(Courtesy of: http://tinyurl.com/3yz2u63)

It’s almost that time again: the dreaded yearly check-up.

For the last six years I’ve made my yearly pilgrimage to the doctor’s office for a physical and other lovely exams that shall remain nameless.

I don’t know why, but I’ve never felt comfortable in a doctor’s office. I’ve never had a “bad” experience so I’m not entirely sure where it comes from. We had a wonderful family doctor in the Great White North, though once we moved south it was several years between visits.

As I entered my twenties, I knew a general check-up was in order. Luckily, our university campus had very nice doctors that were always on staff, and many of them were female. I went to the university clinic for four years before finally graduating and moving away.

After we moved to Pretty City, finding a doctor was the furthest thing from my mind. Actually, until I knew it was time for a physical I hadn’t even considered where I would go. Going to the doctor at our university was so easy–make an appointment, go in, go out.

Last year I ended up just going to a walk-in clinic, and I wasn’t thrilled with the experience. Not only was the doctor a man I didn’t know, it just wasn’t… comfortable, and there was no guarantee that I could see the same doctor the following year. I need a doctor that I can stick with.

But how do I find a doctor in the “real world”?

I’ve been putting this off for months, and I know it’s time for me to start looking. I’d like to get in somewhere before the end of March, and I have no idea how long this process takes. I was ready to just open the phonebook and start calling every number… but the Hubs and I came up with two options to try first.

First, I did what any good internetaholic would do: I asked the question on my facebook. I’m friends with several people who have lived in this area for some time, and I hoped that one might know of a doctor who was accepting new patients. I would much prefer going to a doctor that someone I know trusts and likes. Luckily, more than one person offered to help, and a friend of mine gave me the name and number of her daughter’s doctor who just happens to be taking on new patients.

The Hubster also tracked down the Health Care Connect website for me and I registered tonight. He had read about it a while ago on Reddit, and mentioned it to me when I told him that I was earnestly looking for a doctor. I’m not entirely sure how it’s going to work, but basically all you do is fill in your information, then they help you find a health care provider in your area. So we’ll see how it goes!

I’m hoping that something will pan out and that I’ll be able to get in somewhere before spring. I’ll keep you posted on my doctor search, and if you have any other suggestions for me I’d love to hear them!

Four years ago today I put on a big white dress (and cute white sandals) and married my Hubster. There were no doubts, no second thoughts–just more love than I ever thought possible. In that moment I had no idea how our life would turn out, I only knew that I could no longer imagine life without him.

Someone once told me to treasure every day because they will fly by, but I had no just how quickly the years can pass. I honestly can’t believe that it’s already been four years–that’s like officially out of “newlywed” territory! We’re oldie-weds now! We’re off to enjoy a nice dinner together and then we’re going to see the most romantic movie of the year–District 9.

Are we romantic? haha

We both love action films and have been waiting for this film to come out for ages. So while it’s not Sleepless in Seattle (♥), we’re excited to go. :)

In honour of our 4 years of marriage, I want to tell you four things that I love about my Hubster. He’s only ever made one appearance as an author on my blog, so it’s really up to me to show you how fabulous I think he is.

And he’s kinda cute too. :)

1. He supports me through everything. While I’ve been unemployed this summer the Hubs has been wonderful in doing everything he can to help me find a job / help me not feel like a complete failure for not having one. After my nutso interview yesterday (after which I ended up in tears… there is a blog post coming) he arrived home with beautiful flowers and a huge hug. We both decided the company was stupid anyway. haha

2. He makes me laugh. I don’t know how anyone could survive life today without laughter… he is always doing something to get me to smile, and he has the most infectious laugh I’ve ever heard. He laughs with me, never at me (ok, maybe sometimes when I do something reeeally stupid… which is actually kinda often… hahhaha) and makes every day just a little bit brighter just because he was in it. I’d give you some examples of his craziness but I might get in trouble… haha!

3. He works so hard. My Hubs is not a giver-upper, and I’ve always admired that. When he has a problem or wants to learn to do something, he works and works until he figures it out. I’d get bored or give up, but not my Hubs! He worked so hard last winter to find a good job (in a good city… it’s equally important) and it paid off. We’re now happy as clams in our little home in Pretty City and he is doing very well at his grown-up job. When we went back for our graduations in June he was one of a handful of people in his class that had secured a good job in this crazy recession.

