Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

Yup, that about sums it up. [Can that be considered a “summary”?!] I made the move to Orlando at the beginning of June, and let me tell you: Murphy’s Law has sucker punched me right in the jaw.

Since this stud decided to go traipse around Afghanistan, I did the move alone. [Well. Me and a couple of movers.]

Here’s how this story goes.

Katy moves to Orlando. During a tropical depression.

Katy leaves debit card in Jacksonville, FL at mother’s house, and realizes it at the gas station 2 hours away when her gas light is on.

Katy realizes she only has one washing machine hose.

Katy is told her dryer plug doesn’t fit the outlet.

Katy doesn’t get cell phone reception AT ALL in new home.

Katy replaces dryer plug all by herself and is ready to give herself a pat on the back and say “Boo-yah” to all her Facebook doubters… until she plugs it in and there is no electricity.

Katy says “Screw it” and goes to Disney World for the evening. Comes home to a working dryer. Disney cures everything. [Then gives herself a pat on the back and smugly looks at her Facebook wall.]

Katy’s internet stops working.

Katy’s dryer stops producing heat.

Katy says “screw it” and goes to Jacksonville for a week. Comes home and finds both still not working. Jacksonville doesn’t have the magical powers of Disney apparently.

Katy gets new kitten. First kitten hates new kitten. House is a war zone.

Okay, okay. Maybe this stuff is easily fixed [a few calls to various service desks and changing phone providers], and maybe it’s extremely obnoxious to refer to yourself in the third person while dramatically exclaiming how you have the hardest life EVAR, and maybe I should give the cats more than 18 hours together before I start crying over how my children [yes. my cats are my children.] hate each other, and now me as a result, but. But. BUT. That’s what grown-ups do, and does this look like someone who wants to be a grown-up??

P.S. I dyed my hair again.

Just kidding. All whining aside, the worst part is obviously being separated from my husband, the rest is just growing moving pains. Not to mention, like I told Shane… by the time he gets home, I’ll be a washer and dryer expert.

I did get a new kitten. She’s a baby [3 months old] and super rambunctious. I named her Cheshire because I love my Disney kitties. Bagheera hates her, but I love them both dearly so I hope they grow on each other soon. Wanna see her? Of course you do.

Sorry about the random pillows. My brother is obsessed with making her forts/beds.

Alright, I’m off. We’re doing a little trip to Disney tonight to catch the fireworks. Have a great day!

Shameless BFF Plug…. and Some Pictures

Two weeks until I move!

Needless to say, we’ve been pretty busy around the house, packing and cleaning and trying to enjoy what little time we have left in our pretty little beach-house. It’s a shame we won’t get to enjoy the summer here, though I am very excited to start our life in Orlando!

Here are a few glimpses into our lives via Instagram! (I am pretty obsessed right now, lol)

Shane brought me roses! It was a mixture of “Just Because” roses and “I’m sorry I went paintballing after work without you” roses. They made me laugh.

Going out to dinner for “Military Spouse Appreciation Day”. Hey, I’ll take whatever holiday I can to go out on a date with my hottie!

Actually enjoying the beach! We took off our rings to put sun lotion on, and I thought it made for a pretty picture. Don’t worry, we put them on quickly! Too much value (sentimental and financial!) to lose in the sand.

Modeling my very first homemade dress!! I am so proud I actually sewed a dress (with quite a bit of help from my friend Jess!), though I do think I’m going to put the hem up a tad shorter. Not “streetwalker” short, just to the top of my knees, I think.

No, I didn’t draw that. I’m not nearly talented enough to even come close to creating this (just ask my husband who is subjected to my Draw Something skills.) My best friend, Ellie H. drew this as Day 5 (best friend) in a “30 Day Drawing Challenge” and I’m obsessed with it. I think I should try and talk her into giving it to me….

You can check out her other stuff, I just love the stuffing out of her style.

Ellie's Website

Well, that’s about it for now. I’m off to work on packing some more! Have a great day!

Vacation Catch-Up

Howdy.

