Living Together + Cupcakes...

My cupcakes all decorated and ready to be eaten!

Well it's officially been a week since Craig and I have moved in together and well...it hasn't exactly been a piece a cake. I knew it wasn't going to be easy but damn something had to give. I never knew how hard it was going to be living in a such a tiny space with two people who were used to their independence. BUT, I have never been happier that we waited to make this decision, because we are at a point in our relationship where talking about it the fixable issues can & DOES help the situation. Whew!!

Craig and his adorable kitty, Angel

I think that's my favorite picture of the two of them. There are so many positives of having these two in my life right now that I'm really the happiest I have ever been. For starters, I have never had a pet before. I know, weird right? I'm an only child but somehow just didn't have a pet. But I'm sort of happy  I never did because Angel is getting all the lovin' she could ever want. Another thing is that one of my favorite things Craig does is wrap his arms around me when we fall asleep.  I get that every night and those sappy love songs about never sleeping so soundly are all true! Craig takes out the garbage without me asking, we have been cooking dinner together and my favorite new thing is a random kiss or a hug or whisper of sweet nothings in my ear. Grade A cheese I know, but I love him and I'm proud of us for making this big step forward.

Every coin however is double sided... I feel like I'm constantly in the kitchen doing dishes, I've realized that I desperately need a new hobby because sometimes you actually read all the blogs in your reader and then your like, 'fuck now what?',  instead of having his huge guitar/bass amps by the window we could have put a clutter reducing piece of useable furniture, & I've come to terms with the fact that I have WAYY too much body wash, shampoo, & deodorants. I blame coupons for having too much stuff I secretly know I got for free with extrabucks or something, but in all serious even if I applied deodorant 5x a day I'd still have too many of these things. I never realized how LONG Craig takes in the bathroom each morning. We had to switch who got ready first. Oh and supermarket shopping is a problem...I think that will be a post all in it's own... But these are all workable issues, which honestly I'm grateful for, very grateful.

Oh yeah and apparently I can't make cupcakes for someone's *Cough* (Craig's) *Cough* job without someone getting into my cupcake batter...

I did have his permission to post this picture, but seriously I yelled at him because the batter totally had eggs in it!!!

Craig did get into the remnants of the cupcake batter but it was okay because he did help me put the cupcake inserts in the pans and measured out the oil & water for me. I say I'm a cupcake decorator and that is true, but I'll admit that I sometimes use the box mixes. Oh well...

My favorite thing is to make roses...I could make them all day!

Life is a learning process & I'm constantly reminded of this lil fact. I'm sure the issues will be discussed and routines will be formed. I always thought that if we survive the first week we'd be good...I'm still sticking to that logic! =) Here's hoping we keep it up!! =)

Until Tomorrow...

It's a Snow Globe Over Here!!

Snow, More Snow & then an Adorable Kitty I watched sleep all day...

One thing people learn about me fast in the winter months is that I don't drive well in the snow. I had the time coming to me so I took a personal day off. I knew I would have been able to get to work...it's just the unknown of when my job would be letting us go home that scared the hell out of me. Living on the border of New York and New Jersey we have been told anywhere from 6inches - 12 inches or the worse 12 inches - 18 inches. Well, all I know is that it started snowing at 7:45am this morning and hasn't stopped since. Oh boy!

This week was so fast that I really didn't grab hold of it at all. My checklist is still full of things to do and only made it to the gym once this week. Next week is a brand new week and I already can't wait for it to begin and can't wait for the snow to finally stop. 

If your going to be snowed in like me or have a few spare minutes in your weekend craziness here are a   few other blog posts from various awesome bloggers that I really enjoyed: 

- Looking for some new music? Check out at The Effortless Chic  - "What to Listen To Now" 

- Are you addicted to Thrift Shop Shopping? Feel Free to check out & Join in on Young Heart - "The Weekly Thrift" every Tuesday! People find some amazing things!

- Do you love Online Magazines? At the Blog Lovely Clusters, check out the new issue of Fiore Magazine Issue #2!

- Once upon a time I wanted to be a fashion designer. Did You Ever Have that Dream? There is a great  blog post at  A Beautiful Mess - "Fashion Sketching for Beginners" to show you the easy way to draw fashion models! 

