The Mood Ring Experiment

Every morning when I get up I sift through my rings to see which one fits that will end up serving as my “I’m taken” notification to the world. (My fingers change size daily and so I have yet to find a ring that fits every day) Today, the ring that fit was a mood ring. 

Throughout the day, depending on what I was doing I would glance at the ring… it was pretty fun and so I thought I’d share with you what happened.

When I first got up and put on the ring, it was Emerald- Average Reading; Normal, Neutral, Fine, No Great Stress, Calm, Easily Amused, Alert, Involved, Sensitive, Tender, Ambivalent, Inner Disquiet

Later, I got on the computer to chat with Eric and the ring was Sapphire- Happy, Relaxed, Free, At Ease, Calm, Accepting, Optimistic, Lively, Joyful, Coasting, Peaceful, Contented, Pleasant, Moonstruck, Near Bliss, Warm, Giving, Lovable

The color didn’t stay very long, it quickly changed to Violet - Love, Romance, Heat, Passion, Sensual, Elated, Revitalized, Happy, Relaxed, Dreamer, Deep Thought, Keen, Intrigue, Mystical, Impulsive, Mischievous

I went to return a car part and the dealership told me that I couldn’t return it without the Ziploc bag it came in (even though I had the sticker that was on the bag). The problem was that I left the bag at the mechanic’s… So I went back and they couldn’t find the bag.  That’s when the ring turned Silver/Steel- Little Emotion, Neutral, At Rest, Cool, Unconcerned, Aloof, Inhibited, Sullen, Tired, Saddened, Depressed, Paranoid, Worried, Pessimistic, Very Nervous, Angst/Afraid

So I immediately called Eric. Which turned the color immediately to Sapphire- Happy, Relaxed, Free, At Ease, Calm, Accepting, Optimistic, Lively, Joyful, Coasting, Peaceful, Contented, Pleasant, Moonstruck, Near Bliss, Warm, Giving, Lovable

I then went on a journey of driving the car for 50 miles so that the internal computer would reset. As I drove and listened to music, the color was Indigo/Dark Blue - Ecstasy, Truly Happy, Deeply Relaxed, Inner Harmony, Tranquility, Jubilant, Bliss, Highly Passionate, Lovestruck, Very Romantic, Aglow, In Love, Sublime

After getting the car taken care of (it passed safety and emissions and there were no problems getting it registered!) and going to the doctor’s (learning that my doctor will be out of town on my due date, so she moved my due date up a week) I got home to find Eric had made dinner. That’s when the ring turned Ruby- Allured, Aroused, Love/Fiery Passion, Thrilled, Awestruck, Active, Adventurous, Excited, Anxious, Insecure, Fazed, Tensed, Alarmed

Now that Eric is quietly doing homework beside me, it is back to Violet - Love, Romance, Heat, Passion, Sensual, Elated, Revitalized, Happy, Relaxed, Dreamer, Deep Thought, Keen, Intrigue, Mystical, Impulsive, Mischievous

Now, I don’t put too much stock into these things – but it was definitely fun today to see how the ring changed throughout the day.

The end to the car saga ... I hope

Drew

So, Eric gave me permission to jimmy-rig the car to pass inspection. (here are my car troubles) Rather than break more things by trying to take apart the dashboard and playing with wires, sharp objects, and matches... I called my cousin Drew. After he tried a few things we asked my dad for help.

Dad

After that we decided to pay the money to get it fixed at a mechanic's shop because jimmy-rigging it wasn't working. My dad has a mechanic he trusts and since he needed to get his car inspected, we both went this morning. He got his car inspected and I left my car at the shop. I had planned to just have them fix the mark light (the one where the dealership gave me the wrong part) but when I was filling out the paper work, the mechanic saw my paper work from Jiffy Lube talking about the stupid sensor light and apparently that has to be fixed too because apparently even though the light isn't always on, they plug the car up to a computer and the problem will still show up - light or no...

