Sideways & Shipwrecked

I-to-the-N-to the-S-to-the-Omnia

It was brought to my attention I spelled Insomnia wrong... that's right I forgot the N... I didn't have isomnia... :) Guess I was really tired!

 

 

 
That's right I'm awake. And it's super early for me. I can't say it's late because I did sleep for about 3 1/2 hours. 

BUT...

I have this cough. You know the type...The type where your whole body shakes, you can't breath and you think your lungs are going to jump out of your throat with a suitcase saying, "Sorry lady, I can't take this anymore. You're on your own."

It's also the type that also keeps your honey awake. And I didn't want to do that anymore than I already have so here I sit.

Watching Teen Mom 2. Yup, lame. Don't judge. Do you watch it? Do you hate Janelle too? I'm glad her mom took the baby away from her. She's a waste of space. How can she not want to spend time with her son? I want to drive to Wilmington and slap her.

Now I'm watching Parenthood. Love this show.

Anyway, enough of that. 

Two weekends ago we took a little trip to Asheville to unwind.

I thought I'd share some pictures with you... my camera died at the Triple Falls (before I could even take a picture of it with all three falls. Bummer, man.) I forgot to charge the battery. Some photographer I am :) But like I said, I was un-winding and my brain was shut down.

 



 See what I mean? The third fall that makes it "Triple Falls" isn't there. 

Mr. Wright and I and a Cricket butt...

My soon to be husband... in, oh, 107 days.

Then we went antiquing... I was hoping to score some cool stuff like my obsession YHL does. I didn't quite so lucky, but I found some funny things in the store. 

A purple cocktail dress with mesh in all the right places... any takers? Anyone?

This made me wish I could go back in time to a malt shop... or a soda fountain. When I was a kid I thought a soda fountain was like a water fountain except soda came out. Very Willie Wonka I guess.

This really creeped me out... "From the cradle to the grave..." glad it wasn't filled out!

Loved the old telephone...

I had a special attraction to this coat... and when I examed it I found out why...

It's from Maine! :)

I loved this shot at night....

I loved the Alice and Wonderland window here... even if it is a smoke shop.

Some pretty vases at night...

And 2 hours later I am still awake...

That Stupid Instinct...

I told you about a month or so about my non-maternal instict -although I am feeling that one too now...thank goodness for just having the pups, because I haven't gotten any closer to knowing anything about babies. 

It's the house thing... and I have the bug. The I want a house bug. Where I can decorate and call it my own... it's driving me crazy. So crazy in fact that I started looking at houses in NC, and thought about staying an extra year or two. Yeah, that crazy. (Well that and the fact that our rent went up and all of our friends pay less a month for a mortgage!)

But anyway, the house bug got me tonight because I saw this...

and now I want a house with tons of chandeliers. And that one too.

I want  a house damn darn it. 

I need something to decorate/design!!!

(I guess I have a wedding to keep me busy right now.)

(And something else to design on the horizon. ;) more on that later.)

I had to laugh...

I went in the grocery store tonight to buy tarragon, hamburger, sour cream and cheese. (Big Valentine's dinner you know, tacos.) Anyway, going to the grocery store on Valentine's Day?

BIG MISTAKE.

Probably worse than going on the day before Thanksgiving. 

Every man in the city and his brother was in the grocery... buying flowers and cards.

Seriously, dudes?

Why didn't you do this a day sooner? The good stuff is already gone.

And they probably looked at me buying flowers for myself with a sense of pity.

(I think we should always have fresh flowers-just like a lot of Europeans- they always make the house feel beautiful and I was buying them on a whim like I do from time to time.)

Anyway, I am going to be grinch like and say I have never liked Valentine's Day.

I mean I love getting things from my family- Valentine's day is cute for kids- but as you get older I feel like it makes people without a Valentine feel sad, and I don't like a holiday that makes so people happy and others sad.

And a "holiday" that forces people to go out and buy gifts to show someone that you love them. I mean, if you want to shower me with gifts feel free, but I don't expect it. Besides, there are plenty of love cards available on the shelves 365 days- why should you only show someone you love them one day a year with a card?

AND besides. 

Mr. Wright spoiled me three Tuesdays ago- to a candlelight dinner with roasted duck and champagne. A random Tuesday makes me feel so much more special and loved than celebrating on a day when everyone else is celebrating.

 

Enough grinchiness.

I hope all you ladies and gents who got shown love and appreciation today enjoyed it. And I hope that you get shown much more than one day a year.

 

I know I feel loved. And I love a lot of people too.

I Need a Break...

from all the stress. We just got a notice on our door today saying by 3/1  we need to let them know if we want to renew our lease. That's less than 21 days. In fact it's 19 days as of tomorrow. This wouldn't be a problem if they didn't raise our rent 7.2%. I don't want and cannot pay $70/ month. Besides that, everyone I know pays way less than us for a 2 bedroom apartment.

So on top of the wedding stress now we have to deal with possibly finding a new place to live or decide if we want to stay and pay more. If we decide to move we have to be out on 4/31. I am so stressed.