 Source - Blog:You are my Fave  - "Smash Cake"

Perfect to make for Valentine's Day... At You Are My Fave - "A Valentine Smash Cake is my Fave" . It smashes open to have even more treats inside!

Are you a New Blogger or Just looking for some good tips? Check out at Bright Bazaar - "Bright Bazaar's Guide to Blogging  Infographic" 

..............................

Will it ever stop snowing? Seriously! There was supposed to be a few hour break in between which totally never happened. Oh well...it's an excuse to have hot cocoa! 

Have a great weekend everyone!

How Did You "KNOW"...A Love Post...

Craig and me - 9/10/10

"You don't think I'm weird now for liking this gothy pop music right?" I yelled to my boyfriend, Craig as we stood watching my favorite band play in a concert in New York City.

"Are you kidding babe? I fucking love you!" Craig yelled back. It was the first time he uttered the "L" word and for a brief second I thought I misheard. I didn't have a chance to say anything because the concert was over and the lights popped on. 

Craig then remarked to me that he was dying for a cigarette. When I turned to answer him I saw my ex in the distance. I stuttered in shock. Craig immediately saw the difference in my demeanor but I knew I couldn't tell him why my smile faded. I wanted to tell Craig to stay by my side while I waited for autographs but my fear got the best of me. Craig kissed me on the cheek and left me alone staring in the distance at the real life demon with his identical name but spelled differently. I panicked and quickly moved to the band members to get the autographs.

The man that actually had let me know about the concert, the prick who was my ex, must have seen me standing there. We messed around for 4 years before this...there was no way he didn't know it was me. I cringed inwardly for the next 15 minutes hoping I wouldn't get that tap on the shoulder...and luckily it didn't come.

I got my autographs and ran away from the very man who basically made every Adele song make perfect confessional sense to me. My boyfriend Craig was outside finishing his cigarette waiting for me with a smile. I thought I was in the clear, but then I saw the last band member whose autograph I didn't have. 

"Omg there's Chibi! Would you mind if I got her autograph too?" I asked Craig. He said sure and waited with me on the mini line. But then he stepped away to find a geocache (A scavenger hunt game) . I watched my boyfriend of a few months, who I thought had just said "I love you" kind of walk down the New York City street away from me...

I waited in line listening to the merriment of first timers meeting the band. I had been in their music video a while back so they knew me...One guy even asked me to take a photo for him. When I gave the kid the camera back I noticed someone had his back to me standing right next to me. If I had sneezed I would have fallen over the mess that is my ex. Once again there was NO WAY he couldn't have known it was me. My hand reached out and a poked him.

He pretended he didn't know I was there, but he was a great liar in our days. Somehow all the angst, anxiety and heartache vanished and all I saw was red. The anger of all the days & years wasted and how much I wish it was legal to pick up a brick and smash it into his face. We said our 'how are you's", mine through gritted teeth, and then he asked if I wanted to join him and his lady friends (whom neither of them were his current at the time girlfriend) on the way home...

"No Thanks. My boyfriend drove me." I answered with a chesire cat smile. In that moment I had never been more over someone in my entire life. My ex stuttered himself at my declaration and then waved half-assly goodbye. I watched happily his asshole self leave.

As my Past walked down the NYC city street, my Future walked back to me. Craig strolled down the other side of the street back to me. "Did you get the autograph baby?" He said to me, oblivious of the last few minutes. "Yeah, hun...Oh and btw, I love you too." Craig kissed me amongst the crowding fans and it all went to silence. I knew I was in love and the goodbye pushed me over the edge.  I thought I was love with Craig, but in these few moments I KNEW I was in love. 

There were of course other moments that made me "Know" but this was the first time 2 years ago we said it to each other. =)  I never want to forget that day...

How Did You "Know" You Were In Love? 

I'd love to hear...

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52 Lists: Week Five...List What You Are Grateful For...

Me Writing my list...

Once again I'm linking up with MOOREA SEAL to give you this week's list. Here is my Last Week's List: Week 4. For Week 5, she chose "List What You Are Grateful For" this week. From the turning points that my life is right now, this is exactly what I wanted to write about in my journal. I started my journal about a year ago but like way too many other things lost flavor...from the lists and somehow actually remembering to bring my journal with me to work I find myself writing more and more. It's a feeling I'm grateful for...

