Beach Polaroids

Here are a few mini-Polaroids taken while we were at the beach. The further away ones were taken by Parker. I didn't put the brightness setting high enough to the bottom left photo. Live and learn!

Romantic!

Sweet Babe

This sweet girl hasn't gotten her photo on my blog in a while. I was inspired to take these after spending a while on a pretty Tumblr page.

I know I need many more of Michael as well. My family.

Lunch Day

This afternoon after Sana's MRI for her car accident pain, I picked her up from her apartment and we went to lunch at Toojay's Deli. I got the California wrap with a side of fruit and I liked that the wrap wasn't one of those where all the meat falls out the other side when you take a bite. The food was very yummy and since Michael was close by getting dental supplies for his projects, he stopped in and ate lunch with us. Hooray! Notice anything interesting about this menu photo?

Our plans after lunch were to go to the Leu Gardens because its free on the first Monday of every month, but we got there too late. It was 4:05pm when we pulled up and the last entry was at 4pm. That wouldn't have given us much time to walk around anyway, assuming they closed at 5pm, but that's okay since I'll get to go on Saturday. We went shooting again at the range by Full Sail so Sana could use the rest of her bullets. I got in my 5 shots in, all in the orange spots this time! I needed to stop by Wal-Mart for some vehicle cleaning supplies and bought some new colorful pillow cases for the pillows I use. (Michael doesn't like me messing with his gross 5 year old pillows.)

Sana and I stopped by Jeremiah's Italian Ice for dessert before ending our fun day. We both got Gelatis. She got strawberry Italian ice with vanilla ice cream and I got mint chocolate chip Italian ice with vanilla ice cream (although I asked for swirl).. It was still good and I would go again. I was quite surprised that such a tiny building still had a drive thru.

"Life's Too Short to Blind People with Rock Salt"

This past weekend in Alachua was a nice getaway. I will admit that my internal clock's schedule got out of whack and I slept far too much, but the sleepover with Mia was well worth it and I am now on another glorious Glee binge, watching three or four episodes every night. Unfortunately, we did not have our much anticipated Indian Adventure, or visit kittens at the animal shelter(s), but still forced ourselves to be awake for breakfast with Grandpa on Saturday morning. We did get to spend a couple hours with Sharanya at her new house in the woods beneath the stars. She says there is a creek with a ten foot waterfall near her house, so we will have to check that out next time. Sometimes I wish I could stay for a longer amount of time, especially when I try to make lots of fun plans, but I would want Michael and Sasha there too.

Last night Michael and I had dinner at Sweet Tomatoes then enjoyed a run through Target before they closed. I got a new skirt for work and a colorful tank top. Its going to be my favorite beach outfit for July! As the manager announced on the intercom that we had to check out, I ran to the freezer aisle for more strawberry flavored Toaster Strudels then yelled in Michael's direction, asking if he wanted one or two packs. He laughed and asked if I felt like we were on a timed game show. (He wanted two and yes, I did.) At home we snuggled on the couch with Sasha and watched our Netflix movie, The Darkest Hour. This morning after being woken up by intense thunder, Michael suggested we have breakfast at Denny's before work. That was a fun surpise. I tried the Fit Slam with spinach and tomatoes scrambled into egg whites, an English muffin and fruit. Not bad!

Just Saying

(& the shoes Michael bought me the other day. 

He likes the bows on the sides.)

the Effects Artist's Wife

This might be my favorite picture that Miriam took of me, after my make over on Saturday. I feel like I can really relate to Rachel McAdam's character in "The Time Traveler's Wife" - not knowing when she will see her husband again, being very sad when he's gone and thrilled to spend the time she has with him. I'm tempted to watch it again.. I'm trying to keep calm and not get upset that Michael is hardly home these days. I know it's because he is working. I just wonder how many other jobs will be like this. How many jobs will be worse, on my part, where he will be filming in North Carolina, completely gone for weeks (or months) at a time? I've passed the lonely stage. I don't know what I would do without Sasha's loving company.

 I wrote something for him yesterday:

I'm reaching out for my love

The zombies are ripping you apart

But as long as I can keep your heart

for myself, we'll be just fine.

Love never fails

And I have enough to go around

But I'll be selfish to the point

where I only share it with you.