My eye won't stop twitching.

And I caught another cold.

You may not here from me for awhile.

Cleaning Out My Wallet... 3 years...

No, it hasn't been three years since I last cleaned out my wallet, but it's been a little while since I opened up the little mementos I carry with me.

It was unbelievably slow at work today, so I took a few minutes to clean out my purse and wallet. When I was digging around I found a note my mom had written. She always used to make little notes and leave little presents when she was gone on vacation or when my sister and I went somewhere, and I just like to carry it with me. I was curious to see what/where/when this one was and opened it up. 

Don't laugh. My mom will always call me her Little Whitney and I will always call her mommy (pronounced mummy by my sister and I not mom-ee.) But anyway, I thought it was ironic that it was written for 3 years ago EXACTLY today- the day we moved to NC. Which you can read about, here, here and here. (A saga that I never finished and probably should soon.)

It's so crazy we embarked on a new journey with two car loads of stuff, a pup in each car and came down without knowing anyone or having any jobs. I'd say it worked out pretty well- and went by so quickly!

It's A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood...

Won't you be my neighbor? Oh please won't you be my neighbor? (Mr. Rogers would be so thrilled.) Please, please, please! Because I have always wanted to have a neighbor just like you....

 

Because you have to be better than mine!

You have to be better than mine...

They throw cigarettes off the balcony and burn my poor pup,

They litter the ground with dog waste and cigarettes, unlike you...

So please won't you be my neighbor?

 

Just one rant... please neighbor?

One neighbor has a handicap thing over their mirror- so when there aren't spots at the front (the handicapped ones are a little farther down where the ramp is) they pop it up on the mirror so they don't have to park around the corner. When there are spots up front they take down their flag and park there and leave the handicapped ones empty. Which means I have to park far away- I think because we were the first people to ever live in the building we should get special spots, but anyway. So these "handicapped" people use their sticker when it's convieniant and take places from other people when it's available- even though they could be using the handicapped place.

OH AND DON'T EVEN GET ME STARTED ON THE FACT THAT THEY LIVE ON THE SECOND FLOOR AND HE IS "HANDICAPPED"- HE WALKS JUST FINE (HE DRIVES HIS LITTLE LEXUS AROUND WITHOUT A PROBLEM!) MOST HANDICAPPED PEOPLE LIVE ON THE FIRST FLOOR BUDDY! STOP ABUSING THE SYSTEM AND TURN IN YOUR LITTLE MIRROR DANGLING THING TO SOMEONE WHO REALLY NEEDS IT!

 

 

But this wasn't where this post was going. 

It is a beautiful day here and it was yesterday. Sunny... maybe low 50's right now... we have our door open, Mr. Wright is drinking his coffee on the patio. It's hard to believe it's late January, especially with the weather we had just a few weeks ago- snow and ice- which is really uncommon here.

 Can someone say climate change?

So it's a gorgeous day...

Pups and I already took a walk around the 'hood... the pool looked so inviting, but I am sure I would be in for a rude awakening if I jumped in. 

Days like this make me really happy. 

Our apartment is pretty clean.

I didn't make a to-do list for the weekend.

I am relaxed. 

Happy. Even though I had a very unhappy dream last night.

And make me want to move to Florida where it's nice all year around.

And the houses are cheap... some might even say, a steal. 

Let's move now.

We have been in NC 3 years this week. It went by incredibly quickly.

Anyway, enjoy your Sunday, hope it's beautiful like ours! If not, I hope you don't get too much snow :) I'm talking to you New England! I am not sure I am ready for piles of snow if we move back next year... I do miss certain things though (and snow when I don't have to shovel or drive anywhere)... one thing I miss if the Christmas Tree Shops... but guess what?! Guess where I went yesterday...

Yup, that's right they are bringing New England shopping to me and it was just like living in Maine because I had to drive an hour to get there... and of course I spent too much money, don't you just love a bargain? Actually though, I saved money. We have been wanting glass canisters with spickets and we found them for more than half off what we have seen them for everywhere else!

And I got some pretty glass bottles to add some color around this joint... I was having fun photographing them out in the sun yesterday, so I will leave you with some color photos to brighten your day... especially if you are just getting in from shoveling...

 

 

 

We got groomed...

We're now a clean family... well we have always been clean... but now we are more polished. It was time for haircuts... Mr. Wright didn't get a before picture, but Asia and I did! (And Miss Cricket just got a bath.) Way back in August I went from blonde to a brunette and now I am back to blonde. The "brunette" started to seem more red to me so I was ready to be back to the old me! Here are our makeovers :)

 

Asia first (she looked so fat with all of her hair!)

After...

Such a cutie with her little bows...

 

This was me in August...

 
And then brunette...

And then it faded and wasn't so fresh...

The picture's colors are a little weird, but it was a strange color anyway!

And now...

Sorry I didn't realize the picture was so large! So now it's dark blonde and will get lighter as we approach summer... and our wedding! (It's also curly now... she always straightens it to make sure she likes how the color worked out.) So I am now back to my real self!

