Yes, I want a cookie and a gold star.

Here's the thing,

When it comes to paperworky-type stuff, something comes over my mind and body and I am paralyzed with fear and dread. My palms get sweaty, I feel close to tears, my head starts to spin. So what usually happens is I put it off and have stress dreams for months.

Today though, TODAY I conquered NOT ONE, BUT TWO of those mind crippling tasks that make me want to throw myself on the floor and cry.

After two years of marriage, I finally legally became a Jones. Drew Jones escorted me downtown and after two metal detectors, a purse frisk and a ride on 3 separate elevators we found the right floor in the right building. I took a number and we sat down and soon enough this lady, formerly known as Momany, became Jones. 


The second thing I did 
is
our
taxes.

We almost caved and paid someone 300+ dollars to do them for us. But I got up this morning and diligently conquered our taxes in my bathrobe.

When I was done Drew Jones hugged me and called me a hard worker and I shook my head. He said I was very smart and I shook my head. I told him, "I just didn't want to pay someone $300 dollars." And he said, "ohhh, you're a cheapskate." And I nodded, yes.

We celebrated this afternoon with lunch at Dirty Franks.

We both ordered a Reuben hot dog and shared tater tots and mac n'cheese. I also ordered a drink that involved sweet tea, lemonade and vodka. I'm not gonna lie, I felt a bit tipsy when we left and ended up taking a looong leisurely nap at home.

It was gooood. Cheers to checking things off the list and sleeping like a baby.

Mother Teresa tucked me in.

Last night my brother-in-law Tanner and his lady Ellen came over for dinner and a haircut. It was a lovely time that ended with some very creamy and delicious Haagan-Daz 5 coffee ice cream.

Good idea for my taste buds, bad idea for being able to fall asleep after they left.

I tossed. I turned. I whined to the already asleep Drew Jones.

Finally I got up, went to our computer room and plucked one of my favorite books of all time from the shelf, No Greater Love by Mother Teresa.

I have read this book about 3 times at separate points in my life, and every time I am moved and inspired by her simple, powerful words.

Last night I hungrily ate up the first couple chapters, and of those there are 2 quotes that I'm still thinking about this morning...

"From the moment a soul has the grace to know God, she must seek."

&

"Perfect prayer does not consist of many words, but in the fervor of the desire which raises the heart of Jesus."

The best to you this weekend. :)

Bird Dreams

A couple evenings ago Drew Jones was telling me about how in the morning when he got up for work and came downstairs and Bernice (our yellow parakeet) was squawking and flying around the cage like a crazy bird. He said Claude (our blue parakeet) was really scared and trying to stay out of her way.

Bernice is usually very, very quiet. The only time she says anything is when she squawks angrily for a minute or so like 2 times a week. But I had never seen her fly around the cage hitting things like Drew Jones described.

I instantly felt bird shame. 

"SHE KNOWS!" I told Drew Jones as I peered into their cage.

"I always knew she was a smart bird, SHE KNOWS that she is in a cage when she COULD BE FLYING AROUND FREE!"

Bernice looks at me blinking, half asleep.

I was so sad for her.

I ended up having a dream that night where I set the birds free in our house and they kept trying to crawl into heating vents. I would swat them out of the way and say, "I'm just trying to keep you SAFE!" It was stressful.

So yesterday I got in my head that I was going to take a chance and let them fly free in the guest room. I would shut and secure all heating vents, open the cage door and let them have a good fly. I thought about it all day while I worked.

After I got home I walked them up the stairs in their cage. They bobbed their heads and looked at me like I was going to eat them. I set up the room for bird safety, opened their cage door, walked over to the bed, sat down and waited.

Then I laid down because it was taking awhile.

Then I tried to help them out of the cage because they were just SITTING THERE. Which freaked them out and made them scurry around trying to escape me.

Finally I left the room, cage still open. "I'll give them some privacy" I thought.

About an hour and a half later I peek in the room. And there they are, Claude and Bernicey, still in their cage blinking at me.

I closed their cage door and told them it was okay. I would be scared to leave the cage too if I were them. As much as Bernice may feel frustrated, at least she knows the cage is safe and a big hand always drops fresh food and water in there every morning.

Even so, I think she could still use a good fly around.

Come to think of it, maybe I could too.

This photo deserves a post all it's own.

I don't know what is going on here.

But 

it is

hilarious

&

classic.

2 years fly by when you're in love

Today is our anniversary.

I know I talk a lot about Drew Jones on here. And today is no exception...except that I want to talk directly to him. So, excuse me if you will for a moment...

There is no one like you Drew Jones.

I am getting better at being a wife because of the husband you've been to me.

Even at my ugliest of moments, you call me good.