The mechanic laughed at me when I told him that I tried to do what Jiffy Lube suggested regarding getting the car fixed and I almost yelled at the poor man. By this time, I know the people at Jiffy Lube aren't mechanics and I know their advice isn't sound (I should have realized that when they suggested super glue)... I know I've done stupid things trying to get this car fixed. Next time I'll do a better job and it won't take me as long - but I don't need to be made fun of for being stupid, I already know that!

So, theoretically, by end of day today the car should be ready for me to take in to Jiffy Lube to pass inspection and then the DMV to register it ... so by end of day tomorrow I should have a safe, working car.

Our Home

Eric and I love our home. We're in danger right now simply because the insurance company our landlord is using is refusing to cover the house - they say the roof needs to be replaced along with a ton of other things... We are crossing our fingers that we don't have to move while they make the house "liveable." Our landlord has been coming over taking pictures of things to try to show the insurance company that the house is fine - hopefully it works! I know I have posted pictures a few pictures of the outside of our home, but I haven't ever done inside ones... So I have put up a few.

First I want to show you my new garden. Our neighbors Mike and Marybeth Sanders take good care of Eric and I. They have an incredible garden and had left over plants. Yay! Eric has been asking me when we were going to start our garden and being the lazy creature that I am I continually answer "I don't know..." Saturday night the Sanders provided us with a garden. I was so excited that I couldn't wait till Monday to plant them - I began planting immediately. I brought the car around back and turned on the high beams for light and began de-weeding our garden area and planted our new plants.  :D We hope to add another cherry tomato plant as well as some zuchinni. Not sure what else to plant - got any ideas?

*waves hand* There are no weeds on the side of the garden

In case you can't read the print on the picture, left to right we have 

3 rows of strawberries, bell peppers, jalepenos and cherry tomatoes.

I got into a rearranging mood Sunday night and Eric helped me move all the furniture, so now we have room for a crib!

I will now take you on a tour of Two Step:
Eric named the house that because it only takes 2 steps to take the tour :D 

When you first walk in you see the Living Room

 The crib will go where the sewing table in the corner currently is.

 We will soon be moving Eric's drums out to storage *sob*

If you take a left, you'll find the kitchen

I would like to point out that one of the "chairs" at the table is actually a step stool
that my Mother-in-law bought me to be able to reach those ridiculously high shelves!

 Yes, there is a bookshelf in the Kitchen. :D

After the kitchen you'll find the Laundry Room

If you take a right from the Laundry Room you'll come across the Bedroom

 The bassinet will probably be on the floor at the foot of the bed when we're using the changing table

And lastly, comes our small, but cute, Bathroom

 People have asked how I trained Eric to put the toilet seat back down: secret revealed!

And that is our home. It is small, but we love it!

Mother's Day

This morning Eric made me breakfast in bed and gave me my mother's day gifts. His grandparents gave us a $50 Borders giftcard for Christmas which Eric let me spend ALL of for my mother's day presents. :D I purchased the Mistborn Trilogy and Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson. I also got a Vampireology book to complete my "ology" collection. See all the other "ology books?" I love this collection!!!






He also bought me a work out band to match his so that when I am "unpregnant" I can do P90X with him (after watching him do it in the mornings I'm starting to wonder what I've gotten myself into by promising to work out with him...).

In the evening, before I went crazy with rearranging the house, he sat me down and told me all the things he loves about me - it was one of the most precious moments that has ever passed in my life. He truly was made for me.

I Won!!!

Ok, so every week I look at all the fun giveaways on the craft blogs that I follow and sometimes I enter - but I never win... well, today I woke up to an email in my inbox saying that I won something! Aren't these adorable?

Chris at Us and Them made these and I thought they were SO cute! I love to sew but I'm not very good at it - plus the Mr. and Mrs. require a cruicuit or some other cut-out machine which I don't have (though I have told Eric that once we are rich that is one thing I would love to get!). And now, I don't have to worry about making them!!! I get them for free! Talk about fantastic!

