This is a tough one for me to think of...Five things I want to do before I die.
1)I guess I'd like to own a house outright. We currently rent, and with IF, it will probably be a few years before we can buy. And with a 30 year mortgage...I'll be over 65 by the time that house is paid off. So I think once we decide to buy we'll be buying the only house we'll ever own. And if finally having a car that I've paid off felt so go, I can only imagine a house feels 10x that. My parents were 60 when they lived in a house they actually paid off and my mom said it was the best feeling in the world.
2)I hate to admit it, but I've never visited New York City. I flew through there once on my way to Europe, and I was in NJ for my cousin's wedding. But just have not gone to NYC. I'd like to go to ground zero and pay my respects. I'd like to do the cheesy tourist things like see Times Square, and go to the top of the Empire State building. I want to walk around Central Park. It's just so much apart of American lexicon that I feel in a way that I've been there....but I really want to see it for myself.
3) Skydive? I've wanted to do it since I was 16. But for some reason, now that I'm married I've gotten afraid of the idea. Like I have someone to live for. And if I have kids, I'm sure that will increase. But there is still that little dare devil voice inside me that says "You know you want to do it!". I've done cliff diving (which was fun, but no need to do again.) And when I lived in WV, I LOVED the four times we went white water rafting on the highest level rapids. There is just something I love about the rush! My brother was going to pay for us to do it as a high school graduation gift - but my parents found out and said "Not when you're on our insurance!"
4) Go to the Sundance Film Festival. My Aunt owns a townhouse in Park City Utah . Sometime when I have enough money for flight, food, and fun I want to ask to go. It's coming up in a few weeks and every year I'm so jealous that they have the choice to go if they want. I was a radio, TV & film major in college and if I had the stones I would have gone into directing but didn't so.... at least this would be a taste of seeing others that have fulfilled that dream. (Kevin Smith is my hero).
5) I've been thinking on this and really can't think of a fifth so I'll just cop-out and stick with the trip to Ireland and Scotland trip that I mentioned yesterday. My favorite book series of all time is Outlander by Diana Gabaldon and the first several books are set in Scotland, and it paints such a picture of it that I'd love to go there.
Ice bar in Vegas 2012
Monday, January 9, 2012
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Blog Challenge: Day eight....Dream vacation
I have three dream vacations actually. (Don't we all have several?)
The first is what we would have done for our honeymoon if we could have afforded it. It's a Mediterranean cruise. It's a smaller ship, not a giant cruise ship. The main reason is I could see Italy and Greece. My husband and I are very into history (he was a History major for undergrad before going to law school), so we both think that'd just be amazing!
The second is one I've said I'd like to do since I was about 18. I would looooove to go to Ireland and Scotland. They are so lush and green, and looks like some of the most beautiful places on earth. And again, with the history, the castles, moors, etc. I have this on my bucket list. My college roommate Kim went with her husband for their honeymoon (this is very Irish couple) and the pictures were amazing!
And finally - Hawaii! I went with my parents & brother when I was 13 but only to Kauai. And Jeff has never been. We'd both like to see the Arizona memorial, and I'd love to do one of those day trips where you go the top of a volcano (cool), watch the sunrise and then bike/coast all the way down to the beach.
The first is what we would have done for our honeymoon if we could have afforded it. It's a Mediterranean cruise. It's a smaller ship, not a giant cruise ship. The main reason is I could see Italy and Greece. My husband and I are very into history (he was a History major for undergrad before going to law school), so we both think that'd just be amazing!
The second is one I've said I'd like to do since I was about 18. I would looooove to go to Ireland and Scotland. They are so lush and green, and looks like some of the most beautiful places on earth. And again, with the history, the castles, moors, etc. I have this on my bucket list. My college roommate Kim went with her husband for their honeymoon (this is very Irish couple) and the pictures were amazing!
And finally - Hawaii! I went with my parents & brother when I was 13 but only to Kauai. And Jeff has never been. We'd both like to see the Arizona memorial, and I'd love to do one of those day trips where you go the top of a volcano (cool), watch the sunrise and then bike/coast all the way down to the beach.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Blog Challenge: Day Seven
#7 - Where do you like to shop?
