Almost there!

Our home is just about finished! I cannot tell you how excited I am about moving in! We still have about 2 weeks left and there's still a few finishing touches that need to be added to the house. A few of you have asked me to share a bit more about this home, so I'll take some time to do that now.

Jaime and I opted to get this home (over a pre-existing home) because it is a certified "Green Home." For our location, the concept of being environmentally friendly and building "green" is something next to rare. We're very fortunate to even have this product available to us where we live.

Our home was built to be energy efficient, using both materials that minimize waste and appliances that cut on energy costs. The plants in the front are either native species or drought resistant plants, including the trees. In fact, you can find more information from the builder's website: Imagine Homes. They can explain things far better than I can. The only thing we weren't able to get with the house was a tankless water heater since there are no gas lines running through the neighborhood.

Friends have told us that we could of purchased a larger home for less money, but we didn't care about how much space we would be getting, especially with just the two of us. I am still in awe of the fact that we will have a home like this as our first home. Never in a million years did I guess we would have this opportunity.

Of course, the home is a commercial product, so our upgrade choices were rather limited. The options available to us, as far as colors and style, weren't necessarily fitting for the taste of young folks like us. However, I think we (mainly I) made some nice choices.

I will have more photos in the future of the interior, once we have our furniture set up. It will be a much better view than just seeing an empty home.

I know. These kids are always popping up in my photostream these days. They belong to the neighbors, but they've grown on me a lot over the past month and a half. I never realized how incredible kids are at this age (they're both 3 years old.) It doesn't make me want to have them any time soon, but I'm learning to love them even more.

Young Love

These two kiddos claim they'll be married when they grow older and call each other boyfriend and girlfriend. How precious is that?!

Can You Believe...

... that I threw this away?

Flowers and Cigarettes

Getting to Know Yourself

This coming Sunday, I am going to begin a week long project called "Getting to Know Yourself." I invite you to join me.

This is something that I have had in mind for a couple of weeks now. It all began one morning when I found myself looking in the mirror, confused by the figure I saw reflected back at me. I asked myself who she was and sadly, I didn't have an answer. As the days passed, however, I started discovering new things about myself that I never knew before. So now I am going to try to document these tiny discoveries in order to remember them in the future. I think it's important.

So, here are the rules:

First, begin by taking a self-portrait photo first thing in the morning on Sunday (or your first day), preferably right after you wake-up. As the day passes, reflect on what you see in that photo. Get to know yourself. Come up with your own questions and answer them. (Who am I? Where am I headed in life? Where do I wish to be? What makes me happy? sad?) At the end of the first day post your photo, as well as your thoughts. Write what you have learned about yourself.

Then, for everyday after the first day, take a new self-portrait the minute you discover something new about yourself. Just one will do, or take more than one and just post your favorite. Describe what you were thinking when you took that photo. If you go a day without discovering anything new, then post a self-portrait of yourself before you go to bed and list your hopes and dreams for the next day.

I am taking this opportunity to get to know myself. To spend the week concentrating on my needs and wants for a change. To rediscover my passions and dreams. To believe in myself again.

I realize that sometimes we can't control things like this, so if you wish to do this on your own time scale, feel free. And, if you decide to participate, let me know! I want to visit your blogs to see the progress. Just link them in the comment section here :)

Happy Day for Mothers

I'm late with this post, but I got caught up in playing mario kart today. I have never played a Wii game before, and boy was it fun! I need to be careful or you will never hear from me again!

Anyway, just thought I would stop in to wish all the sweet Mothers out there a very happy day! I'll be leaving you with a few links to inspire you on this special day of yours, so enjoy!

+ Handmade - just beautiful!
+ Jengs Shop - Paper Goods
+ Blue Citrus Art - Wonderful photographs.
+ Anke Weckmann - Adore, adore, adore!

What Matters

I don't talk a whole lot on here about what I do (want to do for a living) and there is a reason for that. Last week, I had a conversation that got me thinking and now I feel I need to say something.

When I tell people that I am an environmentalist, I always get that feeling that they're looking at me like I am some crazy woman sleeping with trees and growing hair under my pits. It doesn't help that most people ask if I'm a hippie. What does that really mean anyway? Most of the time, I'm asked if I believe in global warming. Unfortunately, the next person who asks me that question will get hit in the head with my shoe. (No, not really.)

I feel that the hype of the green movement is making people cynical, even me! Why is it so hard for some folks to understand the need to take care of the environment? We need clean air, clean water and healthy soil to exist. Why do so many have such a negative image with wanting to protect our natural resources and to restore what has been damaged by human development? I think some people get extremely caught up in the debate that nothing gets done and folks just get even more angry, or they forget what is really important.

I don't know. I'll keep the rest of my thoughts to myself I guess. But remember, the next time you talk about environmental issues, don't do it for the sake of arguing. Do it for love. Or I really will throw my shoe at you.

Out of My Shell

I'm the type of person who gets embarassed easily. I'm not the type of person who can get in front of a camera and be herself. Today I wanted to express myself. As awkward and weird as I may feel about this later, it feels good to get it out of my system.

*Note: I promise I am not as scary as this picture makes me look.

Growing Up - Music

As a kid I remember waking up before the sun and hearing my Dad down in the kitchen cooking breakfast for my brother and I. He always had music playing in the background as the smell of eggs and toast filled the hallways.

At least once a day I hear a song or two that my dad played on that stereo and instantly I am back at the table enjoying my breakfast. I love how music does that. I will always treasure those days and be thankful for them, especially now that my parents both live across the ocean. I hope when they are older they'll move close by because I miss them so much.

All serious things aside, some of the songs are pretty funny, while others are actually damn good (pardon my french.) Just for kicks I thought I would share them with you. Who knows, maybe you'll crave hearing this music at your next breakfast meal :) By the way, this is actually my first time seeing these videos and I can't stop laughing at how silly some of them are. I apologize for the last video; I couldn't find a link to one that showed the actual band.