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Snippet of My Week 5 List

I could write a novel about how grateful and lucky I am to be living my little life, but I'll share with you all a few lines...

I'm grateful for...

- Finding love, real shoot for the stars, crazy love

- My family, especially my parents. If I didn't have my Mom and Dad didn't help me out I wouldn't have been able to get my condo and for my Mom always getting me a pizza dough when she is at the  bakery.

- My last job. They allowed me to work Part-time so I could finish up my Bachelor's in Mathematics degree. It was the break I needed and I still let my previous bosses how grateful I am.

- My patience. I think I should have gone crazy years ago...

- Having friends that pick up the phone every time I call, even if it's at 2am 

- Having the chance to meet and remember my two great grandmothers. They were feisty women. One 100% Dominican and the other 100% Italian. I knew them until I was 8.

- My memory. There are things I just can't and will not forget. 

- The ability to see outside the box. I struggle with it, but when it works, I'm ever so grateful.

- My lil life. I'm grateful that I'm 27 years old with the whole world in front of me with all the chances the eye can see.

- That I see the glass as half full. 

- That I had some teachers in my pretty much 19 years of schooling that cared about really teaching their students. Some of them were the best!

- That my grandmother got to teach me how to play the piano.

- I'm grateful that my family says "I love you" every time I see them or leave them. 

- All of you AWESOME READERS!!

- That tomorrow is always a new beginning. =)

My List Continued...

What are you Grateful for?

I'd Love to hear...

If you like these lists please check out Moorea Seal's Lists and join in on the fun! =)

I'm a Reader...My Future Reading List.

 My Future Reading List

1. Entwined With You by Slyvia Day

2.Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

3.The Paris Wife by Paula McLain

4.Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

5.Illicit by Opal Carew

6. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

7. 11/22/63 - by Stephen King

8. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

9.The Painted Girls by Cathy Marie Buchanan

10. Cinderella ate my Daughter by Peggy Orenstein

I have another confession to make...One of the reasons why I had to put myself on a budget this year is because I spent too much money downloading books onto my Nook. Seriously, when there is a good Victorian romance...umm erotic...I guess smutty book I can't resist. A lot of them are like $2.99 or $3.99 so I just cannot help myself from clicking "Confirm" purchase. I do throw in the occasional "Everyone is reading it" book like Eat Pray Love & The Help, which I loved both, but then suffered through Water for Elephants which AHHHHH!!!! couldn't even get through the movie. I'm an avid reader and I just love the promise of a new book. 

My list up there is a combo of books everyone is reading, some books I read in high school that I want to re-read, future book club book, and then I had to still throw in some romance/smut (Illicit & Entwined With You) too. The blog, Harley & Jane, listed Cinderella Ate your Daughter as their book club book and I think I'm going to read that one first. It's an analysis of what the girlie girl culture is doing to young girls. I'm not a girlie girl even though I watched EVERY Disney movie when I was younger...I wonder how come? It should be interesting nonetheless. Also, I'm excited to re-read Wuthering Heights & The Great Gatsby. I wonder how different the experience will be when I don't have to butcher it by writing a paper and dwell on every key quote. I can just enjoy it or not & forget about getting a good grade!The Night Circus, The Paris Wife, & Gone Girl I've heard good and bad about each so I'm excited to see what my take on it will be. 

Have you Read any of the Above Books?

 Are there any other titles that I just HAVE to read? =)

I'd love to hear!  

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Honesty...

A scene from Julie & Julia, 2009

Well it's Monday again...and frankly I'm so happy to be at my lil cubicle right now. The past 72 hours have been breaking back hard! My boyfriend and I FINALLY MOVED IN TOGETHER!! But, I forgot how hard it is to help someone move and oh yeah actually clean up my own house. I'm embarrassed to say I think this was the first time I've cleaned all my radiators in 2 years. I got on my hands and knees and scrubbed the bathroom & kitchen floors and I swear my next place I live in will be on the first floor. 13 stairs can feel like a thousand after you go up and down them a hundred times. Since it's only been a wee few hours since we've been officially living together I don't have any updates except for the fact that being honest is the only way this is going to work. The realization hit me when I had to tell Craig I had a headache because he was playing the guitar at 11:56pm last night. Honesty will have to be our other roommate, no questions asked. 