Well this is a depressing blog topic for me! Four years ago when I was still in advertising sales working for ABC in Milwaukee I used to have a monthly American Express bill of $1,000 a month. Sure half of it was for gas and groceries and such...but the at least $300-$500 a month was "fun stuff" like shopping. And now? I know for a fact I don't spend $300 a year on clothes for Jeff and I. These past four years I've learned to live a very fruegal life, and one of them is the waredrob. Each year, we each get a new pair of cheap jeans from Target, and usually any new winter clothes we get is part of Christmas from my parents or his or each other. And then in summer we each get maybe a new pair of shorts or tops or two, but very minimal. Basically we've been lucky that we're still the same size so we have a lot of older clothes. Just last night my MIL said "That's a cute sweater". I told her it was 12 years old. I realized it that morning that I hadn't worn it in forever, and I had a pic of myself in it my senior year in college! Maybe I have a little bit of hoarding in me! Yikes!
So this is getting away from the point...where do I like to shop? I don't know anymore! I just had fun using a Victoria's Gift card from my parents for my birthday to shop the semi annual sale (I got three tops & a pair of leggings for less than $75!). And we almost always shop at Kohls because of how much you can get for so little. A lot of my waredrob from the "old days" are from Macy's and an east coast shop I was addicted to when I lived in West Virginia called B.Moss. I have an old shoe fetish that is hard to let go - so I'm a fan of DSW shoes. If I had tons of money and could go on a shopping spree? I'd go to this place called "Hot Momma" (yes, I know I'm not a mom yet, but I accedentally walked in there and the stuff looked awesome), Charming Charlies, and White House/Black Market. Plus, I'm sure I'd still go to Kohls and my old staple: Macy's. Anybody want to put me on "What Not to wear" so I can get that shopping spree?
Well this is a depressing blog topic for me! Four years ago when I was still in advertising sales working for ABC in Milwaukee I used to have a monthly American Express bill of $1,000 a month. Sure half of it was for gas and groceries and such...but the at least $300-$500 a month was "fun stuff" like shopping. And now? I know for a fact I don't spend $300 a year on clothes for Jeff and I. These past four years I've learned to live a very fruegal life, and one of them is the waredrob. Each year, we each get a new pair of cheap jeans from Target, and usually any new winter clothes we get is part of Christmas from my parents or his or each other. And then in summer we each get maybe a new pair of shorts or tops or two, but very minimal. Basically we've been lucky that we're still the same size so we have a lot of older clothes. Just last night my MIL said "That's a cute sweater". I told her it was 12 years old. I realized it that morning that I hadn't worn it in forever, and I had a pic of myself in it my senior year in college! Maybe I have a little bit of hoarding in me! Yikes!
So this is getting away from the point...where do I like to shop? I don't know anymore! I just had fun using a Victoria's Gift card from my parents for my birthday to shop the semi annual sale (I got three tops & a pair of leggings for less than $75!). And we almost always shop at Kohls because of how much you can get for so little. A lot of my waredrob from the "old days" are from Macy's and an east coast shop I was addicted to when I lived in West Virginia called B.Moss. I have an old shoe fetish that is hard to let go - so I'm a fan of DSW shoes. If I had tons of money and could go on a shopping spree? I'd go to this place called "Hot Momma" (yes, I know I'm not a mom yet, but I accedentally walked in there and the stuff looked awesome), Charming Charlies, and White House/Black Market. Plus, I'm sure I'd still go to Kohls and my old staple: Macy's. Anybody want to put me on "What Not to wear" so I can get that shopping spree?
Friday, January 6, 2012
Blog Challenge - Day Six
Day Six: A Picture of something that makes me Happy
This picture was taken June 11th, 2011. Two days before our two year anniversary. It was taken at a friend's wedding. It makes me happy for some many reasons... first off - look at my adorable husband! He picked out a tie all on his own to try and match my outfit (so cute). Next, is my outfit. Love it! This was the outfit I wore to our rehersal dinner so it was two years old but this was the first chance I had to wear it again after that. Next, it's how happy we look. We were at a table with two of my closest girlfriends and their husbands. It was the wedding of their little brother - and their family is like family to me. And finally, because I had promised myself I'd take a picture of us every year on our anniversay and already forgot for our second anniversary. Then my friend sent me this pic she took of us. Sure it's about 29 hours before our anniversary date - but it'll do! Plus, of all the pcitures taken of us in 2011, this is the best one.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Blog Challenge Day 4 & 5
Well, I guess that answers how long I could keep up. Three whole days before I forgot/got too busy. Oh well, I will not feel bad as I spent a lot of time last night making an awesome dinner I found on pinterest. So here we go with a double. (I'm sure it will not be the first in this month)
#4 - What would you do if you won the lottery (aside from pay off bills and donate?)