4. He brings out the best in me. Through our years of marriage he has taught me over and over again that if I’m not happy with something I don’t have to settle–I can change it. One of my biggest battles has been with my self-image, and over the years my confidence in myself has grown and now is he helping me with some changes I want to make to the outside. I’ve always been “afraid” of going to the gym, but he started going with me sporadically through the winter, and yesterday came with me to sign up for a membership so that we can go together. He believes in me, even when I have little belief in myself. He makes me feel beautiful, inside and out.

Now, I know he’s going to read this, look over at my desk (we share an office now) and tell me that I am the Queen of ‘Cheesiness’, but I don’t care. He secretly loves my cheesiness. ;)

I love you, Hubster… thank you for a wonderful 4 years. Here’s to year five!

As our wedding anniversary is quickly approaching, I like to dream about things the Hubster might buy me… and this year I can’t stop thinking about diamonds. After all, they say diamonds are a girl’s best friend, right?

Four and half years ago the Hubster got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I saw he had an engagement ring in his hands, but I was too busy saying yes to his beautiful proposal ten times to really get a good look at it. It was much later, after he’d left for the evening, that I really got a chance to meet my first diamond…

…and I love it.

He picked out the ring by himself and gave me a princess cut, white gold, solitaire diamond ring (which is exactly what I would have picked out for myself!!). So really, when he possesses such fabulous diamond picking skills, am I not doing him a disservice by not allowing him to practice—to expand upon this talent?

I thought so too.

I’ve already told the Hubster that for our 10-year wedding anniversary he’s allowed to add a diamond on either side of my current engagement ring… you know, one for each 5 years we’ve been together. I also wouldn’t say no to a second wedding band that sparkles. I thought it was a very thoughtful gesture on my part; I just eliminated any stress of trying to pick out an anniversary gift on that day. Aren’t I a good wifester?? :)

But these days I can’t stop thinking about earrings. I own all these cheap ones (you know, the ones that tarnish after several wears) but I’d really, really love to get a beautiful pair of diamond earrings that I could wear every day. They don’t have to be crazy expensive or fancy, just something simple and elegant. Like me. (hahahahaha)

So ladies, what about you? If you could have your dream jewelery, what would it be?

I am also notorious for not wearing my jewelry in my house. I am a total weirdo–I hate the feeling of anything on my hands or wrists when I am in my house. The second I walk through the door my watch, bracelet and rings all come off and stay off for the entire duration I am home. Then again, I cannot leave my house without them on. I feel completely naked if I don’t have them on when I leave… to the point that I will actually go back and put them on, even if I’m just running across the street. I know, I know. I’m nuts. haha!

So, when we first got married I would just take my jewelry off and leave it all over the house when we’d come home. I think I freaked the Hubs out a bit that a) I must not actually like my pretty sparkly ring as I refused to wear it at home; or b) I was going to put it in one of those REALLY good storage places and then completely forget where I left them (you know the ones I mean… they always seem like such a good idea at the time… *sigh*). I finally convinced the Hubs that I do, in fact, love my engagement ring and take it off so that I don’t destroy it while I’m at home. I am not always …delicate… as ladies should be and have nightmares of my diamond falling out and disappearing into a floor crack or waving goodbye to me as it spirals down the sink drain.

As to his second fear, in the four years (okay, okay… 3 years, 11 months) that we have been married I have never lost my engagement OR wedding ring (which I also love).

Sidebar: It may be a little difficult to see in the photo as I am the worst photographer ever, but I chose to have my wedding band engraved on the exterior, instead of the traditional interior messages. This way I can see it all the time and it’s a little different! It was terrible trying to find a jeweler who would do it (apparently it’s difficult to do on gold?) but we finally did and I love love love how it turned out. It has our names written on the top, and “Eternity” written on the bottom (what you see in the photo) as the circle is symbol for eternity.

Anyway, I digress. I love my rings and in our 4 years of marriage I have never lost them. Not once. Now here comes the best part–remember how I told you that the Hubs was convinced that I’d lose MY rings? Haaaaaa….. guess who has misplaced his wedding band at LEAST two times? (you’d almost think he was trying to send me a subliminal message or something… HA I kid, I kid. He loves me. :))

The first time wasn’t SO bad… a couple of years ago we had dinner at a friend’s home on a VERY cold day. His ring has always been a bit loose on him, so while drying his freezing hands in their washroom it slipped off his finger into their trash basket directly below the towel. Somehow he made it through the entire evening and back to our apartment before he realized his ring was missing. We tore apart the apartment before we thought to call our friends who quickly located his ring.