The topic of Honesty got me thinking about the other important event I had to go to this weekend...I met up with the other bridesmaids for my best friend's wedding to help plan the little details. It went well, but there is something that's bugging me about my friend's wedding. I know there is really is NOT a set time frame where someone has to be married by or proposed by in a relationship. It just happens or it doesn't. My friend is getting married and they've only been together a month less than Craig and I. Yeah, how weird is that?!?! I'm moving in with my boyfriend and she is marrying her boyfriend in the same span of time. BUT, the future bride isn't exactly being completely honest with her fiancee and it's bugging the hell out of me.

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My friend Helen at one point in her life was 400 pounds. She made a choice to have a gastric bypass because she had severe sleep apnea and beginning to show signs of early illnesses. She had the surgery and has been a complete success. She has lost so much weight and is actually about 20 pounds thinner than me and I'm about 170. She met her fiancee while she was thin and has decided NOT to tell her boyfriend how she lost the weight. She has not & will probably never tell him about the surgery. Her boyfriend is a large man and earlier last year had health issues that are stemming from him being so overweight. An option I feel he should be batting around is the gastric bypass surgery because he is a young guy and when future severe health issues are possible futures ALL options need to be discussed.  Now Helen went through all of this process...She made the decision 5 years ago and has kept up with it. It was a hard time in her life that has shaped her who she is today. She had great days and bad days and has been through it all...Well...

Wouldn't you think that if you had a real opportunity to help out your future husband by sharing your past, which could ultimately help save his life or make him healthier, that you would want to share it with him? Wouldn't you want to be there for him as someone with experience in his struggle if surgery was an option for him? Wouldn't you want to honest with your future husband about "Who" you really are?

It's not my life or my decisions, but I wish she was honest with her fiancee. I understand that it is hard to come to terms with such a drastic event and acknowledge deep personal struggles, but if it could really help her fiancee why not let him in? I know it's her decision and her choice to tell him or not, but I don't see why she is not sharing it with him. I just can't understand.

Am I Wrong to feel this way? I'm not sure... But I don't see the benefit in holding a secret that could really make a difference in someone's life that you love. Honestly, I can't wrap my head around it...

Have You Ever Kept a Secret from a Significant Other? Why? 

I'd love to hear...

Big Fish, 2003

Once a Bridesmaid, Always a Bridesmaid...

Cinderella, 1950

I have a confession to make that I admitted in fast in my 52 Lists this week. I secretly want to be a Bridesmaid as many times as possible. I love trying on the dresses, going to the weddings, and above all I want to plan as many things for the bridal showers/bachelorette parties as possible. I really think it is from watching too many romance movies that I am addicted to everything wedding and true love. The 1st wedding I was in was a nightmare (I will tell this story one day), but this next wedding I will be in I get to actually have a voice in the planning of the bridal shower. I am so excited!!

From the first picture I'm sure you've guessed the theme...Yes, Cinderella. Helen has found her Prince Charming. I didn't realize Cinderella was made in 1950...WOW! This Saturday the other bridesmaids and I are meeting up to discuss possible ideas for the shower that is in late March. I'm so stoked that we have MORE THAN ENOUGH TIME to plan out some things and if needed have the DIY parties to complete little projects. I'm a big person for personal touches that scream the personality of the person so I'm sure there will be a lot of purple and a lot of cinderella-esque things!

I was always been a Sleeping Beauty Girl, my sorority name was even Aurora, but I dusted off my VHS copy of Cinderella and watched it in my old bedroom at my parent's house because they are the only people in the world who STILL have a VCR. lol. My mind is reeling of possible ideas... 

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I saw this quote on a blog and I'm going to brainstorm around it... Here are some of my possible ideas...

- No one really knows people at a bridal shower so perhaps we'll have Glass slipper name tags or place cards?

- How about a Barbie/Dress cake? I could make the dress pale blue like Cinderellas?

- Photobooths are expensive so how about a Makeshift one with Heart Garlands or stars to be midnight in the background? I have a tripod I could use!! =)

- I'm going to see if Disney sells the little character sets of Cinderella and maybe if I can't make a dress cake have the little characters around the dessert trays? Especially the adorable little mice like Gus Gus?

- I have to rack my brain as to where I saw it but maybe have little drink stirrers that are magic wands like her fairy godmother had?

