Feeling ever so slightly better...

I always cheer up when new things come in the mail. The UPS man made my day yesterday and today. Yesterday I got the toasting glasses and serving set that I ordered, and the personalizations were right! Today I got my bridesmaid gifts and they are simply adorable. I would post a picture, but Chloe can do that after the wedding! :-) I spoke to the hubby a little bit this morning and he made me feel better too. Gotta love him. I am also going to a sorority meeting tonight. Being alum I haven't been to one in awhile. One of the pledges wrote me and volunteered to come pick me up and take me with her since she doesn't live to far away. So of course I said I would go! It'll be fun! What a nice day this is turning out to be!!

I wish I knew how to relax!

I am stressed. I would say that it is just the wedding that has me this way, but I always feel stressed out. It is stressful being away from the hubby. I'm sure that doesn't help any. He actually tries to help me destress (sometimes) when he talks to me, but I end up being more stressed once we've finished talking. Actually I am always stressed after we speak. I think my problem is that I just don't know how to relax. I'm tense nomatter what I am doing. I need a good massage or something. Hmm..well I don't feel like complaining on here so I am going to go try to take a nap. Maybe it'll help with this headache that won't go away. Grrr...!!

So Sleepy...

I attempted to stay up last night and watch the Oscars, but as soon as 12 o'clock rolled around I had to put myself to bed. I guess that is a sign of old age. I was up way past my bedtime. I hate that they had all of the boring categories up first this year. I had to watch the morning news shows and whatnot to see who won what! Now I'm just trying to stay awake so I can be alert for the 4th block class that I have to cover this afternoon. Not that I am complaining!! I am glad to be working, and I will take what they give me. $48 for one class is not a bad deal, so I will gladly stay awake! Although, I feel like they should begin the Oscars earlier than they do. How does 6:30ish sound? Then I would be able to make my bedtime!! :-)

New Checks

Those people at the bank are quick. I just had my name changed there at the end of this work week and I got my new checks in the mail today! I love seeing my new name on things, even if it is just hyphenated. Lol, although the bank put my entire name on the checks! Ah...it is the small, simple things that put a smile on my face.

Good Day

It was nice to get back to work today. There was only one day open next week and it was Friday, but I told Mrs. J to put me down for it, and that if anything else comes up to give me a call. I gave her my cell # just so she'd be able to get in touch with me. I wouldn't do that with any other school, but I made an exception for Mrs. J. She always calls me first because she knows I need the work! Gotta love her! The only sad part to my day was not getting to talk to the hubby. He had gone to bed by the time I got home! Oh well...there is always the weekend!

All Smiles!

I feel so in demand around here. I went to the central office and changed my name and everything there earlier and decided to stop by my Dad's g/fs office while I was there. She is the director of Federal Programs (amongst other things). Anyway, one of the elementary schools has a More at Four teacher who will be taking a 6 week maternity leave soon. I have subbed for her in the past and may get the job, unless a retired More at Four teacher who is sort of interested wants it. The principal at the school told Dad's g/f that she loved me and that I did a great job the last several times I was there. So that is a possibility. When I left the CO I went to the high school because from past experience I know that they are always needing subs. Mrs. J almost leapt over her desk when I walked into her office. She was so happy to see me and I start back tomorrow. I'm going to go see her after school tomorrow and see if she has anything for me for next week (which I'm sure she will, she always does!). It feels so good to be wanted. I knew my teaching license would come in handy, even if I am not teaching fulltime at present! I'm lovin it!

Back to work...finally!

I called the RCS Central Office this morning and spoke with a nice woman in Human Resources, and she said that I could come in after 1pm and redo my tax information. I have been all smiles ever since! I've just wanted to get back to work so badly and get out of the house and now I will! Of course I will only be subbing until May, nothing fulltime, I haven't gotten around to actually using my degree yet. Although I will! Hopefully my residency won't take too long to come through and I can just up and move over to Helsinki (the hubby will really enjoy that!). I want to go over shortly after he does if it is at all possible. Until then I'll just have to enjoy being back to work! :-)

Bridesmaid Gifts!

