching to go back. Since I was there for over a week I won't give you a play by play of each day but rather I will give you a highlights reel. :) Here are some things I particularly enjoyed about the trip:

1. Landing safely (I hate flying)
2. Talking about God with Brooke
3. Being greeted by Steph, Whitney, and Shelly!!!!!
4. Feeling like I was in High School again (talking about boys, laughing until you nearly peed your pants and a sleepover)
5. Eating a huge, delicious breakfast I didn't have to cook
6. Giving people their knitted items. Ex. Steph and her hat below

7. Listening to the playlist below on repeat while driving to Allison and Andrew's wedding


8. Seeing my husband after being apart for three days
9. Allison making everyone laugh talking about her nerdiness as she's getting married
10. Seeing Dom so happy around his friends. He's constantly laughing. :)
11. Getting to know the guy's girls better
12. Watching the guys dance.............Probably one of the highlights of the highlights
13. Randomly seeing Mindy and Taylar since I haven't seen them since May
14. Patrick and Mindy finally meeting
15. Mindy calling me at 11:45 saving us from missing our noon check out
16. Walking through the twilight zone aka Irvine with Mindy, Tay and Tim
17. Watching Jenny run around in circles as we walk up to The Woods place
18. The Woods
19. Listening to Piper whine outside our door because she knows we're there


20. Austin's reaction to Brooke saying she would choose him if things don't work out with Drew. He immediately said YES and then under his breath goes, Goodbye Drew. :)
21. Dom and I looking at each other in disgust as we watched Love and Other Drugs
22. All of the Mexican food, especially the Cali. B. Dom finally got to try

23. Juice It Up
24. Dom getting the nickname "Giggles" by a friend I haven't seen since freshman year of High School
25. Dinner with the family as we all comment on how Dom never eats
26. Pigging out with Brooke and Drew at Midnight
27. The thick, amazing fog we went through to land
28. Landing, again. :)

Well, that was a great trip and I only wish you could have been a part of the hilarious jokes, amazing dance moves, and delicious food.

Wish List

Wish Lists aka To Do Lists for the lazy; this is the revelation that I have had this year. I have talked about my laziness in the past but I feel like I have finally just come to accept it. Rather than set goals for the new year, I am going to make a wish list. That way when I don't achieve most of my list I won't feel bad about myself, I'll just keep wishing. :) So here are my wishes, in no particular order.

1. Get chores done early
2. Make dinner more often
3. Keep yarn organized
4. Keep desk organized
5. Take care of work promptly
6. Learn the Ukulele
7. Blog more
8. Read everything Jane Austen ever wrote
9. Start the process of learning a new language
10. Read the Bible more

That's all I can think of right now or at least these are ones that I find substantial enough to even wish for. I know all this takes is a little will power and discipline and who knows, maybe when I turn 24 (which I consider the, "stop messing around you're a grown up now" age) those two ingredients will magically appear.

Here's wishin'. :)