The second time was slightly more challenging. As university students it was often impossible to avoid taking evening classes, so it was not uncommon for the Hubs or I to be on our way home from school after 9pm. During the summer the Hubs would often take his super speedy bike to school. One night the Hubster was off at school while I was hanging out at home waiting for him to get back. At around 9:15pm the phone rang. It was the Hubster… this was our conversation:

Me: Hello?

Hubs: Hi… what are you up to?

Me: Hi love! Mmm not much, just waiting for you to get home! Why?

Hubs: Do you think you could come meet me at {insert intersection a 10-minute walk away} and bring a flashlight?

Me: …umm, are you serious? Why?

Hubs: (very hesitantly) I, uh, seemed to have dropped my wedding ring on the ground… and can’t seem to find it.

(What the Hubs DIDN’T tell me that the ring actually slipped off while he was bicycling down a steep hill–again, cold night, loose ring… we need to get that baby sized–and he couldn’t find it in the dark)

Me: …oh, love. It’s reeeeeeeally dark out. I’m not sure I’m comfortable walking that far by myself. (insert fear of wild rapists)

Hubs: Oh, okay. (sounds of heavy breathing and movement in the background) WAIT, I think I see it! Yup, I’ve got it. Never mind babe, I’ll see you soon!

My very logically thinking Hubster actually heard the ring slip off his finger and hit the pavement while he was biking. While I would have started panicking / screaming at this point, he listened as the ring rolled down the hill to try and calculate how far it would go. (He’s telling me that speed x time = distance, but that sounds like math to me so… I’m lost. haha) ANYWAY, he was able to estimate the speed the ring would go based on the speed on his little bike computer and after a few minutes of searching (and a phone call to me) he spotted the ring lying in the middle of the intersection, unharmed except for a few “love dents”.

So lovelies, the moral of the story is: size your wedding ring, or wear gloves. All the time. haha

P.s. If you haven’t already, take a peek at the post below and leave me your “Ask Me Anything!” question for my upcoming posts. :)

This should really be a post somewhere in Our Story* but I couldn’t wait to write it. So you’re getting a post a little out of sequence… but I don’t think you’ll mind. haha!!

Now you may be wondering–what the heck does she mean by that title??

Let me enlighten you… the Hubster and I have been married for just over three years. Three years, two months and fourteen days, to be exact. I could also break it down into weeks, days and hours for you, but the gist of it is that we’ve been married for a while now. Right? Right. Well, it’s taken the Hubster three years, two months and fourteen days to believe he’s married. haha!

Almost immediately after we got married the Hubster looked at me with a big goofy grin on his face and said, “I can’t believe I’m married.” I thought it was adorable. This was no “Ugggggh… I can’t believe I’m freaking married…“, it was more of a “Wow.. I. am. married.” After all, it was a huuuuuge change in both our lives–all of a sudden we were living together, I had a new last name and he had a new person in his life that liked to be with him all the time. haha! It was absolutely understandable that it would take a bit to sink in, right?

This continued over the first few weeks after we got married… and I could never tell what triggered it. He could be looking at a jar of peanut butter, doing his crazy dance or watching TV, then he’d turn to me and say, “I can’t believe I’m married!“. I always smiled and laughed, thinking it would sink in for him by Christmas, our first one together.

Well, Christmas was peppered with goofy grins and “I can’t believe I’m married!“‘s. So I thought, maybe he’ll believe he’s married when we celebrate our first anniversary. After all, a year is plenty long enough to believe that you’re married, right?

Wrong. For the past three years the Hubster has often looked at me with a thoughtful smile on his face and out of nowhere said,

“I can’t believe I’m married!“

It quickly became a running joke with his family as he often said it when we were visiting his parents. After hearing it a few times his mother would give him a loving smack and make a joke about it. Now, you might be thinking, “What’s the big deal? So he says it every once in a while… big whoop.“

Oh no, my friends. If I had a dollar for each time I’ve heard this statement I’d be a very rich woman with lots and lots of beautiful shoes. haha! For a while this was being said nearly every day and was triggered by the most random things! It was almost perplexing for me–was there something I was supposed to be doing to make him believe he was married? I mean, it sunk in that I was married about 3 minutes after being married. haha! So what was up with the Hubster?!! I’m not sure we’ll ever know…

And then one day, it just stopped… he just didn’t say it. Or the day after that. Or the day after that. I actually didn’t notice it until a few days had gone by and I realized that those words were missing from his daily vocabulary. It took 3 years, but I think that my husband FINALLY believes he’s married…

…or at least I did until it popped out over dinner last night. haha!!