There is so So much we can do...I really can't wait for Saturday's planning session!!!

For those of you ladies that have had Bridal Showers or have planned them...

Is there Something We ABSOLUTELY MUST HAVE at the shower? 
I'd love all any tip you'd like to share!

"So this is love..." 

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My "Normal" Day...

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Well...today was just not a normal day by any means of the word. I felt like I was walking in those shoes up there...Stepping carefully through the fog the crazy weather brought to us.  I've been learning that when your just not ready to hit that orange Publish button on another post, write a different post about your day. The screenplay of today would probably be rejected because an editor would read it and say, "What the fuck? How could all of this happen before noon?" I'd then say, "I couldn't make this shit up if I tried." Let's begin...

On the car ride to work, approximately 30 minutes from New York to New Jersey, I saw 3 different people pulled over by cops/troopers. That rumor that cops have "Ticket Quotas" maybe true after all. Then I saw 3 DIFFERENT accidents with 2 or more cars. I had to call Craig just for my frame of mind to see if he got to work okay. I blame the fog.

Then around 9:30am, Craig called me to tell me that his mother will be losing her job. What's sad is that I'm so conditioned by spending most of my teenage/adult life in the recession I just sighed and almost barely gave a reaction. Hearing "losing their job" is such a normal occurence to me I unfortunately have heard too often in the past few years. His mom does have side jobs, but I knew it was coming. My father and Craig's Mom used to work together. (That is not how we met btw) The company let my father go last August to cut the # of employees. I knew it was a matter of time before they closed. It's still sucks. 

Around 10:30am, Craig called me again to tell me there was a problem with my Property Taxes check. Craig is in banking and IRONICALLY handles the account of my Tax collector. Craig saw that I had apparently paid too much? I drew a blank... What happened was my bank interpreted my 3's as 8's. Luckily I had the extra money in my account because they withdrew too much. Crazy though...I will get this straightened out.

Around 11am, a sales rep I deal with often that I now call Mr. Gullible, almost fell for a SPAM email of  an old client demanding $15,000 dollars to be send to the Wales embassy because he was stuck on unexplained vacation and was robbed. You've seen these stupid emails where they ask for money or to hold barrels of oil for the Embassy of Nigeria or something...I couldn't believe this guy ALMOST fell for it. Wtf?!?! He called me to ask me if I thought it was real...*Rolling my Eyes*

My boss let me know that a lady on her block hit a parked neighbor's car with her own vehicle and then drove off without telling anyone. Little did this person know, my boss's husband was home and saw the whole thing... To tell the neighbor who was it or not tell the neighbor?? That is the question... 

Then my Mom calls me to tell me she was helping a man in his early twenties buy a sewing machine, she's a Viking sewing machine dealer, and when he goes to pay he smiles at her with a mouth of Fake fangs. My mom shrieked and the man apologized but said, "Sorry my fangs startled you. I wear them a lot." He makes Renaissance Faire costumes and needed a new machine. Weird?!?!?! 

AND I was filing my bills tonight and took a good look at my cable/internet/phone bill. My 2 year triple service deal ended so naturally my bill went up. I didn't exactly look at why it went up. In error i was being charged for a promo extension I was not receiving.  If I had noticed I probably would kept being charged in error an additional $15 a month. That would have been $180 in error. So happy I looked at my bill. 

Well that was my NOT normal day... 

What Crazy Thing Happened to All of You Today? 

52 Lists...Week 4

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I'll admit it, I've already failed one of my resolutions. I hoped to take a picture everyday, but alas I stopped halfway through the month. I kept thinking my camera in my pocket was my phone, I kept leaving my camera at work/home, and it caused me more stress to take a good picture. I gave up. But I've been on a roll with trying new things, like my french macaroon making & my savings, so I knew deep down I had to replace the picture goal with something else. 