Got an e-mail from UPS today saying that my bridesmaid gifts are on their way to my door! I can't wait until they arrive. I hope they are right! They are personalized and sometimes companies do make mistakes, but I am hoping I won't have to send anything back. Of course I bought a few cheap little extra things to go with them, nothing much, but I hope they will be liked. (Note to Hubby: Before you even ask, I did not spend a lot of money on the extra's).

Talk about titles!

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Reverend Lady Stacy the Extemporaneous of Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

I found this link on ElleBee's blog and decided to see what it would give me. Well, the above is what it came up with. Um...I'm sure how to say all of what I am, but I do approve of the Reverend Lady Stacy part. Kind of nifty is you ask me!!

Cloud Nine!

I feel as though a weight has been lifted from my shoulders! Yesterday I got my name changed at the Social Security office and at the bank. I even ordered myself a new box of checks with puppies on them! Ha ha, and the people at the S.S. office just loved me! They had a field day with my foreign marriage certificate! I think I spent more time waiting at the window for them to help me then I did in the waiting room! Now I just need to get my info. with the school system changed and I'll be back in business! That is on tomorrow's agenda. The only thing that could make this day better is my computer letting me sign into blogger! That way I wouldn't have to use my brothers! Oh well....you can't have it all!

Recipe!

So a few blogs ago I mentioned a recipe that I got out of People Magazine, and I also noted that I had lost it! Turns out that I found it while I was giving the desk a much needed cleaning. So as I promised, here it is:

Christmas Bark

1 Sleeve Saltine Crackers

12 oz. Semisweet chocolate morsels

1 Cup Butter

1 Cup Chopped Pecans

1/2 Cup Light Brown Sugar

1. Preheat over to 350 degrees.

2. Place crackers in one layer on parchment-lined baking sheet (with sides).

3. Melt butter and brown sugar in medium sauce pan. Cook for 3 minutes, stirring constantly.

4. Pour butter-sugar mixture over the crackers. Spread evenly.

5. Bake for 15 minutes.

6. Remove from oven and sprinkle with chocolate morsels. When they start to melt spread evenly over entire layer of crackers.

7. Sprinkle chopped pecans on top.

8. Refrigerate for 1 hour.

9. Remove from refrigerator and crack into pieces!

I absolutely love this recipe. I have fixed it 3 times since I have been home and it has gone over well with everyone who has tried it! It is suppose to be some sort of Holiday recipe, but I make it whenever! Enjoy!!

New Cards by Chloe!

Feeling tired of your old stationary and notecards? If the answer is yes then you need to drop by English Tea Paperie, or to a site called The Palm Gifts (they will be up soon)! There is a new collection of ETP cards that are exclusive to that site, and they are just down right adorable! All English Tea Paperie cards are handmade and personalized to order! New ETP cards that are going to be sold at The Palm Gifts can be viewed on the English Tea Paperie Blog. So drop on by and I guarantee you are going to like what they have to offer!

P.S. -> Warning: ETP site is addictive!!!

Jumping for Joy!

I am happy to report that the copy of my marriage certificate came in the mail today! So the plan is to go change as much stuff as I can on Monday. I may not get everything done but I will be down in that Social Security office as soon as it opens its doors! This copy doesn't look like the original one, but it will have to do. I mean it does state that it is for use of, "authorities in the United States." It is official right down to the letter. I am so excited. I am going to get all my tax info. updated and then I'm going to be right back out in the working world! How I love it! So you can stop worrying now sweetie, everything is here (I know you'll be reading this later)! Now I am off to have a hap, hap, happy day! :-)

Feeling the Burn!

Thought it would be smart to push myself a little more yesterday in my workout routine, though today I am thinking that I might have been wrong. I normally work on my legs for about 30 minutes every other day. Yesterday I decided, hey why not work for an hour, and I did this all as a standing legs workout. Today my legs are screaming at me for what I put them through yesterday, although I am sure they will be thanking me later (I hope!) as I am sure that I will eventually see some fabulous results (fingers crossed)! Needless to say the legs are getting the day off, but the abs and arms definitely are not! Ha, it is a wonder my body doesn't retaliate! Actually, they aren't really feeling all that bad. They could feel much worse, and I do think that I am now going to stick with an hours worth of standing legs workout. I think I am going to shorten my leg lift workout on the machine though. Compromise just a bit. I mean, what good is it going to do me to stay in shape if I kill myself with the workouts!

