To Gift Or Not To Gift

Bryan and I recently had a conversation about gift giving.  As our first year of marriage comes to a close, we wanted to get on the same page and set a precedence. We are still in  a place of getting financially sound and share the same bank account so is it really necessary to give gifts? 

 

 

 

We decided...

Anniversaries - We want to always go away for the weekend and that is the present to ourselves. No need for anything extra.

Birthdays - We gift. This is a day to channel your inner child and feel down right spoiled! Neither one of us have desire to make a big "to-do" with friends and family, but definitely want to live it up with each other. To clarify, we aren't opposed to the "to-do", but if it doesn't pan out then no biggie. For Bryan's birthday, we have a nice tradition started of going to dinner and a movie. His birthday is 3 days before Christmas and a movie theater near us has a 2 week long showing of It's a Wonderful Life complete with pre movie entertainment of carolers, Santa and Christmas cheer. it's like the happiest place to be! He LOVES this movie so we go to that and then do dinner/drinks afterward. For me, it's been different every year, but ideally if I am at a concert with Bryan and drink in hand I am one happy girl. For the gift, we decided nothing too expensive or over the top, but something that is a treat, something that the person really wants.  

Christmas - We  buy a collective gift. Something we both want for us or the home. For example, a TV to put in the bedroom.

In the end, it's about being together for all of the milestones. Although, out of curiosity, I wonder do other couple have gift giving protocols in place?

A Brief Absence..

Life has been busy lately both personally and professionally. All good stuff, but just not enough free time to give to this little blog of mine. So, to recap:

• Riot Fest came and went. IT WAS STELLAR. I can't wait till next year. 
• Got a new area rug and chair from work

• Planning a trip back to Dublin (Feb. 2014)
• Planning our 1 year wedding anniversary trip (Headed to Galena)
• Work has been a ball of stellar busyness: New clients, TV placement, trade show season, meetings, ect, ect,  - I'll tell ya the recession sure did not hit the PR/Marketing sector - at least I have not experienced any decline in the past several years.
• Annual family golf outing
• Buying a yoga mat
• Learning yoga
• Hangs with good people - and on this note....

I've been thinking a lot about friendships. Claims were made of truth, friendship, honesty - ect, and they are falling short. I am disappointed. I thought these words when spoken were 100 percent true. I wear my heart on my sleeve and usually welcome with open arms and I hate the thought of having to be guarded. I like my loving nature, but I am feeling more and more that I am giving it too freely to people who have yet to earn it. Old saying, but one I do believe in: Actions speak louder than words.

I digress..

• Painting
• Focusing on health/skin care
• Money management
• Thinking about turning 33 - whoa!  Also, this Portlandia clip about birthday loans... I absolutely LOVE. Not sure what I will do for this birthday. I toyed with ideas of hosting a party or going bowling... but, honestly, the planning and expectations seems a bit much.  Alkaline Trio is playing 3 days before my b-day and I am STRONGLY leaning towards doing that and going to din din on my actual b-day with Bryan.  Anyhoo - enjoy this clip.

So, I think that captures all that has taken my time and energy as of late. Parting words...

RIOT FEST IS FINALLY HERE!

Could not be more excited for this weekend -
PUNK- ROCK -MUSIC- GOODNESS-STELLERNESS
(stellerness? is that a word? - I don't even care)
I am counting down the minutes until the Mr. and I are romping the grounds of Riot Fest in Humboldt Park, Chicago.

And, the stages are set!

Saturday we are excited to see:

• Lawrence Arms
• Rancid
• Tacking Back Sunday
• Blink 182

Sunday we are excited to see:

• Chuck Ragan
• The Wonder Years
• Against Me!
• Direct Hit!
• Saves the Day
• Off With Their Head
• Brand New
• The Broadways

I can't wait to share pics and vids.