The Maternal Instinct...

    Apparently at my age I am supposed to be wanting to have children in the worst way. And I would love to have children, but my maternal instinct isn't calling just yet. I mean if I had children I would love them and care for them- I know I could do it (just not financial- although who can say they can fully support kids? It's expensive in the real world!)

    I know that about a year ago I seriously doubted my ability to take care of children... and I know that I have A LOT to learn... in fact so much to learn I would need to have my mom standing by her phone 24 hours a day.

    But anyway, I love kids... but the instinct that has really kicked in is not to have children... I WANT A HOUSE SO BADLY!!! I want a house that needs some TLC, but has a lot of character. I used to want that picture perfect house that is move-in ready and doesn't need a coat of paint. Or I wanted to build our own amazing house. While I would still love either of those options I have changed what I wanted. Someday we will build our own house, but I would like to own a house first and learn what I like and don't like.

    I want an older house that I can remodel that fits out character and our style. I want to give a poor old house with "good bones" a face lift... I love before and afters. I want to make something my own... I want to feel us in it. This is what I want in a house...

3+ bedrooms

3 1/2+ bedrooms

A large living room for lots of people visiting

A large open kitchen with an eat-in nook and an island! And built ins! And an overhead pot rack!

Walk-in closets

Window Seats

A fireplace

A studio for me- a funky space, like in an attic or strange shaped room

An office for Mr. Wright that we could also make into a library with a ladder

Garage 

A pool and hot tub with a large patio and fenced in backyard (this isn't a make it or break it, but I could live in the water.)

AND I DON'T WANT TO BE RIGHT ON TOP OF MY NEIGHBORS- I LIKE TREES!!!

 

    Okay, so yes. That is a lot of wants, but wants that are easy to create yourself. Thank goodness Mr. Wright used to build houses. Amazing houses. They all sound expensive, but really- all I need is space. I want to be able to post before and afters, but our apartment isn't very exciting. So I'll let you check out this awesome- The Lettered Cottage and you can check out others before and afters. 

    Seriously, this house-ternal instinct is killing me. Hopefully soon... once we figure out where we want to live... I found this house today and loved it... it has a lot of what I want and it still needs updating! Perfect... BUT I ABSOLUTELY ADORE THIS HOUSE... it has such charm (and such a price tag for my little budget!)

 

Ahhhh.... I need a house!

Holidays in Maine....

Okay, I love Christmas in Maine. I learned a song in the 3rd grade (maybe 4th) called the Maine Christmas Song... here are the lyrics...

"There is still meaning in the magic of Christmas in the State where the christmas trees grow.

Where neighbors still drop by with cookies, breads, pies, and warm themselves by the kitchen stove.

It's the spirit of, sharing, giving and caring, hanging wreaths upon the neighbors door.

That's the spirit of Maine at Christmas time, from her mountains to her great Atlantic shore.

 

You can find a farmer hitching up his horses to the sleigh the family's had for years,

to give their children rides through the snow white countryside and the forest filled with timid white-tailed deer.

It's the spirit of, sharing, giving and caring, hanging wreaths upon the neighbors door.

That's the spirit of Maine at Christmas time, from her mountains to her great Atlantic shore.

 

The family still invite their friends and neighbors in their search for the perfect Christmas tree,

walking across frozen fields and rivers often times in snow above their kness.

It's the spirit of, sharing, giving and caring, hanging wreaths upon the neighbors door.

That's the spirit of Maine at Christmas time, from her mountains to her great Atlantic shore."

    The song is so accurate to the feeling you get when you spend Christmas in Maine. I have always loved the Christmas season, but after spending the last two Christmases away from Maine, I cannot tell you how good it felt to be back in my home state. To feel the small town Christmas... a community... I just felt like I was home.

   Anyway, it's time to share some pictures!

Holiday window in downtown Portland

I always wanted to live in these apartments- I love the windows, and the tree makes it even prettier!

L.L. Bean always has a gorgeous winter display... this is like 1/4 of it...

The L.L. Bean boot all decked out for Christmas...

The newspaper office I used to work for looking all festive...

The fisherman is back on his feet and dressed for Christmas! (The cape is handmade!!!)

Mom, sister and I with Poppy and Issa...

Dad, sister, pups and I

The tree... may have adjusted the curves a bit too much...

The fireplace and our stockings...

The five girls again...

My mom being silly...

Baby me on the ornament I made for my mom in kindergarten.

The mantle... my mom loves Santas...

One of my favorite ornaments... we got it when I was little, and I love the little bear popping out of the box...

My other favorite ornament... it was my grandmother's (I wish she still had more left)-it's my mom's favorite too...

...sorry sister, I had to post it!

Cute sister...

I love Annalee... Mr. Wright thinks they're strange... too bad the little sheep's face is hard to see...

The dining room, with lots of Santas on the piano...

Front door... love the wreath, so Maine!

My advent calender... 

My sister's German Christmas Village all lit up...

So long, Maine... I miss ya already!