Shop Girl*

I also think you should know that I have a freaking amazingly talented and wonderful sister who gave me the best anniversary gift ever. We didn’t have a videographer at our wedding as it was too expensive and Spart hadn’t yet discovered / developed her talent for it yet! So, instead she made us a beautiful video full of photos and clips from our wedding day and relationship afterward… AND, she adjusted it to be “blog friendly” –cutting out all the names and such. How awesome is she?? I hope you enjoy it… I’ve already watched it about 5 times. haha

Thanks Spart… I love it!!!

Shop Girl*

You will note that midway through her post she states the following: “For instance, the fun of the chicken dance has been banned…I know, collective ‘AWWW‘…but what can ya do?”

For those of you who do not know what the “Chicken Dance” is, please watch the following video.

If you DO know what it is, this video is a clip from the 2003 East Coast Polka Championship Chicken Dance Finals. That’s right. I said Chicken Dance Finals. As in a contest. For Chicken Dancing. If you skipped the video, watch it now. hahahahah

Anyway, I digress.

If you have read Lilac Dreamer‘s post (which I recommend, she is a lovely lovely writer) you will note that she is saying that it is her duty as a bridesmaid to prevent–nay, BAN the Chicken Dance from her friend’s wedding.

Tsk, tsk, tsk, Lilac Dreamer. For shame. Please note the following photographs:

And here I am flapping my little wings.

And finally, twisting and shaking my tail feathers.

So. I argue that not only should the Chicken Dance be allowed at this wedding, but it should be encouraged, if not enforced. haha!! This was only one of many, many colorful dances that were performed by the masses at my wedding…

…but you’ll learn more about that when we reach that part in Our Story*.

Be excited.

Vive le Chicken Dance!!!!

Shop Girl*

1. He loves me. Unconditionally. I can be a difficult person or a wee bit stubborn at times, but he is so patient with me and waits for me to work things out.

2. He pushes me to step out of my comfort zone and try new things, but never ever pushes too hard or too far. Even though many people see me as an outgoing, crazy personality, the truth is, I’m pretty shy and I’m often hesitant to try something new. He opens new worlds for me. (Like FRASIER, only to name one. I was SO adamant that I would not watch it… and now Niles is the other love of my life. haha!)

3. He makes me rice krispie squares. And they are STINKING good. Like oh my gosh good.

4. The first thing/last thing he does every day is hold me in his arms and tell me that he loves me, even with morning hair and no make up.

5. Tonight he helped me run a bath, lit some candles and cleaned the apartment while I soaked in the tub.

6. He dances with me in the kitchen. :)

7. He also has been making dinner for me a couple of nights a week in that same kitchen to try and ease my workload in my crazy schedule.

8. No matter what he is doing, when I come home and walk in the door he comes over to help me take off my coat and gives me a big hug.

9. He consciously makes sure that he spends enough time with me even when our schedules are CRAZY and we both have a million things to do… even if it’s just to walk to my desk, pull me up and hug me for a few minutes before we zone back to our various assignments. haha

10. He makes me laugh. He loves making me laugh and if I’m feeling blue, he goes above and beyond to lift my spirits. Whether it’s through a crazy dance or song, or telling me a funny story, or making a face, or blowing me kisses from across the room… he knows exactly what to do to make me smile.

So those are 10 reasons why I’m married to pretty much the most amazing man on earth. This month marks 2.5 years that we’ve been married, and they have been the best 2.5 years of my life. Every day is a new adventure with him and I cannot wait for every single one. I often get strange expressions or remarks when people found out how young I was when I got married (20), but I know it was the best decision that I ever made. Hubster, I love you. More than you’ll ever know. :)

All my love,
Shop Girl*

I can hardly believe it. Even though he’s only 2 months minus 2 days younger than I am, he’s my Little G! And now he’s married. :)

Well, let’s start at the beginning. I went up on Tuesday so that I could spend some time with my family as well as be available to help Little G with anything that he needed. I’m glad that I went– we got to spend some time together before he became a married man and it was lots of fun helping him to not be stressed. I’ve decided that weddings are entirely so much more fun when they aren’t your own. hahah! Don’t get me wrong–my wedding was amazing–but it’s so… stress-free to go to other people’s.