So, I’ve actually got a lot of things to blog lately, finally. [The past few months have been a blur of boring nothing happening, so I haven’t bored you all with blog fluff. That has changed!]

Starting with the most amazing vacation of my freaking life! My hottie husband is deploying to Afghanistan soon [For the record, I am not handling it well… but that’s a story for another day!] so we just spent the last two weeks on his pre-deployment leave. This included a trip to Kentucky for a wedding –> Pensacola to see my favorite roomie ever –> Jacksonville for Baby Bro’s birthday –> Orlando for Disney fun / apartment hunting / school applying –> Jacksonville for family / friends visiting –> Orlando for more school stuff –> Jacksonville for final goodbyes –> back to North Carolina.

Whew. That was a mouthful (and a whole bunch of driving!). I’m thoroughly exhausted and unbelievably happy. I’ll try to do a post on each evolution, but here’s the highlights!

+ I GOT ACCEPTED TO MY SCHOOL! Oh wow, I’m so excited. This not only gives me something to do [besides cry myself to sleep over a Ben + Jerry’s container] while the Marine is gone, but a means of gaining employment once we no longer have the security blanket of military paychecks! I’m starting the Aveda Institute of Orlando on June 28th!

Now I just have to buy lots ‘o black clothing. [I’m a Florida gal, I like bright colors! I own like one article of black!] Okay, to be honest I’ve already drug the Marine to all kinds of stores to stock up. Retail therapy, what?!

+ My wonderful friend Jess [also my savior from the depths of North Caroline loneliness!] got married! She was the most gorgeous bride [she can pull of retro better than a pin-up girl!] and it was such a beautiful, intimate wedding. So happy for the newlyweds!

+ Two of my oldest friends had their first child! [Full disclosure, I introduced them! Now THAT is a story, haha!] Izzy and Greg were high (and middle for her!) school sweethearts, and finally gave us a bebe to spoil! I might just steal this little angel. [Too creepy? Nah!]

+ Two words. DISNEY WORLD!

+ We got an apartment in Orlando. Now we just need to pack up our beach house. [I’m so sad I won’t get to spend the summer at the beach. Biggest downside to moving.]

That’s the cliffnotes. There are about a thousand little details, but I’m off to enjoy this drive [aka read my book.] Have a wonderful day!

Big News!

Hey guys!

Our little family is about to make some BIG changes.

[Not in the pitter/patter of little feet way. I promise this is not a pregnancy announcement!]

Shane and I have decided [after a whole lot of talking/soul searching/thinking/stressing] that he will not be re-enlisting in the USMC. He does plan on joining the Reserves, but will no longer be active duty.

We’re also moving. To Orlando. In June.

I plan on starting school and getting us established in a new city while he finishes up his contract. It’s a pretty huge step for us, but we’ve decided it’s the right one for our family. So, Orlando, here we come.

I’ve been researching apartments in the area, and I think I may have found the perfect one…

So! There it is, our big news. I’ll be sure to share updates on the process as they happen. Hopefully this goes smoothly, though… moving rarely does for me.

Have a great day, y’all!

Good news, More good news, Regular news, and Lance Larsen.

Hey y'all!

First off, I want to apologize for the sheer amount of photos in this post. :) And not nearly all of them made the final cut.

I have a few things to tell y'all, so be prepared for lots of news!

First, and most importantly: Shane and I are back together!! For those of you have followed me from my previous blog, you know I was engaged, and for reasons I'm still not comfortable disclosing, we split up.

Well. THAT was a bad idea. I love him more than life, and I am so incredibly happy to be back with him. We aren't engaged again, but we will be someday. I love him so much, and it's hard to keep all the gushiness to myself. :)

Second, which is directly related to number one, I am moving to North Carolina. It's a temporary thing, until I start school next fall (like 2012), and Shane gets out of the military. I'm finishing up the summer here in Florida, due to my commitment to the summer camp, and away I go!