I also won today because I got Eric to go run errands with me! One of the errands he had to come with -- exchanging his shirts (I keep telling him he's not as big as he thinks he is, but he never listens...). I convinced him he had to come with to Costco because he had to get his picture taken (though we learned you can have the other person come in later and I could have just gotten the card myself... oops). Sadly, the car parts store was closed so I am still on my own for that one. (The part the dealership gave me is wrong and they will look at the circuit, but there is a huge fee just for looking at it, not to mention the part fee and service charge... ugh) But then we went to Borders where I got my Mother's Day presents - though Eric is determined to wrap them so I don't actually get them till tomorrow - which is fine. :D

Awesome day.

10 Things I Learned From My Mom

In light of the upcoming Mother's Day, I thought I'd share with you 10 things I learned from my Mom:

1. Don't worry about how big your purse is, you'll need what's in it (better to be prepared)
2. Christmas music is not just for December (do what makes you happy no matter what others think)
3. Accept your failures and learn from them
4. Take responsibility for your own growth - no one else can make you into who you want to be
5. Life is going to have bumps - might as well drive fast over them! Even if it's rough on you, it'll at least startle the people in the back of the car
6. When company is coming over and you don't have time to do all the dishes, hide the big ones in the oven
7. There's always room for Jello (or ice cream!)
8. "Be who you are and say what you mean for those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind"
9. Do your homework first thing when you get home so you can play later
10. Unconditional love

I love you Mom!

*face palm*

Why do I feel like if I was a man this would be a lot easier???

So, our (well, technically my since the Saturn is now technically Eric's, not that it matters because the Saturn now hates me too... it didn't used to but ever since it decided it likes Eric better, even though I drove it for 5 years, it now gives me problems) Golf hates me... I truly think it has a vendetta against me! Which is sad because I am absolutely in love with it... I am learning to not push on the super sensitive breaks so hard and I'm getting better at getting in and out of the car. And, I love being able to run errands while Eric is gone...  But now, I get to spend even more quality time with it getting it fixed.

I dragged Eric in with me to get it registered at the DMV and learned we had to get the safety and emissions test done again since we're now in a different state. So we run down to Jiffy Lube and learn it doesn't pass... not just doesn't pass, but it really doesn't pass. Brake light out (they can fix that), mark light out - who needs those anyway? (they can't fix that because it isn't the bulb, the mechanism is corrosive), windshield needs to be replaced - cause of a few cracks??? (they can't fix that either), and, the sporadic engine light decided to turn on - it isn't on now... - and so they said there is a problem with the engine coolant temperature circuit (no, they couldn't fix that either).

So I try to get ahold of my friend's dad who is a mechanic and he won't turn on his phone and his phone doesn't take messages. Blah. Eric called the windshield people and they are mobile (score!) and are coming today (yes, I'm home alone) to fix it. So far, 1 point for Eric (the man) 0 points for me. 

So today I went to auto zone to try and get the part for the mark light... did they have it? Of course not, they only have a universal one for newer cars. The guy didn't believe me when I said it was not the part I needed so I had to take him outside and show him on my car. And then I had to show him how to take the mark light apart (can I say that I felt pretty cool???) After all that, told me his part wouldn't work in my car (duh) and said I had to call the dealership. Still 0 points. And does the dealership have the part? Of course not, but luckily they can order it! Half point for me. I ask them about this crazy circuit thing and he said when I come in to get the other part I can have it looked at and perhaps it is an easy fix! Another half point. I'll get the full point when I finish... The guy at the dealership thinks he can have the part in tomorrow, hooray! But then I have to go to the dealership and deal with more car people - who never make sense!

I am starting to think I should have stuck around when Eric's dad was teaching him how to change an oil filter because with my luck mine will break and I'll have to change it on the highway! (Is that possible? I don't even know...) I wish I could say this was all the car's fault, but really - cars hate me... I think I'm allergic or something. They all seem to break down in my presence. *face palm*