Happy Friday the 13th and National Peanut Day!

xoxo

New Digs - So long 454 Faversham Court

Sunday of Labor Day weekend, Bryan and I visited my parents at their new place. I was a bit nervous as I wasn't sure how I would feel once I got there. Their new place is a senior citizen retirement apartment complex. They moved in mid-July. My parents are in their 70's and I've never seen them as, gasp, old, however, I wondered would I leave their new place viewing them as such? Spoiler Alert: I didn't. I left feeling really happy for them.  They needed to downsize and move to place where they didn't have worry about all the maintenance that a house requires. They raised 6 kids and spent 38 years, I believe, in the Bolingbrook home. It was just time for a new chapter.

So, after we all had lunch my dad took me and Bryan on a tour of their building. I was all smiles. They have everything they need at their fingertips - library, canteen, game room, movie room, salon, doctor's office, convenience shop, religious room, ect. Of course, we ran into one of my dad's friends - and, I wasn't surprised. My parents are both gregarious people and make friends easily. And, their apartment is just adorable and the right size for them. I kept thinking this is PERFECT!

Bryan actually wanted to live there himself - go play scrabble in the game room, haha.

Aside from all of that and my feelings, most importantly my parents are happy and enjoy their new home. I do think it's still a bit of a shock to them.  Maybe more for my Mom -I can imagine with such a huge change some time is needed to adjust.

I left thinking of all the new chapters we will have in our lifetime. *mind blown*


So long 454 Faversham Court...
Lucky for my parents their house sold days after it went on the market. It was a cash sale and bought by a girl around my age named Erin Marie (how ironic as I always said I would love to buy my parents house, but just didn't work out - I'm a city gal).

My mom and dad

 My dad planted this big maple tree  - look at that baby now!

 So many memories in this backyard - it hosted lots of family parties (and a few when my parents were out of town, shhhh!) :-)

Two of my sisters (and their demon eyes) having a last climb in the tree. 

My sister's and me (I have 4 of them and a brother, he lives in Phoenix) spent weeks helping my parents pack and clean out the house. The last day of all of us helping as a group we decided to also have a last meal at the table. It was just us girls and my parents. No kids, no spouses or significant others. We had wine (lots) and pizza from our favorite pizza place, Papa's Pizza. We shared stories and laughed and cried tears from that laughter! It was stellar.

 

 





Music Mondays

I love this so much -  32 Ways to Tell You Grew Up In The Golden Age Of Pop Punk

And, I love pop punk! When people ask about what kind of music I listen to I say, "lots of stuff, but love punk rock - the poppy stuff". Usually the following bands come to mind for them: (at least these are the ones mentioned to me)

• Clash
• Dead Kennedys
• Husker Du

And, I'm all like "NO WAY!" - Don't get me wrong the above bands are all great and get much respect, but I'm talking Allister, Bayside, Taking Back Sunday, Alkaline Trio, New Found Glory - the stuff that makes me want to bounce up and down all day long - except for when the awesome emo tune comes in and I'm all like, "whoa is me and all that I have to deal with - let's take a minute, because this band SO gets me!"

Anyhoo, the list from Buzz Feed is fantastic. The hubby and I got a huge kick out if it. Especially since "our song" is mentioned!

Take a Moment

This weekend someone on my Facebook feed posted “wake each morning with a humble heart”

This I read on a morning where I was waking up regretful for the previous day’s tears I had shed over much displaced sadness.  I started thinking about all the things that I am blessed with and grateful for. The list was long and I was overwhelmed with happiness. That then ignited a train of thought -

It’s easy to dwell on the negative.  There are many aspects I cannot control. There will be gray days. There will be disappointments. There will be someone yapping in your surroundings exuding negative emotions. There will be embarrassing moments. There will be things taken out of context. There will be someone in your life displaying a negative emotion for the pure reason to get a reaction.  And so on and so on…

For some it’s not as easy to identify and cope, but for me I know I need to take a step back and say the words “this moment will pass”. When I allow myself the time to admit that there will be darker moments and they will not last is enough to prevent those negative feelings from swallowing me. Who is superhero? Not I.  It's OK to be upset or feel a negative emotion, but if I keep it in perspective I come out feeling balanced.   

Perhaps taking a moment to pause and think about all the good in my life is the Zen answer? Possibly. 

I did immediately feel better and the nagging feeling of regret that I was feeling had subsided.