One step closer to Finland

The hubby phoned me just a bit ago and cheered me up a bit! While we were talking I went and checked the mail, and both of us are happy because the papers he had to fill out for my residency have finally come in! Now I just have to wait for the new passport then I'll send all of this stuff off! I feel like I am one step closer to be there! Hope it won't be too long now. :-)

I found toasting glasses and a cute little cake serving set while browsing the net yesterday! I loved them and just couldn't help myself, so now they are being personalized and should be heading my way in a few weeks! I am having out December date put on them though. We didn't have anything like this when we got married the first go around, and I am sentimental and want them with that date on them. I'm sure some people will think it is odd, but they are our glasses and cake cutters :-) !!

I really need to shopping so much! I am finding way too many things that I would like to have for the wedding. I do have a list though and I am trying to stick to it. So far I have managed to stay within my budget, and that is good for me and the hubby!!

Finally settled for the day!!

I thought I was going to have to beat up some BIG men today over some Valentine's Day chocolate! Dad's g/f called and is really sick with that bad virus that is going around. She tried calling Dad and couldn't get him so she called me instead. Her son had an accident a few months ago and can't drive but needed some Valentine's Day stuff for a girl. So I volunteered since she does a lot for me. He needed on single rose and a box of chocolate. The rose was easy!! The chocolate was not!! No one here in town had any chocolate. So I had to drive down to R'ham and go to Wally World. Well, there wasn't a lot of chocolate left there, but there was a lot of big men doing some last minute shopping. I had to squeeze my way between them and they kept trying to push me out of the way! Excuse me?!? I am not that big. So I fought my way to the chocolate and finally got some! I delivered the said gifts, and now I have made it home to chat with my hubby! How understanding he is!!

Valentine's Day!

I certaninly hope that my Valentine's day gift for the hubby reached him today! I dropped the package I had for him in the mail a little over a week ago, so it should be there by now. It is going to be a somewhat sad day because he isn't here, but there are plenty of other people who won't being seeing their significant others today either. I am just happy to know that I have him, and that he is thinking of me (Note to Mr. Lilja: You better be thinking of me!!)! I did get my Valentine's Day gift from him a little early. I got it on Monday and of course I opened it up then. There was a sweet little postcard with puppies in a wagon. I don't know what it said, lucky for me though he did write in English on the back!! He sent me my favorite little candy bars as well, Mars Delight! I could have sat down and ate them all right then, but I am trying to limit myself as I cannot find them around here! I don't want to run out too quickly!! :-)

My Dad is excited about Valentine's Day too, because yesterday he took me flower shopping with him. Although I was only really there to pick out the flowers for my Grandma. He already knew that he was going to get his girlfriend of 6 or 7 years a dozen roses! The roses were beautiful, and still are, although I almost threw them out of the truck door on the ride home. You see...not only did he take me to help pick out my Grandmother's flowers, he took me to hold onto them on the ride home as well. So by the time we got back to the house my jeans were soaked with water from the roses! He wouldn't turn the heat on in the truck because of the flowers (smart idea), but the water in that vase was frigid and there was A LOT of it! I would like to report that I am alright, and no I did not suffer any hypothermia! I hope that Dad's g/f enjoys the roses and that hubby enjoys his V-day gift as well! Me? I am going to go eat a Mars Delight!!

My Very Own Chips!

I couldn't remember for the life of me which page I posted on about my chips, but I thought I would take a picture of the last two packs before I ate them! I just happened to get a box from the FedEx man that said, "To Stacy, From Stacy", but I didn't remember ordering anything. Turns out it was a promotional thing for Stacy's Pita Chips and they were sending these chips to everyone named Stacy! So now, not only do my brother and I have our own line of shoes (Stacy Adam's), but I have my very own brand of chips! How outrageously humorous!

Bridesmaid Gifts!!!

I am so excited! Today I got all four gifts ordered for my girls! They are so cute. I would have bought one for myself, but I do have to budget! How terrible is that!?! And soon I'll have beautiful invitations to send out thanks to Ms. Chloe and English Tea Paperie (check it out if you haven't)!! Ah...and I have the decorations for my reception as well! Now...everything will be perfect once that hubby of my gets his little butt over here!

So much to do!!

