Home Sweet Home

We moved in a week and a half ago. I've been keeping busy remodeling the guest bathroom, fixing up our bedroom, and painting the dining room. Lots of fun. Can't wait to have company one we get it all together.

My baking and patisserie class is going well. It's really easy and pretty layed back. We make lots of really yummy things that just keep broadening my knowledge and skills. I'm so glad I am in culinary school.

I work pretty much the whole weekend, but I plan to head to Colleyville Saturday night til Monday for Labor Day weekend to visit my parents-in-law.

Resurrection of the Roach

So evidently it is possible to stun cockroaches, but not kill them. I just assumed it was dead since it layed on it's back for hours, but last night when we went to the house to bring some more stuff, I checked on it in the garage and it was definitely alive, on it's belly. So I think I need to physically crush it next time after I've disabled it. Today I called and set up our first pest control service to make sure we don't get any more.

Chris wanted me to mention on here that we won the lottery the other day...a whopping $4.00. Every now and then we take our chances and use a dollar to buy a scratch-off ticket, and this time we were victorious.

Ordered a refrigerator yesterday. We didn't expect to have to buy one, but there was a miscommunication in our contract, so now we have a new frige. It's being delivered on Monday. It's black, and has the freezer on the bottom.

And I Thought (enter a famous inventor here) Was Smart

So today I discovered what I think might be the best invention ever created (apart from other significant inventions such as Kitchen Aid mixers and weed whackers): cockroach killer spray. I don't know if you are all aware that for many years now I have suffered from entomophobia, specific only to the Order of Blattodea. I have tried to get over this dumb fear, however, moving to Texas didn't help any. I found one in our garage this morning, hiding in the dark. I panicked only a minute or so, being sure to stand free and clear of it, at least 10 feet away. But I mustered up the courage to destroy this invader. Conveniently and miraculously, there just so happened to be some of this glorious pest spray on a shelf. The old homeowners must have forgotten it, but I know that God had perfectly predestined it to be there for this very moment. The best part about this killing agent is that just by impressing my appendage upon the nozzle button, I was able to "shoot" the devilbug all the way from where I was, not getting near it. It was powerful enough from several feet away to annhilate it. The foaming action confused and disoriented the devilbug and by the time it regained it's senses, the poison had overtaken it's life and it lay motionless on it's back. Though I now have my hope placed in this trusty killing spray, I still had to check on the corpse every now and then just to make sure that it wasn't resurrected by some crazy reason. That's my story of victory for today.

Moving Day Approaches

As of today, we have official possession of our house now. What a wait! I went to Home Depot and bought painting supplies, and I think tomorrow I might head over there to start on a room. Our big move will be this weekend. Chris's dad is coming down to help us, and we think we might have a few others that are interested. Today I researched the best buy for a refrigerator. We are excited to move in and make it our home. In the mean time, our apartment is a disaster! There are a ton of boxes everywhere, and I'm in the middle of packing the kitchen, so there are dishes on the counters and dishes that need to be washed. I feel a bit frazzled when my home isn't organized. Call me a woman, I guess.

Happy Birthday, Meredith!

My dear friend, Meredith, turns 22 today. We met each other on the first day of kindergarten and we have been great friends ever since. We've shared in each others' joys and sorrows through family issues, relationships, school, and other challenges of life. I miss you, Meg!

Kiddos

I've been doing a lot of babysitting recently. It's fun. I do childcare once a week for 10 kids for a community group at our church (Luckily, there's another girl, too, who helps.), and I'm interviewing with a mom to watch her 11 mo. old a couple times a week. I get my kid-fix and I'm good for another week.

Psalm 34:8

I did not have a productive day at all and I felt really lazy today. Tomorrow I have a meeting and I work tomorrow night. And Friday. I love my job. I went to Central Market today and costed out my product list for what I'll need to buy to make the Lemans' dinner in a couple weeks. I'm soo excited, in case you forgot from my last blog. :) I ordered business cards online today for free. Well, you have to pay the shipping fee, but that's still pretty cheap. I'm in the process of creating a website for my company. I should hurry and purchase the domain name so that it doesn't get taken, but I'm still thinking through a lot of it. I don't want to make a hasty decision.
Here's a cropped version of my business card...without my personal info.

The Fords

This is the first couple that Chris and I met here in Austin and I'd say that they are probably the ones we are closest to still. We really enjoy their company and doing random things together. Meet Jenny and Jason.

Chef Carey

I have been hired to do some freelance work by cooking an anniversary dinner for some friends in Waco. I talked to them this weekend and I am really looking forward to it. I'll be preparing an 8-course meal, including a different wine for each course. I have been emailing back and forth and we've decided on a menu. I would love to disclose that information, but it is probably best if I wait until the event has passed. I need to practice some techniques first, and if by chance they don't work out, then I'll adapt the menu accordingly. :) I'm pumped.

HAPPY 1ST ANNIVERSARY, ANDY & MANDY

My older brother married a beautiful, Godly woman one year ago today. What a fun day it was! I love you both and I'm so glad that we can all share the joys of marriage together.

My Husband is a Triathlete...

This morning we woke up at 4:30am to leave for Chris's triathalon in Blanco. He and his two co-workers, Gabe and Casey, did extremely well. 400 people signed up for the tri, but they did a sprint-tri which is shorter in length. Out of the 232 people that did the sprint-tri, here are Chris's results (I'm bragging on him because he wouldn't say anything to anyone and I'm proud of him.) : He got 2nd in the swim! 39th place in the bike, and 20th in the run. Overall, he was ranked at 15th!

"Curious George"

This summer at the movie theater near our house, they have been offering a Free Family Movie Day every Wednesday morning at 10am. Yesterday I went and saw "Curious George" by myself, or rather with a theater packed-full of kiddos, most of them under the age of 5. They were constantly getting up to go potty or crying or throwing popcorn. Fun atmosphere. :) I also noticed that the volume wasn't as loud and they kept some of the lights on. But nonetheless, a free movie is always a bargain.

Yesterday I worked and had a lot of fun. I have no complaints about my job. My boss treats me well and as a result, I want to work hard and do a good job for her and the business. That's the way it should be. I just did prep stuff for some clients this week that will pick up food to freeze for the week. Also, I have an event next Thursday night on Lake Travis. One of our clients throws a summer camp every year at their lake house for his daughter (now Junior High age) and her little girlfriends. He hires UT students to teach arts and crafts and watch over them at the lake. We will be teaching them some cooking lessons and then serving them dinner. It will be fun. I think that's so sweet that the father does this every year for the girls. Cute idea.

After getting off of work, I headed home to change and grab something to eat. Luckily Chris had ordered pizza because I literally had 10 minutes before I had to head out the door to babysit. I watch about 10 kids each Wednesday night with another girl while the parents are at a Bible Study. We usually take them to a nearby park with snacks and drinks, and we often make walks back to the house for potty-breaks, band-aids, etc. I love seeing the kids and playing with them. They are a sweet bunch. I look forward to getting my kid fix every week.

Today Chris is home sick, so we are just being lazy around the apartment. If he goes into work after lunch, I think I'm going to clean and keep packing. Less than 2 weeks until we move!