Our Kitchen Table

Luke and I have officially made our first big purchase together: a kitchen table!

A little over a grand from WG&R furniture, we didn't want to go ahead and get an Amish table quite yet but didn't want Ashley brand furniture either. This was the happy medium. 

I'm aware that it really doesn't match but we bought it with the intention of having it for the next 20 years and outlasting the house. 

As per our usual as a couple, getting it from point A to point B was an adventure. In traditional Wisconsin fashion, it was snowing when we went to go pick it up in Luke's $2000 beater truck. We loaded it in and put some plastic over top, managing to get it home with minimal snowfall on the chairs themselves. 

We didn't have help. We pulled the truck into the garage and carried all of the chairs in. Then, flipping the table (which was boxed up with the leaf and the legs) over the side of the truck, we hauled it in with minimal difficulty. (I'm stronger than I look.) The styrofoam made a mess and we got melted snow all over the floor, but we succeeded in our endeavors with minimal casualties. 

I'll admit. I'm pretty proud. :)

Book Review: A Date With Fate

It's been a while since I've read a book with the depth and hilarity of A Date With Fate, the first book in the Adventures of Anabel Axelrod series by Tracy Ellen. Her writing may be a little long-winded, but it's so detailed and unique, it was hard for me to go back to the simplicity of most novelists.

The entire first book takes place over the course of a weekend, but with flashbacks interspersed, it managed to be a really long read that didn't bore me or keep me wishing for more. The things that happen to Anabel are a little far-fetched, I will admit, but there was a similarity to the Stephanie Plum books by Janet Evanovich; the main character is a spitfire and the people in her life are crazy and sexy. There's adventure, humor, great descriptions, and a few hot hot hot scenes between Anabel and Luke, the man she unwittingly is allowing into her life farther than any man has been before.

I'd give the book 4 stars, due to the long-windedness, but if not for that, it would be 5.

Now my problem is trying to get my hands on the rest of the series, seeing as my library doesn't carry it and I can't find a download online!

Music: Geronimo

These days, mainstream music is nothing overwhelmingly great. People are turning more and more to country because of the stories, the heart, and the class that accompany the music and the artists.

But every now and then, mainstream gets it very very right.

Influenza

I know, I'm a terribly uncommitted blogger.

I've seriously been so busy. I worked 40 hours a week at the end of December and have been spending as much time with Luke as I can. No excuse, I know. And today's excuse for the last week? I've contracted influenza from my job. Apparently I need to be a little more cautious with my contact precautions.

Joy.

There hasn't really been a whole lot going on, to be honest. It's been all about the holidays. Here is our Christmas tree.

The trick, I've discovered, is don't buy from a big place. The trees at Pick N Save were $70 bucks a pop. But when you go to a little fire station the next town over, less than a 15 minute drive, they've got them for $27. And good product too!

 The wedding was on hold until now (though I did buy a dress). I took a few of my favorite girls to get a Mary Kay facial, however, which was surprisingly fun. Plus I got $50 worth of free stuff.

I've been binge reading romance novels on my iphone, which has this dandy new(ish) app for books. I haven't written much in the last month, though I got a lot done during NaNoWriMo (despite failing).

Luke and I are great. We have a wedding retreat in a couple weeks and he brought me flowers today with a get well balloon. See?

My friends are dandy as well. I had everyone in this world that I care about over to "our" house a few days ago for a party, during which we played Cards Against Humanity and laughed hard enough to pee a little.

Christmas has come and gone, and so has the new year. I can hardly believe it's 2015 and literally 9 months until I'm married. That terrifies me and yet is the most exciting thing in the world. Keep in touch; I'll try to become regular again!