On Thursday morning we woke up early, got ready and drove down to the temple so that my mom, dad and I (along with other members of my/Chic’s family) could watch Little G and Chic be sealed together for time and all eternity. It was a beautiful sealing and I’m so happy that I was there to be apart of it. I was okay through the whole thing, but I lost it and started crying as soon when Little G was hugged by his dad. It was so sweet.

After that we left Choppy and Teep at the temple for pictures (they were in the wedding party) and drove back to help set up for the reception. They had it at a nice hall with a beautiful view of the lake, and it was simply, but nicely decorated. The reception was a little long (or maybe it just seemed that way because I was EXHAUSTED) but the speeches and toasts were really nice. I even made an appearance in their slide show and felt very special. haha! Because it was on a Thursday it ended rather early, and I left around 11. I then decided to be adventurous and go OUT! WOOOO! haha I went out with Tiger and a few other people, and it was great to visit with him. It sucks that he lives so far away, but his mom invited the Hubs and I up to visit at their home so I think we might when things are a little less busy for us.

All in all, I was/am so happy for Little G & Chic. She looked absolutely stunning, and there was no doubt in my mind that they were absolutely in love as I watched them spend their first few hours as a married couple together. It brought back so many memories of my own wedding, and I wished so much that the Hubs could have been there with me (he ended up having a test he couldn’t miss that night). I took a few pictures for your viewing pleasure:
Teep & Choppy (in new suits!)

Chic & Little G coming out of the temple

BEATLES SHOT!! (The Groomsmen)

The Groomsmen

Little G & I

Shop Girl*

I finally did it. I’ve worked for a shoe company for the past 4 and a half years and last night I quit. I haven’t really been happy there in a while… I went in in October to resign then, but my boss is amazing and offered me a deal that I couldn’t refuse. So, for the past 4 months I have been working one shift every 3 weeks or so… and as nice as it was to go in and socialize with the staff when I worked, it just wasn’t worth it anymore. I hated working evenings and Saturdays. So, since I have a job with the board that pays me double what I was making at my other job, I finally quit. I thought I would be really sad because I looooooved the job when I first started working, but the company has made some major changes recently and it’s just not the same. So, I quit. :)

I’ve been horrible at writing these past 2 weeks… I’m sorry! I’ve been on my reading break from school all this week and all I have been doing is sitting on my butt watching movies, going out from time to time, knitting, and playing piano– and it has felt sooooooooo good. Like SO good. I really think I just needed to do nothing for a few days. Mind you, I woke up this morning feeling like I’m going to be attacked by a cold sometime in the next few days, and I’m not really excited about the prospect. Time to pump the vitamin c!

I have also 99% decided that I am going to go to Florida with my family. I was able to switch the presentation I had that week, as well as move my teaching day from the Friday. And, seeing as I no longer work at the shoe store– I’m a free woman! I’m getting really excited about it… the thought of being able to sit beside a pool with a gloriously glorious book soaking up the sun is almost too excited for me to bear. I started tanning yesterday, and it felt sooo good. I burnt a little bit–not bad–just enough to give me a little colour. WOO HOO!

And I haven’t even written about Meg’s wedding!!! It was beautiful… the family did a wonderful job. Her dress was simple, but beautiful, and she and her husband looked very happy and very much in love. Spart DJed the reception and did all the videography, and from the sample clip shes done so far, it looks awesome. I wish I had thought to ask her to do it for ours! I also got to spend the night at my Aunt and Uncle’s (Meg’s parents) which was great, because I don’t get to see them often and they are some of my favourite relatives. It also gave me an opportunity to help with the clean-up after the reception, as well as preparing food for the brunch the next day. I know the amount of effort, love and help that went into my special day, and I know I didn’t thank those involved enough or properly on that day, so I guess I feel like this is my way of giving back to the family after everything they did for me. It felt really good. :)

Well, I have an essay due on Thursday that I am ACTUALLY starting today! Aren’t you proud of me? I know I am. :)

Shop Girl*