The very talented lady at the blog, MOOREA SEAL, is coming up with 52 Lists as a yearly project. Each week there will be a new category/question/list to do. I immediately fell in love. You awesome readers know that I love sharing information about myself to try to somehow give you a real idea of who I am in my little world and I think this is a great structured (Sorry guys I have major ADD when it comes to my blog) way to convey the inside scoop on my inner thoughts. Also I get to write with a pen...not a computer stylus pen, BUT a real life click the top pen. * My heart is dancing with glee*

My Week 4 list (Yes, that's my handwriting) : List your Current & Future Goals & Dreams

There is one thing that I wish never to forget how to do. It's hand-writing. I unashamedly love my handwriting. When I was younger, when computers were still only in really rich people's houses, before Windows 95, I had to write pages and pages of penmanship and cursive in school. My favorite letter to draw was a cursive S. I had to write all my essays, book reports, letters (yes, letters), and all my little notes. It was my favorite past time. I still can't part with some of the pages. I love my handwriting so much Craig let me be the official Card Signer in the relationship! hehe... Silly I know, but I wear that badge with pride. 

Here are a few things off my Week 4 List... 

- I hope to finish and publish my zombie novel

- Travel to Paris

- I want to learn how to speak fluent conversational Spanish

- I want to be a Mom one day

- I secretly want to be a bridesmaids as many times as possible

- I hope to keep an open mind always

- I want to meet as many people as I can from all over the world.

- I hope to take dance classes again in the future...

- I hope to be Craig's wife one day

- I hope to be healthy & fibroid free

- I hope I always have the ability to love...

- Maybe one day I hope to get a Master's Degree

- I would love to be in a movie

- I hope to keep this lil blog as long as possible and be true to myself always in my posts. 

- I want to walk down to the bottom of the Grand Canyon

- I hope to be the best Cupcake Decorating Teacher I can be

- Land a job that will make me happy and have the chance to come home and say "I'm proud of my work today" 

-  I hope I will always make my mother proud =)

I can't wait until next Tuesday for a new list! 

Linking up with MOOREA SEAL. 

Go check out her blog for past lists and see if you want to join in on the fun! =)

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR CURRENT  & FUTURE DREAMS & GOALS? 

I'd love to hear...

Moving In Together...On Superbowl Sunday....

Barefoot in the Park, 1967

Sometimes life happens and some other times other events happen that puts things into proper perspective. In my head I've romanticized the benefits of living with my boyfriend and plastered the rose colored glasses on my face. I've ignored the fact that I don't have a dishwasher, I've never lived with a boyfriend before, I have a tiny one room studio apartment, my boyfriend ONLY plays the guitar &/or video games in his spare time so I'll be giving up my TV, he has quirks as well as I do, and I've ignored the anxiety in the pit of my stomach. I knew all this...It wasn't new information to me I was just in severe denial. This weekend all the cards fell onto the table and I would have lied if I didn't say to him I was scared. 

I'll explain...

A very drunk birthday boy told me he loved he more than anything in the world but was afraid of living with me because in his words, "He doesn't want to fuck up what we have." In the wee hours of the morning around 4am, stone cold sober me had to cry and tell him I was scared too. We both stared at each other and both teared up. Somehow when I wiped my eyes I got sour cream in my eyes from the perigees we were eating, and Craig rushed, well stumbled into the kitchen, to grab a clean wet towel as I freaked out in the awkward stinging. He came back to me laughing hysterically and at the ridiculousness of the situation I had to laugh too. He kissed me for my silliness and we agreed we can't back out now. 2 and half years is too long not to take those next steps forward in our relationship. 

Now...What to do with my apartment...

The Money Pit, 1986

My apartment is not big enough for two people. It's a fact. For some stupid reason I'm running every bad "living together" story I've ever heard in my head. But then I'm also running every good story through my head. Ironically I was talking to my friend who is getting married in April and she was is very dead set on NOT living her fiancee before they get married. I love our girl talks to death but she was no help. That situation is a whole different post... 

Back on track... I thought I mostly feared becoming a Stepford wife where I'd be getting a 31 year old son instead of a boyfriend moving in, but I think with a week until the deadline I'm more afraid that he will find a quality he can't stand in me that will become a deal breaker. Or vise versa...*biting my nails*

~Just Breathe~ 

The Break-up, 2006

Wow, I'm stuck in my head. I know you guys must have lived with a boyfriend/girlfriend at some point so that's where ALL OF YOU wonderful readers are going to come in! 

Please let me hear your "Living Together" Stories!!

Good, bad, Horrible, Awesome...Your choice. 

Also, is there really a honeymoon period with something like this?? 

I'd love to hear...