You Are My Sunshine!

I meant to take photos of these flowers a couple weeks ago, but the following morning, the complex guys had cut the grass and since they are "weed flowers" and not part of the decoration landscaping, they were mowed down. So I got them today! Phew!

Michael is working another night for the zombie shoot. I'm not sure what production day # this is, but thankfully he isn't needed every night, so I have been able to spend a little more time with him than I was expecting. Its not as much as before since I don't get home from work until 10:30pm now due to my Phase 2 training schedule. (Although I complained about having to wake up at 4:30am for the morning shift last month, the time went by a lot faster those days. Hopefully I can get back on that shift & A side! when I'm done with training - around the middle of June.)

Anyway, Michael was kind enough to give me a few minutes of his time to snap these super romantic photos before he left to drive to the shoot. Hopefully it will keep my heart satisfied until he gets home again. 

*I totally wore my Jesse and the Rippers shirt while I watched a specific episode of Full House! The one where Becky finds out she is pregnant. She worried Jesse would be upset because they hadn't planned on having kids that soon. I laughed when Joey said, "Too bad you're not an elephant. They stay pregnant for two years! Then you would be right on schedule."

I Am Thankful For..

(in no particular order).. "favorite days" ~ motivation ~ getting real mail/letters ~ free stuff! ~ "clean" comedians ~ Holidays & decorating/ celebrating ~ the sweetest hubs! ~ going on dates ~ new toothbrushes & feeling clean ~ cold air when I'm hot (tile floors) ~ heaters for the few times that its cold outside (and warm water!) ~ organizational skills ~ dollar aisles and dollar menus ~ going for walks, going swimming and the full ability to use my limbs ~ heart shaped objects (such as: leaves & chicken sandwiches!) ~ times when I have patience ~ smoothies and pizza parties ~ making new friends ~ Zumba classes ~ answered prayers ~ hand made gifts (given & received) ~ when employees let me "recycle" my coupons or rain checks! ~ cool film cameras ~ natural beauty and my ability to see it ~ my new car! & the Gore family's selflessness ~ trash bags that smell like vanilla ~ the genius who decided to put a napkin and a mint in the tuna snack packs! ~ my full-time job ~ having so much to be thankful for.

Aaaand for baby Sasha & the love she shares with us.
*Photo, courtesy of Charles Parker Gore*

What are YOU thankful for today? =)

Important Notice.

There have many many ups and downs in our relationship over the past 3 weeks. A lot of it has to do with the stress of continuing to talk about jobs, money and eventually moving to LA. But all I keep thinking about is Valentine's Day. I'm trying to sink myself into crafts that revolve around love. I've already made a decent banner and a few cards to mail out. I framed something for Michael. I was so thrilled when I found these Wizard of Oz cards at the Dollar Store! I had just bought 70% off TinMan (Halloween) paper at Scrappy Boutique, so I loved the message that was on his Dollar Store card ~ "My Heart Belongs to YOU!" I'll probably want to keep it up all the time. I do love Michael very much. I always will. Even when I am really cranky - something he doesn't always seem to be sure of. But I have been listening to Joyce Meyer CD's in my car lately (enjoying my last week with my '95 Cutlass, which has been so good to me). I have received a bunch of good messages from Joyce - most of which seemed to be directed towards me. I really like how she was talking about how people get so bend out of shape all the time because things aren't going their way when they try to plan stuff. That is definitely me right there! Joyce said that we need to stop planning things and just go with the flow because God is the one who makes the flow. Jesus said "Follow Me", He didn't say that He would follow us. *Mind Blown!*
       Michael and I have had a couple lunch dates this week - both times at Logan's Roadhouse. I think we both like Texas Roadhouse better (because of the rolls!) but Logan's is close to where he works. Yesterday I got the lunch deal, which is good Monday through Thursday - $12 for an appetizer (I got three chicken tenders with fries), a salad (Caesar - love the croutons, but the dressing portion is far too generous), an entree with a side (salmon and mac&cheese) and a dessert (a mini strawberry cheesecake - like a shooter, which came in a small Logan's bucket). It was one of those days where I feel super hungry, but after I eat just a little, I'm full. Thank goodness for to-go boxes. I will be set for the rest of the day!