Your pureness of heart and simple unforced kindness make my life with you a classroom. You, without even knowing, are teaching me patience, kindness, goodness.

I can never thank God enough for directing my path,

quite literally,

right 

to 

you.

I love you.

Happy 2nd Anniversary darling.
And cheers to 75 more years of secret language, friendship, laughter and romance.
...........................

As an anniversary treat I want to share with you our first dance as husband and wife. You'll want to watch the whole thing too, trust me.
Click Here to enjoy :)

Excuses, excuses.

Well, hi.

I know I haven't said much for a couple days and I think it's because...

a. I'm dog sitting Rzeznik 

and he is a very needy little guy. If I am not walking/scratching/playing with him he cries. Just walks around crying. If he could talk I think he'd say something like "I just miss my Mom. Is she coming back? LOOK A SQUIRREL!"

b. The sun is out, so instead of inside typing away I am outside enjoying away.

c. I have been really busy with work. In the past 2 weeks I've gotten 5 new cleaning jobs..been workin' hard for the money.

I hope my excuses suffice to explain my absence. And, so as not to make this post too lame I will post another photo.

It's a throw pillow, its beautiful and soon it will be mine.

You can get them at Pier 1. I went there last weekend with my Dad and was impressed by all the great stuff they had. The last time I had gone in the store (years ago) it seemed like everything had a tribal theme which just isn't my cup of tea. So I was pleasantly surprised that their selection seemed to be more diverse this time around.

Well, that's all I got.

Hope you have a happy weekend.

:)

Naptime

I visited my hometown over the weekend. My friend of 20 years, Stefanie was having her bridal shower so I made a special trip to celebrate her. It was a lovely shower, and so great to see a few old, dear friends.

Drew Jones decided to sit this one out and stay in Columbus. So I made plans with my girlfriends and family. I had tea and went shopping with my Dad, saw a movie and had lunch with my Mom, Sister, Cousin and Aunt. I went out on Saturday night to the neighborhood bar with some friends. It was a very nice visit.

After a drowsy drive home Drew Jones and I sat on the couch and took turns sharing about our weekends. After we finished we relaxed half watching TV. Suddenly he paused the TV remembering something he forgot to tell me. 

"Guess what I saw this weekend?"

I can tell it's going to be good, so excited I ask, "WHAT?"

"SLEEPING SQUIRRELS."

"WHAT!!!?"


"I saw two squirrels sleeping on the roof next door!"


"SHUT YOUR MOUTH!"


"Serious."

He was on the computer in the spare room and looked out the window and there they were. 2 squirrels taking a nap. God bless him, he went downstairs and got the camera to take a picture for me so I could see when I got home.

I know most people wouldn't squeal with delight at the thought of sleeping squirrels, but to me...well I just love stuff like that.

It made me even happier that Drew Jones knew how thrilled it would make me. That I would want him describe what they looked like and if he saw them wake up. I'm still excited about it today. Sleeping squirrels! Can you imagine?! My, my.

Lauren & Brant

In two short months,

This guy:

Will marry this girl:

I am so excited.

The handsome fellow is my brother-in-law Brant.

And the beauty with the flowers will soon be my new sister.

I was honored when they asked me to design their wedding invitations.I accepted happily and got down to business.

Now the work is done, the invitations are printed and sent and I wanted to share the finished product with you.

Take a looksie:

 Thanks for trusting me with this task Brant and Lauren.

I love you both and am inspired by the way you

truly love

respect

and 

enrich

each other.

Light-Lime Society Soap WINNER!

Bridget said...

"mmmmm... is it edible too?"

 Now Bridget, 

though it may look and smell yummy, 

I don't recommend eating your light-lime soap. 

 It's kinda like fondant icing. 

Mostly edible but tastes bad

and likely to give you a stomach ache.

That's right girl, you won!

 I used this random name picker

Which I prefer because it looks like a slot machine and when it lands on a winner there is audio of cheering and clapping. It's awesome.

So Bridget email me your address and Society will send you your light-lime 2 pack of soap pronto.

Thanks to Society Bodycare.

I'd put you all over my body any day.

(Sorry to any one of my grandma's that reads this. It sounds risque, but what I mean is their bodycare products. See it's funny, because it sounds like something it's not. Haha. Please don't be mad at me. I love you.)

Thanks to everyone who entered!

Much love for a wonderful weekend.

Adventures in the Land of Shower Registry

I went to Kohl's yesterday to buy a gift for my friend's bridal shower.

I printed off the list and wandered around the store for an hour and couldn't find one thing on the list.

Not one.

It was as if my local Kohl's store found my friends list and decided to move everything she picked out into their secret underground lair. I picture the ringleader looking like the Snow Miser, rubbing his hands together giddy with excitement in anticipation of my confusion and dismay.