Third, I received my SAT scores!! I was soooo nervous. I did VERY well in Reading, and I'm ok with my essay score. But I'm not pleased with my Math score at all. (well. I'm pleased that I did that well having studied zero amount of time, and having been out of school for 8 years.... but still. I can do better.) SO I'll be taking that again. But now I'll be sure to study, and I know I'll be far more comfortable now knowing what to expect. :)

Now. On to the photos. Please excuse my greasy hair in all of them. Today was a pool day, and I saw no reason to wash my hair the night before getting into a swimming pool. The fact that it had been 4 days since I actually washed it is irrelevant.

My good friend Lance is a professional chef (and new blogger. Go. Check. Him. Out. He's pretty flippin hysterical.) and invited me to dinner last night. Of course I was hesitant. I mean, who wants to drive 45 minutes after a long day of corralling children to eat gourmet food?

Oh right. Anyone.

So after cajoling me into showing up at his house to do absolutely nothing but have deliciousness made for me, I changed clothes (nope, no shower for this girl. My friends are SO lucky.) and hopped on over, jamming to the new Rise Against cd the whole 45 minutes. Love. Them. So. Much.

Here are the rest of the players in the dinner party extravagance.
Mikey Fox. Seriously amazing dude. In the top 5 of best men ever on the face of the planet. Love him. So. much.

Laura Lee. Co-blogger with Lance. Super pretty mom.

Cool girl Jenn whom I actually don't really know, but liked anyways.

And Lance's mom and stepdad. Unpictured. Sorry.

Dinner started off with (sorry have to revert back to Facebook, since it's too educated and wordy for me to remember. Did I say I scored well on Reading?! 250 is pretty good, right?!) roasted red pepper bruschetta with blueberry balsamic reduction and goat cheese. Delicious. So delicious. I'm now uber feeling Sophia's love for bell peppers. I just wanted more and more.

So while Lancey-Pants was cooking up the main dish, I decided to help with prep work and peel some garlic. Until he pulled out two bowls and said he wanted to try a trick he saw on tv. He then put the unpeeled garlic in one bowl, covered the with the other and "Shake, Shake, Shake Senora". Worked like a charm.

Um. hello. I must try this.

Shaking so hard I thought I was going pull a muscle. If you go by the picture, it appears I did...

The unveiling.

I was unsuccessful..

The bowls were then passed around for everyone to try, and I kept stealing them back, determined to not let Lance...ahem.. the garlic win. I ended up jumping up and down and making a racket probably heard in Thailand, but I succeeded.

BTW. It takes much less effort to just peel the garlic by hand...

Then Lance unveiled the main course.....pan seared pork medallions with wilted spinach and a bacon corn and red potatoe hash topped with blue berry demi. No I have no idea what that means, and yes I just copy-pasted. I think it translates into 'Tastebuds in Love'. But that may not be a direct translation.

We settled down around the dinner table, pretending to be a group of people who love each other. Then Lance and I started flinging insults, everyone ganged up on Mikey, and the conversation soon turned to 40 year olds getting to various 'bases'.

Nothing but class with us, folks.

Dessert was ..... keylime pie with a shortbread crust and blueberry compost. It was supposed to be blueberry whipped cream, but Lance IDon'tKnowHowToCook Larsen whipped a little too much and made some blueberry butter. Seriously. Where do I find these incapable people?!

I suggested Redi-Whip, but it was shot down. Emphatically. With glares. And threats on my life. Geeze. So-rrrr-eeee.

Afterwards, while everyone else was cleaning up, Mikey and I did what any gracious guest does. We lit things on fire in the kitchen while everyone worked around us. Our manners are seriously legit. :)
It was an amazing time with mind-blowing food, and wonderful company. I know I was only invited because I promised to link up on my blog, so can all 4 of my readers please go check out Lance and Laura's blog? Maybe they'll invite me back someday... Haha. :)

Peace out y'all. I'm off to do sleep so I can function like a proper human being at Wild Adventures tomorrow. I might even wash my hair. It's only been 5 days....

-Katy