I will be so glad when everything is changed over into my NEW name! Especially things at the S.S. Office, that way the hubby will leave me alone! He complains and complains...I explain things...it does no good...I explain some more...does no good...and he gets on my nerves and finally I get mad!!! GRRR! Aside from him just getting on my nerves, there is so much that has to be changed. Hopefully he'll have me another copy of our marriage certificate soon so that I can finish changing things. The other one got sent to Philadelphia with my application for a new passport. I don't think I can stand not working for another 6-8 weeks while my passport app. is being processed so that certificate had better get here fast.

Rehearsal Dinner

I was helping Linda out with stuff today at the schoolhouse, and when we finished what had to be done there we started talking wedding stuff. Today we decided on a place to have the rehearsal dinner. We're going to call this week and go ahead and book Ellerbe Springs here in Ellerbe. It is nice to know that one other things is out of the way! I think I have found the bridesmaid dresses that I want, I just have to check with everyone and see if they will work for them. They are going to be a light blue color! I think they're really pretty. Now I just have to get me a dress. After that I think everything else will fall into place!

Men!

What is it about having to clean that men just do not get! Not all of them mind you, but ones like my Brother have problems with these things. Now my computer is here in my brother's room (my old room) so that I can use the wireless internet. A week ago you couldn't see the floor. You had to say a prayer, get a good running start, and leap across the room to where my computer sits! Tonight I finished cleaning my brothers room just so I could share it (at least my computer shares it). I honestly just couldn't sit here amongst all of the clutter and play on the computer. I had a constant frown! The room is back in order, but I am sure it won't stay that way long unless I keep on top of things!!

I just don't understand why it is so difficult to put dirty clothes in the hamper. It was right there beside the mound of the clothes that were laying on the floor. With a little extra effort the lid could have been lifted and the clothes could have been dropped in! Old receipts were everywhere, mail everywhere, just everything everywhere! I also washed my (very capable) brothers clothes, and I kid you not, he has more than I do. To top it off he has more shoes than I do as well! For the past week I have felt like a maid, but I feel like I have accomplished something. Lol, come to think of it I should have taken before and after pics.

You see, I don't have this problem with the hubby. He likes cleaning. He likes living in a clean apt. I can't wait to get back to it! I think tomorrow I will teach my brother how to use a broom and dustpan. We're going to be taking babystep!!

I lost it!

I thought that I would be posting a recipe on here, but somehow I managed to lose the book that it was in. Of course that isn't really all that surprising if you know me! On a bright and happy note though, I received my monogram cards from Miss Chloe yesterday. So something is going my way!! Also got my new passport application sent off...hopefully that'll be back soon. Now if only I could find that book! That recipe (which is way yummy) will make its way to my page!!

New Recipe!!

I found a recipe in People Magazine (the special Christmas issue) and decided to try it this morning while I was waiting for my Grandma at the Drs. office. They actually turned out really well, but I made a HUGE mess in the kitchen. This recipe is one that Stacy Keibler, the wrestler and dancing with the stars woman, says she makes every year. So...I figured if she could make them then so could I! I'll post the recipe a little later on. They are so simple to make, I wish I could remember what they are called!

Passport Photos

Yikes! I got new passport pictures made yesterday, and at the same time I had the pictures made to go on my residency application and they are horrible! I look high in them! Not only that but 4 little pictures cost me $21!! The last time I had them made the people gave me an entire sheet of pictures and I only paid $7! I felt robbed, but at least the deed is finally done. My next stop is the passport office to fill out the application (which will probably be more expensive now as well!)! Grrr! That being said, at least I am making some headway. Now I just need to ride all over creation and start changing my name on everything...1st stop...Social Security office. I do not want to go! Lines there are worse than the DMV! Good luck me!!! I'm going to need it!

I'm Back!!

After a record 3 posts, and a short break I am back. You see we had a death in my family so I haven't been on the computer too much! Things are seemly back to normal now, and so I am back again to blog to my little hearts content. IT'S SNOWING, and I'm not even in Finland, so I am enjoying the winter weather. Yippee! Who knows I may even go out and play in it. My kitties don't know what to think of the snow though. This is the first time they have seen any. They were running and jumping and meowing like crazy this morning!! It was most definitely a humorous sight!

*sigh* Well, now that I have made my short entry I must go do productive things!