No beach towels
No 3-pack of  wooden baskets
No muffin pan
No mosaic tealight holder

So I did what anyone would do.

I impulse bought a belted floral skirt and a ruffly tank top and went to Target.

And would you believe that when I got to Target and printed off the list that every item listed was "Online Only"?

It was.

I laughed out loud.

And then scanned it again and saw one lonely item was available in the store. YES! I powerwalked to the aisle and snatched it up. I imagined another girl attending the same shower could be in another Target at the very same moment as me, realizing that there was only ONE ITEM she could get in the store.  I MUST PREVAIL!

Don't worry, I did.


____________________________


Don't forget my Society Bodycare Light-Lime Soap giveaway ends tonight!! Go HERE and enter to win :) Giveaway means absolutely FREE, so seriously...go put your name in a comment so you have a chance. This soap is gooooood.

You wanta da soap?

St. Patty's day is coming up.

In celebration

Society Bodycare is going to give one of you lovely, faithful readers of this humble blog

some

light

lime

soap

two bars to be exact.

It's green.

It's fresh.

It's sure to give

your shower-time some zing!

Some oomph!

Some limey pizazz!

This giveaway starts today and ends this Thursday the 11th at midnight. I will let you know the winner Friday morning.

That way we can get your

bars shipped to you by St. Patricks Day

and you can

scrub-a-dub

in light lime happiness.

Here is how you enter to win:

You can have up to 3 entries in the comments section.

Entry #1: 

Enter your name.

Entry #2:  

Follow me.  

And then make sure to let me know with a comment. If you already follow me then let me know that as well :)

Entry #3:

Share about this giveaway on your blog/Facebook/Twitter

And then let me know you did that with a comment on this post.

To check out other Society Bodycare products 

Go here!

The Joneses

Our rapidly growing Jones family had a turn with Keels Photography in January. Chris Keels did a fantastic job as usual.

He got Dad Jones to laugh.

Afterward Mom Jones said something like, "Well that was just wonderful!"

And when Drew Jones saw the slideshow of all the photos for the first time, he got really quiet and teary eyed.

So, 

thanks again Chris. 

You really are right where you're supposed to be.

And,

it is such a gift.

My favorite photo of the entire session is this gem:

 There we all are.
(click it if you want to see it bigger)

Here are a few others that I love...

 

  

 

The handsomeness cannot be contained.

Oh and ladies...

Corbin (far left) is single.

(He's gonna kill me. But he probably doesn't read this, so I'll take my chances.)

Happy Friday and bon weekend to you.

I found something great that I just have to share.

Have you heard of Groupon?

It's a website where you can get really REALLY good coupons for valuable things if a group of people decide to do it.

Today's Groupon is a 55 minute massage for $25 STINKIN' BUCKS.

I mean, look at those people's faces...I had to get one. They come out with a new Groupon daily and it only lasts through the day, so if you like it you have to jump on it. As of now this massage one has only 15 hours left until it's expired!

If you live in Columbus you should get one too. And if you don't live in Columbus you could always look for the Groupon in your area.


To get a super duper cheap massage or just check the whole thing out GO HERE! 

We are seasonal candy types

Last night Drew Jones brought home a bag of these:

My Easter candy weakness.

He also brought home two boxes of peeps (his choice candy of the season)

and

a bag of jellybeans.

I usually will savor one of these this time of year too...

 

Yum.

Wintry Weekend-O-Fun

Drew Jones and I spent the weekend with friends. Together, we decided to brave the northern Ohio snow and tuck ourselves away in a cottage in Vermilion, Ohio.

We packed up only the essentials:

And we were off

 

The roads were treacherous, but thankfully we were driving in a four wheel drive truck. On the way we came across a stranded couple. Their Jeep had gone off the road and gotten very very stuck. So we stopped and lent a hand. Well, Drew Jones and Josh did. I just took pictures and chatted.

 

We finally arrived and stayed up until 3 a.m.

talking,

laughing,

enjoying.

On Saturday we bundled up and headed out for some snow covered fun.

 

 

A very frozen Lake Erie.

  

Saturday was Andy's birthday!

So celebrations ensued throughout the day and night.

I think we sang happy birthday to him about 5 or 6 times.

Josh, Chrissy and Jon even wrote him a special birthday song.

They surprised him with it live that night...

We played a lot of games.

Charades.

One where you had to lay on each others bellies and try not to laugh.

Arm wrestling.

 

 

There was plenty of singing...

On Sunday Drew Jones made 8 omelets and gave 3 haircuts

 

 

 It was a great weekend to say the least.

We have top notch friends.

Thank you Scheutzow's for making it happen, you're awesome.

:)

Ashley Reale wrote about it too..to read and see a little more go here.