- I personally would first do our IUI with injects and IVF (if needed) in order to have a child...and then do it again until we had three kids...our life goal is two kids but if we had tons of money I think we'd want three.
- I'd buy a big house on the lake here in our little town of Lake in the Hills. But even with the lake I'd put in an infinity pool for fitness swimming & a hot tub. And make sure it had a HUGE deck for entertaining.
- I'd also buy a property down at Lake in the Ozarks in Missouri big enough for my family & Jeff's family to use for vacations (Six bedrooms would be needed but we could buy a three bedroom and convert a basement like my BFFs parents did.) And of course we'd need a boat & jet ski's LOL (if you're gonna dream, go big!)
- But first to enjoy the "we're retired!" feeling we'd take a long month vacation. First up? Vegas baby! We'd spend one week there, then drive to southern Cali for a week, and finally two weeks in Hawaii!
#5 - Fifteen facts about yourself
Are you ready for Kati fact overload? 1) I was born on Dec. 18th, 2) my dad was out of town on business & missed my birth. 3) we moved three times before my 2nd birthday due to my Dad's job in sales. 4) My first memory is the day we moved into our first house in Chicagoland (my 2nd Birthday). 5) I have an older brother named Dan. 6) He has three boys - Ryan (12), Connor (11), and Jack (9). 7) I loved gymnastics as a kid, but 8) a bone growth injury in the heal caused me to quit. 9) It also caused me to be in five casts in two years and on crutches 13 times! 10) My doc recommended swimming for PT afterward and I ended up being on the swim team in High School. 11) My three best friends worked with me as Lifeguards at the beach. 12) My BFF Barb introduced me to my husband by telling me "I met the man you are going to marry. 13) When I first met him, I thought Jeff looked "too old" for me. 14) He's 6 years older than me, but my soul mate. 15) I threw my first party ever (yes people, in college I just went to parties...never threw them) for his 40th birthday.
#4 - What would you do if you won the lottery (aside from pay off bills and donate?)
- I personally would first do our IUI with injects and IVF (if needed) in order to have a child...and then do it again until we had three kids...our life goal is two kids but if we had tons of money I think we'd want three.
- I'd buy a big house on the lake here in our little town of Lake in the Hills. But even with the lake I'd put in an infinity pool for fitness swimming & a hot tub. And make sure it had a HUGE deck for entertaining.
- I'd also buy a property down at Lake in the Ozarks in Missouri big enough for my family & Jeff's family to use for vacations (Six bedrooms would be needed but we could buy a three bedroom and convert a basement like my BFFs parents did.) And of course we'd need a boat & jet ski's LOL (if you're gonna dream, go big!)
- But first to enjoy the "we're retired!" feeling we'd take a long month vacation. First up? Vegas baby! We'd spend one week there, then drive to southern Cali for a week, and finally two weeks in Hawaii!
#5 - Fifteen facts about yourself
Are you ready for Kati fact overload? 1) I was born on Dec. 18th, 2) my dad was out of town on business & missed my birth. 3) we moved three times before my 2nd birthday due to my Dad's job in sales. 4) My first memory is the day we moved into our first house in Chicagoland (my 2nd Birthday). 5) I have an older brother named Dan. 6) He has three boys - Ryan (12), Connor (11), and Jack (9). 7) I loved gymnastics as a kid, but 8) a bone growth injury in the heal caused me to quit. 9) It also caused me to be in five casts in two years and on crutches 13 times! 10) My doc recommended swimming for PT afterward and I ended up being on the swim team in High School. 11) My three best friends worked with me as Lifeguards at the beach. 12) My BFF Barb introduced me to my husband by telling me "I met the man you are going to marry. 13) When I first met him, I thought Jeff looked "too old" for me. 14) He's 6 years older than me, but my soul mate. 15) I threw my first party ever (yes people, in college I just went to parties...never threw them) for his 40th birthday.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Blog Challenge; Day three: What's in my Make-up bag?
I will say it...I have boring make up. This can be taken one of two ways...I am beautiful on my own and don't need much to look pretty (LOL, I'd love to go with this one but I think Jeff is the only one who might really think this way), or option B...that I'm a cheap and simple. Well, I've often referred to myself as a T Shirt and Jeans girl. A laid back chick. And I guess my make up confirms it.
I use covergirl foundation, powder, and blush. I use Maybelline lipstick & mascara. My eye makeup is all over the board...the nicest is from Estee Lauder (christmas gift from mom). But everyday the eye makeup is the only thing that changes, everything else - including lipstick stays the same.
I sometimes wonder, is it because I don't like change? Or because I know what works - and if it isn't broke, don't fix it?
I know there are many girls who wear less make up than me...but to be honest it appears the other way around. There are many gals made up like they are planning to be in a play. A friend of mine in Iowa that I worked with once said it best...He said he felt if we went to bed together, he'd wake up with the same girl in the morning. But some girls, he felt if he saw them without their makeup he wouldn't recognize them. I keep it fairly natural.
I use covergirl foundation, powder, and blush. I use Maybelline lipstick & mascara. My eye makeup is all over the board...the nicest is from Estee Lauder (christmas gift from mom). But everyday the eye makeup is the only thing that changes, everything else - including lipstick stays the same.
I sometimes wonder, is it because I don't like change? Or because I know what works - and if it isn't broke, don't fix it?
I know there are many girls who wear less make up than me...but to be honest it appears the other way around. There are many gals made up like they are planning to be in a play. A friend of mine in Iowa that I worked with once said it best...He said he felt if we went to bed together, he'd wake up with the same girl in the morning. But some girls, he felt if he saw them without their makeup he wouldn't recognize them. I keep it fairly natural.
Monday, January 2, 2012
Blog Challenge- Day Two: What's in your Handbag
My mother in law refers to my purse as "the magical purse". Because I have a smaller purse than most everyone I know, and yet I'm always pulling anything anyone needs out of it. I HATE large purses, and fear that it's a side effect of becoming a mother. Don't get me wrong, I'll take that side effect! But hope that I can keep my medium size bag, instead of on of those gigantic suckers. Besides, that's what a diaper bag is for! So...what's inside this "magical bag"?
First of course is the wallet for obvious reasons. Next, is a little 3inch x2 inch book that my friend got me. It's awesome because you open it and it's a note pad on one side and an accordion file on the other - in the files I have coupons, stamps, a few pictures, and I still carry my two must haves from my wedding planning - a post-it with the cost breakdown and a contact list of all the vendors. I can't tell you how often in the past two and a half years since we got married that someones been planning a wedding and asked "who'd you use for alterations and what'd it cost?" or something similar. I whip out my book and tell them. I know I should let it go and put it in a scrap book but just have not gotten around to it. I also have a calendar, pen, and checkbook in there.
The next important thing is my camera and extra batteries. I am a former photo junkie! I don't take as many the past few years but I've gotten many a shots when someone said "I wish I'd brought my camera!" And I pull mine out. But with my new smart phone black berry, I have a feeling my camera will see much less use.
The rest I consider basic purse stuff...gum, lip gloss, tide stain stick, band aids, comb, Advil, a safety pin, sunglasses. OK, alright....maybe not everyone carries a USB jump drive - but I think they should. And sadly, because of my stupid retail job (thanks bad economy) I also have my Target name tag and a band for my tennis elbow. And all of this fits into my black leather Liz Claiborne purse that looks similar to the pic below (only black).
First of course is the wallet for obvious reasons. Next, is a little 3inch x2 inch book that my friend got me. It's awesome because you open it and it's a note pad on one side and an accordion file on the other - in the files I have coupons, stamps, a few pictures, and I still carry my two must haves from my wedding planning - a post-it with the cost breakdown and a contact list of all the vendors. I can't tell you how often in the past two and a half years since we got married that someones been planning a wedding and asked "who'd you use for alterations and what'd it cost?" or something similar. I whip out my book and tell them. I know I should let it go and put it in a scrap book but just have not gotten around to it. I also have a calendar, pen, and checkbook in there.
The next important thing is my camera and extra batteries. I am a former photo junkie! I don't take as many the past few years but I've gotten many a shots when someone said "I wish I'd brought my camera!" And I pull mine out. But with my new smart phone black berry, I have a feeling my camera will see much less use.
The rest I consider basic purse stuff...gum, lip gloss, tide stain stick, band aids, comb, Advil, a safety pin, sunglasses. OK, alright....maybe not everyone carries a USB jump drive - but I think they should. And sadly, because of my stupid retail job (thanks bad economy) I also have my Target name tag and a band for my tennis elbow. And all of this fits into my black leather Liz Claiborne purse that looks similar to the pic below (only black).
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